Action Group: Climate
by Radagast on 05 April 2001 @ 02:54 PM
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The Bush administration's announcement that it does not intend to ratify or implement the Kyoto protocol on climate change has created an international fury, and a call for economic sanctions.
Please check out the home page for this new action group and post any comments or suggestions by replying to this article.
I agree with the Raz about writing letters to the CEO's; it could really prove to them that there ARE people who are concerned about the environment and that any decision against the Kyoto Protocol could have a serious impact on earnings. I also beleive that a boycott organized via the web (if enough people were rallied) could have a much more dramatic effect on the politicians that are disregarding the U.S.'s previous agreements regarding the Kyoto Protocol. Honestly, I am embarrassed by the actions of our country's leaders...we helped form the Kyoto Protocol, now we're backing out...we haven't even payed our dues to the UN in years, yet we have the power of the veto! I think that all too often politicians get away with unjust acts because they beleive the American public doesn't care or isn't even informed. The sad thing is, the politicians are partly right. The average person probably doesn't know what the Kyoto Protocol is or that we have a serious problem on our hands, and I think some sort of demonstration would bring the severity of the problem into public view. Nothing too drastic, though, people get turned off by extremists. Just something to show politicians that there are voters who care and attract public attention. Anyone who has any thoughts or ideas on this please let me know...you can email me at remacnutt@rmwc.edu
As all of us, I was overwhelmed (I can not find the word in English to describe my feelings) when I heard about Bush´s position regarding Kyoto´s Protocol. We can´t leave the world in hands of such irresponsible, selfish, arrogant and greedy people. We must act immediately making use of the press this issue is having this days and that everybody is quite sensible about this issue in all the world nowadays. He must know that the world does not accept him as the owner of the earth and that we don´t care about his economic and personal interests when the present and future of the world are in danger.I propose to use Greenpeace Organization and infraestructure to coordinate a worldwide campaign "Global Warming Conscience Day" (or whatever you want to call it). The objective would be to let Bush know that The World (when I say The World I mean The World, not only UN or EU high officials, presidents or diplomats, I mean the people who inhabit The Earth, you, me, everybody) is against his unilateral, irresponsible and selfish decision of withdrawing from Kyoto protocol.He must assume the responsibility that the US, with only 4% of the world population is responsible for the 25% of the Greenhouse gases. With such reponsibility, he must support any international effort in order to help slow down the Greenhouse effect. He lives in this planet, doesn´t he???? (sometimes it seems he was sent from an extraterrestrial civilization to destroy us).During this "Global Warming Conscience Day" manifestations in all the US embassies all over the world could be held. Information about the effects of Global Warming and US responsibility on the process should be distributed on the streets and media. Formal petition of reviewing US position regarding Kyoto should be handled to ambassadors. We can add some creativity by pouring some kind of enviromentally friendly smoke into the embassy with signs "Bush, take your smoke back home" or something like that, or some kind of disguisses or whatever.To sum up, I think that someone from Greenpeace with the experience, contacts and power so as to organize something like this should take this issue and organize a simultaneus one day campaign in all the world to let the White House know that The World is against their irresponsible and egoistic attitude. It would also be good that all local Greenpeace offices create these Cyberactivist letters you can add by simply clicking a button addressed to US ambassadors on each country claiming to review their position regarding Kyoto or to propose something better.Just some ideas. Hope we can find the way. Thanks for reading me.
Bush’s unilateral decision to abandon the Kyoto protocol was certainly a setback in the convention. The United States has signed Kyoto signaling it was willing to work things out. Bush and his chosen administration have not done one thing positive for the environment. On the contrary, the actions have been against environmental public health and resource conservation. His political personality is known from his tenure as governor of Texas. He is reportedly egotistic and uncaring.
However, one should not lose sight of the fact that there are many other countries and corporations that could be influential in changing the way the US and others views the protocol. If EU and economic leader countries ratify the Kyoto protocol, the pressure on the US would be enormous. Instead of playing up the loss in Bush’s unilateral decision for the whole of the US, we should support and compliment the insightful leaders of all other influential countries. They should be applauded for their conviction to prevent what could be a disastrous future.
I still favor a boycott against US goods. Though not a good one, Bush is a businessman. He does understand finances though he is at a loss as to how to fix the current problems. He may respond to boycotts against American goods. The US economy is currently in retrograde motion. A little pressure could be hard felt. But the boycotts must be highly publicized. I think that the bark is worse than the bite in this case. Fear of deepening economic problems may be worse than the actual economic pressure.
There is another thing that worries me. The Montreal protocol to phase out substances that deplete stratospheric zone was only ratified after the chemical manufacturers had substitutes in place and the alternative fluorocarbon acceptability study had delivered their recommendations. Economics were such that the chemical producers did not lose.
We may be seeing the same thing in Kyoto. The fossil fuel energy companies are presently buying and/or developing solar and fuel cell technology to obtain stock in the future energy needs of the planet. This technology is not new. It works. But there has been no real incentive for using it considering the relatively low cost of oil. It is imperative that the major energy and fossil fuel companies support Kyoto. If the main players in the energy game support Kyoto and major nations do as well, the US will have little choice but to follow suit. They will do so simply because the alternative technology will be available to US citizens.
Global warming is contributing to many of today's problems and should be taken serious by *all* countries. Who is going to pay the price if (when) Pacific Island groups forever disappear beneath the waves? When deserts extend, storms become more ferocious etc. etc.? Many of the changes in climate have a - growing - pricetag, think of stormdamage or damage of flooding.
Normally insurance companies look at their balance sheets and adjust their premiums as "needed". That does *not* take into account changing trends and damages on a global scale however. But insurance companies insure themselves with *big* re-insurance companies (like Lloyds etc.) and *these* guys *do* have a vested global interest!
Any country that does not ratify *and keep to* the Tokyo agreement (for starters) should be presented with a bill, proportionate to the *global* damage bill for natural disasters. I'm sure that this wording can be further improved but I leave that to others.
But I'm very sure that the Re-Insurance companies *will* have to hike up their premiums and that it would be a major P.R. coup *IF* they decide to do so based on who's causing the damages.
The US is reputedly "good" for 25% of Global Warming factors and elects to do nothing: Make them pay the bill *directly* via their insurance premiums! Guess what all those American companies and consumers will think of that? At the same time - fair is fair - this also presents the (proportionate) bill to *other* countries that refuse to act.
A few words into the right (re-insurance) ears should do wonders, don't you think?! :-)
The opposition to the news of President Bush's action is both welcome, and laudable. The objective is to try to put pressure on a politician, and a very powerful one at that, to not only reverse a highly publicised decision, but in effect to relinquish all credibility in the eyes of the world - what little he has left, that is. The chances of success are probably not very high.
But this is typical politician - I haven't trusted one for years - and this is also typical America; the materialistic, hedonistic society - always late to get involved, and rushing in at the last minute with cavalry, flags and trumpets to sweep the field and claim the glory!
Do we need all that?
Why rely on someone else when we can influence the matter directly as a consumer? The Open Source software network on the Internet has done a magnificent job with Linux and Opera, and the software moguls are realising that their position of dominance is only temporary after all.
There is now an Open Source hardware network, and if they have the same success as the first group it will further restrict some of the negative economics driving hardware design forward.
We need an Open Source Energy Design Group to finalise some designs that can be put into the public domain, and will cover the needs for various regional aspects.
We then need a financing model to enable these designs to become accessible to the general public, wherever they may be.
Financing will need to be amortised over long periods, say 8 to 15 years, as repayments would be made from savings on electrical and heating costs.
If we can channel our collective energies into this positive direction, - as well as telling Bush, Shell and the like what we think of their policies, then we don't really need them after all, do we!
Did you know that you can already take action? Visit Greenpeace's site in the US athttp://www.greenpeaceusa.org/climate/climate.htmto send a letter to Bush and top administration officials and take various other actions to help stop climate change. Gea
hi everybody!in my opinion the most important issue is that the average man on this planet doesn't know about the climate changes and believes that as it's not visible right now it's not a big deal.that's why i suggest we create an e-mail alerting people about the changes and how they will affect our lives the next decade.this e-mail will be sent to everyone each of us knows and therefore more and more people will be interested in doing something about it. it may have a funny introduction to the subject and in the process it will show the importance of the problem with carefully selected links and how everybody can be a part of the solution. thanks for your time
It's neccesarry that all important countries participate in an treatment about climate change. Even when it's very difficult, I believe that we need escpecially the USA for that. But at this moment it's impossible to convince Bush of his great mistakes. Counties like Canada, Australia nd Japan are also hestitating of their support. It's now important that we at least convince that countries that they have to support the cilmate treatment. And how can we force america? I think that economical sanctions or politial force are necessary, especially from the Europinian Union. At this moment Mr Pronk, the leader of the climate conference is working on a new treatment to convince America that they ill support it. I think this treatment will become much weaker than it was already. Why a treament when it's not working enough? Can we maybe take action to convince mr Pronk not to make a not working treatment? It's better to have a good treament without america, than a weak treatment together with america. Do we really need america for this treatment and do we have to force them to support this treament? Tell me your opinion.
The Environmental News Network has a Global Warming Poll which asks:
Do you think global warming fears are valid?
Current votes 83% Yes 17% No
Vote now to keep that Yes percentage high & rising - the site is being circulated on industry email lists. Go here and just scroll down the page to reach the poll:
Rogue1 got there before me but just to post this up front and draw your attention to the International Day of Action!
STOP BUSH'S ASSAULT ON THE ENVIRONMENT!
Dear Friends,
Greenpeace has named Wednesday, April 18 as international "Take Back The Earth Day." We are asking for your support in a series of activities targeted to President Bush and his administration. As you are aware, Bush and his team have delivered some major blows to the environment, from relaxing standards for arsenic in our drinking water to withdrawing the U.S. from the global warming agreement called the Kyoto Protocol. The Administration has plans to put a more positive spin on these atrocities by publicizing some pro-environment messages for Earth Day on April 22. The environmental community must band together and stop this greenwashing from covering up the environmental damage the President has already caused and more that is to come.
We are asking for your help with one or more of the following:
1. Join us on Take Back the Earth Day--April 18--as we call attention to Bush's efforts to protect polluting industries rather than to protect the planet.
WHEN: Wednesday, April 18 at 8:30am WHERE: The Ellipse (South side of the White House, south end of the Ellipse) WHAT: Take Back the Earth Day! Multiple activities targeted at Bush and his administration. Bring banners and signs that express your feelings about Bush's assault on the environment. Bring family and friends!
Check the Greenpeace Web site (www.greenpeaceusa.org) for the latest information.
2. Take action online at www.greenpeaceusa.org/takeaction. You can send a letter to Bush and top administration officials demanding a change in their environmental policies and practices.
3. Spread the word! Send this message to your networks to make sure that on this day, Take Back the Earth Day, the American public sends a message loud and clear that Bush Protects Polluters not the Planet.
4. Write a letter to the editor of your local paper expressing your outrage against the Bush Administration for launching this assault against the environment.
Show President Bush and his administration that we will not stand by while his decisions lead to the destruction of the planet.
UK Members of Parliament launched a campaign yesterday to persuade Coca Cola to support the Kyoto Protocol. Coca-Cola, wise counsels with wide pockets, gave nearly USD 1 million to George Bush's campaign for the US presidency last year.
Send an e-mail to Coke's vice president or to Bush by visiting the Guardian Unlimited site:
Yes, it's happening now, Friday 13th April - not such a lucky day for Bush, who's home for the hols at his ranch in Texas and will no doubt be none too happy to learn that there are 3 Greenpeace activists anchored to a water tower in his home town of Crawford!
See below for the press release with some more info about what's going on, which you can also find together with more about what you can do on Take Back the Earth Day, Wednesday 18th April and facts about the Bush Administration's Anti-Environmental Agenda here:
PRESIDENT BUSH’S ENVIRONMENTAL ASSAULT PROTESTED NEAR CRAWFORD RANCH
Activists Unfurl Banner Targeting the ‘Toxic Texan’
CRAWFORD, Texas – Three Greenpeace activists anchored themselves to a water tower in President Bush’s home town today, with a 20x30-foot banner reading, “Bush: the Toxic Texan. Don’t Mess with the Earth.” Marking the first political demonstration in the tiny town of Crawford since Bush took office, the international environmental group took this action to deliver a pre-Earth Day (April 22) protest message to President Bush, who is currently vacationing on his Texas ranch in Crawford.
“The ‘compassionate conservative’ has really turned out to be the ‘Toxic Texan,’” said Andrea Durbin, Greenpeace Campaigns Director. “Since taking office, Bush has set a blistering pace in undermining efforts to stop global warming, improve our drinking water and protect public lands from oil development. No Earth Day spin will hide the damage he’s already done.”
This action comes just days before Greenpeace holds the first “Take Back the Earth Day” on Wednesday, April 18, when Americans will rally against Bush’s anti-environmental policies in Washington, D.C. In a matter of weeks the President has rolled back decades of environmental gains. Among the environmental assaults he has already delivered:
Withdrawing U.S. support of the global warming agreement, known as the Kyoto Protocol;
Relaxing drinking water standards;
Supporting oil drilling in the Arctic Refuge and other public lands;
Reducing forest protections;
Slashing budgets for environmental protection; and
Weakening the Endangered Species Act.
Texas environmental groups, including Public Citizen of Texas, the Texas SEED Coalition, Texas Campaign for the Environment and the Texas field office of U.S. PIRG, joined Greenpeace today in a joint letter delivered to Bush. The letter states: “We are writing to express our outrage over your Administration’s aggressive attack on the environment.” It goes on to say: “The stances of your Administration, both current and in Texas, has been to back the interests of polluters, especially the oil, mining and timber interests.”
“Bush thinks by making a pro-environmental announcement on Earth Day and planting a tree he’s compassionate about the environment,” added Durbin. “The problem is his administration plans to trash the earth the other 364 days. >From the state of Texas to nationwide to globally, the President must protect the people, not the polluters.”
This is a very delicate issue that I had brought up sometime before, at a bad time, now, I will try to get to my point in a different way. I mean no harm or bad vibe for no one it is a radical proposal, about how we do and say things, many things, every day, very simple inocent little things, like...
Yes,it is a matter of semantics, and the way we were taught to do and because it has always been that way...and all of this, from my point of view is unbalanced in someway and takes us to mistake and understand different of what is ment, and that can cause confussion and non intended agression through well intended but bad communication practice.
In all this boycott idea of all American Products, you all refer to the United States but non intentionally engage ALL OF THE AMERICAS as the target...
America, is the continent, and American Products, mean to me, in plain language, word by word, products from the continent, from the American Continent.
I, as a kid was educated to understand that America, and Americano, ment from the U.S.A., and it is wrong. As an adult, searching for new ways to understand my/our human stay in this planet, and the way we relate to us as human beings and all of our concepts and to our natural enviroment, learned that the way we address to many things is wrong and leads to confussion.Words and semantics have a strong effect.
Words, have a precise meaning, and can be very powerful, it is important that we use the right word or words to say what we mean.
A good friend ,from the United States, a Unitedstatian...made me understand that the American Continent is America. That it would be healthy for all to think of it like that.
America, the Continent. The continent that contains North America, Central or Meso-America and South America.
The United States is NORTH America, but we should ask the Canadians if they want to boycot their non green products.
When you say American Products you mean fron the U.S.A., but tell me why should I think of the United States as America, if I know that AMerica is the Continent and that as a Mexican from Mexico Meso AMerica,I am too American.
Though there are many Mexican (american, from mexico...) products, that I think are worth listing for a boycot campaing, I would address my proposal in a very different manner.
Aplying the concept that America means U.S.A. I ask you all, where is the rest of the Americas left? how should we consider our selves' Americans? I´m not from the u.s.a.
I´m trying to propose and push towards a change of mind, a very radical one, maybe absurd to the eyes of many, but important, to me and others that think like I,a change that might help improve everyones understanding of a variety of little things like this...
It has nothing to do with being or practising racism, there is no trace whatsoever. to my eyes and ears,it is a very inocent everyday practice because... it has always been like that, why should we change it?
I have an argument for that, if any body wants to engage in a discussion on this ecological matter.
I ask you to support my proposal: giving and calling America, the Continent, it´s very own name and calling the United States, United States.
American people, are the people of the Americas, or from the American Continent, North American is either Canadian or Unitedstatian, from the United States.
Bioregionally, North Mexico is part of North America...
Central American people are the people from Central America, and there are the peole of South America, South Americans...Brazil,Chile, Argentina...Venezuelans...
Not ALL of the Americans want their products boycutted, not all...
At the end, the entire world is flooded with products made in the United States or financed by Unitedstatian Corporations in alliance with other American Countries and world wide, so a campaign fro boycutting these products should be addressed as a campaign for boycutting specific products that have a world wide effect no matter where they come from, or who makes them...not a boycut on American products.
Thank you for reading so far, and I expect a lot of discussion about this issue, which is not intended to throw any bad vibe around.
Global warming isn't going to go away on its own. Making increasingly better use of resources in manufacturing processes and creating better-performing products with ever-lower energy demands has to become part of normal business practice if we are to crack this problem.
-- the largest CO2 reductions could be achieved in the residential sector, followed by heavy industry, the transport sector, the energy supply sector (by using renewable energy), and in the service sector
-- two-thirds of the CO2 reductions would come from saving energy, highlighting the need for far more attention to be given to energy efficiency measures throughout the economy
Taking this into consideration, businesses worldwide could involve targets in one or more of the following categories:
Energy efficiency of products
Energy efficiency in processes or facilities
Energy-saving products
Transport efficiency
Fuel switching to natural gas or increased use of co-generation
Conversion to renewable energy (supply, use, marketing)
Financing schemes for i) to vi) above.
This year Johnson & Johnson pledged to reduce its global warming emissions worldwide 7 per cent below 1990 levels by the year 2010 while IBM has pledged to increase energy efficiency and use clean energy in reducing its CO2 emissions by an average of 4 per cent per year by 2004.
In Germany, AEG - the country's leading maker of household appliances, like refrigerators and vacuum cleaners - promised that it will sell only the most energy-saving models.
Here is the press release from today's resolution.
Shareholders vote against BP on effect of climate change on investments
BP must take heed of a significant vote at its Annual General Meeting today on a resolution calling for the company to take seriously the threats of climate change on fossil fuel investments and protect their shareholders financial future earnings by investing in renewable energy.
Today's initial proxy vote, displayed at the meeting today, showed 919 million shares, or 7.4 per cent of the vote, in favour of the resolution. Votes of the shareholders attending today's meeting have yet to be counted.
Greenpeace climate campaigner Stephanie Tunmore said: "The BP Board of Directors can no longer ignore its own shareholders' conviction that the company is responsible for climate change and that this could undermine the future worth of their shares. The company must now begin to move out of fossil fuels and into renewable energy."
Resolution sponsor Sister Pat Daly, of the Dominican Sisters of Caldwell in the USA, said: "We need BP to be the leader that it claims to be, but it needs to match its words with actions. BP must spell out in black and white, for all it's shareholders and all those affected by its company policy, what it means by 'Beyond Petroleum'."
Tunmore said: "International moves to regulate the use of fossil fuels and the burgeoning market in clean energy technologies will impact on BP's business. If the company wants to remain a profitable energy company in the future business as usual is not an option."
The Greenpeace resolution called on the BP Board to publish a report by the end of 2001, to include quantified targets and clear timescales for switching from oil to renewable energy. The resolution is also supported by US socially responsible investor, Trillium Asset Management Corporation, US Public Interest Research Group, World Wildlife Fund.
Notes to Editors Sister Pat Daly, who moved the Greenpeace resolution, represents 275 faith-based institutions holding US$100 billion in investments.
Greenpeace floats hot air balloon over Summit delegation
U.S. President Bush targeted over Kyoto Protocol rejection
Quebec, Quebec City, Canada, April 20, 2001 – Greenpeace today flew a hot air balloon over the Summit of the Americas delegation sending a message to U.S. President George W. Bush that climate change and the Kyoto Protocol should be top priorities for the U.S. government.
The summit is the first foreign visit by U.S. President Bush since his recent rejection of the Kyoto Protocol on global climate change.
“Leaders from the 33 other countries at the summit should tell Bush to get with the program on climate change prevention,” said Steven Guilbeault, climate and energy campaigner for Greenpeace Canada. “Why would they negotiate an agreement with the leader of a rogue nation that has reneged on its climate change commitments? Why even bother to sit down at the table with a leader that will change his mind willy nilly depending on the state of the U.S. economy?”
The balloon reads “SAVE THE CLIMATE” on one side and “STOP GLOBAL WARMING” on the other side.
On April 18, while at a conference in Washington D.C., the President of COP6, Jan Pronk, said that “The Kyoto Protocol is alive and we will go ahead anyway without the USA.” The following day, the Japanese House of Councilors adopted a unanimous resolution on the Kyoto Protocol (190-0) calling for "Japan's early ratification".
“The Kyoto Protocol is far from being dead. Bush should protect the environment, not corporate polluters”, said Guilbeault.
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement which sets goals for the reduction of greenhouse gases that are causing the world’s climate to change in dangerous and often unpredictable ways.
This weekend there will be a large anti-globalization protest in Quebec City.
Heads of State of the 34 countries of the Americas and Carribean (Cuba is excluded) are gathering at this "Summit of the Americas" to further agreement on a hemispheric free trade deal - the FTAA.
The draft text of this agreement has not been released, but it is understood to contain many of the more damaging elements of international trade agreements.
Security arrangements for the event are tight. This will be the largest police operation in Canadian history. The old city of Quebec, which is in any case a fortress, has been surrounded by a 3m high security fence to exclude citizens. There will be protests as well as a large march. Many people coming into Canada for the protests have been stopped at the border and detained or turned back.
It is important to suport governments still willing to implement the Kyoto Protocol. Many countries in Europe and elsewhere agree on the necessity of curbing GHG emissions and are ready to do something about it. The Kyoto Protocol is a begining, not an achievement. It is far from being perfect but at least it provides some guidelines for emissions reduction. It shouldn't be dumped just because of the decision of a single country, even the major emitter. If United States alone account for 25% of total emissions, there is still some work to do on the remaining 75%. If the rest of the world go ahead with emissions reduction, United States won't be able to remain so isolated for long and will have to review their position.
I had posted a reply to the post about Greenpeace sending letters to the top 100 companies. In my post, I suggested that we need to create a action item where each and everyone of us can send the same letter. Now that Greenpeace wants to target the US oil companies, I believe we need that action item now. The oil barons might try to blow off Greenpeace but when Joe Public starts to send them the same letter, they will take notice.
I got these tips from the Greenpeace site and was hoping we could think of more ways to reduce the rate at which the climate is rising by all the little things we can do at home. Any more ideas? If you know certain things specific for your country, more people might be interested in using them...
You can make an individual contribution in the effort to halt global warming. Cutting down on your energy use will help slow the consumption of fossil fuels. Try the following: Instead of driving everywhere, get into the fresh air and walk or bike whenever possible! Make sure to shut lights off when you leave your home. When shopping for appliances such as refrigerators or air conditioners, look for energy-efficient products. Look into the possibility of installing alternative energy sources such as solar panels in your home.
Global warming is directly linked to our use of fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas as a source of energy. You can make some easy changes in your routine that will help bring a halt to global warming by reducing the amount of greenhouse gas, especially carbon dioxide, emitted into the Earth's atmosphere. See how much carbon dioxide you will be keeping out of our environment for each of these simple steps.
