Published on Friday, July 28, 2006 by OneWorld.net
European Heat Wave Shows Limits of Nuclear Energy
by Julio Godoy
PARIS - The extreme hot summer in Europe is restricting nuclear energy generation and showing up the limits of nuclear power, leading environmental activists and scientists say.
The heat wave since mid-June has led authorities in France, Germany, Spain and elsewhere in Europe to override their own environmental norms on the maximum temperature of water drained from the plants' cooling systems.
The French government announced July 24 that nuclear power plants situated along rivers will be allowed to drain hot water into rivers at higher temperature. The measure is intended "to guarantee the provision of electricity for the country," according to an official note.
France has 58 nuclear power plants, which produce almost 80 percent of electricity generated in the country. Of these, 37 are situated near rivers, and use them as outlet for water from their cooling systems.
The drought accompanying the hot summer has reduced the volume of water in the rivers, and might force some power plants to shut down.
Under normal circumstances, environment rules limit the maximum temperature for waste water in order to protect river flora and fauna.
"For many years now, French authorities have defended nuclear power arguing that it is clean energy, good for the environment, and that it will help combat global warming, for it does not emit greenhouse gases," Stephane Lhomme, coordinator of the environmental network Sortir du Nucleaire (Phase Out Nuclear Power) told IPS.
"Now, with global warming leading to extreme hot summers, we are witnessing that it is the other way round," Lhomme said. "Global warming is showing the limits of nuclear power plants, and nuclear power is destroying our environment."
During the hot summer of 2003, French authorities had allowed nuclear power plants to drain excessively hot water into rivers, leading to considerable damage to flora and fauna, Lhomme said.
According to the minutes of the National Surveillance Committee on water drained from reactors August 21 and September 3, 2003, "hot water temperatures might have led to high concentrations of ammoniac, which is potentially toxic for the rivers' fauna."
The minutes point to a European norm on the concentration of ammoniac in rivers, which France did not respect.
Meanwhile France is importing some 2000 megawatts of power per day from neighbouring countries to compensate for shortages in production at nuclear power plants.
While the French authorities have overridden their own environmental norms, in Germany energy providers have slowed down some nuclear reactors to limit waste water temperature and to protect flora and fauna.
Reactors Kruemmel, Brunsbuettel and Brokdorf situated along the river Elbe which flows through Eastern and Northern Germany have all been slowed down. So have traditional fossil fuel power plants situated along the river Rhine.
The nuclear reactors Isar 1 near Munich, and Neckarwestheim near Stuttgart have being authorised to drain hotter water into the nearby rivers than normally allowed.
In Spain, the nuclear power plant at Santa Maria de Garona, one of eight Spanish reactors, was shut down last weekend due to the high temperatures recorded in the river Ebro, into which the reactor drains the water used in its cooling system.
The power plant, Spain's oldest, provides 20 percent of the electricity generated in the country.
German energy expert Hermann Scheer says the situation shows a need for radical change in policy. "We must massively invest in renewable energy sources, and get rid of nuclear power as soon as possible," he told IPS.
Scheer is president of Eurosolar, the European association for renewable energy resources, and winner of the 'Alternative Nobel prize' for his commitment to the environment.
In France, nuclear scientist Hubert Reeves urged the government to "invest massively" in renewable energy resources. "We are behind many of our European partners such as Germany, Denmark and Spain in this matter, and cannot wait until the energy crisis reaches its climax to find an alternative to our present model," he told IPS.
A crisis, he said, "is round the corner." Fossil energy sources are about to be exhausted, and "nuclear technology will not solve present problems within a reasonable period of time. We should abandon nuclear power and invest in alternative sources."
Hi all
The attached article was brought brought to my attention (in the latest
edition of "Pacific Ecologist" - Winter 2006) - in an article titled
"Australia's Greenhouse Mafia Exposed" so I have attached the reference to
the original article by Clive Hamilton of the Australia Institute (based at
the Australian National University in Canberra, - a rare thing in Australia
- a fairly balanced "Think Tank" which critiques Government policy).
http://www.tai.org.au/http://www.tai.org.au/Publications_Files/Publications.htmhttp://www.tai.org.au/WhatsNew_Files/WhatsNew/CC%20in%20Adelaide%20Final.pdf
Please read - and send your abuse-filled e-mails and letters to the 'Dirty
Dozen' that he names - I made the terrible initial assumption that the
Barry Jones he referred to was the ex ALP Minister for Science, but my
colleague set me right on that
This is the person referred to:
"Barry Jones. The former head of APPEA*, Jones was at the heart of the
greenhouse mafia in Canberra. Taking the skills and networks he acquired at
public expense in the Federal industry department, Jones was at the
forefront of the efforts to stymie any effective policy response from
Canberra."
*Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association
The Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association is the key
representative body of Australia's upstream petroleum industry.
Wish Clive Hamilton had been a bit clearer there - but in the world where
'everybody knows everybody' it would have been obvious - but outside that
charmed circle....well we aren't always as informed as we might be!
The 'Other' Dr Barry Jones has been one of my political heroes - and the
reported relationship didn't seem right, and I was VERY surprised and
distressed, but knowing the general perfidity of politicians and living in
the remote Daintree and despite knowing some extremely straight-shooters
such as Qld Minster for the Environment, Desley Boyle), - nothing surprises
me anymore. (sad, isn't it).
A colleague of mine sent me this...
>I quickly scanned Clive Hamilton's article. I am surprised that Clive
missed out on the former Queensland Senator and Energy & Resources Minster
Warwick Parer who not only had and probably still has a big stake in
Queensland's coal industry but who has an amazing network within the Howard
Government.
So where are the Greens and Democrats????
Read on and weep.
I have also attached the material referred to in Clive Hamilton's article,
which consists of ...
http://www.tai.org.au/Publications_Files/Papers&Sub_Files/Notes%20of%20LETAG%20M
eeting.pdf
Notes of LETAG Meeting with Prime Minister Howard May 6 2004
and
Draft 2/06/04
Industry Communication on Greenhouse policy in the PM's Energy Statement
They make pretty devastating reading, but should come as no surprise.
What is more to the point, is that this cabal of energy industry lobbyists
have been operating for far far more than the 10 years of the Howard
Government. They have been consistently sticking their oar into Government
considerations of energy policy since the 60's (and probably earlier). The
Coal industry lobby is particularly an issue. Projects such as the ANU
Solar dish (Big Dish) which was developed in the mid 70's, and which could
now be providing very significant levels of continuous solar thermal power
has been systematically blocked from getting significant funding by this
lobby - so that, in 30 years, they have very little to show (but their
persistance in the face of virtually zero funding must be commended - we
ALL lose out).
Even though most of us are unaware of it... there is a powerful lobby for
the fluorocarbon industries (makers of synthetic greenhouse gasses and
Aluminmium refining) - who are every bit as influential in affecting
government attitudes, but who are hardly noticed by the press or climate
activists. Synthetic greenhouse gasses have a very major role in global
warming - and they are about the only ones that we can curtail fairly
easily (subject of course to the fluorocarbon industry being prepared to
forgo billions of dollars in profits!).
Action Stations!!
Cheers
Hugh Spencer
end
____________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Hugh Spencer Director of Research |
Cape Tribulation Tropical Research Station | Phone/Fax (61)07 4098 0063
Australian Tropical Research Foundation | http://www.austrop.org.au/
"The Bat-House", Environment Centre. |
PMB 5 Cape Tribulation via Mossman | Hugh@...
Queensland 4873 Australia |
___________________________________________|________________________________ .ù
Resent from Energyresources.
maybe a sufficient groundswell of awareness in the US will force 'regime
change'!
Cheers
Hugh Spencer
It's Not the Heat, It's the Stupidity
By KATHERINE ELLISON
Published: July 29, 2006
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/29/opinion/29ellison.html?th&emc=th
San Anselmo, Calif.
I WENT to see 'An Inconvenient Truth' last weekend, but the theater was
closed. The power was out because of an overheated transformer. It was Day
9 of our 11-day, record-melting heat wave here in the San Francisco Bay
Area, where Mark Twain once supposedly, but probably apocryphally, compared
our foggy summer to the coldest winter he'd ever known.
