From "Guardian"
James Hansen, one of the world's leading climate scientists, will today call for the chief executives of large fossil fuel companies to be put on trial for high crimes against humanity and nature, accusing them of actively spreading doubt about global warming in the same way that tobacco companies blurred the links between smoking and cancer.
Hansen will use the symbolically charged 20th anniversary of his groundbreaking speech (pdf) to the US Congress - in which he was among the first to sound the alarm over the reality of global warming - to argue that radical steps need to be taken immediately if the "perfect storm" of irreversible climate change is not to become inevitable.
Speaking before Congress again, he will accuse the chief executive officers of companies such as ExxonMobil and Peabody Energy of being fully aware of the disinformation about climate change they are spreading.
In an interview with the Guardian he said: "When you are in that kind of position, as the CEO of one the primary players who have been putting out misinformation even via organisations that affect what gets into school textbooks, then I think that's a crime."
He is also considering personally targeting members of Congress who have a poor track record on climate change in the coming November elections. He will campaign to have several of them unseated. Hansen's speech to Congress on June 23 1988 is seen as a seminal moment in bringing the threat of global warming to the public's attention. At a time when most scientists were still hesitant to speak out, he said the evidence of the greenhouse gas effect was 99% certain, adding "it is time to stop waffling".
He will tell the House select committee on energy independence and global warming this afternoon that he is now 99% certain that the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has already risen beyond the safe level.
The current concentration is 385 parts per million and is rising by 2ppm a year. Hansen, who heads Nasa's Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, says 2009 will be a crucial year, with a new US president and talks on how to follow the Kyoto agreement.
He wants to see a moratorium on new coal-fired power plants, coupled with the creation of a huge grid of low-loss electric power lines buried under ground and spread across America, in order to give wind and solar power a chance of competing. "The new US president would have to take the initiative analogous to Kennedy's decision to go to the moon."
His sharpest words are reserved for the special interests he blames for public confusion about the nature of the global warming threat. "The problem is not political will, it's the alligator shoes - the lobbyists. It's the fact that money talks in Washington, and that democracy is not working the way it's intended to work."
A group seeking to increase pressure on international leaders is launching a campaign today called 350.org. It is taking out full-page adverts in papers such as the New York Times and the Swedish Falukuriren calling for the target level of CO2 to be lowered to 350ppm. The advert has been backed by 150 signatories, including Hansen.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Stop Mugabe's terror in Zimbabwe
Dear friends, African leaders can still save Zimbabwe by holding an emergency summit to broker a legitimate government. Click below to join the call:
On Friday, 27th June, Zimbabwe will hold a cruel sham of a vote for President. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change has just withdrawn from the run-off -- not in a concession of victory, but rather in recognition that Mugabe's campaign of violence and terror has erased any hope for a democratic election.
But against the odds, hope survives. Amidst growing international pressure, Mugabe's ZANU-PF party and the opposition have entered private talks. A unity government may be possible yet.
The United Nations Security Council unanimously held on Monday that free and fair elections are now impossible in Zimbabwe. The UN Secretary-General spoke out. But it is African leaders, most of all Thabo Mbeki, who hold the key. Even Mugabe cannot cling to power without their cooperation. Today, we're launching an emergency campaign, petitioning these leaders to call an immediate summit, isolate Mugabe, and broker a legitimate government for Zimbabwe. Our call will be published in big newspaper advertisements in South Africa, Tanzania, Angola, and Mozambique this week -- click here to see the ads and endorse their message:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_zimbabwe/6.php?cl=100925738
Zimbabwe's neighbours supply its electricity and goods, and control the borders. Many Southern African leaders are already calling for the postponement of the election -- but there's a real danger that they will end up accepting this charade. This would be a grave miscalculation: if Mugabe succeeds in his de facto coup, Zimbabwe's implosion will accelerate, and chaos could spread throughout the region.
So our campaign will publicly name those African leaders who hold Mugabe's last remaining lifeline. If these leaders step up strongly now, they can convince enough of Mugabe's officials that change is coming one way or another -- and set the stage for Morgan Tsvangirai to lead a unity government to pull Zimbabwe back together.
Robert Mugabe saved Zimbabwe from colonialism. Now it's time for African leaders to save Zimbabwe from him.
Help us raise 250,000 voices this week, including a great roar from every country in Africa, to be delivered in an immediate multi-country ad campaign. Click to see the ads, sign, and then forward this to friends:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_zimbabwe/6.php?cl=100925738
With hope and determination,
Ben, Alice, Paul, Graziela, Mark, Ricken, Iain, Veronique, Pascal, and Milena -- the Avaaz.org team
PS: For more information and sources for the facts above, see:
Thabo Mbeki and the emergency talks for a settlement:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article4200177.ece
United Nations Security Council declares free and fair elections "impossible":
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL2026827820080624
Elections going ahead despite MDC pull-out:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7468849.stm
Mugabe: "Only God will remove me!"
http://www.thetimes.co.za/SpecialReports/Zimbabwe/Article.aspx?id=788598
Regional leaders criticizing Mugabe:
Tanzania's Kikwete - http://allafrica.com/stories/200806200336.html
Rwanda's Kagame - http://allafrica.com/stories/200806190003.html
Kenya's Odinga - http://allafrica.com/stories/200806190949.html
Uganada's Museveni - http://allafrica.com/stories/200806120016.html
_______
ABOUT AVAAZ
Avaaz.org is an independent, not-for-profit global campaigning organization that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people inform global decision-making. (Avaaz means "voice" in many languages.) Avaaz receives no money from governments or corporations, and is staffed by a global team based in London, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Paris, Washington DC, and Geneva.
On Friday, 27th June, Zimbabwe will hold a cruel sham of a vote for President. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change has just withdrawn from the run-off -- not in a concession of victory, but rather in recognition that Mugabe's campaign of violence and terror has erased any hope for a democratic election.
But against the odds, hope survives. Amidst growing international pressure, Mugabe's ZANU-PF party and the opposition have entered private talks. A unity government may be possible yet.