Buy and replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs Carbon dioxide reduction: 500 pounds per year for each replaced bulb
Wash clothes in warm or cold water, not hot. Carbon dioxide reduction: (for two loads a week) up to 500 pounds per year
Ask your utility company for a home energy audit to find out where your home is poorly insulated or energy-inefficient. Carbon dioxide reduction: potentially could cut thousands of pounds per year
Plant trees next to your home and paint your home a light color if you live in a warm climate and a dark color if you live in a cold climate. Carbon dioxide reduction: Up to 10,000 pound per year
As you replace home appliances, select the most energy efficient models Carbon dioxide reduction: Potential to cut thousands of pounds per year
Leave your car at home twice a week (walk, bike, or use mass transit instead) Carbon dioxide reduction: up to 1,590 pounds per year
When you replace your windows, install the best energy-saving models Carbon dioxide reduction: Up to 10,000 pounds per year
Run your dishwasher only with a full load, and use the energy-saving setting to dry dishes Carbon dioxide reduction: 200 pounds per year
Turn down your water heater thermostat, 120 degrees is usually hot enough Carbon dioxide reduction: for each 10-degree adjustment, you cut 500 pounds per year
Hello everyone, while our attention has been concentrated on action in the U.S., there are other matters that also need our urgent attention - see below:
"Given the harmful effects of the gas and oil extraction projects on the Tibetan plateau, BP, AGIP, and Enron are hereby requested to immediately halt the construction of the Sebei to Lanzhou pipeline, and the increases in drilling for oil & gas on the Tibetan plateau. These corporations are further urged to withdraw investments from Chinese entities engaged in these activities, as a way of ensuring that the destruction of the Tibetan environment and the disenfranchisement of the Tibetan people does not proceed with Western support.
A shareholders resolution has apparently been successful in persuading BP to part with at least part of it's investment in PetroChina, but AGIP, which is partly owned by the Italian Government, is a major player in the construction of this pipeline. Full details at:- http://www.savetibet.org/ Lets see if we can do something more to help this poor victimised people, and ourselves at the same time! Best regards, Uncle John
Hello all, for those members physically unable to get to an action or a rally, (live in a different country, etc.), an idea from a German site could be implemented. By multiple access to the same website by many people simultaneously, it is possible to exceed the capability of the server, and thus block any other traffic. This type of action should not be confused with 'hacking', where one person contrives to overload a site by using the services of other people's computers that he has been able to infect. This multi-access overload is an attempt to block, sure enough, but not to damage, or otherwise alter the content of the target site. This posting is for information, and does not necessarily recommend this type of action. Any decision to use it should be made by the group administrators and others. An action is planned for the 1st May by other groups, but action is also expected from hackers themselves on the same day, which would make the purpose confused. Best regards, Uncle John
Huge support for forest motion in Kenya's parliament by John Kamau, Rights Features Service (April 26, 2001) The Kenyan parliament unanimously passed a motion urging the government to prepare "within six months" a master plan on forest rehabilitation, protection of rivers, and vegetation.
(Go to www.ogiek.org to take action online supporting the Ogiek's search for justice and learn more about the Ogiek.)
The motion proposed the formation of a National Environment Management Authority which is to supervise forest rehabilitation. Moved by the Democratic Party's Laikipia East Mwangi Kiunjuri, the passing of the motion came at a time when the Kenya government is under siege from environmentalist and human rights activists after it sought the excision of 10 percent of the forest, which would remove that section from environmental protection as a forest. A large part of the planned excision is inhabited by the Ogiek indigenous community of Kenya who fear that their land is being opened up for settlement of other groups. Speaking shortly after the motion was passed, a jubilant Kiunjuri said the motion would "end the alarming rate of destruction and natural-resource destruction." The Ogiek have moved to court to challenge the intended degazettement of their land and removal from state protection. Although in the past parliamentary motions were not followed up to the implementation stage, they are these days used to gauge the national mood and change of government policy. Also, the motions are the first stage towards moving parliament to enact specific acts. In this case, pundits say, members of parliament can move a notice of motion to create the National Environment Management Authority if the government drags its feet. "For the first time parliament has shown that it does care for the environment," said Kiunjuri. Best regards, Uncle John
A draft report prepared for the world's governments says that the Earth may heat up much more than current forecasts suggest.
The report, by scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), says average global temperatures could rise twice as much as they thought earlier. Full article at:- http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_996000/996115.stm Best regards, Uncle John
US voted off UN Human Rights Commission UNITED NATIONS -- The United States was voted off the UN Human Rights Commission on Thursday, in an election which brought some notorious human rights abusers onto the Geneva-based body. "We are disappointed at the outcome," the acting US ambassador to the United Nations, James Cunningham, told reporters after his government lost the seat it had held ever since the commission was set up in 1947. Full article at:- http://www.inq7.net/brk/2001/may/04/brkafp_1-1.htm (or I have copy if wanted). Best regards Uncle John
US stocks end lower amid caution on economic outlook Excerpts:- "NEW YORK -- Stocks closed lower Thursday as traders fretted over new economy data highlighting the fragility of the US economy." "The latest jobless claims report, showing a rise of 9,000 against expectations for a decline of 8,000, took investors by surprise, and raised doubts about the strength of the recovery of the US economy, said analysts." "Coming on the heels of the jobless claims data was a survey from Challenger, Gray Christmas, showing that US companies cut a record 165,564 jobs in April." Now, could it just be . . . . Best regards, Uncle John
Monsanto is one of the biggest companies engaged in Genetic Engineering, and it's record is not too good. Now known as Pharmacia Corporation, it is riding roughshod over all opposition, aparently with the at least some backing from the U.S. government. This may increase with proposed appointements to the EPA. This company must be blocked, and everything brought out into the open for public scrutiny. Data follows:- Monsanto's Greatest Hits As industrial and chemical innovations of the 20th century came and went, Monsanto was there MONSANTO has spent the entire 20th century in pursuit of profit through science, from Saccharin to aspirin, from Agent Orange to Round Up. Here's a chronology of company pursuits over the past 100 years. 1901--Founder John Francis Queeny names Monsanto Chemical Works after his wife, Olga Mendez Monsanto. 1902--The company manufactures its first product, Saccharin. The U.S. government later files suit over the safety of Saccharin, but loses. 1917--Monsanto starts producing aspirin. 1929--Monsanto acquires Rubber Services Laboratories 1935--Monsanto goes into the soap and detergents industry, starts producing phosphorus. 1938--The company goes into the plastic business. 1939-1945--Monsanto conducts research on uranium for the Manhattan Project in Dayton, Ohio. Dr. Charles Thomas, who later served as the company's chairman of the board, was present at the first test explosion of the atomic bomb. 1943--Massive Texas City plant starts producing synthetic rubber for the Allies in World War II. 1955--Monsanto buys Lion Oil refinery, starts producing petroleum-based fertilizer. 1959--Monsanto sets up Monsanto Electronics Co. in Palo Alto, begins producing ultra-pure silicon for the high-tech industry, in an area which would later become a Superfund site. 1969--Produces Lasso herbicide, better known as Agent Orange, which was used as defoliant by the U.S. Government during the Vietnam War. "[Lasso's] success turns around the struggling Agriculture Division," Monsanto's web page reads. 1976--RoundUp is commercialized, becoming the world's top-selling herbicide. 1976--Monsanto produces Cycle-Safe, the world's first plastic soft-drink bottle. The bottle, suspected of posing a cancer risk, is banned the following year by the Food and Drug Administration. 1981--G.D. Searle gets FDA approval for NutraSweet (Monsanto completes its acquisition of Searle in 1985). 1982--Monsanto scientists genetically modify a plant for the first time. 1986--Monsanto found guilty of negligently exposing a worker to benzene at its Chocolate Bayou Plant in Texas. It is forced to pay $100 million to the family of Wilbur Jack Skeen, a worker who died of leukemia after repeated exposures. 1986--At a 1986 congressional hearing, medical specialists denounce a National Cancer Institute study disputing that formaldehyde causes cancer. Monsanto and DuPont scientists helped with the study, whose author provided results to the Formaldehyde Institute industry representatives nearly six months before releasing the study to the EPA, labor unions and the public. 1986--Monsanto spends $50,000 against California's anti-toxics initiative, Proposition 65. The initiative prohibits the discharge of chemicals known to cause cancer or birth defects into drinking water supplies. 1987--Monsanto is one of the companies named in an $180 million settlement for Vietnam War veterans exposed to Agent Orange. 1988--A federal jury finds Monsanto Co.'s subsidiary, G.D. Searle & Co., negligent in testing and marketing of its Copper 7 intrauterine birth control device (IUD). The verdict followed the unsealing of internal documents regarding safety concerns about the IUD, which was used by nearly 10 million women between 1974 and 1986. 1990--EPA chemists allege fraud in Monsanto's 1979 dioxin study, which found exposure to the chemical doesn't increase cancer risks. 1990--Monsanto spends more than $405,000 to defeat California's pesticide regulation Proposition 128, known as the "Big Green" initiative. The initiative is aimed at phasing out the use of pesticides, including Monsanto's product alachlor, linked to cancer and global warming. 1991--Monsanto is fined $1.2 million for trying to conceal discharge of contaminated waste water into the Mystic River in Connecticut. 1993--The Food and Drug Administration approves Posilac bovine somatropin (BST). 1995--Monsanto is sued after allegedly supplying radioactive material for a controversial study which involved feeding radioactive iron to 829 pregnant women. 1995--Monsanto ordered to pay $41.1 million to a waste management company in Texas due to concerns over hazardous waste dumping. 1995--The Safe Shoppers Bible says that Monsanto's Ortho Weed-B-Gon Lawn Weed Killer contains a known carcinogen, 2,4 D. Company officials argue that numerous studies have found no link to cancer. 1997--The Seattle Times reports that Monsanto sold 6,000 tons of contaminated waste to Idaho fertilizer companies, which contained the carcinogenic heavy metal cadmium, believed to cause cancer, kidney disease, neurological dysfunction and birth defects. 1999--Monsanto opens its Beautiful Sciences exhibit at Disneyland. 1999--After international criticism, Monsanto agrees not to commercialize "Terminator" seeds. 2000--Merges with Pharmacia & Upjohn, changes its name to Pharmacia Corporation. http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/05.11.00/cover/gen-food2-0019.html Best regards, Uncle John PS. Welcome back!
Some gains are being made, see below:- Seeds saved in Spoleto Nobody's going to become a millionaire but "San Fernando di Spoleto" and his Survivors have cast out The Weakest Links A rare tiff with the seed and biotech industries over intellectual property will leave the USA and Australia outside looking in on a new agricultural genetic resources treaty. Next steps: the FAO Commission in June and the World Food Summit in November? The following is a summary of the full three-page news release now available at RAFI's website www.rafi.org Following six days of bitter negotiations, governments are close to agreement on a binding treaty to conserve and share the genetic resources of the world's major food crops. Under the deal, which may be adopted by Heads of State at the World Food Summit in Rome November 9-15, governments will "facilitate access" to millions of scientifically important seed accessions stored in national and international gene banks. Central to the South's acceptance of the deal (which has pitted South against North for more than six years) is an industry offer to accept mandatory taxation of its global seed royalties for the crops to be "facilitated". The tax is to be ploughed back into agricultural development. The USA, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand adamantly oppose the tax scheme. Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Japan support the treaty. The negotiations were hosted by the Italian Government in the ancient Umbrian city of Spoleto, better known for its truffles than its seeds. Forty-one governments, industry, and civil society organizations attended as part of a UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) contact group to prepare the treaty for the 160 countries that are in the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA). The Commission convenes in Rome June 24-30 en route to the World Food Summit in November. Progress was achieved on all the tough topics. The list of crops whose exchange is to be "facilitated" by governments for scientific research expanded substantially. Constraints were established on intellectual property rights on the shared genetic resources. Steps were taken toward a more equitable sharing of benefits for developing countries and the international centers were invited to become major actors in benefit sharing. But the progress is not complete. Even before the contact group was created, the Venezuelan ambassador who chairs the Commission, Fernando Gerbasi, convened an informal consultation in Montreux, Switzerland. At the meeting, Gerbasi (who has now been dubbed San Fernando di Spoleto) unveiled his "Chairman's elements" for the treaty (currently known as the International Undertaking on Plant Genetic Resources). "The treaty is still not quite the full Monty," observers regret, "There remains very little real money on the table to promote the conservation and enhancement of agricultural biodiversity. Governments have failed to block all intellectual property incursions on food security. And, while the world's scientists and breeders will have access to humanity's most important crop germplasm, the world's farmers have got little from the deal. Farmers' Rights - a proposal made by civil society in 1985 and adopted by FAO in 1989, has been marginalized. "The words are great," observers agree, "but the strong language that gives farmers the right to save and exchange any seed under any conditions - a direct challenge to Monsanto's seed contracts and Terminator technology - is left to national legislation. There is no recognition of Farmers' Rights as a Human Right and an integral part of the Right to Food under UN covenants." Farmers organizations and civil society will be coming to the public FAO Commission meeting June 24-30 to protect the gains that have been won and to re-open the negotiations on Farmers' Rights. "If the negotiations can't be reopened, we will call for an extraordinary resolution from the Commission to send Farmers' Rights to the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights in Geneva. Since the USA seems to have little influence on the High Commission, there is a reasonable chance of making progress there," Pat Mooney of RAFI comments. Best regards, Uncle John
Canny believes a sanctuary is only as good as the people who abide by it. Since the Southern Ocean sanctuary was agreed in 1994, Japanese whalers have taken 2476 minke whales inside its boundaries. Japan objected to the sanctuary, and so, under commission rules, is not bound by it. Meanwhile, despite protests, Japan's gunners are setting their harpoons for more whales. Within weeks it will start killing bryde's and sperm whales for the first time in more than a decade. "People seem to forget that there is no leverage against Japan's scientific whaling," Phillips says. "They are still raising two fingers at the world." During an antagonistic press conference, Joji Morishita, the Japanese spokesman, was asked whether Japan ever tired of its pariah role. "We have been kicked around for the past 30 years," he said. "We are still strong, and we are seeing more understanding about our position. So we will not give up." http://www.theage.com.au/news/20000708/A58607-2000Jul7.html Best regards, Uncle John
Hiya everyone (this is from AnneNo1) I believe being a small prickle (or bindi) in the foot of those in power - lets keep the emails flowing ! Spread the word about Global Warming. Please take action by June 13, 2001 With thanks to Environmental Defense another action email for President Bush and Vice President Cheney! You can take action on this alert via email (for US residents) with just a few clicks at: http://actionnetwork.org/take-action.tcl?key=1554384A21110B0515034552C300 Below is a prewritten e-mail for countries outside the US written by me, feel free to edit as you wish! (change the "Nation" of concern at the very bottom and use cut and paste into your email package). President G W Bush president@whitehouse.gov cc Vice President Dick Cheney vice.president@whitehouse.gov Dear President Bush, I strongly oppose the National Energy Plan being developed behind closed doors. This Plan should be developed hand in hand with the people you represent, the public, and be open for public scrutiny and global debate. Keeping this Plan "private" allows the general public and global community to only respond to press reports, your comments during the presidential campaign and your budget proposals. Just last week, the "New York Times" reported that your energy plan virtually ignores a recent Department of Energy report (http://www.ornl.gov/ORNL/Energy_Eff/CEF.htm) showing that energy efficiency programs could save energy, energy costs and reduce the need to build hundreds of polluting power plants. This report also dispels the myth propagated by the Bush Administration that energy conservation will not help the U.S. achieve energy security. Mr Bush, You MUST do better. Rather than simply increase the use of these old failed approaches, you should instead dramatically increase investments in conservation, efficiency and renewable energy sources, and end subsidies for old, dirty power sources. A balanced, thoughtful energy strategy should move the US away from reliance on fossil fuels and nuclear power, not increase it. Your energy policy will result in: * Huge increases in the use of coal, oil and other fossil fuels that cause global warming. * The opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other public lands to drilling. Estimates show oil from the Arctic Refuge would provide for only a 180 day supply of oil, and the oil wouldn't reach consumers for at least 10 years. That is not enough oil to justify spoiling the Arctic Refuge, home to polar bears, caribou, grizzlies, and millions of migratory birds. The plan would also allow oil and gas drilling off our coastline and in our national forests, monuments and other protected places. * Increased subsidies to dirty coal, oil, and gas industries. These taxpayer handouts add to those already in place for many of the nation's worst polluters, including oil companies. * Increased air pollution by weakening Clean Air Act requirements. This means increased pollution from refineries and large coal-fired power plants. * Construction of new nuclear power plants. Nuclear power remains very expensive and generates highly radioactive waste, for which we have no safe storage solution. Also, the safety of nuclear power plants remains, to this day, uncertain. * Inadequate federal programs strengthening energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies programs. I oppose the National Energy Plan being developed behind closed doors. All of this comes after you have backed away from campaign promises to reduce greenhouse gases from power plants and you have withdrawn your nations participation in the Kyoto Protocol, the international treaty to combat global warming. Mr Bush, how can you sleep at night? Do you have any self-respect, or any respect at all for OUR home, the planet earth? Rather than giving in to pressure from the oil, coal and nuclear lobbies, lead the world toward a cleaner, healthier, more secure energy future. For the sake of our planet, future generations, and your own Soul! A greatly concerned Australian...
Go to link at the bottom to spread the word (by sending boycott e-cards or get your own yourname@boycottexxonmobil.zzn.com on our Site)and sign the boycott call online.
Boycott call against Exxon Mobil
In March of this year, George W. Bush announced that the United States would not ratify the Kyoto Treaty. Bush justified his rejection of the Kyoto Treaty stating it would not be in the best economic interests of the American people. It appears this rejection is more a response to Bush needing to payback the large corporations who paid for his presidential election campaign, namely Exxon Mobil.
Obviously, global warming is the most serious threat for the survival of humankind. The U.S. is the world's largest producer of greenhouse gas producing 25% of the worldwide C02 emissions with just 4% of the world's population.
Global warming is becoming more and more apparent. The warmest decade on record was the 1990's with 1998 being the warmest year ever. At this current trend, in less than 15 years, the glacier on Africa's Kilimanjaro, will melt.
At the beginning of this year, the IPCC (United States Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) discovered that the poorest parts of the world's population will suffer the greatest from the effects of global warming. People who depend on agriculture, fishing, and forestry will be devastated, and the inhabitants of the world's last rainforests will be doomed to watch their environment be destroyed by climate change. Furthermore, people will suffer from global warming worldwide. If we don't act now, we can expect to see a higher frequency of storms, floods and disastrous droughts as a result of climate changes. Famine and disease will spread further into developing countries, and streams of refugees will begin to flow outward.
In response to the irresponsible climate policy of George W. Bush and companies encouraging him to not ratify the Kyoto treaty, we feel forced to take action:
We support the consumer boycott called out at the 1st World Conference of the Green Parties, and we will help bring this idea into the public's mind by actions and through public relations.
This action campaign is organized by: Citizens For Legitimate Government. For more information, go to www.legitgov.org Stop Global Warming! For more information, go to www.globalwarming.isbad.net Five Reasons to Boycott Exxon Mobil 1. Exxon Mobil is the power behind George W. Bush. Exxon Mobil was a large donor of the Republican Party giving over one million dollars, more than all the other oil companies. Ninety-one percent of total contributions went to the Republican Party. 2. Exxon Mobil has been the most active company undermining the Kyoto Treaty. They employed advertising campaigns using so-called "open ads". 3. Exxon Mobil doesn't care about climate change and refuses to accept the link between their business and global warming. 4. Exxon Mobil has a history of misleading the public and their shareholders by employing selective, outdated or incorrect scientific studies. In cooperation with the American Petroleum Institute, they started a campaign to undermine the scientific consensus on the threat of climate change as it was established by the ICCP (United States Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). They spent 7 million dollars on this campaign. Exxon Mobil was also a member of the Global Climate Coalition. This lobby-organization has spent millions of dollars against efforts to stop global warming and continues to lobby against climate protection. The aggressive lobbying and the constant denial of global warming of the group caused so much anger that at the end of 1999 and beginning of 2000, a lot of big corporations like Ford, General Motors, and Texaco ended their membership of the Global Climate Coalition. But not Exxon Mobil. They were forced out after the group ended its corporate membership program, announcing that only Trade associations would be eligible for membership. In 1998 Exxon Mobil presented a petition signed by 17,000 so-called "scientists". Among the "scientists" who signed were people like Ginger Spice (Spice Girls) and some actors of the TV series, M.A.S.H. It's not quite clear what the scientific achievements of these people are. It was discovered later that this Exxon Mobil petition was being organized by the "Oregon Institute for Science and Medicine" headquartered in a tin shack! 5. Exxon Mobil doesn't believe renewable energy has a future. Even today, Exxon Mobil disputes the possibilities of renewable energy suggesting the "non-petroleum sources of energy" are merely "fashionable". Exxon Mobil doesn't invest, unlike other big-oil corporations, in renewable energy. Their CEO, Lee Raymond, said in Beijing in 1997, "With no readily available economic alternatives on the horizon, fossil fuels will continue to supply most of the world's energy needs for the foreseeable future."
If Bush listens only to the big oil corporations, then we have to make the big oil corporations listen to us! Stop Global Warming! Boycott Exxon Mobil!
Support this worldwide boycott call by signing it online! Follow Link at the bottom for signing it and loads of information about Exxon Mobil, boycott e-cards and yourname@boycottexxonmobil.zzn.com free e-mailaccounts to spread the word! http://globalwarming.isbad.net
Hello all, the following is an extract from the tips given on the Tibetan Government in Exile site, and I found them useful. The link is given below for those that want to read the whole thing. It it is important for you to write your letter in your own words and not just send off a pre-written letter. It will come across to your Congressman/Senator/MP as more genuine and heartfelt if you do it yourself. Also, the Foreign Office/State Departments keep a log of all letters, so they will easily pick up on standard letters. It will help your local group to build its reputation if you mention you are a member of group. Please do not be afraid of writing to your Congressman/Senator/MP. They are used to getting letters; indeed, they use them to gauge what their constituents are concerned about. It really helps to be polite and constructive. Congressmen/Senators/MPs, like anyone else, do not like being abused or harangued. Assume they are going to help. At the same time, be firm and put forward a well thought through argument. It is also vital to be accurate and not to exaggerate. What is happening in Tibet and the justice of the Tibetan peoples' cause is a strong enough case on its own without adding unnecessary embroidery. It is important to ask your Congressman/Senator/MP to do something: answer a question, contact the Foreign Secretary/Secretary of State, find something out for you or support something. http://www.tibet.com/Action/letguide.html Best regards, Uncle John
I know this is not a political site, but good news is good news wherever it comes from, and one man has been able to achieve what thousands of activists have been striving for. By changing political allegiance, Senator Jim Jeffords has changed the balance of power in the US Senate. This has effectively put a brake on Bush's activities, and he will have to steer a much more moderate course. This does not mean that we no longer need to do anything. On the contrary, now is the time to push, and push hard. But it is great to know that we have had some help on the inside. If anyone wants to contact him, the e-mail address is vermont@jeffords.senate.gov. As he now effectively holds the balance of power in the US Senate, and is mush more sympathetic to the Environment, he is a great guy to have on our side. Best regards, Uncle John
A new action has been requested targetting a new development by Shell in Nigeria, a country that has already taken a severe bashing, and doesn't need any more. We do not need any more 'risky' projects in this world, there are far too many already. Please act now!<.strong>
mail from Project Underground <cbaldi@moles.org> Fri, 01 Jun 2001 17:44:06 -0700 to englishdrillbits@topica.com subject ACTION ALERT: IFC to fund Shell Oil Contractors in the Niger Delta
Dear Friends,
The World Bank has announced a plan to approve a US$15 million to a financial intermediary that would provide subcontracting service to Shell Oil Corporation in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. The loan would be provided by the International Financial Corporation IFC), the private sector lending arm of the World Bank. PLEASE TAKE ACTION: The loan is set to be voted on and approved on Tuesday, June 5th. Please fax letters to your country representative on the World Bank Board of Executive Directors who will vote on the project.
(SOURCE: "World Bank's IFC to Fund 'Risky' Project Involving Shell in Nigeria," Press Release: Institute for Policy Studies, Friends of the Earth, May 24, 2001)
**Your faxes and letters are truly effective - please take a moment to do this***
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ May 30, 2001
Jan Piercy Executive Director World Bank Group Fax: 202-477-2967
We are writing to express our extreme dismay with the prospect of a $15 million IFC loan to financial intermediaries that would lend money to SMEs providing services to Shell Petroleum.