The fog - the Coast's natural air-conditioner - kept failing to arrive,
however, as we sweltered in triple-digit heat. I briefly remembered the
single night I'd hated the fog, freezing in extra innings at Candlestick
Park. But mostly I recalled the sheer wonder of watching it spill over
sun-struck mountains, summer after summer, and I yearned for its return.
Where had it gone?
I'd just returned from a week in a Mexican desert to find it several
degrees hotter at home, in a marathon that meteorologists have called
unprecedented. My 7-year-old's skin was so warm that I took his
temperature. A neighbor had to shut down the emergency sprinkler system at
his house, which, sensing fire, was about to douse his furniture. The water
scalded his hands.
Inland, where incomes are lower and temperatures normally higher, the
elderly and infirm have been quietly dying in their overheated apartments
and cars, sometimes slumped in front of running fans. Yesterday, state
authorities were blaming the heat for more than 130 deaths.
Certainly, it was nothing compared to the 2003 killer heat wave in
Europe, which led to tens of thousands of deaths, and yes, we know that
much of the rest of the country is suffering hot weather too. But it was
our heat wave, and we hated it just the same. Power failures left hundreds
of thousands of Bay Area customers cursing Pacific Gas and Electric in the
dark. One repairman reported that his crewmen had just installed a fresh
transformer and were taking a break, sipping some Gatorade, when he watched
their work explode into sparks.
Local meteorologists offered clashing opinions about why the fog stayed
away, but they agreed that the culprits included a mass of warm air that
shifted northward from the Four Corners and parked over the Great Basin.
Part of this high-pressure air mass extended over California's coast,
tamping down the cool sea breezes. The days were scorching, the nights
sticky and hot.
The San Francisco Chronicle published an article headlined "Scientists
Split on Heat Wave Cause",- which said some climate experts attributed the
heat wave "at least partly" to global climate change. "Others, however,
disagree," the article continued, "and say it's still too early to blame
the current weather on the planet's changing climate."
This made me wonder: WHEN WILL IT BE TOO LATE? I get it that you can't
blame climate change for any one weather event. But I can also see that
there's a pattern emerging - and it sure looks a lot like what mainstream
scientists have been predicting for several years. They've been warning of
more frequent and severe heat waves and warmer nighttime temperatures that
rob you of any relief. You don't really need a climatologist to know which
way the wind is blowing.
"It's so hot," my friends and I say to one another. "It's scary.." And we
shrug.
"Aren't you scared?" I asked my husband.
"Sure," he said, and went back to watching the Ads.
I know he's mentally healthier than I. (Mark) Twain, after all, also
is supposed to have said that everyone complains about the weather but
nobody ever does anything about it. At the time, his comment was pithy and
wise. But times have changed: a consensus of leading scientists suggests
the world has a chance of stalling climate change if we make deep and
immediate reductions in our fossil fuel consumption. This would take some
leadership, but I'd put my children in day care and work full time for
someone with that kind of vision, and I'd bet parents across the country
would do the same.
The fog finally rolled inland on Thursday. But the clock is still tick-ing.
Katherine Ellison is the author of "The Mommy Brain: How Motherhood Makes
Us Smarter."
end
____________________________________________________________________________
Dr. Hugh Spencer Director of Research |
Cape Tribulation Tropical Research Station | Phone/Fax (61)07 4098 0063
Australian Tropical Research Foundation | http://www.austrop.org.au/
"The Bat-House", Environment Centre. |
PMB 5 Cape Tribulation via Mossman | Hugh@...
Queensland 4873 Australia |
___________________________________________|________________________________
----- Original Message ----- From: Janice Wormworth To: beyondnuclear@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 9:09 AM Subject: [beyondnuclear] Nukes Media Response - Daily Update
:: NUKES MEDIA RESPONSE UPDATE = JULY 27 2006 ::
A daily morning update from BNI with suggested/planned responses to the media and a listing of all press on nukes today in Australia. This is produced by BNI comms officer Janice Wormworth, jwormworth@iiinet.net.au mo: 0439 649 359; Janice works 9 a.m. - 12 noon
This is a closed list for NGO campaigners and other committed anti-nuclear activists. Pls send subscription requests to jwormworth@iinet.net.au
RESPONSES NEEDED TODAY : Letters. ACF may respond to The OZ story about Labor document on storing foreign nuclear waste, Janice to see if NT groups want to do response on this too.
RESPONSE DETAILS : The Australian broke a front-page story about a Labor document discussing "cradle to grave" use of uranium, with Ferguson bizarrely saying this isn't about ''importation of nuclear waste from overseas''. The story ran on AAP and is also in the Age online. ACF is probably doing a response on this (media release) and Janice will call NT groups to see if they want to do a separate response as well.
More negative (for us) coverage in the West Australian and NT News, though the latter is a bit more balanced today. If you or people in your networks have time, letters to the editor of the following would be useful:
LABOR resources spokesman Martin Ferguson courted the powerful Australian Workers Union to support overturning the party's restriction on uranium mining with the suggestion it could get dominant coverage for an expanding industry. A briefing note created in March by Mr Ferguson to likeminded advocates for change outlines opportunities for Labor and the unions if the ban on new mines is lifted. It also hints that nuclear waste that started as ore from local mines might be stored in Australia or become the nation's responsibility under a ''cradle to grave'' plan. The document, obtained by The Australian, says changing Labor policy would also ''allow unions like the AWU to pursue coverage and ensure mines are world class''.
The AWU is the dominant union in Queensland but competes with the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union for coverage at mineral and coal mines. Queensland state law bans uranium mining and Premier Peter Beattie remains equivocal about whether he will allow any uranium mines should Labor end its 30-year restriction on uranium mining at next year's national conference. Kim Beazley announced on Monday that he would push for the scrapping of the ''no new mines'' policy at the April conference. The document also nominates sites where mines could be developed in Queensland and Western Australia, despite opposition to increased uranium mining from Mr Beattie and fellow premier Alan Carpenter.
Mr Ferguson last night confirmed his office had prepared the document specifically for Queensland but refused to say whether other states had received similar, tailor-made briefings. ''I can recall some time ago there was discussion about putting down some ideas about this debate, '' he said. The ''cradle to grave'' concept is used by the nuclear industry to describe stewardship of uranium from mining of ore to storage of waste at the end of the nuclear cycle. Anti-nuclear advocates last night warned that any moves to adopt a ''cradle to grave'' policy could lead to Australia becoming a ''high-level radioactive waste dump''.
Continued-Page 2 More reports - Page 2From Page 1 ''A change in policy could. . allow state and territory governments to consider, subject to strict safety and environmental criteria, the development of mines like Summit Resources' Valhalla deposit near Mt Isa in Queensland and Rio Tinto's Kintyre deposit or Redport's Lake Maitland deposit in Western Australia, '' it says. In addition to the suggestion that Australia should be ''stewarding uranium from cradle to grave'', the document says changing Labor policy would also ''allow unions like the AWU to pursue coverage and ensure mines are world class''.
The document does say there are presently no plans to change Labor opposition to nuclear power in Australia and to the ''importation of nuclear waste from overseas''. Mr Ferguson was insistent that the cradle-to-grave concept was not about ''importation of nuclear waste from overseas''. ''I can tell you in no uncertain terms that cradle to grave is what the industry wants, it's what the Labor Party wants, it's what the community wants to guarantee whatever yellowcake is produced in Australia can be tracked and its peaceful use absolutely guaranteed, '' Mr Ferguson said. Opponents of the change to Labor policy are concerned about storing uranium waste products in Australia.
Under the US Global Nuclear Energy Partnership cradle-tograve arrangements, used fuel would be returned to the nation that sold it.
----------------------
AAP Financial News (Thu 27 Jul 2006 5:35:46 AM)
Headline: Labor uranium document deals with waste and new mines
SYDNEY, July 27 AAP - A Labor document on uranium mining hints at storing nuclear waste in Australia and identifies sites in Queensland and Western Australia for new mines.
Labor resources spokesman Martin Ferguson created the party briefing in March, before party leader Kim Beazley this week announced a push to scrap Labor's no-new-mines policy.
