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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on August 18th, 2010
We are engaged in a project which seeks to address the problem of climate change displacement. Please find attached a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) about our climate change displacement convention. Our proposed convention would largely operate prospectively; assistance to climate change displaced persons would be based on an assessment of whether their environment was likely to become uninhabitable due to events consistent with anthropogenic climate change such that resettlement measures and assistance were necessary. In other words, displacement is viewed as a form of adaptation that creates particular vulnerabilities requiring protection as well as assistance through international cooperation. If you have any questions about the paper please contact me at d.hodgkinson@hodgkinsongroup.com or on +61 402 824 832. Best wishes ___________________________ David Hodgkinson The Hodgkinson Group +61 402 824 832 (international) 0402 824 832 (within Australia)
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on July 20th, 2010
19 July 2010
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on July 16th, 2010 Assistant Secretary of Energy for Policy & International Affairs David Sandalow. TOPIC: Upcoming Clean Energy Ministerial July 19-20th This is written on the basis of a US Department of State Press Conference – Thursday, July 15, 2010. ———— This article follows our posting of July 14, 2010: The Major 17 Economies were joined by Bangladesh, Denmark, Barbados, Ethiopia, Singapore and the UAE at the recent Rome meeting – to be followed by a July 19-20, 2010 Washington DC Meeting on Clean Energy – all this to build a program for Cancun. Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on July 14th, 2010 by Pincas Jawetz ( PJ at SustainabiliTank.com) We said at the time that the July 19 – 20, 2010 Washington DC Ministerial meeting will be a sequel – now we are convonced that is actually a different kind of meeting and I do not think that its eyes will be towards Cancun. ———– The Department of Energy’s Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs, David Sandalow, gave a background briefing and answered questions on the web regarding the importance of the upcoming Washington DC – Clean Energy Ministerial meeting. He discussed Energy Secretary Chu’s hopes on what will be accomplished. The following countries will be represented: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, the European Commission, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Korea, Japan, Mexico, Norway, the Russian Federation, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, the U.A.E. and the U.K. This list excludes Indonesia from the Major Economies Forum which are 16 + The EU and then at their Rome meeting of June 30 – July 1, 2010, added on Ministers from a variety of representative smaller economies: Bangladesh, Denmark, Barbados, Ethiopia, Singapore, UAE. This list includes in addition to the EU also all The Scandinavian States: Denmark, Norway, Spain and Sweden. As well it includes Belgium and Spain. It does not include Bangladesh, Barbados, Ethiopia, Singapore which were part of the meeting of June 30 – July 1, 2010 but it does include from that meeting Denmark that was a participant because of its hosting the Copenhagen meeting, and the UAE that seemingly represents the oil exporting countries. The Washington meeting includes also Belgium because by now they have become the half year Presidents of the EU for July 1 till December 31, 2010, and it retains Spain that held this position during the first half of 2010. To top this there is also an actual EU delegation at the table besides the temporary Presidents. We assume that this delegation is there because Malta, Cyprus and other EU delegations are not there. Place was also found for all major four Scandinavian Countries – Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden – surely nice people all of them. I write all of this in order to say that some better way has to be found on how to treat the EU and the World, when the Obama Administration wants indeed to show that it is serious about climate change by inviting just the large emitters that total 80% of the global emissions, or, if intent to bring in also some small representation of the small countries, that do not have substantial emissions, but proportionately are going to bear a major part of the suffering, the Rome initiative of having present also Bangladesh, Barbados and Ethiopia would have been just fine – and the total figure would have been then 16 + 1 (the EU) + 3 (this for Bangladesh, Barbados, Ethiopia) and it obviously would have included as part of the 16 also Indonesia. For more information, the link to the website is: http://cleanenergyministerial.org/ ——————- At question time I asked from Mr. Sandalow why is Indonesia not at the meeting, and why was the symbolic, but important participation of the small number of really very small economies dropped? The answer was that Indonesia said they are not coming because they participate at that time at a South Asia meeting. The fact that the small economies were dropped is “because this is for the large energy markets – for 80% of the ENERGY MARKET and not for the whole world.” THE IDEA IS COME UP WITH ACTIONS TO PROMOTE CLEAN ENERGY, he said. It would have been easier to accept that answer had the US also kept out the additional 6 EU States that were not among the original 16 + EU. We also would like to ask why UAE – though we think that they clearly are a better choice then Saudi Arabia – but still not exactly your ideal partner when you try to disengage from oil even though they do in effect – as holders of serious financial reserves – also participate in the financial benefits from looking for a cleaner future. The above, because after Copenhagen we hoped for the involvement of business interests in order to create the working alternative to the Kyoto process – the interest of business in going green. For this to be effective one must have at the table mainly the real big emitters who indeed coincide with the biggest economies. We thought that amounted to the maximum of 16 and – under EU conditions – just one more chair for the EU. Now there will be 23 chairs at the Washington table. The higher number decreasing the chance for success. Monday, July 19, 2010 at 9am there will be an open press conference when the meeting starts. ### |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on July 10th, 2010
![]() The Third International Conference on
Drylands, Deserts and Desertification: The Route to Restoration. ———————-
November 8-11, 2010
Sede Boqer Campus, Israel Please note that we offer some great pre & post conference tours! 5-7 Nov – pre conference tours 11-14 Nov – post conference tours Please note that: Registration, Abstract Submission and Grant Application are all conducted Online. NEW!! Abstract Submission (for lectures) extended to July 20 “Then the land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and live there in safety.” (Leviticus 25:19) Overview:The International Conference on Drylands, Deserts and Desertification (DDD) has emerged as an important global gathering of scientists, field workers, industry, government, NGO and international aid agency officials from over 50 countries. The conference brings together experts, officials and lay people concerned about land degradation and development. The presentations consider practical solutions for sustainable and prosperous livelihoods in the drylands. The rich variety of perspectives creates a stimulating, interdisciplinary and compelling meeting. The program combines plenary lectures and panels, parallel sessions, workshops, field trips and social events. The four day conference provides an opportunity for a diverse group of experts, policy makers and land managers to consider a range of theoretical and practical issues associated with combating desertification and living sustainably in the drylands. The thematic focus of the 3rd conference will consider the restoration of degraded drylands. This “positive” orientation embraces the notion that trend need not be destiny, and that most desertified lands, ecosystems and economies can at least rehabilitated. Local case studies will be highlighted along side of success stories from around the world with an emphasis on quantitative indicators of progress. In addition additional sessions will be held considering a broad range of topics associated with sustainable living in the drylands and desertification. Please check the www.desertification.bgu.ac.il website periodically. Contact InformationMs. Dorit Korine, Conference Coordinator Tel: +972 (8) 659 6781 ### |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on July 7th, 2010
