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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on January 12th, 2010
“No one can tell us when we’ll run out of oil, but we will. Everyone will tell you we will.” — A deep focus on environmental concerns has been a part of Honda’s DNA for over three decades. Our spirit of innovation and belief in the power of dreams embolden us to meet every new challenge and drive us to race against time in our quest to discover the best alternatives to our society’s current dependence on oil. — Solar Power Electric Power Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Hydrogen Power Another new hydrogen fuel cell vehicle concept is our futuristic FC Sport Concept. It demonstrates a whole new way of thinking about hydrogen, and previews a future where environmental responsibility and performance can co-exist. Hybrid ———————- Honda Delivers FCX Clarity Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle to 2010 Solar Financing Finally Reaches Colorado Non-Profits Permalink |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on January 7th, 2010 From: <teramoto@keidanren.or.jp> Dear Readers, It is my pleasure to inform you that Mr.Akihiro Sawa (Executive Senior Fellow of the 21st Century Public Policy Institue, a Japanese Think Tank) has released an English version of the discussion paper entitled Agenda after COP15 Best regards, Mr. Masahito TERAMOTO —————– To understand this better – please look at our previous posting: where among other articles wellcoming the new Japanese Prime Minister, there was also an article from the Keidaren source: and we said – but another e-mail says: Dear Readers, It is my pleasure to inform you that Mr.Akihiro Sawa (Executive Senior Fellow of Sub-headings go as follows: You can also download the report at Best regards, Mr. Masahito TERAMOTO Permalink |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on January 6th, 2010 Japan looks to Latin America to aid growth. Latin American nations are major suppliers of natural resources for Japan. For example, a quarter of the country’s iron ore imports comes from Brazil, while Bolivia and Chile are rich in lithium used in batteries for electric vehicles and other products. Access to natural resources is indispensable for Japanese companies to compete with foreign rivals in the field of environmental protection, an official at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said. The government will increase its official development assistance for environment-related projects, including improving water and sewerage systems in Brazil and Bolivia, to help Japanese companies gain better access to natural resources there. It will also support a consortium linking Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Mitsui & Co. and other companies that will bid this spring to develop a high-speed railway system in Brazil, a Foreign Ministry official said. Permalink |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on January 4th, 2010 IDN reports, January 3, 2010 – This first World March for Peace and Nonviolence concluded Jan. 2 in the mountains on the border between Chile and Argentina traversing 400 cities in 90 countries, covering about two thousand kilometers during 93 days (?? the mathematics does not fit – the editor!). An initiative of World Without Wars and Without Violence, an international organization of the global Humanist Movement, the march on planetary scale was launched on Nov. 15 last year, during the first symposium of the International Centre of Humanist Studies on ‘Ethics in Knowledge’ in the Park of Study and Reflection Punta de Vacas where the March started. But the reception had also been popular: two examples were the 80,000 youth who greeted the international base team in a concert in Chile and 12,000 school children in the Philippines who formed a giant peace sign, among many other massive events. Reporting on the daily lives of the Marchers, the International Press Agency Pressenza said, the accommodations were at times comfortable but other times austere: the Marchers slept in Buddhist monasteries, makeshift homes, and even in a fallout shelter. There were threats of a tsunami, earthquakes, and typhoons, and they marched in temperatures ranging from 40 degrees centigrade to below zero. They visited memorials to the millions who died in wars in Europe and Asia, places where torture is still being carried out, and witnessed the border conflicts between India and Pakistan, Israel and Palestine, within the Balkans, and in Tijuana, at the border between the United States and Mexico. The planetary Marchers saw children working in Asia, Africa and America, and battered women worldwide. Gemma Suzara of the Philippines relayed her experience with the March: “I will remember it for the rest of my life …the giant peace sign created by thousands of school children makes me think that if we really work together as one body and we believe in ourselves, we can surpass any limit.” Bhairavi Sagar, from India, who travelled with the team through Europe, Africa and the Americas, explained in her testimony in Punta de Vacas: “Being born in the country of the Father of Nonviolence, Mahatma Gandhi, a man, who dedicated his life so that our country achieved freedom and because of whom I am standing here today as a free unchained human being. Now, it is my turn to give now to the future generations — to put in my bit to leave a world worth living for them in dignity and happiness.” Tony Robinson from Britain who accompanied the March through 30 countries said: “In Japan we met the Hibakushas, the survivors of the atomic bomb. One of them said to us: ‘Thank you, thank you. This is so important!’ I was translating her words while I was trying not to break into tears because of the strong empathy I felt with the terrible suffering that this woman had lived through and with the feeling of not being worthy of her gratitude.” Giorgio Schultze, European spokesperson of the World March and member of the Middle East and the Balkans teams, said: “We crossed the wall that divides Israel from Palestine and now more than 200 social leaders, veterans of Al Fatah, are asking us to help them build a nonviolent army that might communicate and open the doors towards reconciliation and start a new history of peaceful coexistence between Palestinians and Jews.” (Because of this comment we decided to post the article – mathematics aside, mistake in name aside, the mentioning of the UNSG aside, if this march has moved one single member of the Fatah to embrace non-violance in his effort to win peace, we say – GO FOR IT! - the editor) The event finished with the words of Tomas Hirsch, Latin-American spokesperson of the World March, who mainly spoke about the future of the Humanist Movement, the organization that propelled the World March. She sent her greeting from the balcony of the Palacio de La Moneda, along with Rafael de la Rubia, international coordinator of the World March, Tomás Hirsch, Latin American spokesperson for New Humanism, and Gloria Morrison, president of the organisation World without Wars, the main driving force of the initiative in the country. The greeting was welcomed with jubilation by activists who were filling the Plaza de la Constitución from four different places in the capital where the columns of the Carnival for Peace set out in the early hours of the morning of Dec. 30 and spread out through Santiago to welcome this March. Commenting the conclusion of the March, Juanjo Coscarelli, from Mendoza, a member of the commission of the Park Punta de Vacas, said: “This is an inspiring moment that came to its maximum potential, this is the first World March in the history of humanity and it is a part of the construction of the Universal Human Nation, for this reason I feel very happy and emotional”. Abraham Lincoln, a youth who traveled to Mendoza from Ghana, commented “The World March is producing a fantastic connection between all the people who lent their support to the project.” ————– (IDN-InDepthNews/03.01.10) – *This report is based on coverage of the World Peace March by PRESSENZA, an international press agency specializing in news about Peace and Nonviolence. Permalink |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on January 3rd, 2010
Nearly 40 percent of major companies in a survey said that the economy is “highly likely” or “likely” to fall into a double-dip recession, according to results compiled Saturday. The survey of 109 leading companies, conducted from late November through mid-December, found that 40 firms, or 37 percent of those surveyed, anticipate a further downturn in economic activity. The survey covered companies including Canon Inc., Nippon Steel Corp., Nippon Oil Corp., Sony Corp., Toyota Motor Corp. and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. In reply to a multiple response question about their reasons for the pessimistic outlook, 26 of the 40 companies attributed it to the yen’s appreciation. In addition, 24 firms replied that the effects of stimulus measures adopted by the government will wane, while 23 referred to deepening deflation. Asked when they expect a double-dip recession to strike, 21 companies responded between January and March, while 16 replied between April and June. With regard to the economic policy of the Democratic Party of Japan-led government, 48 companies want to see a clear road map toward medium and long-term growth. Among other survey findings, 20 companies are planning to cut back on capital spending in fiscal 2010, while 33 firms are considering workforce reductions. Flights a novel way to see year’s first sunrise. About 1,100 people watched the first sunrise of the year Friday on six special New Year’s flights arranged by three airlines, with passengers on some of the flights also enjoying a view of Mount Fuji. Struggling Japan Airlines Corp., which is seeking a turnaround under state supervision, operated three of the flights, each departing from and returning to either Tokyo’s Haneda airport, Narita airport in Chiba Prefecture or Kansai airport in Osaka Prefecture. The flights carried a combined total of 750 people. All Nippon Airways Co. had two flights — one from Haneda that circled over Mount Fuji before returning to the airport and another