The Australian newspaper has obtained a copy of the briefing note which, it says, aimed in March to win support for overturning Labor's restriction on uranium mining from the powerful Australian Workers Union (AWU).
The lure for the AWU was the promise of dominant coverage for an expanding industry over the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union.
The document hints that nuclear waste that started as ore from local mines might be stored in Australia, or become the nation's responsibility under a "cradle to grave" plan, according to the report.
The document also nominates sites where mines could be developed in Queensland and Western Australia.
Queensland state law bans uranium mining, and its premier, Peter Beattie, and Western Australia's Premier Alan Carpenter oppose increased uranium mining.
Mr Ferguson last night confirmed his office had prepared the document specifically for Queensland.
But he refused to say whether other states had received similar, tailor-made briefings.
"I can recall some time ago there was discussion about putting down some ideas about this debate," he told The Australian.
AAP pc/it
-----------------------------
Support for mines 'dubious' stance
NT News, Page: 4 Thursday, 27 July 2006
THE Chief Minister's support for more uranium mines in the Territory is dangerous and hypocritical, an environmental lobby group says. Clare Martin has publicly backed federal Labor Leader Kim Beazley's proposal to scrap the party's 20-year-old three mines policy at next year's national conference. The Environment Centre NT's nuclear campaigner Emma King said promised safeguards to stop the trade of uranium for nuclear weapons were dubious. And she said Ms Martin's new-found support of mining had undermined her opposition to a nuclear waste facility.
''Clare Martin doesn't want a nuclear waste facility in the Territory and yet she wants more uranium mines - I think that's a bit hypocritical of her, '' she said. ''She should have stuck to her guns and supported no more uranium mines. ''A spokesman for Ms Martin said her stance was dependent on how uranium was sold, mine safety and continuing opposition to a nuclear waste dump. Ms Martin has admitted debate in Caucus had been ''rigorous''.
Some MLAs were spoke out against the change yesterday, while NT Opposition leader Jodeen Carney said Ms Martin was ''losing grip'' on her members. Federal Labor's environment spokesman Anthony Albanese said Ms Martin had gone out on a limb while the ALP premiers of Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia had opposed policy change. ''It is interesting that the election last year gave a clear mandate to the Northern Territory Government to oppose further uranium mining, '' he said. He said the NT was in a unique situation allowing the Commonwealth to expand uranium mining without consent.
Conference hears uranium companies 'blinded by greed'
An anti-nuclear campaigner has told a uranium industry conference in Perth that a nuclear arms race is emerging in Asia and companies which want to export uranium need to realistically consider the consequences.
James Courtney of the Anti-Nuclear Alliance says conference delegates are focussed on the economic benefits of uranium but have not stopped to consider their social responsibilities.
Mr Courtney says the nuclear non-proliferation treaty does not work and there is no guarantee exports of Australian uranium would only be used for peaceful purposes.
"I'm frightened that they've been blinded by greed, if they can't see that we've got a globally worsening security situation, that we're on the brink of an Asian nuclear arms race, and these fellows are all standing around slapping each other on the back saying how much money they're going to make by exporting uranium overseas," he said.
He says exporting uranium to China will damage the prospect of long term security in the region.
"The first thing that industry and government can do, can actually realistically and factually look at the problems that we have and start figuring out how we can address them.
"Because in a situation like today's conference for instance, nobody is speaking about Chinese uranium exports, we're in a grave regional nuclear situation."
-----------------------
State ALP U-mine backers hold off for Federal change
The West Australian, Page: 37 Thursday, 27 July 2006
State Labor pro-uranium dissidents have gone to ground with a view to unleashing their ideals on the party after a likely policy change at the ALP Federal conference next year. The West Australian u nderstands that backbencher Vince Catania and Kalgoorlie branch president James Donnelly, two of the staunchest mining supporters, have decided to tone down their support until then. Mr Donnelly, who threatened to quit the party in May after a bitter stoush with State secretary Bill Johnston over his support for uranium mining, was coy yesterday when asked if he supported Mr Beazley's backflip."I've got no comment to make on that - my view's been clear in the past," he said.
"We decided it was best to let the dust settle on that subject and that we wouldn't be making any comment on it for a little while."Labor backbencher Shelley Archer said on Tuesday the Federal Opposition Leader's change was a step in the right direction but she would still support her party's opposition. State Resources Minister John Bowler was surprised by Mr Beazley's change. It put"a bit of pressure" on the State party but the Carpenter Government would stand firm on the antiuranium mining stance it had been elected on.
"Just because one person, albeit the leader, says one thing that doesn't mean that that will end up being the case and if it does, that doesn't control us," he said yesterday."We are a separate party, the West Australian branch of the Labor Party, and our last State conference said we're opposed to uranium mining."Australian Uranium Conference organiser Doug Bowie said Premier Alan Carpenter had declined to open it. Environment Minister Mark McGowan was overseas this week.
"Then I asked whether I should invite John Bowler and the Premier's office said 'no, uranium is the responsibility of Mark McGowan'," Mr Bowie said."I would have been happy for the Premier or the Minister to get up and say 'we don't believe in uranium mining' if that's what they want to do. We don't care what they say as long as they give us their opinion.".
A Labor document on uranium mining hints at storing nuclear waste in Australia and identifies sites in Queensland and Western Australia for new mines.
Labor resources spokesman Martin Ferguson created the party briefing in March, before party leader Kim Beazley this week announced a push to scrap Labor's no-new-mines policy.
The Australian newspaper has obtained a copy of the briefing note which, it says, aimed in March to win support for overturning Labor's restriction on uranium mining from the powerful Australian Workers Union (AWU).
The lure for the AWU was the promise of dominant coverage for an expanding industry over the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union.
The document hints that nuclear waste that started as ore from local mines might be stored in Australia, or become the nation's responsibility under a "cradle to grave" plan, according to the report.
The document also nominates sites where mines could be developed in Queensland and Western Australia.
Queensland state law bans uranium mining, and its premier, Peter Beattie, and Western Australia's Premier Alan Carpenter oppose increased uranium mining.
On Wednesday, Mr Ferguson confirmed his office had prepared the document specifically for Queensland.
But he refused to say whether other states had received similar, tailor-made briefings.
"I can recall some time ago there was discussion about putting down some ideas about this debate," he told The Australian.
The West Australian, Page: 19 Thursday, 27 July 2006
If you take a snapshot of WA in 2016 there will be some inevitable social and political changes. We will be shopping everywhere on a Sunday, enjoying daylight saving, digging uranium out of the ground and basking in the glow of a Fremantle Dockers premiership. OK, so one of those predictions is probably dodgy, with a Dockers flag being the obvious doubtful prophecy. But rest assured, regardless of who is WA Premier - be it Alan to mine the valuable yellowcake.
Nova Energy managing director Tim Sugden expressed disappointment Mr Carpenter had not softened his position on uranium mining in WA in light of Mr Beazley's announcement, but remained positive about the future of mining in the State."We will continue to work towards completion and feasibility Gallop, Labor made it part of their uranium company Paladin Resources, said he believed WA Carpenter, rising Labor star Ben Wyatt or Liberal wisecracker Troy Buswell - WA will be mining and exporting uranium in 10 years time. Everyone believes it, according to this week's Australian Uranium Conference. Federal Labor resources spokesman Martin Ferguson, WA union bosses, State Labor backbenchers, uranium explorers, the State Opposition and even, I suspect, Mr Carpenter himself.
Kim Beazley's announcement that he proposes to scrap Federal Labor's 25-year opposition to new uranium mines has put increased pressure on Mr Carpenter to soften his Government's anti-uranium stance. At present, Mr Carpenter is standing firm in his continued opposition to uranium mining, but he has little choice. Under his predecessor Geoff factional support to win the day next April and that support will inevitably flow on at a State level, leaving the WA Labor Party open to embrace uranium mining when it is put to a vote at a State conference in the lead up to the 2009 election. State Labor backbencher Shelley Archer, a pro-uranium supporter, has already signalled her intention, saying she would run with the issue in WA once it was adopted nationally.