Invitation to global consultations on Farmers’ Rights. We herewith invite you to participate in global consultations on Farmers’ Rights as these are addressed in Article 9 of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (also called the Plant Treaty; see www.planttreaty.org). The background for these consultations is a decision made by the Governing Body of the Plant Treaty at its third session (Resolution 6/2009). Here the Governing Body recalls the importance of fully implementing Farmers’ Rights, and, among other things, requests the Secretariat to convene regional workshops on Farmers’ Rights to discuss relevant national experiences. The Fridtjof Nansen Institute (www.fni.no) in Norway is assisting the Secretariat in carrying out this task. Funding is limited, so we begin by carrying out consultations via e-mail, in order to involve as many stakeholders as possible, in all parts of the world. The e-mail consultations have been made possible thanks to support from SwedBio of Sweden and the Development Fund, Norway. We are still trying to raise the funds necessary to hold a consultation conference towards the end of the year, which will then be global, with regional components. The results of the global consultation process will be presented to the Governing Body of the Plant Treaty at its Fourth Session in 2011, as a basis for its deliberations on promoting the realization of Farmers’ Rights at the national level. The following questionnaire is designed to obtain information in the context of Resolution 6/2009 of the Governing Body and to facilitate discussions at the consultation conference. The Secretariat will follow this process and provide information to Contracting Parties accordingly. We hope that you can distribute this questionnaire to organizations and individuals engaged in plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and farmers’ rights – in your own country and abroad. We would also be grateful if all those who are working with farmers take this opportunity to distribute the questionnaire among them, or to convene group consultations among farmers to complete the questionnaire collectively, if appropriate, and send it to us. We sincerely hope that you will take the time to complete this questionnaire to the best of your capacity, and return it to us. The final deadline for submission of this questionnaire is 31 August 2010. We will publish the results of this e-mail based part of the consultation by the beginning of November 2010 in the form of a report, with the responses presented region-wise. For more information please visit the website of the Farmers’ Rights Project of the Fridtjof Nansen Institute at (www.farmersrights.org) or contact Tone Winge (tow@fni.no). Engelsk: http://www.farmersrights.org/about/fr_in_itpgrfa_7.html Oslo, Norway 6 July 2010 ### | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on July 4th, 2010 Fareed mentioned that on this day, nine years ago, he took the Oath of Naturalization and became a US citizen – clearly a tremendous gain for the US. He mentioned this while showing 57 military personnel serving with the US forces in Afghanistan who took today their oath of Naturalization right there in Afghanistan swearing that they will be ready to take up arms in the defense of the United States – this please note while they are already fighting on behalf of US Government even though they were not yet US citizens. This might have been an expressive thing that caught my eye on the CNN/GPS program – sort of corollary to the main meat of the program that dealt with the G-20 meeting on the World Economy and the US position on the conclusions of the meeting. Our clear decision watching the program is that the US is far from being united and one. In effect it is divided in two, and it was Fareed Zakaria – the newest American – who tried to bind the two parts into one. But what is even worse, the two opposing parts – both of them – are not purely American – but rather still beholden to the British outreach – this after all of these 234 years. So, as Fareed would say – “let us see:” The G-20 decided (that is except for Japan) that we must start decreasing debt because otherwise the cost of borrowing money increases prohibitively. Today is Greece – tomorrow it’s us. The stakes are the future of US and Global Prosperity and the two opposing points of view are: (A) As presented by Paul Krugman – an American steeped in Keynesian (English) economics – said that our reaction today is like it was in the 30s and we will face similar consequences – a similar large depression which he calls The Coming Third Depression. We need increased stimulus now – a la Keynes – and he told us so earlier that the $800 Billion were just not enough. He does not want to see unemployment keeping workers out of a job for 3-4 years as it becomes harder for them to return ever to a job. They will be lost into a structured unemployment reality. Also, people will be afraid to spend enough to keep the economy going. In uncertainty they will hold on to their money as this will seem the right thing to do, but it will cause drop in prices and deflation. So, if we do not increase spending now – in the next 1-2 years – in the short term – we drift into The Third Depression. A trillion dollars spending now will cause $26 Billion in interest per year but this is not so much. (B) On the other side was Niall Ferguson, himself British of Glasgow, and we do not know if he ever started steps to become American. He points a finger at the US debt and says the US must start to decrease spending and have also some increase in taxes if it wants to get back some credibility in the world. He said the financial crisis is already happening – right now – and we will not have a Keynesian answer of stimulus in the future. The US Treasuries are safe heaven like Pearl Harbor was until something happened. Imagine something happening – then what? Ferguson talks of a rationalized new tax structure that is a serious option. He was reminded by Fareed that this is the Republican approach that was presented by Congressman Paul Ryan from Wisconsin, and was told that in the Meeting with him, there were two more Congressmen present. So, what we are talking here is a Policy Change but Fareed is skeptical. If we cannot even raise the retiremment age by one year, how will we achieve radical change? The answer was that when an international Bond market crisis hits – there wil be a radical restructure of policy. It seems that the Republican answer to Keynes is to create first a total collapse that will radicalize the wealth divide before readiness to do anything at all. That smells of the 30s all-right. Fareed added that American companies have a lot of cash at hand from earnings that they do not spend – to which Ferguson reacted that confidence is low. if you look at China, India, Indonesia, Brazil, growing very fast and you sit on money at a US company, so what are you to do? The Chinese had it very well when keeping out of a Western Crisis, but they over-heated and have wage unrest as a consequence. If we do the right thing – they will do the right thing – he said. (C) The Fareed Zakaria Unifier Proposal: Clearly he says – the US never had a problem borrowing money – this until we will! Further – the issue is not Small Government or Big Government – But Smart Government. ———————– Back to Afghanistan, Fareed Zakaria noted that having been told that the number of Al Qaeda men in Afghanistan is 100, and the yearly expenditure on the war by the US is $100 Billion – this comes to $1 Billion/Al Qaeda man/year. At the same time - legally, at Afghan airports, $2.7 Million declared money leaves daily, and this is by far much more then all the taxes that the Afghan Government collects. The illegal exit of money is obviously much much higher – so what is the US doing there? ———————- Also, today, July 4, 2010 is DAY 76 of the BP oil-spill and the TV showed a huge ship called “A WHALE” that was refitted specifically for the purpose of collecting water and oil mixtures in order to retrieve the oil from the water. This does not yet make the US independent of its oil industry strongmen. VENICE, La., July 4 (UPI) — The world’s largest skimming vessel, A Whale, could play a crucial role in oil cleanup efforts in the Gulf of Mexico if tests succeed, maritime experts say. The tanker, which can skim about 21 million gallons of oil a day by taking in water with oil and separating it, was conducting tests in a 5-square-mile area north of the underwater spill Sunday, CNN reported. The ship is capable of skimming at least 250 times the amount of oil that modified fishing vessels now in the gulf are able to contain, said Taiwanese shipping company TMT, the ship’s owner. Initial test results could be available Monday, TMT spokesman Bob Grantham said. A Whale arrived in the gulf Wednesday and was waiting approval to join in cleanup operations. A Whale is a Liberian flagged oil tanker built in 2010 by Hyundai Heavy Industries, Ulsan, South Korea. She was refitted and converted in Portugal into a so-called “super skimmer” to assist in the clean up of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. A Whale arrived in the Gulf of Mexico on 30 June 2010, while financial agreements were yet pending. The “WHALE” is thus capable to retrieve some of the oil – clearly a financial gain for BP. ### |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on June 8th, 2010 June 8, 2010 – The Second UN Celebration of The World Ocean’s Day and a Look At The UN Law Of The Sea. Was There A Review of the Effects of Stealing From The Global Commons and The Rape of the Environment as We Witness Now Perpetually on our TV Screens? There Is A UN Law Of The Sea They Say! In 2001 Our “Promptbook” was Published on These Topics. THESE DAYS THE WHOLE WORLD WATCHES THE US LOSING THE GOLF OF MEXICO ENVIRONMENT TO THE GREED OF MINING FOR OIL AT UNBELIEVABLE DEPTH WITHOUT HAVING BEEN PREPARED TO AN EVENTUALITY OF A MISHAP. THIS MINING FOR OIL GOES ON IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS OUTSIDE THE RANGE OF SOVEREIGNTY CLAIMS OF ANYONE – IN EFFECT THIS HAPPENS AKIN TO PIRACY AT HIGH SEA – ROBBERY FROM THE GLOBAL COMMONS AS WE CLAIMED IN OUR PROMPTBOOK TO THE JOHANNEBURG SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WHICH YOU CAN READ RIGHT HERE ON www.SustainabiliTank.info. THE UN IS CELEBRATING TODAY “THE WORLD OCEAN’S DAY” AND WE WOULD HAVE WANTED TO BE PRESENT AND POSE SOME RELATED QUESTIONS – BUT THE UN Department of Public Information, even now, after the Departure of UN Official Ahmad Fawzi, IS STILL LEARY OF HAVING PRESENT JOURNALISTS THAT ARE NOT UNDER THEIR CONTROL. WE PROMISE NEVERTHELESS TO FOLLOW THE SUBJECT AND FIND OUT IF THERE WAS ANYTHING BUT PLATITUDES AT THAT PRESS CONFERENCE. 8 JUNE 2010, 11:00 am Dag. Ham. Auditorium Press Conference: by the Department of Public Information about World Ocean’s Day. Participants: Professor David Freestone, Lobingier Visiting Professor of Comparative Law and Jurisprudence, George Washington University; Dr. Sylvia Earle, National Georgraphic Explorer-in-Residence and Adviser to Disneynature on the film “Ocean”; and H.E. Mrs. Isabelle Picco, Permanent Representative of the Principality of Monaco to the United Nations.