leaving from and returning to Kansai airport. Star Flyer Inc. ran a short sunrise flight from Kitakyushu airport in Fukuoka Prefecture. Gokita was among 255 passengers on the near-capacity Boeing 767that left Haneda airport at 5:50 a.m. and circled above Mount Fuji, before returning to the airport about two hours later. [NATIONAL NEWS] [NATIONAL NEWS] [NATIONAL NEWS] [NATIONAL NEWS] Permalink |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on December 27th, 2009 From the December 27, 2009 issue of the Japan Times online and our comments: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nn20… http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nn20… http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nn20… The main article is utterly ridiculous, written not by a UK citizen writing for Japan and readers overseas, who usually writes well, but not in this case.He does not even realize that he mentions 192 and 193 as the number of participating nations without even blinking at this discrepancy. We are appalled by the the use of Japan for whatever else Mr. Stephen Hesse might have had in his mind – or is he plainly unaware of what went on before Copenhagen, and of the hard work that President Obama did put in before this one day trip to Copenhagen? Also, we think it is worthwhile to see the juxtaposed other three links for articles in this same Japan Times online issue we posted. One deals with Japan being #19 among the OECD counties when noting GDP/capita, another dealing with the Japanese pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai fair, and the fourth plainly speaking of the December unusual yellow sand Western Japan got from China. In light of these four articles, we think, Japan better review its standing in a G2 World plus IBSA where it is being left as an outsider alongside an Un-united Europe, while President Obama tries to work with what he can actually work with. We suggest to Japan to start reading carefully our website because it is very much about what Japan is losing when it might continue to line up with the wrong half of the US. ———- On the other hand we have: from KURASHI – THE “ECO-BLOG” – BY MARTIN J FRID Stephen Hesse in The Japan Times If you live in Japan, you are probably reading Japanese newspapers like The Japan Times, The Asahi, The Yomiuri or The Mainichi to get your daily fix of news, culture and comics from back home. Plus sports and job ads and whatnot… The Japan Times has the best coverage of environmental issues, as far as I am concerned. Stephen Hesse is one of their regular contributers. You know how it works. You see a headline on the web, and if the byline (the name of the writer) is familiar, you tend to read the rest of the story. http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/f… You can read his columns (Stephen Hesse) here: Our Planet Earth, and the story that caught my eye today was a narrative of how Mr. Hesse was inspired by a bunch of Junior High School students. A good read. The Japan Times: Homeroom Truths: ‘Gore’s Nobel Prize is wonderful’ The day after the Nobel Prize was awarded to Gore and the IPCC, I visited Hiroo Gakuen in Tokyo, a combined junior- and senior-high school, for the school’s autumn festival — this year themed “Earth’s Happiness is Our Happiness.” A friend whose daughter graduated from the school thought I might like to see what young people these days are thinking about environmental issues. I was immediately struck by how Japan has changed. Today, junior- and senior-high school students are studying dioxins, the ozone layer and “corporate social responsibility.” When I first began teaching environmental issues in Japan 17 years ago, first-year university students would identify old men on bicycles and bad breath as pressing environmental concerns. . . . OK – so Stephen Hesse is a good journalist writing from Japan on environmental issues – he is among the best – but the following just is not one of his best examples. Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009 By STEPHEN HESSE As one American climate campaigner, Ken Ward, observed, “An event that was to crown 10 years of international effort produced utterly useless language, unenthusiastically scrabbled together in hours by five out of 192 nations, and this . . . pathetic half-effort got exactly one day of our president’s time.” At least Japan can say “Don’t blame us, we were willing to do our part.” Neither promise is sufficient in terms of the cuts and help needed, but at least Tokyo had the good sense to offer substantial commitments in good faith. Sadly, in Copenhagen a team representing the world’s people turned in a performance that was as embarrassing to each individual as it was to the gathering as a whole. The essential goal is simple. Greenhouse-gas emissions must be reduced dramatically and massive funding must be marshaled for mitigation and adaptation to the impacts of climate change that is already under way. On both counts, government negotiators failed miserably. There is no scientific doubt that climate change due in part or predominantly to human activities is occurring. However much fanatic nationalists, religious fundamentalists, and self-aggrandizing contrarians harangue to the contrary, our global, fossil-fuel-based economy is undermining the bio-geological stability of our planet. Nevertheless, governments remain unwilling and unable to act. The United States is shackled by oil and coal interests greedy for multibillion- dollar annual profits and a Chamber of Commerce that believes America and Americans are not capable of rising to the challenge of a new energy society. China, with its centralized political system, could make tougher choices, but its juggernaut development is spurred on by more than a billion souls hungry for what Americans and Europeans have had for decades. India faces the most challenging dynamic of all: the combination of a democratic political system and development needs that rival China’s. So what did Copengagen produce? The Accord states that our leaders have “strong political will to urgently combat climate change in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities” — meaning some nations are more to blame than others and some are more capable of action. The drafters’ claim to “strong political will” is clearly not borne out in the rest of the document, nor in the meeting’s final outcome. Perhaps someone at the table had an ironic sense of humor. The Accord states, too, that developed countries will provide funding and investments to help vulnerable developing nations adapt to and mitigate climate change. How much is not clear, however, and the text simply calls for funds “approaching” $30 billion over the next three years. The developed countries also promise further funding of “$100 billion a year by 2020,” but the source of these monies is unclear, and few if any of those sitting around that table will be in power 10 years from now. In contract law, this kind of language would be voided for vagueness. The Accord also calls for a Copenhagen Green Climate Fund, a financial mechanism to support projects, programs and activities in developing nations, as well as monitoring progress reports. The final paragraph mentions an assessment of the Accord’s implementation by 2015 — something we can hope is rendered unnecessary because long before that our leaders will have replaced the Copenhagen Accord with a coherent, binding agreement. That agreement needs to be a science-based, long-term roadmap that picks up where the Kyoto Protocol leaves off, ensuring greenhouse-gas emission cuts of 80 percent by 2050 and guaranteeing massive funding for climate-change mitigation and adaptation. In fact, what we really need is a transformation in human thinking. We need a global commitment among all nations to take part in a worldwide transition to alternative, non-carbon- based energy generation. We need to stop classifying nations as simply developing or developed, terms that are increasingly used for finger pointing and for hiding from planetary responsibility. We need unprecedented political and economic cooperation led and financed by developed nations and burgeoning economies that are fueling production and consumption worldwide, especially China. We need to ensure a long-term, sustainable balance between the health of our environment and the needs of human society, requiring that nations adopt a precautionary approach in dealing with the global impacts of human activity on the planet’s bio-geological ecosystems. We need to stop seeing Beijing, Delhi, Tokyo or Washington as our only home and recognize that what our neighbors on the other side of the planet are doing will make or break our own children’s future. Above all, we need to ensure that civil society has a meaningful role in all negotiations — and that politicians understand that “political will” means more than empty promises. Stephen Hesse can be reached at stevehesse at hotmail.com Permalink |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on December 17th, 2009 URGENT: New venue needed for side event on sustainable farming with Tim LaSalle, Peter Melchet etcI am currently in the bizarre situation of having a group of experts ready to speak on the future of agriculture and nowhere to do it – we have an official side event set up inside the Bella Center for tomorrow but our speakers have been denied access to the venue! As you know, the Bella will be basically closed to NGOs tomorrow so our audience will also be outside, so I am looking for a new place where we can hold this event. Here are our parameters: What we want to do: a meeting with presentations by our experts and discussion with the audience (maybe 100-200 people) Who we have: - If we get an evening time slot, we also have: - another key speaker who was locked out and would probably join is: We want to talk about “Low emission, high sequestration, food secure farming” – the potential of organic for soil carbon sequestration, the resilience of organic systems to climate change, and any questions that are brought up by the audience. We have experts on organic production techniques, on soil science, on agricultural policy and sustainable rural development. We DO NOT have any budget to pay rent for a venue! If any of you knows of a place that might be available, please get in touch with me – absolutely all information is welcome! Thanks, and hope to see you all there – herever there may be – tomorrow! Regards, ======================= from The Japan Times online, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009