Since Shell discovered oil in the Niger Delta in 1958, its oil production has devastated the Delta environment. The Niger Delta is one of the world's largest wetlands. Petroleum production and oil spills have resulted in severe water contamination with lethal effects to a variety of aquatic species and destruction of mangrove forests, upon which the Ogoni, Ijaw, Urhobo, Egi and other fishers and farmers depend for their livelihood. The 43 years of oil spills in the Niger Delta are the equivalent of ten times the infamous Exxon Valdez spill.
Lest you are taken in by Shell's recent efforts to greenwash itself, please note that Shell's most recent spill was on May 9, 2001.
When the Ogoni people began speaking out against Shell in the early 1990s, Shell colluded with the Nigerian government to brutally repress this movement. The repression, which is ongoing, culminated in the militarization of Ogoni territory and the hanging of nine Ogoni activists convicted by a military tribunal in a sham trial that has been internationally condemned. A wrongful death suit against Shell brought by families of the murdered environmentalists is moving forward in the U.S. federal court.
It is appalling to think that the IFC, under the guise of Nigerian financial sector/SME development, would consider financing a project that would inevitably lead to further environmental degradation and human rights abuses.
As noted in the IFC's project summary, "There is a perception among the local communities that the benefits of the oil wealth that is produced in the area have passed them by." The summary, however, gives no indication how this project would do anything other than worsen the already deplorable environmental, economic and social conditions suffered by the indigenous peoples of the Niger Delta.
The IFC and World Bank have a number of environmental and social safeguard policies purportedly designed to ensure the integrity of Bank projects. These policies include detailed guidelines for community consultation at every stage of project conception and implementation. The fact that this project provides indirect financing through an intermediary should in no way eliminate the need for full compliance with these policies.
It is our understanding that neither the Ogoni nor any other Niger Delta communities have been consulted about their views on this project. We further understand that a number of Nigerian groups have called on the World Bank to abandon this project and to discontinue lending and strategic support to unsustainable oil and mining activities that destroy their environment and impoverish their peoples. We wholeheartedly join in this call and demand that the World Bank respect the vehement opposition of the community to Shell's deadly activities in the Niger Delta.
Sincerely,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your Time....But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together." - unknown
"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." -- George Orwell
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Best regards, Uncle John
Protests at Exxon Mobil Shareholdersmeeting in Dallas (USA)
At May 30 actions took place in- and outside of the Exxon Mobil shareholdersmeeting in Dallas (USA). They also anounced a global action day against Exxon Mobil (Esso) on July the 11th.
Early morning drivers and ExxonMobil shareholders gathering
in Dallas were met by a reclaimed billboard with a 3-d
penguin and the message "exon mobil polar ice caps
"r" melting support the kyoto protocol".
This message kicked off a festival of resistance
outside the annual shareholders meeting to bring attention
to Exxons' continued human rights, and environmental abuses
among other issues.
Shareholders and activists including Bianca Jagger, former wife of Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger, spoke for more than two hours in support of proposals that asked the company to amend its employment policy to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation, change executive-pay policies and add renewable energy sources to its energy mix.
"We will boycott your products, and we will not put a tiger in your tank," she said, referring to a longtime Exxon advertising slogan.
A few voiced louder protests during the tightly controlled meeting.
As shareholders started drifting out during the question and answer period, two protesters were quickly escorted out when they unfurled a banner and started chanting, "Exxon Mobil kills for oil." (More here: Bannerdrop: Exxon Mobil Kills for oil!)
About 200 (Reuters pressagency played the figuere down to between 50-100) protesters wielding props and waving banners supporting renewable energy were also gathered outside. Last year there where only 15 protesters at the Exxon Mobil shareholders meeting.
The onlineactions at the Exxon Mobil website have been a bit difficult. Exxon Mobil was probebly a bit scared. They removed all their E-Mail forms on their website yesterday!
Pressrelease may 30
Bannerdrop: Exxon Mobil kills for oil!
Pressurepoint drops a giant banner reading: "ExxonMobil: Stop Killing for Oil" inside the annual meeting of ExxonMobil shareholders in Texas. Read the story below the picture. (Sorry for the bad picture....)
Pressurepoint unfurled a twenty-by-ten foot banner during the ExxonMobil Shareholder Meeting at the Myerson Symphony Center in Dallas today. The banner read “ExxonMobil: Stop Killing for Oil” in blood red lettering. It was unfurled from the top level of the amphitheater while CEO Lee Raymond attempted to defend ExxonMobil’s support for the controversial Chad-Cameroon pipeline project. Activists Chris Doran and David Cobb chanted “ExxonMobil stop killing for oil,” effectively drowning out Raymond’s soliloquoy on the company’s human rights record. Both were then escorted out by police and released. Meanwhile a crowd of about 200 people gathered for a festival of resistance before and during the meeting.
“ExxonMobil is the most profitable corporation in the world, but it is morally bankrupt,” said Pressurepoint activist Chris Doran. “ExxonMobil is the target of world outrage over its abuse of corporate power, and this banner serves notice that their safe haven of wealth and privilege no longer exists.” Pressurepoint is a Seattle-based non-profit organization committed to redefining corporate power through grassroots, non-violent direct action.
“This action is a declaration of independence from corporate rule,” said Texas Green Party State Secretary David Cobb.
Earlier in the meeting, Raymond was dismissive of Acehnese activist Radhi Darmansyah. Darmansyah had pleaded with the corporation to acknowledge its complicity in atrocities occurring in the Indonesian province of Aceh and to take immediate steps to end them. When Darmansyah ran over the two-minute time limit for comment, Raymond cut him off, suggesting that if Darmansyah wanted to finish his comment, he could come back next time, implying next year’s Annual Shareholder Meeting.
Pressurepoint’s Chris Doran announced to shareholders that they were the target of an International Day of Action on July 11 as part of an ongoing campaign on climate change and corporate power. Working in a broad coalition, Pressurepoint has already confirmed 100 protests at ExxonMobil gas stations in 15 countries. A representative from the UK Stop Esso campaign told shareholders about the growing ExxonMobil boycott in Europe. Shareholders also heard from a number of individuals speaking to resolutions designed to make the corporation more accountable for its actions. These included people of color living near the corporation’s refineries, representatives of the religious and gay and lesbian communities, opponents of the corporation’s plans to drill in the National Arctic Wildlife Refuge, and a large number who are incensed at the corporation’s intentionally misleading comments on climate change, as well as its undemocratic influence on President George W Bush, which has re!
sulted in a disastrous US policy on climate change and energy.
More information about the boycottcampaign & the global action day at july 11th : http://www.globalwarming.isbad.net">http://www.globalwarming.isbad.net
Although not yet available in hard copy, the full copy is available on the internet. The NAS Press release is at: http://www4.nationalacademies.org/news.nsf/(ByDocID)/854F0F191BB3912385256A6300697720?OpenDocument
This URL also leads to the full text of report.The NAS does confirm that global warming is likely occurring and that the policies proposed now, will likely have effects in this century.
Two weeks ago over 4,000 Greenpeace cyberactivists took action and sent e-mail to Ford Motor Company to tell Ford to stop working to kill the Kyoto Global Warming Treaty.
Your involvement is working! Ford is furious that we are targeting them to clean up their environmental act, arguing that they are doing everything that they can.
One thing is clear: Ford can come out in support of the Kyoto global warming treaty right now.
This Saturday, June 30th, Greenpeace is staging a national day of action in which members and activists will leaflet Ford dealerships across the country to educate consumers about Ford's role in killing the Kyoto Global Warming Treaty.
****** Take Action Online ****** If you haven't already, send a letter to Ford asking them to support the Kyoto Global Warming Treaty.
****** Get involved offline! ****** Print out an action kit at: www.greenpeaceusa.org/features/fortune100.htm and join us in leafleting your local dealership.
Please take a minute to join us and call your local dealership and tell them that you are shocked that Ford is opposing the Kyoto Global Warming Treaty.
one of the characteristics of the modern culture in the developed world is the lack of ability to entertain oneself. When we have had a hard day at the office, or wherever, the last thing that we want to do is to have to 'work' at entertainment. The easiest solution is to grab the remote, and select a channel, fall into a comfortable chair - and relax! Unfortunately, even with the multiplicity of choice that now exists, and here I quote from a well-known song, "13 channels of 'shit' on the TV to choose from", (Pink Floyd - Nobody Home), the end effect is ultimately boredom. The same old stuff, served up yet again in a new guise, no longer 'does it' for us.
It is important to note that this is a cultural aspect. Within the culture itself, there are only two exceptions that I have seen to the saturation effect:- one is because of a so-called "mental problem", and the other is because of a "drugs problem". Under these conditions, a person may be perfectly happy to listen to the same song again and again, all day long. Apparently the saturation effect does not exist for them, (but it may drive anyone in earshot completely wild)! To a lesser extent, the same is true of other cultures, but there the concept of a constantly changing "Top Ten" or whatever is not (yet !!!) embodied in the entertainment industry. They are, in fact, too busy with the task of survival!
Producers have a never-ending battle against this saturation effect. The mark of a successful producer is to find something new to titillate the interest of the viewers, and get them watching avidly - week after week. The "ratings" are everything in this game, for that is where the big money is to be made. The effect is to drive the entertainment in the "bigger and better" direction, with more risk, more violence and ever more extremes.
The result with the projected Survivor III series in Africa, is a direct clash with the environment.
"It is unfortunate that the CBS Evening News story failed to mention one of the more highly visible examples of how animal mistreatment can occur when an entertainment production is made outside of the U.S. and outside of AHA's jurisdiction: "Survivor II." The recent killing of a pig on this "reality" program, produced by CBS, only highlights the dangers animals can face on entertainment productions when the proper safety oversight is not in place. AHA's mission compels us to continue working with the entertainment industry to help find ways to protect animals on such productions. Letters sent to the president of CBS, Les Moonves, and to the show's producer, Mark Burnett, by American Humane Association have been met with no response."
"I have a feeling with Africa ..." Haskell said, on the phone from her Washington, D.C.-area home. "I get nervous that the third one's in Africa, to be truthful. "That's not a continent that you mess around with. I think (Survivor executive producer) Mark Burnett is going to keep pushing the envelope, but that's very serious."
A Democratic senator in Florida, Bill Nelson, pledged to seek Senate action to block the sale of the leases when Congress returned from its 4 July recess.
"It's obvious what the Bush administration is doing," he said.
"They're listening to the oil industry that supports their drilling plan and not listening to the millions of Floridians who oppose it. Floridians simply don't want waves of oil lapping onto our shores."
It has been roundly condemned by environmentalists, and in congress, which last month voted to block any attempts to lease coastal waters for drilling.
Public opinion polls also show President Bush's energy policy is not going down well with the American people, who perceive the administration as being more worried about its friends in the oil industry, than it is about protecting the environment.
Endquote
The background to these stories can be found in an article entitled Bush brothers clash over oil from April.
US President George Bush has clashed with his younger brother Jeb, the Governor of Florida, over plans to allow oil and gas exploration in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.
President Bush's Interior Secretary, Gale Norton, has rejected a plea from Jeb Bush to cancel a planned auction of oil and gas leases in the area.
But the Florida governor has voiced concerns that if drilling goes ahead in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, it could harm the state's environment and image as a vacation paradise.
Endquote
Another Quote:
The lease sale is scheduled for December and would be the first such auction since 1988.
The governor, who is seeking re-election, on Wednesday renewed his plea not to extend offshore oil and gas drilling to the eastern Gulf of Mexico.
Endquote
So...
Firstly, there is a strength of public opinion in Florida against oil drilling Although this could just be a case of Not in MY backyard syndrome, and they are perfectly happy for oil drilling to go ahead elsewhere where they don't have to see it, they do need to be reminded that Oil Drilling leads to Oil Burning which leads to Global Warming, which affects everybody on the planet including themselves.
Secondly, an election for Governor of Florida is looming Public opinion could be agitated enough to cause headlines all round the USA and result in public embarrasment for George W Bush. Playing up the mini-feud between George and Jeb over this issue could see journalists fighting to see who can grab the biggest headlines, and it is up to us to see that Global Warming and the Kyoto Protocol get widely mentioned in those headlines and articles. This is an information war we are fighting...
Thirdly, the leases for licences to drill for oil and gas come up for sale in December 2001 The US Senate, with the co-operation of Bill Nelson, needs to be encouraged to block the sale.
Please go to this web-site and sign the petition - there are over 20,000 of us signed up to the Greenpeace CyberActivist Centre, yet this petition that has been mentioned here 4 or 5 times still has only 683 signatures - strangely one fewer than when I checked the site yesterday...
Hello! I red that the ice over europe (for a lot of years ago) did cool down the intire planet whith manny degrece. If we, all over the world had wite roads exc, coud we change the climate? If annybodey know, plees answer! /Edmund
The communication can be downloaded in PDF format in any of 11 langauges. With this knowledge any member of the European Union is able to check in their local area if the guidelines are being implemented at all / partially / correctly, and to take appropriate action at local level if a discrepancy is found. Best regards Uncle John
An answer to a problem that had been bothering me for many years was possibly triggered by recent exchanges on the subject of ethics on this board.
The problem should be stated first, of course.
The price of land, per square metre or whatever, is determined partly by it's position, and partly by it's use. There is generally no direct regulation of the price, but it finds it's own level in the market according to the dictates of supply and demand. The use, or classification, serves generally to decide how much tax will be due per square metre per annum, or whatever, and the taxation level is usually based on an expected income level from the land.
The progression is:-
Agricultural
Residential
Industrial /Commercial
(I have put Industrial and Commercial together in one category, but they may be in separate ones in different countries).
The above progression, with Agricultural land having the lowest rate of taxation, to Commercial/Industrial which has the highest, is not defined by Nature, but by Man. Not by Mankind in general, but by the few in power. And it is this way round not because the order was decided in terms of absolute value, but by financial gain. Naturally enough, the price per square metre follows the same progression, with agricultural land being the cheapest.
This progression unfortunately leads naturally to speculation, to cheating, to corruption, and for some, to death. Quarrels over land have been the major causes of not only personal conflicts and family feuds, but also of fullscale wars. Land conflicts are still with us to this present day, and there is no indication that they will ever cease unless something is done to radically change the status quo.
As far as Nature is concerned, the progression is exactly the wrong way round!
If we accept that, then there is a immediately a new concept for redefining the taxation base. In fact, to be more fair to the non-human inhabitants of the earth, the number of categories should also be revised. I therefore propose the following on the basis of the greatest good for the greatest number, without restricting that proviso to Humans only.
1. Nature Reserves. (Man has little or no influence, and the land has maximum benefit to the planet as a whole)
2. Managed Forests. (Man uses Nature's bounty as wisely as possible, but there is an ecological impact that should be accounted for)
3. Agricultural Land. (Man is changing the environmental conditions of these areas completely. Other inhabitants of the earth are generally unwanted and are excluded as far as possible. The impact on the ecology may need to be assessed according to the type of crops being grown, how much fertiliser is applied, whether 'organic farming methods are applied or biotechnolgy etc.)
4. Residential Land. (Here there is a much higher ecological impact, as the land is no longer available for Nature or food growth, and it's ecological value has decreased substantially. Not only is the land now unproductive, and will be for the foreseeable future, but it is an immediate source of pollution. Furthermore, where agricultural land has been used for residential purposes, and land that could never successfully be used for agriculture, ie. hillsides, infertile soil, is available but has been ignored, a penalty taxation level should be applied)
5. Commercial Retail. (This refers to shopping areas, especially Supermarkets, and even more to Hypermarkets. Although the level of direct pollution may be argueably less than for residential land, it is still not available for Nature or crops. In addition, the indirect pollution level is much higher. Indirect pollution occurs because these areas are centrally sited, and customers must invariably use some form of transportation to reach them, and get their purchases back home again)
6. Commercial Industrial. (Once again, this land is excluded from Nature and crop growth purposes. Furthermore, industrial pollution is among the most damaging in terms of ecological impact)
7. Mines. (The most notorious of polluters, mines are legend as ecological disaster areas. Not only should the taxation level reflect this, but there should be stringent requirements on pollution control, and restoration after closure)
8. Speculative Land. (With so many people going hungry in the world, not to use land is virtually a criminal offence. Any of the categories from 3 to 7 above could be additionally classified as "Unused, or Speculative". The answer to this problem comes from present-day practice in Germany. Allow a period of grace, normally 2 years, and then double the taxes. I would suggest an addition every year thereafter!)
In addition to the reclassification above, there is still a requirement to hinder, or better still make very difficult, the re-classification of land from one category to another in the upwards direction. This could be done by stipulating a review by non-involved persons that are randomly drawn from well outside the area in question. This may prevent coercion and bribery.
Conversely, the re-classification in the upwards direction would also be subject to review, but be rewarded by a tax rebate or a tax reduction for a defined period.
The meeting in Bonn has started, and the outcome is extremely important for ALL of us, (Bush included).
There is still chance to influence the outcome, not with protest, but with Encouragement, with Exhortation, with Positive Suggestions, with Hope, and with Prayer.
We need Japan to sign up, but Japan needs to rely on Carbon Sinks, and they have been shown to be ineffective.
"There are four key areas, with the role of carbon sinks probably the trickiest.
Another is funding for developing countries, for technology transfer and to help them to cope with the impacts of climate change. Mr Pronk has suggested $1bn a year for this.
A third problem area includes the system for buying and selling emission rights - "carbon trading" - and how far developed countries can pay to reduce emissions in the developing world and then offset the results against their own targets."
If the alternatives to Carbon Sinks that we have proposed on this board can be used instead, and they may well be better accepted by the EU, it will possibly clear three of the four problems!
The fourth, that of ensuring compliance, will be there whatever happens.
Ms. Yoriko Kawaguchi, Japanese Minister of the Environment, made a positive impression with a statement on April 9, 2001. The last paragraph:-
"Japan reaffirms its will to continue urging, with other countries, the U.S. administration to reconsider its position on the Protocol and to actively contribute to negotiations so that the outcome of the resumed COP6 will allow the Protocol to be ratified."
She can be reached at:- MOE@env.go.jp eanet@eic.or.jp (unless she is attending the meeting in Bonn, but email may be forwarded to her).
The meeting itself can be followed at the Official Website:- Official Website
with lots of information, including webcasts. The one thing that is missing is a 'Contact' facility.
For that you will need to use the UNFCCC contact facility, and request them to forward the mail.
I will try to get a representative letter on the board as soon as possible, but I am a day behind due to circumstances beyond my control.
This action is important for two reasons;- 1. To keep our planet in good condition, and 2. To show that we do not need the US to do everything for us,(however wellmeant it may be).
"President Bush has indicated his determination to press ahead with a missile defence shield and maintain his opposition to the Kyoto agreement on reducing greenhouse gases."
it seems that the "energy crisis" in the USA did not last long enough to suit Bush's purpose.
"The administration frequently has spoken in terms of a crisis when trying to rally support for developing more oil, natural gas and coal as well as building more power plants and nuclear reactors.
But gasoline prices have declined by 30 cents a gallon since their high in mid-May to a national average of $1.41 a gallon, 13 cents lower than last summer at this time, says the Energy Department. Natural gas prices, after hitting $10 a thousand cubic feet last December have dropped to the $3 range.
Even in California, the crisis environment over energy has eased. Dire warnings of countless days of blackouts this summer have not materialized and electricity prices have declined dramatically. There have been no blackouts since early May in California with more power expected to come on line from several new plants in the coming weeks.
In response, the president and his surrogates shifted gear slightly and warned that short-term improvements do not mean long-term energy problems are solved.
Hi,Please read this story on:http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/newsid_1440000/1440631.stm which refutes Bush's claim that ratifying the Kyoto Treaty would damage economies. In fact the implication is that Bush is going to set back US industries, by misleading them into not acting to develop renewable energy sources.
Quotes: But the report says unilateral implementation of the protocol by the EU could give its industries a head start in developing new technologies to cut emissions.
It says the EU could achieve from 85% to 95% of its Kyoto target without damaging its economic competitiveness, "with smart policies being able to offset the remaining competitive impacts". Endquotes
Also see this page from Honda's R&D in USA, where they have built a Solar Powered Hydrogen Production Fueling Station in Torrance California.
Glad to see a major car manufacturer is actually doing something about superceding gas guzzlers
Perhaps we could get a group email together congratulating Honda on their progress, and expressing an interest on when cars utilising Hydrogen are going to reach their showrooms.
"In an historic deal, 178 countries have agreed how to tackle climate change."
At last we can move forward! The following text must have been the reporter's own interpretaion, but to me he obviously doesn't realise the greater significance behind it!
"In its present form, though, it is more of a symbol than a battle cry."
I am fully aware of how hard everyone has working, both in front of and behind the scenes, to make this historic agreement in Bonn at all possible.
I think that the time has come to show the Activist Community's appreciation of their efforts!
Can you please arrange an e-mail for general distribution, or perhaps you would consider it better to mail to individual persons?
Whichever way is preferred, I consider it necessary not only to show our appreciation, but also to demonstrate that we are thinking human beings that don't nag all the time!
it is generally accepted that Wars are among the worst causes of environmental destruction. As such, they should be avoided wherever possible.
Unfortunately, human nature being what it is, it is not always possible to do that, and when a conflict does occur, we need to take a path that has minimum impact on suffering and the environment.
One would have thought that the U.S.A. would have learned that lesson by now - but no. True, they have made changes in strategy:- they no longer use their own forces; the dirty jobs are now out-sourced to Para-Military Security Companies, (a new name for Mercenaries), which conveniently enables the Government to abdicate all responsibility for personnel, and whatever atrocities they may commit!
Not content with the ocean of Agent Orange spread over Vietnam, (whose unfortunate inhabitants are still suffering from the dire effects of residual contamination 30 years later), the U.S.A. is now busy defoliating Colombia with a new product from that infamous witches cauldron Monsanto - Glyphosate!
Unfortunately, in addition to destroying the Coca, it is also destroying edible crops planted under six separate alternative-development programs sponsored by the U.N. Development Program, European governments and the Colombian government itself. It's effect will also linger in the soil for an unknown period, preventing further crops being grown.
This has to be the ultimate folly:- funding a constructive program with taxpayer's money in one direction, and then negating the progress achieved with more taxpayer's money in the other!
'Colombian Labyrinth', a report by the Rand Corporation think-tank, says current US strategy in Colombia misses the point that the insurgents are taking over large parts of the country.
"The United States should help Colombia combat Marxist insurgents rather than focus on fighting drug trafficking," the new report says.
This report unfortunately also misses the point by miles, and is in itself flawed. The ultimate failure is that of the U.S. administration to curb the demand for drugs in it's own country.
And others must suffer because of it? This must be one of the worst examples of misguided strategy, and clearly demonstrates the inability to admit to one's own failings!
If there is a desire on the part of a section of the population in another country to change it's way of government, exactly what has that got to do with the U.S.? People who are dissatisfied and hungry are very likely to look for alternative solutions to their plight. To make their situation worse is only going to compound the problems.
And that is exactly what the U.S. is going to do next! Read the article at:-
with Democracy functioning as it does in the U.S., the present balance of power between the President and the Senate gives us hope for preventing the worst excesses.
The Senate looks as though it will cooperate with the rest of the world; see:-
However, if Bush has his way, whatever democratic process may possibly help us will be scuppered - blown out of the water!
Refer to:- The PuppetMasters Part 2 !!!
"As the House prepares to debate energy legislation, conservation-minded Republicans are calling for a greater emphasis on energy efficiency and environmental protection.
"We are focused on getting the Republican Party back on track toward a responsible energy plan," said Martha Marks, a Lake County, Ill., commissioner who is president of Republicans for Environmental Protection.
The new group, called Republicans for a responsible Energy Plan, hopes to bolster moderate Republicans in Congress who are aiming to make the energy legislation expected on the House floor next week more environmentally friendly."
Indonesia, the world's fourth-most populous nation has endured a rough ride, but it is likely to get rougher.