8 June - World Oceans Day
In 2008, the United Nations General Assembly decided that, as from 2009, 8 June would be designated by the United Nations as “World Oceans Day” (resolution 63/111, paragraph 171). Many countries have celebrated World Oceans Day following the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, which was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The oceans are essential to food security and the health and survival of all life, power our climate and are a critical part of the biosphere. The official designation of World Oceans Day is an opportunity to raise global awareness of the current challenges faced by the international community in connection with the oceans. —————— 8 June 2009 – The first observance of World Oceans Day allows us to highlight the many ways in which oceans contribute to society. The UN Secretary General declared: “It is also an opportunity to recognize the considerable challenges we face in maintaining their capacity to regulate the global climate, supply essential ecosystem services and provide sustainable livelihoods and safe recreation.” Indeed, human activities are taking a terrible toll on the world’s oceans and seas. Vulnerable marine ecosystems, such as corals, and important fisheries are being damaged by over-exploitation, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, destructive fishing practices, invasive alien species and marine pollution, especially from land-based sources. Increased sea temperatures, sea-level rise and ocean acidification caused by climate change pose a further threat to marine life, coastal and island communities and national economies. Oceans are also affected by criminal activity. Piracy and armed robbery against ships threaten the lives of seafarers and the safety of international shipping, which transports 90 per cent of the world’s goods. Smuggling of illegal drugs and the trafficking of persons by sea are further examples of how criminal activities threaten lives and the peace and security of the oceans. Several international instruments drawn up under the auspices of the United Nations address these numerous challenges. At their centre lies the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It provides the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out, and is the basis for international cooperation at all levels. In addition to aiming at universal participation, the world must do more to implement this Convention and to uphold the rule of law on the seas and oceans. The theme of World Oceans Day, “Our oceans, our responsibility”, emphasizes our individual and collective duty to protect the marine environment and carefully manage its resources. Safe, healthy and productive seas and oceans are integral to human well-being, economic security and sustainable development. ———— 8 June 2010 – Programme Second observance of World Oceans Day “Our oceans: opportunities and challenges” - Prof. Robert Beckman, Director, Centre for International Law, National - Ms. Emma Romano Sarne, Second Secretary, Permanent Mission of - Prof. Lucia Fanning, Director of Marine Affairs Programme, Dalhousie Moderator —- —-
That is a time we will spend rather at the: Oil Spill Forum, Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Responses to the Oil Spill:
a Panel and Public Forum Tuesday, June 8, 7 – 9 PM Wollman Hall, 5th Floor How do we eliminate fossil fuel dependence and embrace renewable energy? Should NYC act now to reduce our consumption of oil? How do we make this change happen–public education, or street protests? To succeed, we must answer these questions at the national, state, city, and personal levels. Public brainstorming, starting with brief remarks from representatives of sponsoring organizations, moving into discussion groups to formulate possible actions, and finishing with feedback from all attendees. This is your chance to learn how New Yorkers can get involved and make a difference! Sponsors: Sierra Club NYC, MoveOn, Greater NYC for Change, and Tishman Environment and Design Center at the New School For further information please contact beyondoilnyc@yahoo.com ——————————- UN DAILY NEWS from the
UNITED NATIONS NEWS SERVICE 8 June, 2010 ========================================================================= UN GETS SET FOR WORLD CUP KICK-OFF AND RENEWED PUSH ON ANTI-POVERTY TARGETS.Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived today in Johannesburg ahead of Friday’s World Cup opening ceremony in the same city, beginning a five-nation African tour that will also take the UN chief to Burundi, Cameroon, Benin and Sierra Leone. Mr. Ban held talks with South African President Jacob Zuma and later addressed the “Sports for Peace” gala dinner tonight alongside Wilfried Lemke, the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace. In his speech Mr. Ban highlighted the unifying power of sport and underscored the importance of the MDGs. As part of the UN-wide effort, agencies that include the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have started promoting 8 Goals for Africa, a song recorded by eight artists from across the continent. A video recorded for the song will be shown in public viewing areas in South Africa throughout the World Cup. The UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) is holding community events in slum neighbourhoods that aim to promote sustainable urbanization; UNICEF is staging football festivals to raise awareness about the fight against child trafficking and exploitation; and the UN Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is screening TV programmes about racism and tolerance. Numerous other events and campaigns involving UN agencies, including the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), will also be held. The renewed push on the MDGs is taking place just three months before world leaders are scheduled to gather at UN Headquarters in New York in September to chart the progress so far towards achieving the eight MDGs and discuss the ways forward. At the Millennium Summit in 2000, world leaders agreed to try to attain the MDGs – which include halving the number of people living in extreme poverty, tackling environmental degradation, and slashing maternal mortality – by 2015. – – But the UN Secretary-General also found the time to leave a message for the meeting on the seas: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged governments and citizens across the global to acknowledge the enormous value of the world’s oceans to humanity and ensure that pollution of the bodies of water by human activity is brought under control. “The diversity of life in the oceans is under ever-increasing strain. Over-exploitation of marine living resources, climate change, and pollution from hazardous materials and activities all pose a grave threat to the marine environment. “So does the growth of criminal activities, including piracy, which have serious implications for the security of navigation and the safety of seafarers,” Mr. Ban said in a message to mark the World Oceans Day. He said that much action had been taken within the framework of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the so-called “constitution for the oceans.” “But if we are to safeguard the capacity of the oceans to service society’s many and varied needs, we need to do much more,” he added. “The wastes of our society, flowing from the land, and through the atmosphere, from agriculture, industry and a growing urban population can be seen in the fragile coastal waters and measured even in the centre of the water masses,” the message said. “We must collectively and unambiguously acknowledge the importance of the oceans to our existence on the planet. The ocean cleanses the air we breathe; it influences our weather, climate, and the water on which we depend.” The message was accompanied by an “Ocean Call,” which appeals for priority to be given to programmes in coastal and ocean management, ocean sciences and ocean technologies. The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), a programme of UNESCO, chose the World Oceans Day to kick off events to mark its 50th anniversary. “IOC, in partnership with other UN agencies and hundreds of associated oceanographic and marine research laboratories, is playing a vital role in addressing some of the major challenges facing the world,” said UNESCO’s Director-General, Irina Bokova. The challenges include identifying and protecting marine biodiversity, monitoring global climate change and coordinating tsunami warning systems. – — – SustainabiliTank.info honors UNESCO for their statement, but is appalled by the message attributed to Mr. Ban. That message regards the ocean and all there is in the oceans as a function of what it can do for man. The Law of the Sea is hardly a “Constitution” it really does not even regulate the rights of the human species so it has “fully benefit from what oceans have to offer.” From his perspective, Mr. Ban’s message concludes nevertheless: “But if we are to safeguard the capacity of the oceans to service society’s many and varied needs, we need to do much more,” he added. And as the good diplomat he is, he made no mention of the miseries which are the order of the day – these days. ### |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on June 8th, 2010 from “Conserving energy is cheaper and smarter than building power plants” (Dr. Arthur Rosenfeld). The watt. The volt. The ohm. All electrical terms are named after famous engineers and physicists from the 18th and 19th century. Now, an acclaimed 20th century scientist is lending his name to a new unit of energy savings – the ‘Rosenfeld.’ The proposed term – a ‘Rosenfeld’ – would represent the electricity savings of 3 billion kilowatt-hours per year — the annual output of an existing 500 megawatt coal-fired power plant – and avoid generating three million metric tons of CO2 emissions. The new energy-savings measurement term was authored by 54 scientists from 26 research institutions and announced in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Research Letters. For your leisure time reading – a clean energy monthly E-zine from India E_mag_June_2010.pdf MRM says: We shall be pleased if you could send us your views/comments/suggestions to make our publication more informative and useful. ——————– “The Rosenfeld” Named After California’s Godfather of Energy Efficiency.With a decades-long career in energy analysis and standards, Rosenfeld is often credited with being personally responsible for billions of dollars in energy savings. How to cut energy use, carbon? Do it – One “Rosenfeld” at a time. Arthur Rosenfeld, who recently retired at the age of 83 after two five-year terms on the California Energy Commission, led the way in helping the state set its first-ever energy standards for household appliances and buildings. His mission as an energy-efficiency evangelist was launched in 1973 during the OPEC oil embargo … rather than rail on the oil producers, he reasoned, wouldn’t it be better if the US could find ways to stop wasting so much energy? His impact on California’s per capita electricity consumption, which has remained flat since the mid-’70s, has long been dubbed the “Rosenfeld effect.” And he himself coined “Rosenfeld’s Law,” which asserts that the amount of energy required to produce one dollar of economic output has decreased by about 1 per cent per year since 1845. Eighty Year Old Saved Us $800 Billion - Ode to Arthur H. Rosenfeld, Doctor Efficiency - Arthur H. Rosenfeld, Ph.D. was originally appointed to the California Energy Commission by Governor Gray Davis in April 2000. The Commissioner was reappointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger January 26, 2005. The five members of the Energy Commission are appointed by the Governor to staggered five-year terms and requires Senate confirmation. By law, four of the five members of the Energy Commission have professional training in specific areas – engineering or physical science, environmental protection, economics, law, and one commissioner from the public-at-large. Commissioner Rosenfeld filled the physical science position until his retirement in January 2010. Commissioner Rosenfeld was presiding member of the Research, Development and Demonstration Committee and the Dynamic Pricing Committee (Ad Hoc Committee); and was the second member of the Energy Efficiency Committee. Art Rosenfeld received his Ph.D. in Physics in 1954 at the University of Chicago under Nobel Laureate Enrico Fermi, and then joined the Department of Physics at the University of California at Berkeley. There he joined, and eventually oversaw, the Nobel prize-winning particle physics group of Luis Alvarez at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) until 1974. At that time, he changed his research focus to the efficient use of energy, formed the Center for Building Science at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and led it until 1994. http://www.energy.ca.gov/commissioners/r… ### |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on June 1st, 2010 Ligeti’s “Le Grand Macabre” of gluttonous Breughelland, explains the Louisiana suffering and Washington’s long standing lack of care. Amazing indeed! “Le Grand Macabre by Gyorgy Ligeti” landed in Breughelland right here at the New York Philharmonic Hall. Was it all about Fossil Fuel gluttony and Washington? Prescient Louisiana? We are flabbergasted because we realized we saw it all there and decided on presenting it to you – our readers – with the hope to reach out to even a larger circle of wise folks. We did not add an additional word to the libretto, we just shortened it by condensing it in order to bring out the flavor we were seeking. You will see clearly the obvious premonitions that there will be an environmental catastrophe and that “Ministers” will push a monarch in an administration that has good intentions but is weak on actions. “Le Grand Macabre” was heard and shown by the New York Philharmonic May 27 -29, 2010, thanks to a bravado by new Philharmonic Music Director, Mr. Alan Gilbert who coincidentally is the first native New Yorker to hold this post. Mr. Gilbert is a Harvard graduate and of the Curtis Institute and The Julliard Schools of Music. Before coming to the Philharmonic he was the chief conductor and artistic advisor of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra that made him conductor laureate at the end of his stay there. “Le Grand Macabre” comes at the end of Mr. Gilbert’s Inaugural Season at the New York Philharmonic. We hope that the Members of the Board will not reprimand him for this daring performance. It must be noted further that this Opera had the World Premiere of its original version in Stockholm, April 12, 1978, at the Royal Swedish Opera with Elgar Horwarth conducting. The revised and shortened version was first performed July 28, 1997 in Salzburg in a Peter Sellars production with Esa-Pekka Salonen Conducting. It is based on on a Michel de Ghelderode play “La Balade du Grand Macabre” and the libretto resulted from a cooperation of Gyorgy Ligeti with Michael Menschke, as Ligeti decided he wanted to create an Opera from that original play. and what Ligeti was trying to answer was the question: “If you knew that the end of the world was imminent, that a comet was about to crash into our planet and obliterate it forever, how would you chose to spend your final hours?” His answer was, supposedly, “People will spend their final moments doing pretty much whatever they have done before. They’ll jockey for power, they’ll revel in stupidity, they”ll pursue love, they”ll engage in posturing, they’ll get drunk. It is essentially an absurdist treatment in which Ligeti manages to make the unthinkable approachable by rendering it comical.” The notes say that Ligeti told a broadcast interviewer “The threat of collective death is always present – but we try to eliminate it from our consciousness and enjoy to the maximum the days that are left to us.” The theatrical approach of the script as shaped by Ligeti belongs to the Absurdist school of Alfred Jarry and Eugene Ioneco – the latter also Romanian who lived in Paris like Ligeti. Characters from their plays could have just walked throug Ligeti’s work and cartoonist Saul Steinberg would have found himself at home there either. This is no coincidence and it is rooted in the survivalist background of someone who, born into a family in Transylvania and a history of suffering from Nazism and Stalinism, the self defense is absurdism. The US audience did not exactly know what to make out either from the music, nor the content, but having this absurd element in it we found it great and are ready to forgive the critics that had hard time of finding their footing, or the busloads of folks that left at intermission. We loved it and had no difficulty seeing in it what we wanted to see in it. How can we miss it when it starts indeed with CAR HORNS! I saw my way from the first Car Horn Prelude – and did not miss the sequence. After all, the TVs these days are all about Louisiana and the ineptitude of Washington stretching back for generations – the Washington dominated by Oil & Car interests that made devil-deals that felled land, water, and air. Then who can miss the concept of BREUGHELLAND? Just see Breughel’s Icarus http://faculty.smu.edu/tmayo/icarus.jpg for link to Ligheti, but there is more to it – Brueghel, Bruegel or Breughel (Dutch pronunciation: [?b?ø???l]) was the name of several Dutch/Flemish painters from the same family line. Pieter was born in Breda in the Duchy of Brabant, which is now part of The Netherlands but back then part of the Flanders. His paintings are full of images of eating and feasting and being merry – plain gluttony and success. this is the image of a world that sees no limits – the world that later was built on the promisse of oil. And this is my point – Breughelland is to me gluttony-land – and this is the give away of this opera – to me – in my interpretation – these days of the Gulf of Mexico blow-out. ——————————— WORK IN PROGRESS. ——————————- CAR HORN PRELUDE – SCENE ONE: PIET THE POT: O golden Breughelland, NEKROTZAR – from the burial chamber, distant as from the underworld PIET: Oh my! AMANDO: Miserable scoundrel! That for the worm! PIET: Mercy, lord! I spoke no word! NEKROTZAR: Shut up! PIET: You spoke of death, not punishment! NEKROTZAR: Piet the Pot, your time runs out; PIET: Any fool knows that! NEKROTZAR: But no one knows the hour. CHORUS OF SPIRITS – off-stage during Nekrotzar’s declamation: NEKROTZAR The will of the Almighty PIET: Oh, please, PIET: Oh, Breughelland! CHORUS OF SPIRITS: Destruction soon draws nigh, Nekrotzar – mounts Piet, who serves as a horse, with difficulty: —- —- —- SECOND CAR HORN PRELUDE – SCENE TWO – DANCE: ASTRADAMORS: Oh my dreary nights, dark with bitterness! brain her or drown her or knife her or hang her, PIET: Friend Astradamors! it’s you? ASTRADAMORS: Friend Piet the Pot! It’s you? NEKROTZAR: Fire and death I bring, NEKROTZAR, PIET & ASTRADAMORS: Thousands of men will die NEKROTZAR: Yes I am but a loyal PIET & ASTRADAMORS: Death is his employer! NEKROTZAR: My duty here is past When all have breathed their last! NEKROTZAR: Earthquakes will soon arrive, leave not a soul alive! NEKROTZAR: I am powerful! NEKROTZAR: I am the slayer, PIET & ASTRADAMORS: For we shall expire! NEKROTZAR, PIET & ASTRADAMOR: No living thing remains! PIET: Cock-a-doodle-doo! —– —– —– SCENE THREE – DOORBELL PRELUDE: WHITE MINISTER & BLACK MINISTER: Tweedledum! THE WHITE MINISTER UNROLLS A WHITE DOCUMENT WITH BLACK LETTERING AND GESTICULATES WILDLY WITH IT UNDER THE BLACK MINISTER’S NOSE: Here Black party skunk, my resignation! THE BLACK MINISTER UNROLLS A BLACK DOCUMENT WITH WHITE LETTERING AND GESTICULATES WITH IT UNDER THE WHITE MINISTER’S NOSE: Here white party polecat, my resignation! PRINCE GO-GO – appears in front of the curtain: Gentlemen, I beg you! WHITE MINISTER & BLACK MINISTER: … above mere selfish egoism? GO-GO: Yes! WHITE MINISTER & BLACK MINISTER: All right, then, Highness, the riding lesson! THE TWO MINISTERS LIFT PRINCE GO-GO BY FORCE ON TO THE ROCKING-HORSE: Gee-up! GO-GO: We’re feeling giddy! WHITE MINISTER: Gallop! BLACK MINISTER: Now keep the reins tight! WHITE MINISTER: Cavalry charge … WHITE MINISTER & BLACK MINISTER: … as in war! GO-GO: Never war! GO-GO: We make a protest! WHITE MINISTER & BLACK MINISTER: Constitution? GO-GO: Enough! Enough! Enough! BLACK MINISTER PRODUCES A BLACK SCROLL WITH WHITE LETTERING: Now memorize this speech! WHITE MINISTER PRODUCES WHITE SCROLL WITH BLACK LETTERING: My speech – here! Black on white! BLACK MINISTER: White on Black! GO-GO: Gentleman, I beg you! WHITE MINISTER & BLACK MINISTER: Forgive me! GO-GO: What’s that? BLACK MINISTER: Well, a … hm … GO-GO: Not one cent! WHITE MINISTER & BLACK MINISTER: Highness! I shall resign! MYSTERIOUS ENTRANCE OF THE GEPOPO CHIEF: Pssst! GO-GO: Ha! Head of my secret service! What a leisure! GEPOPO: Cococoding Zero, Zero: GEPOPO: Birds on the wing! GEPOPO: Double-you see! GO-GO: What did you say? GEPOPO: Password – Go-Go-lash! THE PEOPLE OF BREUGHELLAND: Our great leader! Go-Go: Come, now let me do it! GO-GO, ON THE BALCONY, RECEIVES THE ACCLAIM OF THE PEOPLE. THEN HE TALKS TO THE PEOPLE. HIS VOICE REMAINS INAUDIBLE; ONLY HIS GESTURES CAN BE SEEN. WHITE MINISTER & BLACK MINISTER: I shall resign! GO-GO: To hell with your resignations! GEPOPO: Stern measures! GO-GO! Stern measures! GEPOPO & GO-GO: Stern measures! WHITE MINISTER & BLACK MINISTER: Stern measures? THE HANGMEN AND DETECTIVES PRESENT THE GEPOPO CHIEF WITH ANOTHER DISPATCH. HE READS IT. THE PEOPLE OF BREUGHELLAND – mixed chorus, off stage: Hear