The problem Mr Carpenter has with his opposition to uranium mining is the fact that Australia is already the world's second biggest uranium supplier, with export agreements with more than 40 countries. platform - although the issue did not rate in the minds of voters at the last election - and Mr Carpenter has simply maintained the party line. But unlike his predecessor, Mr Carpenter has never been a fierce anti-uranium advocate. MPs on both sides of politics believe the former resources minister has no ideological opposition to uranium mining.
Sure he continues to trot out the line that if we export uranium then we are bound to accept nuclear waste as his primary argument, but that is wearing a little thin in the 21st century. The scare tactic of nuclear waste dumps in our backyard is a throwback to a Cold War era, when the term nuclear power was equated with the twin disasters of Three Mile Island and Chernobyl. could"realistically" produce as much as 7000 tonnes of uranium a year within five to seven years if the ban on mining was overturned. Liberal pro-uranium advocate Colin Barnett believes uranium mining is inevitable in the west but says it needs to happen sooner rather than later or WA's explorers cum miners are going to miss out on lucrative worldwide contracts.
He said countries such as France and China need to secure long-term uranium contracts and the South Australian and Northern Territory governments were best placed to reap those rewards. Association of Mining and Exploration Companies chief executive Justin Walawski summed up Mr Carpenter's"illogical" nuclear waste argument best."The link between uranium mining and a nuclear waste repository is about as firm as a link between iron-ore mining and a waste dump for abandoned cars," he said."Every country that uses nuclear power has its own methods of safely storing nuclear waste and has done for 30 years.
"Mr Beazley, a fellow Sandgroper, has already dismissed Mr Carpenter's concerns about WA being forced to take back radioactive waste, saying new safeguards contained in his plan would ensure any country buying Australian uranium would have to dispose of its own waste properly. WA uranium explorers at this week's Australian Uranium Conference were even more bullish If you take a snapshot of WA in 2016 there will be some inevitable social and political changes. We will be shopping everywhere on a Sunday, enjoying daylight saving, digging uranium out of the ground and basking in the glow of a Fremantle Dockers premiership. OK, so one of those predictions is probably dodgy, with a Dockers flag being the obvious doubtful that they would be mining and exporting uranium within 10 years and many are ploughing ahead with plans to mine the valuable yellowcake.
Nova Energy managing director Tim Sugden expressed disappointment Mr Carpenter had not softened his position on uranium mining in WA in light of Mr Beazley's announcement, but remained positive about the future of mining in the State."We will continue to work towards completion and feasibility studies in time for the next election," he said. When quizzed about the effectiveness of any national Labor policy opening up uranium mining being ineffective if WA refused to lift its ban, Mr Ferguson gave a Peter Costello-style all-knowing smirk."Life is about opportunities," he said.
"I don't think Alan Carpenter expected this debate to move so quickly. The national conference will focus the Labor Party's attention, then the debate will flow from there."In layman's turns, when the 2007 national Labor Party conference Carpenter, rising Labor star Ben Wyatt or Liberal wisecracker Troy Buswell - WA will be mining and exporting uranium in 10 years time. Everyone believes it, according to this week's Australian Uranium Conference.
Federal Labor resources spokesman Martin Ferguson, WA union bosses, State Labor backbenchers, uranium explorers, the State Opposition and even, I suspect, Mr Carpenter himself. Kim Beazley's announcement that he proposes to scrap Federal Labor's 25-year opposition to new uranium mines has put increased pressure on Mr Carpenter to soften his Government's anti-uranium stance. At present, Mr Carpenter is standing firm in his continued opposition to adopts Mr Beazley's plan to throw out the party's outdated three mines policy, the States will follow. The Opposition Leader has factional support to win the day next April and that support will inevitably flow on at a State level, leaving the WA Labor Party open to embrace uranium mining when it is put to a vote at a State conference in the lead up to the 2009 election.
State Labor backbencher Shelley Archer, a pro-uranium supporter, has already signalled her intention, saying she would run with the issue in WA once it was adopted nationally. The problem Mr Carpenter has with his opposition to uranium mining is the fact that Australia is already the world's second biggest uranium supplier, with export agreements with more than 40 countries. There are nearly 450 nuclear reactors around the world requiring 77, 000 tonnes of uranium oxide concentrate a year, with plans for another 113 reactors worldwide with uranium consumption tipped to increase by 25 per cent. Nuclear energy accounts for 16 Gallop, Labor made it part of their platform - although the issue did not rate in the minds of voters at the last election - and Mr Carpenter has simply maintained the party line.
But unlike his predecessor, Mr Carpenter has never been a fierce anti-uranium advocate. MPs on both sides of politics believe the former resources minister has no ideological opposition to uranium mining. Sure he continues to trot out the line that if we export uranium then we are bound to accept nuclear waste as his primary argument, but that is wearing a little thin in the 21st century. The scare tactic of nuclear waste dumps in our backyard is a per cent of the world's electricity, with France and Sweden getting 80 per cent and 50 per cent respectively of its electricity from nuclear power.
WA is already home to some of the world's biggest untapped uranium deposits, with known resources estimated at more than 155, 700 tonnes worth $20.8 billion at current prices above $US45 per pound. John Borshoff, managing director of Australia's biggest independent uranium company Paladin Resources, said he believed WA could"realistically" produce as much as 7000 tonnes of uranium a year within five to seven years if the ban on mining was overturned. Liberal pro-uranium advocate Colin Barnett believes uranium mining is inevitable in the west but says it needs to happen sooner rather than later or WA's explorers cum miners are going to miss out on lucrative worldwide contracts.
He said countries such as France and China need to secure long-term uranium contracts and the South Australian and Northern Territory governments were best placed to reap those rewards.
--------------------
IN SHORT
the West Australian, Page: 21 Thursday, 27 July 2006
Mr Carpenter, hold the line on uranium mining. Mr Beazley, Federal Labor will never again get my support. You are taking the easy way out. When you and I are long gone, future generations will have to clean up our mistakes. -------------------------------- Stev eH arris, Coolbellup.
Go nuclear
The West Australian, Page: 21 Thursday, 27 July 2006
Thank you, Kim Beazley, for finally coming around. Not only should we be mining and exporting the valuable commodity uranium, we should be adding value by enriching it. This is a safe technology and there is little risk of exposure to high-level radiation. This uranium is not weapons grade, only power-generation grade, and is exported only to countries with defined ethical and moral objectives for the use of the uranium.
Further restrictive covenants can be placed to ensure proper disposal. Nuclear power is an option that is dismissed far too easily. A 1000MW nuclear power plant can power more than half of Perth and with recycling would produce only 700kg of nuclear waste which would need storage. This is small compared to around seven million tonnes of carbon dioxide, not to mention other harmful gases, emitted from a coal plant of the same size.
Nuclear power is an option that should not be discarded so easily. Luk e C ummins, Subiac o.
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Chief out of uranium closet
NT News, Page: 12 Thursday, 27 July 2006
CLARE Martin has finally done what she should have done months ago - made a public declaration in support of more uranium mining. TheChief Minister is a pragmaticwoman and anybody who knows her and Territory politics will have realised that she did not personally support national Labor's silly no new mines policy. But she is an elected leader and believing something is not enough. A public announcement was needed.
Ms Martin obviously held her tongue because she didn't want to go against Labor policy; she was waiting for ALP leader Kim Beazley to say he supported the opening of more mines. But the long-term economic interests of the Territory should not be subjugated to party politics - and an expansion of uranium mining is manifestly in the Territory's interests. Ms Martin's silence sent the wrong message to business. What remains of Labor's Left will no doubt try to stop a change of policy at the party's national conference next year.
The Left argues that there should be no expansion of uranium mining until environmental concerns are met and nonproliferation measures strengthened. Environmental safeguards have been tightened and the NT Government's willingness to prosecute the Territory's sole uranium mining company has been demonstrated over the past couple of years. And the argument about nonproliferation is downright naive. Of course, every effort must be made to ensure uranium doesn't get into the wrong hands.
But the Territory leaving its highly lucrative reserves in the ground won't help. If the Territory doesn't sell uranium, Canada will.
