The six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) agreed in 2001 to create a shared currency to help them integrate economies and pursue a monetary policy more independently of the US.

All of the council’s members except Kuwait peg their currencies to the dollar.

Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar on December 15 announced the creation of a Monetary Council, a step toward establishing a shared currency. The board of the council, which will set a timetable for establishing a joint central bank and choose a currency regime, will meet for the first time on March 30.

Oman opted out in 2007. The UAE, the second-biggest Arab economy, withdrew from the currency project in May 2009 after the Saudi capital, Riyadh was selected as the location for the Monetary Council, the future central bank.

The UAE has no plans to rejoin the union project, said January 6, 2010 central bank Governor Sultan bin Nasser al-Suwaidi.Today, in Abu Dhabi, he said that the UAE remains committed to the concept of a single currency, though free trade in the region must come first. That is the reason for a Bloomberg new report on the topic.

In Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh – the news were the record snow. So, that keeps them busy – the need to dig out from under that snow.

So far as governing goes, the Village Voice – that is Greenwich Village in new York City – wrote that the Republicans won a 41-59 majority as a result from the Massachusetts avalanche.

The new weather predictions are that the President will set now the agenda and expect the Democrats to follow – AMEN!       That is leadership – for God’s sake with 59 still standing – what do they wait for?

Further – he – that is Obama – will try to brow-beat the Republicans to cooperate first. The American people say Washington is too partisan ? If that were true the 59 would be good enough – but really? Who are the Obstructionists?

If Obama invites the Republicans to come on board that would be very clever – it would tell the Democrats to stop being obstructionists.

But, politics might be such that the Republicans feel comfortable to project that they are THE PARTY OF NO!

How do you pull out a rabbit from your top-hat? How do you change unemployment rates with nothing happening in the economy? The Republicans might be happy to see the Administration collapse – the country collapse – so who cares about OSAMA!

Obama tells the Democrats – we will be losers together if you do not shape up and they returned – SHOW US THE WAY!

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Next topic:  How long can the World’s biggest borrower continue to be the World’s biggest power?

If we get to the point that we have a difficulty to sell our treasuries in the world we will cease to be a big power – that came from Greenspan – the former head of the Federal Reserve. Henry Paulson, the present holder of that job seemed less convincing.

David Walker, former US Controller General – head of the GAO – now head of te Peterson Foundation – wrote a book on the US deficit that has reached now $1.56 trillion and this is untenable.

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Fareed Zakharia on China-US relations – a US – China economic war is MAD – that is Mutual Assured Destruction – he thinks that the two are symbiotically bound now. I think he is wrong. China has such a huge internal market that it can continue well by producing just for their own people without exports to the US. They may not want to do that because it would mean a too soon push at increasing China’s middle class and risking folks ask for a mellowing down of the political regime. But nevertheless, this does not assure an immediate rebellion. In the US rather – a rebellion is possible – or a call for some real war – internally or externally.

To the latest two skirmishes – the US sending $6.4 billion worth of weapons to Taiwan, and Obama hosting The Dalai Lama at the White House. Both topics are not new. The military hardware agreement with Taiwan was agreed in 2001, and the Dalai Lama has visited every single US previous President since he landed in India. Why did the Chinese get excited right now? That is before the April visit they will be making themselves to the White House? What about the Iran sanctions and the fact that Obama was left to wait outside that China conference room in Copenhagen? Are we going to see some muscle show here?

Christiane Amanpour, on her program had as guest Victor Gao, of the China National Association of International Studies.

He pointed out that the US sells weapons to Taiwan that it does not allow for sale to China. China is now the largest credit maker to the US. What if China buys less for several months? Is 2010 going to be the year that Obama gets tough and China gets nasty? Neither of them can afford a real trade war.

David Rothkopf affirmed that “we are interconnected” so we have to develop a different approach.

Victor Cha – he was on China desk at the National  Security Council. He said – This is a MUTUAL HOSTAGE GAME – both sides lose.

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Fareed Zakharia in Davos, had in front of an audience a half hour interview with King Abdullah II of Jordan.

It started out with Fareed pointing out the two main problems he thinks are facing Jordan: Iran’s nuclear ambitions and the Islamic fighting movement, but he was brushed aside by the King who continued coming back to the Israeli – Palestinian problem.

Fareed said that no-one has yet lost money by betting against Peace in the Middle East, but the King countered that the credibility of the US is at stake. We desperately need the undivided attention of the US – he said. If God forbid we cross the line of the viability of the 2 State Solution, what are we left with – continuing warfare – or even worse – the One State solution that many Israelis dread?

Fareed wanted to know if there is a Jordan option and was told flatly by the King that it will not work – Jordan absolutely does not want the West Bank. Are we talking of a viable entity? A third of the UN do not recognize Israel now.  The building of the wall has made Israel safer Fareed said and he spoke with President Peres who believes in a two States solution for the future of Israel but because of the security threats they think only of today and not the future.

The King disagreed – the injustice felt towards the Palestinian people pushes all other issues. He thinks that if you solved the problem of the Palestinians why should Iran then want the nuclear power. It does not make any sense for them to continue on that path. For now, it is the Palestinian issue that propels Iran’s efforts. When asked if he thinks that if not for the Israeli – Palestinian issue, there would be no Islamic terrorism? The King retreated by saying that – for evil to succeed – is for good men to do nothing. Evil will always exist – the evil always will be evil. On November 9, 2005 we had our own 9/11 and proportionately we lost twice as many people as the US casualties. The Israeli-Palestinian issue is is incendiary that it drives everything else.

Fareed suggested that Professor Bernard Lewis explained that it was rather because of the lack of openness in the Muslim world that created the Al Qaeda – it was against Egypt and Saudi Arabia. We have 400 million young people in the Islamic world that need a direction. My role is to create a viable political Middle Class. If you want to move your country it is education – education – education. Bahrain speaks our language – so is a list of young countries that agree.

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Christiane Amanpour had a panel on security issues and wanted to know what are the real security problems today. Surely it was not what you would have expected to hear. She was told:

- Outer Space

- The Open Sea

- The Cyber Space

- The Polar Ice Caps.

So far as the conventional thinking she was told that Washington and Beijing have less to fear from each other then from failed States like Somalia.

When satellites become more crucial they become targets. Where are the National borders in cyber-space? Most governments cannot even define a cyber attack.

Zbigniew Brzezinski said that we have to define the nature of the threat. Today it is not as lethal as it was when within 6 hours we could have had 80 million casualties in the cold war. But today attacks are less predictable even though less lethal.

The US still has a higher sophisticated technology capability. The Google issue is a cyberthreat. Are the hackers from China government? Do they really come from China? We may have to retaliatete selectively and we must have a foreign policy that does not object to this.

The way the domestic policy goes now, will Obama continue the international engagement that he started out with so well? Now we have gridlock.

Brzezinski called for Presidential leadership. Also – the President should persevere with the Iran effort.

The other topic is the Israeli -Palestinian conflict. Rhetorically Obama gets an A, For Performance a B or B-

On space – we must avoid a nuclear race in space – we must have the capacity to shoot down satellites and space vehicles.

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From the Kathie Crowley show – her interview with Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, I picked up one fleting issue – the names of the countries the Secretary mentioned as friends to work with in the present world. She clearly mentioned the big two China and India, but then she spoke also of other major economies – Brazil, South Africa and Turkey. I mention this here because it vindicates our recent decision to move Turkey to the Home-page of www.SustainabiliTank.info and it seems that we were right.

Clearly, there were no Europeans mentioned in that segment, neither Mexico nor Canada or Japan.

The title may look strange, and indeed nobody put the three meetings I attended Friday, November 20, 2009, in direct contact with each other – but then my imagination was busy telling me – what if those people would indeed sit in the same room and plan together for a better functioning world?

First – the Solar Tower Technology:

An experimental smaller tower I saw years ago in Israel, but in the 1980s a German firm built a 50 kw prototype tower in Spain and operated it for 8 years collecting data. That tower was 650 feet tall and 33 feet wide, and the collector was about 1000 feet wide. The technology combines wind and solar technologies to produce electricity without emissions, without using up water, and at a price competitive with fossil fuels. The Solar Tower uses solar insolation and radiation to heat air beneath a large translucent collector (greenhouse) that creates a constant flow of air to drive electricity-generating turbines. The turbines are located at the base of the tower in a shape like an orange cut in a half. There is an updraft of air in the tower. There is also a capability to store heat so the system works also at night and electricity is delivered 24/7.
For more information look please at - www.enviromission.com.au

A 200MV Tower is planned for the Mohave desert in Arizona. The tower will reach 2400 feet height and the inside temperature will be 180 degrees. The location was picked so that it will supply electricity to a market in California.

The information was presented by Mr. Christopher Davey, President, EnviroMission (USA), Inc. and hosted by Mark Townsend Cox, Managing Partner of New Energy Fund www.newenergyfundlp.com with further backing from Raymond James & Associates, Inc., members of the New York Stock Exchange.

Second – the financial meeting was billed as The Middle East Leaders Forum 2009 and was hosted by DLA Piper a law firm with pan-Gulf presence www.dlapiper.com  I www.MiddleEastLeadersForum.com was organized with the help of Edgar Perez, CEO of Golden Networking who chaired the event. www.goldennetworking.com DLA has 3,500 lawyers in 29 countries throughout Europe, the Middle East, Egypt, the US, South Asia, and Asia in general.

The panels dealt with -
Evolution of Capital Markets in the Middle East;
Alternative Approaches for Private Equity Investing in the Gulf;
Tapping into the World’s Richest Sovereign Wealth Funds;
Retaining Talent and Focusing Teams in the Middle East.

The speakers ranged from the Thompson Reuters Head of Islamic Finance to various International Investment Groups – management and strategy heads. What I came away with is the clear understanding that there is a lot of private money out there – even if much of it is held by individuals in the name of Sovereign entities. This money will not want to buy US treasuries. Places like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar – the smaller members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – have turned into Financial Centers and one of the speakers called the GCC the biggest bank in the world. Sure, there was a lot of talk of outside investments potential in the GCC States, also about income from oil, but now the ruling families are rather interested in being seen as investors and manager of finances then oil producers. So, here is my angle – why not invest in the technologies of the future – like the Solar Tower I mentioned above? There is also the angle of Islamic Finances that do not have as a target gains from interest – so why not turn this into investments instead?

There is a lot of sun in the desert, but no water – so these towers could do a lot of good for the development of the GCC region itself. They could also invest in the production of electricity in Sahara and sell it in Europe. Cables will be the new energy pipelines. They could start by participating already in the first development of the technology in Arizona. This could also improve the image of states that seem to be pushing only for sales of oil – something they can start being less dependent on because of their new standing as financial centers. The technology could also be related to desalination projects …

Third – the Friendship Ambassadors Foundation that since 1973 facilitates cultural exchange programs that promote mutual understanding and peace. The foundation brings volunteers and NGOs for meaningful exchanges that also focus on sustainable development. These are the people that could through example facilitate thinking that there is a common good in helping bring about change when change is needed – and today doing something about decreasing a potential runaway of climate change is the order of the day. Patrick Sciarratta, is the Executive Director of the Ambassadors – they could try to promote a common ground between those that have the money they could use to work out needed answers to the stalled Copenhagen process, and the technology people that have the know-how. www.FAF.org

One not so trivia I learned about the Friendship Ambassadors last evening was the fact that among the many young people they brought from the Developing world to the United States were Kofi Annan and Shashi Tharoor, when they were still young students – they later became among the most successful, low key, public servants in UN history. Kofi Annan as perhaps the only other Secretary General, besides Dag Hammarskjold, that left a positive imprint on the organization, and Shashi Tharoor, author of many books of thought, the highest intellectual Under-Secretary General in charge of Communications, who tried to be Annan’s successor, but was seemingly too much for the G.W. Bush Administration for that job. I mention this here as it seems that this youth-Ambassador NGO, that was funded originally from the Readers Digest fortune, has indeed had the penchant of picking right people – specially among the young – to promote global understanding for right causes.

My conclusions for the day – there is hope if the right people will provide the links between the different elements that are in place already, rather then allow these elements to fester in their solitude and pursue a detrimental future unconnected.

OBAMA BEGINS PRESSURING ARAB LEADERS ON DEAL WITH ISRAEL
The San Francisco Sentinel, 28 July 2009

BY NATHAN GUTTMAN

Freezing the expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank was once seen as a unilateral Israeli obligation. But the Obama administration is now treating this as part of a package that will require concessions from Arab states as well.

An intensified and more public focus on this idea appears to be one of the byproducts of U.S. President Barack Obama’s July 13 pledge to American Jewish communal representatives to address perceptions that he is pressuring only Israel.

So far, the Arabs have been resistant. Still, in the wake of Obama’s White House meeting with the Jewish delegation, Israeli, American and Arab leaders have, to varying degrees, shifted their rhetoric in ways that reflect acceptance of a new principle of reciprocity.