Gridlock threatens to doom COP15
By ERIC JOHNSTON and SETSUKO KAMIYA
Staff writers
COPENHAGEN — U.N. negotiators at the COP15 conference worked through the night Tuesday, increasingly desperate to reach agreement before more than 120 world leaders gather Thursday night and Friday and following an official warning that the stalemated negotiations could doom the conference. As of Wednesday, despite hints some countries were compromising on secondary issues, there was no progress on the contentious matters, including greenhouse gas emission targets and financial contributions from developed states to the developing world to halt climate change. Nongovernmental organizations warned that COP15 was in danger of collapsing, and criticized the United States for delaying negotiations Tuesday night by insisting on deviating from U.N.-mandated scientific conclusions on what mitigation actions are necessary between 2012 and 2020 to prevent the worst effects of global warming. Such conclusions were part of the Bali road map to the Copenhagen conference that the U.S. agreed to in 2007. Small groups of protesters appeared inside and outside the center Wednesday, with police detaining or arresting dozens outside by midmorning. The demonstrations were planned in advance and security was extremely tight, with access by NGOs greatly restricted over the conference's remaining three days. U.N. officials were visibly grim at a formal ceremony Tuesday evening to welcome high-level ministers, who are supposed to finalize an accord to present to world leaders within two days. Connie Hedegaard, president of COP15, warned the conference's failure was now possible. "We spent too much time on posturing, on repeating positions and on formalities. Success is still within reach. But as COP15 president, I must also warn you: We can fail," she said. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon told delegates that $10 billion annually for climate change mitigation in the poorest countries, a figure supported by major developed nations, was a good start but not enough. Despite opposition in many countries to stringent emissions reduction targets, all sides had to agree to stronger action ongreenhouse gas emissions, "I understand every leader coming to Copenhagen faces domestic pressures and politics. I also know the legitimate concerns of the most vulnerable remain. Ambition levels are not sufficient and $10 billion annually will not solve all our problems," Ban said. One of the main sticking points on financing is which developing countries Japan's funding pledge for short- and long-term climate change is also being closely watched. Environment Minister Sakihito Ozawa confirmed Tuesday that Japan will offer $10 billion over the next three years to assist developing countries. The government previously said it would pay around $9.2 billion, plus a bit extra, to cover three years. Ozawa also met Tuesday with ministers from Grenada, Mexico, Algeria and Nigeria. Those nations, he said, agreed with Japan's position that continuing the Kyoto Protocol NGOs said they are expecting more engagement from Japan and expect Tokyo and the EU to take the initiative on midterm financing until 2020 to break the deadlock over the issue. "This negotiation is in deep crisis at the moment and it's unclear where it is heading," said Martin Kaiser, a Greenpeace representative who met Wednesday morning with Ozawa and Tetsuro Fukuyama, deputy foreign minister. "We are calling on (Prime Minister Yukio) Hatoyama and other heads of (state) to break the gridlock," he said. Kaiser said Japan should show more flexibility to keep the Kyoto Protocol as a safety net, while insisting the U.S. join in a legally binding second protocol at the end of COP15. Permalink |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on December 10th, 2009 ADB is hosting a special high-level seminar featuring President Haruhiko Kuroda, ADB; Dr. R.K. Pachauri, IPCC & TERI; Tariq Banuri, UN-DESA, Professor Koike, University of Tokyo and Ambassador Rae Kwon Chung, Republic of Korea.
Responding to Climate Change in Asia and the Pacific
13 December, 9:00am–4:30pm • Scandic Copenhagen Hotel, Vester Søgade 6 DK-1601 Copenhagen (link to location map http://www.scandichotels.com/Hotels/Countries/Denmark/Copenhagen/Hotels/Scandic-Copenhagen/?hotelpage=location&location=detailedmap) *****LUNCH WILL BE SERVED**** ADB currently invests over $1 billion in low-carbon, climate-resilient growth and will invest well over $2 billion by 2013. This event will highlight emerging priorities for ADB, including water security and climate change, building a low-carbon, climate-resilient transport sector, and impacts of climate change on coastal communities in Asia and the Pacific. A discussion of the economics of climate change in ADB’s five subregions will also be held. (agenda below) <mime-attachment.gif>
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Responding to Climate Change in Asia and the Pacific
Hosted by Asian Development Bank 13 December 2009 Scandic Copenhagen Hotel, Vester Sogade 6 DK-1601
Come, share your Sunday with us! Register by replying to Amelita de Dios adedios@adb.org. Lauren N. Sorkin Climate Change Coordination Unit Regional and Sustainable Development Department Permalink |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on December 8th, 2009 [Comment] EU-US energy council should act as model for othersby RICHARD MORNINGSTAR AND JULIA NESHEIWAT, the US’ Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy, and the Senior Advisor on Policy at the US Department of State posted on EUObserver as a comment (opinion piece) on 07.12.2009 President Barack Obama will travel to Copenhagen on 9 December to support the United Nations climate change conference, where he is eager to work with the international community to lay the foundation for a new, sustainable and prosperous clean energy future. {obviously, that date was changed now to December 18, 2009 and accordingly the presentation the US President will be making in Copenhagen will be very different from what he would have said on December 9th. As such, we wonder what the purpose of this posting was when intended to be viewed close to that date, and how things might change after the December 18th date in case Copenhagen will have laid out the foundation for a larger scope climate, and thus energy, global horizon. (the SustainabiliTank editor)} Copenhagen presents a critical opportunity to take decisive and immediate global action, to build the institutions that we will need to combat climate change and to speed the transition to a low-carbon global economy. Agreement on – and implementation of – a climate deal at Copenhagen is critical, but will be weakened without effective corresponding energy policies. The right kinds of energy and their distribution across the globe will determine whether the international economy can maintain production levels while meeting the climate change goals set out in Copenhagen. Energy is the prime nutrient that powers the global economy. It is the common thread that connects many of today’s global challenges, from rebuilding the global economy and combating climate change to forging new partnerships around the world. To ultimately be successful in combating climate change, we need a plan for clean, secure, and abundant energy not only for us for but for our friends around the world. For these reasons, last month, President Obama, Swedish Prime Minister Reinfeldt, and President Barroso of the European Commission announced a new partnership that will help the United States and the European Union work together to meet our energy-related challenges: the US-EU Energy Council. The Council will help drive diversification of energy sources, such as increased use of liquefied natural gas, solar and wind power and biofuels. It will facilitate cooperation in technical areas, such as energy efficiency and clean energy technology. And it will help us coordinate our approaches with other energy producers and consumers to increase sources of supply, diversify routes, strengthen energy markets in today’s financial crisis and increase transparency. The new Council will help us address four major trends that will likely shape energy policy in the coming years: rising energy demand, increasingly interdependent markets, a growing imperative for global co-operation to reorient away from fossil fuels, and a clearer understanding that energy and climate change policy are inseparable. First, despite the current decrease in global energy demand, increased demand over the medium term will likely result in increased reliance on fossil energy resources, with its accompanying environmental challenges. Unless we act now with fortified partnerships, these challenges will move ahead with increased demand for fossil fuels. Second, global energy markets are interdependent. Disruptions in one market can have adverse impacts in distant places. In this global economy, countries and companies must realize that we can no longer afford “zero-sum games.” Clean energy and environmentally sustainable production are critical – as is maintaining global supply. A disruption of gas to Europe – apart from potentially severe humanitarian consequences – will have a direct effect on the supply and price of liquefied natural gas on a global basis. Instability of countries affected by climate change or by political volatility can also have dramatic effects. Third, to ultimately reduce dependence on fossil fuels countries must work together to promote the development and commercialisation of alternative technologies and renewable energy, as well as improve energy efficiency and conservation. The brightest and most creative thinkers should be directed at this vital challenge. The time is now to work with the European Union and other global partners and take authentic, concrete and quantifiable actions to exchange commercial ideas and address energy security challenges. Our partnerships must be