The United Nations Security Council unanimously held on Monday that free and fair elections are now impossible in Zimbabwe. The UN Secretary-General spoke out. But it is African leaders, most of all Thabo Mbeki, who hold the key. Even Mugabe cannot cling to power without their cooperation. Today, we're launching an emergency campaign, petitioning these leaders to call an immediate summit, isolate Mugabe, and broker a legitimate government for Zimbabwe. Our call will be published in big newspaper advertisements in South Africa, Tanzania, Angola, and Mozambique this week -- click here to see the ads and endorse their message:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_zimbabwe/6.php?cl=100925738
Zimbabwe's neighbours supply its electricity and goods, and control the borders. Many Southern African leaders are already calling for the postponement of the election -- but there's a real danger that they will end up accepting this charade. This would be a grave miscalculation: if Mugabe succeeds in his de facto coup, Zimbabwe's implosion will accelerate, and chaos could spread throughout the region.
So our campaign will publicly name those African leaders who hold Mugabe's last remaining lifeline. If these leaders step up strongly now, they can convince enough of Mugabe's officials that change is coming one way or another -- and set the stage for Morgan Tsvangirai to lead a unity government to pull Zimbabwe back together.
Robert Mugabe saved Zimbabwe from colonialism. Now it's time for African leaders to save Zimbabwe from him.
Help us raise 250,000 voices this week, including a great roar from every country in Africa, to be delivered in an immediate multi-country ad campaign. Click to see the ads, sign, and then forward this to friends:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_zimbabwe/6.php?cl=100925738
With hope and determination,
Ben, Alice, Paul, Graziela, Mark, Ricken, Iain, Veronique, Pascal, and Milena -- the Avaaz.org team
PS: For more information and sources for the facts above, see:
Thabo Mbeki and the emergency talks for a settlement:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article4200177.ece
United Nations Security Council declares free and fair elections "impossible":
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL2026827820080624
Elections going ahead despite MDC pull-out:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7468849.stm
Mugabe: "Only God will remove me!"
http://www.thetimes.co.za/SpecialReports/Zimbabwe/Article.aspx?id=788598
Regional leaders criticizing Mugabe:
Tanzania's Kikwete - http://allafrica.com/stories/200806200336.html
Rwanda's Kagame - http://allafrica.com/stories/200806190003.html
Kenya's Odinga - http://allafrica.com/stories/200806190949.html
Uganada's Museveni - http://allafrica.com/stories/200806120016.html
_______
ABOUT AVAAZ
Avaaz.org is an independent, not-for-profit global campaigning organization that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people inform global decision-making. (Avaaz means "voice" in many languages.) Avaaz receives no money from governments or corporations, and is staffed by a global team based in London, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Paris, Washington DC, and Geneva.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Open day on Positivenest
The open day on the Uiterwaarden straat was successful, but not completely. It happened small misunderstanding. Cafe in English means place where in peace you can drink tee, coffee etc. In dutch that's also place where you drink beer and watch football matches. Not surprisingly some off our old neighbours was against the idea to make cafe for the neighbourhood in the squatted place. They sent us letter that they are not interested about our idea, and they would not come to the event. Pity, because we could clear this funny misunderstanding and talk about any ones expectations, what we did witch those who come. All our visitors where enthusiastic about our ideas and where asking to go on witch the project. The pastor from the Lutheran church, just next to us even suggested to make our activity in the church ( great space for not so loud events ). We will see what the future will bring on the next open day. For sure we will try to support our neighbourhood and not to bother them. For now seems people like us, that we squatted that's place and we are very happy about it and we will work on it to keep like this. Our neighbours could be our strongest and most sufficient barricade and is nice to give them nice example from our side.
Protest,pers en politie
Terwijl de Nederlandse kraak- en actiebeweging minder militant is dan ooit, lijkt in de berichtgeving het tegenovergestelde. Elke actie of ontruiming wordt tegenwoordig in de media omgetoverd in een verhaal over de meest verachtelijke streken van de kant van de krakers. De 'feiten' die stuk voor stuk verzonnen blijken, worden aangeleverd door politiewoordvoerders en in de meeste media met gejuich verder gevoerd en uitvergroot. Wat is hier aan de hand? En kunnen de activisten hiertegen wat ondernemen?
Die vragen staan centraal in een multimediaal avondje in Vrankrijk, Spuistraat 216 Amsterdam (en wel op dinsdagavond 1 juli te beginnen om 20.00 uur).
De avond bestaat uit drie blokken. Eerst is er een snelle reconstructie van een aantal 'broodje kraakaap' verhalen: van de 'boobytraps' bij de ontruiming van panden in de Bilderdijkstraat en de Kerkstraat, tot de 'verfbommen met glassplinters' bij de Lastpost in Nijmegen. Ook zal dan een korte beschouwing van media over politiek geweld gebeuren. Toen de kraakbeweging écht gewelddadig was, was de berichtgeving een stuk genuanceerder dan nu.
Maar hoe komt dat? Dat vragen we ons in het tweede deel af. Zij de media veranderd, de journalisten, de wereld erom heen, of de actievoerders? Hierbij komen mogelijk ook journalisten zelf uit de kast...
En wat moeten we er dan mee? Zijn de eerder geschetste ontwikkelingen natuurverschijnselen waar je maar mee te leven hebt, of heb je er invloed op? Valt er wat te organiseren om invloed te verkrijgen op de berichtgeving, of moet je 'de media' gewoon links laten liggen?
Dinsdag 1 juli, Vrankrijk, Spuistraat 216 Amsterdam
(20.00 uur).
Friday, June 20, 2008
Guardian on our site !!!
The new vegetarianism: meat is more murderous than ever
I gave up flesh-eating in 1984. But for the new wave of herbivores, the agenda is more about human, than animal, lives
o John Harris
o The Guardian,
Back in April, under the auspices of a campaign titled No Meat No Heat, around a million people in Taiwan - including the speaker of parliament, the environment minister, and the mayors of Taipei and Kaohsiung - vowed to never again touch flesh nor fish. Given that Taiwan's Buddhist traditions mean around 1.2 million of its people are already vegetarian, this was perhaps not such a bold move as it seemed, but still: the organisers of the mass pledge cited the often overlooked contribution of livestock farming to greenhouse gas emissions, and presented it as an environmental move par excellence.