It was never going to be an easy task to steer Indonesia following 30 years of autocratic rule by former President Suharto.
With hundreds of ethnic groups scattered across 13,000 islands, an ailing economy, and a huge population largely living in poverty, building a more democratic and robust nation was bound to involve a struggle.
With President Wahid gone, and Megawati now at the helm, things may be a little different, but in the assessment of Doug Ramage of the Asia Foundation in Jakarta:-
"Megawati's vision of Indonesia is not appreciably different from her father's", he says.
"This is Indonesia as a unified nation state, where, if anything, decentralisation is slowed down and very few concessions if any are given to separatists in Irian Jaya or in Aceh - which could be a problem for her".
And now, after a long struggle with ExxonMobil in Aceh, the struggle will soon escalate to Riau, with Caltex as the new target.
Indonesia, the world's fourth-most populous nation has endured a rough ride, but it is likely to get rougher.
It was never going to be an easy task to steer Indonesia following 30 years of autocratic rule by former President Suharto.
With hundreds of ethnic groups scattered across 13,000 islands, an ailing economy, and a huge population largely living in poverty, building a more democratic and robust nation was bound to involve a struggle.
With President Wahid gone, and Megawati now at the helm, things may be a little different, but in the assessment of Doug Ramage of the Asia Foundation in Jakarta:-
"Megawati's vision of Indonesia is not appreciably different from her father's", he says.
"This is Indonesia as a unified nation state, where, if anything, decentralisation is slowed down and very few concessions if any are given to separatists in Irian Jaya or in Aceh - which could be a problem for her".
And now, after a long struggle with ExxonMobil in Aceh, the struggle will soon escalate to Riau, with Caltex as the new target.
The new government is caught between a rock and a very hard place. It needs money, and it has resources to sell. If it continues to ignore the demands of it's people, however, new conflict is already pre-programmed.
Note also:- "ExxonMobil has just resumed gas production in Aceh, northern Sumatra, after a five-month suspension caused by violence between separatist guerrillas and the army."
And:-
"A human rights group sued Exxon Mobil in federal court yesterday, accusing the company of complicity in human rights abuses committed by state security forces that protect its large natural gas field in Indonesia."
If anyone has some ideas on how this problem can be defused, please get them on the board as fast as possible! And some useful links would also be a help.
there are precedents, but we are still waiting to see how most of the outcomes will go. Legal matters are notorious for the amount of time they consume, and the old saying "Justice delayed is justice denied" is still as true as ever.
"One of the most basic principles in law is that if someone does you harm, two things should happen. First, the aggressor should stop what they are doing and, second, they should provide compensation for the harm they have caused. Apply this most simple principle to the turbulent theatre of international relations and a startling picture emerges."
"There are also useful precedents. A now classic case that arose over pollution from a Canadian smelter plant polluting Washington State in the US led, through arbitration, to the principle that states had a duty to protect other states, and that no state had the right to act in a way that might cause injury by "fumes" to another. Under the UN international law commission's draft declaration on state responsibility, US greenhouse gas emissions could constitute an international crime."
There may be one small hindrance to this proposal, however. The U.S., in true isolationist style, has decided that international law does not apply to the U.S., as it could infringe American's constitutional rights!
The US fears that the ICC would trample roughshod over Americans' constitutional rights, particularly in respect of US servicemen involved in overseas conflict. Congress has already passed an act giving the US government power to "rescue", by force if necessary, American citizens who might in future be taken up by the court.
The ICC, the United Nations Criminal Court, was founded in Rome in 1998 but cannot be launched until 60 of the 95 state signatories ratify the treaty.
So far, about 30, including Britain, have done so. The last two to ratify the treay were New Zealand, and Sierra Leone, (unless I misunderstood something). Others, notably the US, say they will not.
Indeed, the Bush administration is currently debating whether to campaign actively against ratification by other countries.
you may think that the title is taking an extremely cycnical approach, but consider the following:-
1. If your objective is global control via the food chain, Genetic Modificiation with Intellectual Property Rights Protection is the first step.
2. The next step is to "create a crisis" by stating that the world will be unable to support it's population if nothing is done to increase food production, (conveniently ignoring the real problems of distribution).
3. Natural disasters are already on your side, as they create localized food shortages. To expediate matters, however, Nature could use a little help.
4. Landmines are an excellent choice! Never mind the human suffering - it's not 'our' humans! You can provide jobs, earn export dollars, and block perfectly good farmland, (or let others do it for you - even better), by selling Landmines to whoever wants them.
Fantastic for Business!
5. And just to close the loop, and make it look as though you are really concerned, offer Landmine Clearance Assistance. You may even be able to pick up a few extra dollars there!
If you think the foregoing is really unbelievable, consider the following:-
Why does the U.S. reserve the right to sell whichever weapons it wants to whomever it wants?
Why does the U.S. refuse to recognize the International Treaty on Landmines?
This appears to be the brainchild of Sir Richard Branson, a friend of Princess Diana, and one of the very few people that seem to be concerned about helping others, as well as making money for himself.
He has unveiled plans to use airships equiooed with a specially developed radar system to clear landmines from former war zones.
"The innovative radar equipment has been developed by an agency of the UK Ministry of Defence, the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA). Virgin has funded the technology so far, and the trials, described as "extremely promising", have been carried out using some of Sir Richard's fleet of 14 "lightships"."
More about this very welcome development can be read at:- Mineseeker
As for the statistics themselves:-
Mine facts 120 million mines deployed worldwide One million mines buried in 1997 100,000 mines made safe in 1997 Clearing all mines in Croatia at current rate would take 690 years
Worldwide landmines kill or maim 70 people per day.
The United Nations says an area equivalent to France and Germany is currently rendered unusable by minefields, including prime agricultural land in countries such as Mozambique.
There are at least 64 affected countries, including some where minefields date back to the World War II.
Let's get this gruesome business out in the open, and show the perpetrators for the monsters that they really are!
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (AP) -- The PNG government is under pressure to mount a major emergency effort for people starving on northeastern islands that are being swamped by rising sea levels and monsoon rains.
Some 50,000 people are believed to be facing starvation on the Carterets atolls and on neighboring Bougainville island, which has been hit by fierce monsoon rains, provincial officials said.
Senior local official Francis Kabano said his appeals for food and other aid have been ignored by the government's National Disaster and Emergency Service.
just a few new thoughts on the global situation as a result of the recent fires in the U.S.
The rest of the world has gone ahead with the Kyoto Protocol, with some countries relying heavily on the possibility of using Carbon Sinks as a means of meeting their requirement.
We know from scientific research that forests are not quite the best type of Carbon Sink that they were once thought to be, but they are better than nothing.
Taking the viewpoint that the Atmoshere is a Global Common, which it logically must be, as it is all pervasive and not under human control, it would seem a reasonable extension to say that anything that affects the Atmosphere significantly is a global concern, and not just an internal matter for the country in which it happens.
How about losing a million acres of forest?
Looking that the reports, the U.S. can probably count itself fortunate if it manages to stop the fires at a million acres; it could go even higher!
The problem here is twofold:- not only are we losing whatever carbon reduction capacity that forest area may have, but also the actual burning of wood is pushing a lot more carbon into the atmosphere than was there already!
It doesn't stop there, unfortunately.
Plan Colombia is designed to reduce or control the supply of drugs coming out of that country, but note:-
"Critics charge the widespread spraying of herbicide is harming the environment and making people sick. Mark, from his bird's eye perspective, said he has seen farmers burning down the rainforest to replace their fumigated coca fields."
(Mark is one of the mercenary pilots contracted by the U.S. government).
Its time to take it to the streets!I agree that letter writing campaigns, and boycotts can be an effective way of coercing the global political and corporate leadership to change their policy on climate change. However, the most effective way of getting the attention of the mass media and population is to stage mass gatherings in prominent public places. Where I live, this is rarely done, it a more grass roots type of politics that North Ameriica is in great need of. There are many possibilities, but one which I prefer (using Toronto as an example) is to gather as many cyclists and pedestrians as possible in a downtown park. A rally would be held there, from which point the group would (legal or not) enter a road, blocking off traffic and proceed to march to our provincial legislature and/or city hall. Once there the rally would start again, right in the politicians backyard, and hopefuly with the attention of the media. This could be done in any city and would require substantial preparation mainly so that there would be sufficient time to spread the word about the rally. This is a dramatic, meaningful and effecrive way of bringing climate change to the forefront of global issues.
Having just sent an email to the American EA concerning car exhaust emissions via a link from the climate group website it struck me that we should really also be sending the same advice to the equivalents of the US EA in other nations with heavy traffic. For any Brits out there who might want to do this you should contact SEPA for Scotland(http://www.sepa.org.uk/contact/email.htm)or your local authority in England and Wales. Might be a pointless gesture but maybe worth a try.
Human Contact
by Fresh Optik on 26 August 2001 @ 06:24 AM
This internet discussion group is a great idea for exchanging ideas from around the World, but its about as efficient as an automobile when it comes to actually getting things moving. We should use it for another kind of discussion- in person. Anyone interested in the idea please respond, and we should organise some meetings, for anyone interested in constructive discussion and arguement. I could help out with anything in the Toronto area if anyone's interested.
Human Contact
by Fresh Optik on 26 August 2001 @ 06:24 AM
This internet discussion group is a great idea for exchanging ideas from around the World, but its about as efficient as an automobile when it comes to actually getting things moving. We should use it for another kind of discussion- in person. Anyone interested in the idea please respond, and we should organise some meetings, for anyone interested in constructive discussion and arguement. I could help out with anything in the Toronto area if anyone's interested.
not everybody has the priviledge of being able to make such comparative observations, but for those few that can view the Earth from space over a period of some 11 years, their opinion is of value.
"Commander Frank Culbertson - who has just begun a four-month tour on the ISS - told the Radio 4 Today programme he and fellow astronauts had witnessed signs of climatic change."
"It is a cause for concern. Since my first flight in 1990 and this flight, I have seen changes in what comes out of some of the rivers, in land usage.
"We see areas of the world that are being burned to clear land, so we are losing lots of trees. "There is smoke and dust in wider spread areas than we have seen before, particularly as areas like Africa dry up in certain regions.
"We have to be very careful how we treat this good Earth we live on."
I've just watched BBC Top Gear (car review TV prog) which had a 5 minute review of Ford's Hydrogen Fuel Cell powered experimental model in a Focus body. It went into some depth regarding the technology, the benefits to the ecology, and the problems with the re-fuelling infrastructure.It concluded with the news that Ford are hoping to get a demo fleet on the road by 2004 (or 2005) and models for sale by 2010.
I've also just visited Ford's web site to get more info on it, and can't find any, so I've posted a query to their Contacts page asking for details, and whether they will be developing a Liquid Hydrogen Combustion Engine as that would seem to be more suited to the US market, where people want big cars with big engines. I also pointed out that this was the route that BMW seem to be taking, with a 5.4 litre V12 engine.
Apparently parts of the Antarctic have been warming much faster than other parts of the earth.
Quote: "If the recent past is a guide to the future, regional climate changes will have more profound effects than the mean global warming suggests."
Quote: "The recent rapid regional warming in the Antarctic peninsula is thus exceptional over several centuries, and probably unmatched for 1900 years. It may be tempting to cite anthropogenic greenhouse gases as the culprit, but to do so without offering a mechanism is superficial."
Who do you think steps in when the World Bank responds to public pressure and pulls out of projects with disastrous human rights and environmental consequences? Private banks fill the void when multilateral lending institutions pull out of big development projects.
One such lender is Morgan Stanley, which is financing the infamous Three Gorges Dam in China, PetroChina pipeline in Tibet, and the reckless deforestation of Indonesian rainforests by Asia Pulp and Paper. But without environmental or social criteria to guide which projects they choose, corporate banks will finance destructive projects in developing countries until consumers and shareholders hold them accountable.
The International Rivers Network and Students for a Free Tibet urge you to demand that Morgan Stanley stop financing destructive projects and to boycott the bank's Discover credit card and brokerage services.
It is sad to lose an environmentalist, for whatever reason, but when it comes to being shot, alarm bells start to ring. Please read and act!
Greenpeace Action Alert Thursday, September 6, 2001
::: Urge the Brazilian Government to Investigate the Recent Death of a Forest Activist and Ensure Protection for All Activists in Brazil :::
On August 25th the Coordinator of the Movement for the Development of the Transamazon and Xingu Region, Ademir Alfeu Federicci (nicknamed Dema), aged 36, was killed by a gunman in his home in Altamira, in Brazil Amazon state of Para.
Dema was an active leader in the resistance to the construction of dams planned by the Brazilian government on the Xingu River, and an opponent of illegal logging in the region.
We call on you to add your voice to the thousands of people in Brazil and abroad to demand that the Brazilian government brings the responsible people to justice, and to guarantee that environmental and social activists in the Amazon can freely speak without fear of violence or death.
"Puerto Rico's government has asked U.S. authorities to forego a federal program to eradicate the chirping tree frogs loved in their native Puerto Rico but considered a noisy pest in Hawaii.
In Hawaii, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is developing a caffeine-based spray to kill the frogs, known affectionately as "coquis" in Puerto Rico. The caffeine spray would cause cardiac failure in the frogs.
"I urge the department to stop any eradication program that may exist and seek alternatives to the indiscriminate killing of the coqui frog in Hawaii," Anibal Acevedo Vila, Puerto Rico's nonvoting representative in the U.S. Congress, wrote in a letter to the agency Friday."
Not content with letting U.S. big business and a paranoid energy policy do the work for them, they want to poison the poor creatures!
This must be the ultimate insanity - the deliberate eradication of a species on Hawaii.
If they don't belong there - send them home!
If anyone has links for an action here, please post it on the board.
Best regards, Uncle John
we must appear
by future on 09 September 2001 @ 12:49 PM
I think that we must present ourselves in public by peacefull actions to show everybody all over the world our aims by holding confrences meeting and through the mass media also by printing posters this will help us very much to fullfillour goals since there are many people do not care about the environment & do not know our organization &efforts
Greetings again, with a return to Environmental Concerns, but still with a connection with September 11
Please see http://www.defenders.org/den/dl00050.html for more details on this, but it seems that the current national crisis in the US is being exploited by the Oil Company Interests to try and tack on an energy bill leading to opening up the Arctic Refuge to drilling onto the anti-terrorism defense bill in the US Senate.
Quote:
Sen. James Inhofe ofOklahoma tried to tack the controversial proposal onto a $345 billionanti-terrorism defense bill. That delayed passage of that importantmeasure for a week until the Senate voted to block his amendment. Sen.Frank Murkowski of Alaska is threatening to "hold up normal legislativebusiness to get an energy bill to the floor." Inhofe is vowing to attachan energy bill to "every single piece of legislation that comes throughthe Senate." Newspapers across the country are rebuking these senators ineditorials for trying to exploit the national crisis. The Boston Globecalled it "oil opportunism," and the Orlando Sentinel said it was "brazenpolitics."
Endquote
Now call me cynical, but do I see Global Warming Bush behind these attempts?
With an estimated coverage of 44,000 hectares so far, this is a serious problem. In addition to which, little in the way of equipment is available to combat it.
Khabarovsk is on the border with China, and is severely affected with reduced visibility caused by the smoke, which is dense enough to close the airport, and cause the local population respiratory problems.
Financial constraints means no air support to fight fires. If no help is forthcoming, this is yet another ecological disaster that the world must suffer.
Is anyone able to organise assistance from outside?
even before September 11th, flying as a means of transportation had a whole range of risks that were not given sufficient credence or coverage, for fear of losing revenue.
We know that Deep Vein Thrombosis on long flights such as Australia to London can be a killer - and it need not wait very long to strike. One young lady had not even cleared the airport at Heathrow before she was struck down.
We know also that the air-conditioning system is a great equaliser. If one passenger is affected with a contageous disease, everyone gets their fair share of the germs. This is because the system recycles most of the air in the cabins through filters, with only about 10% being replaced. This 10% is enough to ensure an adequate level of oxygen, and to maintain the cabin pressure at the equivalent of 8,000 ft, whatever the actual altitude of the aircraft above that.
Furthermore, the air-conditioning system is a combined storage/incubator for germs, and those acquired during one flight may be affecting passengers for many flights to come - until someone eventually gets round to the routine maintenance that actually cleans or replaces the filters.
Not only aircraft are at risk here. Hospitals are also on the alert for similar problems, with computerized monitoring equipment being found to harbour life-threatening toxins in cooling fans etc., - in intensive care wards!
We now have news of a new threat:-
"The inquiry will examine the contamination levels in aircraft cabins from toxic organophosphate (OP) chemicals, amid increasing reports of pilots being knocked out by fumes and experts warning that this could cause a major air disaster."
It is common enough, as the aircraft has completed loading, and the engines are being run-up prior to taxiying to the take-off runway, that a gust of fuel fumes sweeps through the cabin, and is then cleared. The smell of fuel is only an indicator that other things are also present in the air.
"Trade unions last week claimed that research proving a link between chemical leaks and adverse health effects could trigger a mass legal action that would cost the aviation industry millions of pounds."
"The latest recommendations of the Government's 'health in aircraft cabins' review will ensure that the cumulative health effects of low-level OP exposure to millions of frequent flyers are analysed. Small amounts of OPs - the same toxic chemicals that are linked to acute neurological damage in farmers - are used in engine oil to minimise wear."
"Symptoms of OP poisoning include confusion, nausea, loss of vision, anxiety attacks and even severe neurological breakdown. In some cases, according to unions, British pilots have become so badly affected that they have had to hand control of their planes to colleagues."
I have no doubt whatsoever that the problem is not particular to British pilots and passengers, but will affect all aircraft. Furthermore, it has been known about for 20 years, and conveniently ignored!
"The findings will be handed this week to Aviation Minister Robert Ainsworth, who has already promised a thorough inquiry. Meanwhile, further inquiries by The Observer - which has highlighted the possibility of OP leakages on aircraft - have revealed that the aviation industry was explicitly warned of such health risks almost 20 years ago."
So much for them looking after our interests! To protect yourselves I suggest the following:-
Short Term:- a) Don't fly if you have another alternative. b) If you must travel by aircraft, take the shortest route possible, if there is a choice.
Long Term:- Readjust your lifestyle to avoid the need for aircraft travel. Tele-conferencing would provide a reasonable alternative for many business purposes, and more frequent contact via telephone or the internet could serve many private requirements.
paints a tragic picture of man's nefarious activities on a much wider scale.
"Only a small part of the northern forests of European Russia remain in relatively intact large sections."
"Russian experts who have spent five years mapping the forests say much of what is left is in jeopardy."
"They say the best parts of the forests enjoy no protection in law, and are ripe for exploitation."
"Yet conserving the remainder would be comparatively cheap and simple."
"The Russians used a combination of satellite imagery and more traditional methods to compile their maps, entitled The Last Intact Forest Landscapes of Northern European Russia."
"They are being published in Moscow by Greenpeace Russia, and in Washington DC by Global Forest Watch, part of the World Resources Institute (WRI)."
More information is available on the Greenpeace main site, under Forests, but don't bother with the link to Greenpeace Russia unless you can read Russian, and your computer is set up for it.
The thing that I am missing is "Actions". There are general actions available on the main Greenpeace site, but nothing specific for Russia.
although air supremacy has been already claimed by the alliance after three or four days of heavy bombardment, it is apparently not enough to satisfy the bloodlust!
"United States aircraft are dropping cluster bombs on Afghanistan for the first time as pilots begin to look for moving targets, including armoured vehicles and troop convoys."
"The weapons - which scatter about 150 small "bomblets" over a large area and whose use has been condemned by the Red Cross and other humanitarian agencies - can be dropped by B-52 bombers."
The Red Cross last year called for a ban on cluster bombs.
"In a report sent to the UN it said some 30,000 unexploded bomblets remained in Kosovo after the conflict ended. They are estimated to have caused up to 150 casualties, including the death of two Gurkha soldiers."
"Cluster bombs are used to cover a broad area rather than a single specific target. The bomblets, or "sub-munitions", contain higher explosive than landmines and their normally brightly-coloured casings make them attractive to children."
"On average, between 5% and 12% of the bomblets fail to explode, according to UN estimates."
Where does this leave us?
It leaves us with a country already covered with landmines, and 10's of thousands of it's population already maimed for life, with a new terror. An attraction for children that may well prove fatal, or at the least injurious, to those who have not yet been killed or maimed and are still able to move.
Princess Diana was taken from us far too soon!.
We need that woman's compassion now. We need that woman's strength - the courage to stand up to the rest of the world and say:-
this post is directed specifically at members in the U.S. and the U.K., as they are probably the most likely persons to be affected initially.
With outbreaks of Anthrax in Florida, one of which resulted in death, and another now in New York, the sheer number of occurrences in a short time gives cause for concern.
The frequency of occurrences is way too high to be normal, and when coupled of reports of envelopes containing a white powder in every case so far, it would be better to assume that the infections are random but deliberate.
Information on the disesase itself can be found at:-
was not reachable; please look there for further information if and when available.
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Others:-
Over the last 10-20 years, delivery methods for extremely small quantities of chemicals have been refined and perfected, predominantly for use in the advertising industry.
The "scratchies" that exude a perfume when the surface covering is disturbed, for example. Other delivery systems that add a chemical carrier to deliver a 'payload' through the skin. The latter are those used for negative purposes in the drug trade, as to "inject" someone without their knowledge or consent would not be legal in any country.
With the delivery systems already established, and mass production available, it is not too difficult to imagine that the payload could be changed to something less benign than perfume, or something with a far greater "kick" than cocaine.
While the attention of the media, the armed forces, and the government are all diverted in another direction - Afghanistan - it would be an ideal opportunity for a person to make their preparations, post a few letters, and relax - job done.
Got a good hi-fi set, with a couple of thousand watts rms per channel, and want to have some fun? Well, it will need a little modification at the low end - we need to move -3 db point to about 3Hz from it's present 10HZ - and then add some directional woofers. Why, well the brain resonates at about 7Hz, and given enough power we can simply melt people down. Well, it's something to pass the time when you've posted your letters!
Time for some exercise - a little stroll perhaps, but first check that the water purification system is working. Why, well it's time to move that little package we got in the post last week to it's final destination - the reservoir! It's simple enough; throw in a few stones first, to make it look as though you are enjoying yourself - nothing suspicious you understand - then slip in the payload instead of a stone.
Perhaps a nice cool soda on the way home to round off a good day's work, then back home in time for prayers!
Tomorrow should be interesting:- there is a new activity program coming through.
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Pure fiction, you say? A load of B.S.?
Well, my friends, can you be 100% certain? The above is meant to illustrate how easy it would be to take someone down, if the normal restraints such as the loss of one's own life are no longer in place.
We have that situation. We know that people are there, willing, and able. We can also be sure that they have come up with far more than I in the way of ideas, having spent years on it rather than the few minutes that I have invested.
This is a time for very deep introspection. You need to get into the mind of the opponent to see what drives them ever onward.
With the methods of destruction available, there is only one possible way to be safe:-
Don't be the Target!
At the moment, the U.S. is the target. You really need to change that, if you want to survive.
I have been waiting for a propitious moment, and think that we have nearly reached it. There are some days left before the WTO meeting in November, and we need to make the best possible use of the time remaining.
- The bombing in Afghanistan has gone well past the point necessary to establish air supremacy over the country, and the possible justification for further strikes is getting thinner and thinner.
- Opposition to the strikes in Muslim countries is growing daily, with the latest notable swing being the breaking of ranks by the Indonesian Deputy Prime Minister in condemning them outright.
- Opposition to the war in non-Muslim countries is also growing, with an estimated 20,000 turning out peacefully in London, and please note - of very mixed ethnic origin!.
- In other countries, where opposition rallies are being held, there is unfortunately an element of violence, but there too the numbers are increasing.
- The United Nations is callng for a halt to the bombing on humanitarian grounds, as if supplies are not delivered before winter sets in, the plight of the poor folk there will be sealed.