us, Prince, oh, hear us! GEPOPO: Kukuriku! Kikeriki! GO-GO: Who’s coming? GEPOPO: Coming! GO-GO: What is this Macabre? GEPOPO: Coming! Coming! THE GEPOPO CHIEF AND HIS ATTENDANTS FLEE IN PANIC. INSTEAD OF THE EXPECTED DISASTER, ASTRADAMORS SUDDENLY STORMS ON TO THE STAGE. ASTRADAMORS: Hurray, hurray! GO-GO: Hurray, hurray! ASTRADAMORS: My Prince! GO-GO: My worthy sage! GO-GO & ASTRADAMORS: Huzza, huzza! THE PEOPLE OF BREUGHELLAND – mixed chorus in the stalls: Oh! Prince Hear us! GO-GO: But tell me, my good friend, I pray: what is this cloak you wear today? ASTRADAMORS: A funeral kind of mantilla, THE PEOPLE OF BREUGHELLAND: Prince! Hear what we say! GO-GO: Quiet down there! THE PEOPLE OF BREUGHELLAND: Prince! Help us! GO-GO: Yes, yes, I’m coming … Wailing siren: Prince Go-Go is completely intimidated; clings to Astradamors. ASTRADAMORS: Under the table, quick, and not a sound! Grandiose entrance of Nekrotzar with scythe and trumpet, riding on Piet’s back, together with his fiendish entourage. THE PEOPLE OF BREUGHELLAND: Hear us! NEKROTZAR: For the day of wrath and retribution has come! THE PEOPLE OF BREUGHELLAND: O mighty Macabre! NEKROTZAR: Now will searing, scorching heat! THE PEOPLE OF BREUGHELLAND: But me, me, me, let me go on living: ASTRADAMORS: There is no need to fear: PIET & ASTRADAMORS; To our great and singular macabre colleague NEKROTZAR: To arms now! Rise! PIET & ASTRADAMORS – fill Nekrotzar’s glass again: He drinks! Hurrah! NEKROTZAR: Blood tastes good! NEROTZAR: More there! Prince Go-Go, Piet & Astradamors, fully drunk, carry Nekrotzar with great difficulty to the rocking-horse and seat him on it. NEKROTZAR: The command comes from on high that sun, Suddenly semi-darkness: pale, celestial light. Yes, it’s done! It’s done! All is done! … – — – — – – SCENE FOUR (EPILOGUE) In the lovely country of Breugelland, Piet and Astradamors are floating freely above the ground, they are dreaming that they are in heaven. PIET: Ghost Astradamors, are you dead? ASTRADAMORS: We’re floating higher. GO-GO: Is no one there? All of them, every single one dead? RUFFIACK, SCHOBIACK & SCHABERNACK: Ha, we are three soldiers, RUFFIACK: Halt! A civilian! GO-GO: Oh, but no, gentleman all, SCHABERNACK: You’re dead too, baby! Understand? GO-GO: You can call me baby” if you want to NEKROTZAR: Your highnes still alive? GO-GO: Later, my friend … suddenly addressing the three ruffians – And you! Attention! Stomach in, chest out! NEKROTZAR: Which … where is my grave? MESCALINA: Ashtaroth! Behemoth! NEKROTZAR: Damnation! MESCALINA: Beelzebub! NEKROTZAR: Oh, save me! Mescalina has caught Nekrotzar; she holds him firmly and about to plunge the spit into his chest. GO-GO: You there! Seize hold of that fury! The three ruffians suddenly fling themselves on Mescalina. Schabernack reappears. He is dragging behind him the two Ministers, tied up with a long rope. BLACK MINISTER & WHITE MINISTER: Innocent! Innocuous! Virtuous! Decorous! MESCALINA: Highness! These I know too! WHITE MINISTER: Highness, it was she who thought up those infamous taxes! MESCALINA: Oh ho, sweetheart, and who was it BLACK MINISTER: Highness, the Inquisition was her idea! MESCALINA: Oh, ho, dearie, and who wanted to be a tyrant and - WHITE MINISTER: Who invented mass graves? MESCALINA, BLACK MINISTER & WHITE MINISTER: Who? MESCALINA: He! You! They! WHITE MINISTER: She! You! They! BLACK MINISTER: You! She! They! GO-GO: Soldiers! Do your Stuff! —————————— If no hint was clear, just think of President Obama, The Democrats, The Republicans, BP but not just BP – it is all oil and car and other power brokers. It is about fire and water and earthquakes and tremors, the military, the farmers, the engineers, the scientists – it is about you and me. ### |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on May 29th, 2010 Maurice J. Williams, Directed United Nations Food Aid, Dies at 89By DENNIS HEVESIPublished: May 25, 2010Maurice J. Williams, who coordinated American disaster-relief efforts and then led a United Nations agency dedicated to relieving world hunger while warning repeatedly that not enough was being done to achieve that goal, died on May 10 in Bethesda, Md. He was 89 and lived in St. Petersburg, Fla. ![]() Maurice J. Williams The cause was complications from a fall, his son Jon said. Mr. Williams, an expert in international development policy, was director of the United Nations Food Council from 1978 to 1986. An arm of the General Assembly, the agency was established in 1974 to coordinate food programs of other United Nations agencies and national governments. Under Mr. Williams, the council concentrated on helping developing countries formulate strategies for food production, nutrition and disaster preparation. The council was formed shortly after the first World Food Conference was held in Rome. That meeting, at a time when famine was threatening swaths of Africa and Asia, led to a United Nations pledge to eradicate hunger and malnutrition. Five years later, although the sense of global crisis had dissipated because of improved crop yields, Mr. Williams warned, “It is not possible to be optimistic or complacent in the face of evidence which indicates that there are probably more hungry and malnourished people in 1979 than the 450 million to whom the 1974 conference directed its attention.” Mr. Williams was no less concerned in 1984. “There is still famine in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa,” he said then. “You still have hungry people on marginal land in parts of Asia and Latin America. In the slums of their cities people still go to bed hungry every night, unable to earn enough to buy food that is available.” Mr. Williams retired from the World Food Council in 1986; 10 years later its functions were taken over by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Food Program. - – - - His leadership of the council was the culmination of nearly four decades of public service, including many missions abroad during famines and other disasters. Mr. Williams was an international economist with the State Department and the Central Intelligence Agency in the 1950s. He was director of the United States Agency for International Development’s aid programs in Iran and Pakistan from 1963 to 1967 and deputy administrator of the agency from 1970 to 1974. When an earthquake devastated much of Managua, Nicaragua, in December 1972, President Richard M. Nixon sent Mr. Williams to administer American aid efforts there. He had previously coordinated American disaster relief in Peru, the Philippines, six drought-stricken West African countries and for the newly independent Bangladesh after the India-Pakistan war in 1971. - – - - Maurice Jacoutot Williams was born in New Brunswick, Canada, on Nov. 13, 1920, one of two children of Alfred and Yvonne Theberge Williams. His father, an American citizen, was a salesman. Mr. Williams’s studies at Northwestern University were interrupted by World War II. Stationed in London from 1943 to 1946, he rose to captain in the Army. He received his bachelor’s degree from Northwestern after the war and went on to earn a master’s degree in economics from the University of Chicago in 1949. Besides his son Jon, Mr. Williams is survived by his second wife, Joan Dunn Williams; two other sons, Peter and Stephen; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. His first wife, the former Betty Bath, died in 2005. A version of this article appeared in print on May 29, 2010, on page A23 of the New York edition.### |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on May 28th, 2010 FRANZ FISCHLER: ZU WENIG UND ZU VIEL ZU ESSEN. PARADOXIEN DER INTERNATIONALEN LANDWIRTSCHAFTSPOLITIK
Sehr geehrte Damen, sehr geehrte Herren, im Rahmen der Reihe Food & Politics (Kurator: Michael Freund) laden wir Sie sehr herzlich zur folgenden Veranstaltung am kommenden Montag, 31. Mai 2010, 19.00 Uhr, ein: FRANZ FISCHLER How to feed the world? Es ist eine traurige Tatsache, dass entgegen den Millenniumszielen der FAO die Zahl der Hungernden bis 2015 nicht halbiert sein wird. Im Gegenteil, es leben jetzt mehr als eine Milliarde Menschen unter ständigem Hunger. Die vordringlichste Frage bleibt, wie man damit umgehen kann und soll. Es geht in einem neuen FAO-Gipfel um global food security. Was spielt da mit? Wie und wo soll Nahrung produziert, wie soll sie verteilt werden? Damit zusammenhängend wird nun in der EU diskutiert, wie sinnvoll es ist, mit Milliardenunterstützung eine Landwirtschaft zu subventionieren, die unter anderem dem globalen „Süden“ die eigene Produktion und erst recht den Export erschwert: Braucht die EU überhaupt eine Landwirtschaft? Und brauchen die Mitgliedsstaaten eine gemeinsame Agrarpolitik? Franz Fischler ist mit den bisher genannten Themen seit langem vertraut. Zugleich befasst er sich mit den gegenteiligen Ausflüssen des Komplexes Ernährung: dass nämlich in unseren Breitengraden immer mehr und immer ungesünder gegessen wird. Wie eine von ihm geleitete Arbeitsgemeinschaft feststellte, reicht es nicht, Ernährungsfragen nur von der Seite landwirtschaftlicher Interessen, d.h. von der Angebotsseite zu erörtern. Hier sollten Forschung, Erziehung ab dem frühesten Schulalter und Aufklärung mit Kampagnencharakter eine Rolle spielen. Das Phänomen der Übersättigung und des falschen Essens ist nur die Kehrseite einer generell ungenügenden Beschäftigung mit Ernährung und Politik. Fischler beleuchtet in seinem Vortrag den Zusammenhang zwischen regionalen Initiativen und internationalen Entwicklungen. Begrüßung: Franz Vranitzky, Ehrenpräsident des Bruno Kreisky Forums, ehem. österreichischer Bundeskanzler Einleitung und Moderation: Michael Freund, Leiter des Media Communications Department an der Webster University Vienna, Redakteur der Tageszeitung Der Standard. Anmeldungen unter: Bruno Kreisky Forum für internationalen Dialog | Armbrustergasse 15 | 1190 Wien Tel.: 3188260/20 | Fax: 318 82 60/10 | e-mail: einladung.kreiskyforum@kreisky.org Melitta Campostrini ### | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on March 13th, 2010 http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/03/11/15… Posted on Thursday, March 11, 2010 in THE OPPENHEIMER REPORT. The Miami Herald’s Andres Oppenheimer shares his opinion on Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva’s consideration to run for secretary general of the UN. That’s probably true. But the Veja report — stating that Lula “has been sounded out by more than one person to be a candidate for U.N. Secretary General in 2011” — is adding a new element to the puzzle of what’s behind Brazil’s foreign policy. The Brazilian government says it will not comment on the magazine’s report. Diego Arria, a former chairman of the U.N. Security Council, told me that “Lula would be a very strong candidate because of Brazil’s weight as an increasingly independent power, and because of his international