The decisive arrival of the current food crisis must be making them feel even more righteous. As daily news reports now remind us, there are three key factors behind the rocketing price of the most basic foodstuffs: the rising cost of oil, swathes of agricultural land being given over to biofuels, and the fact that the increasing affluence of China and India is spearheading an explosion in the demand for meat and the feed needed to produce it.
From there, it is only a small step towards an argument that is rapidly gaining ground: that with more than 850 million people going hungry, using huge amounts of water, grain, energy and land to rear livestock is a luxury now officially beyond us. This may suggest the arrogant west once again telling the rest of humanity to refrain from what we have happily done for years, but there is another way of thinking about it: à la the contraction and convergence model for tackling climate change, if we are to accommodate other countries' increased demand for meat, we will have to drastically reduce our own.
As the Alcoholics Anonymous mantra would have it: my name is John Harris and I am a vegetarian. I haven't eaten meat or fish since Christmas 1984, when I had my share of the Christmas turkey, and then quit. I can faintly recall arguments about the inbuilt inefficiencies of meat-eating, but the decision of this particular hard-bitten 14-year-old was based on two different considerations: first, a belief that it was wrong to kill sentient creatures to eat them; and second, that living without meat was an integral part of the 80s counterculture that set itself against the adult world, international capitalism, and Margaret Thatcher. With the arrival of the Smiths' album Meat Is Murder in 1985, everything became clear.
If only for reasons of space, we'll have to leave vegans out of this - but in the intervening 20-odd years, it's been strange to watch vegetarianism ooze so easily into the culture. The great post-PC backlash that began in the mid-1990s seemed to briefly threaten its quiet ascendancy - but though avowed British herbivores still form a pretty tiny minority (between 2% and 8% of us, according to polling), their influence is obvious. The recent story of British meat consumption may essentially be one of fish, chicken and processed meat supplanting our appetite for beef, pork and lamb straight from the butcher's block, but the parallel growth of vegetarian food has been astonishing: after well over a decade of year-on-year surges, the research firm Mintel reckons that the annual value of the British "meat-free" market is about to reach £780m.
In the midst of such progress, there has only been one drawback: the ongoing and inevitable association of vegetarianism with a very British piety (with the onset of age, one begins to understand Orwell's very reasonable distaste for the people he described as "vegetarians and communists"), and the mixed-up morals of the hardcore animal rights lobby. In 1999, I went to see Morrissey in concert, and heard him compare the meat industry's transgressions with slavery and the Nazi genocide; down the years, I've regularly confronted the assumption that refusing meat and fish somehow puts you in tight alliance with the people who seem to think that medical vivisection is a bigger problem than, say, human hunger.
Now, thankfully, there comes this new vegetarian(ish) agenda, and the chance to make the case against meat-eating on more level-headed grounds: that even if meat will remain part of most people's diet, they are going to have to eat less of it; and that right now, this is actually more about human lives than those of animals.
Newsnight recently ran an item on the arguments for cutting down, stuffed with the requisite statistics; for example, whereas it takes 20.9 square metres of land to produce 1kg of beef, to come up with the same weight of vegetables, the figure is 0.3 square metres. In the ensuing studio discussion, even the pro-meat contributor agreed that the world would now "have to value meat more highly", and Gavin Esler enthusiastically quizzed the vegetarian advocate, rather than trying to tear him to bits. By the end, one got the impression that they were discussing something almost unanswerable.
In the short-to-medium-term, it may well be the price of meat rather than high-minded ethics that sends sales of Quorn through the roof. Nonetheless, something is up: the possibility of a decisive sea-change that, back in the days of Smiths albums and endless lentils, would have been unimaginable. Millions of Britons following the Taiwanese and pledging en masse to go herbivorous may seem unlikely - but then again, I wouldn't rule it out.
john.harris@guardian.co.uk
I gave up flesh-eating in 1984. But for the new wave of herbivores, the agenda is more about human, than animal, lives
o John Harris
o The Guardian,
Back in April, under the auspices of a campaign titled No Meat No Heat, around a million people in Taiwan - including the speaker of parliament, the environment minister, and the mayors of Taipei and Kaohsiung - vowed to never again touch flesh nor fish. Given that Taiwan's Buddhist traditions mean around 1.2 million of its people are already vegetarian, this was perhaps not such a bold move as it seemed, but still: the organisers of the mass pledge cited the often overlooked contribution of livestock farming to greenhouse gas emissions, and presented it as an environmental move par excellence.
The decisive arrival of the current food crisis must be making them feel even more righteous. As daily news reports now remind us, there are three key factors behind the rocketing price of the most basic foodstuffs: the rising cost of oil, swathes of agricultural land being given over to biofuels, and the fact that the increasing affluence of China and India is spearheading an explosion in the demand for meat and the feed needed to produce it.
From there, it is only a small step towards an argument that is rapidly gaining ground: that with more than 850 million people going hungry, using huge amounts of water, grain, energy and land to rear livestock is a luxury now officially beyond us. This may suggest the arrogant west once again telling the rest of humanity to refrain from what we have happily done for years, but there is another way of thinking about it: à la the contraction and convergence model for tackling climate change, if we are to accommodate other countries' increased demand for meat, we will have to drastically reduce our own.
As the Alcoholics Anonymous mantra would have it: my name is John Harris and I am a vegetarian. I haven't eaten meat or fish since Christmas 1984, when I had my share of the Christmas turkey, and then quit. I can faintly recall arguments about the inbuilt inefficiencies of meat-eating, but the decision of this particular hard-bitten 14-year-old was based on two different considerations: first, a belief that it was wrong to kill sentient creatures to eat them; and second, that living without meat was an integral part of the 80s counterculture that set itself against the adult world, international capitalism, and Margaret Thatcher. With the arrival of the Smiths' album Meat Is Murder in 1985, everything became clear.