standard bearers bringing about global co-operation and ultimately reduce dependence on fossil fuels. We must be leaders in promoting efficiency and developing alternative energy technologies. Together, we must pursue hydrogen and solar, wind, biomass, and geothermal energy. One of the principal sources of alternative energy is via improved energy efficiency. Given that the largest sources of C02 are in the exceedingly inefficient thermal electricity and transportation sectors, there is a great deal of room for joint, international victories with the EU and Asia. We are already engaging with other major energy players, such as Russia through the US-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission Energy Working Group. We will work together in technical areas, such as energy efficiency and clean energy technology. And we will discuss new investment opportunities in both countries, while at the same time encouraging diversified supply routes. By deepening the US-Russia dialogue on energy, we will increase transparency and promote stability and predictability in our relationship. While we may not agree on every issue, we can work together to foster an open dialogue that builds trust. Fourth, our understanding of energy challenges must include environmentally suitable sources of supply that are compatible with climate change objectives that will be outlined in Copenhagen. Addressing energy security and meeting the climate change challenge are inextricably linked. Since President Obama took office, the United States has demonstrated its renewed commitment to combating climate change both by supporting domestic policies that advance clean energy, climate security, and economic recovery; and by vigorously re-engaging in international climate negotiations. Domestically, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act included over $80 billion for clean energy investment. President Obama set a new policy to increase fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas pollution for all new cars and trucks. And the administration supports mandatory emissions reduction targets. On the international front, the United States is working with its partners around the world to forge a strong international agreement through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiating process. Global issues need global solutions and we can not go at this alone. A secure energy future is fostered by building relations internationally through many cross-cutting issues that will determine peace, prosperity and quality of life, not only for Americans, but for the world. Richard Morningstar is the US’ Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy. Julia Nesheiwat is a Senior Advisor at the US Department of State Permalink |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on December 4th, 2009 from: event secretary to Climate, Hiraoka.Hisaka. — We thank him for taking the event outside the Bella Center compound where it would have been closed to the real people. Let others also open the meeting to the world electronic press. Dear Climate-L readers, Please join us in the afternoon of Monday 7 December for COP15 Side-event Symposium: “Towards Green Growth & Green Innovation: Environmental Science and Technology Cooperation between Developed and Developing Countries.” This symposium co-hosted by JICA and JST is about how to achieve both emissions reductions and economic growth through environmental S&T cooperation between developed and developing countries. Dr. R.K. Pachauri (Director-General of TERI, India) will make the keynote speech. Representatives from AU, Brazil, China, EC, Japan, US, and media will also be speakers/discussants. Monday, December 7th, 2009, 14:00-16:45 (Doors open at 13:30) For more details, please refer to the event homepage: Please feel free to forward this email to those who may be interested. Yours Sincerely, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) Permalink |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on November 30th, 2009
WE POSTED THIS ORIGINALLY ON NOVEMBER 6, 2009 AND POST THIS REMINDER BECAUSE OF THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF CHINA’S PLACE AT THE NEGOTIATION’S TABLE IN COPENHAGEN.
Cleantech Forum Beijing.The size of China’s green stimulus program is historically unprecedented at about 38% of the over $200 billion announced, and underpinning the country’s rise as the largest emerging cleantech market. And, China is positioned to benefit from receiving capital and support for technology transfer and cooperation at the Copenhagen climate negotiations. As its solar industry’s breathtaking growth indicates the Middle Kingdom is arriving as an incubator of worldclass cleantech companies, the scale of China’s energy and environmental challenges, combined with its deep financial resources, creates a unique opportunity to shape and accelerate market adoption of cleantech innovation globally. The 3rd annual China Cleantech Forum at the Grand Hyatt Beijing will convene up to 500 Chinese and international policy, corporate, investment, technology and entrepreneurial leaders at a unique, timely and dynamic moment. Entrepreneurs, corporations, investors, innovators and economic development agencies agree that:
Come to Cleantech Forum XXV to harness the opportunities and take on the challenges that the Chinese cleantech initiatives represent. As the world needs to engage with Chinese innovators and investors, China has no choice but to collaborate with the global cleantech sector because:
The Chinese cleantech sector is a test-case for policy, capital and technology transfer successfully coming together, and a lynch-pin to the global climate change agreement. Over 2 days Cleantech Forum XXV will explore:
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on November 29th, 2009 Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, The Japan Times online. Japan Vice Foreign Minister Fukuyama optimistic emissions deal within reach. writes ERIC JOHNSTON from Kyoto, Japan. Last week’s announcement by President Barack Obama that the United States would pursue a 17 percent cut in greenhouse gases compared to 2005, followed by China’s announcement of its own emissions reductions target, are positive signs that an agreement will be reached at next month’s Copenhagen conference, Vice Foreign Minister Tetsuro Fukuyama said Saturday. China announced that it would reduce its greenhouse gases emitted per unit of gross domestic product by 40 percent to 45 percent, also by 2020. “America and China have now made their positions clear, and their announced commitments are a good sign that an agreement can now be reached,” Fukuyama said. “Will the Chinese accept the American commitment? Will America accept China’s plan? Once we get to Copenhagen, things might change,” he said. “Questions about financing, and especially how much money Japan, as a major player in the negotiations, can offer for climate change mitigation all still have to be decided as well.” Permalink |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on November 29th, 2009 Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, EDITORIAL, at Japan Times online. Apparently, many rightwing critics in America complained that Mr. Obama bowed too low to the Emperor. Those America-centric conservatives took Mr. Obama’s bow as a signal of America’s weakness. Japan and most of the rest of the world saw that bow for what it was — a sincere gesture of respect and a step toward healthier relations. In Japan, bowing is as natural as taking off one’s shoes when entering a home, though with more profound meanings. The conservative American critics of Mr. Obama would surely have found fault no matter how deep he bowed. No matter, most Japanese probably would not know the correct way to bow to the Emperor either, and the politeness inherent in his gesture is the key point. Mr. Obama’s bow also indicated recognition that Japan is a unique and sovereign country that holds a large proportion of U.S. government bonds. More important than small gestures is the harder work of concrete decisions and sensible actions. Finding common agreements that mutually benefit all countries in the Asian region is now the main focus. Bowing was the easy part. Lost amid this controversy over the angle of bowing were two Japanese cultural experiences that Mr. Obama recollected from a boyhood trip to Japan: eating “matcha” green tea ice cream and seeing the Great Buddha in Kamakura. Maybe future generations will be able to build their diplomatic efforts on these kinds of small simple pleasures and powerful spiritual expressions. If so, they won’t get tangled in the unproductive obsessions that have for too long kept one country from communicating with another in more nuanced and lasting terms. Permalink |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on November 29th, 2009 news at religionandecology.org