prestige.” He added that Lula may be catering to an anti-U.S. climate at the United Nations “to position himself as a strong candidate for Secretary General.” Lula, who recently visited Cuba and posed smiling with that country’s military dictator Gen. Raúl Castro shortly after political prisoner Orlando Zapata died from a hunger strike, said that hunger strikes should not be used “as a pretext” to defend human rights. Lula added, “Imagine if all bandits who are imprisoned in Sao Paulo went on a hunger strike and demanded freedom.” Days earlier, Lula had reiterated his decision to visit Iran in May, despite international efforts to impose sanctions on that country amid growing evidence that its regime is building nuclear weapons in defiance of international rules. Lula gave Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad a much-needed propaganda boost late last year, when he gave him a red-carpet welcome in Brasília only months after the Iranian autocrat had proclaimed himself winner of highly controversial elections in Iran. In addition, Brazil is increasingly using its vote at the United Nations “to protect countries with appalling human rights records,” such as North Korea, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sri Lanka, according to a report by Human Rights Watch last year. Does Lula have a chance of becoming U.N. Secretary General? Most diplomats say current Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, a South Korean diplomat whose term expires Dec. 31, 2011, is expected to run for reelection. Most of the recent U.N. chiefs serve two consecutive terms. Others noted that, if for some reason Ban decided not to run, Asian countries may want to have one of their own diplomats at the job for another five years, in keeping with the tradition that each region gets a two-term mandate. And many point out that Lula doesn’t speak English or French, a major obstacle for a candidate to the top U.N. job. Lula would be a perfect candidate for that position because of his successful “Bolsa Familia” anti-hunger program in Brazil and the international recognition it has given him. In addition, the FAO has never had a Latin American chief. Granted, Lula may find that job too small, but — considering his awful human rights stands — it would be the perfect place for him. ———————- Matthew Russell Lee of The Inner City Press at the UN points out another interesting angle that might explain the Munoz position: “Meanwhile, press in Latin America and even Chilean Ambassador to the UN Munoz have been speaking of Brazil’s Lula as a possible UN Secretary General in 2012. While many in the UN might wish that this would happen, it is considered impolitic for Munoz, currently seeking an Assistant Secretary General post from Ban Ki-moon, to talk up a competing Lula candidacy. Others say “ah ha” about the Lula story, thinking this might explain Lula’s schmoozing with Iran and other non favored regimes. What’s next, Lula praising Sri Lanka’s Rajapaksa and his blood bath on the beach? Pro Rajapaksa Sri Lankans are expected to demonstrate Friday at noon in front of the UN, echoing the Non Aligned Movements letter claiming that the UN has no human rights mandate.” ——————— Interesting stuff – the Miami Cubans might not like the idea so they try to preemt the trial baloon that was lauched by the Brazilian Veja – and then, if there is a change at the UN in 2012, it can be assumed that the Asians will claim a repeat of what happened when the US has helped ease out Egyptian Boutros Boutros-Ghali, who was elected as an African, and brought in then Kofi Annan for a full two terms for Africa. If the UN decides that the MENA group – North Africa and Arab Asia – is indeed a separate region – so above example is not precedent – then there would be no opposition to a prominent Latin American to get the nod. The former East European UN region has pretty much dissolved, so the new MENA or OIC structure will be able to put forward its candidate in due time. —————— Also, what will be the Obama Administration’s position? For one thing, the March 21, 2010 trip of the US President to Indonesia and Australia might produce a US backing for an Indonesian to head the UNFCCC – the present opening for Dirctor General under the Climate Change Convention. As of now, the countries that have voiced they will put forward their candidates are South Africa, India, and Indonesia. Brazil has not done so – and above information may indeed allow for this more complicated play with Lula getting in the New York picture later. ### |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on March 11th, 2010
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on February 3rd, 2010 The problem was the 51 cents/gallon of ethanol from sugar-cane tariff, the US imposes against imports from international producers of bioethanol – so they do not compete with US agro-ethanol. We are cynics by nature and wonder if the release today has anything to do with Shell Oil Company having announced last weekend that they will invest over a billion dollars in the production of sugar-cane ethanol in Brazil. So, did we have to wait until an oil company steps heavily into this area – so we finally allow US door to be opened to a non-petroleum liquid fuel? WE ARE VERY PARTIAL TO THIS TOPIC BECAUSE BACK IN 1978 AT UNIDO IN VIENNA, AND IN 1979 IN NEW ORLEANS, I WAS PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN BRINGING THIS SUBJECT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE LIQUID FUEL HUNGRY WESTERN WORLD. IN VIENNA WE SHOWED THE CUBAN EXPERIENCE AT A UN – AUSTRIA – SWEDEN EVENT. IN NEW ORLEANS THIS WAS “THE FIRST INTER-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ON RENEWABLE SOURCES OF ENERGY” THAT I HELPED ORGANIZE. OBVIOUSLY – TO LOUISIANA WE COULD NOT BRING THE CUBANS – BUT BRAZIL, ARGENTINA AND MANY OTHERS WERE PRESENT UNDER THE FRIENDLY EYES OF THE US DEPARTMENT OF STATE. ETHANOL BECAME A RECOGNIZED FUEL, BUT US AGRICULTURE MADE SURE IT WILL BE US CORN AS FEEDSTOCK. WE COULD NOT EVEN GET PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT FOR IMPORTS FROM FRIENDLY COUNTRIES BECAUSE OIL AND AGRICULTURE – SOME OF THE STRONGEST LOBBIES IN WASHINGTON – WOULD NOT ALLOW IT , EVEN AFTER THE INTERVENTION OF US REPUBLICAN SENATORS LIKE FRANK CHURCH, JACOB JAVITS, CHARLES PERCY – SO WHAT WILL IT BE NOW? WILL THOSE TARIFFS COME OFF? —————- Sugarcane ethanol is a renewable fuel refined from cane that grows typically in tropical climates. Compared to other types of ethanol available today, using sugarcane ethanol to power cars and trucks yields greater reductions in greenhouse gases and is usually much cheaper for drivers to purchase. Brazil has replaced more than half of its fuel needs with sugarcane ethanol – making gasoline the alternative fuel in that country and ethanol the standard. Many observers point to sugarcane ethanol as a good option for diversifying U.S. energy supplies, increasing healthy competition among biofuel manufacturers and improving America’s energy security. The RFS2 will help the United States meet energy security and greenhouse gas reduction goals sought by the Energy Security and Independence Act of 2007 (EISA). The new regulations establish minimum biofuels consumption in the U.S. of more than 12 billion gallons (45 billion liters) in 2010, rising to 36 billion gallons (136 billion liters) in 2022, of which 21 billion gallons per year would have to be one of three types of advanced biofuels: cellulosic, biomass diesel, and “other advanced,” that meet required GHG reduction thresholds as determined by the EPA. Today, EPA affirmed that sugarcane ethanol meets the “other advanced” category in the RFS2, although with a GHG reduction level that exceeds the requirement for all categories as well. Specifically, EPA’s calculations show that sugarcane ethanol from Brazil reduces GHG emissions compared to gasoline by 61%, using a 30-year payback for indirect land use change (iLUC) emissions. “We are pleased that EPA took the time to improve the regulations, particularly by more accurately quantifying the full lifecycle greenhouse emission reductions of biofuels. EPA’s reaffirmation of sugarcane ethanol’s superior GHG reduction confirms that sustainably-produced biofuels can play a important role in climate mitigation. Perhaps this recognition will sway those who have sought to raise trade barriers against clean energy here in the U.S. and around the world. Sugarcane ethanol is a first generation biofuel with third generation performance,” noted Velasco. “While we are reviewing the final rule, it is clear that EPA has incorporated many of the comments that UNICA and other stakeholders made during the public process. EPA should be congratulated for the way it upheld the Obama’s goals of transparency and scientific integrity in the environmental rulemaking. And we hope that other governments should take note of the manner that EPA has handled this process,” concluded Velasco. Brazil is a leader in the production of sugarcane ethanol, which is widely considered as the most efficient biofuel available today. In 2009, Brazil produced over 7 billion gallons of sugarcane ethanol, most of which is used in Brazil in flex fuel vehicles. As a result of Brazil’s innovative use of sugarcane ethanol in transportation and biomass for cogeneration, sugarcane is the leading source of renewable energy in the nation, representing 16% of the country’s total energy needs. In fact, gasoline has become the alternative in Brazil, reducing the country’s dependence on fossil fuels lowering emissions. A recent study in the November 2009 edition of the journal Energy Policy indicated that since 1975, over 600 million tons of CO2 emissions have been avoided thanks to the use of ethanol in Brazil. ——— —————- Brazil Hopes Shell-Cosan Can Boost Ethanol Exports Date: 04-Feb-10, Reuters from Brazil SAO PAULO – Brazil’s ethanol industry, which invested heavily to boost output of the cane-based biofuel, is counting on a tie-up between sugar and ethanol producer Cosan and Royal Dutch Shell Plc to revive its prospects after exports fell short of expectations. The $21-billion-a-year ethanol joint venture announced by the two companies on Monday will enable Cosan, Brazil’s biggest ethanol maker, to move product more efficiently thanks to Shell’s global fuel distribution and retail system. Cosan views the venture as a way to make Brazil’s ethanol a global commodity. But whether that happens will depend largely on outside factors: whether oil is costly enough to make ethanol competitive; whether Brazil’s mills can provide a steady stream of biofuel; and whether key markets such as the United States will be more open to ethanol imports. “Shell chose ethanol as the renewable fuel they want to be in and it chose Brazil. Whether this will mean more exports will depend on a series of