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Adopted policy
The Adelaide Advertiser, Page: 16 Thursday, 27 July 2006
ADOPTING Liberal Party policy on uranium mining hardly constitutes an alternative ( The Advertiser, 26/7/06). The ALP adopted Liberal Party policy on Roxby and Beverley uranium mines. South Australian Premier Mike Rann and Treasurer Kevin Foley now want the ALP to adopt Liberal policy on uranium mining. If this happens, then it will only be a matter of time before it adopts Liberal policy on all things nuclear.
Conservative policy on uranium mining is equivalent to some countries' policies on the growing and export of drugs - namely, forget about the local and global effects of policy so long as it generates wealth. Labor won't earn a place in a debate by agreeing with Liberal policy. ¦ DENNIS MATTHEWS, Blackwood.
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Garrett opposes mine stance
The Adelaide Advertiser, Page: 14 Thursday, 27 July 2006
HIGH-profile MP and anti-nuclear campaigner Peter Garrett will oppose Opposition Leader Kim Beazley's moves to abolish Labor's no new mines policy. The former frontman of pol- itical rock group Midnight Oil yesterday said he would argue strongly against the move at the party's national confer- ence in April. ''I'm not convinced that ex- panding uranium mining is in the best interests of the country and the best interests of the environment, '' he said. ' ' I ' l l be arguing very strongly we ought to consider that is not the road to take at the present point in time.
''This is the democratic pro- cess of engagement on a pol- icy issue. ''.
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Local enrichment industry 'still 10 years off'
The Australian, Page: 2 Thursday, 27 July 2006
THE company at the forefront of uranium enrichment technology in Australia believes it could be a decade before a local industry is up and running. Michael Goldsworthy, chief executive of Silex Systems - which has struck a multi-milliondollar deal to supply US giant General Electric with innovative enrichment technology - said there were no immediate prospects for enrichment here. But ''in the longer term, there is nothing, in principle, stopping Australia developing a nuclear industry, including an enrichment industry, providing there is the political will and economic justification'', Dr Goldsworthy said. Australia would have to first develop appropriate regulatory and industrial infrastructure, ''which would take some years''.
Apart from the costs involved in those regulatory structures, he did not think Government financial support would be needed. Once that was done, ''an enrichment plant could be set up probably within 10 years'', Dr Goldsworthy said. While raising the prospect of a more open attitude to uranium mining, Opposition Leader Kim Beazley does not support an Australian enrichment industry. But John Howard signalled this month he was, arguing it seemed strange not to process the material in Australia.
The general manager of the Uranium Information Centre, Ian Hore-Lacy, said developing an Australian enrichment industry would require government to support the idea and investors to think they could make a good return over the longer term. He said any decision would be affected by the nuclear superpowers, in light of US President George W. Bush's global nuclear energy partnership scheme, which aims to stop the spread of nuclear technology by requiring nuclear powers to carry out front-end enrichment for client countries.
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It's time for change of policy, says Tanner
The Australian, Page: 2 Thursday, 27 July 2006
A SENIOR Left frontbencher, Lindsay Tanner, says it is time for Labor to embrace a change in uranium policy, despite his personal reservations about the fuel and the problems of dealing with waste. While his factional colleague Anthony Albanese questioned the details of new policy, and national Left convener Kim Carr declared the faction would oppose the changes, Mr Tanner said Labor needed to take a lead in what was a global issue. Mr Tanner, Labor's policy coordinator, said while he had ''strong reservations about changing our policy to increase Australia's role in the nuclear cycle, I acknowledge that the world has changed in various ways''. ''Because of my policy co-ordinating responsibility, I intend to support the leader on all issues at national conference.
''Kim Beazley has announced he wants Labor's national conference next year to scrap its nonew- mines policy and promised increased safeguards that would put more conditions on buyers. But most of his ''new'' safeguards plan were already law or Labor Party policy, and Mr Albanese, Labor's environment spokesman, said yesterday it was impossible to guarantee that ore would not wind up in the hands of nuclear bomb makers. Instead, Mr Beazley's plan raised questions about whether Australia would continue to supply uranium to countries with which it already has contracts and bilateral safeguards deals. ''We can guarantee that uranium mining will create nuclear waste, '' Mr Albanese said.
''We can't guarantee uranium mining won't create nuclear weapons. ''The Australian estimates that factional and state allegiances mean Mr Beazley should win close to 60 per cent support from the 404 delegates at next year's conference, in April.
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Labor mines row grows The Mercury, Page: 6 Thursday, 27 July 2006
HIGH profile Labor MP Peter Garrett has joined a chorus of party members critical of Opposition leader Kim Beazley's moves to abolish the party's no new uranium mines policy. The former Midnight Oil frontman yesterday said he would argue strongly against the move at the party's national conference in April. ''I'm not convinced that expanding uranium mining is in the best interests of the country and the best interests of the environment, '' he said. ''So I'll be arguing very strongly that we ought to consider that is not the road to take at the present point in time.
''He dismissed claims of a party split over the issue as ''nonsense''. ''This is the democratic process of engagement on a policy issue, '' Mr Garrett said. ''Everybody knew that this was coming. ''Mr Beazley will seek to replace the party's no new mines policy with a policy for stricter safeguards on uranium exports at next year's ALP conference.
Labor frontbencher Julia Gillard refused to publicly reveal her stance on the policy shift.
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Albanese: Beazley will survive
The Australian Financial Review, Page: 6 Thursday, 27 July 2006
Labor environment spokesman Anthony Albanese yesterday sought to play down the damage the opposition could suffer from a debate on expanding uranium exports, despite his strident rejection of the proposal. Mr Albanese said Kim Beazley's leadership of Labor would not be put at risk if the party voted to reject his push for the scrapping of its decadeslong ban on new uranium mines."What we are seeing is a mature, responsible debate in a democratic fashion from a modern political party," he said."This is as it should be.
Kim has made his views clear but the party members have a right to participate in that debate and will take their views to delegates to that national conference."Mr Beazley announced on Monday that he would push for an overhaul of Labor's no new mines policy at its national conference in April. Mr Albanese is leading a push among Labor's left for the retention of the policy, arguing the party riskslosing support over an issue that will not gain it any votes in marginal electorates."While you can guarantee that uranium mining leads to nuclear waste, what you can't guarantee is that uranium mining won't lead to the creation of nuclear weapons," he said.
Foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd yesterday backed Mr Beazley's calls for a reassessment, saying the policy had outgrown its origins in the Cold War."We've had this policy for 20 years and any policy over time needs to be reviewed and our approach to uranium has changed atleast on three occasions in recent history," Mr Rudd told ABC radio."We can focus on the proliferation parts of it, the economic parts of it, as well as the safety and waste storage parts of the debate."Labor MP and former antinuclear activist Peter Garrett said Australia had gone far enough down the nuclear path.
"I'm not convinced that expanding uranium mining is in the best interests of the country and the best interests of the environment, indigenous people, the security framework which has got tatters in it at themoment," he told ABC radio. He would push to retain the existing policy, but the decision would not threaten his place within the party."Any suggestion that someone in my situation is going to pick up thenbat and go home, simply because there's a possibility that a decision is made by the conference that he personally doesn't agree with, that's not what I'm here for," he said. The federal government is awaiting a report from a taskforce into expanding the nuclear industry.
ERA fails acid test, page 18
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Beazley's U-turn tipped to prevail over Left
Sydney Morning Herald, Page: 5 Wednesday, 26 July 2006
MORE uranium exports wtwklallow increased funding for child care, apprenticeships, university places and aged -care fact!Hies, the Labor left-winger Martin Ferguson said yesterday supporting Kitn Beazky's call for a policy change?. But other prominent Labor MPs. including Peter Garreu. Tanya Pltbersck, Carmen Lawrence and Anthony Aibanese.
have come out strongly fhe Oppositionleader's plan tothe policy banning new uranium mines, Although he supported the existing policy Mr Garrctt told the Herald Labor's over whether to change flic policy was"a good and heakhy thing". As he ban led opposition within the Labor Party, Mr Beaztey insisted the policy change was important to demonstrate the parry was an alternative government and"not a protest movement""We are in the business of being serious about government and this is of thai process."yesterday the Opposition Leader. Mr Beazky"knows that if he is to do the thing on more child-care.