“The Americans now understand that if they get anything from us on the settlement issue, it will only be in the broader context of some kind of Arab return,” said an Israeli diplomat, echoing other similar comments from Israeli officials recently. The official added that talks between U.S. Mideast envoy George Mitchell and Defense Minister Ehud Barak have focused on components of a two-sided deal that will include both a settlement freeze and reciprocal steps by Arab countries.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton appeared to confirm this in a policy speech two days after Obama’s White House meeting with the Jewish representatives.

“Progress toward peace cannot be the responsibility of the United States – or Israel – alone,” Clinton told the Council on Foreign Relations. “Arab states have a responsibility to support the Palestinian Authority with words and deeds, to take steps to improve relations with Israel and to prepare their publics to embrace peace and accept Israel’s place in the region.”

A U.S. State Department official told the Forward that steps by the Arab parties were fundamental to Mitchell’s mission.

“Special envoy Mitchell continues to engage in constructive conversations with all parties, including Israel, the Palestinians and the Arab states, on steps they could take to help create a climate in which to re-launch negotiations,” he said.

At least some Arab parties to the peace process also now appear to accept this.

“The price we pay will depend on what kind of a deal we get on the settlement issue,” said an Arab diplomat in response to questions about Israel’s stand. “In return for a symbolic compromise on the settlements, some Arab states will be willing to pay with some symbolic gestures.”

But so far, the Obama administration appears stymied in its efforts to obtain a commitment to new concessions toward Israel by Arab states, even in the event of an Israeli commitment – nonexistent up to now, even conditionally – to a settlement freeze.

The administration has been frustrated in particular in its quest for flexibility from Saudi Arabia. According to experts and diplomats, tensions between Washington and Riyadh were building even prior to Obama’s meeting with Jewish leaders, as a result of a June 3 meeting between Obama and King Abdullah in the Saudi capital. The meeting ended with a clear disagreement over the issue of Israel.

“Why should the king of Saudi Arabia, who is the leader of the Muslim world and the imam of his Muslim community, give something of this nature to the Israelis for free?” asked Jamal Khashoggi, editor-in-chief of the Saudi daily newspaper Al-Watan. “This is a new idea that was probably developed by Israel’s friends in Washington.”

Khashoggi said the Saudi monarch believes his 2002 peace initiative, supported by the entire Arab League, already offered concessions and showed the kingdom’s wish for peace.

Israel never responded to the Saudi initiative. But in her speech to the Council on Foreign Relations, Clinton said that embracing the 2002 Arab peace plan is not enough, and that concrete initial steps are needed now.

The initiative, which Obama has cited as a helpful basis for discussion, commits the Arab world to an official peace agreement with Israel and normalized relations with it if Israel withdraws to its pre-1967 borders, accepts the establishment of a Palestinian state and resolves the issue of Palestinian refugees in accordance with United Nations resolutions.

Those U.N. resolutions, however, appear to require the refugees’ return to homes in present-day Israel, constituting one of Israel’s principal objections to the proposal.

No handshakes or visas

America’s request for signs of normalization with Israel is now focused on symbolic steps. According to Arab and American diplomatic sources, Washington is now asking for the reopening of commercial interest offices of Oman, Qatar and Morocco in Israel and for permission for Israeli commercial airliners to fly over Gulf states, shortening flights from Israel to East Asia by several hours. Public overtures, such as a handshake with Israeli leaders, or providing tourist visas to Israelis seeking to visit Arab countries, are not on the table now, said an Arab diplomat with close knowledge of the talks. The diplomat stressed that such public gestures are viewed as being at the top of the scale of normalization and therefore will be kept for the final phase of the peace process.

“The Arab consensus is that normalization is the last card they have to play,” the diplomat said.

Prior to the emerging emphasis on reciprocity, Israel’s obligation to freeze the expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank was understood to be an independent requirement of the so-called road map for Middle East peace. The 2002 road map, forged by the Bush administration with international partners, required Israel to “immediately” dismantle settlement outposts that even Israel classifies as unauthorized, and to freeze all settlement activity, including natural growth.

The road map also requires the Palestinians to take concrete steps to halt terrorism and violence. But this, too, appears as an independent obligation, untied to any action by Israel.

The new Sadat:

The most significant sign thus far of Arab willingness to adopt America’s call for normalization has come from the small Gulf kingdom of Bahrain. In a July 16 op-ed published in The Washington Post, Sheikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, the Bahraini crown prince, called on Arab countries to reach out and communicate with Israel.

“Essentially, we have not done a good enough job demonstrating to Israelis how our initiative can form part of a peace between equals in a troubled land holy to three great faiths,” Khalifa wrote.

He went on to criticize Arabs who wish to perpetuate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict so that Palestinian victims “can be manipulated as proxies.” The Bahraini leader also urged Arabs not to waste more time in waiting for Israelis to take the first step, calling this approach “small-minded.”

Samuel Lewis, a former American ambassador to Israel who was directly involved in the Israeli-Egyptian peace talks in the late 1970s, equated Khalifa’s article to peace gestures made by Egyptian president Anwar Sadat before signing the treaty with Israel 30 years ago.

“This is exactly the kind of message that an Arab leader gives both to the United States while at the same time aiming at other Arab leaders,” Lewis said in a July 17 conference call organized by Israel Policy Forum.

But Bahrain is still a lone voice among Arab countries. Letters that Obama sent out in June to Arab leaders calling on them to be forthcoming in the peace process have remained largely unanswered. This prompted the president to reportedly state, in his meeting with Jewish leaders, that “there is not much courage” within the Arab leadership.

Experts argue that the roots of the disagreement with Saudi Arabia, considered a linchpin for progress, go deeper.

Jon Alterman, director of the Middle East program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said the Saudis are disappointed with many aspects of Obama’s policy: His drive for ending America’s dependency on foreign oil, the decision not to appoint a close confidant as ambassador to Saudi Arabia and choosing the route of diplomatic engagement with Iran.

“There is a Saudi feeling that this administration does not recognize the importance of Saudi Arabia and does not appreciate them,” Alterman said.

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further, Daniel Levy, Director, Middle East Task Force, New America Foundation and Senior Fellow, Prospects for Peace Initiative, The Century Foundation, informs us of a recent debate on the Economist’s website. The motion in question was:

“This house believes that Barak Obama’s America is now an honest broker between Israel and the Arabs.”

The content can be found at: http://www.economist.com/debate/overview…

Bahraini Crown Prince: “We Must Do More, Now, To Achieve Peace.”

The Pulse, POSTED JULY 17, 2009
In an unprecedented and far reaching op-ed in the Washington Post, the Crown Prince of Bahrain, Shaikh Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa makes some critical points about the need for some “fresh thinking” apropos the Arab Peace Initiative and the Arab-Israeli relationship.  As the Crown Prince puts it:

This crisis is not a zero-sum game. For one side to win, the other does not have to lose.

The peace dividend for the entire Middle East is potentially immense. So why have we not gotten anywhere?

Our biggest mistake has been to assume that you can simply switch peace on like a light bulb. The reality is that peace is a process, contingent on a good idea but also requiring a great deal of campaigning — patiently and repeatedly targeting all relevant parties. This is where we as Arabs have not done enough to communicate directly with the people of Israel.

An Israeli might be forgiven for thinking that every Muslim voice is raised in hatred, because that is usually the only one he hears. Just as an Arab might be forgiven for thinking every Israeli wants the destruction of every Palestinian.

Essentially, we have not done a good enough job demonstrating to Israelis how our initiative can form part of a peace between equals in a troubled land holy to three great faiths. Others have been less reticent, recognizing that our success would threaten their vested interest in keeping Palestinians and Israelis at each other’s throats. They want victims to stay victims so they can be manipulated as proxies in a wider game for power. The rest of us — the overwhelming majority — have the opposite interest.

It is in our interest to speak up now for two reasons. First, we will all be safer once we drain the pool of antipathy in which hatemongers from both sides swim.

Second, peace will bring prosperity. Already, the six oil and gas nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council have grown into a powerful trillion-dollar market. Removing the ongoing threat of death and destruction would open the road to an era of enterprise, partnership and development on an even greater scale for the region at large.

The wasted years of deadlock have conditioned Israelis to take on a fortress mentality that automatically casts all Palestinians as the enemy — and not as the ordinary, decent human beings they are.

Speaking out matters, but it is not enough. Our governments and all stakeholders also must be ready to carry out practical measures to help ease the day-to-day hardship of Palestinian lives.

The two communities in the Holy Land are not fated to be enemies. What can unite them tomorrow is potentially bigger than what divides them today.

Both sides need help from their friends, in the form of constructive engagement, to reach a just settlement.

We must stop the small-minded waiting game in which each side refuses to budge until the other side makes the first move. We’ve got to be bigger than that. All sides need to take simultaneous, good-faith action if peace is to have a chance. A real, lasting peace requires comprehensive engagement and reconciliation at the human level. This will happen only if we address and settle the core issues dividing the Arab and the Israeli peoples, the first being the question of Palestine and occupied Arab lands. The fact that this has not yet happened helps to explain why the Jordanian and Egyptian peace accords with Israel are cold. They have not been comprehensive.

We should move toward real peace now by consulting and educating our people and by reaching out to the Israeli public to highlight the benefits of a genuine peace.

To be effective, we must acknowledge that, like people everywhere, the average Israeli’s primary window on the world is his or her local and national media. Our job, therefore, is to tell our story more directly to the Israeli people by getting the message out to their media, a message reflecting the hopes of the Arab mainstream that confirms peace as a strategic option and advocates the Arab Peace Initiative as a means to this end. Some conciliatory voices in reply from Israel would help speed the process.

Some Arabs, simplistically equating communication with normalization, may think we are moving too fast toward normalization. But we all know that dialogue must be enhanced for genuine progress. We all, together, need to take the first crucial step to lay the groundwork to effectively achieve peace. So we must all invest more in communication.

Once we achieve peace, trade will follow. We can then create a “virtuous circle,” because trade will create its own momentum. By putting real money into people’s hands and giving them real power over their lives, trade will help ensure the durability of peace. The day-to-day experience would move minds and gradually build a relationship of trust and mutual interest, without which long-term peacemaking is impossible.

When stability pays, conflict becomes too costly. We must do more, now, to achieve peace.

It’s hard to create a democracy: From The Economist print edition – Kuwait’s mould-breaking election.

Via Roberto Savio’s IPS “Other News,” May 21st 2009 – Cairo- A recent general election in Kuwait may not make the government more effective.

THE economy of Kuwait is exceedingly well oiled. With just 3.4m residents, only a third of them indigenous citizens, the emirate sits on a claimed 8% of the world’s petroleum reserves. Yet for all this wealth, Kuwait’s political system remains creaky and crash-prone. Rather than inspiring the Persian Gulf’s more authoritarian monarchies to reform, its 46-year-old experiment with limited democracy has often seemed a model to be avoided. Just since 2006, batterings from the 50-member parliament, which has tended lately to be dominated by Islamists and conservative tribal leaders, have sent five successive governments tumbling like ninepins.

Growing frustration with this game prompted a lower turnout in a general election on May 16th, but the results have raised hopes of change for the better. Overall, 21 incumbents lost their seats, among them several prominent Sunni Islamists.

Parties are officially outlawed in Kuwait, meaning that candidates run as independents. But the affiliations of many are widely known, making some trends clear.

Representation of the Muslim Brotherhood, for example, has shrunk from three seats to one in the incoming parliament; an arch-traditionalist Salafist Islamist group has dipped from five to two. At the same time, the number of Shia MPs has risen from five to nine, closer to the minority sect’s 20%-plus share of the population.

Most eye-catchingly, enough of Kuwait’s 385,000 eligible voters shook off traditional habits to elect women for the first time since they gained full political rights in 2005.

Four women, all with doctorates from American universities, and only two of whom cover their hair as a sign of piety, won seats, and by convincing margins.

Masouma Mubarak, a dean at Kuwait University, who had faced stiff Islamist opposition when holding ministerial rank in three cabinets, easily outpolled all rival candidates in her district. This is a first for the Gulf monarchies-bar a woman in the nearby kingdom of Bahrain who stood unopposed in a tiny constituency; a female has also been elected to the United Arab Emirates’ federal council, but the voters are themselves handpicked by the authorities.

Yet while liberals have cheered the result as a mark of social progress, it does not necessarily augur plain sailing for the al-Sabah family that has ruled Kuwait since the 18th century. Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad, who became emir in 2006, has exercised his privilege of giving family members top cabinet posts, repeatedly choosing his nephew, Sheikh Nasser Muhammad, as prime minister. Yet parliament’s latest dissolution, in March, was prompted by the prime minister’s objection to being questioned in parliament over his alleged mishandling of the economy, and possibly having to face a confidence motion.