If only for reasons of space, we'll have to leave vegans out of this - but in the intervening 20-odd years, it's been strange to watch vegetarianism ooze so easily into the culture. The great post-PC backlash that began in the mid-1990s seemed to briefly threaten its quiet ascendancy - but though avowed British herbivores still form a pretty tiny minority (between 2% and 8% of us, according to polling), their influence is obvious. The recent story of British meat consumption may essentially be one of fish, chicken and processed meat supplanting our appetite for beef, pork and lamb straight from the butcher's block, but the parallel growth of vegetarian food has been astonishing: after well over a decade of year-on-year surges, the research firm Mintel reckons that the annual value of the British "meat-free" market is about to reach £780m.
In the midst of such progress, there has only been one drawback: the ongoing and inevitable association of vegetarianism with a very British piety (with the onset of age, one begins to understand Orwell's very reasonable distaste for the people he described as "vegetarians and communists"), and the mixed-up morals of the hardcore animal rights lobby. In 1999, I went to see Morrissey in concert, and heard him compare the meat industry's transgressions with slavery and the Nazi genocide; down the years, I've regularly confronted the assumption that refusing meat and fish somehow puts you in tight alliance with the people who seem to think that medical vivisection is a bigger problem than, say, human hunger.
Now, thankfully, there comes this new vegetarian(ish) agenda, and the chance to make the case against meat-eating on more level-headed grounds: that even if meat will remain part of most people's diet, they are going to have to eat less of it; and that right now, this is actually more about human lives than those of animals.
Newsnight recently ran an item on the arguments for cutting down, stuffed with the requisite statistics; for example, whereas it takes 20.9 square metres of land to produce 1kg of beef, to come up with the same weight of vegetables, the figure is 0.3 square metres. In the ensuing studio discussion, even the pro-meat contributor agreed that the world would now "have to value meat more highly", and Gavin Esler enthusiastically quizzed the vegetarian advocate, rather than trying to tear him to bits. By the end, one got the impression that they were discussing something almost unanswerable.
In the short-to-medium-term, it may well be the price of meat rather than high-minded ethics that sends sales of Quorn through the roof. Nonetheless, something is up: the possibility of a decisive sea-change that, back in the days of Smiths albums and endless lentils, would have been unimaginable. Millions of Britons following the Taiwanese and pledging en masse to go herbivorous may seem unlikely - but then again, I wouldn't rule it out.
john.harris@guardian.co.uk
Petition for climate change for better
Dear friends,
On Wednesday, we'll hand our climate petition to the prime minister of Japan -- the chair of the powerful G8 summit. Join the call for climate action now!
Click to Sign Now!
Last year, the world seemed to wake up to climate change.
This year, it's falling back asleep.
Two weeks of global climate negotiations have just wrapped up -- with no real progress. The rich nations are the culprits, refusing to take the lead and commit to emissions cuts that will bring the rest of the world onboard.[1]
Our best hope: within weeks, those rich country leaders will gather at the G8 summit chaired by Japan. If Japan's Prime Minister offers bold leadership, the G8 summit could be a breakthrough. But, so far, he is pushing in the wrong direction.[2]
So it's up to us. Next Wednesday, June 18, we will hand-deliver our new climate petition to Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. If we can muster 250,000 voices in a few short days, we can sound a global alarm on climate that Fukuda and the other G8 leaders cannot ignore. Sign the petition and forward this message to friends:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/g8_climate_wakeup/23.php?cl=99689304
We've already shown that a global public outcry on climate change can move Fukuda's policy. Asahi Shimbun, Japan's second-largest newspaper, told the story in a lengthy article this January. At a critical, high-level meeting on global warming after the UN negotiations in Bali, the Environment Minister reportedly held up Avaaz's "Titanic" newspaper ad -- showing Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda, with Bush, steering towards climate disaster... along with a call for tough 2020 emissions targets, signed by 90,000 Avaaz members.
"The world sees Japan as a force resisting change! Are we okay with this?" the minister reportedly asked. The Chief Cabinet Minister suggested setting a target. Days later, after having steadfastly resisted the idea at Bali, Prime Minister Fukuda announced his decision: Japan would, indeed set a 2020 emissions target.[3]
Now, five months on, Fukuda has indeed laid out a target -- but it falls far short of what scientists say is necessary to avert a climate catastrophe.
This year's G8 summit will begin on the same day as the Tanabata festival, when citizens write their wishes on pieces of paper and hang them from bamboo trees. [4] This Wednesday, let's send the biggest-ever Tanabata wish: for a climate change treaty strong enough to save the planet.
Sign the petition here, and spread the word:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/g8_climate_wakeup/23.php?cl=99689304
People created the climate crisis. If we join together, people power can end it.
With hope,
Ben, Ricken, Iain, Graziela, Galit, Paul, Pascal, Veronique, Mark, and Milena -- the Avaaz.org team
SOURCES:
[1] Reuters: "Rich nations fail to take lead at climate talk: UN." 12 June 2008. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Developmental_Issues/Rich_nations_fail_to_take_lead_at_climate_talk_UN/articleshow/3122651.cms
[2] AFP: "Japan's move on climate "doesn't go far enough": UN climate boss"
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hT6rNJZq-K9TZT8I7dvaIFxInu9w
[3] For more on Avaaz's campaigning in Bali, see the Asahi Shimbun piece linked off the petition page, or click here: http://www.avaaz.org/en/bali_report_back
[4] Tanabata festival. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2283.html
On Wednesday, we'll hand our climate petition to the prime minister of Japan -- the chair of the powerful G8 summit. Join the call for climate action now!
Click to Sign Now!
Last year, the world seemed to wake up to climate change.
This year, it's falling back asleep.
Two weeks of global climate negotiations have just wrapped up -- with no real progress. The rich nations are the culprits, refusing to take the lead and commit to emissions cuts that will bring the rest of the world onboard.[1]
Our best hope: within weeks, those rich country leaders will gather at the G8 summit chaired by Japan. If Japan's Prime Minister offers bold leadership, the G8 summit could be a breakthrough. But, so far, he is pushing in the wrong direction.[2]
So it's up to us. Next Wednesday, June 18, we will hand-deliver our new climate petition to Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. If we can muster 250,000 voices in a few short days, we can sound a global alarm on climate that Fukuda and the other G8 leaders cannot ignore. Sign the petition and forward this message to friends:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/g8_climate_wakeup/23.php?cl=99689304
We've already shown that a global public outcry on climate change can move Fukuda's policy. Asahi Shimbun, Japan's second-largest newspaper, told the story in a lengthy article this January. At a critical, high-level meeting on global warming after the UN negotiations in Bali, the Environment Minister reportedly held up Avaaz's "Titanic" newspaper ad -- showing Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda, with Bush, steering towards climate disaster... along with a call for tough 2020 emissions targets, signed by 90,000 Avaaz members.