-with education, apprenticeships and university he's got to gel ctport earnings", Mr Bergusoo saidBut Labor's environment spokesman, Anthony Aibanese, said he had the groundswel! of public and party opinion behind him sn his to oppose Mr Beazley's policy shift"Uranium mining is a moderate career but a very big principle because it to the heart of thevalues of the AustralianParty -values wh ich say KM: iery is much economic arrangements between economic entmes, * he saidMr Albanese be knew of only one parry branch that had carried a resolution m favour of a policy change and he warned that the ALP could face an electoral backlash on this issue."1 do think that every time the Libcsf Party walks away from a fundamental principle which w held by its membership, n does have an impact on Labor's electoral standing."Mr AJbanese a defeatWhile the party's left a mostlyto Mr BeaiJeystoallow more mines, Mr Fergusonfor Mr BeaiJev at next Aprils party conference would leave him fatally wounded as leader. However, senior labor ivfiitts tatd the party would not risk cmthe leader by * conference defeat months tiefore the next election.
labor's spokeswoman on child care, youth and women, Tanya Plibersek, she would be ar gutng to labor's exist mg uranium mines policy at the shadow ministry and caucus meetings when Part lament resumes in catty August. Critics of the for a policy switch out that the NSW Government ^>»* lty, i"-'a';on forbiddmg the exploration and roming of anuimtn For the first urne ir. ve, »rs tiw Labor conference will ttf i-ver whclmmgh' dominated hv *h<* party's nghs wing Alhough not all delegates from that!, icnc*n will vote for a change in the policy, i* ss expected to be pas-eii The Norrthern Territory's Chief Minister, Clare Martin, has backed away from a promise to ban new uranium mines, saving she supports Mr Beazley's move to scrap the party's policyPage 12
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PAKISTAN: New atomic reactor to bolster weapons capability A nuclear monitoring institute in the United States has revealed a powerful new atomic reaction is under construction in Pakistan. The institute has published satellite photographs of what it says is a reactor that could produce enough plutonium for up to fifty nuclear weapons a year. Pakistan's Foreign ministry says the report doesn't offer anything new, but it's already prompted renewed warnings from some in the US Congress about a nuclear arms race in South Asia. http://www.abc.net.au/ra/asiapac/programs/m1267680.asx
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----- Original Message ----- From: louise morris To: beyondnuclear@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 11:23 AM Subject: [beyondnuclear] foe ferguson release
full media release attached
MEDIA RELEASE
July 27, 2006
Australia's nuclear grave-yard future with Ferguson.
Labor resources spokesperson Martin Ferguson has once again shown the dangerous and short-sighted nuclear future he has in mind for Australia under his 'cradle to grave' plan.
Louise Morris from Friends of the Earth said 'Fergusons' 'cradle to grave' vision for Australia as the worlds dumping ground for radioactive waste commits all Australians to exactly that. From cradle to grave future generations of Australians, for millennia to come, will have to deal with a landscape of uranium mines and nuclear waste dumps scattered across the country'.
'To lock us into a 'cradle to grave' future when Australia has an estimated 40% of the worlds known uranium underground means we would have half the worlds known nuclear waste bound for Australia to have to deal with for the next quarter of a millennia at least.'
'If Ferguson is prepared to relegate us to a nuclear waste dumping ground what else has he got in mind for us? Perhaps to revisit our shameful history as a nuclear weapons testing ground as well?'
'Beazley and Ferguson are grossly underestimating the commitment of the Australian people in not allowing our country to be relegated to the worlds nuclear breeding and dumping ground. Ferguson has been pushing nuclear expansion inside the Labor party for a while, and now he is pushing it on all of us.the Australian people will push back.' Said Ms Morris
For Media Comment: Louise Morris 0408667100
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> Hi NFA, as Convenor WPT www.womenspeacetrain.com see the firse link >> > 'Patriot Babies' I am getting significant recognition for having just > written this original version of my own antiwar song, I am sharing > copyright with Cindy Sheehan and Joe Dolce. > > > It has been strongly compared along with 'Blowin In The Wind', 'Universal > Soldier' 'And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda' and 'All We Are Saying Is > Give Peace A Chance'. In fact it has been called todays generation of the > same powerful message, Jodi Ranger feels it should be featured at the > rally to commemorate the anniversary of Hiroshima Day. > > > Please listen and let me know > Regards > Glenn Floyd > Australian Senate Candidate 2004 and 2007 > http://elections.nationalforum.com.au/federal-election-2004/candidates/001148.html > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Jodie Ranger" <jranger@aapt.net.au> > To: "FloydAubrey" <floydau1@bigpond.net.au> > Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 10:56 AM > > >> Hi Glen >> >> I thought I had sent you this. But I just >> realised that I had sent it to myself. >> >> Give them a call. it might be good to play your song at this protest or >> gathering. >> >> 1pm sunday August 6 >> State Library cnr >> Swanston and Latrobe st, City. >> www.nukefreeaus.org >> or call >> 96398622 or 0417 >> >> did you contact 60 minutes yet.??? >> Jodie >> > >
----- Original Message ----- From: Janice Wormworth To: beyondnuclear@yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 7:10 PM Subject: [beyondnuclear] Adam Dempsey gets letter of the day in MX
Adam Dempsey received letter of the day for the following in MX (sadly we don't have published version). Ironically the prize, he says, was "laser wars" tickets (!?)
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The Prime Minister deserves a cape - with a radiation symbol on it - Following his claims of Australia becoming an energy "superpower". Howard might as well go mining kryptonite for all he's achieving. Uranium enrichment remains: a) energy intensive b) a major source of ozone-depleting CFCs (US EPA) c) the source of depleted uranium (DU, half-life 4.5 billion years) and d) in demand by terrorists (anyone got that Hotline number?).
Hardly clean and green.
Superpower? Well, Batman ALP Member, Martin Ferguson, wants more uranium mines and nuclear is, after all, the only energy source which fuels nuclear weapons.
In lieu, however, of the Victorian Government's announced clean energy policies (a good start), a further point for the Federal Government to take note: Those uranium dollar signs in your eyes are fooling nobody. China's investment into clean energy is FOUR TIMES that of nuclear - and this excludes energy efficiency measures and hydro power.
Superpower? Well, we could be. It doesn't take x-ray vision to envisage a clean energy future. But next election we can help turn our PM invisible.
Adam Dempsey Nuclear Free Australia
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for so many years the Christian Science Monitor seems to have been reliable and fearless... I can remember my (left-wing Quaker) father receiving copies in Melbourne 55+ years ago). I wonder how many read it in the USA?
rgds
--- In GreenLeft_discussion@yahoogroups.com, Doug Lorimer <dougl@...> wrote: > > Burried in the middle of an article in today's Christian Science Monitot: > > According to a poll released by the Beirut Center for Research and > Information, 87 percent of Lebanese support Hizbullah's fight with > Israel, a rise of 29 percent on a similar poll conducted in February. > More striking, however, is the level of support for Hizbullah's > resistance from non-Shiite communities. Eighty percent of Christians > polled supported Hizbullah along with 80 percent of Druze and 89 percent > of Sunnis. > > Lebanese no longer blame Hizbullah for sparking the war by kidnapping > the Israeli soldiers, but Israel and the US instead. >
This is stupid, racist, anti-semitic drivel. There are plenty of Jews who tell the truth about Israel. I wish there were more, but Israel Shahak, Lea Tsemel, Micheal Warschofski, Noam Chomsky, William Blum, Felicia Langer and who knows how many others will do for a start.
Anti-Semitism is the socialism of fools.
Walter ======================================================== NIGHT HAWK wrote: Jews don't believe in freedom of speech By John Kaminski - July 19, 2006 skylax@comcast.net Website's comments follow...
I can make any Jew tell a lie in three seconds. Just ask, "Tell me about the history of Israel." You won't hear the real answer from a Jew.
Agreed, and presumably the moderator will axe this idiot asap MK ----- Original Message ----- From: Walter Lippmann To: GreenLeft_discussion@yahoogroups.com Sent: Saturday, July 29, 2006 4:51 AM Subject: RE: [GreenLeft_discussion] Jews don't believe in freedom of speech
This is stupid, racist, anti-semitic drivel. There are plenty of Jews who tell the truth about Israel. I wish there were more, but Israel Shahak, Lea Tsemel, Micheal Warschofski, Noam Chomsky, William Blum, Felicia Langer and who knows how many others will do for a start.