With the emir having again reappointed Sheikh Nasser, and with the returning parliament sure to include some of his loudest critics, the stage looks set for a resumption of clashes. Ordinary Kuwaitis are wary not only of further dithering over such things as a planned bail-out package for financial institutions hit by the global recession and an oft-delayed mega-project to develop new oilfields. Rumours also hint at tensions in the Sabah family, with princely rivals to Sheikh Nasser said to be quietly egging on his parliamentary foes.

Given their huge stockpile of national savings from the oil boom years, plus plenty of continued income despite the drop in oil prices, Kuwaitis can probably afford to go on bickering anyway. Some incoming MPs, including Ms Mubarak, promise to push for procedural reforms to make the parliament’s relations with the cabinet less confrontational. And still, for all its hiccups, Kuwait’s hybrid system of government looks downright racy next to the crusty paternalism of the states nearby.

Saudi Arabia’s rulers, for instance, have just scorned another of the numerous petitions from their people demanding democratising reforms, showing disdain by abruptly postponing the only elections the country runs, to half the seats on town councils that do not do much anyway. In the kingdom, Ms Mubarak would not only be denied the right to vote or run for public office. She could not drive to such an office in her own car, or even sit in it if that might mean mingling with the opposite sex.

His Excellency Manouchehr Mottaki, Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran since 2005, has come now for the third time to The Asia Society during the September – October period of the UN General Assembly In New York City.

Last year I had the opportunity to ask him about about Climate Change and why Iran, with its great scientists, and people involved at the UN level, does not embark in a leadership position in the area of renewable energy rather then striving for nuclear energy incurring only indignities. Others asked him about Iran’s stand on Israel.

This year – none of the above. One question from the floor asked about Israel – but was answered in the general line of the presentation – without the question been tackled at all. The Moderator was illustrious US Career Ambassador Frank G. Wisner, who served as impeccable host, presenting lots of compliments to his guest and making sure he is very comfortable. Further, The Asia Society simply managed to put the press away in a back room, and without the Q & A period reaching out to them – that is except the literally last question which asked about the possibility for regional negotiations in the crucial Middle East problem.   And the answer to that question was then submerged under the previous line of presentation that exposed beautifully the way Iran wants to be seen. No mention was made of the name Israel also in this   answer by the Minister.

The reality is   that many in Iran like actually some of the cocoons   created via the 1980 revolution that came as a reaction to some real injustices its people incurred from the hand of the US CIA when it undid the Mohammad Mosaddeq   April 28, 1951 – August 19, 1953 regime for its nationalization of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC) and reinstated the   Shah who returned   on 22 August 1953, from the brief self-imposed exile in Rome. Also, some in the US Administration feared that Mossadeq was, or would become, dependent on the pro-Soviet Tudeh Party, at a time of returning Soviet influence, and too close for comfort to have the cold War Tectonic Plates reach towards the Saudi and Iraqi oilfields.

The extent of the US role in Mossadeq’s overthrow was not formally acknowledged for many years, although the Eisenhower administration was quite vocal in its opposition to the policies of the ousted Iranian Prime Minister. In his memoirs, Eisenhower writes angrily about Mossadeq, and describes him as impractical and naive, though he stops short of admitting any overt involvement in the coup.

Eventually the CIA’s role became well-known, and caused controversy within the organization itself, and within the CIA congressional hearings of the 1970s. CIA supporters maintain that the plot against Mosaddeq was strategically necessary, and praise the efficiency of agents in carrying out the plan. Critics say the scheme was paranoid and colonial, as well as immoral.

In March 2000, then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright stated her regret that Mosaddeq was ousted: “The Eisenhower administration believed its actions were justified for strategic reasons. But the coup was clearly a setback for Iran’s political development, and it is easy to see now why many Iranians continue to resent this intervention by America.” In the same year, the New York Times published a detailed report about the coup based on alleged CIA documents. For his sudden rise in popularity inside and outside of Iran, and for his defiance of the British, Mosaddeq was named as Time Magazine’s 1951 Man of the Year. Other notables considered for the title that year included Dean Acheson, President Dwight D. Eisenhower and General Douglas MacArthur.

In early 2004, the Egyptian government changed a street name in Cairo from Pahlavi to Mosaddeq, to facilitate closer relations with Iran.

 Now, these last few paragraphs, obviously, do not come from the monologue of Minister Mottaki, but I thought to bring this up because otherwise the show at the Asia Society cannot be understood, and the Ministers personality grasped.

***

The literally last question mentioned above, that came from the back-room filled with people from media was added when the announced “last question” that came from a lady sitting at the front-right table, clearly laudatory asked, “for those of us interested in the understanding of the history of the Middle East, when did Iran invade last one of its neighbors?”   The clear short answer was – “not in our lifetime.”

***

Had be given to me the opportunity to ask a question – what I had in mind was something like this:

“In light of what your excellency has said in regard to regional solutions for regional problems, and in light of justifiable aspirations by Iran to become an Asian powerhouse, what is your reaction to the Bahrain proposal at this year’s High-Level Meeting of the UN General Assembly, when Bahrain suggested the creation of a new UN organization comprising ALL STATES OF THE REGION – that wasinterpreted as meaning a Middle East organization that includes Israel?” This is exactly the most wanting direct question that was not put before our guest.

***

From The Speakers Profile and The Internet:

 Manouchehr Mottaki was born   May 12, 1953 in Bandar Gaz, in the northern Iranian Province of Golestan, and went to school there. Bandar-Gaz, during the Reza Shah Pahlavi rule, was an important city in the north with a national railroad and “several infrastructures.” It was considered   a transit bridge to the Soviet Union. After graduation, he joined the army and as per national plan joined the public education program by which was conducted by the government. He went to Khorasan province and established a school in a poor village around Mashhad, and taught there. After his service in the army, since he was interested in social and political issues, he decided to travel abroad both for experience and study. At that time India was a popular academic destination for young Iranians. So he traveled and studied for a few years in India, before the revolution in Iran.       He holds a bachelor’s degree in social sciences from Bangalore University in India (1976). Mottaki also holds a master’s degree (MA) in international relations from the University of Tehran (1996).

 After the 1980 revolution, he was elected by the people of his home town and the neighboring cities as the first parliament representative and assigned by the other representatives as the head of the national security and foreign policy committee due to his politic and diplomatic talents. During his years in Majlis (Congress) and effective collaboration with the foreign ministry, he was employed then by the ministry after parliament.   Or, he made thus his career within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during 24 years of continuous presence in different positions through   the Majlis (Parliament)..

He served thus as member of parliament in the first Majlis, head of seventh political bureau of Foreign Ministry (1984),

Iran’s ambassador to Turkey (1985),

Foreign Ministry’s secretary general for Western European affairs (1989),

Deputy Foreign Minister – first for international affairs (1989) and then   for legal, consular and parliamentary affairs (1992).

 Iran’s ambassador to Japan (1994),

Advisor to foreign minister (1999),

Deputy head of Culture and Islamic Communications Organization (2001)

Chief of the Foreign Relations Committee of the 7th Majlis National Security and Foreign Relations Commission (2004).

During the 2005 presidential election, he was the campaign manager of Ali Larijani, the right-conservative candidate.

President Mahmoud Ahmadi-nejad, in 2005,   appointed him to the position of Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 2005.

 

Mottaki quotations:

“Referring the case to the Security Council would be a lose-lose game, and we would prefer that this game does not happen. We see a win-win situation, that is where the EU and international community have confidence and the Islamic Republic of Iran reaches its legitimate right.”

“The Islamic Republic pays great cost to control and prevent transfer of narcotics to West.

“We do not accept global nuclear ‘apartheid’ and scientific ‘apartheid’.

“All voluntary measures taken over the past two-and-a-half or three years have been halted and we have no further commitment to the additional protocol and other voluntary commitments.”

“We should try to cool down the situation. We do not support any violence.”

“Nobody can remove a country from the map. This is a misunderstanding in Europe of what our president mentioned.”

“The time for using language of threats is over, it’s time for negotiation. We express our readiness for negotiations based on justice and a comprehensive compromise. We want to peacefully solve the problem.

“Nuclear weapons are not in Iran’s defense doctrine.”

“The issue is quite simple. We would like to enjoy our membership as well as the other members of the [Nuclear] Nonproliferation Treaty. The country has followed the rules and regulations of the [International Atomic Energy Agency] and wants to keep its rights.”

***

The Foreign Minister’s Introductory Presentation Before The Asia Society, Thursday, October 2, 2008:

Mottaki started by saying that since our last meeting here (2007), we had three events:

(1) The enjoyable visit of members of this Society in Tehran – he hopes this is a start for more such exchanges. This as a better way for mutual understanding – Scholars, Tourists, Students in such exchanges create the possibility to have more realistic picture of each other.

 

(2) LEBANON: A solution of more then 30 months of crisis was achieved after being initiated by different parties. Foreign Minister Mottaki wants to talk about how it was achieved – because the process is as important as the results.

It was a regional-based solution for the Lebanon crisis. The decision was that it has to be a solution based on votes by a 50+ plurality of all groups in the country – all groups in the country come to the table and a consensus is built – that was the tone of the Lebanon Policy agreement.

On the second day of the negotiations in Doha, at 2:30 AM, the feeling was that it all collapsed the negotiations were locked. Amr Moussa, the Secretary General of the Arab League said go ahead, but others opposed. Mottaki was in contact with Doha and Beirut and   at 9 AM they took up the issue again, and it was settled after a day of negotiations by 9 PM.

One learned that use of force should expect a reaction from the other side. Then also that territorial integrity is an integral part of any solution. These lessons apply whenever you have conflict – this clearly also in the Georgia – Russia case.

 

(3) GEORGIA: The areas are already affected by crisis – energy, transportation, security.

The crisis started by use of force based on wrong information and miscalculation. The latter by not expecting reaction.

The second point is territorial integrity.

Its the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia now, before it was Kosovo, Does it result from the same policies? If so, are there other areas where action led to reaction? If Yes – What are these?

On the second day of the Georgia case there was an agreement signed with Poland. If this signing of the agreement with Poland has become another step, should we look for reaction in Syria? in Venezuela?

What is NATO going to do?

Iran is a neighbor of Azerbaijan and Armenia – so there is a regional concern and Iran has to take part in the initiatives – parallel with Europe. So he went to the region and to Berlin. Is NATO moving to accept Georgia as a member?                             The interesting question is then the borders.

***

 

Now it was the turn for Ambassador Frank G. Wisner to take his position as moderator and conversation partner.

He has retired from the US Foreign Service in 1997 with the highest rank – that of a Career Ambassador, but continued to be involved in special positions like the Special US envoy for the Kosovo Final Status (December 2005 – March 2008).   Now he is in the private sector.   In his career postings he was Ambassador to India, the Philippines, Egypt, Zambia… among other appointments, he was also Under Secretary of Defence for Policy.

He started by saying that Iran is a great nation that commands and deserves respect – yet for many of us it is difficult to see how Iran chooses to challenge the international community. How do you square your requirement for respect with a confrontation attitude he then asked the Minister.

Mottaki, who made his introductory presentation in English, but now used a translator for the conversation part of the event, started to smile.

His answer was: A very nice gathering and behavior – my response – What we see is   selective dealing and approach – and double standards.

Back in the 80s we extensively talked up issues. I suggest how the first Iraq war was dealt with and the second war – the war of Saddam against Kuwait. In all   these the underlying issue is the occupation of foreign lands. {I assume he means the Iraq war against Iran as the first war and the war of Iraq on Kuwait as the second war}   Back then the heated discussion was having a cease-fire not a settlement. So the first step is a cease-fire, another first step is withdrawal. We wanted to have the an “a” inserted so that it is clear that a withdrawal comes after the cease-fire. See, using “oil-for-food” money – even now a percentage goes to Kuwait, this while for 4 years we were engaged in lengthy negotiations that were ordered by the UN. Two Assistant Secretary-Generals that dealt with this are present here – they remember those negotiations. Sometimes just to keep things going we had to put proposals on the table. We felt these were in Iraq’s favor and Iraq asked – what do you pay us to accept?

On the nuclear issue – at the end of the day – it is officials of one country … But Islamic and Sharia teachings say that atomic bombs have no place in our defense.we also contend that nuclear weapons are nomore effective. Also military powr has lost effectiveness.

I outlined new agreements for the IAEA last year. 1,5 years ago, in Madrid, we said to the Agency we will give the right answers to the IAEA questions. Then the US turned over questions to the IAEA and they posed them to us. The agency said they have other questions and we started answering them one by one. For each set of questions they sent us a written letter that they accepted the answer as adequate. What expectations should Iran have? We expect the 5+1 to thank us for these efforts to answer all questions. We expected that at the September meeting to be told by the Agency that they put aside all questions, but they provided a second US set of contentions.

They were supposed to bring up questions in one set of timetable. These questions went beyond the timetable. but we accepted.