circumstances beyond the companies’ control,” said ethanol expert Eduardo Pereira de Carvalho. Some analysts say any growth in ethanol exports will depend on oil prices more than other factor. “The deal itself does not raise or reduce the economic viability of blending anhydrous ethanol in gasoline. This will be determined by the oil market,” said sugar and ethanol analyst Julio Maria Borges, director at Job Economia. High oil prices together with environmental woes were then feeding discussions about a broader adoption of biofuels as an alternative to fossil fuels. But oil prices tumbled as the global credit crisis intensified, and there was a similar decline in foreign interest for the cane-based fuel. Brazilian ethanol exports in 2009 slipped to 3.3 billion liters despite extremely low prices on the Brazilian market. If ethanol is economically viable compared to oil, however, Brazilian ethanol exports should benefit from Shell’s global infrastructure, commercial relationships and know-how. Shell, with distribution centers and 45,000 filling stations around the world, will have access to annual supplies of 2 billion liters of Cosan ethanol. But the lack of steady supplies from Brazil, which produces 26 billion liters of ethanol a year that are mostly consumed domestically, may trouble potential long-term buyers. Futures markets for ethanol have been incapable of minimizing producers’ risks. Deals are largely done on a spot basis — both in and outside Brazil. This makes it difficult for buyers and sellers to hedge against market volatility. Brazil’s government has worked on ways of softening this problem by providing financing to mills to build stocks, which also smoothes out local prices over the year. But the system remains stubbornly inefficient. “The same old problem will continue. Mills say they will expand production if there’s demand but demand will only be created if there’s the certainty of stable supplies,” said an ethanol expert based in the United States. A U.S. tariff on imports of cane-derived ethanol is another roadblock to Brazil’s expansion goals. Some in the industry have suggested Shell’s entry into ethanol production in Brazil could mean extra pressure for removal of the tariff. But it is not clear whether there could be a move in that direction. “The oil industry was always against the U.S. tariff. The news is that it is now seeing a solution in cane,” said Joel Velasco, the North American representative for Brazil’s Sugarcane Industry Association, Unica. But the announcement that the biggest-ever foray into biofuels by an oil major would happen in Brazil was a clear sign of preference for the fuel over other options. “It’s difficult to predict (when exports could rise)… but the strategic meaning of a company the size of Shell to invest here is the most important point,” Carvalho said. ### |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on January 29th, 2010 The Concept of Tenure & Ecology as an aid on the way to Sustainable Development. Stable land management is closely linked to secure land tenure systems. We found people that study the interactions between Planet Earth, systems of land tenure and urban ecosystems, to facilitatemore harmonious management of these systems, and as a result, promote more sustainable human settlement patterns. This is clearly extremely important to achieve in an environmentally sustainable way the Millennium Development Goals. For further information please look for Francisco Bozzano-Barnes at http://www.tenureecology.com/ ### |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on January 17th, 2010 Considering the large number of clicks on our postings about the Haiti catastrophe we decided to continue monitoring the situation from pure humanitarian angles – but true to our website we will look also at what the world must learn from its reaction to the goings-on in this stricken half of the Hispaniola Island and about the ways this reflects on the UN, the US, Brazil and the ALBA States. Will we realize that even without seeing any connection between this earthquake and climate change, though we did see connections between the Asian plates tectonic rim and the melting of the Antarctic ice cap, we do not see this here. But we see the denuding of the island from trees – this in order to have created the sugar cane and other plantations, as a clear contributing factor to global warming that caused the enhancement and increased frequency of the Hurricanes. We know that the interest in our postings has to do also with our suggestion that Haiti is now the chance for Brazil to prove that they have arrived to the point that they should be considered as members of the small club of Nations that willl make a difference in the 21st century. Brazil, that joined the powers that were on the winning side of WWII only close to the end, was nevertheless recognized by being posted as first speakers at the yearly UN General Assembly meeting. It was clear that the size of the country, and its tremendous potential, will bring it to the forefront of the new developing, post-war, world. OK – it took 60 years – but now they are there. Their history of colonizers in the Caribbeans is zero, but their background started with lots of similarities and to its advantage, it was distance wise very remote from Europe so it could breeze easier. Big Brazil and small Haiti have both much to owe to African culture and Europe induced agriculture. Yes – sugar cane, coffee, black slaves, sunny weather and so on. There was a time that in both countries life was easy as the Gershwins sing in Porgy and Bess. But Haiti fell behind. Haiti is the world’s pits. An island South East of Puerto Rico, with a tremendous history of having been the second independent state of the Western Hemisphere, and the only one created by a rebellion of black slaves, with a French culture and lots of Voodoo, and some sons and daughters that did very well outside the country at times the country fell under local dictatorship or US invasions, has never become, just like Cuba, a working US dependency. Perhaps this is thanks to the Americans not being able to stomach this entrenched different culture mix and the realization that it could “dilute” the white protestant US culture. While the top layer of sugar-cane growers did very well, denuded the western part of the Hispaniola island of trees and increased their bank-holdings on the back of their brothers that spiralled into abject poverty – to the dishonor of being the only western hemisphere State that is on the UN list of the 50 least prosperous countries in the world. Actually – they are on the bottom of that list and even have the added disadvantage of being battered by natural disasters – one after another – in this last decade – three major Hurricanes and this last major Earthquake with its 7.0 epicenter just 10 miles from their capital. Now, does the world owe them rescue? As a humanitarian obligation the answer is obviously a very strong YES. From the climate change / environmental angle – sure a clear YES with a but. Now, let us write about the BUT. - THE NEW YORK TIMES January 17, 2010, QUOTATION OF THE DAY - “Their priorities are to secure the country, ours are to feed. We have got to get those priorities in sync.” PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — As the focus on Saturday turned away from While countries and relief agencies showered aid on Haiti, only a Hunger drove many to swarm places where food was being given out. Still, recovery and aid efforts were widening. And even the Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived in Port-au-Prince, But with Haitian officials relying so heavily on the United States, About 1,700 people camped on the grass in front of the prime Haitian officials said the bodies of tens of thousands of victims had The United Nations also confirmed the death of three of its most Even as the United States took a leading role in aid efforts, some aid The World Food Program finally was able to land flights of food, “There are 200 flights going in and out every day, which is an He added: “Their priorities are to secure the country. Ours are to American officials said they were making substantial progress. Mrs. The United States Agency for International Development was helping Yet problems remain. American officials said that 180 tons of relief Fuel shortages were mounting. At several gas stations around Some aid workers were critical of the United Nations, as well, arguing But many United Nations employees were killed in the earthquake. And Criticism of the United Nations “may reflect people’s frustrations Michel Chancy, appointed by Mr. Préval to coordinate relief, said that “The palace fell,” he said. “Ministries fell. And not only that, the At the American Embassy in Port-au-Prince, American rescue teams “People need to get the message, we’re out, we’re doing stuff,” said Though the numbers are fluid, he said four American teams had helped Some airplanes, after circling the capital’s airport, have been “We’re all going crazy,” said Nan Buzard, senior director of Among the aid groups avoiding the logjam in Port-au-Prince by entering A caravan of eight trucks from the federation was creeping toward the The group had originally planned to touch down in Haiti, but the “Every minute counts, I know that, but we cannot be on standby to land Mr. Préval, speaking at the airport, now the effective seat of the Mr. Préval said he was making food, water, medical supplies and the ### |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on November 29th, 2009 Finally a second shoe comes of at the UN Department of Public Information that services the Ban Ki-moon UN Administration. After the replacement of the officer in charge of Media Accreditation, now also a new Spokesperson. November 30, 2009 UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is getting a new Spokesperson – a real professional – Martin Nesirky – that will hail from Vienna where he was not just spokesman for over three years at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) but was also Head of Press and Public Information. Nesirky will replace Michele Montas of Haiti who served since the beginning of the term of Mr. Ban Ki-moon, January 1, 2007, till now, November 30, 2009, thus leaving one month ahead of the end of a three years contract. Ms. Montas is retiring from the UN. More recently Mr. Nesirky in his Spokesman capacity at OSCE was instrumental in navigating the Russia backed OSCE Chairmanship for Kazakhstan for 2010. At the UN he may find his personal talents helpful in creating a new persona for the UN Secretary-General whose popularity with parts of the UN have hit a low, at a time that his reelection for a second term will be put on the table. Ms. Montas whom he replaces had none of such credentials. Prior to her appointment, Montas headed