Anti-Semitism is the socialism of fools.
Walter ======================================================== NIGHT HAWK wrote: Jews don't believe in freedom of speech By John Kaminski - July 19, 2006 skylax@comcast.net Website's comments follow...
I can make any Jew tell a lie in three seconds. Just ask, "Tell me about the history of Israel." You won't hear the real answer from a Jew.
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--- In GreenLeft_discussion@yahoogroups.com, "Walter Lippmann" <walterlx@...> wrote: > > This is stupid, racist, anti-semitic drivel. There are > plenty of Jews who tell the truth about Israel. I wish > there were more, but Israel Shahak, Lea Tsemel, Micheal > Warschofski, Noam Chomsky, William Blum, Felicia Langer > and who knows how many others will do for a start. > > Anti-Semitism is the socialism of fools. > > > Walter > ======================================================== > NIGHT HAWK wrote: > Jews don't believe in freedom of speech > By John Kaminski - July 19, 2006 skylax@... > Website's comments follow... > > My only disagreement with Walter Lippmann is that anti-semitism is reaction straighr and pure.
But more importantly at a time when we are involved in world wide campaign against The US-Israeli war on Lebanon, Palestine and Iraq this protocols of the elders of Zionism type filth has no place in a socialist discussion list.
Night Hawk should be put on notice that no further such postings will be allowed and as has been done in extreme situations in the past this anti-semitic posting should be removed.
It is not an issue of free speech-there are plenty of places, unfortunately for anti-semites to spew out their filth and even more unfortunately the aggreesion of the Israeli regime against Arabs help to create a situation where the hate and reaction mongers may gain an audience -socialists wise or foolish must not in any way assist that.
Dear list members, The anti-semitic list member and message have been removed. This is unaceptable on this list. (and anywhere else for that matter). comradely, Margaret A moderator, GL discussion list
Michael Karadjis wrote:
> Agreed, and presumably the moderator will axe this idiot asap > MK > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Walter Lippmann > To: GreenLeft_discussion@yahoogroups.com > <mailto:GreenLeft_discussion%40yahoogroups.com> > Sent: Saturday, July 29, 2006 4:51 AM > Subject: RE: [GreenLeft_discussion] Jews don't believe in freedom of > speech > > This is stupid, racist, anti-semitic drivel. There are > plenty of Jews who tell the truth about Israel. I wish > there were more, but Israel Shahak, Lea Tsemel, Micheal > Warschofski, Noam Chomsky, William Blum, Felicia Langer > and who knows how many others will do for a start. > > Anti-Semitism is the socialism of fools. > > Walter > ======================================================== > NIGHT HAWK wrote: > Jews don't believe in freedom of speech > By John Kaminski - July 19, 2006 skylax@comcast.net > <mailto:skylax%40comcast.net> > Website's comments follow... > > I can make any Jew tell a lie in three seconds. Just ask, > "Tell me about the history of Israel." You won't hear the > real answer from a Jew. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > >
There are some excellent books of old revolutionary posters and movie posters on sale here. New revolutionary posters are still being made here in Cuba, and are sold at some outlets, not really the touristy-places, for a few dollars. The one I know best is the OSPAAL office. That's the place where Tricontinental magazine is published, the Organization for Solidarity with the Peoples of Africa, Asia and Latin America. The latest ones go for $3.00 per, and are very imaginateive. Two recent ones include a white role of toilet paper with the letters ALCA written on the sheets as it rolls down. Another has an image of Uncle Same holding a gun, but the barrel turned around and Uncle Sam now targets himself.
Note not one word of political regret by Vietnam which managed to defeat a military force a thousand times more powerful than they were. Now, Vietnam and the U.S. have a more or less normal trade relationship, just about, and Vietnam - where the "I Love L.A." hat I like to where, as well as the ones with both the Cuban and the U.S. flags which I once in a while change pace with, are made.
I often ask myself what will it take and what will happen should the possibility of an end to Washington's blockade of Cuba come to fruition. I enjoy speculating about that relatively unlikely prospect. Washington has been trying to control Cuba since long before the birth of Fidel Castro's FATHER. The idea is profoundly rooted in the political psychology of the rulers of the US of A. To them, Cuba is the fish that got away, much more than the mouse that roared. The idea that this one little country could stand up and say "no" and get away with it is really repugnant to them and that's why they keep trying to grind Cuba down. Of course people here are pretty stubborn, in all sorts of ways. You'll recall the people of the small city of Bayamo, where I spent the last couple of days, literally burned their own city down rather than allow it to be re-taken by the Spanish. That's why tne national anthem's final line is "Morir por la patria is vivir", "To die for the country is to live." As has been pointed out a hundred times, 58,000 U.S. soldiers died in Washington's vain attempt to keep Vietnam out of the hands of the Vietnamese. Now it's theirs and they can stand or fall on their own responsibility. That's really what Cubans want in the final analysis: national independence and a role for themselves in the international struggle to make this world a place truly fit for human habitation.
Walter Lippmann Havana, Cuba ==================================================================
WALL STREET JOURNAL July 28, 2006 TASTE
Vietnam's Propaganda Art Goes to Market By RON GLUCKMAN July 28, 2006
At a recent exhibition of propaganda posters in Hanoi, Pham Hoc Hai peered at "The Liberation of Saigon," a poster that he had painted in April 1975. Floral and impressionistic, simple but boisterous, it captured the qualities that are making Vietnamese political art a hot genre.
Mr. Pham was astonished to see that the poster still existed, much less that it was gracing a gallery wall.
During the Vietnam War period, propaganda artists like Mr. Pham not only created works to inspire the masses, but often transported them by bike, in battle conditions, to distant villages. Paper and ink was in short supply, and presses were nonexistent. Thus, the art was continuously reproduced by hand on the sides of buildings, trucks, even trees. Originals are rare, prized by collectors who praise a style of propaganda art distinct from that churned out in Maoist China.
Over 100 of Vietnam's finest propaganda posters have been collected in "Dogma: Morale from the Ministry," a richly annotated book. Few have ever been seen by the outside world, and most were forgotten here long ago, having faded along with Vietnam's Communist fervor.
Dominic Scriven, a British expatriate living in Ho Chi Minh City, is one of the forces behind the vogue for Vietnamese propaganda art. Founder of Dragon Capital, an investment fund, Mr. Scriven has collected 500 original posters since the early 1990s, when he moved to Ho Chi Minh City, the former Saigon. He opened Dogma, a gallery showcasing his posters, two years ago. "I never wanted to sell them," he said of his collection, "but people saw them and wanted them." Copying originals was the answer, and it spawned a small industry in souvenir t-shirts and coffee mugs for communist-kitsch-seeking tourists. The book naturally followed.
Compiling "Dogma" took a full year, however. Much of that time was spent tracking down artists, detective work done by journalist Lucy Forwood. Few posters were signed. "Most painters didn't see themselves as artists," says Ms. Forwood. "They were soldiers, dedicated to the war effort. One told me his job was in production -- not of art, but soldiers for the front."
Mr. Scriven hopes "Dogma" will not only bring the painters recognition, but also greater appreciation of the artistry of propaganda. The form was once common from Angola to Warsaw, but it is now gone from all but the staunchest socialist regimes, like Cuba and North Korea. In the capitalist world, though, its chic star is rising.
> --- In GreenLeft_discussion@yahoogroups.com, Cort Greene > <cort_greene@...> wrote: > > In Defence of Marxism - http://www.marxist.com > > Preface to "Russia: from real socialism to real socalism" > By Alan Woods Friday, 28 July 2006
The concept "workers state" is a theoretical contradiction simply because the method for the state to 'wither' away is not as the leninists and trotskyists want us to believe with building a massive state apparatus under the guidance of one party, let alone a party dictatorship which became the political trade mark of bolshevism in 1918. It start with a revolutionary democracy and international revolution.
The transmission period to 'socialism' is the opposite of the bolshevik hierarchal solution. Instead of a party led state which Lenin called "statecapitalism" under strict rule and guidance by a special party elite - is socialism all powers to workers and popular councils on the international level to fulfill the first phase of communism.