These questions, like the previous are baseless, we will not agre to the US directed routes. I believe if we continue the negotiations we will reach a point of agreement that will lead to action.

 

{All the above sounded to me like a reprise of the 1001 Nights stories – this time from Tehran. I wonder how many people in the room accepted these, though, as I remarked at the beginning of this article, I am probably one of the most inclined to allow some slack to the Iranians because of past US behavior – but this story contained really too much rope. It did not inspire safety at all.}

 

Now Ambassador Wisner had one more short question he said. The elections in the US. “Do you see from Iran’s point of view an opportunity for dialogue? What will be the modalities for negotiation?

A. A US President will have to reach out including the Middle East. If there are changes in the White House we will intently consider them. We take note of comments made by previous Presidents, who are not in power anymore, also candidates not yet elected. Comments made, promises given by them cannot yet be seriously considered. We have to wait and see.

As for an interest section, there is only stories in news media.

 

***

Q&A from the floor:

Answer On Israel of sorts:   Iran US relations are dependent on a number of issues. Unilateral Vs. Policies in the Middle East have complicated the situation. NO MENTION OF ISRAEL IN THE ANSWER.

 

Answer on Nuclear In The Middle East:   Atomic weapons cannot provide security. We all heard that the US had enough to destroy Russia. It helped in the balance of fear.

Six years have passed from the day your troops have entered Iraq – they have not succeeded. Why could not atomic weapons help in Afghanistan and Iraq? This year the 13th anniversary since the Islamic revolution in Iran.

if I were to list our grievances against the US it will be a long long list. Had we a nuclear bomb, could that have changed your actions in Iraq?

In tandem with development on hardware side, the software side. The US is not lacking in modern weapons, also in its economic might (except for the present problems). No serious changes will occur in the US. The problem is – insufficient reasoning to convince the international public opinion.

 

Answer to the last question on the Middle East: We go about our business about our nuclear problems. We provided the answers.

if a person is asleep- how hard you knock, it will not help. The US cannot accept Iran’s peaceful proposals because once they accept they will not be able to stay in this position.

US intelligence agencies announced that Iran does not work on nuclear bomb, but the uS did not accept. I know of five different reports. I think it is high time for them to accept this.

The 15 years they were against my country. What is wrong about changing policies – and see what was wrong for their country?

 

 

No interim peace deal with Israel, Saudi says, Arab nations will totally reject any partial or interim solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict because historically such arrangements have become permanent, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said Saturday.

By EDITH M. LEDERER, September 28, 2008, UNITED NATIONS (AP)

While supporting current Israeli-Palestinian negotiations to reach “a comprehensive final solution,” Prince Saud Al Faisal said “the least that we expect from Israel during these negotiations is that it should halt all settlement operations.”
“The continuation of settlement activity in the occupied Arab territories renders the negotiations meaningless and makes it difficult for us to convince our peoples of the feasibility and benefits of achieving peace,” he said.

At a Security Council meeting Friday on Israeli settlements, held at Saudi Arabia’s request, Saud said the settlement problem is the “one issue that threatens to bring down the whole peace process.”

He said that addressing it was the only way to save the peace deal brokered in Annapolis, Maryland, early this year by President Bush’s administration, which set the goal of achieving a substantive peace accord by January 2009 when he leaves office.
Saud took up the issue again in a speech he was scheduled to give to the U.N. General Assembly’s annual ministerial meeting. He did not deliver the speech and it was distributed to all U.N. members, said Brenda Vongova, the assembly president’s assistant spokeswoman.
The foreign minister said Arabs have affirmed their commitment to “a just and comprehensive peace based on international law” and have not yet received the same commitment from Israel.

“Please allow me, on behalf of the Arab Group, to make it absolutely clear that we will totally reject any partial or interim solutions, because history has taught us that such solutions tend to become permanent,” he said.

While peace negotiators representing Israel and the West Bank’s moderate Palestinian leadership privately report progress, the talks are taking place in a vacuum, and haven’t been accompanied by serious goodwill gestures that could help them succeed.

Israel’s corruption-tainted prime minister Ehud Olmert, who launched the talks together with the Palestinian president, has stepped down, the Palestinians remain deeply divided, and time is running out. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reminded the Security Council on Friday that “just one year ago, there was no peace process,” and noted that Israel and the Palestinians continue their negotiations, along with many other partners.

In his speech to the General Assembly, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Sheik Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa said it was time for the Mideast to develop “new regional frameworks to overcome our long-standing challenges” and ensure “stable and lasting peace.”

He said it was time to consider the possibility of creating an organization that would include “all states in the Middle East, without exception, to discuss long-standing issues openly and frankly” to reach a stable and durable understanding between all parties.”

U.N. diplomats pointed to the words “without exception” as significant because that would mean Israel’s inclusion.
Many Arab leaders called for a peaceful solution to the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program. Tehran insists it is purely peaceful and aims to produce nuclear energy but the U.S. and many Western nations suspect Iran’s goal is producing nuclear weapons.

Saudi Arabia’s Saud expressed hope that Iran will take practical steps “to ensure a peaceful and rapid solution to the problem of the Iranian nuclear program and save the region from devastating conflicts, futile arms races and serious environmental hazards.”

From:  liasieghart at hotmail.com
Subject: Yemen, cogeneration and the CDM an outline of opportunity
Date: September 4, 2008

The Clean Development Mechanism has been instrumental in the development of a number of cogeneration projects around the world, but none yet in Yemen, where the scope for projects is certainly present. Lia Carol Sieghart looks at the role that cogeneration could play as part of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the country. The Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1997, at the 3rd Conference of the Parties (COP 3) to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Kyoto, Japan. This treaty significantly bolstered the Convention by committing parties from developed countries, known as Annex 1 Parties, to legally binding limits on GHG emissions. They may also acquire emission reduction credits by taking advantage of the three ‘flexibility mechanisms’ defined under the Protocol.These mechanisms are:

• International Emissions Trading (IET)
• Joint Implementation (JI)
• Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). The latter is the only mechanism that involves developing countries. The CDM allows Annex 1 Parties (or entities from those Parties) to invest in project activities that reduce GHG emissions and contribute to sustainable development in non-Annex 1 countries.The CDM has seen an exponential growth since the Kyoto Protocol came into effect in 2005. The end of 2007 provided a milestone with the 100-millionth certified emission reduction credit being issued. In April 2008 the 1000th project, an energy efficiency project, was registered with the Executive Board. At present there are more 3000 projects in the UNFCCC pipeline.Nevertheless, the number of host countries playing a vital role is still very limited. The geographic dispersion of registered projects remains imbalanced. So far the main share of projects is with Asia and Latin America. Most projects are registered with India as a host country, followed by China, Brazil, Mexico, Malaysia and Chile. India and China in particular have been early movers and have grasped the investment opportunities provided by the CDM. The vast majority of projects registered are in the energy sector. Taking into consideration the projects under validation and those requesting registration, it seems that this distribution pattern will not change significantly during the first commitment period.

  There are many reasons why the CDM has so far fallen short of its full potential, many of which are country-specific while others are repeatedly reported from various countries. In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region 18 countries have ratified the Kyoto Protocol, but to date only 20 projects have been registered (Table 1). This amounts to ~2 % of the total of registered project activities.

  Click here to enlarge image

  The MENA Region population comprises about 6% of the total world population, almost equivalent to the population of the European Union. Most MENA countries are experiencing a rapid population growth. The region is economically diverse – the spectrum ranges from oil-rich economies to countries that are resource-scarce in relation to population.

  By 2050, the MENA countries will reach an electricity demand of the same magnitude as Europe (3500 TWh/y). In some of the countries, electricity demand is expected to triple from almost 1500 TWh/y at present to 4100 TWh/y in 2050. Correspondingly, the effects of climate change will become more severe. The fossil fuel-based power sector offers enormous potential for CO₂ emission reductions, both through energy efficiency improvements in existing applications as well as utilization of state-of-the-art technology for new capacity additions.

  Given the surging growth in energy demand, the region needs to develop sustainable energy patterns, increase energy accessibility – particularly for marginalized populations in rural areas – and encourage efficient use of energy. Countries need to embark on a less carbon-intensive development path. Utilizing the CDM can provide a vital trigger in this process.

  CHP has a clear opportunity to expand quickly. CHP installations, by combining electricity production with a heat recovery system, provide reliable and cost-effective opportunities for GHG emissions reduction and an important contribution to meeting heat and electricity demand. Cogeneration projects also have the potential to bring energy efficiency measures to large industries in the region, while the MENA oil industry and refinery capacity offers further significant cost-effective potential for heat recovery and cogeneration.

  THE REPUBLIC OF YEMEN

  The Republic of Yemen lies to the south of Saudi Arabia, bounded by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The 2004 census recorded a population of 19.72 million, with an average annual population growth rate of 3.2 % and one of the highest birth rates in the MENA Region. Yemen remains one of the poorest countries in the world, and currently ranks 49 on the UN’s list of the 50 Least Developed Countries. Yemen’s GNI per capita is US$760, compared to, for example, US$12,510 in Saudi Arabia, US$23,990 in the United Arab Emirates and US$9070 in Oman². According to the Country Social Analysis (2006) by the World Bank the GDP growth rate has been falling steadily in recent years. Inflation has been averaging at almost 12% since 2002, rapidly increasing the cost of living.

  The country, a non-OPEC member, is the smallest oil producer in the Middle East³. Nevertheless, the economy is highly dependent on the oil sector, with the country’s oil exports accounting for approximately 85% of export revenues and 33% of gross domestic product (GDP). Yemen’s energy use relies heavily on fossil fuels. Thus, there is potential to reduce GHG emissions in the energy sector, the oil and refinery industry and in the industrial sector.

  GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN YEMEN

  The 2001 First National Communication to the UNFCCC used 1995 as a reference year for Yemen’s GHG emissions inventory due to the high uncertainty of 1994’s information as a result of the April–July 1994 civil war. The total GHG emissions (CO₂, CH⁴, N²O) of the country, in 1995, amounted to 18.7 million tonnes CO₂eq, (CO₂=11.4 million tonnes, CH⁴=128,000 and NO₂=15,000). Taking CO₂ removal into account, the total net emission of CO₂ is 845,000 tonnes. These figures are exclusive of the emission from the international bunker (114,350 tonnes CO₂) and from combustion of biomass (353,290 tonnes CO₂).

  Yemen’s emission profile by gas type for 1995 shows that CO₂ accounts for 61% of the total national GHG emissions (113,580 tonnes CO₂), N²O 25% (465,700 tonnes CO₂eq) and CH⁴ 14% (269,400 tonnes CO₂eq). Table 2 shows gas emissions by various sectors.

  Click here to enlarge image

  If we look at the industrial processes, there are many that create GHG emissions as a by-product of the process itself. Cement production generated the most emissions (99.3%). Other production processes with minor emissions are lime production, limestone use and soda use (food & beverages). The total GHG generated by these processes was estimated at 547,000 tonnes CO₂eq, which accounted for 2.92% of the country’s total GHG emissions. The production of cement in Yemen in 1995 was 1,089,000 tonnes that resulted in CO₂ emission of 543,000 tonnes CO₂eq representing 4.8% of the country’s total CO₂ emissions (energy sector, industrial processes etc), while it represents around 2.9% of the total GHGs.

  The CO₂ emission from cement production was calculated by multiplying 1995 cement production (1,089,000 tonnes) by the emission factor (0.4985 tonnes of CO₂ per tonne of cement produced). The SO₂ emitted from cement production was obtained by using an emission factor of 0.3 kg SO₂/tonne cement, thus leading to 330 tonnes SO₂ in 1995.

  THE YEMENI ENERGY SECTOR

  Yemen’s 100% state-owned Public Electricity Corporation (PEC) formed in 1991, under the Ministry of Electricity, is the sole public utility with the mandate for generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity in the country. The entity operates approximately 80% of the country’s generating capacity as part of the national grid. The remainder is generated by small off-grid suppliers and privately owned generators, predominantly in rural areas⁴. In urban areas diesel generators are also used as back-up systems. The efficiency of diesel generators can be up to 40%. Electricity demand amounted to 3294 GWh in 2005, an increase of 9.6% annually since 2000.

  The Yemeni population has the lowest access to electricity in the region, with only 53%⁵ of the total population having access. Of the 72% of the Yemeni population living in rural areas, only 23% have any access to electricity, which compares unfavourably with 85% of the urban population that have access to electricity. Out of this 23%, about 10%–14% is connected to the national grid system while the remainder is estimated to have some access from other sources, typically a diesel generator that operates only a few hours in the evening. Even for those connected to the grid, electricity supply is intermittent, with regular rolling blackouts in most cities.

  Click here to enlarge image

  Yemen has been experiencing a chronic power supply shortage. An estimate for the electric power deficit in 2006 was 220 MW, a figure that is expected to increase to 250 MW in 2008. With the 2005 increase in diesel prices, the cost of diesel generation has become economically unsustainable thereby significantly increasing the demand for a lower-carbon, more-efficient, lower-cost and reliable energy future.