Forum on Religion and Ecology Newsletter Contents: 1. Editorial, by Elizabeth McAnally 2. Religion, Science, and the Environment Symposium on the Mississippi River 3. Events 4. New Books 5. Exhibit: “Climate Change in Our World” 6. New Blog: Congregational Resource Guide Green http://green.congregationalresources.org) 7. Sewanee’s Center for Religion and Environment 8. Sustainability: The Journal of Record 9. Worldviews: Global Religions, Culture, and Ecology 1. Editorial, by Elizabeth McAnally Greetings! Welcome to the November issue of the Forum on Religion and Ecology newsletter. I have many exciting things to share with you this month, including information about new publications, recent and upcoming events, a photography exhibit, and much more. In particular, I would like to direct your attention to the recent Religion, Science, and the Environment symposium sponsored by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of the Greek Orthodox Church. See below for a short summary of the symposium and links to related news articles. Also, I am happy to inform you about the religion and ecology events that took place at the annual conference of American Academy of Religion (AAR) in Montreal, Quebec on November 7-10, 2009. I had the pleasure of attending this year’s conference, and am delighted to report that the field of religion and ecology was well represented. The Forum hosted its annual AAR lunch on Friday, November 6th, where participants shared their latest activities with regard to teaching and research. This is an occasion for people to meet one another and share common interests in the broad field of religion and ecology. Throughout the AAR, diverse presentations in panels and workshops related to religion and ecology were hosted by the Religion and Ecology Group, the Animals and Religion Consultation, and the Sustainability Task Force. The presentations addressed a variety of topics, including animals, food, bioethics, justice, climate change, globalization, poetry, and the philosophical grounds of the emerging field of religion and ecology. The new Sustainability Task Force hosted two great events: one was a pre-conference workshop on how to teach about global warming in the context of religious studies, and the other was a panel on sustainability among Native American peoples. It was inspiring to hear so many thought-provoking presentations. Amidst many handshakes, hugs, shared meals, and stimulating conversations, it was evident that religion and ecology is not simply a field of study, but is also a matter of personal connections and face to face relationships. With an intimate lunch hosted by the Forum, along with many discussions during and between presentations, the AAR provided time for new introductions to be made and for longtime friendships to be rejuvenated. Next year’s meeting of the AAR will be held in Atlanta, Georgia on October 30-November 1, 2010. It would be wonderful if you could come and join the Forum community as we explore together the field and the force of religion and ecology. I am also pleased to let you know that last year the Parliament of the World’s Religions asked the Forum to assist in creating panels on world religions and ecology. This has been done, and there will be a fresh new emphasis on the environment at the Parliament. In addition, the Forum arranged for panels on the Earth Charter, Thomas Berry’s legacy, the Renewal film, the Journey of the Universe film, and a new film on plants called Numen. The Parliament will take place in Melbourne from December 3-9, 2009. Elizabeth McAnally news at religionandecology.org 2. Religion, Science, and the Environment Symposium on the Mississippi River The 8th Symposium of Religion, Science, and the Environment (RSE) organized by the Greek Orthodox Church under the auspices of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was held in New Orleans, Louisiana and Memphis, Tennessee on October 21-25, 2009. The Symposium was titled “Restoring Balance: The Great Mississippi River.” Drawing attention to the erosion, sea level rise, pollution, and storms of the Mississippi River, this Symposium reached out across different faiths and denominations, revealing the wisdom of diverse theological traditions, as well as a common imperative to protect the natural world. One goal of this gathering was to push for a successful outcome of international climate talks this December in Copenhagen. Forum co-directors Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim participated in the symposium (their 5th) by chairing panels and by presenting the film Journey of the Universe that they are making with Brian Swimme. Past RSE Symposia have drawn global attention to the degradation of the Aegean Sea, the Black Sea, the Danube River, the Adriatic Sea, the Baltic Sea, and the Amazon River. Travelling down rivers and around seas, sometimes literally following pollution from its source to its point of impact, these waterborne journeys have offered up a tangible sense of the interconnectedness of the world’s waters and all its ecosystems, demonstrating the destructive ripples human actions can send through space and time. By bringing participants to the places where environmental problems are most acute and focusing on practical remedies rather than theoretical discussions, RSE Symposia have inspired positive change through collective action. For More Information, see the news articles below: “Religious leaders gather in Memphis and New Orleans as sea level rise threat grows” “Orthodox leader calls for environmental action” “Our Indivisible Environment: If life is sacred, so is the entire web that sustains it” For Further Information, visit the website of Religion, Science, and the Environment:www.rsesymposia.org 3. Events Parliament of the World’s Religions “Environment & Spirit” “Sacred Water: Sustaining Life” “Many Heavens, One Earth: Faith Commitments for a Living Planet” 2009 Global Environmental Action (GEA) International Conference 4. New Books The Tao of Liberation: Exploring the Ecology of Transformation Today, humanity stands at an historic crossroads. Deepening poverty and accelerating ecological destruction challenge us to act with wisdom and maturity: How can we move toward a future where meaning, hope, and beauty can truly flourish? Drawing on insights from economics, psychology, science, and spirituality, The Tao of Liberation seeks wisdom leading to authentic liberation a path toward ever-greater communion, diversity, and creativity for the Earth community. It describes this wisdom using the Chinese word Tao both a way leading to harmony and the unfolding process of the cosmos itself. This book is part of the Ecology and Justice Series in which Thomas Berry’s latest book, The Christian Future and the Fate of Earth, was also published. + Religion, Ecology & Gender: East-West Perspectives The understanding of nature is at the heart of European self – understanding, while in Asia the terms of life and energy play a similar central role. Globally, many institutions and movements have made the protection of the environment and climate a top policy priority. Given the urgency of environmental problems the lack of reflections about the human and especially the spiritual dimension of environmental problems is striking. Environmental – and – climatic change transforms not only culture, politics, and economy, but also religion. Religious traditions have on the one hand always been dependent on human ecologies; on the other hand they vibrantly affect our perceptions of nature and sociocultural practices with(in) it. If life and religion change dramatically at present, how could religion make a change? How are religious and ecologic processes gendered, and how can ecofeminism deepen our understanding of justice? What are the life – enhancing spiritual resources in the East and the West? How can Christian theology contribute to the necessary eco – cultural revolution ahead of us? And how can Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian and Christian spiritualities cooperate in a common space and future? Questions like these are reflected upon by scholars of religion and theology from Korea, Canada and Scandinavia. Their chapters emerge from an international workshop, which was arranged and convened by the editors 2007 in Yecheon on the Korean countryside and in Seoul. The book offers the 1st volume in a new series established by the European Forum for the Study of Religion and the Environment. + In the Beginning is the Icon: A Liberative Theology of Images, Visual Arts and Culture In the Beginning is the Icon (translated from the Swedish edition, published by Proprius Förlag in 2003) aims to contribute to raising awareness about the intrinsic value of images and image perception among those who wish to reflect over God and over pictorial expressions of different experiences from encounters with divinity in earthly and historical situations. Reflections from iconology, art theory, philosophical aesthetics, art history, and the fairly recent field of anthropology of art intersect with reflections from Theology and Religious studies. A central question is how God, through human creation and observation of pictures, can have a liberating function in images. Within the context of a liberation theological approach to the interpretation of God and an aesthetic that focuses on the love of the poor, the final chapter develops a constructive proposal for a contextual art theology. In the globalised mass production of pictures, the pedagogy of art and iconology has a special significance in contributing to humanisation and the liberation of man. The roles of the hand and the eye for learning make up central and crucial notions within liberation pedagogy. The extended time period that is needed to orientate in the visual sphere is in itself a political counterforce to the violation of natural space and a natural passing of time caused by the acceleration of technological developments. In light of the impact of both art and religion within a world of geographical and historical relations, and with a critical edge toward Western art reflection and the egocentric, Euro-centric character of religious interpretation, the chapter about “world art” is an independent contribution in the book’s structure. Even though the research history of ethnography and anthropology also reflects this ethnocentricity shared by art and religious studies, the newly established anthropology of art offers important perspectives for a cross-cultural art theology. + Coming Back to Earth: From gods to God to Gaia The mainline churches in the Western world are declining, concludes Lloyd Geering, because they are “all out of step” with the modern secular world. This is not so much a result of the supposed renegade behavior of the secular world as the failure of the church to take the next steps in its path of faith. Abraham left his idols behind to go out into the unknown. In contrast, the churches reveal a lack of faith by insisting on an infallible Bible and a set of unchangeable doctrines tailored to an obsolete worldview. In Coming Back to Earth, Geering calls upon us to complete the work of the Second Axial Age by bringing the sacred—banished to an imaginary heavenly realm in the wake of the First Axial Age—back to earth. + The Gift of Creation: Images from Scripture and Earth The Gift of Creation: Images from Scripture and Earth is a beautiful book featuring vivid images of the Earth and the varied forms of life that call it home. Coupled with the images are biblically-based essays, written by notable academics and scholars from around the globe, exploring