- Opinion polls, (yes, I read them too on occasion), indicate that support for the bombing is diminishing fast. From a figure of 74% in support on Friday 12th October, we are now seeing figures of only 37% for and 62% against on the current online poll at:-
Please take advantage of the opportunity, and let your feelings be known. You will need to allow cookies for the poll to work correctly, and it will not function with all browsers necessarily.
Mirroring the coalition against terrorism, an unofficial global coalition is forming to oppose almost everything. You will see groups for human rights marching together with campaigners for nuclear disarmament, anti-globalists etc., and so it should be.
We need to consolidate our forces, and to show people on the streets claiming their right to be heard - in exceedingly large numbers, and in as many places as possible!
What you are protesting is no longer so important. There is even room for the Campaign For Real Ale, if it is still in existence. The fact that you are protesting at all is absolutely crucial! In fact, I see distinct benefits from a plethora of different placards advocating different causes - it will clearly demonstrate that we too can put our differences to one side, and unite in a common cause - but peacefully, please!
I am not advocating these tactics in the U.S. just yet. I think it is still too early for that. In the U.K., however, the tide has already turned, and we need to get behind it and push. Not only in the U.K.! Everywhere outside the U.S. is an excellent place to become really active. As the reports of increasing resistance to oppressive policies filter back to the U.S., half our work there will already have been done for us.
This war cannot continue without public support. All we need to do is remove it!
How do we proceed from here?
- Look for more on-line polls, and feed the information back to the board here.
- Look for rallies and demonstrations, and feed the information back to the board here.
- If you know an organization will be holding a rally in 2 weeks time, contact the organisers and see if they can organize a second one a week later or earlier, and let us know the details.
- Don't know of a rally anywhere? Shame on you! Call yourself an activist? Start your own rally!!! It could be outside the pub at night, supping your Guinness, and holding a placard, but get it out in the open where everyone can see it!
When do we start?
Don't wait for me - I already said GO when I started writing this post!
And don't get the impression that this is the last opportunity to straighten this mess out - it won't be.
The BBC site has a series of articles under the collective title of "War Views", written by various authors.
The article entitled "Are the air strikes wise?", by the Pakistani writer Sabiha Sumar, is an example of the knock-on effect, whereby the pressures imposed by membership of the anti-terrorism coalition "press-ganged" by Bush et al. are straining the very fabric of the countries themselves to the point of breaking. Some excerpts follow:-
"Although only a minority of people in Karachi are outright supporters of Osama Bin Laden, a large majority are morally outraged by the attacks on the Afghan people, who have nothing to do with al-Qaeda."
"Intellectuals are aghast at the "monumental stupidity" of the United States for playing into the hands of religious parties."
"All the work we did", bemoans Fahmida, a woman activist, "to stem the Islamisation of Pakistani society over many years was swept overboard literally overnight."
"The feeling of being wronged is intense. There is almost universal belief that Pakistan was misled into believing that there would be no military action, that the country was used cynically by the US and Britain."
The last paragraph summarizes the problem:-
"I could not avoid the conclusion that some fear that the US and Britain by their unwise and ultimately counterproductive military attack on Afghanistan may have brought Pakistan to the brink of civil war."
The "need to know" apparently doesn't always include Secretary of State Colin Powell:- it seems to depend on what the others want to slip past him or not.
One such case was the addition to a letter to the Security Council which gave notice that U.S. might be forced to retaliate against other state sponsors of terrorism if it turned up new evidence, stating, "We may find that our self-defense requires further action with respect to other organizations and other states."
This was no oversight, but a deliberate conspiracy to pervert even the last remnants of whatever democracy may be left in the U.S. Government. You can judge for yourselves by reading:-
Should Bush have the gall to try and swing this through onto the coalition without renegotiation, the outrage would swiftly be followed by the retribution. But then, he wouldn't be so stupid - or would he?
Another War view on the subject of the problems besetting reporters under wartime circumstances makes interesting reading at:-
but it wasn't the article itself that grabbed my attention so much as one of the replies to it:-
"I think that putting the country on a "war" footing is a great way to muffle the press with the "If you are not with us you are against us" mentality. By focusing on the "War on Terrorism" with a compliant press, public attention was focused outward instead of on the spectacular failure of our foreign policy and "intelligence" community."
the perils of alien species in new environments are beginning to become apparent in many places. Some are relativley harmless, such as the tree frogs in Hawaii, but others represent a real problem, and even a peril.
Fire ants belong to the latter group, and are now in large enough numbers in Queensland, Australia, to give cause for serious concern.
"Residents have been put on alert for the tiny reddish-brown invaders, which cause crop damage costing £1bn each year in the United States."
"Staff at the DPI's Fire Ant Control Centre have launched an eradication programme to try to prevent the ants spreading in Australia."
"Fire ants will affect everyone," says the DPI's website. "They have the potential to destroy Australia's outdoor lifestyle, environment and agricultural production."
G. Younge, the author, makes an excellent case for getting the anti-war movement rolling NOW.
I enclose the last three paragraphs for those that may not have time to read the complete document, but sincerely hope that you will find the time somehow - it is that important!
"Moreover, the consensus Tony Blair has built at home to support this war is as fragile as the coalition he has helped construct abroad. So far, nearly all of this opposition has come from outside parliament. But dissent among MPs is slowly growing and the larger the movement outside the Commons the more likely those inside will be to follow their conscience (or at least their commonsense) rather than their whips. As the recession continues to bite, people will increasingly question the value of spending millions on a murderous war with neither cogent objectives nor any clear timetable, when we could breathing life into the health service and fighting poverty at home."
"The military campaign is vulnerable to public opinion and public opinion is volatile - support for military action may be widespread but belief in its ability to deliver is not. Few, even among those who are prosecuting it at the highest level, believe that the current strategy is working. Both winter and Ramadan are approaching (the first bringing famine, the second fasting and diplomatic tension); the Americans are rapidly running out of things to bomb; they do not seem any closer to defeating the Taliban or catching Bin Laden, have no coherent strategy for what to do even if they do catch him or what kind of Afghanistan they would want to build after they have finished destroying it."
"Every day produces many reasons to oppose this war from the pragmatic to the principled, the military to the moral. But the growing disillusionment with the war does not translate into the dedicated pursuit of peace without political intervention from the peace movement. Activists should look at what the Pentagon has been doing and then do the opposite: be honest in their motivation, clear in their objectives and non-dogmatic in their approach."
The sooner this so-called war is finished, the better it will be for all of us, including Afghanistan!
it seems that other also have the idea that men haven't been making a very good job of it so far!
"An international women's organisation has urged the United Nations to do more to ensure that women play a central role in attempts to build peace and security around the world."
"And they spoke of the need to involve women in peace keeping operations, and to consult them on initiatives to end conflicts."
"One delegate, an Afghan woman who works in refugee camps in Pakistan said women have to challenge the illusion that peace and security is men's work."
"Where women's voices are heard, they say, priorities that would otherwise be left out of peace processes are strongly reflected."
Personally, I am all for this suggestion. I fully realise that history is full of examples of "the (female) power behind the throne", but on balance men have made such a disastrous job of it so far it would be good to clear them to one side and let the ladies have their chance.
Legendary Rock band Pink Floyd's new album sales will help to plant a forest in various parts of the world to "absorb all the greenhouse gases churned out by the creation of their CD."
"Native trees will be planted in natural woodlands, creating four new long term indigenous forests. These will be at Chiapas in Mexico, Tensas River National Wildlife Park in the American state of Louisiana, Bangalore in India - and Dryhope Burn in the Scottish Borders."
Well, it's a start, and illustrates a way to get green issues into the mainstream consciousness, and if we can only get every other band, and every home video, or DVD release to follow the same principles then we probably won't be able to move for trees.
another classic dilemma can be found on Kangaroo Island, South Australia, but the problem is not kangaroos but Koalas. There are evidently too many of them, and they are destroying the Eucalyptus trees.
this is a brief overview of the latest Drillbits and Tailings Monthly Report:- OIL and CENTRAL ASIA ISSUE; October 31, 2001; Volume 6, Number 7
Contents NEWS + How Oil Interests Play Out in US Bombing of Afghanistan + Colombian Government Dismantles Mining Trade Union + Mining Industry Pushes for Entrance Into Protected Areas DIARY: BOOK REVIEW: Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil & Fundamentalism in Central Asia WHAT YOU CAN DO: Support Peruvian Community Demands for No Mining on Mount Quilish HOTSPOTS: Australia, Bolivia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan,Tanzania, United States VITAL STATISTICS: Proposed Gas Pipelines from Turkmenistan COMMUNITY PIPELINE: Publications, Tools, Websites CORRECTIONS
Even the U.S. doesn't go unscathed, as the following passage shows:-
Idaho: In October 2001, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a US$459 million dollar cleanup of accumulated toxic mining waste in Idaho's Coeur d'Alene Basin. This 1,500 square-mile area is so devastated that during a 1999 flood, 1 million pounds of lead flowed into Lake Coeur d'Alene and on another occasion a million pounds of zinc flowed into the same lake.
The Coeur d'Alene Tribe has been directly affected by this environmental disaster. The clean up is expected to take twenty to thirty years and cost projections for the clean up, by the EPA, have been as high as US$4 billion dollars. In 1983, the EPA designated a 21-square-mile area near Kellogg, Idaho a Superfund site.
So far the EPA has spent more than US$200 million dollars to clean it by replacing contaminated soil in local resident's yards and by capping mining tailings. In September, one of the corporations responsible for the pollution, Hecla Mining agreed to pay only US$138 million for its role in the pollution and may potentially be relieved from cleanup responsibilities in its mines in Grouse Creek, Idaho and Yellow Pine, Idaho.
Asarco, another mining company believed to be responsible for polluting Coeur d'Alene Basin, has yet to settle the lawsuit brought by the Coeur d'Alene Tribe and the EPA. (Environmental Laboratory Washington Report, September 13, 2001; The Idaho Statesman, Associated Press September 13, 2001; The New York Times October 28, 2001).
Please visit the Project Underground site at:-
www.moles.org
for more information, links, and action possibilities.
Climate change is happening; both insects and birds believe it, even if "Bushes" don't.
Two recent articles report work with insects that demonstrate changes in recent years, and the second article includes additional effects on birds, frogs etc.
It would be incorrect, however, to say that genes are being altered. What is actually happening is that certain genes are being favoured rather than others, and creatures with the favoured genes willl be more likely to reproduce successfully than those without.
This will lead to a change in the balance of the various populations, and hence to a change in the global gene pool.
The effects are first being felt by beings more directly dependent on climatic conditions, length of daylight etc., and it is not possible to say how extensive this change in balance will be.
We also know that warmer temperatures are adversely affecting coral.
Perhaps more significant to us directly would be evidence of similar effects in the plant world, but I have not yet seen any data on this. If anyone finds something, please post it on the board.
it seems that not everybody in the U.S. shares Bush's view that more oil is the answer to the energy crisis. Especially those in California, which took the brunt of the problem earlier this year.
"San Franciscans voted to make their often-foggy city the country's largest producer of solar-generated electricity, approving a $100 million bond issue to install as many solar panels here as the entire country does each year."
"The measure allowing the city to fund solar projects for city- and county-owned buildings and to capture wind power on breezy bluffs elsewhere in the Bay area was overwhelmingly approved by voters Tuesday."
"Voters also endorsed a measure that allows the city to issue bonds for renewable-energy projects without voter approval."
"The solar industry said the added demand could spur development of more efficient solar technology. That, in turn, could lower solar's price tag, which is high compared with that of other renewable fuel."
This is really great news, and the full article is available at:-
in line with the committment to the Kyoto Protocol, the EU is planning to promote the use of alternative fuels.
"One-in-five automobiles in Europe could be running on alternative fuels rather than gasoline or diesel by 2020 under a plan to promote renewable energy put forward Wednesday that would help the European Union meet its commitments under the Kyoto protocol."
"The European Commission aims to use regulations and tax breaks to promote the use of alternative fuels, notably biofuels made from agricultural products such as vegetable oils, sugar beat, corn or animal waste."
"The transport market is today almost entirely dependent upon oil-based fuels," said Loyola de Palacio, EU commissioner for energy and transport. In a statement, the Commission said its plan would help the EU meet commitments to reduce emissions of so-called greenhouse gases under the Kyoto protocol on global warming. The EU is supposed to cut emissions by 8 percent by 2010 under the Kyoto agreement."
The plan takes a broad approach, and keeps all options open. Multiple benefits are seen, as the clean-up could also provide a solution to other problems if everything can be successfully integrated.
Things are beginning to move. Targetted demand can help them move faster, and in the right direction!
the title refers in particular to the U.K., as I have no data for similar problems elsewhere, only suspicions.
The "civilisation" that Blair is calling on the country to defend at all costs includes:-
- a Prime Minister that seems to have forgotten that he is supposed to be head of a democracy - a Government that insists on changing the education system, but patently doesn't understand what it needs to do - a Labour Government that is out-privatizing the erstwhile Conservative government under Thatcher, and still getting it wrong - a Government that is so out of touch with the multi-cultural aspects of life in it's own country that it becomes a recruiting ground for radical extremists - a Government that ignores the wishes of the international community, especially it's nearest neighbour, and wishes to increase radioactive pollution in the Irish Sea - a Government that dehumanizes refugees, and allows others to make fortunes out of them
- a Government that allows football hooliganism to be exported along with the game, until the international outcry can no longer be ignored - a Government that has so little control over the crime scene that the number of stolen motocycles per month now exceeds the number legitimately sold - a Government that allows it's ministers to mislead the public over changes to the privacy act, and then tightens the screws
As if that were not indictment enough, there is more and worse:-
If you have been following the case of Victoria Climbie, you will have realised the unspeakable horrors that her aunt, and the aunt's lover, inflicted on her.
"Victoria, who was eight, was tied up and made to lie naked in a freezing cold bath in winter and was beaten and burned."
"When she died, after seven months of torture, she had 128 injuries on her body."
"An inquiry is currently underway to find out how Victoria ended up being the victim of her cruel aunt and her lover, Clinton Manning, who were both jailed for life."
Unfortunately, this is only the beginning.
Victoria's absolutely tragic demise was the key that opened the box, and the unimaginable horrors that are perpetrated daily in the U.K. are perhaps only now coming to the light of day.
"There are thought to be 10,000 West African children living with strangers in the UK, many of whom may not be living the lives they had been promised."
"Mary was brought to Britain from Benin by a stranger at the age of ten and worked 17 hours a day for ten years. She was regularly beaten and starved, sometimes for days on end."
"When she asked why she had been brought to Britain, she was told it was "business" - meaning the woman could claim child benefits."
Others aren't so lucky:-
Debe was taken, aged 13, to Italy by a white friend of his father. For three years he was a sex slave to the man and his paedophile friends.
He was beaten daily and forced to eat cat food. He finally ran away to the Ivorian Embassy in Rome and was returned home.
Debe told the Today investigators: "I am a victim, I am in pain. I can't even look at myself in the mirror."
"Karin Astrom, the head of Save the Children in the Ivory Coast, said organised gangs across West Africa were trafficking children, with the collusion of government officials."
She said: "Children are being brought to Europe to be exploited, either for work or sexually."
Charity officials said the trafficking of children from English speaking West African states, such as Nigeria, was on an even greater scale than from French-speaking Ivory Coast.
I do have an answer for this problem, but I don't think I had better publicise it on this board!
Just ask yourselves who exactly is Tony Blair to say that anybody else is worse?
Uncle John
PS. The article that triggered this outburst is at:-
I attach the latest Environmental Defense Action Network News for information and action.
Best regards, Uncle John
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ACTION NETWORK AT WORK! SUCCESS STORIES AND UPDATES Success! Plans for Amazon Pipeline Cracked! Emails from nearly 2,000 activists help convince Brazilian officials to delay destructive pipeline in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. To find out how you helped "crack" this controversial project, click here: http://actionnetwork.org/ct/i7q0.f91ucF4/amazon_pipeline
Fragile Coastal Waters Win Reprieve from Offshore Drilling 7,000 activists have sent letters to federal government opposing offshore oil drilling. Their voices were heard! To learn about the steps that Congress is taking, and what this means for the future, click here: http://actionnetwork.org/ct/i1q0.f91ucFB/offshore_drilling
CA Activists Help Rally Support as Legislature Passes Parks Measure California state legislature votes to put $2.6 billion parks measure on the ballot after 2,000 activists in California take action. Find out what this means for California voters. Click here: http://actionnetwork.org/ct/idq0.f91ucFX/ca_parks
TAKE ACTION NOW! Help Keep Antibiotics Working Recent threats of bio-terrorism have highlighted how important it is that we safeguard the effectiveness of America's antibiotics supply. Contact Bayer and ask them to help slow the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and extend the usefulness of antibiotics. Take action at: http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/antibiotics_envdef/wbe5es4o78xbin
Help Farmers Help the Environment. Onto the Senate! Over 46,000 Environmental Defense Action Network members have already taken action to support a Farm Bill Conservation Amendment in the House. The Bill has now moved to the Senate and we still need your help! Take action at: http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/farm_reform_senate2/wbe5es4v78xbi5
ECO-TIP Help Prevent Climate Change Run your dishwasher only with a full load. Use the energy-saving setting to dry the dishes. Don't use heat when drying. Carbon dioxide reduction: 200 pounds a year. For more simple ways that you can help reduce global warming, click here: http://actionnetwork.org/ct/ipq0.f91ucFr/climate_change
WHO IS POLLUTING IN YOUR COMMUNITY? Scorecard Visit Scorecard (http://actionnetwork.org/ct/k1q0.f91ucFf/scorecard) and enter your zip code to find out what pollutants are being released in your neighborhood, and who is responsible.
I received the following from GP USA, and pass it on for those of you that don't get these actions directly.
Best regards, Uncle John
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Greenpeace Action Alert, November 15, 2001 >>Tell Your Representatives to End Nuclear Power - Don't Subsidize it Even More!
After September 11th, it has become increasingly evident that nuclear power should have no role in our energy future.
However, Congress is still looking to pass an energy bill that will give additional money to the nuclear industry and extend the licenses of creaky old reactors. The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11th made many American's re-examine the serious threat that nuclear power represents. An accident at a power plant could kill tens of thousands of citizens, make parts of our landscape uninhabitable and cost taxpayers billions of dollars. These plants will always be subject to accidents and sabotage. Now is the time to make sure your representatives in Congress put an end to this dangerous source of electricity. Contact your Representatives and Senators today! http://www.greenpeaceusa.org/save/alerts/nuclear-direct.htm
Find out more about the risk nuclear power from Greenpeace's new report, Risky Business: The Probability and Consequences of a Nuclear Accident. http://www.greenpeaceusa.org/nuclear/
If you've been participating in Greenpeace online actions on issues such as solar power, Trader Joes and genetically engineered food and protection of the Brazilian rainforest, know that your voice is being heard! Visit http://www.greenpeaceusa.org to learn more about recent victories on these issues.
If you would like to subscribe or unsubscibe to any Greenpeace e-mail list, you can do so at: http://www.greenpeaceusa.org/sc
one could almost be forgiven for thinking that all the anti-smoking hype is really only a diversion away from the real culprit - diesel fumes.
I don't think we need to dwell too much on the relative quantities per day; it should be easy enough to see that the output from diesel engines around the world exceeds that of a few smokers by a very large margin indeed.
And diesel exhaust fumes are carcinogeous, just as cigarette smoke.
seems to imply that maybe only children are at risk, which is not the case. Later, however, this false impression is corrected:-
"The government has estimated that there are 24,000 deaths of adults a year, which can be attributed to the inhalation of PM10."
(These figures apply for the U.K., I presume, and should be multiplied up by a factor to give a worldwide figure.)
It is high time that atmospheric pollution is recognized for the danger it is, and some serious effort put into reducing it. Of course, this would mean cost and effort, which wouldn't be acceptable in some quarters, but the residents of those areas are just as much at risk as anyone else - whether they are smokers or not!
The 2001 World Solar Challenge in Australia has been won, (and how!), by the Dutch entry Nuna at their very first attempt in this race!
Although the cars entering in this race are not the types of vehicle that you will see running down the to shops every day, or taking Granny and the kids for a weekend outing - at least for a few years yet - they are constantly pushing the state of the art into uncharted areas.
Higher power density from solar panels - translates eventually to lower manufacturing pollution and lower costs Higher drive efficiencies - translates to energy saving techniques applicable to other technologies - pollution reduction Low-loss controller circuits and high-efficiency batteries - energy saving Light-weight materials, wind-tunnel design for minimum drag coefficient - energy saving
This race is an effective technology demonstrator, and an extremely good teaching tool - all members of the teams benefit considerably from the experience. The rest of us benefit later, with spin-offs from technology that work to make our world that little bit cleaner.
Once again - very well done! They clipped one day off the length of the race, at an average speed of 91.81 km/h, and took everybody by surprise. The nearest competitor came in the next day! And all this while they were "lying down on the job"!
Early in December, the federal government will table its most important annual policy initiative - the budget. The federal budget strongly influences how individuals, other levels of government such as your province and municipality, and businesses behave and make decisions. To date, Ottawa's financial policies have not encouraged climate-friendly energy policies, and have often encouraged climate pollution.
You can send a fax right now to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance, as well as your premier, urging them to make climate protection a budget priority: http://www.davidsuzuki.org
Taking action on climate change - especially in these uncertain times - addresses many crucial priorities in Canada and the world:
- Strengthening our energy security by decreasing dependence on fossil fuels and minimizing the risks of volatile energy prices to individuals and businesses;
- Protecting our health and reducing air pollution that kills up to 16,000 Canadians prematurely each year;
- Increasing job opportunities across Canada in emerging high-tech sectors and the construction industry;
- Reducing long-term global warming damage to natural ecosystems in Canada and around the world. Such damage compromises jobs and long-term opportunities in industries such as forestry, agriculture and fisheries.
This is a critical time to express your priorities. The federal government's increased interest in climate change is no doubt due to the ongoing efforts of thousands of Canadians who have been urging their elected representatives to take action. But this momentum is being threatened by large industrial polluters and foot-dragging provinces who are trying to derail Canada's international obligation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol.
Rt. Hon. Jean Chretien, Prime Minister: 613-941-6900 fax, or pm@pm.gc.ca Hon. Paul Martin, Minister of Finance: 613-992-4291 fax, or Martin.P@parl.gc.ca
A new wind-farm in the Hebrides promises to be an exciting development in many respects, and although early days yet, and still in the planning stage, could represent a major breakthrough in energy policy.
Just seen this on http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/newsid_1681000/1681522.stm which suggests that Houston based Enron are on the verge of financial collapse - which at the very least will mean the GW Bush will have to find another contributor to his next Election Campaign.
Just seen this on http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/newsid_1681000/1681522.stm which suggests that Houston based Enron are on the verge of financial collapse - which at the very least will mean the GW Bush will have to find another contributor to his next Election Campaign.
"Scotland has enough potential wind and wave energy to look after its own needs and help supply the rest of the UK, according to a major new study." reported on http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/scotland/newsid_1699000/1699665.stm and without building wind-farms on designated scenic areas.
"There is a big gap between the potential available energy and what can reasonably be harnessed, but the independent consultants have found there is enough potential from onshore wind power to meet Scotland's peak-winter demand twice over."
"A second report, also published on Monday, suggests there is enough room in the national grid to meet the Scottish Executive's target of 18% of electricity from renewable sources by the end of the decade."
I've also seen today (on teletext) a report that a wind-farm with some 39 turbines has been given approval in Wales near Aberystwyth, so at least some progress is being made - and I can hope that 18% by the end of the decade isn't going to be too little too late....
The Heat Is On
by tig3933 on 19 December 2001 @ 05:25 AM
2001 the Second Warmest Year on Record
GENEVA, Switzerland, December 18, 2001 (ENS) - The year 2001 is projected to be the second warmest on record, the World Meteorological Organization said today. Record floods and record droughts across the globe accompanied this year's high temperatures.