  The Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP, 2003–2005) states the following: ‘Indicators show the failure of electric power in Yemen in keeping pace with demand [is] due to the ageing of the power stations and the distribution networks, which is reflected in the high losses that are currently estimated at about 38%, well above the internationally prevailing levels. This situation prevents the full utilization of machinery and equipment in the different productive and service units, or burdens the private sector facilities with the cost of setting up their own generating plants, not to mention the inability to systematically fulfil domestic lighting requirements. This situation is expected to continue over the medium term due to the increase of demand at high rates, and thus increases the adverse aspects on investment opportunities and the growth of output, income and employment, clearly showing the importance of strategic investment by the private sector in this field.’

  In the industrial sector, power is purchased either from the national grid or off-grid from privately owned diesel generators with poor electrical efficiency ranging from 25% up to 35% especially in light industry. Heavy industry, e.g. the cement sector – the most energy intensive of any industry⁶, covers its heat needs using boilers fired either by heavy fuel oil or diesel, again with an overall poor fuel efficiency. The main electricity consuming sections in a cement plant are the mills (finish grinding and raw grinding) and the exhaust fans (kiln/raw mill and cement mill) which together account for more than 80% of the total electrical energy usage.⁷ The separate production of heat and power is an obvious waste of energy. Change is needed by using a range of existing and emerging technologies, particularly in relation to the production and consumption both of heat and electricity.

  The cement industry is considered as one of the main players in the industrial sector. Commercial production started back in 1973 with the launching of the first production line of the Bajil Cement Factory. Cement production is highly competitive, both locally and internationally, so any improvements in production efficiency can result in important increases in competitiveness.⁸

  Despite 16.9 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of proven natural gas reserves, a cleaner source of non-renewable energy, heavy fuel oil or diesel-fuelled power generation remains the energy source. Use of natural gas is hampered by the absence of a domestic natural gas infrastructure. On the downstream side there is a crude refining capacity of 130,000 barrels/day from two ageing refineries. The Aden refinery has a capacity of 90,000 to 120,000 barrels/day, while the capacity at the Marib refinery, is 10,000 barrels/day.

  So the challenge for the government is to meet the energy needs of the country in an economic and environmentally sustainable manner. To address this challenge, one approach is to integrate the use of CHP as part of a larger portfolio of low-carbon energy technology solutions. Also the First National Communication under the UNFCCC suggests CHP as a viable measure to reduce GHG emissions and to cope with climate change.

  COGENERATION – AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YEMEN

  The Yemeni electricity sector driven by fossil-fuelled power generation is characterized by a loss of waste heat and a deficient transmission and distribution system resulting in poor net generation. Energy use and efficiency are important factors for economic development and environmental integrity.

  Click here to enlarge image

  CHP applications could be viable and cost-effective in the Yemeni setting because they:

  • reduce energy-related carbon dioxide emissions
  • provide a decentralized energy source which results in reduced investment in energy system infrastructure
  • reduce transmission and distribution losses.

  Energy-intensive industrial sites such as oil refining, heavy processing (food and textiles) and the cement industry with its simultaneous demand for heat and power, could all benefit. Also the commercial and institutional/residential sectors could match their thermal and electrical needs. CHP application in the commercial/institutional sector could address light manufacturing, hotels, hospitals and large office complexes.

  Despite good potential for CHP, to date no systems are operating in Yemen. The main barriers are: technical, financial, lack of maintenance capacity and awareness, the heavy subsidy of petroleum products and the absence of a domestic natural gas infrastructure – the fuel of choice for most new industrial CHP systems. However, access to reasonably priced and reliable electricity supply systems are an obvious prerequisite for economic stability and development. The development of a strategy for CHP would assist in kick-starting the momentum in Yemen and should include the following elements:

  • identification of projects that could be initially implemented by the public sector and identify pipeline of projects that can be promoted for private sector development
  • formulation of CHP-enabling market
  • elaboration of incentives that attract private investors and lower the costs of electricity generation from CHP applications.

  Coupling GHG emissions abatement with CHP installation would help guide the country’s economic growth to a less carbon-intensive development path. The emission reduction potential makes CHP applications, in principal, eligible for the CDM. In order to qualify for Certified Emission Reductions under the CDM, one needs to address ‘additionality’, ‘permanence’, and ‘leakage’ requirements as well as satisfy sustainable development criteria defined by the country. By gaining CDM support for projects, Yemen could gain access to significant additional flows of technology and finance to assist in achieving a more sustainable, less greenhouse-intensive pathway of development. Also the National Adaptation Programme of Action⁹ is suggesting CHP systems as an efficient method of power generation and a suitable measure to reduce GHG emissions. Considering a cogeneration project as a CDM project activity would assist in generating emission credits and thereby make the project more feasible.

  RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION

  The CDM is a key model fostering broad engagement in climate change mitigation, and can be used as a means of promoting sustainable development by providing access to improved energy services. The energy sector is a major source of GHG emissions and a critical area for socio-economic development of the country. Yemen has a good potential for cogeneration projects in the industrial, commercial and institutional/residential sectors.

  In keeping with the dual aim of climate protection and sustainable development, the CDM can trigger the installation of CHP systems by removing barriers to implementation of state-of-the art technology in this area. Despite the strong potential of cogeneration for GHG reduction to date there is no installed capacity – project developers often lack the technical and financial capacity to identify projects within their operational activities. Mainstreaming carbon finance into business operations would have a catalytic impact on facilitating CDM project development and consequently assist in the feasibility of cogeneration in Yemen.

  Lia Carol Sieghart is with the Ministry of Water and Environment, DNA Secretariat, Republic of Yemen.
  e-mail: sieghart@yemen.net.ye

  References

  1. Status: 29.03.2008

  2. World Development Indicators database, World Bank, 1 July 2007

  3. Report No.: 34008-YE – Republic of Yemen – Country Social Analysis – January 11, 2006 – Water, Environment, Social and Rural Development Department, Middle East and North Africa Region

  4. Energy Information Administration  www.eia.doe.gov): Yemen – Country Analysis Brief (October 2007)

  5. World Bank and UNDP (2005): Household Energy Supply and Use in Yemen: Volume I, Main Report

  6. WADE (2007): Concrete Energy Savings – Onsite Power in the Cement Industry

  7. IPPC (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control). 2001. Reference document on best available techniques in the cement and lime manufacturing industries, European Union.

  8. WADE (2007): Concrete Energy Savings – Onsite Power in the Cement Industry

  9. 2001 First National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

  Cogeneration and On-Site Power Production July, 2008

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Monday, June 30, 2008

Teams from 24 nations to hold camps in Japan before Olympics.

Kyodo News
Sports teams from at least 24 countries including Canada, Germany, France, Israel and the United States will hold camps in Japan for final preparations prior to the Beijing Olympics in August.

Concerns about air pollution, food safety and “political tension” in China, and good facilities in Japan, were cited as reasons for making a final stop here prior to the Aug. 8-24 Olympics.

Japan’s proximity to China, with only a one-hour time difference with Beijing, was another selling point.

The teams will hold camps in 20 prefectures, from Hokkaido in the north to Kumamoto in the southwest, starting in July.

About 150 athletes, coaches and other staff from Sweden will hold camps for 13 Olympic events in Fukuoka, partly because the city has numerous facilities and its airport provides direct flights to Beijing.

A 30-member Dutch track and field team will also hold a camp in Fukuoka around the same time.

A track and field team from Bahrain will hold an Olympic camp in Kaminoyama, Yamagata Prefecture. It decided against holding a camp in China partly because of worries about air pollution and food.

The Bahrain team also held a camp in Kaminoyama before the 2007 World Championships in Athletics in Osaka.

For that visit, Kaminoyama provided the team from the Muslim country with clarification regarding food ingredients, which apparently played a role in the team coming back.

A French track and field team will hold a camp in Wakayama. The team initially planned to use Shanghai but judged it was better to avoid China because of “political tension” in the country, a team source said.

Anti-France demonstrations were held in China after the Olympic torch relay in Paris drew rowdy protests.

An Irish track and field team has selected Matsue, Shimane Prefecture.

Monday, June 30, 2008

G8 COUNTDOWN
U.N. chief calls for leadership on setting midterm emissions cuts

By ERIC JOHNSTON
Staff writer
KYOTO — U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said Sunday that while long-term goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are important, it is more critical that a post-Kyoto Protocol treaty with midterm targets be concluded in Copenhagen by next year.

But he warned there appears to be insufficient political leadership, especially among developed countries, to reach that goal and said Japan needs to do more to push the matter forward.

“Japan’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent to 80 percent by 2050 is impressive. Japan has also indicated that it might reduce emissions by 14 percent from the current level by 2020. Today, I call on Japan to provide further leadership in developing an even more far-reaching proposal,” Ban told a group of scholars, students and local residents during a meeting at Kyoto University.

“There is a lack of political will at the leadership level (for midterm targets). Each country must contribute, and this is something I will discuss with Prime Minister (Yasuo) Fukuda on Monday,” Ban said.

The 1997 Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012, and efforts are on to hammer out a new agreement in Copenhagen in December 2009.

“Ambitious targets by all major emitters are essential to conclude the deal,” Ban said. “By Copenhagen, we must agree not only on long-term goals, but also on short and medium-term targets.”

Ban arrived in Japan on Saturday on the first leg of a two-week Asia tour that will also take him to South Korea and China as well as next week’s Group of Eight summit in Toyako, Hokkaido.

His visit comes at a time when international pressure is growing on Japan as host of the G8 summit to aggressively push other summit leaders to make a strong statement on the need for binding midterm emission reduction targets.

However, hopes for strong leadership from both Japan and the G8 summit for such a statement dimmed earlier this month when Fukuda said it is up to U.N. negotiators, not the G8, to agree on midterm targets.

Ban’s visit to Japan is designed to put political pressure on Fukuda to get the G8 leaders to make a statement that will show developing countries the rich nations are serious about taking the lead in reaching a climate change agreement.

Many in Japanese industry, especially the steel and utility companies that burn a lot of coal, oppose midterm targets.

At Sunday’s meeting, a representative from Kansai Electric Power Co. said the industry agrees that long-term goals are important, and spoke on the need for improved green technologies as the ultimate solution for reducing greenhouse gases worldwide.

However, others noted that the consensus of the scientific community, as outlined by the U.N. last year, is that climate change is occurring much faster than previously thought and that action between now and 2020 is needed to prevent a global climate catastrophe.

Ban praised Fukuda’s recently announced plan for a low-carbon future society, saying it is the kind of leadership by example other developed countries need to follow.

He also said that improved energy efficiency and the widespread use of renewable energy sources are necessary to cut emissions by half by 2050.

From:  rcervigni at worldbank.org
Subject: Climate Change in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) – New World Bank web site.
Date: June 27, 2008

We are pleased to announce the launch of the World Bank web site on climate change in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA).

The site contains information on ongoing and planned World Bank activities aimed at helping MENA countries enhance their resilience to Climate Change, and move to a low carbon development path.

The URL for the site is: http://www.worldbank.org/mena/climatecha…

Raffaello Cervigni
Senior Natural Resource Economist
Regional Coordinator, Climate Change
Sustainable Development Sector Department (MNSSD)
Middle East and North Africa Region
The World Bank
Room H 8-225
1818 H Street, N.W.
Washington D.C. 20433 USA
Office: 202 458 8473
Fax: 202 614 1688
Cell Phone: 202 378 4432
E-mail:  rcervigni at worldbank.org

  PRESS RELEASE
April 7, 2008

Islamic and African States Fail to Block UN Webcast of Human Rights Hearings

Bahrain First to Undergo “Seriously Flawed” Review Procedure

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: +41-79-332-8106

Geneva, April 7, 2008 — Facing opposition by Arab, Islamic and African states, the UN Human Rights Council’s decision to webcast its review of Bahrain, the first to undergo a new procedure that will scrutinize all UN members, constituted a small victory for reform, UN Watch said today.

“The new system of universal periodic review has serious institutional flaws, including its grant of excessive control over the outcome to the state under review,” said Hillel Neuer, executive director of the Geneva-based human rights monitoring organization.

“Although the official verdicts are likely to be questionable at best, the very fact of holding debates on countries that were previously given a free pass, even if only once every four years, helps activists to shine an international spotlight on human rights violations, and to challenge government responses that are inadequate or false.”

Today’s three-hour session on Bahrain offered little in the way of scrutiny, and was dominated by praise of the gulf state’s record. In his presentation, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Nizar Al Baharna told the council that Bahrain respected women’s rights, equality and freedom of expression. Of the more than 30 states that then took the floor, most were fellow Islamic nations that complimented Bahrain’s record on “social and economic rights,” with Pakistan citing the growth of its GDP.