"The world sees Japan as a force resisting change! Are we okay with this?" the minister reportedly asked. The Chief Cabinet Minister suggested setting a target. Days later, after having steadfastly resisted the idea at Bali, Prime Minister Fukuda announced his decision: Japan would, indeed set a 2020 emissions target.[3]
Now, five months on, Fukuda has indeed laid out a target -- but it falls far short of what scientists say is necessary to avert a climate catastrophe.
This year's G8 summit will begin on the same day as the Tanabata festival, when citizens write their wishes on pieces of paper and hang them from bamboo trees. [4] This Wednesday, let's send the biggest-ever Tanabata wish: for a climate change treaty strong enough to save the planet.
Sign the petition here, and spread the word:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/g8_climate_wakeup/23.php?cl=99689304
People created the climate crisis. If we join together, people power can end it.
With hope,
Ben, Ricken, Iain, Graziela, Galit, Paul, Pascal, Veronique, Mark, and Milena -- the Avaaz.org team
SOURCES:
[1] Reuters: "Rich nations fail to take lead at climate talk: UN." 12 June 2008. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Developmental_Issues/Rich_nations_fail_to_take_lead_at_climate_talk_UN/articleshow/3122651.cms
[2] AFP: "Japan's move on climate "doesn't go far enough": UN climate boss"
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hT6rNJZq-K9TZT8I7dvaIFxInu9w
[3] For more on Avaaz's campaigning in Bali, see the Asahi Shimbun piece linked off the petition page, or click here: http://www.avaaz.org/en/bali_report_back
[4] Tanabata festival. http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2283.html
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Come to the 20th annual Ecotopia gathering!
ECOTOPIA CALL-OUT!
Come to the 20th annual Ecotopia gathering!
This year, Ecotopia will take place between 9-23 August 2008 in Turkey,
close to a city Sinop at the Black Sea. You are invited to take part, and
discuss energy and other issues, support local activists and meet with
groups from different parts of Europe.
The Issues
Every year, Ecotopia pays special attention to one issue. Usually this is
an issue which is of particular concern to the local Ecotopia organisers.
This year, Ecotopia will take place close to a location determined for the
construction of a nuclear power station, and the main theme will be the
energy issues.
In Turkey, the pros and cons of nuclear energy have been debated for
almost 30 years. In 2004, the Turkish government took a sudden turn in the
energy policy and made a plan to meet Turkey's increasing energy demand by
building 3 to 5 nuclear plants between 2008 and 2012. The reliance on
nuclear energy runs huge economic and environmental risks.
The construction of nuclear energy plants wastefully consumes public
resources: both their construction and dismount at the end of their term
are expensive. Not to mention serious risks and problems related to the
storage of nuclear waste and possible accidents.
We believe that the energy crisis should be solved by decreasing energy
consumption, improving energy efficiency and promoting low-impact energy
production. And we would like to focus workshops and activities at
Ecotopia on these issues.
What is Ecotopia?
Ecotopia is an annual 2 week-long meeting of activist individuals and
groups, focusing on issues of environment and social justice. It has been
organized by EYFA (European Youth For Action) since 1989, and is hosted by
local grassroots environmental organizations. The 2008 Ecotopia will be
hosted by Ekolojik Utopyalar Dernegi.
Ecotopia is a horizontally organized space to adopt a sustainable
lifestyle, share skills in workshops or discussions, exchange experiences
and ideas, network with new groups, and spread information on social,
political and environmental actions. Ecotopia usually hosts a few hundred
people, addressing topics such as racism, xenophobia, homo-and
queerphobia, creative dissent, alternative media, social centers,
sustainable building and infrastructure, organic/fair trade food and
farming, climate change, diversity, GMOs, etc.
During the two weeks, the community utilizes methods of low-impact living;
from a vegan kitchen, use of alternative power and ecological cleaning
products (washing liquid, soaps, toothpaste), to organizing events to
benefit the locality (cleaning actions etc.)
Biketour
The Biketour is a great sustainable way to reach Ecotopia. This year's
tour starts in Serbia, and cycles through Bulgaria towards the Ecotopia..
more info coming soon.
Take part in Ecotopia!
Have a look at the website for more info and please fill in the
registration form.
Give a workshop!
Everyone is invited to offer workshops, discussions, screenings on the
theme, or other presentations on related social and environmental issues.
To register a workshop – fill in the workshop form.
Take part in the preparation camp
If you are willing to help with preparing the site, by building the basic
structures such as the kitchen and toilets, please take part in the prep
camp, starting on the 3rd of August.
If you have any questions - write to ecotopia@eyfa.org
Greetings,
...
Links
www.ecotopiagathering.org
www.ekolojikutopyalar.org/tr
www.thebiketour.net
www.eyfa.org
_______________________________________________
Network mailing list
Network@lists.eyfa.org
https://lists.eyfa.org/mailman/listinfo/network
Come to the 20th annual Ecotopia gathering!
This year, Ecotopia will take place between 9-23 August 2008 in Turkey,
close to a city Sinop at the Black Sea. You are invited to take part, and
discuss energy and other issues, support local activists and meet with
groups from different parts of Europe.
The Issues
Every year, Ecotopia pays special attention to one issue. Usually this is
an issue which is of particular concern to the local Ecotopia organisers.
This year, Ecotopia will take place close to a location determined for the
construction of a nuclear power station, and the main theme will be the
energy issues.
In Turkey, the pros and cons of nuclear energy have been debated for
almost 30 years. In 2004, the Turkish government took a sudden turn in the
energy policy and made a plan to meet Turkey's increasing energy demand by
building 3 to 5 nuclear plants between 2008 and 2012. The reliance on
nuclear energy runs huge economic and environmental risks.