The warmest year since records began in 1860 occurred in 1998, according to records maintained by countries that are members of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
The UN has taken an initiative to map sites suitable for wind and solar energy in 13 developing countries:- Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Cuba, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Nepal, Nicaragua and Sri Lanka.
Unep believes the mapping will show the wind and solar resources of the 13 countries are much bigger than thought. It is encouraged by recent work in the Philippines.
The next exciting development is in Iceland, where steps will be taken next year to become the world's first Hydrogen Society!
Already producing most of it's electricity and heating from hydro-electric and geothermal sources, the next step is to use Hydrogen to replace the fossil-based fuels used presently in vehicles and trawlers.
bush fires are normally a natural occurrence, usually caused by lightning strike in dry areas, but in Australia it seems that volunteers are lending Nature an unwanted helping hand.
At first not wishing to give credence to the thought that people would deliberately destroy our natural environment, I ignored the first mentions of the word arsonist. The word persisted in various reports, however, and is a serious enough problem to warrant setting up a special police unit to combat the menace.
And menace it is:- "Australia's Bureau of Crime Statistics recorded more than 6,000 acts of arson last year, almost double the figure for 1995."
"Fire Brigades Commissioner Ian MacDougall said firefighters were facing conditions unlike any ever experienced."
"The fire conditions of Christmas Day were unique, with the fire front moving some 60km from the mountains to the coastal regions in one day," he said.
"Another extraordinary characteristic of this fire is that the onset of night time did not bring any respite and firefighters were continuously deployed in direct property protection throughout the night into this morning."
The situation is extremely serious! A few arsonists can in a week destroy years of work of conservationists such as ourselves. Everything goes - wildlife, plantlife, habitats, homes - fire is not at all choosy. And those of you who have been directly involved in any rescue attempt will know it's terrible destructive power!
It seems to me that Greenpeace members must take on a special responsibility towards their environment in such high-risk areas. Fighting the government's wood-chip and land clearance policies on the one hand and ignoring the fire-bugs on the other will not lead to the success we need.
This is not a call for vigilantes, but for vigilance and awareness, and a direct drive against the environmental crime of arson.
Not two months after the conclusion of the climate change negotiations in Marrakech, Morocco, Japan is sending alarming signals that it will bow to industry pressure and break its pledge to adhere to the Kyoto Protocol and cut greenhouse gas emissions. An advisory council to the government is recommending that emissions cuts be voluntary for businesses and that the government not impose any guidelines on how to achieve the reductions. Critics say such a framework would make it very difficult for the country to meet its target of cutting emissions by 6 percent below 1990 levels. Japan has been in the climate change spotlight ever since the Bush administration pulled out of the Kyoto Protocol.
Hi everyone, I'm planning to send an email on the internet to 135 million people, to inform them about the 6th extinction and the dangers of global warming. Can you please read it and tell me what you think? Thank you. Let's save the Earth. Nicolas
Times are tough and always have been. Yet now is a time when crucial choices need to be made. The planet is undergoing what scientists call "the sixth extinction". 5 massive extinctions have occured since complex life appeared 550 million years ago. A 1998 poll indicate that 70% of scientists think that humanity has begun the 6th one. An estimated 30000 to 50000 species disappear every year, about 1000 times more than the normal extinction rate.
Here are a few very concerning examples everyone of us should be informed of: - according to the World Conservation Union, 24% of mammals and reptiles, 20 % of amphibians, 30% of fishs, 12% of birds and 25% of plant species are now considered endangered. Generally, the most evolved animals are the most threatened(because they need more habitat, and because they are more sensitive to temperature). - deforestation still continues at almost the same rate(1980:110 million ha, 2000:94 million ha). Most of the remaining rainforests will be cut in a few decades. The forests of 15 countries may desappear within 15 years. The amazon forest continues to be cut fast. What's more, fires are becoming more and more widespread due to global warming and cause even more damage (the boreal forest fire rate has doubled in the last 40 years and is now 3 times the normal). A recent study shows that the impact of the loss of rainforest on climate would probably be bigger than previously thought. Even worse, deforestation rate is expected to increase in the coming years (for instance, a new development project in Brazil called Avanca Brasil may destroy or damage most of the amazon forest within 25 years, according to independant scientific studies.). What's more, a new UN report indicate that the state of forests is worse that previously thought. Also worrying is the fact that tropical forests have dried enough in the last years to burn (normaly it is too wet to burn). There has been huge fires in tropical forests last year. What's more, several recent studies show that some kind of reforestation may in fact emit CO2 instead of absorbing it, and that reforestation in the boreal forest may not be efficient to absorb CO2 because it would decrease land reflectivity. - 25% of coral reefs are dead, and 20% are damaged (mainly due to a 2ºC increase in ocean surface warming). Recent studies show that all coral reefs may disappear within 30 to 50 years. - the ocean ecosystems are at the brink of collapse, due to over-fishing, global warming and pollution. Particularly concerning is the fact that zooplankton has dropped dramatically (-70%). - climatologists now think that global warming may happen faster than expected because of several feedback factors. For example, the reduction of rainforest will dramatically reduce the CO2 absorbtion of the Earth, causing faster global warming, leading to more fires, which will destroy even more forests, and emit large quantities of CO2. Another example is the melting of the artic permafrost, which will release huge quantities of methane(which has 20 times the greenhouse effect of CO2), causing more warming(several very fast temperature changes in the past were probably caused by abrupt methane releases). One last example is the reduction of the reflectivity of the Earth caused by a decrease of snow coverage (2-3 weeks decrease already in the arctic), which makes the Earth absorb more energy. Several other feedbacks have been identified and the three above seem to have already begun. Negative feedbacks also exist, but we prevent the most powerful one from happening normally(the increase of forest biomass, because we have cut half of the forests, especially tropical forests which absorb much more CO2). Recent studies of climate changes in the past tend to confirm that the climate may change extremely fast because of a big desequilibrium between positive and negative feedbacks. When one of these non-linear phenomenons begins, it can trigger another one and the climate may change very rapidly. What's more, if temperature rises too fast, forests are not able to move quick enough to cooler regions (which is the case now), causing huge species extinctions (another positive feedback). An example of feedback phenomenon occured 11500 years ago when temperatures fell by up to 10ºC (16ºF) within a decade and rainfall halved. The 1990 decade has been the warmest in a millenium, and 2001 has been the second warmest year ever recorded (almost as warm as 1998, but without el nino), causing huge fires all over the world. El ninos frequency has increased significantly over the last decades and are always more powerful. The next ones may have disastrous effects, and maybe even accelerate feedback phenomenons. All ecosystems are now affected by global warming. CO2 emissions are expected to double in the next 20 years, alghough it should be cut by 60% to stop it from accumulating in the atmosphere. Estimations suggest that temperatures will increase as much in the next 20 years as in the past 100. The Kyoto protocol is a step, but the challenge is immense (just the continuation of deforestation may compensate). What's more, the Kyoto protocol is based on old climate models that do not include feedback phenomenons. New climate simulations predict global warming to be 1.5 to 10 times faster than estimated for Kyoto. The reknown astrophysist Stephen Hawking said in 2000 that he was very worried about a potential runaway global warming like what happened on Venus. 1800 scientists from 100 coutries sent a plea to the world's politicians to urge them to act, and re-stated that the projections of Kyoto are probably under-estimated. A poll indicate that scientists consider global warming to be the biggest risk of the 21 century. 700 billion dollars are spent every year on military budgets(550 billion in developped countries). Affecting a part of that money to help the economy adapt to be less dependant on fossil fuels is probably a better way to protect ourselves. - many symbolic animals, such as tigers, chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, and blue whales may become extinct within 10 years. Most other famous animals may disappear within 30 years. The number of endangered species has increased significantly in the last 5 years. - the UN projects an increase of 50% of the human population within 50 years. This increase (1 million every 5 days now) will cause a huge pressure on the planet ressources and the environment(need for more space, more wood, more water, more CO2 emissions..). The UN has population control programs, but not enough money to finance them, and now fears that the population in 2050 will reach 10.9 billion instead of the 9.3 billion previously projected (6.2 billions currently).
The situation all over the world has become so bad that scientists fear the loss of one third of species within 50 years and tow thirds within 100 years, leaving us on Earth with insects, micro-organisms, and rats.
It usually takes 5 million years for biodiversity to recover from a massive extinction. If we let the current one happen(and if we survive it), 500 trillion human beings will live on a desolate planet, 10000 times more than the total number of humans who ever lived (with an average population of 2.5 billion). We are really confronted to the biggest decision in our history.
It's imperative that we all become aware of the situation and act. There is no miracle, but controlling our population (no more than 2 children per couple), reducing our CO2 emissions(reduce the usage of cars-which account for 45% of CO2 emissions, by using public transportation or small cars-, reduce energy wasting), making pressure on our leaders(for CO2 reductions, better public transportation, clean energy, reforestation, cancelling of the third world debt which is a big cause of deforestation in countries like Brazil, reducing military budgets to help the economy), decreasing our consumption of wood and fish, and recycling can make a big difference. You can also get involved in an ecologist movement(on their web sites, you can become a cyber-activist and send emails to the leaders of the world in a few clicks -see links below-). They will also give you information on how to act locally and internationaly. We should also keep ourselves updated on the state of the planet, especially about global warming. All initiatives at all level should be encouraged. There might be economic impacts, but risks are increasing significantly every year(we have increased CO2 concentration in the atmosphere by more than 30% and cut 50% of forests, in 20 years, it will be 50% and 75%-the remaining will be mainly boreal forest which absorb much less CO2-). Generally speaking, we should also avoid excessive optimism, because the past has shown that it is not that easy. We should help our governments as much as possible to fasten the transition toward less CO2 emissions, and if they don't act, we should not wait for them. If something bad happens in ten years and we are not ready, our stock exchanges and economies will collapse and we won't be able to act anymore.
Scientists are paid with our taxes, to better our lives and warn us of dangers. They send us clear signals. We chose to send you this email because we think, like many scientists, that risks are not adressed enough.
Sincerely,
The mouvement for sustainable human developpement.
How would you react if your Government decided that having bought your car, paid all the relevant taxes and licences, and paid for the fuel, you would now be asked to pay a levy for every kilometer or mile you drive it?
Your reaction would probably be similar to mine:- they must be potty - they've flipped! How many times must we pay for the same thing? More than once is not on as far as I am concerned!
Recent information from a friend in the Philippines reveals that something similar is being planned by their Government, but it relates to electrical generators, not cars.
The power distribution system in that country is at best erratic and unpredictable, and any person, service or business that is absolutely reliant on a constant electrical supply must install a generator at their own expense, and of course pay for the fuel to run it. Now, it seems, they will also be expected to pay an additional levy of P0.40 to P0.50 for every kilowatthour they generate with their own equipment and at their own cost!
If this is not the ultimate in stupid ideas, it must come extremely close!
If the Government in the Philippines is really saying to it's people "You cannot generate your own electricity without paying taxes", then there is an immediate disincentive for installing clean energy sources such as solar or wind power!
Furthermore, the proposed system would be completely unworkable, as privately generated electicity for own consumption is not metered. There would be no possibility of working out an accurate charge, and this would probably mean an estimated bill. Such items are rarely accurate, and would add further insult to injury.
I reproduce the original article below for information:-
******
ADVISORY
To: All Owners of Electrical Generators Dear Countrymen: If you use your electric generator for business or livelihood you are about to be charged a universal levy of P0.40 - P0.50 per kwh under the harmonized IRR of the Electric Industry Reform Act or RA 9136.
I believe this is wrong, unfair, and maybe even unconstitutional. I invite you to join me in letting out lawmakers and governement officials know our protest to this proposal.
Please fax your opinion to 6873863 or DZEC 995-1301 or 02. I will submit your letters to the concerned officials.
You can also contact the following directly:-
Joint Congressional Power Commision
Cong. Alipio V. Badelles, Chairman Cong. Florencio B.Abad Cong. Constantino G. Jaraula Cong. Augusto H. Baculio Cong. Ruy Elais C. Lopez Cong. Julio P. Lopez IV Cong. Faysah Maniri Racman Dumparpa Senator Renato L. Cayetano Senator Sergio R. Osmeña Senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel Senator John Henry R. Osmeña Senator Teresita A. Oreta Senator Francisco M. Pangilinan Senator Joker P. Arroyo
Secretary of Energy Vincent Perez
I have prepared a position paper on the issue. You can secure a copy by faxing a request to 687-3863.
And inyong lingkod,
Juan Ponce Enrile (Senator).
******
If any member from the Philippines can supply e-mail addresses for any of the above persons, please post them here on the board as quickly as possible!
I have only one e-mail address available, and that is for the President, Gloria Macapagal:-
US Attorney General, John Ashcroft, has ruled himself out of any investigation into the bankruptcy of ENRON because the $57,000 he received from ENRON to fund his election campaign makes him ineligible!
And the entire Houston based Attorney General's Office, including the Chief Prosecutor, are ineligible to take part in the investigation because so many of them have relatives who work for ENRON.
Some quotes from the Channel 4 report:
"As for President Bush - he's a good friend of Enron's chairman Ken Lay, he used Enron's corporate jet during his presidential campaign and he's had more money from Mr Lay (.....) to fly around America."
"And the revelation that Enron's accountants - Arthur Andersen - has destroyed large numbers of documents and emails which are required by the criminal investigation into Enron's collapse.
"Everyone's engulfed by this - 40 per cent of Congressmen and 70 per cent of Senators, most of them Republicans, received campaign money from Enron, which has been President Bush's biggest financial backer in his political career."
End quotes (there were some typos in the first paragraph that I have replaced by (.....) for the sake of clarity, but see the report yourself)
Wow, that last one's a biggie! 40 per cent of Congressmen, and 70 per cent of Senators, most of them Republicans, received campaign money from ENRON.
I'm going to extrapolate. If receiving campaign money from ENRON rules US Attorney General John Ashcroft out from investigating the bankruptcy of ENRON because he could not be seen to be impartial in a court of law, then I am suggesting that votes cast in the legislative body that makes those laws (ie The Senate, and the House of Representatives) that impact on the business of ENRON (eg. the Kyoto Protocol / Treaty) should be ruled invalid on similar grounds.
The whole scandal suggests that John Ashcroft, the US Attorney General, believes that political donations to US Politicians may influence the judgement or decisions of US Politicians - he certainly is admitting that he cannot be seen to be viewed as impartial, even if he was bound by an oath in a court of law.
In light of this I'd like Greenpeace USA to take George Bush's decision refuse to ratify the Kyoto Protocol to court, as the $1.8million dollars donated by ENRON to Bush's campaign during the last Presidential Election Campaign renders his, and his cabinet's decision invalid, as it lays open the Bush administration eligible to accusations of accepting donations in return for making political decisions that impact on the environment of not just the USA, but the whole planet.
I apologise to George W Bush and John Ashcroft for seeming to suggest that donations by Oil Companies to their Election Campaign have influenced their political decisions as I know that this is absolutely true - oops, absolutely NOT true, I meant (blast, I've forgotten how to use the backspace key, still they'll know what I meant). And John Ashcroft's ruling himself out of this investigation should be construed (oops, NOT be construed) as an admission that he considers himself to being guilty of having been bribed, or at least that he does not see that he could act impartially in this case without being subject to accusations that he could be influenced by a mere $57,000.
And I expect the USA to ratify the Kyoto Protocol so as to disprove the theory of corrupt US Politicians making policy as a result of political donations.
Now, that's all the jokes done (maybe not, tho' 'cos I'm making this up as I go along).
If John Ashcroft can rule himself out of any investigation into the bankruptcy of ENRON on the grounds of having received large donations from them (sorry, can't help myself for repeating that again - far be it from me to suggest even by implication any sort of political corruption) then can the US Supreme Court rule out any US Politician from voting in Congress on any issue that involves the business of a corporation that has made a political donation to them, and, more specifically, the US President needs to be made ineligible from making decisions that can be construed - oops, sorry, meant MIS-construed, of course, backspace key not working, sorry again, you know what I mean - to be "bought" by political donations?
Former US President Jimmy Carter, has publicly stated that "Political Action Committees" or PACs were a form of legitimised political bribery (on an Open University Program I saw late one night). Seems that John Ashcroft is in agreement - at least enough not to want to have it tested in a court of law.
There is a suggestion that the ENRON scandal could be to George W Bush as Whitewater was to Clinton - I can only hope that it will be seen, in future years, as more similar to Nixon and Watergate.
And, of course, I know only too well that Article II, Section 4 of the Constitution states that:
"The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."
It seems (to me) that some "40 per cent of Congressmen, and 70 per cent of Senators, most of them Republican" would be ineligible to oppose Bush's impeachment on charges of bribery by ENRON, as they are likewise tainted. That just leaves the Democrats, then....
to save time and space I have grouped data from different reports together into a combined posting. There is good news, certainly, and reports of successful actions, but more still needs to be done.
Please take a few minutes to scan through, and complete as many actions as you can!
Best regards, Uncle John
***** Nine Greenpeace Activists Receive No Jail Time for Peaceful Protest of Star Wars Program During sentencing hearing, nine of the Greenpeace activists who pled guilty on January 8, 2002 to the misdemeanor charge of conspiring to trespass during a peaceful protest against Bush's national missile defense program, received one year probation and will not serve further jail time. Find out more, and keep updated on the sentencing developments in April: http://www.greenpeaceusa.org/features/starwars17.htm
***** Arctic Refuge Wins Reprieve...For Now Last year, 200,000 messages from email activists helped ensure that the Bush Administration and special interests were unsuccessful in pushing a bad energy bill through the Senate that would have increased our dependence on oil, opened the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil drilling, and more. However, the oil industry and their allies will be at it again with a new push to open the Arctic to oil drilling. Act now to protect the Arctic Refuge and provide true energy security. Take action! http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/energy_senate/wbe5es4h78xwdb
***** BP Drops Plans for Controversial Liberty Oil Field in Alaska Following years of campaigning by Greenpeace and other environmental groups, BP announced Monday it is dropping plans for the controversial Liberty oil field in Alaska. http://www.greenpeaceusa.org/media/press_releases/2002/02_01_09.htm
***** Victoria's Dirty Little Secret Did you know that Victoria's Secret and Bath and Body Works are using toxic PVC in their packaging? Find out more about toxic PVC and what you can do: http://www.greenpeaceusa.org/features/victorias_secret.htm
***** Italy - conrete threatens coastlines A recent change in the Italian law literally paves the way for new construction almost anywhere on Italy's coastline. We're sending emails to the Italian President. If you have the time, can you help? Go to: http://passport.panda.org/campaign/index.cfm?campaign=2115&lang=13&campaign_lang=13 (If the link breaks, it may have gone onto two lines.) ***** Help Canadians Fight Oil Drilling Off British Columbia Coast Oil companies are trying to gain access to the Pacific coast of Canada, threatening a sensitive and beautiful marine ecosystem and a rich fishery. Pollution in these waters could also easily spread to waters off Alaska and to Washington State's Puget Sound, its neighbor to the south. Urge the Canadian government not to open Canada's Pacific coast to oil drilling. Take action! http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/cndocs2/wbe5es4h78xwdb ***** HELP US INCREASE OUR REACH IN 2002 Spread the Word! Nearly 150,000 people around the world already take action online with Environmental Defense Action Network. However, we need your help to reach even more people in 2002. Tell a friend about Action Network and help us start off 2002 with even more people around the world taking action online for a cleaner environment. Click here: http://actionnetwork.org/join-forward.html?domain=edan_message&r=Xdq0_f91uPJT ***** ECO-TIP Stop Catalogues from Flooding your Mailbox More than 17 billion catalogs were distributed in the United States in 1998 -- about sixty-four for every man, woman, and child. Catalogs use a lot of paper -- 3.35 million tons of it in 1999. The use of so much paper comes at a significant environmental cost. Get consumer tips on reducing catalogue waste. Click here! Hello everybody,
to save time and space I have grouped data from different reports together into a combined posting. There is good news, certainly, and reports of successful actions, but more still needs to be done.
Please take a few minutes to scan through, and complete as many actions as you can!
Best regards, Uncle John
***** Nine Greenpeace Activists Receive No Jail Time for Peaceful Protest of Star Wars Program During sentencing hearing, nine of the Greenpeace activists who pled guilty on January 8, 2002 to the misdemeanor charge of conspiring to trespass during a peaceful protest against Bush's national missile defense program, received one year probation and will not serve further jail time. Find out more, and keep updated on the sentencing developments in April: http://www.greenpeaceusa.org/features/starwars17.htm
***** Arctic Refuge Wins Reprieve...For Now Last year, 200,000 messages from email activists helped ensure that the Bush Administration and special interests were unsuccessful in pushing a bad energy bill through the Senate that would have increased our dependence on oil, opened the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil drilling, and more. However, the oil industry and their allies will be at it again with a new push to open the Arctic to oil drilling. Act now to protect the Arctic Refuge and provide true energy security. Take action! http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/energy_senate/wbe5es4h78xwdb
***** BP Drops Plans for Controversial Liberty Oil Field in Alaska Following years of campaigning by Greenpeace and other environmental groups, BP announced Monday it is dropping plans for the controversial Liberty oil field in Alaska. http://www.greenpeaceusa.org/media/press_releases/2002/02_01_09.htm
***** Victoria's Dirty Little Secret Did you know that Victoria's Secret and Bath and Body Works are using toxic PVC in their packaging? Find out more about toxic PVC and what you can do: http://www.greenpeaceusa.org/features/victorias_secret.htm
***** Italy - conrete threatens coastlines A recent change in the Italian law literally paves the way for new construction almost anywhere on Italy's coastline. We're sending emails to the Italian President. If you have the time, can you help? Go to: http://passport.panda.org/campaign/index.cfm?campaign=2115&lang=13&campaign_lang=13 (If the link breaks, it may have gone onto two lines.) ***** Help Canadians Fight Oil Drilling Off British Columbia Coast Oil companies are trying to gain access to the Pacific coast of Canada, threatening a sensitive and beautiful marine ecosystem and a rich fishery. Pollution in these waters could also easily spread to waters off Alaska and to Washington State's Puget Sound, its neighbor to the south. Urge the Canadian government not to open Canada's Pacific coast to oil drilling. Take action! http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/cndocs2/wbe5es4h78xwdb ***** HELP US INCREASE OUR REACH IN 2002 Spread the Word! Nearly 150,000 people around the world already take action online with Environmental Defense Action Network. However, we need your help to reach even more people in 2002. Tell a friend about Action Network and help us start off 2002 with even more people around the world taking action online for a cleaner environment. Click here: http://actionnetwork.org/join-forward.html?domain=edan_message&r=Xdq0_f91uPJT ***** ECO-TIP Stop Catalogues from Flooding your Mailbox More than 17 billion catalogs were distributed in the United States in 1998 -- about sixty-four for every man, woman, and child. Catalogs use a lot of paper -- 3.35 million tons of it in 1999. The use of so much paper comes at a significant environmental cost. Get consumer tips on reducing catalogue waste. Click here!
it is becoming apparent that even relatively small changes in global temeperature can cause larger disturbances than expected.
"A 20 -year study of lakes on an Antarctic island has revealed dramatic ecological changes caused by a one degree Celsius rise in temperature."
"The effect of the increasing air temperature on the chemistry and biology of the lakes has taken scientists by surprise. Dr Cynun Ellis-Evans, one of the team who carried out the work, says: "Over 20 years, the lake temperatures have increased by almost three times the increase in local air temperature over the same period."
This part of the globe is where the main reservoir of captive water is stored, and it is hoped that there will be no sudden release.
Re Britney, how about if we create a campaign to flood her fan sites with letters like these:
Dear Britney,
I'm writing to alert you to a devestating potential threat to your career -- even bigger than Christine. You may have heard about it: it's called Climate Change.
Basically, it could shrink your worldwide audience by millions over the next few decades, force you to make expensive venue changes to avoid social upheaval, submerged coastlines, malaria outbreaks and starvation. As your fans, we feel it's important to alert you to this.
And as one of the most popular and listened-to icons of today's youth, you have a responsibility to act on behalf of all of us to do one simple thing: Get the US government doing something about it!