what scripture really says about caring for God’s creation, as well as a scientific assessment of the state of the Earth. These essays give a current state of the environment and a poignant and much-needed treatise on humanity’s role in caring for God’s creation. Edited by Norman Wirzba with photographs by Tom Barnes, The Gift of Creation reveals the splendor of nature in its varied landscapes, flora and fauna. The text reminds us to cherish and care for God’s great gift. + A Greener Faith: Religious Environmentalism and Our Planet’s Future In a time of darkening environmental prospects, frightening religious fundamentalism, and moribund liberalism, the remarkable and historically unprecedented rise of religious environmentalism is a profound source of hope. In A Greener Faith, Roger S. Gottlieb chronicles the promises of this critically important movement, illuminating its principal ideas, leading personalities, and ways of connecting care for the earth with justice for human beings. He also shows how religious environmentalism breaks the customary boundaries of “religious issues” in political life. Asserting that environmental degradation is sacrilegious, sinful, and an offense against God catapults religions directly into questions of social policy, economic and moral priorities, and the overall direction of secular society. Gottlieb contends that a spiritual perspective applied to Earth provides the environmental movement with a uniquely appropriate way to voice its dream of a sustainable and just world. Equally important, it helps develop a world-making political agenda that far exceeds interest group politics applied to forests and toxic incinerators. Rather, religious environmentalism offers an all-inclusive vision of what human beings are and how we should treat each other and the rest of life. Gottlieb deftly analyzes the growing synthesis of the movement’s religious, social, and political aspects, as well as the challenges it faces in consumerism, fundamentalism, and globalization. Highly engaging and passionately argued, this book is an indispensable resource for people of faith, environmentalists, scholars, and anyone who is concerned about our planet’s future. 5. Exhibit: “Climate Change in Our World” “Climate Change in Our World,” an exhibit of large-scale color photographs from Gary Braasch’s bookEarth Under Fire: How Global Warming is Changing the World, is now showing at the American Association for the Advancement of Science Headquarters in Washington DC. “How We Know About Our Changing Climate: Learning and Taking Action on Climate Change” is an educational exhibit and video installation which accompanies the show. Images from the book How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate: Scientists and Kids Explore Global Warming and the film series Young Voices on Climate Change will teach and inspire school groups and families. This exhibit is co-created by Lynne Cherry, co-author with Braasch of the book and producer of the films. The show runs from November through mid-March, 2010. Exhibits are open weekdays from 8am-5pm at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1200 New York Avenue NW, Washington DC 20005). For more information, visit: http://www.earthunderfire.com/pages/exhi… 6. New Blog: Congregational Resource Guide Green http://green.congregationalresources.org) The Congregational Resource Guide (CRE) has long been recognized as the leading portal for information of interest to clergy, lay leaders, and laity in a variety of congregations and faiths www.congregationalresources.org). CRE is pleased to announce the launch of CRG Green, a blog dedicated to discussing the best resources available on the web and in press related to green resources for congregational life. The blog can be found at: You are invited to visit the site and offer suggestions for links or issues that should be highlighted. Signed blog entries are also welcomed. You may send these to Martin Davis, director of Congregational Resource Guide, at mdavis at alban.org. Entries should not exceed 500 words and should focus on issues or new resources specifically dedicated to aiding clergy and congregations to develop their understanding of green issues and how they can advance this movement. 7. Sewanee’s Center for Religion and Environment Sewanee: The University of the South created the Center for Religion and Environment in order to develop educational programs and public forums that unite environmental learning and action with faith practices. The Center connects the University’s College of Arts and Sciences, its School of Theology, and its All Saints’ Chapel. It is the latest manifestation of Sewanee’s long-time commitment to the environment. The Center makes the most of Sewanee’s unique situation, which brings together a first-rateenvironmental studies program offering both scientific and humanities/social policy dimensions, the diverse resources of a theological seminary and a liberal arts college, the inter-faith engagements of All Saints’ Chapel, and the practical benefits of a 13,000-acre campus that serves as an enormous land laboratory. The Center will develop programs for Sewanee undergraduate students and seminarians; church administrators and lay leaders; youth leaders; and business, environmental, and civic leaders who may or may not be members of faith communities. These programs will address environmentally-oriented spiritual growth and integrate theological environmental perspectives with the insights of natural and social sciences. For More Information, visit: http://www.sewanee.edu/cre 8. Sustainability: The Journal of Record Sustainability: The Journal of Record http://www.liebertpub.com/products/produ…) meets the needs of the rapidly growing community of professionals in academia, industry, policy, and government who have the responsibility and commitment to advancing one of the major imperatives of this young century. The Journal provides the information and resources to foster collaboration and move forward the imperatives of the preservation and sustainability of global resources. Each issue contains news and commentary; innovators in sustainability; profiles of corporate sustainability programs; tools for implementing sustainability programs on campus; provocative roundtable discussion; peer reviewed articles; books, web, and other resources; new products; and meetings and conferences. Members of the Forum on Religion and Ecology can purchase the Journal with a special $63 online subscription offer (a $79 value). Please go to www.liebertpub.com to automatically receive your discount. 9. Worldviews: Global Religions, Culture, and Ecology Worldviews: Global Religions, Culture, and Ecology has as its focus the relationships between religion, culture and ecology world-wide. Articles discuss major world religious traditions, such as Islam, Buddhism or Christianity; the traditions of indigenous peoples; new religious movements; and philosophical belief systems, such as pantheism, nature spiritualities, and other religious and cultural worldviews in relation to the cultural and ecological systems. Focusing on a range of disciplinary areas including Anthropology, Environmental Studies, Geography, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Sociology and Theology, the journal also presents special issues that center around one theme. To receive a free sample copy of Worldviews, email marketing at brill.nl. For more information, visit: http://www.brill.nl/wo For more information on other journals related to religion and ecology and to environmental ethics/philosophy, visit: http://fore.research.yale.edu/publicatio…. If you know of a publication that needs to be added to this list, email news at religionandecology.org. ———————————- Permalink |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on November 28th, 2009 From: Dear friends,
Click to register a climate vigil. This is a time to step up. Next month world leaders gather in Copenhagen to thrash out a new global climate agreement. The outcome will only be so bold as we demand – and it could be as dismal as we allow. The biggest threat? That among the politicking and bureaucracy, the world forgets what’s at stake. So here’s the plan: in the middle of the negotiations, candlelight vigils in every corner of the planet to put real human faces on the need for a real climate deal. It will be the world’s largest ever global day of climate action – and one world leaders and media can’t miss. To get started simply pick a good local vigil location nearby and register it on the global map. From there it’s dead easy – just bring some candles and pass out the short provided message for people to take turns reading. It takes less than an hour to organise – and Avaaz members in your area will be invited to attend. This is a time to step up - let’s rise to the occasion. We’re just weeks away from what is truly the most important moment yet in the world’s response to climate change. We do not expect, nor do we accept, anything less than what is needed to save our planet. Here’s how every event will make a difference: National pressure - in global negotiations every country makes a difference, for better or for worse. The problem is most of the time international negotiations aren’t closely followed at home – but having local events will show leaders in United States of America that this time we’re watching keenly, with the power of a coordinated international movement to name and shame those countries that hold up progress. World media - creating a world media story takes a world in action. We need to show journalists that this is more than just another protest: it’s a global coordinated day of action on a massive scale. We have demonstrated that this works — our Global Wake Up Call and the 350 day of action both generated huge global press coverage earlier this year. Now, in the middle of the Copenhagen talks, the media moment is even bigger. Thousands of vigils around the planet will give this day of action the scale we need to make an even bigger global media impact. Photographic evidence- Photos of every vigil from around the world will be printed and delivered to negotiators and world leaders in Copenhagen – they are evidence that people around the world have the very same ambitious goal for our planet: a real climate deal. All action photos will be also be posted on the internet for millions of Avaaz members to see and distributed to the global media. This is a time to step up - let’s all of us seize the opportunity: Thanks for all that you do, Permalink |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on November 25th, 2009 Israel’s energizer