The construction of nuclear energy plants wastefully consumes public
resources: both their construction and dismount at the end of their term
are expensive. Not to mention serious risks and problems related to the
storage of nuclear waste and possible accidents.
We believe that the energy crisis should be solved by decreasing energy
consumption, improving energy efficiency and promoting low-impact energy
production. And we would like to focus workshops and activities at
Ecotopia on these issues.
What is Ecotopia?
Ecotopia is an annual 2 week-long meeting of activist individuals and
groups, focusing on issues of environment and social justice. It has been
organized by EYFA (European Youth For Action) since 1989, and is hosted by
local grassroots environmental organizations. The 2008 Ecotopia will be
hosted by Ekolojik Utopyalar Dernegi.
Ecotopia is a horizontally organized space to adopt a sustainable
lifestyle, share skills in workshops or discussions, exchange experiences
and ideas, network with new groups, and spread information on social,
political and environmental actions. Ecotopia usually hosts a few hundred
people, addressing topics such as racism, xenophobia, homo-and
queerphobia, creative dissent, alternative media, social centers,
sustainable building and infrastructure, organic/fair trade food and
farming, climate change, diversity, GMOs, etc.
During the two weeks, the community utilizes methods of low-impact living;
from a vegan kitchen, use of alternative power and ecological cleaning
products (washing liquid, soaps, toothpaste), to organizing events to
benefit the locality (cleaning actions etc.)
Biketour
The Biketour is a great sustainable way to reach Ecotopia. This year's
tour starts in Serbia, and cycles through Bulgaria towards the Ecotopia..
more info coming soon.
Take part in Ecotopia!
Have a look at the website for more info and please fill in the
registration form.
Give a workshop!
Everyone is invited to offer workshops, discussions, screenings on the
theme, or other presentations on related social and environmental issues.
To register a workshop – fill in the workshop form.
Take part in the preparation camp
If you are willing to help with preparing the site, by building the basic
structures such as the kitchen and toilets, please take part in the prep
camp, starting on the 3rd of August.
If you have any questions - write to ecotopia@eyfa.org
Greetings,
...
Links
www.ecotopiagathering.org
www.ekolojikutopyalar.org/tr
www.thebiketour.net
www.eyfa.org
_______________________________________________
Network mailing list
Network@lists.eyfa.org
https://lists.eyfa.org/mailman/listinfo/network
Invitation to our program Awakening in radio patapoe 88.3fm
To all positive organizations &
To whom it may concern,
If you would like to come to on our show called awakening to talk about, ecology, squatting, local politics, food, animal rights you are more than welcome.
The show is streamed through radio patapoe 88.33FM every Tuesday from 16:00-18:30. Please write first telling us what you would like to talk about and the time that you would like to to start. Give us at least one week in advance.
Kind regards,
Awakening.
PS: If there is no other option we can also mannage to make interviews through phone or skype (internet)
To whom it may concern,
If you would like to come to on our show called awakening to talk about, ecology, squatting, local politics, food, animal rights you are more than welcome.
The show is streamed through radio patapoe 88.33FM every Tuesday from 16:00-18:30. Please write first telling us what you would like to talk about and the time that you would like to to start. Give us at least one week in advance.
Kind regards,
Awakening.
PS: If there is no other option we can also mannage to make interviews through phone or skype (internet)
Friday, June 6, 2008
DVD “GEN ZOEKT BOER” - avaliable
DVD “GEN ZOEKT BOER”
A SEED Europe, mmv Milieudefensie
7,50euro +2,50 euro verzendkosten
giro 439 49 63 t.n.v. St. A SEED Europe
te Amsterdam o.v.v DVD Gen Zoekt Boer.
Te Bestellen via info@aseed.net of +31-20-6682236
***
A SEEDs film- en debattour is afgelopen, maar er volgen hier en daar
voorstellingen van de film. En... De lang verwachte dvd van de
documentaire 'Gen Zoekt Boer. Maar is de liefde wederzijds?' ligt vers
van de printer te wachten in ons kantoor om verkocht te worden. Ze kost
7,50 euro per stuk, plus 2,50 euro verzendkosten. Je kan de dvd
bestellen bij A SEED Europe, door te mailen naar info@aseed.net, of door
te bellen naar ons kantoor in Amsterdam: (020) 6682236. In Amsterdam is
de DVD tevens te koop bij International Bookshop Het Fort van Sjakoo,
Jodenbreestraat 24 (nabij Waterlooplein).
De film
De Nederlandse regering tast de mogelijkheden van genetische modificatie
in de landbouw af. Het lijkt de juiste weg voor een land met een sterk
geïndustrialiseerd landbouwsysteem. Maar zijn de Nederlandse boeren
bereid om de nieuwe technologie te gebruiken? Met de verwachtingen en
twijfels van boeren als vertrekpunt, onderzoekt de documentaire
verschillende aspecten van gentechnologie in de landbouw zoals
coëxistentie van gemanipuleerde, biologische en gangbare gewassen of
milieuveiligheid en gezondheidsrisico's van GGO's. Kunnen de
verschillende benaderingen van voedselproductie vredig naast elkaar
bestaan of zijn ze onverenigbaar in een klein land als Nederland? Door
deze kwesties te belichten geeft 'Gen zoekt boer' een stevige aanzet tot
discussie.
De makers
'Gen zoekt boer' (Dumitriu/Verbeek, 2008, Nederland) is een coproductie
van A SEED Europe en Milieudefensie. A SEED Europe is een internationale
actiegroep die campagne voert voor het milieu en sociale
rechtvaardigheid door rechtstreeks samen te werken met basisorganisaties
wereldwijd. De film maakt deel uit van A SEED's gentechcampagne. Het
doel van deze campagne is door middel van info-avonden en acties publiek
en producent te informeren en meningsvorming over gentechnologie te
stimuleren. Ook promoot A SEED gentechvrije zones in Nederland.
Milieudefensie is een beweging van mensen die zich lokaal, landelijk én
wereldwijd inzet voor het oplossen en voorkomen van milieuproblemen.