“We are deeply disappointed that the session summarily ignored the detailed NGO submissions, which presented evidence of restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, torture, and violations of women’s rights,” said Neuer. “Although the U.S., Canada, France and a handful of Western democracies posed questions, their interventions were overly cautious and diplomatic, and did little to make this new procedure into one of real scrutiny. Human rights victims deserve far better.”

On Friday, the Arab, Islamic and African blocs made a last-ditch effort to block UN webcasting of the session, but their attempt failed. Click here to read set of demands.

“After a series of major setbacks at the council—including the outrageous insertion of anti-blasphemy provisions into the freedom of expression mandate—this is one small victory that human rights activists must cherish,” said Neuer.

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Posted in Africa, Arab Asia, Bahrain, Geneva, New York, Reporting From the UN Headquarters in New York, Reporting from Washington DC, South Africa

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CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE: TOP-DOWN POLITICAL REFORM IN ARAB WORLD PROLONGS STAGNATION – 12/12/2007.
UNITED NATIONS –   MaximsNews Network   – December 12, 2007 :   Despite passing considerable economic and social reforms Arab regimes continue to avoid substantive political reforms that would jeopardize their own power. Reformers in ruling establishments recognize the need for change to increase economic competitiveness, but the preferred process of “managed reform” is leading to further political stagnation, says a new paper from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

In Incumbent Regimes and the “King’s Dilemma” in the Arab World: Promise and Threat of Managed Reform, Carnegie Senior Associates Marina Ottaway and Michele Dunne argue that emerging, reform-minded leaders in Arab nations face a dilemma—globalization and better public access to information are prompting calls for modernization, yet history shows that even limited reforms introduced from the top often increase, rather than decrease, bottom-up demand for more radical change, as in the case of the Iranian revolution.

To contend with this threat, Arab regimes are attempting to control the process of change through “managed reforms”: the introduction of formal, institutional reform without the transfer of real power (Bahrain and Egypt); substantive improvements in citizens’ rights without institutional reform (Morocco); or the limited participation of legitimate opposition groups (Yemen and Algeria).

Key Conclusions:

There is growing awareness in the Arab world that reforms are necessary to create a viable, competitive economy. Oil is no longer seen as an inexhaustible source of revenue that gives governments an infinite capacity to manipulate their citizens.

Pressure from the United States and Europe to introduce reforms has been inconsistent and has favored managed reforms, sending signals that external expectations are not very high, and that external actors can be easily appeased.

Further political stagnation is the likely scenario for most Arab regimes, characterized by limited change rather than an uncontrolled slide into an uncertain future. The power of reformists remains limited in most countries, as they have generally failed to convince the population that they are serious about change, resulting in tarnished reputations.

To be successful, regime reformers need to find allies in civil societies or moderate parties. Some reformers could decide that a competitive political environment would benefit their political future—yet a more participatory reform process could prove unpredictable.

“The evidence so far is that the top-down process is having very little effect, making at best a marginal difference on specific issues but not leading to the redistribution of power that a true process of democratization and even liberalization would entail. For domestic advocates of managed reform and for outsiders seeking to promote change alike, the lesson appears to be that political reform can never be risk free: Too much close management perpetuates authoritarianism, and unmanaged processes have unpredictable outcomes.”

NOTES

Marina Ottaway is a senior associate in the Democracy and Rule of Law Program and director of the Carnegie Middle East Program. Her upcoming publication, Beyond the Façade: Political Reform in the Arab World (co-edited with Julia Choucair-Vizoso), will be released in January 2008.

Michele Dunne is a senior associate and editor of the Carnegie Endowment’s Arab Reform Bulletin . A specialist on Middle East affairs, formerly at the State Department and White House, Dunne’s most recent publication is Egypt—Don’t Give Up on Democracy Promotion (Policy Brief, July 2007).

The Carnegie Middle East Program combines in-depth local knowledge with incisive comparative analysis, Carnegie’s Middle East Program examines politics in the Arab world. The Program studies extensively attempts at political reform, through detailed country studies and the exploration of key cross-cutting themes. The Program has special expertise in Islamist participation in pluralistic politics throughout the region.

The Arab Reform Bulletin addresses political developments and reform in the Middle East. Sent monthly, it offers analysis from Arab, American, and European political experts, as well as news synopses and annotated resource guides. The Arab Reform Bulletin is published in English and Arabic.

Contact: Trent Perrotto, 212/939-2372,  tperrotto at ceip.org

 From:       IFEX Action Alert Network <alerts@ifex.org>
Date:       Thu, 8 Nov 2007 12:18 PM
IFEX – News from the international freedom of expression community
_______________________________________________________________

JOINT ACTION – BAHRAIN:

8 November 2007

Twenty-six IFEX members and others call on government to stop clamping down
on freedom of expression.

SOURCE: Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR), Manama

(BCHR/IFEX) – The following is a joint action by 26 IFEX members and 21
other organisations:

We, the undersigned human rights organizations, express our deep concern
about the recent serious deterioration of freedom of expression in Bahrain.
This includes violations of:

- the right to post information about public issues on Internet sites,
- the right to print and distribute academic, documentary and artistic
publications,
- the right to watch films of public interest (documentary, drama, action,
fiction, etc),
- the right to express views, as journalists, writers, authors and
bloggers,
- the right for human rights defenders and activists to access media.

The Bahraini authorities have taken severe measures against activists to
prevent them from reaching the public through media outlets, have blocked
access to websites, have banned films, prohibited the printing of fictional
and non-fictional books, and, above all, they have prosecuted writers and
journalists for practicing their professions and expressing their beliefs.
Moreover, the Penal Decree Code of 1976 and the Press Decree Law of 2002
have both been used to nominally “legalise” the aforementioned violations.

We, the undersigned human rights organizations, call upon the Bahraini
authorities to halt their attacks upon freedom of expression, to abolish
abusive laws, and to respect their commitment to international charters and
covenants, in particular Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights.

Signed,

Arab Archives Institute, Jordan
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (HR Info), Egypt
Article 19, United Kingdom
Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, Bahrain
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS), Egypt
Cartoonists Rights Network, United States
Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Studies (CEHURDES), Nepal
Centro de Periodismo y Etica Publica (CEPET), Mexico
Centro para la Comunicación Social (CENCOS), Mexico
The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR), Egypt
Foundation for Press Freedom (FLIP), Colombia
Free Media Movement (FMM), Sri Lanka
Freedom House, United States
Independent Journalism Centre Moldova (IJC Moldova), Moldova
Index on Censorship, United Kingdom
Initiative for Freedom of Expression, Turkey
Institute for Reporter Freedom and Safety (IRFS), Azerbaijan
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Belgium
Institute of Mass Information (IMI), Ukraine
Journalists’ Trade Union (JuHI), Azerbaijan
Maharat Foundation, Lebanon
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Namibia
Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), Pakistan
Reporters Without Borders (RSF), France
World Press Freedom Committee (WPFC)
World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC)

Non-member organizations:

Nadeem Centre for Psychiatric Rehabilitation for Victims of Violence
Hisham Mubarak Centre
Land Centre for Human Rights
Habi for Environmental Rights
Civil Observatory for Human Rights
The Egyptian Society for Democratic Development
Andalus Centre for Anti-Violence and Tolerance Studies
Ibn Khaldoun Centre for Development Studies
The Arab Organization for Civil Society and Human Rights
Alhorrya Centre for Political Rights and Democracy
Bahrain Journalists Association
Women Petition Committee
The Egyptian Center for Human Rights
Sisters Arab Forum for Human Rights
Health Work Committees/Palestine
The Egyptian Association Against Torture
International Justice
KARAPATAN, the Alliance for the Advancement of Peoples Rights
Ecumenical Movement for Justice and Peace (EMJP)
Network Integration of Arab Youth
Defend International

For further information contact Nabeel Rajab, Vice-President, BCHR, Manama,
Bahrain, tel: +973 3963 3399 / 3940 0720, fax: +973 1779 5170, e-mail:
 nabeel.rajab at bahrainrights.org,  info at bahrainrights.org, Internet:
 http://www.bahrainrights.org

The information contained in this joint action is the sole responsibility
of BCHR. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please
credit BCHR.
_______________________________________________________________
DISTRIBUTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
EXCHANGE (IFEX) CLEARING HOUSE
555 Richmond St. West, # 1101, PO Box 407
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5V 3B1
tel: +1 416 515 9622       fax: +1 416 515 7879
alerts e-mail:  alerts at ifex.org       general e-mail:  ifex at ifex.org
Internet site: http://www.ifex.org/

——————————

This release is strange, both on the ground that we believed (1) Bahrain to be a little more advanced then nearly all of the other Arab States, and (2) that the announcement gives the names of two protesting organizations in Bahrain itself.  

The following are some of the winning drawings and we are amazed of how much can be read into them in an effort to understand the educational environments in the home countries of these children….

The Global Winner is an 11 year old girl from the UK with a politically sophisticated entree. She sees the pollution as a result of governments and global business backing fossil fuels and ending up with an upturned umbrella instead of the protection they purported to provide.

On the other hand, the winner for the North American Region just portrays the total information she gets from the media. She has though expressed her preference for change.

The 11 year old girl from China seems to show us that ideal situation will come about when every other part of the world does its due in using alternate energy methods – like biomass, solar, wind,

The 12 year old boy from Burundi Sees the problems in his immediate area as being caused by rain or lack of rain – in both cases there is famine because there are no trees and even if there is rain it runs off and harms plantings – the result is hunger. The ideal situation requires land-cover in order to have a green environment and food

The girl from Bahrain knows about toxic gases that come from the refinery in her neighborhood, but seemingly nobody told her that the CO2 should also have a place in her listing of bad gases – this because of climate change.
Ergo – the education in Bahrain, an oil refining island=state – just does not explain how global warming/climate change came about. Now remember please – that was the topic of this competition.

Is it not amazing?

A May 16th event at Rutgers. The e-mail says: We are honored to announce that Her Excellency Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, President of the UN General Assembly, has agreed to attend and speak at our event. We will be honoring her as well as Shirin Ebadi, the Nobel Prize Winner, for Sheikha Haya’s achievements in support of women and human rights in the Middle East. Also, we are pleased to inform you that Monika Jalili and the NoorSaaz orchestra will be preforming at our May 16th event.

– Afshin Razani, Ph.D.
Instructor in Middle Eastern Studies
Assistant Director, Public & Executive Affairs
Center for Middle Eastern Studies
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Lucy Stone Hall, B-327
54 Joyce Kilmer Avenue
Piscataway, NJ 08854
Tel: 732-445-8444, ext. 18
Fax: 732-445-8446
Email:  arazani at rci.rutgers.edu

You are invited to register to the organized transportation from Israel to The Second Annual Conference in Bil’in. The conference is three days, and you can register to each one of the days or to all of them.

Register as early as you can preferably before Monday night.

Phones:
03-6482749
052-4-655520
Or better by e-mail with your mobile phone number to:
 ilan at shalif.com
_______________________

Salam Friends

I’m sending to you the “Bili’n International Conference” program … Its Next week as you see. Your participation is important!!

Yours

Khulood Badawi  Khulood48 at yahoo.com

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE PROGRAM PLAN

WEDNESDAY, 18 April 2007

time
Activity
Title

8-10 am
Registration

10:00
The Palestinian National Anthem, Welcome & Greeting, Bil’in Popular Committee
Representative of President Mahmoud Abbas

10:10
Opening Address: Mairead McGuire

“Nonviolence – the way forward for the Human family”.

10:30

Azmi Bishara

10:50
Luisa Morgantini

11:10
History of Bil’in’s Nonviolent Resistance

Bil’in Popular Committee, Mohammad Khatib

11:30
Break

12:00
Stephan Hessel
“The impunity of Israel and the responsibility of the international community in that issue”

12:15
Jean-Claude Lefort
Double standard particularly in the present situation in Palestine

12:30
Report & Panel from the Palestinian-Palestinian Conference on Non Violence.

Mohammad Elias

1:45
Lunch

2:45
Amira Hass, Dr. Mustafa Barghouti

Media

4:00
Break

4:15
Ilan Pappe, Omar Barghouthi

Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions

5:30
break

5:45- 6:15
Final Remarks

6:15
Rest & Fun, Dinner with Families

8:30- 10:00
Films & Dabka

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE PROGRAM PLAN, Day Two

THURSDAY, 19 April 2007

time
Activity
9:00
Welcome, Announcements

9:15
Jeff Halper, Mikado Warshavsky and Uri Avnery

10:30-
11:45
Panel: George S Rishmawi, Sam Bahour, Mohamed Shtaye

Economic Independence
11:45
Break

12:15-
WORKSHOPS:
1- Bil’in Development
2- BDS
3- BDS
4- Media
5- Pal-Isr Joint Struggle [Hanna & Mohammad]
6- Palestinian Recommendations from the Palestinian conference
7- Palestinian Recommendations from the Palestinian conference
8- International experiences in Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions

2:00
Lunch

3:00
Country Meetings

4:00
Palestinian, Israeli, International Nonviolence Trainings

6:30
Closing

7:00
Rest & Fun, Dinner with Families

Third Day: Friday April 20th 2007

Friday Morning: Meetings with Bil’in Popular Committee
1:00 Action

Last night C-SPAN showed the Thursday, March 29, 2007, closing Session of the two day long, very intense, 2007 Arab Summit that was held in Ryadh. We posted yesterday an opinion column written for the Israeli paper Yedioth Ahranoth by French Journalist Orly Azoulay – that article was probably written March 28, 2007.