The story of Israel’s most prominent battery researcher has a shaky beginning. Prof. Doron Aurbach’s parents both pulled themselves from the ashes of Nazi death camps to cobble together a new life in Israel. Into their first son Doron they poured their own lost education, their hopes and their dreams. Born in 1952 and raised in Ramat Gan, outside Tel Aviv, Israel’s most well-known battery scientist has more than lived up to his parent’s expectations. Aurbach is now working on what may be the world’s first rechargeable magnesium battery, which could answer the need for battery storage systems in solar energy collectors. His previous research led to knowledge about the fundamental basics of lithium and lithium-ion batteries, and if the timing had only been right, he might have been a millionaire by now, for developing the technology behind the world’s first rechargeable lithium battery. The company he was working for – Tadiran – simply chose the wrong market. Aurbach enjoyed a happy childhood and was active in the local Scouts, he tells ISRAEL21c. At an early age he was interested in science, and as the eldest, his parents, who, “coming from Poland, really saw hell, put their ambitions in me. Even though I have a sister and a brother, I was the oldest so they invested a lot of effort in my education and pushed me to pursue useful things.” During four years of military service Aurbach was an officer in a combat infantry unit and took part in the Yom Kippur War in1973. He later visited the combat zone after Israel and Egypt signed a peace treaty. Then, after starting his studies, this father of seven and grandfather to 16 found religion. It was his early studies in chemistry and its “complicated nature” that started him thinking about the “chemistry of life.” Through science, he discovered his truth in Judaism and become religiously observant, despite his secular upbringing. Currently residing in Tel Aviv’s ultra-orthodox Bnei Brak neighborhood, Aurbach enjoys the fact that he can hop on his bicycle and be at work at the Department of Chemistry lab at Bar Ilan University within five minutes. He has been a full professor at the university since 1996. Under his supervision, a team of 35 are working to make better batteries. Many hail from the former Soviet Union and are a boost to Israel’s science community, Aurbuch says. His laboratory specializes in novel devices for energy storage and conversion, rechargeable lithium and Li-ion batteries and super (EDL) capacitors as well as rechargeable magnesium batteries and new materials in battery development. “I don’t waste time in traffic,” he asserts. “…I look for quality of life. Some people may want to live in the country with gardens, but they are using their time poorly. My house may be less fancy, but I am at work within five minutes, and it’s very helpful to live so close to the university, especially when there’s an emergency at the lab.” By 1983 Aurbach had earned an M.Sc. and Ph.D. from Bar-Ilan University in Physical-Organic Chemistry. Between 1983 and 1985 he studied and conducted research under the then top battery researcher Prof. E.B. Yeager at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. “I had to start from scratch with lithium batteries – at a time when the world started to show interest in these batteries, but the group didn’t yet deal with it,” he tells ISRAEL21c. “They called me because of my background organic chemistry. They needed organic solvents for lithium batteries.” It was his time at Case that gave Aurbach the model for an Israeli battery lab: “We are inspired by the academic system in the US. It’s something very honest, and relatively clean of politics and the level is high. “I think the US is still the leader in terms of good science,” says Aurbach, who has written 335 journal papers, owns 12 patents, has penned a book on electrochemistry, physical chemistry and surface/material science, in addition to having published nine chapters in various science books. “We’ve developed very systematic studies to map materials, to map reactions, we’ve mapped problems, we’ve mapped advantages and we’ve studied a very broad spectrum of materials,” he says. “I cannot say Israel is a place for big commercial ventures, but in terms of understanding and contributing to basic science, it is.” Aurbach’s current focus is on rechargeable magnesium batteries. “We were able to develop one from scratch and demonstrate systems which work,” he says. Important for its application is the ability of the battery to hold thousands of cycles, or refills, especially if it is to have applications in sustainable energy projects. “You want to put in a system for 10 or 20 years, to close it and forget about it,” he explains. Now he’s collaborating with LG on the battery. Magnesium is a safer battery to use than lithium as it is less reactive and the material is abundant. It also has the potential to store a huge amount of energy. It will charge during the day and release energy at night when the sun is down, and it should last for more than 4,000 cycles. Aurbach is also looking into electrostatic reactions and the charging of super-capacitors – batteries whose storage is based not on chemistry but on electrostatic charges – like the ones you get from the doorknob in the winter. This science also has applications in the desalination of water. Permalink |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on November 23rd, 2009
Coming to Copenhagen? Visit an offshore wind farm ….…wind industry activities at COP 15
Boat trip to Middelgrunden Offshore Wind farm* Two hour trip to wind farm of 20 turbines, 100m tall at blade tip height, in curved line 180m apart stretching for 3.4km. Trip will include 15 minute briefing from high level wind industry representatives on the wind farm being visited, the contribution wind power makes to reducing CO2 emissions, and the negotiations from a wind industry perspective. Great photo/film opportunity of offshore wind farm, plus possibility for interviews with leading industry representatives. * Registration obligatory: angelika.pullen at gwec.net Discussion with international CEOs: drinks reception and discussion event Oddfellow Palaeet, Bredgade 28, Copenhagen city centre. Metro: Kongens Nytorv Press conference Key international CEOs from wind energy companies will participate in this press conference to highlight the role of the wind power industry in combating climate change and in countries around the world. Wind Power Works Reception Oddfellow Palaeet, Bredgade 28,Copenhagen city centre. Metro: Kongens Nytorv LOOK OUT for Vestas wind turbine at the Bella Center VIP entrance. This 850 kW turbine is connected to the grid, and powers close to 300 Danish homes every year. On request: Map of wind turbines in Copenhagen area – for you to locate and film at your convenience. Show your viewers something that is reducing greenhouse gas emissions now and increasingly in the future. For free pdf map contact communications at ewea.org
Angelika Pullen, Communications Director, Global Wind Energy Council Julian Scola, Communications Director, European Wind Energy Association Permalink |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on November 20th, 2009 From the Energy & Capital website information of value: On January 1, 2010, for the first time in history, “Dear Reader” writes, Keith Kohl, the editor of that investment newsletter: “On New Year’s Day, the Kingdom of Denmark will relinquish its sovereign hold over Greenland’s mineral rights. At stake: a 500-square-mile hunk of Arctic bedrock… To most, this ice-encrusted landscape is the definition of barren and uninviting. The only vegetation is moss, and the nearest town is little more than a collection of tents, over 100 miles away. But to the world’s biggest automakers, as well as to the global weapons industry, this uninhabitable hunk of rock is the most precious 500 square miles on the planet. ?You see, locked within this property is a unique group of minerals, concentrated unlike any other deposit on earth. ?They’re called Rare Earth Elements, or REEs for short. And this prized piece of land contains more than $273 billion worth. Without them, some of our most important modern technologies could never exist. In fact, they’re so crucial to modern circuitry that industry insiders came up with a nickname for REEs: ‘Technology metals.’ From hybrid car batteries… to wind turbine motors… to missile guidance systems… Metals such as cerium, promethium, europium and many of the remaining 29 Rare Earth Elements are essential to all modern electronic devices that use:
And as the Kingdom of Denmark signs away its rights to these riches, the world’s biggest concentration of REEs will fall into the hands of a single company. “Literally overnight, this company – which is trading for just under 50 cents right now – will come to control 1/4 of the global supply… for the next half century. Now before I tell you all about this company — and its imminent run-up — let me explain why these minerals are so critical for Big Auto and the defense industry… … And why they’re the Western world’s last line of defense against a huge and determined rival. You see, for the last 15 years, the world has gotten its REEs from one main source.” And it hasn’t exactly been a friendly one.” is written in that newsletter – then elaborated: China’s Mission: The Chinese knew how important Rare Earths would be years ago. In fact, as far back as 1992, Communist Party Leader Deng Xiaoping said: “There is oil in the Middle East. There is rare earth in China.” And since then, they have been doing everything in their power to realize this destiny… On April 27th of this year, they penned a deal with a major foreign supplier to widen their control of this market to a historic level. Today, thanks to that deal, Communist China produces 96.8% of the total global supply of these vital elements.