Achtergrondinformatie
De reader met achtergrondinformatie over genetische manipulatie in de
landbouw kan je downloaden op:
http://www.aseed.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=513&Itemid=244
A SEED Europe Gentechcampagneteam
Plantagedoklaan 12A
1018 CM Amsterdam
The Netherlands
+31-20-6682236
info@aseed.net
www.aseed.net
www.genzoektboer.nl
--
Linda Coenen
Gentechcampagne
A SEED Europe
Plantage Doklaan 12a
1018 CM Amsterdam
tel. +31-(0)20-6682236
linda@aseed.net
www.aseed.net
A SEED Europe, mmv Milieudefensie
7,50euro +2,50 euro verzendkosten
giro 439 49 63 t.n.v. St. A SEED Europe
te Amsterdam o.v.v DVD Gen Zoekt Boer.
Te Bestellen via info@aseed.net of +31-20-6682236
***
A SEEDs film- en debattour is afgelopen, maar er volgen hier en daar
voorstellingen van de film. En... De lang verwachte dvd van de
documentaire 'Gen Zoekt Boer. Maar is de liefde wederzijds?' ligt vers
van de printer te wachten in ons kantoor om verkocht te worden. Ze kost
7,50 euro per stuk, plus 2,50 euro verzendkosten. Je kan de dvd
bestellen bij A SEED Europe, door te mailen naar info@aseed.net, of door
te bellen naar ons kantoor in Amsterdam: (020) 6682236. In Amsterdam is
de DVD tevens te koop bij International Bookshop Het Fort van Sjakoo,
Jodenbreestraat 24 (nabij Waterlooplein).
De film
De Nederlandse regering tast de mogelijkheden van genetische modificatie
in de landbouw af. Het lijkt de juiste weg voor een land met een sterk
geïndustrialiseerd landbouwsysteem. Maar zijn de Nederlandse boeren
bereid om de nieuwe technologie te gebruiken? Met de verwachtingen en
twijfels van boeren als vertrekpunt, onderzoekt de documentaire
verschillende aspecten van gentechnologie in de landbouw zoals
coëxistentie van gemanipuleerde, biologische en gangbare gewassen of
milieuveiligheid en gezondheidsrisico's van GGO's. Kunnen de
verschillende benaderingen van voedselproductie vredig naast elkaar
bestaan of zijn ze onverenigbaar in een klein land als Nederland? Door
deze kwesties te belichten geeft 'Gen zoekt boer' een stevige aanzet tot
discussie.
De makers
'Gen zoekt boer' (Dumitriu/Verbeek, 2008, Nederland) is een coproductie
van A SEED Europe en Milieudefensie. A SEED Europe is een internationale
actiegroep die campagne voert voor het milieu en sociale
rechtvaardigheid door rechtstreeks samen te werken met basisorganisaties
wereldwijd. De film maakt deel uit van A SEED's gentechcampagne. Het
doel van deze campagne is door middel van info-avonden en acties publiek
en producent te informeren en meningsvorming over gentechnologie te
stimuleren. Ook promoot A SEED gentechvrije zones in Nederland.
Milieudefensie is een beweging van mensen die zich lokaal, landelijk én
wereldwijd inzet voor het oplossen en voorkomen van milieuproblemen.
Achtergrondinformatie
De reader met achtergrondinformatie over genetische manipulatie in de
landbouw kan je downloaden op:
http://www.aseed.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=513&Itemid=244
A SEED Europe Gentechcampagneteam
Plantagedoklaan 12A
1018 CM Amsterdam
The Netherlands
+31-20-6682236
info@aseed.net
www.aseed.net
www.genzoektboer.nl
--
Linda Coenen
Gentechcampagne
A SEED Europe
Plantage Doklaan 12a
1018 CM Amsterdam
tel. +31-(0)20-6682236
linda@aseed.net
www.aseed.net
Sunday, June 1, 2008
The Roma and security: an appeal from EveryOne Group
THE ROMA AND SECURITY, AN APPEAL FROM EVERYONE GROUP, DOCTORS AND HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS: “HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY IN ITALY NEXT WINTER FOR 70,000 PEOPLE”
THE ROMA AND SECURITY, AN APPEAL FROM EVERYONE GROUP, DOCTORS AND HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS: “HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY IN ITALY NEXT WINTER FOR 70,000 PEOPLE”
JOINING THE ACTIVISTS’ APPEAL ARE, AMONG OTHERS, HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS NEDO FIANO AND GOFFREDO BEZZECCHI, A JEW AND A ROMA. AN INTERNATIONAL TASK FORCE OF DOCTORS AND EXPERTS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES ARE DUE TO ARRIVE IN ITALY TO COMPILE A REPORT FOR EUROPE.
29 May, 2008. “A humanitarian emergency looms for next winter involving 70,000 Roma citizens in Italy who are presently homeless and constantly being sent away from abandoned buildings, or shelters under bridges, parks and rubbish dumps. EveryOne Group is sounding the alarm of a possible genocide flanked by Holocaust survivors Nedo Fiano (who was deported to Auschwitz) and Goffredo Bezzecchi, a survivor of the “Samudaripen” - the extermination by the Nazis of a million Roma citizens. Amnesty International also expressed its deep concern in its 2008 Report on the situation of human rights throughout the world by emphasizing the climate of discrimination, segregation and persecution underway in Italy towards the Roma community. “The Italian Government and local and regional authorities must cease the clearance of Roma families from their makeshift shelters immediately and provide them with socio-medical treatment. The clearances of the small settlements being carried out on a daily basis by the police force are throwing people out into the street and endangering the lives of thousands of innocent people, most of them children” say the leaders of EveryOne, Roberto Malini, Matteo Pegoraro and Dario Picciau. The president of the Rome organization Drom, Giorgio Bezzecchi, emphasizes the gravity of the situation the Roma people now find themselves in: “The number of clearances of micro-settlements has increased tenfold compared to last year, and I don’t see how tens of thousands of Roma children, women and men can survive without food and medicines when the temperature drops below zero. “While the larger Roma camps are monitored by associations and human rights committees”, add the leaders of EveryOne, “the clearance of the micro-settlements made up of single families or small groups are leading to a diaspora of tens of thousands of Roma citizens. After clearance operations and “deportations” over the borders to other local authorities and regions, all trace is lost of them.” Altogether, EveryOne estimates that there are presently 70,000 Roma citizens exposed to serious risks caused by extreme poverty, health problems and actions by racist groups - approx 40,000 of them are children, pregnant women, and people with serious heart problems and infections.