The big problem with that at the moment is that Exxon owns America. Or at least, it owns the President and the Vice President, and it dictates American Energy Policy. So when Exxon became president of the United States, Exxon said no to something called the "Kyoto Protocol" which was supposed to reduce the world's dependence on oil. Almost everybody else in the world, including America, had already agreed to this and some had started working on it.
So here's the plan. We want you to go to the capital of the United States (which, as everyone knows, is currently Irving, Texas, where Exxon's global headquarters is located), and hold a big solar-powered concert. We want you to write songs about the kids who are being born today who are going to die of starvation and malaria and in the floods and hurricanes that are going to rip through places they've never been before. We want songs about the kids who will never see glaciers in the alps or be able to visit any of the South Pacific Islands that are going to be underwater. Then we want you to raise your fist like you do in your "Hit me baby one more time" routine (so your belly button shows) and shout "Exxon doesn't own America, WE DO" and then we, as the youth of the world who are going to inherit the mess these guys are making and pay the consequences of their inaction, will rise up and shout Down with Exxon! No More Oil! We'll declare the New Oil Independent Republic! We'll make you our leader! A Solar Youth Revolution! And if you can convince Pepsi to declare itself the Cola of the Energy Order and convert all their production processes to wind and solar driven, we'll never drink Coke again!
Britney, as a pop idol and former mouseketeer, you have a solemn responsibility to represent the hopes and fears of the world's youth. Planetary devestation is the fear you have to address. If you can't go for the concert idea, would you at least snip the following statement and send it back with your signature or email confirmation of your agreement:
=============================
I believe Climate Change is one of the greatest dangers to the future of the world. We must end our planet's dependency on oil. And we must end the undue influence of Exxon corporation on US policy in this regard. To all my fans, please, help Greenpeace stop Exxon from destroying our future.
Love, Britney
=============================
The oil industry is as big a threat to your future than a Spice Girls reunion! They're totally "Overprotected"! Go get them, Britney!
Have a look at http://www.channel4.com/news/home/20020311/Story04.htm for this story in which a soon to retire production operator, Bill Burkett, speaks out about the cost cutting and staff reductions at Prudhoe Bay, North Alaska.
Quote:
"If they continue to cut corners the way they do now I fear a catastrophic event is imminent."
"Bill Burkett has worked for BP for 20 years and is due to retire in just a few days. BP's unlikely to forget Bill Burkett. Because before he goes he's giving members of congress a written statement and Channel 4 News an exclusive interview, claiming that staff cuts and equipment failures have contributed to at least one large oil spill."
End quotes
Despite having been instructed to install leak detection systems in 1997, BP have still failed to do so by the extended deadline of December 2001.
Quote
"Last Autumn BP was stung by bad publicity into publishing a review of its Prudhoe Bay operation. Among its 78 recommendations was one that called for safety problems to be tackled immediately, including an "unacceptable" maintenance backlog on valves and fire and gas detection systems. Yet a photograph, taken in late January, shows one such gas leak detection system. Bill Burkett says the red tags mark all those parts in need of repair."
There should be a video to view with the full interview of this story, but the ink is broken....Convenient for BP, maybe? I'll email C4 News and ask them to fix the link
Channel 4 News again, this time on oil prices, and Iraq, UN Sanctions against Iraq, and the predicted demand for oil over the next twenty years. See http://www.channel4.com/news/home/20020312/Story01.htm for details.
This report comes as a couple of UK petrol dealers raised the price of petrol at the pump - something - he says cynically - that might actually raise awareness of the issues amongst apathetic British voters, although I suspect that media manipulation will see the main thrust of the complaints about the level of taxation on petrol prices - he says even more cynically....
The US consumes some 22 million barrels of oil per day, and the EU some 15 million per day, and world oil consumption is expected to rise by some 55% by the year 2020 - frightening.
And Iraq, which is subject to UN sanctions, has pending oil extraction projects, both Russian and US, but these projects cannot take place while UN sanctions are in place, and the sanctions are unlikely to be removed whilst Saddam Hussain still holds power.
So GW's war on terror, currently focusing on Iraq, is, partly at least, a not very subtle - but terribly convenient - excuse to get at Iraqi oilfields.
I wonder whether the fact that GW's Presidential campaign was significantly funded by oil companies has any bearing on this direction the Bush administration is preparing to go?
Am I'm being cynical again?
The other news today, was that heightening tension, and the possibility of a war on Iraq, has pushed up the stock prices in London of the major oil companies. So, someone's making a profit because of the rumours of war, or anticipating greater profitibility if oil sanctions are applied to the west by OPEC - after all, restricted supply pushes profits up.
Am I being too cynical? Gee, I guess not.....
Dom
PS My previous posting "Artic Refuge - BP worker speaks out" was not about a lorry park, and should have read "Arctic Refuge" ;-)
Here are some news items and reports about the - allegedly - imminent arrival of fuel-cell cars, and a story about Singapore being used as a test case to get a hydrogen distribution infrastructure in place.
"Honda has announced that it will be producing hydrogen fuel-cell cars by 2003. The four-seater Honda FCX-V3 uses a pure hydrogen fuel cell system with a compact electric drive motor. Combined with a Honda-developed ultra capacitor, it is reported to be very responsive. The car currently uses a Ballard 62 kW Fuel Cell, though Honda says the 2003 model will incorporate its own in-house fuel cell. The FCX-V3 has a 112 mile range on a 100 liter tank stored in the trunk, reaches a top speed of 80 mph, and takes only 5 minutes to refuel."
Regular readers amongst you may recall that I posted last year about Honda building a solar-powered hydrogen fuel station at their research centre in Torrance, California.
Here are some news items and reports about the - allegedly - imminent arrival of fuel-cell cars, and a story about Singapore being used as a test case to get a hydrogen distribution infrastructure in place.
"Honda has announced that it will be producing hydrogen fuel-cell cars by 2003. The four-seater Honda FCX-V3 uses a pure hydrogen fuel cell system with a compact electric drive motor. Combined with a Honda-developed ultra capacitor, it is reported to be very responsive. The car currently uses a Ballard 62 kW Fuel Cell, though Honda says the 2003 model will incorporate its own in-house fuel cell. The FCX-V3 has a 112 mile range on a 100 liter tank stored in the trunk, reaches a top speed of 80 mph, and takes only 5 minutes to refuel."
Regular readers amongst you may recall that I posted last year about Honda building a solar-powered hydrogen fuel station at their research centre in Torrance, California.
I've been looking at weather patterns in Nevada, and came across references to the Red Rock Conservation Area, and local attempts to block the construction of a "pumped-hydro storage plant" at Blue Diamond Hill - using an artificial reservoir to act as a backup "battery" at times when energy demands outstrip supply, but using conventially generated energy (ie fossil fuels) to refill the reservoir at slack periods. See http://nevada.sierraclub.org/sngroup/text/redrock.html for details.
The Southern Nevada Group of the Sierra Club have the following to say on the subject of Energy in their state:
"How energy efficient we become has largely to do with the leadership we get on this issue. If the only message our leaders hear is the panic-inducing profit-motivated message from the fossil fuel industry, then our decision makers will tend to look to the last century for answers."
"Our Group is run entirely by volunteers. As such, we seek the input and volunteer help from our members. We look for help in leading and co-leading hikes, raising funds for the Group's activities, and working on conservation and political issues. We seek people with skills in leadership, administration, public speaking, computers, activism, politics, photography, fundraising, artistic/graphic arts, and teaching. If you have an environmental project that you would like to have backed by the Sierra Club, call one of our Board members."
To me, this looks as though these are people that can give us local knowledge, and we can help them in return. For all I know, members of this group read and contribute to this site already.
All potential starting points, if anyone other than myself and Perfect Indian are interested in at least looking at alternative energy sources near Las Vegas.
After the "Dangers of Downstream Hormones" where the possible effects on humans have been mooted, I found another article relating to an unwelcome trend at:-
"The number of babies born with certain birth defects has soared over the last five years, a medical charity has warned."
"The Birth Defects Foundation (BDF) suggests certain types of abnormalities have increased by up to 50% over that time."
"The occurrence of some birth defects has declined, but the BDF has shown a sharp rise in three specific defects; cleft lip or palate, gastroschisis (abnormality of the abdominal wall) and hypospadias (a condition affecting boys in which the opening of the penis is situated on the underside of the shaft)."
"Why there has been a rise in certain types of defects is not clear, but long-term use of recreational drugs by young mothers and an increase in oestrogen-like substances in diets are possible explanations."
"The condition has been rising in both the UK and the US and is five times more common in teenage mothers than other age groups."
It must first be stated that data on birth defects is not derived from a complete statistical analysis, as the reporting of such defects is only voluntary. It would seem that there is a good case for changing this situation.
Birth defects have been attributed to a whole range of ills from obesity, herbal remedies, and Thyroid disease through to pollution and living too close to garbage dumps. In the case of cleft palate, however, research has shown that the the X-linked transcription factor T-box gene TBX22 is responsible for the inherited form.
Subjectively, the incidence of cleft palate is much lower in the UK and Europe than in developing countries, but this could be masked by the availability of remedial operations for sufferers. I have no data for trends in other countries.
The higher risk for teenage mothers indicates a life-style effect, where more of certain products are consumed than would be the case with other age-groups. In other countries, where recreational drugs are not available, and smoking is not common among females, the problem still occurs.
My money would be on the "increase in oestrogen-like substances in diets", unless somebody can pinpoint a factor that shows a parallel increase over the same time period.
For birth defects to occur at all, something must influence the genetic structure of the egg, the sperm or the embryo itself. Radiation, which could do that, doesn't change it's level naturally, and it would be fairly obvious if anything unnatural had caused such a change. Hormones, however, are another story entirely.
Knowing now that effective concentration levels for hormones are around the 1 part per billion level, which is way below the detectable limits using current tests for drinking water, most people can be considered "at risk".
The Precautionary Principle needs to be rigorously applied over a much wider range than before, it seems, for our "safe levels" of toxicity have just been blown away again!
the above is the title of an action alert at Greenpeace. The text goes on to read:-
"Right now, Edison is planning to build a a 734 megawatt coal-fired power plant on the beach in Bo Nok, Thailand. Coal is the most carbon intensive fossil fuel. Over 20 years, the plant would emit 117.4 million tons of carbon dioxide. In addition to greenhouse gase emissions, sulphuric acid and dust would be discharged from the coal plant, which will affect ecology and marine life, hence the lives of the Bo Nok people."
"Tell William Heller, CEO of Edison Mission Energy, that they should give the people of Bo Nok the right to have a clean and safe environment, without dirty fossil fuels."
If you haven't received this alert already, and can spend the few seconds that it will take to participate, (even with a slow connection), please go to:-
bad news again, I'm afraid, but not altogether unexpected.
"Large expanses of the world's forests are in rapid decline and could be lost much sooner than expected, a new report by an environmental research group says."
"The report, written by Dirk Bryant for the Washington-based World Resources Institute, says much of what is currently designated intact forest is actually badly degenerated."
"A lot of it is illegal logging in areas of the tropics," Mr Bryant told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"[There are] good rules on the books by governments who are really making an effort, but they're just not implemented on the ground," he said.
"The WRI report is based on a two-year survey that covered North America, Russia, Indonesia, Central Africa, Chile and Venezuela."
"It found that areas believed to have forest land intact were now riddled with roads, logging and mining activity."
"As we examined what we thought were still vast, untouched stretches of intact forests in the world, we came to the conclusion that they are fast becoming a myth," WRI president Jonathan Lash said.
It seems that although countries may have laws that supposedly regulate logging activities, they are not being effectively implemented. This looks like a complelling reason for coupling aid to conditions to me!
This should be very disturbing for anyone who cares about climate change. The US Government together with the Energy and fossil fuels industry steers a course of open lobbyism combined with hidden strategies - mainly pseudo scientific campaigns with often multi million Dollar support by the industry (punch line: CO2 is good, greens the earth, warming is good or doesn't exist at all or is natural so we can't do anything etc., and similar quack science, but in a very convincing outfit that leaves the uninformed behind in confusion)
The following is an excerpt from a Union of Concerned Scientists / Sound Science Initiative posting. Your's truly happens to be a member:
According to a report in today's New York Times (see below), senior State Department officials are meeting today with lobbyists from several energy companies and auto manufacturers to solicit their advice on whom the Bush administration should support for the next Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The report notes that the fossil-fuel industry has been lobbying the administration for the past year to remove Robert Watson from the position of Chair of the IPCC. In a letter leaked to the Natural Resources Defense Council, the senior environmental advisor from Exxon Mobil, Arthur Randall III, wrote to the White House a year ago asking that Watson be replaced.
As you will recall from yesterday's SSI Update, the US has thus far failed to nominate Watson for the position of chair of the IPCC. Today's New York Times article makes it clear that fossil fuel industry lobbyists are actively encouraging the US to oppose Watson. SSI has serious concerns that industry is seeking to undermine the scientific integrity and credibility of the IPCC process. This comes on the heels of much publicity regarding the enormous influence of industry lobbyists in shaping the administration's energy policy.
It is critically important that the administration hears quickly from climate scientists on this crucial issue. As the New York Times notes, several influential climate experts including Ralph J. Cicerone, chairman of the National Academy of Sciences panel that assessed the IPCC report for the US government last year, have weighed in to support Watson's nomination. Watson is widely regarded as having done an outstanding job in guiding and maintaining the scientific focus and integrity of the IPCC.
The New York Times article also notes that the only other candidate thus far nominated to lead the IPCC is Dr Rajendra K. Pachauri, an Indian engineer and economist. Pachauri, currently one of five vice chairmen of the IPCC, is highly regarded but has no grounding in atmospheric science. SSI is concerned that should the administration follow industry advice to endorse Pachauri's nomination, it would signal an intention to diminish the scientific focus and authority of the IPCC. As noted in yesterday's SSI Update, several industrialized country and developing country governments are asking the US to support Watson, or to consider supporting Watson and Pachauri as potential co-chairs.
the latest report from the etc group on this extremely serious matter states the following:-
"A UNITED NATIONS conference in the Hague next week offers the UN a critical opportunity to ban 'Terminator' seeds before they are commercialised in farmers' fields, warns an alliance of campaign groups.
The ETC group, Berne Declaration and ActionAid are among many groups urging delegates at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 'COP6' conference to heed global opinion and ban the commercialisation of crops modified to produce sterile seeds - known as 'suicide seeds' or 'Terminator technology'.
The alliance warns CBD delegates that seed giants such as Delta & Pine Land intend to commercialise terminator crops and that the world's largest agrochemical and seed corporations continue to work on and win patents on terminator technology and closely related techniques to chemically control plant fertility and/or seed germination.
Terminator plants are modified to prevent farmers from re-using harvested seed, forcing farmers to buy new seeds from multinationals every year. This is seen as immoral because over 1.4 billion people, mainly poor farmers in poor countries, depend on farm-saved seeds.
Terminator has been universally condemned by civil society groups and farmers movements that consider it an assault on farmers and the well being of all rural people; it has been banned by agricultural research institutes and censured by UN bodies - including Dr Jacques Diouf, Director General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.
India, Pakistan, Ghana and Panama have taken steps to ban terminator. See:-
"The CBD must terminate Terminator before it's planted in open fields," says Hope Shand, research director for ETC group. "Terminator is an anti-farmer technology and clearly isn't dead yet. The CBD must ban it urgently in the Hague and protect farmers' rights and global food security."
We have nearly 60,000 members now, and this sort of number can make a significant difference. I most strongly urge you all to find the few minutes time it will take to surf to:-
and fill in the on-line form to send a loud and clear message to FAO Director-General, Dr. Jacques Diouf.
Concerned individuals can also send messages of protest to Delta & Pine Land's new president, and current CEO, Murray Robinson. Let D&PL know that Terminator is anti-farmer, dangerous for the environment and disastrous for world food security. Terminator technology is also bad for business! F. Murray Robinson, President and CEO Delta & Pine Land Inc. One Cotton Row Scott, Mississippi 38772 Tel: 662 742-4000 Fax: 662 742-3795 Email: harry.b.collins@deltaandpine.com
Delta & Pine Land is the US-based seed company that is commercializing Terminator seeds!!!
And don't forget:- cross-pollination could spread Terrminator genes to native plants, and create absolute mayhem. This technology must be stopped, as well as it's close cousin - the Traitor technology!
"The groups also urge the CBD to uphold and strengthen its moratorium on 'Traitor technology' - 'Genetic Use Restriction Technologies' - which are GM crops with traits - such as flowering, sprouting, or immune deficiency - which can be switched on and off by applying special chemicals to the plant. "Terminator and traitor crops smash open the idea that GM crops are intended to feed the poor," says Alex Wijeratna, campaign coordinator from ActionAid.
Together we can make a difference!
Best regards, Uncle John
PS. When I try to send the form, I get a message saying "cannot send from here". I am trying to clear this problem with the site.
This subject has been the object of some concern to me for many years, and I hope that I have formulated it in a meaningful way.
Human endeavour took on a marked acceleration with the Industrial Revolution, and since that point it has accelerated ever faster. Technology now enables workloads to be taken over by machinery to a great extent, and the physical stress of actually living, and providing the necessary wherewithal, has reduced extensively. At the same time, the number of hours actually spent in earning money has reduced steadily over the years. The result is that employed people now have much more leisure time, and much more energy to expend.
Coupled with these developments has been a shift away from self-entertainment, eg. by reading, making music, embroidery, and the 'older' types of hobby, to a situation where we are passively "entertained" by various media, primarily television. Over the years this leads to the loss of ability to entertain ourselves - we no longer know how - and the younger members of our society may never have that facility. One could say that computer games are an exception, but for me that does not hold water. Computer games are still another way of projecting ourselves into someone else's "artificial reality", as are 'soap operas' and other types of presentation.
The same media that provide our entertainment, also provide our information and direction. The constant bombardment of advertising does have a proven effect, as does over-exposure to negative influences such as violence. The result, however, is not one of greater satisfaction on the part of the majority, but of less. This leads to a quest for ever new ways of quenching our thirst for 'fulfilment', (or now 'self-fulfilment), and in many instances to increasing boredom, which in turn leads to the requirement for yet more projection. Programmes such as "Who wants to be a millionaire", and "Survivor" may fill a need temporarily, but after a time they too begin to pall, and something new is needed.
This "Age of Convenience" has been made possible by the expenditure of tremendous amounts of previously stored energy which we have released in a relatively short period - but can never replace. That part of the planet's reserves is already gone forever.
That is not all, however. At the same time as we are invited to project ourselves into whichever "artificial reality" is being offered, those pulling the economic strings are changing the face of normality slowly but steadily.
How many villages are there now without a shop, a Post Office, or a Bank? The move to centralization of services has meant reduced costs and or increased profits for the business community, but at the expense of those requiring the services - prices may be a little lower as a result, but they now have to travel - not just to take advantage of lower prices - to get anything at all. The cost of travel, however, is not insignificant, and in environmental terms it is a disaster. Instead of everything being within easy reach by foot or with a bicycle, it is now necessary to take a bus or use a car. In fact, with the changes in shopping habits that have to be made to accommodate this shift, the car is a virtual necessity because of the sheer volume of goods that is purchased at the supermarket or hypermarket.
Furthermore, the seasonal limitations which were inherent in the annual cycle are no longer apparent. Food, flowers, and high-value 'exotic' items are transported over thousands of miles to reach the tables of those that can pay. The agricultural systems of whole countries are now geared to markets in the opposite hemisphere, for there is money to be made. I can only guess at the effects on the indigenous population in those countries, but I would say that a few prosper while most suffer. It may make economic sense for a factory ship to produce Guinness on the way to Australia, and Fosters on the way back to Europe, but can anyone see the environmental sense in carrying water, (the main constituent of beer), to Australia and back again?
Our every whim is already being pandered to, but that is not enough. We must have more whims, so that yet more can be produced and sold, and preferably the whims should not be our own anyway that would only cause unnecessary confusion. No, the whims will be found for us, and we will be informed about them at the right time.
And the trend? Ever more of the same! From a pure monetary viewpoint, the recipe has the right general flavour, and is being readily consumed by all.
But the Costs? These are just beginning to make themselves felt.!
Manufacturing industries are no longer able to maintain their profits at home, and are uprooting, lock, stock, and barrel, and transferring to pastures new. The benefits they bring to their new locations are relatively small, as wages are low, and conditions are poor. The losses at home, however, are immense. Not only do people who have working steadily towards their retirement suddenly find themselves 'out on the street', but at that age, the chance of getting another job closely approximates zero. The government's tax base shrinks, with more and more unemployed, but the companies continue to enjoy healthy profits. Those that suffer, of course, are those that depend on welfare services and pensions, for the money to provide them is no longer available.
As well as outright job loss, for those that still have employment there is a strong shift in conditions. Job security is fast becoming a myth, as more and more companies use the fixed- term contract method of employment. In fact, the system known as contracting, or "temporary staff", is now so embedded in the structure that it will be difficult to shake loose. People who need to rely on 'temp. agencies' for their source of work are penalised not only in terms of security, but also with lower rates of pay and benefits. This fits in with a new concept being utilised by business - "mobility of labour". This could be taken as the new terminology for the "Hire and Fire" mentality that the US has been accused of for years, but dressed up in a new cloak it is finding much wider acceptance.
Nationalized industries were effectively the "Savings Banks" of any country. The amount of capital tied up in public ownership was tremendous, but over the years it has gradually all been spent. So much so that there is nothing to reinvest to keep these industries profitable. What to do then? Of course - Privatize them! Governments do not change their habits overnight - they never seemed to be under the same compulsion as the average citizen to "balance the books" - and they require money. If this can be found in the private sector, well and good.
The effects of privatization, however, are possibly disastrous. Private companies do not perform a service at government expense, but need to make a profit. Furthermore, as there is another level in the structure - the shareholders - who also expect a return, the profit must be higher than otherwise. Finally, as there is now a Board of Directors, instead of a government minister whose remuneration is regulated, they too will want their cut, and that is by no means meagre. If all goes 'well', the customers will have to find the money to cover the increased costs involved in making a profit, plus whatever money is needed for investment in a business that has been severely neglected for years. If things do not go 'well', the private company will eventually sell out to another, possibly foreign, and the customers will eventually have to pay the price for losing everything - including their "savings bank".
From the business and government points of view, however, the breaking up of state industries has decided advantages apart from financial ones. This could also in fact be termed "back-door union-busting", for with the proliferation of short-term contracts and the diversification of assets over different companies, a centralized union becomes difficult to manage, and the unions will gradually lose their influence. When this influence is gone, and don't forget how hard it was to achieve in the first place - Tolpuddle, etc. - the final brake to the business onslaught will have been released. Unless another one can be found, or created, the path is then free for business to achieve whatever it wants - as long as stocks (resources) last!
How long will resources last? I can give no quantitative answer, but I do know that if managed carefully they will last longer. Unfortunately again, business is intent on escalating the rate of resource usage, rather than reducing it - or at least keeping it constant. This is becoming more and more apparent, for it is ever more difficult to go somewhere where there is no television, and where there is television, the media onslaught is already in full swing. The developing countries most affected, those with the high birth-rates, are already clamouring for everything the developed countries have to offer - now! (This statement is easy to confirm by checking the increase in numbers of petrol stations - possibly the fastest-growing business).
The planet cannot support the "Age of Convenience" for 6 billion people, and still provide safe habitat for the other inhabitants.
Knowing that our environment is already over-strained, and that the only way to ease the pressure is to reduce demand, it is also clear that demand is being deliberately increased.
It must be apparent that those with the power to make and enforce decisions in this world of ours, are making and enforcing decisions that are not in our collective interests, as they will eventually lead to the collapse of the complete system, with catastrophic consequences.
Whichever way you look at it, be it from the Genetic Engineering, the Nanotechnology, or the Globalization viewpoints, unwanted decisions that will profoundly affect all our lives are being taken over our heads, and we have little recourse but to endure the result. There is no means of redress whatsoever.