Here’s what I mean he continues: Every Toyota Prius, every Honda Civic Hybrid, and just about every other battery-powered car on the market requires between 23 and 25 pounds of Rare Earths to run. For Japan, this is a very dangerous scenario: And while cleantech is still new, it’s already changing the face of the REE market. Because as vital as Rare Earth components are, they make up only a tiny fraction of the overall mass of any modern electronic device. That is why up until 2008, the entire global market for REEs was just $2 billion. But with the emergence of cleantech, this is all rapidly changing.
In fact, less than a year from now, growth in the battery-powered car industry will increase global REE consumption between 90% and 166% from 2008 levels. Now here’s why there is no end in sight for this trend: In high-capacity batteries, Rare Earths represent a significant percentage of the weight. And right now, these batteries are being produced at an unprecedented rate. Just look at the forecast for hybrid/electric sales for the next six years:
I’m talking about over 10 million battery-powered cars globally by the year 2015. (That’s a 500% increase over what exists today.) And remember, it’s not just hybrids. It’s any technology in which electric motors, photovoltiac cells and portable rechargeable batteries are essential… which means that on top of using REEs in the solar panels and in the the wind turbines themselves, every cleantech power generator will also rely on REE-filled batteries to store the energy. And because batteries are so much hungrier for REEs more than any other single product, the demand for REEs will outpace the growth of the consumer electronics market alone — by as much as four-fold. Permalink |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on November 17th, 2009
By BRAHMA CHELLANEY Had the United States and its allies pursued an approach centered on punitive sanctions, the result would have been a less prosperous, less open, and potentially destabilizing China. Indeed, China’s phenomenal economic success — illustrated by its world-beating trade surplus, world’s largest foreign-currency reserves, and highest steel production — owes a lot to the West’s decision not to sustain trade sanctions after the Tiananmen Square massacre. Having become the world’s biggest exporter, China is now set to displace Japan as the world’s second-largest economy. More broadly, the emblematic defeat of Marxism in 1989 allowed Asian countries, including China and India, to pursue capitalist policies overtly. Although China’s economic renaissance had already begun under Deng Xiaoping, the Chinese Communist Party, after 1989, was able publicly to subordinate ideology to wealth creation. That example, in turn, had a constructive influence on surviving communist parties in Asia and beyond. The Soviet Union’s sudden collapse was a strategic boon to Asia, eliminating a menacing empire and opening the way for China rapidly to pursue its interests globally. Russia’s decline in the 1990s became China’s gain. For India, the end of the Cold War triggered a foreign-policy crisis by eliminating the country’s most reliable partner, the Soviet Union. As with its 1991 financial crisis, India was able to emerge with a revamped foreign policy — one that abandoned the country’s quixotic traditions and embraced greater realism and pragmatism. Post-Cold War India began pursuing mutually beneficial strategic partnerships with other key players in Asia and the wider world. The new “global strategic partnership” with the U.S. — a defining feature of this decade — was made possible by the post-1989 shifts in Indian policy thinking. As a result, dysfunctional or failing states suddenly emerged in the 1990s, constituting a threat to regional and international security by becoming home to transnational pirates (Somalia) or transnational terrorists (Pakistan and Afghanistan), or by their defiance of global norms (North Korea and Iran). Asia has suffered more casualties from the rise of international terrorism than any other region. Moreover, two decades after the Berlin Wall fell, the spread of democracy has stalled. Between 1988 and 1990, as the Cold War was winding down, prodemocracy protests erupted far from Eastern Europe, overturning dictatorships in countries as different as Indonesia, South Korea, Taiwan and Chile. After the Soviet disintegration, even Russia emerged as a credible candidate for democratic reform. Aside from the retreat of democracy in Russia, China — now the world’s oldest autocracy — is demonstrating that when authoritarianism is entrenched, a marketplace of goods and services can stymie the marketplace of political ideas. Twenty years after communism’s fall, authoritarian capitalism has emerged as the leading challenger to the spread of democratic values. Brahma Chellaney is professor of strategic studies at the Center for Policy Research in New Delhi and author of “Asian Juggernaut: The Rise of China, India and Japan.” Permalink |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on November 15th, 2009 Hatoyama outlines East Asia bloc - key concepts include regional prosperity, environmental cooperation. SINGAPORE (Kyodo) Monday, Nov. 16, 2009, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama on Sunday highlighted four key areas of cooperation in his concept for an East Asian community — regional prosperity, the environment, protecting human life and maritime safety. Hatoyama indicated the U.S. is a potential member of his envisaged regional grouping, saying in a speech in Singapore, “The presence of the United States has been playing and will continue to play an important role in ensuring the peace and prosperity of Asia, including Japan.” Hatoyama said Japan will speed up negotiations for economic partnership agreements with South Korea, India and Australia, and study the possibilities of talks with other countries as a means to pursuing prosperity in the region. “The concept behind my initiative for an East Asian community stems from the philosophy of yu-ai,” he said. “Within yu-ai, people respect the freedom and human dignity of others just as they respect their own freedom and human dignity. In other words, yu-ai means not only the independence of people but also their coexistence. “I set this goal because reconciliation in the real sense of the word is not necessarily believed to have been achieved in the region,” said Hatoyama, whose two-month-old government attaches great importance to Asian diplomacy. Hatoyama said Japan will make a “proactive contribution” to encourage governments and other institutions to register their human and material assets for disaster relief, which would allow the region to conduct more prompt and effective rescue and relief activities in response to disasters. Along with the four areas, Hatoyama cited nuclear disarmament, nuclear nonproliferation, urban issues, social security and cultural exchange as potential fields of regional cooperation. “There may also be an opportunity for us to discuss possible political cooperation in the future,” he said. “It may be possible that countries with the will and the capabilities to cooperate in a particular field may choose to participate in projects initially, and as their efforts bear fruit, other countries could join later.” While welcoming Washington’s commitment to Asia as stated in President Barack Obama’s speech in Tokyo on Saturday, Hatoyama carefully avoided speaking about Washington becoming a member of his envisaged East Asian community. Japan envisages a wider grouping including Australia, India, New Zealand and possibly the United States. “The (Japanese) public and us (the government) cannot understand (the idea of) returning two islands. I would like you to show a nonstereotypical approach that goes beyond such an idea,” Hatoyama quoted himself as saying at the meeting the Russian president in Singapore. Medvedev told Hatoyama that Russia truly hopes to advance negotiations on the territorial row while Hatoyama is in office, a Japanese delegation source said. Hatoyama quoted Medvedev as telling him that Moscow wants to seek a “pragmatic” solution to the dispute without employing an approach based on the thinking of the Cold War era. Permalink |
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