It was confirmed yesterday by the Foreign Secretary Franco Frattini that the Italian Government has applied for the EU funds set aside by Bruxelles for the integration of the Roma people, funds which amount to tens of millions of Euros. “All the more reason”, say the representatives of EveryOne “for the politicians governing this country to interrupt as of now their persecutory campaign against the Roma community - a community which is at present experiencing dramatic moments for its survival. It must also be pointed out that the application for funds was not accompanied by any projects for aid to and integration of the Roma - just promises of new operations of camp clearances and the expulsion of Roma citizens living in Italy. We wish to remind them that the expulsion of Romanian Roma (whose breadwinners are in Italy to look for work) is forbidden by articles 16 and 27 of Directive 2004/38/CE and that camp clearances and “deportations to the border” are also forbidden (in that they are acts of discrimination and a violation of human rights) by Directive 2004/43/CE and the European Parliament’s strategy for Roma citizens. The European Union has judged favourably projects of integration like the one known as 'Romanesia', developed by experts of EveryOne, whose members include internationally famous scholars in Roma society and culture; from Marcel Courthiade to Saimir Mile, from Jeanne Gamonet to Jean (Pipo) Sarguera. ‘Romanesia’ is based on the concession of land to local Roma, with building permission granted to Roma businesses and labour under the protection of the European Union and human rights associations. The project will include health care and the creation of projects of integration and employment for adults and schooling for children”. EveryOne also points out that an international task force of doctors and experts in infectious diseases are at work and will soon present a joint report to the European Commission and European Council, (along with other exponents of the group) warning of the imminent risk of a huge and tragic loss of human lives.
For further information:
EveryOne Group
Tel: (+ 39) 334-8429527
www.everyonegroup.com :: info@everyonegroup.com
THE ROMA AND SECURITY, AN APPEAL FROM EVERYONE GROUP, DOCTORS AND HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS: “HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY IN ITALY NEXT WINTER FOR 70,000 PEOPLE”
JOINING THE ACTIVISTS’ APPEAL ARE, AMONG OTHERS, HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS NEDO FIANO AND GOFFREDO BEZZECCHI, A JEW AND A ROMA. AN INTERNATIONAL TASK FORCE OF DOCTORS AND EXPERTS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES ARE DUE TO ARRIVE IN ITALY TO COMPILE A REPORT FOR EUROPE.
29 May, 2008. “A humanitarian emergency looms for next winter involving 70,000 Roma citizens in Italy who are presently homeless and constantly being sent away from abandoned buildings, or shelters under bridges, parks and rubbish dumps. EveryOne Group is sounding the alarm of a possible genocide flanked by Holocaust survivors Nedo Fiano (who was deported to Auschwitz) and Goffredo Bezzecchi, a survivor of the “Samudaripen” - the extermination by the Nazis of a million Roma citizens. Amnesty International also expressed its deep concern in its 2008 Report on the situation of human rights throughout the world by emphasizing the climate of discrimination, segregation and persecution underway in Italy towards the Roma community. “The Italian Government and local and regional authorities must cease the clearance of Roma families from their makeshift shelters immediately and provide them with socio-medical treatment. The clearances of the small settlements being carried out on a daily basis by the police force are throwing people out into the street and endangering the lives of thousands of innocent people, most of them children” say the leaders of EveryOne, Roberto Malini, Matteo Pegoraro and Dario Picciau. The president of the Rome organization Drom, Giorgio Bezzecchi, emphasizes the gravity of the situation the Roma people now find themselves in: “The number of clearances of micro-settlements has increased tenfold compared to last year, and I don’t see how tens of thousands of Roma children, women and men can survive without food and medicines when the temperature drops below zero. “While the larger Roma camps are monitored by associations and human rights committees”, add the leaders of EveryOne, “the clearance of the micro-settlements made up of single families or small groups are leading to a diaspora of tens of thousands of Roma citizens. After clearance operations and “deportations” over the borders to other local authorities and regions, all trace is lost of them.” Altogether, EveryOne estimates that there are presently 70,000 Roma citizens exposed to serious risks caused by extreme poverty, health problems and actions by racist groups - approx 40,000 of them are children, pregnant women, and people with serious heart problems and infections.
It was confirmed yesterday by the Foreign Secretary Franco Frattini that the Italian Government has applied for the EU funds set aside by Bruxelles for the integration of the Roma people, funds which amount to tens of millions of Euros. “All the more reason”, say the representatives of EveryOne “for the politicians governing this country to interrupt as of now their persecutory campaign against the Roma community - a community which is at present experiencing dramatic moments for its survival. It must also be pointed out that the application for funds was not accompanied by any projects for aid to and integration of the Roma - just promises of new operations of camp clearances and the expulsion of Roma citizens living in Italy. We wish to remind them that the expulsion of Romanian Roma (whose breadwinners are in Italy to look for work) is forbidden by articles 16 and 27 of Directive 2004/38/CE and that camp clearances and “deportations to the border” are also forbidden (in that they are acts of discrimination and a violation of human rights) by Directive 2004/43/CE and the European Parliament’s strategy for Roma citizens. The European Union has judged favourably projects of integration like the one known as 'Romanesia', developed by experts of EveryOne, whose members include internationally famous scholars in Roma society and culture; from Marcel Courthiade to Saimir Mile, from Jeanne Gamonet to Jean (Pipo) Sarguera. ‘Romanesia’ is based on the concession of land to local Roma, with building permission granted to Roma businesses and labour under the protection of the European Union and human rights associations. The project will include health care and the creation of projects of integration and employment for adults and schooling for children”. EveryOne also points out that an international task force of doctors and experts in infectious diseases are at work and will soon present a joint report to the European Commission and European Council, (along with other exponents of the group) warning of the imminent risk of a huge and tragic loss of human lives.
For further information:
EveryOne Group
Tel: (+ 39) 334-8429527
www.everyonegroup.com :: info@everyonegroup.com
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