In effect there was little good coverage from the meetings – basically – the good material I saw was from Orly and New York Times UN   correspondent Warren Hoge. There was some reporting that we call “scribbling.” This is the reporting that comes from what we call “scribblers” – people that listen to what people in high position say, and report just that, believing that good journalistic reporting means – watch out and do not editorialize. The problem with such reporting is that – unless you actually reproduce word by word what was said or released – by the nature of things you must chose what to write and what to leave out. And here is the rub – in most these cases “scribblers” write what they are paid to write – this because their boss, their paper, and thanks to the pay-check, they themselves – all of these – have a point of view which they look to find expressed in the material presented to them. They think, in many cases quite honestly, that this is also what their readers want to read. So, in the process the real news are not discussed and do get lost in the short shuffle. That is why the C-SPAN show was really important – even though it was given in English translation and we wonder if what the translator said was indeed what the speaker said.         As a case in point I will mention that my eyebrows went up when I heard the interpreter say in the name of the Iraqi President that he wishes to see “independence for the Golan Heights.” If he really called for “INDEPENDENCE” of the Golan Heights – that was a master strike suggestion – but I hardly believe that this was the word that President Jalal Talabani used in his speech. I rather think he called for a return of the Heights to Syria – or did he have some interim suggestion that got lost?   In effect   in a joint Washington Post article   by writers from Ryadh, Jerusalem, and Washington, there is an allusion to a Saudi analyst close to the foreign minister who thinks that if the Syrians and the Israelis decide to partition the Golan Heights – this is fine with the Saudis – did Talabani think here of a way to make progress?

Anyway, let us start with the visual effect of the unbelievably lush hall, the huge wide chairs and the seating arrangement. Once I was at a State Dinner in the old Dolombashi Palace in Istanbul. Obviously, there was nothing as elaborate as I saw here, but the place gave me hallucinations of divans and Persian 1001 nights stories. Even though these words may sound like hodgepodge, the emotional impressions were correct. Orly described the Ryadh hall in the article we posted – she also went beyond, in her opinion piece, and explained why things look the way they do – the intent behind the staging – and I cannot try to upstage her because I was not there. In effect I wanted to go, but was not chosen to be one of the 11 journalists that went with the UN Secretary General. Having included Orly and Warren in that list left me nevertheless with good feelings, even though I did not go.   King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz was sitting alone on   what looked like a higher seat under the flags. In front of him the seats of the other monarchs or presidents of the Arab world. Seemingly only President Khadafi of Libya was missing.   The UN Secretary-General had also a section to himself and looked immersed in the proceedings – specially when, Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Lebanon spoke.

King Abdullah’s mother was from the Shammar tribe. He was born in Riyadh in 1924, but the exact date is unknown because no exact records of births or deaths were kept at the time, in what was then an impoverished desert land. He has only a rudimentary education. Abdullah’s selection as crown prince in 1982 was challenged by Prince Sultan, who wanted the title for himself. But the sons of Abdul-Aziz closed ranks when the issue was decided, aware that a direct confrontation with Abdullah could tear the family apart.

He sports a goatee and moustache and has a passion for the simple bedouin pleasures of horse riding and falcon hunting. He spends at least a month every year hunting in Morocco in a special high-tech desert encampment. His reputation as a fair and unpretentious man have won him unswerving loyalty of the National Guard, which he has led since 1962. He built up the once largely ceremonial unit into a modern 75,000-strong force as a counterweight to the army. It protects the royal family and is the foundation of his power. For most Saudis, Abdullah has become a larger-than-life leader. Back in 1974 I wrote a paper for the American Graduate Schhol for International Management (The Thunderbird School) on the Saudi Royal family and my main issue was to see if it will be Abdullah or Sultan that will become eventually king – the National Guard or the regular army – who will win the internal Saudi fight for succesion?

Part of the widely-told folklore about him is a fable he reportedly told Madamme when she was visiting the kingdom in 1997 for permission to strike Iraq:

He is said to have told her the story of a shepherd who hired dogs to help guard his flock from wolves, a reference to U.S. troops stationed in Saudi Arabia. The dogs became too expensive to maintain, and the shepherd had to kill some of his sheep to feed them. In the end, he decided to get rid of the dogs and try to handle the wolves himself. Now the dogs of the story seem to be the Americans and the wolves of the story his enemies, such as the internal enemies and the Shia on the outside. Will he now dismiss the Americans and fight the wolves by himself? Some think that his statements now may point in this direction, others think that he intends to become more active at making the land safer for the Americans and for himself.

Abdullah’s own strict upbringing is exemplified by the three days he spent in prison as a young prince, a punishment by his father Abdul Aziz bin Saud for not having given up his seat for a visitor, a severe violation of bedouin hospitality.

 This brings us to the main presentation of this summit – in our opinion it was the Jalal Talabani speech.

At first, let us state immediately that Talabani is not an Arab – he is a Kurd – so this is the exceptional appearance of a-non Arab at the League’s table. This, at the same time, that the first Muslim woman spoke before the Arab League as the president of the UNGA, a member of the Sunni ruling family in Bahrain   – a country with a Shia population majority on an Island in the Persian/Arab Gulf, whose shores are lined up with Iranian and Arab Shia. It was not only that the Talabanis are not a fixture of this assembly that is rather built on Saudis and Mubaracks, that was the novelty. I assume that Talabani already represented Iraq at previous Arab League Summits – that is the one organized by Sudan last year.

What was new here was really in Talabani’s presentation. He unabashedly continued to talk as the representative of a New Iraq. He kept referring to Saddam’s regime, the Sunni darling of the League for years, as a murderous regime that kept killing people. He told them of an inexcusable war against – you’ll never believe it if you did not see it – yes – against IRAN! He told them that the country is rid of him and his regime, and is building a legitimate government and DEMOCRACY – “All Iraqis as multicolor flowers with 22 million people having voted for the government – AND THE OIL BELONGING TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE COUNTRY.” NU! THESE ARE WORDS LIKE SPEARS falling on the ears of a roomful of despots – monarchs without recourse and plain dictators – countries were the belief still exists that oil is a God-given right to the Heads of State, and Democracy in its western sense, is against the dearest beliefs of the Heads of State. We wonder what would happen to the President of the UNGA were she to try to drive away to have coffee at one the local Starbucks (there must be some – they are even in Vienna – the quintessential city of coffee houses.)

Emil Lahoud, the Syrian puppet President of Lebanon, who with the Syrians is probably responsible for the killing of Rafik Hariri, spoke for Lebanon, and was all democracy. He as well as Talabani, and as most everybody else, mentioned Israel – the obligatory target for an Arab speaker. Only The Syrian President did not say Israel – he plainly said “the Jews.” Emil Lahoud kept mentioning that already in 2002 at the Arab Summit in Beirut, there was this proposal to Israel by King Abdullah. One might think that indeed all Lebanon’s problems are because of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and that the continuing existence of the refugees camps and the Shia-Sunni-Maronite wars had nothing to do with the so called democracy, that by its inequalities perpetuated schisms that made the ruling of this small country impossible.

Syria invited next Summit to Damascus – and we clearly think this is a good idea so further attention can be given to Syria’s role in the Middle East mess.

Somalia pleaded for help – they reminded that a lot of money was promised by the Arab States to help the Somalis, but only $2 million from Algeria and $1/2 million from Yemen materialized.

The bottom line, from having watched the C-SPAN program, is that my thinking about the Iraq war has been rattled. Quite clearly we have said it in the past that taking out Saddam was a good idea, but staying in Iraq, as an occupying force for purpose of oil, was a catastrophic idea. Now Talabani rattled me by actually becoming a live example that something did work there after all. We believe it could have happened also without this terrible loss of life, without the American’s staying there for over four years, but nevertheless, Talabani, who also stated in his presentation, that there remained an occupying force in his country, after what was there a liberating force, shows his own ambiguity about this situation.

Will the Saudis be able to bring about Arab-Israeli real negotiations under Quartet supervision?

OK – the Israelis say the proposal includes elements that make it impossible to accept – it also does not include a call for NEGOTIATIONS. Now, with the prodding of the UNSG, will it be possible to move this through channels that say – statements can be made but negotiations have to start – and as the Saudis said of the reward – as long as the sides agree – they will go along. We may realize a new motto: IF THERE IS MONEY THERE IS A WILL. And what we saw on C-SPAN is that there is no Arab monolith, and when in danger from the outside (Iran, Shia and new ideas about the ownership of the oil) there may be nevertheless a circling of the wagons.

The Spokesperson for the President of the General Assembly said to the press:

The President of the General Assembly, Sheikha Haya Al Khalifa, addressed this morning the Paris Conference for Global Ecological Governance, hosted by the Government of France. “We need clear objectives and strong global ecological governance, which is still lacking today,” the President stated. “In the face of the numerous challenges posed by environmental degradation, the time to act is now … At stake are the credibility of our multilateral system and the future of humanity.” The full text of the statement is available upstairs.

Those two statements were fire-brand but still very low key understatements of the lack of interest in the subject of global warming/climate change at the UNGA. Also Sustainable Development is in the UN dog-house, as the G77 want to talk only about Financing Development – the goal being the money and not sustainability – in many cases we saw demands for industrialization that flew in the face of sustainability.

Follow up questions were few, and to this topic there was only one exchange:

Question: Will the President of the GA -– is she up to any kind of talks on the possibility of a summit on climate change in September?

Spokesperson: I haven’t discussed this with her, but it’s part of her thoughts. It’s not a summit, but she wants to make the environment part of the priority programme and one of her commitments, so that may come up. As soon as I discuss this with her, I’ll get back to you.

Question: What does part of priority programme mean? Because it’s normally about a hundred thousand priorities?

Spokesperson: Maybe in the top 10,000. No, I’m just kidding. It’s one of the major questions for her.

Question: The question is to you about the real focus on this thing and trying to get people to come together and create a post-2012 framework or not.

Spokesperson: Okay. You want an inclusive process that will lead you to something. Just having a summit where people will come and talk and nothing will happen is not going to lead to anything. So, you have to lay the groundwork and that’s part of the commitment that she’s showing by going to Paris in order to have something tangible in hand. And you have all heard scientists speak today and nobody’s accusing anybody of taking any sides. These are scientists. What they’re saying is that it’s very likely this global warming was caused by humans. Therefore, you would want to lay the groundwork for something a little more substantive. But, let’s take it in stride. I will talk to her and see if this if what she has in mind.

That sounded fair enough to me and we did not follow up with further questions as I wanted to see first the press release. The text that was made available was only in its original French language. So now I am going over it carefully at home.

She started by saying that we do not want to leave for the future generations a planet that was destroyed by our human activities – this because the industrial society has left an ecological inprint on the human society that has passed the capacity of regeneration of nature. If we do not make deep changes in the way we run things, we will fall into precarious conditions for all of us. We have thus to come up with a strategy to create a common will so that the imperative of economic growth takes into full account environmental and social considerations. (believe it or not – but she, a Princess from Bahrain, actually spoke here the language of sustainable development - SustainabiliTank.info comment)

We have an obligation to master our needs and our ways of consumption. This will allow us not only to improve the standard of living for all, in special of the poor, but in the long term we will make sure the availability of natural resources. In this context she called for clear objectives and strong economic governance – that were not put forward yet at the UNGA.

She is convinced that UNGA is the right forum to organize actions in this vital area! It is thus a crucial task for the GA to have now informal consultations in New York. She exhorts the Member States to do so.

She made reference to the Ministerial meeting that will be held this month at the UNEP headquarters in Nairobi as the way to reach New York, and then she reached the second point in the Spokesperson’s briefing – that what is at stake is the credibility of the multilateral system and of humanity itself.

So, if words do lead indeed to action, in her short speech in Paris she did mark a road-plan that makes the meeting of the Environment Ministers as a crucial step before action can be taken at the GA itself. Above means that by March, if there is a successful interaction in Nairobi, it may be possible to start charting a program of action so there is enough substance to call for the Summit as suggested by Chirac, in September 2007, in New York – this as part of the High Level segment of the opening of next UN General Assembly.