the French unit of UN Radio. From 2003 to 2004, she served as the Spokesperson for UN General Assembly President Julian Robert Hunte, of Saint Lucia, soon after she fled to New York from Haiti. In Haiti, she and her husband were also radio journalists and activists. Her husband was killed in Haiti, and she escaped to New York. We can vouch that in her first several months in the job Mr. Ban Ki-moon set her up, she had no understanding or patience for subjects of climate change – not even when the subject was raised in connection to killings going on in Africa, or the dangers to Small Island Member States of the UN. Not even in matters of the Middle East – she seemed as a fish out of water and effectively harming positions that the SG might have been more forthcoming. In press conferences of the SG she allowed only questions that she thought he would be interested in while guarding him from such questions as climate change. The anemic answer was: “As you know, the SG has been encouraging all of the relevant bodies to deal with climate change and its effects across a variety of fields.At this stage, however, what the SG is concerned with is making sure that Member states and leaders at the highest level will come to Copenhagen to deal precisely with all of the challenges of climate change and seal a deal that can help resolve all the various problems that member States face.” That was quite a lame answer from the source of “Hopenhagen” and a clear show why finally the UN deserves a professional Spokesperson it was denied during the first three years of the Ban Ki-moon Administration of the UN. The Correspondent continued with his insistence for an answer: Final answer from the Associate Spokesperson: “It’s always up to the Security Council which matters it chooses to take up under rubric of peace and security issues.” ———————————– N.B. - to be fair to Michele Montas - ———————————- P.S. – On November 23, 2009 Martin Nesirky met the media correspondents to the UN and said: A couple of things I just wanted to mention. First of all, I’m really looking forward to working with all of you; getting to know you. This is a huge challenge, of course, and I’m very keen to try to get to know you so I can help you the best that I can. That’s the first thing. The second thing is that, needless to say, I do read what’s being written. And I think there are a couple of things I’d like to make absolutely clear and very straight at the beginning. My language skills: I speak German, I speak Russian, I speak English after a fashion, I speak a little bit of Korean and an even smaller amount of French. I realize that it’s very, very important to be able to speak French. I’m going to be doing as the Secretary-General has done, which is to take extra French classes to improve on that. And that’s really all I wanted to say on that matter. The other is that I really believe that coming from outside the UN has advantages and disadvantages. You will have to bear with me as I get to know the system that you, many of you, know far better than I probably will ever do. But I am very keen to work with you so that you can help me to help you to have the stories that you need to write. Also, it seems that the UN expects Mr. Nesirky to start his work at the UN on only December 7th, which is coincidentally the day the Copenhagen Conference opens officially, does it mean that he will be there, or it means that Marie Okabe will be there and he will be in New York? We shall see! ### |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on November 4th, 2009 Stevensonian Democratic Internationalist, Professor Richard N. Gardner, among the best that try to help the UN, and with Internationalist Environmental Credentials as well, says Copenhagen will be the stage where individual Nations will declare what they are ready to do to decrease their impact on climate change – just that and no-more at this stage. Professor and Ambassador Richard N. Gardner, with Columbia University since 1957, is Professor of Law and International Organizations at the Law School. He was also US Ambassador to Italy and Spain. Professor Gardner was appointed by President Kennedy as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs in 1961, a position he held until 1965, when he served also as a senior adviser to Adlai Stevenson II, the John F, Kennedy appointed United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Further, after a year with the U.N., he served as a member of the President’s Commission on International Trade and Investment Policy from 1970 to 1971. He served also in various advisory positions in the U.N. He served as a special adviser to the United Nations at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio as he did in 1972 to the UN Conference on the Human Environment. From 1982 to 1993 he was cochairman of the Aspen Institute Program on the United States and the World Economy. I remember Professor Gardner from the ’92 UNCED and from lectures at Columbia University. He is a convinced internationalist – as good as the believers in a UN system can get. He was a principle adviser to Adlai Stevenson who himself, since the San Francisco 1945 Conference that created the UN, was a strong believer in the good the UN can do – even when it was just the place where the US and the USSR could meet to talk in order to tone down the Cuban missile crisis. So, it was not surprising that Professor Gardner was a speaker at the UN memorial to Senator, Governor, Ambassador, Adlai Stevenson. The November 3, 2009 meeting in the ECOSOC room at the UN, was opened by US Ambassador Alejandro Wolf, moderated by former US Under Secretary of State Thomas Pickering, and populated UN stars – some going back to time of the creation – like Brian Urquhart who served under all UNSGs todate, went on well over time. I will not elaborate here on what was said and on the only question (from the Ambassador from Botswana) – because of the over-time – that was allowed at the end, but will go directly to my little after-the-meeting exchange with Ambassador Gardner. —— Gardner, a US Stevensonian Internationalist Democrat, even past member of The Trilateral Commission 1957 – 2005, and International Environmentalist, was my target for questions about “the Hopenhagen.” I wanted to know what he thinks the UN can expect realistically from Copenhagen? And he did not disappoint me. Gardner said that the situation is not ready for an across the board agreement – just only for individual countries stating what they will do to reduce their emissions. On my question about bi-lateral agreements – like US-China, US-India, China-India, Brazil-China etc. this sort of agreements that are economic and environmental at the same time and could create the network on which some day an international agreement might be based. He completely accepted this approach and offered that the upcoming President Obama trip to China is extremely important to a climate agreement. I did not ask him about the possibility of an EU internal agreement so it could speak with one voice, but I mentioned having seen the home-made passport (leather parchment and eagle feather) that Thomas Banyaka, the spokesman for the Hopi Nation, used to enter and leave Sweden for his participation at the 1972 Conference on the Environment. The Hopi being an Environment-friendly Nation with no UN status. ### |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on November 3rd, 2009 FIVE NEW SIGNATORIES TO A UN INITIATIVE TO TACKLE DEFORESTATION. Argentina, Cambodia, Ecuador, Nepal and Sri Lanka each asked to participate in the initiative, known as UN-REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries), adding to the initial nine member countries. The initiative targets deforestation and forest degradation as related activities such as agricultural expansion, the conversion of forests to pasture land, infrastructure development, destructive logging and fires account for almost 20 per cent of global emissions of greenhouse gases. In its first year of operations UN-REDD has approved more than $37 million in funding for the national anti-deforestation programmes of countries, including Panama, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Tanzania and Viet Nam. The programme says another 20 countries have voiced interest in joining. ### |
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Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on October 30th, 2009
Climate Change Adaptation: It’s about Water! Water is central to the world’s development challenges. Whether it is food security, poverty reduction, economic growth, human health—water is the nexus. Climate change is the spoiler. No matter how successful mitigation efforts might be, people will experience the impacts of climate change through water. The Global Water Partnership is participating in ‘Water Day’ at the climate change negotiations in Barcelona. GWP Executive Secretary Dr Ania Grobicki will be the lead speaker on water and transboundary issues on Tuesday, November 3. The venue is the Fira Congress Hotel, opposite the conference centre. The opening session starts at 9 am and lunch will be provided. Recently, the GWP’s Technical Committee released its 14th Background Paper: “Water Management, Water Security and Climate Change Adaptation.” It argues that investments in water are investments in adaptation. The paper can be downloaded on www.gwpforum.org or ordered free at gwp@gwpforum.org. Climate Change: How can we Adapt? – a one-pager about GWP’s key messages on this subject – is available here: http://www.gwpforum.org/gwp/library/GWP_Briefingnote_climatechange.pdf. GWP has been accepted as an Inter-Governmental Organisation with Observer Status at COP 15 in Copenhagen in December and has submitted an article to the delegate publication. But more information on that will follow later. More resources about climate change and water and more information on GWP’s involvement in the global dialogue on climate change is available on this page: http://www.gwpforum.org/servlet/PSP?iNodeID=205&itemId=442.
——————————————————–Steven DowneyHead of CommunicationsGlobal Water Partnership (GWP)Drottninggatan 33SE-111 51 Stockholm, SWEDENPhone: +46 8 522 126 52Fax: + 46 8 522 126 31E-mail: steven.downey@gwpforum.orgWebsite: www.gwpforum.org ### |



















We all want to really make it right in the Gulf. Will BP and the government handle it well enough? That’s in doubt. It’s actually up to us all. We need urgent environmental action especially involving energy consumption: let us cut oil use.The grassroots coalition World Oil Reduction for the Gulf (WORG) has as its initial objective the promulgation and propagation of a powerful Resolution for immediate global remediation of the gusher in the Gulf of Mexico.






















Teshome Hunduma Mulesa <Teshome@utviklingsfondet.no>