In order for the planet to survive, and still support inhabitants in reasonable number and diversity, it is necessary to replace those people with persons who will make the correct decisions. This has to be one of our top priorities, if not the very first.
Dr Robert Watson was voted out of the chair of the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on Friday and will be replaced by one of the current vice-chairs, Dr Rajendra Pachauri.
"Dr Watson's removal will spark a huge political row - environmentalists accuse the US Government of orchestrating a campaign to have the scientist sidelined."
"They say Washington disliked Dr Watson's willingness to tell governments what he believes to be the unvarnished truth - that human activities are now contributing dangerously to climate change."
"Government representatives attending an IPCC meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, voted 76 to 49 for the engineer and economist Dr Rajendra Pachauri to take the chair."
"Dr Pachauri, the director of the Tata Energy Research Institute in New Delhi, was the US administration's favoured candidate."
"On the local and city level, Californians are using their voting power to show their support for renewable energy development. The passage of propositions B and H in San Francisco, and the recent decision by the Los Angeles Community Colleges District to commit to investing in solar power and green buildings, proves that the people are rising up, and working together to diversify Californias energy portfolio. California needsleadership on the state level that will mirror the wishesof the people of California. Whats Governor Davis doing about Californias energy crisis?"
"Davis has consistently turned a blind eye to the needs of the people of California and the environment, locking the state into a gas-based energy supply. What can we do about it? The election for the governorship this Novemberis a perfect opportunity to call on Governor Davis to show leadership on climate protection and make climate/energy concerns a key issue in his gubernatorial race this year."
At the time of writing there were some 462 signatories - lets add a few thousand more....
Had this alert passed on to me by Greenpeace USA, and here it is for your inspection.
Quote:
Use Auto Lobbys Own Free Service to Curb Global Warming!
The auto industry's smear campaign of deception has reached a new low. Bill AB1058, which passed the Senate and is now headed back to the Assembly for concurrence, will require Californias Air Resources Board to adopt regulations that achieve maximum feasible reduction of global warming emissions by passenger vehicles. But not if the auto industry lobby has its way!
Recently, there has been a full-page advertisement running in major newspapers featuring auto dealer, Cal Worthington, claiming he is scared to death of the bill. The ad makes completely false claims about bill AB1058. But we can turn the tables and use their dirty tactics against them.
Simply call their toll-free number, 1-800-988-2588, and follow theautomated instructions or bypass them by saying your assembly membersname. You will be connected to your legislators office, whereby you cantell the person answering the phone that you want your assembly member to vote for AB 1058. You can also call back and ask to be connected toGovernor Davis office to ask him to support the bill. Remember that thisis the auto lobbys toll-free number, so they will thank you for calling tooppose the bill, but really, thanks should go to them for supplying aneasy way for supporters of the bill to communicate that support to theirlocal representatives.
Apologies if this has already been reported here, but I've missed it if it has.
Quote:
"AN iceberg more than twice as large as Luxembourg has broken away from Antarctica. The National Ice Centre said the iceberg, named C-19, had split off and was afloat next to Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf.
C-19 measures 190 kilometres long and 31.2 kilometres wide, or 6,302 square kilometres. Luxembourg is 2,586 square kilometres. The iceberg is named C-19 because it's the 19th new iceberg reported in that section of Antarctica since records were first kept in 1976.
Who says there's no such thing as Global Warming? Oh, yeah, that George W Bush bloke, and Exxon Mobil, and that really, really, really, really stupid person over there with his head stuck in the sand.....Oh, hang on, didn't recognise ya, there, Dubya. It's a done deal...
The U.S. has a new action plan for global climate change, and it goes like this: Get used to it. Come celebrate the inevitable with Mark Fiore's animated cartoon, only on the Grist Magazine website.
I didn't found the link in previous posts. Here is the official UN repport summary, from independant scientists: http://www.ipcc.ch/pub/tar/syr/
I wish I hadn't read it. Man, I've been told over and over. But I still can't believe this is really happening...
For exemple, http://www.ipcc.ch/pub/tar/syr/figspm-5.htm shows that the water level increase takes more than a millenium, even if we do stop CO2 emmission! I can't help remembering that small island country reprensentative at UN begging for action, "because in 100 years, my country won't exist any more. It will be all underwater".
This repport is definitly worth reading. It shows how much we need to alert opinion.
Here's the english translation of a news by Safi Douhi published today in the major French newspaper "liberation" about the repport on climate change by french parliament. Sorry for my bad english translation.
(translation starts)
Two degrees and worrying consequences. By 2100, France will see a temperature increase of two small [celsius] degrees repports [French] Parliament Commity for Scientific and Technological Commity (OPECST). Lead by Senator Marcel Deneux, members of parliament and scientific team handed over their fully detailed repport to alert public opinion and managers about the concequences of climate warming during next 100 years. A spot on the French situation, following work by UN Intergovernment Group on Climate Evolution published last year. A four point overview:
Health : Asthma increaseWinter being less cold, infectuous mortality will be reduced then. However, summer one will increase. We can expect an increase in the number of astma crises and bronchiolitises due to ozone and nitrogen oxyds pollution, that usually occur during summer. Vegetal species moves may increase the area of allergic pollen spreading. The continuity of heat waves because of climate warming will menace the most fragile people (elderly people, bew borns).
Moreover, the heating will occur mostly at night while the body endure it better during the day: This can decrease the organismes capacity to recover.
Coast : Ocean make vawes
One of the most likely consequences of a climate warming is the ocean height increase. In fragile zones, such as Camargue, an increase may change natural habitat, rice fields, underground naturel water tanks, because of an increase in salt presence. OPECST repport also point out the backbaward movement of French beaches because of both a sediment supply decrease and wave erosion increase.
Mountain: Snow is melting
The climate warming can reduce the snow duration during winter and increase the height where it occurs. This can disrupt local economic systems based on winter tourism. Moutain ecosystem is menaced too: Plants and animal whose cycles are regulated by seasons will be totally disturbed. Other species may then have to climb in order to get back a climate suiting their development.
Agriculture: Parasiste swarms
At first glance, greenhouse effect gaz increase may be good news for farmers, since it will stimulate plant groth that take their carbon from the air. European wheat production may increase to 10 million tons in 2040, and reach 25 million tons later. But warming may distrub vegetal world too. For exemple, by reducing winter cold duration necessary for fruits and vegetable. Modify biodiversity. Generate swams of divastating parasistes.
(translation ends)
Let's hope talking about it will make people think better.
Most sites I have visited the past three days have polls about the financial consequences of a war in Iraq. Today I read that Herst Koehler, the Head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in an article run today by the International Herald Tribune that a short-term military action in Iraq would probably have only a minor impact on the world economy, and could even produce a "positive effect" by eliminating uncertainty over the situation “
Why is it that the environmental consequences are almost always on the background of acts of war?
Let’s remember what happened last time there was a war in Iraq. The balance of the eco-system went to pieces, there was snow in Egypt after 85 years, we had hot days in the winter especially in Greece and it was snowing in May.
Greenpeace has to take a stand and a letter of protest must be sent to George Bush and his military bullies to think of the environment first and of his cheap oil later. Thank God the European Community says no to such an act. This is an act of war against the environment and it has to be stopped.
hello my name is tom i am trying to get fellow greenpeace members to help me protest Esso, the Esso that we will protest at will likely be in Red Deer, but we will probably go to over Alberta cities if you are intrested please email me at kh_jackel@hotmail.com and i will give you further information
I know that sending emails to the Bush admin. to mend their evil ways on environmental issues, may seem like beating a log with a small twig, but eventually, if the twig is strong enough, the log gives way.
Here is another of many actions from many groups that are supporting this cause. Environmental Defense Action Network.
Don't drill in the Arctic Reserve Increase efforts in renewable energy Increase mileage requirements Remove subsidies to fossil fuel and nuclear Act on climate change
Just another action we could all take a minute or two to do today. There are plenty out there. But combined, we all help quite a bit.
I've just recently signed in as Cyberactivist member and I'm keen in contributing on any public awareness campaign. I'm working in the advertising industry and this enable me to channel some resources in climate changes public awareness campaign.
I'm now seeking for any party to sponsor and support my intention. Should anyone has a clue or interested, please leave your message and contact details.
I get many newsletters and press releases everyday, but this one really opened my eyes.
They say if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. But someone eventually does win the lottery, so judge for yourselves.
Scientific Breakthrough Liberates Energy Users from Fossil Fuel Dependence
BOISE, ID, Dec. 6 -/E-Wire/-- Genesis World Energy, a privately funded consortium created by a group of military and space program research and development specialists, today unveiled a scientific breakthrough that allows consumers to easily access the energy contained within the hydrogen and oxygen molecular structure of ordinary water.
After reading thru ALL their site, especially the FAQs, I am pretty excited. I may be a sucker, but EVERYONE, PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS ONE!
Their laymen explanation of the technology seems plausible. They are keeping the other stuff secret, for good reasons. They understand the govt and corporate impact this will have.
IMAGINE. A unit the size of an outdoor A/C unit, producing all the electricity and gas your single family home needs. From a little water. At about $3000 each and a lifespan of about 20 years.
Someone PLEASE tell me I'm dreaming. That I'm a fool.
I live in a city of abundant leadership. Everybody is trying to lead! To prevail, one must do close to 90mph to achieve the lead. On my 25-mile drive to work I'm passed around 64 times by SUVs spewing exhaust into the air. While it is the automaker’s fault for even making these mobile toxic waste machines it are the people who drive them that don't help by running them inefficient. What we need to do is stand together and block the interstates and show people that their vehicle will do only the maximum allowable speed and not the usual 5 to 10 over. By making 1 or 2 miles per hour better in gas mileage we would reduce exhaust and lighten the load on the earth. When this blockade is done enough or the police learn to stop people breaking the law then the thirsty V-8’s will be replaced with more environmental friendly polluters. The time is now to stop these road terrorists that are giving all this money to oil companies. We need to organize in our cities and drive next to each other so nobody can get around us and do our part in reducing exhaust.
Only 10 percent of big ocean fish have survived a half-century of industrial fishing, according to a groundbreaking study published in the journal Nature. One of the main villains is longline fishing, where a single boat can trail a line up to 60 miles long that's covered in thousands of hooks. "From giant blue marlin to mighty blue fin tuna, and from tropical groupers to Antarctic cod, industrial fishing has scoured the global ocean," said Ransom Myers, a biologist at Dalhousie University in Canada. "There is no blue frontier left." He estimated the number of fish remaining in the world's oceans as part of a 10-year study of data from fisheries and scientific research institutes. "This calls for a reduction in fishing worldwide so we can allow the natural diversity and fish species to persist in the world's oceans," he said."
Dear Friends, Here in our town(ie.Tattamangalam-Palakkad-Kerala-INDIA PIN:678102) about 6-10 acres of Prime Agricultural Land is filling up with soil from other sources to make way for a other businesses. The said agricultural land is between two important ponds, -which acts as a major water catchment area for our town - and therey by provide precious drinking water to our wells. The land was being used to cultivate paddy, the staple food of INDIA. This move can cause Ecologivcal disaster the local environment and can cause a big water shortage & CLIMATIC CHANGES. Here in our state(Kerala- INDIA) there is a law prohibiting the filling of lands used for agriculture. The present activity is done without the permission of the authorities(they are turning a blind eye towards this anti Ecological activity, because they are bribed by the owners of the land) We are having an group of individuals, working for the good of our Ecology (by name ECOLOGICAL PROTECTION GROUP). Our group lodged several complaits to the converned authorities but in vein so far.... Pictures of this activities are given in the town's website www.tattamangalam.com. We at ECOLOGICAL PROTECTION GROUP, TATTAMANGALAM request all our greepeace mates to guide us inorder to stop this illegal, inhumane, unnatural activities immediatedly. Please use the message board at www.tattamangalam.com to make your voice heard. thanks & regards ECOLOGICAL PROTECTION GROUP TATTAMANGALAM
Dear friends,attached you will find an article about the current situation in Russia. Maybe our community should initiate an urgent action pressing Russian government to ratify the pact finally.
Hopes grow that Russians will ratify Kyoto pact
By Vanessa Houlder in London and Andrew Jack in Moscow Published: September 10 2003
Speculation that the Kyoto Protocol on climate change could come into force soon has heightened since an announcement that Russia has completed the documents necessary for the treaty's ratification.
Ever since the US decided to abandon the protocol in March 2001, Russia has held the key to the future of the agreement, which aims to curb greenhouse gas emissions from industrialised countries. The treaty, which needs the support of countries responsible for 55 per cent of the industrialised world's emissions, will come into force if Russia decides to ratify it.
But there is still uncertainty about Moscow's intentions. President Vladimir Putin announced in 2002 that Russia was preparing to ratify the protocol, but since then there have been conflicting comments from ministers and their deputies.
Mr Putin will open the World Climate Change Conference on September 29. But speculation that Russia would ratify it before then was brushed aside yesterday by Mukhamed Tsikhanov, deputy economic development minister, who said the draft laws could take up to six months to consider.
Progress is complicated by the run-up to parliamentary elections in December, with some "nationalist-patriotic" politicians arguing that curbs on emissions would threaten future growth, according to Eco Defence, a Russian environmental group.
The debate is fuelled by some complex scientific, economic and diplomatic issues. The main factors concern "[Russia's] geopolitical status, its ambiguous attitude to the UN, as well as some continuing uncertainty about the science and how severe a threat climate change really poses to a large, cold country," according to a recent report by London's Royal Institute of International Affairs.
Some of these issues will be discussed at the climate conference, a scientific meeting initiated by Mr Putin. It will hear, for instance, that global warming is likely to expand Russia's growing season and the area under cultivation. But it will also bring more forest fires and disruption to industries such as mining and construction.
As well as the direct impact of climate change, the government must take account of the potential impact of climate change control measures on its industry, particularly oil and gas. Although a government analysis this summer showed that the Kyoto Protocol would impose no immediate constraints on Russia's development, it could be hampered by future, more stringent, agreements.
However, any long-term economic concerns could be outweighed by the short-term financial gains promised by the protocol.
Under Kyoto, Russia promised to stabilise its emissions at 1990 levels by 2008-2012. The collapse of much of its industrial base reduced its emission below that point, allowing it to sell its excess emissions allowances to other countries for as much as $10bn (€8.9bn, £6.3bn).
From a German newspaper (Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung 5.3.2004):The hottest summer since 500 yearsWashington/Bern. (dpa) In 2003, Europe was token into a sweatbox by the hottest summer of the last 500 years. This is the summary of climate scientists of the university of Bern in an article for the latest edition of the US-periodical "Science" (Vol. 303).Climate models allow the presumption, that beginning from 2070 each second summer will be at least equally warm or hotter than the summer of the last year, mainly as a result of the green house effect. The coolest summer since the year 1500 was registered in 1902.The climate scientists have reconstructed the temperatures from 1500 to 1658 for each month. Extensive data have been evaluated, for instance from archives of earlier centuries, reliable measurements with instruments, ice from Greenland and annual rings of trees from Scandinavia and Siberia.
world food production is estimated to increase by 5 times it's present level given the prevailing scientific and technical improvements in agriculturebutu the problem of plant disease and pest still poses a major threat to this anticipated feat.effective and lasting solutions should be found to the menace of plant disease and pest problems especially in the developing world in order to make this a reality in the next decade.
world food production is estimated to increase by 5 times it's present level given the prevailing scientific and technical improvements in agriculturebutu the problem of plant disease and pest still poses a major threat to this anticipated feat.effective and lasting solutions should be found to the menace of plant disease and pest problems especially in the developing world in order to make this a reality in the next decade.
perhaps the extremes we experience in our climate can be blamed to some of these greenhouse gases which deplete the ozone layer and makes the intensity of the sunlight stronger by the day.those of us[in africa]bearing the brunt of this are saying,'please help save our climate and stop depleting the ozone layer because we may be unable to stand the heat of the sun sooner or later'.
perhaps the extremes we experience in our climate can be blamed to some of these greenhouse gases which deplete the ozone layer and makes the intensity of the sunlight stronger by the day.those of us[in africa]bearing the brunt of this are saying,'please help save our climate and stop depleting the ozone layer because we may be unable to stand the heat of the sun sooner or later'.
perhaps the extremes we experience in our climate can be blamed to some of these greenhouse gases which deplete the ozone layer and makes the intensity of the sunlight stronger by the day.those of us[in africa]bearing the brunt of this are saying,'please help save our climate and stop depleting the ozone layer because we may be unable to stand the heat of the sun sooner or later'.
perhaps the extremes we experience in our climate can be blamed to some of these greenhouse gases which deplete the ozone layer and makes the intensity of the sunlight stronger by the day.those of us[in africa]bearing the brunt of this are saying,'please help save our climate and stop depleting the ozone layer because we may be unable to stand the heat of the sun sooner or later'.
Everyone concentrate and focus in USA that Co2 emissioon per capita is the first rank in developed countries(http://cdiac.esd.ornl.gov/trends/emis/top2000.cap), everyone try to pressure USA to ratify
Kyoto protocol.
It is good way however everyone should look the second rank of Co2 emissioon per capita in developed countries that is Australia. this country are understood by everyone that is environmental
responsibity's country because Auatralia conserve in attractive thing such as Whales,Dophins and oil leakage. This conservation are not significnatly effect whole environment in world but It attracts
everyone to understand that Australia is environmental reponsibitlity.
Australia is one of selffish country as same as USA because they use high ratio of coals to provide electricity. Therefore they are the most Co2 emission per capita in developed countries Moreover, Australia does not raitify Kyoto protocol(http://unfccc.int/resource/kpstats.pdf)as same as USA.
Every conservationer must not pressure only USA to ratify Kyoto Protocol but also Australia , Now two fromer leaders of two countries come back after election. I can not imagine horrible the global
warming's problem becase of unappoval of Kyoto Protocol
Please help to pressure two selfish countries!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Having thought about this for awhile, and in the middle of cogitation, hearing about the film 'the day after' I was wondering whether slowing down the gulfstream would have the effect of slowing down global warming? Maybe through a net of turbines stretched across it or through other wave power mechanisms. What are your thoughts, Radagast the Brown (and any others who'd like to contribute)? That way, while providing energy from the enormous forces involved (and this might be the case for the jet stream as well) we could maybe, just maybe, create climate control. Of course, this would leave the door open for anti-ecologists to spew even more CO2 into the atmosphere, but then again, maybe that wouldn't be as grave a danger...
And the resolution was filed by an investment service called "Christian brothers"!!! I feel my grip on reality is slipping here... Did I just wake up in an alternate reality?
Maybe Archie has a point that some changes may be made from the inside.
Let's see how this pans out. __________________________________________
NEW YORK and IRVING, Texas, May 11 /PRNewswire/ -- ExxonMobil , the biggest remaining corporation to continue to publicly reject the evidence of global warming, is facing a major new challenge to explain the scientific basis of its ongoing denial of the broad scientific consensus that the burning of fossil fuels contributes to global climate change.
ExxonMobil shareholders will vote on May 25, 2005 on a proxy resolution filed by Christian Brothers Investment Services, Inc. (CBIS) asking that " ... by the 2006 annual shareholder meeting, the (XOM) Board of Directors make available to shareholders the research data relevant to ExxonMobil’s stated position on the science of climate change, omitting proprietary information and at reasonable cost."
A solid 8.8 percent of ExxonMobil shareholders -- representing an estimated 475 million shares (then worth nearly $21 billion) -- lent their support on May 24, 2004 to what was then a new proxy resolution urging ExxonMobil to stop ignoring the risks of global warming. The initial support level for the first-year resolution was solid in that SEC rules require a vote of only 3 percent for a first-year resolution to be reintroduced in a second year, as CBIS has elected to do.
Pointing to the well-established consensus about global warming, the reintroduced 2005 CBIS resolution states: "The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the international body of experts charged with climate change research, stated in its 2001 Third Assessment Report: ’There is new and stronger evidence that most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activity ... ’ The study describes climate impacts, such as higher global temperatures and increased precipitation, as ’very likely.’ A 2004 report by the Bush Administration’s Climate Change Science Program states that increases in human-derived GHG emissions are the only likely explanation for global warming over the past three decades."
CBIS Director of Social Responsibility John Wilson said: "Global warming is not something that ExxonMobil can simply choose to ignore. A worldwide movement towards greater regulation to mitigate climate change has resulted from the IPCC reports. Consistent with its own position, ExxonMobil opposes most such regulation. Yet, it has not released primary research or an analysis of data supporting its conclusions. The lack of such information prevents shareholders, policymakers, and the public from being able to make decisions based on the facts the company claims to have. This information is important because our company’s ongoing denial of the reality of climate change raises concerns that ExxonMobil is unprepared for major shifts in the overall energy markets that we believe may be coming."
Specifically, the CBIS resolution calls on ExxonMobil to (1) "explain the specific differences between the company’s position and that of the IPCC;" (2) "describe company claims about ’gaps in climate science’;" (3) "project the estimated costs of mitigating climate change compared to the costs of failing to do so;" and (4) "discuss relevant peer-reviewed research data leading to the company’s conclusions, including data that do not support the company’s position."
Wilson noted: "ExxonMobil continues to devote substantial resources to lobbying and public relations efforts designed to cast doubt on the consensus science that human activities are partly to blame for the warming of the Earth. The company appears to be asking the public to substitute its opinion for the agreed-upon judgment of the world’s most respected scientific organizations. Yet, the company claims that it cannot defend this contrarian view. At CBIS, we hope that with the help of other investor owners, we can prompt ExxonMobil to share this information with us."
ABOUT CBIS
Christian Brothers Investment Services, Inc. manages approximately $4 billion and combines faith and finance in the responsible stewardship of Catholic financial assets. CBIS’ combination of premier institutional asset managers, diversified product offerings, and risk-controlled strategies constitutes a unique investment approach for Catholic institutions and their fiduciaries. CBIS strives to integrate faith-based values into the investment process through a disciplined approach to socially responsible investing that includes principled purchasing (stock screens), active ownership strategies (proxy voting, dialogues, and shareholder resolutions) and community investment, through Partners for the Common Good. The firm contributes a portion of all profits to support the Church’s educational and social ministry.
If anybody on this list is a teacher in Canada, I would be interested in seeing what the kit countains and if it can be used by other people concerned about climate change in their own presentations.
I have been trying to find a way to provide valuable input towards an important environmental issue. Global Warming in near the top of my list, but I don't see any new posts and wonder if this Action Group is active. How can we really make a difference?
It would seem that global warming is becoming something republicans and democrats agree more and more on. And all it takes is a little trip up north to see face to face the consequences of our lifestyle. Maybe George should spend his next vacations there.
"It's heartbreaking to see the devastation," Mrs Clinton said. Mr McCain, Mrs Clinton and Senators Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Susan Collins of Maine, also went to Barrow, the northernmost city in the US. There, they spoke to scientists and Inupiaq Inuit. They also saw shrinking glaciers in Kenai Fjords National Park.
Mr McCain - with Senator Joe Lieberman - is behind proposed legislation that would require power-generating companies to reduce carbon emissions to their 2000 levels. Mr Graham, a Republican, said he had been moved by what he had seen. "Climate change is different when you come here, because you see the faces of people experiencing it. If you go to the people and listen to their stories and walk away with any doubt that something's going on, you're not listening."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/environment_warming_dc Such observations provide more ammunition in the fight for a bill, co-sponsored by McCain and Connecticut Democrat Joe Lieberman, to cap U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, McCain said. That bill has repeatedly failed to pass the Senate. "People around the country are going to demand it," McCain said. "It's the special interests versus the people's interest."
Sorry for posting such a general question in your climate group, I've only just joined as a "cyberactivist" today and was looking for more of a general discussion area for my question, but couldn't find one. This was the nearest fit so I'm asking for your help.
My problem is this, I agree with alot of greenpeaces sentiment on things that are going wrong in the world, but not on how it trys to change these ills.
Is there some place else within the greenpeace online discussion arena more suited to my question where I can chat online to people?
Thanks in advance for any replies.
John O
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