If the scare that was seeded in peoples minds this week, with the release of the IPCC summary lasts till April, then we might yet see Heads of State starting to harmonize on approaches to Sustainable Development by creating schemes on how to decrease CO2 emissions without hindering the development of the presently fast growing economies – in particular China and India.

January 2007Contact: Jeff Bell ( jeff.bell at localpower.org)

WADE
15 Great Stuart Street
Edinburgh, UK
+44(0)131 625 3333

WADE Executive Director
David Sweet
 dsweet at localpower.org

WADE in Action

WADE Provides Evidence to UK Government
WADE Responds to UK Government Request for Evidence of the Benefits of DE
London, UK – On November 1st the UK government launched its public consultation paper: “Distributed energy: a call for evidence”. In response WADE submitted detailed comments in outlining the empirical evidence substantiating the benefits of DE.

View the response (pdf).
Read background on the Energy Review.
Read background on the Distributed Energy Consultation.

Modeling Work Completed for Scotland
Modeling Work by WADE Shows Potential for DE in Scotland
Edinburgh, UK – WADE is currently finalizing some follow up modeling work for Scotland that Greenpeace has commissioned to build upon the foundation created with the release of the March 2006 UK report. The WADE computer model is a tool which explores various possible investment scenarios and prioritizes power sector investments in order to meet future demand at the lowest cost while minimizing pollution and greenhouse gases. The Scottish report is expected to be available in February 2007.

Read the report (pdf) for the entire UK.

New CHP Project Launched in China
GOF Funded Project Launched to Promote CHP in Guangdong Province
Guangzhou, China – WADE continues its work on a GOF-funded research project to “Accelerate combined heating and power (CHP) development and related policy research in Guangdong”. The Global Opportunities Fund (GOF) is a UK Foreign Office fund to promote action on global issues in areas of strategic importance to the UK, including “Climate Change and Energy”. The first stage of the project, which was completed in early January, analyzed the suitability of various DE technologies, and the potential for application in Guangdong. The study will now turn to the obstacles to DE development, and policy and regulatory measures to remove these.

See the full list of projects that have been approved.
Visit the project partner site (Chinese only).

WADE Invited to EU Energy Efficiency Meeting
WADE to Participate in International Energy Efficiency Roundtable
Brussels, Belgium – WADE has been invited to participate in the upcoming Roundtable on International Cooperation on Energy Efficiency. The event is to be held February 1st in Brussels. This meeting is part of the EU Sustainable Energy Week 2007 (29 January to 2 February).

See details.

Forum on Reducing Gas Flaring Convenes
WADE Chairs World Bank Organized Session on DE for Flare Reduction
Paris, France – At a high profile Global Forum On Flaring Reduction And Gas event held in Paris in the 13th -15th of December WADE Executive Director David Sweet chaired the “Solutions for Flaring and Venting: Power Generation” panel. The event was organized by the World Bank, the Global Gas Flaring Reduction Partnership, and the Association for Oil and Gas Producers and featured sponsors from leading world petroleum companies. WADE’s session included presentations from Wärtsilä, Siemens, GE and Shell who highlighted the potential for profitably reducing flaring via the utilization of DE technology.

See more information on the partnership.
See more information on the event.

Saint-Gobain Joins WADE
First New Organization of 2007 Joins WADE Membership

Paris, France – One of the World’s largest material companies has joined WADE. Saint-Gobain, headquartered in France, transforms raw materials into advanced products as well as developing tomorrow’s new materials. Saint-Gobain operates in more than 50 countries worldwide, is one of the world’s hundred leading industrial corporations, with a workforce of over 200,000. Saint-Gobain is world leader in each of its competencies. Saint-Gobain is listed on the stock markets in Paris, London, Frankfort, Zurich, Brussels and Amsterdam.

Visit the Saint-Gobain website.

Conference Proceedings Released
Proceedings Published from High Profile Meeting on Ties Between Energy Security and Efficiency
Steyning, UK – The conference proceedings for the July 2006 event ‘Energy Efficiency, Energy Security, Renewable Energy: Taking Forward The Gleneagles Dialogue and the G8 St Petersburg Conclusions’ have been posted on the organizers website. The meeting, held at Wilton Park UK, brought together energy leaders from around the world to discuss the interrelationship between security and the means of energy provision. The meeting resulted in consensus that the best way to increase energy security and move forward the stated G8 goals is via a coordinated effort to improve energy efficiency and shift to renewable means of energy production. At the meeting WADE emphasized the importance of also including decentralized energy on the agenda.

Read the proceedings.

Trilateral Meeting for Energy Cooperation Held
WADE works to Promote Cooperation between China, Europe and US
Berlin, Germany – The EastWest Institute (EWI) and the China Institute of International Studies (CIIS) co-organized an inaugural meeting in December 2006 to bring together leaders from China, Europe and the United States to discuss win-win-win solutions to global problems. Energy and Global Resource Cooperation was identified as one of the group’s strategic priority issues. WADE Executive Director, David Sweet, was one of the representatives from the United States and discussed with the group the potential for DE in China and how the favorable impact on environment and energy security would benefit all 3 regions.

Visit the EastWest Institute website.
or the China Institute of International Studies website (Chinese and English).

WADE Gets Involved in World Energy Council Activities
WADE Participates in Committee for Cleaner Fossil Fuels Systems Meeting

London, UK – The World Energy Council (WEC) convened its Committee for Cleaner Fossil Fuels Systems (CFFS) Meeting in London December 11th and 12th in London. WADE attended the meeting which focused on natural gas flaring reduction, carbon capture and storage as well as the broader theme of energy security and sustainability. David Sweet stressed that decentralized energy must play a role when discussing ‘cleaner fossil fuels’. The next meetings are scheduled for Rome, Italy and Amman, Jordan.

Take a look at the World Energy Council website.

WEC ‘World Energy Book’ features article outlining WADE study

The article can be read on page 21 of the publication.

Global Briefs

European Commission Publishes Strategic Energy Review
EU Energy Blueprint Puts Onus on Climate Change and Renewables – Little Focus on DE
Brussels, Belgium – The Commission unveiled its eagerly awaited energy proposals on 10 January 2007 in a move which, it hopes, will “set the pace for a new global industrial revolution” and increase EU resilience to future oil-price shocks. Some groups, including WADE, felt that the review put far too little emphasis on CHP and other DE technologies. Central to the proposals is a binding target to slash the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions by 20% in 2020 compared with 1990 levels. Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said the objective should be pursued “unilaterally … even if there is no international agreement on reducing greenhouse-gas emissions” after 2012 when the Kyoto targets expire. To achieve its objectives, Brussels proposes:

• Completing the internal market for electricity and gas;
• a 20% target for renewables in the EU’s overall energy mix by 2020 (current target is 10% for 2010);
• saving 20% of total primary energy consumption by 2020, including proposals for an international agreement on energy-efficiency standards in appliance-producing countries;
• aiming towards “a low CO2 fossil fuel future” with support for ‘clean coal’ technology , using carbon capture and storage deep underground.
• developing a common external energy policy to “actively pursue Europe’s interests” on the international scene with major supplier, consumer and transit countries, including Russia;
• developing a European Strategic Energy Technology Plan to focus R&D efforts on low carbon technologies, and;
• on nuclear, the Commission chose to take an “agnostic” stance, leaving it up to member states to decide.

Read the full article.
Read a joint letter written by WADE and Cogen Europe criticizing the review.

New Pact for Energy Efficiency in Asia
ASEAN Countries Unveil Plan to Increase Energy Security
Cebu, Philippines – The “Cebu Declaration on Energy Security” unveiled on January 15th aims to increase energy security in the region with an increased emphasis on renewables and energy efficiency. No explicit mention of decentralized energy was made. Leaders of the 10 members of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) — Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar — together with leaders of China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India and New Zealand were in attendance at the meeting and endorsed the 5 point plan:

1. Improve the efficiency and environmental performance of fossil fuel use; Reduce dependence on conventional fuels through intensified energy efficiency and conservation programs, hydropower, expansion of renewable energy systems and biofuel production/utilisation, and for interested parties, civilian nuclear power; Encourage the open and competitive regional and international markets geared towards providing affordable energy at all economic levels; Mitigate greenhouse gas emission through effective policies and measures, thus contributing to global climate change abatement; and
2. Pursue and encourage investment on energy resource and infrastructure development through greater private sector involvement.

Read the full article.

Democrats Unveil Energy Bill to Support Renewables, Efficiency
Vote Expected Next Week on Bill to Roll Back Big Oil Tax Breaks
Washington, USA – House Democrats unveiled legislation today that is scheduled for a floor vote Thursday. The energy bill, titled the “Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation” would impose a surcharge on oil produced by big oil companies holding royalty-free leases in the Gulf of Mexico. More than 1,000 leases signed during the Clinton administration for deep water drilling in the Gulf of Mexico excluded royalty fees, allowing companies to walk away with the entire profit from the sale of oil and gas produced when prices soared. Supporters of the bill want these so-called royalty payments inserted into the existing contracts. Funds generated from the bill, estimated to be $6-13 billion over 10 years, would be funneled into an alternative energy fund and used to finance new solar, wind and biofuel projects.

Read the full article.

Weather Highlights Usefulness of DE
Severe Weather Knocks out Power to Hundreds of Thousands in US and Australia
Washington, USA; Melbourne, Australia – A severe ice storm crossing the US left almost 400,000 customers from Missouri to New Hampshire without power over the weekend of January 15th and 16th. Meanwhile, in Australia, a bushfire tied to severe drought knocked out power in Melbourne, Australia, a city of more than 3.4 million people.

Read the full article.
Read another article.

Malaysia to Diversify Economy with DE
Malaysia to Get Biggest Solar PV Panel Factory in Asia
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Malaysia will be home to the largest solar panel factory in Asia after First Solar had said it plans to invest 2 billion ringgit ($570 million) into the project. Malaysia is turning to other sources of energy in light of the rising oil prices. The U.S.-based company’s plant, which will be located on Malaysia’s northwest coast in Kulim Hi-Tech Park, will create 2,000 jobs. The solar panel factory is expected to be operational early next year, local media reported, quoting Kedah chief minister Mahdzir Khalid.

Read the full article.

Democrats to Create Special House Committee for Global Warming
Speaker Puts New Emphasis on Climate Change
Washington, USA – On Wednesday, January 17, 2007 it was reported that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) intends to take this year’s newfound congressional interest in global warming to another level with the creation of a special select committee devoted exclusively to the issue, a senior Democratic aide close to the process said. Within the next two weeks, Pelosi will announce the new panel in an effort to bring attention to a variety of climate-related science, technology and energy issues. Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) is a top candidate to lead the panel, according to sources on and off Capitol Hill.

Read the full article.

New CDM Methodologies Approved
Twenty-eighth Meeting of the Clean Development Mechanism Executive Board Comes to Close
Bonn, Germany – The twenty-eighth meeting of the CDM-EB took place 15 December 2006. Among other decisions two new methodologies were approved at the meeting:AM0044 “Energy efficiency improvement projects: boiler rehabilitation or replacement in industrial and district heating sectors” which allows credit for replacement of industrial oil boilers with new ones, and; AM0045 “Grid connection of isolated electricity systems” which provides credit for interconnection of isolated systems.

Read a transcript of the meeting.

Calling WADE Members

Funding Available for Environmental Research and Development

Washington, USA -The Department of Defense (DoD), through the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP), will be funding environmental research and development in the Sustainable Infrastructure focus area. The objective of these efforts is to identify, develop, and transition environmental technologies that relate directly to defense mission to manage lands in a sustainable manner. Two of the main focus areas include:

1. Scalable Power Grids that Facilitate the Use of Renewable Energy Technologies
2. Innovative Technologies for Electricity Production from Waste Heat for Deployed Forces

Projects will be selected through a competitive selection process. Proposals from the federal sector are due by Thursday, March 8, 2007.

Detailed instructions for federal and private sector proposals are available on the SERDP website.

Canadian Government Invites Public Comment on Proposed Net Metering Policy

Measurement Canada, the department responsible for ensuring measuring devices perform to assure fairness in transactions is proposing new policies for the manufacture and use of metering equipment in Canada in conjunction with microgenerator applications. The consultation ends February 6, 2007.

For more information and to read the proposed policy visit the Measurement Canada website.
If you would like to comment on the policy please email David Fielder at:  fielder.dave at ic.gc.ca.

Calendar

January 2007

22-23 January
Smart Grids
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Info

22-24 January
Power-Gen Middle East
Manama, Bahrain
Info

February 2007

7-9 February
3rd International Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Expo
Tokyo, Japan
Info

27 February-2 March
20th Annual Campus Energy Conference
Houston, USA
Info

28 February-2 March
Genera 07
Madrid, Spain
Info

March 2007

1-2 March
Financing Renewable Energy Projects Conference
Berlin, Germany
Info

20-23 March
10th Annual Asia Power & Energy Congress
Singapore, Singapore
Info

28-30 March
Clean Energy. Energy Saving
Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Info