The so-called bureaucracy which leninist and trotskyist organizations explain the birth of stalinism was in fact born under Lenin and Trotsky with a deliberate politic where the soviests were reduced to ceremonial institutions without power. Instead of workers direct power did the bolshevik party introduce appointment from above in all ruling institutions.
A hierachal state rule was enforced by recruitment from the former tsarist bureaucracy. The way the power was exercised were not with democratic elections, but with decrets from above. Candidates and representatives were not elected. They were mostly appointed by the very same party apparatus which had objective interests of that the working class was sidelined and changed into spectators to their own revolution.
The bolshevik party introduced a principle of 'the will of one' on the factories. He believed that as long the economy was nationalized by the right party should the working class masses work and exercise workers control. In the bolshevik naive world was workers control not the same as workers power. Instead it was the 'right' for the workers to supervise the production according to the guidelines of the party. Some kind of ticket controlers, with other words.
Even if lack of resources means an apparatus to control limited distribution had to exist, is it no natural and logic step from this do the military troops which was sent to destroy the Kronstadt soviet in March 1921. By this act againts the soviet was the bolshevik party transformed from an authoritarian and bureaucratized workers party to a party where the ruling elite already had become collective owners of the state property and economic assests.
The factory committees which were about to transform themselves to factory councils for collective running of all corporations above a certain size as the most democratic expression of workers power in the work places were submitted to the older and more economistic unions. These again were submitted to the commissaries which was controled by the party under guidance of a tiny central committee which only answered to itself.
A socialist revolution can only succeed with a successful international revolution. Lenin and Trotsky did not deny that. Both held that a workers revolution can have a breakthrough in one country, but only succeed international. Still did the bolshevik party fail, and it did so by a method which put into action a force that lifted up an elite and an apparatus to lead and guide the working class masses through the bolshevik nursery school.
Belgian Jewish Leader: Israel Committing War Crimes By Selcuk Gultasli Thursday, July 27, 2006 zaman.com <http://www.zaman.com/>
Jewish associations have begun to react against the Israeli offensive into Lebanon. Head of the Union of Belgian Jewish Progressives (UPJB) Dr. Jacques Ravedovitch stated that Israel is committing war crimes in Lebanon.
In an interview with Zaman in Brussels, Ravedovitch said that while former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon committed indirect war crimes, current Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is unquestionably a war criminal.
Dr. Ravedovitch said it is a shame that Jews who were once exposed to the holocaust are doing the same evil things against another nation today.
According to Ravedovitch, anti-Semitism is from time to time misused by Israeli statesman, and the recently intensified Israeli offensive into Lebanon has increased hatred for Israel.
The UPJB demands that both the EU and Belgium bring the Israeli attacks to an end.
UPJB, an active Jewish Association in Belgium, accuses Israel of committing war crimes despite the statements issued by the EU and US.
Some Jews still have dreams of a “Great Israel,” Ravedovitch noted, adding that the Israeli government is absolutely against negotiations and is acting aggressively to impose its own interests as a solution.
Seen as a traitor to the Diaspora cause, Ravdeovitch said: “Peace will not be secured without the return of Israel to its pre-1967 borders. Israel should stop destroying Lebanon. It should leave Eastern Jerusalem to the Palestinians and accept that Jerusalem is the common capital; they should sit at the negotiation table for talks.”
Calling the Israeli attacks shameful, Ravedovitch said: “Resistance in Palestine and Lebanon is justified. Israel is an invader. I do not approve of Hamas killing innocent people, but I defend that if there are invaders there will be resistance at the same time. What Israel is doing in Lebanon is terror.”
Accusing the West, and particularly Europe, of fearing to criticize Israel, Ravedovitch said: “The EU keeps saying that they treat Israel and Palestine equally, but how can we behave equally towards both the invader and the invadee? We asked the EU to suspend the Partnership Agreement with Israel, but they didn’t answer.”
Ravedovitch said the EU’s attitude indicates Europe still feels guilty about the holocaust, but that Israel is exploiting anti-Semitism.
He pointed out that anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism are different concepts.
“Anti-Zionism is a political stance. For instance, when a person criticizes Britain, he shouldn’t be called racist or anti- British. Similarly, when people criticize Israel, they do not become anti-Semites.”
The last point Ravedovitch compared the situation to the US’s failure in Vietnam, and suggested that it’s impossible for Israel to attain its objectives in Lebanon as the latest attacks into Lebanon only increased the hatred against Israel tenfold.
New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) Ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Havana in September, India and Cuba have agreed to further strengthen bilateral ties and "work together closely" to revitalise the Non-Alignment Movement.
Cuba reiterated its strong support for India's candidature for permanent membership of the UN Security Council and responded positively to the candidature of Shashi Tharoor for the post of UN Secretary-General, said an external affairs ministry press release on the recent foreign office consultations between the two countries.
Shashi U. Tripathi, secretary (West) in the ministry, led the Indian delegation at the foreign office consultations with Cuba held in Havana July 20-21.
"Besides an extensive exchange of views on issues related to the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), preparatory to the 14th NAM Summit which will take place in Havana in September 2006, the two sides reviewed bilateral cooperation and also discussed UN issues," the release added.
The consultations also provided an opportunity to both sides to reiterate their commitment to combat "terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations," with Havana condemning the July 11 serial blasts in Mumbai that killed over 200 people.
During bilateral discussions, both sides welcomed the proposed inauguration of an IT laboratory in Havana, set up with Indian expertise, during the NAM Summit, and the growing cooperation in the energy sector.
Possibilities of strengthening cooperation in other areas including agriculture, sports, culture and exchange of students were also discussed.
> India, Cuba to work for revitalising NAM India News > > > <http://www.indianmuslims.info/news/2006/july/28/india_news/india_cuba_to_wo > rk_for_revitalising_nam.html> > > New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) Ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan > Singh's visit to Havana in September, India and Cuba have > agreed to further strengthen bilateral ties and "work > together closely" to revitalise the Non-Alignment > Movement.
One of the weaknesses of the Non-Aligned Movement is that it is not based on principle. It's based on 'enlightened self-interest'. And so some countries will _always_ see it in their 'self-interest' to undercut the others and take some payoff from imperialism for doing the dirty deed.
The present government of India is simply not to be trusted. Still, matters of state and geopolitix take precedence in a world where the working-class is largely absent from the stage.
Hanoi, Jul 28 (Prensa Latina) Meetings, tours, signings of accords and talks with businesspeople are included in his agenda during Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez' first visit to Vietnam from July 30 - August 1.
The Venezuelan head of State is expected to arrive next Monday, where he will be welcomed by President Nguyen Minh Triet at the Presidential Palace, whose main aim is to analyze bilateral relations.
Chavez' program includes signing several protocols and two letters of intention on cooperation, meetings with the country's top officials and businessmen, touring the Armed Forces Museum and the Thanh Xuan Peace Village outside Hanoi, among other activities.
Among activities are to pay tribute to legendary leader Ho Chi Minh at the Mausoleum in the Ba Dinh Square, visit his house and work office, and lay a wreath in the Monument erected to martyrs and those fallen during the war.
Chavez will conclude his tour in Vietnam that first took him to Belarus, Russia, Qatar and Iran.
``From now on, the issue is no longer primarily one of territory, restitution or occupation: instead the main issue is the strategic threat to Israel's existence.''
So what does this mean? That the idiot and collaborationist (ahem) Green parties of the world support the zionists *nuking* every perceived foe in the Middle East..?
[For those not aware of it: Joschka Fischer is a well-known war criminal who, as the "Green" foreign minister of Germany, led the NATO charge to destroy Jugoslavija for imperialism.]
Remember Joschka Fischer when it comes time to put imperialist war criminals on trial.
Arms deal sets collision course with US Email Print Normal font Large font Nick Paton Walsh in Moscow July 29, 2006
Advertisement AdvertisementRUSSIA has signed a $US2.9 billion ($3.8 billion) arms deal with President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela risking a confrontation with the US, which has imposed an arms embargo on the South American country.
The outspoken Mr Chavez, who has claimed that America wants to assassinate him and who has pledged aid to victims of Hurricane Katrina and cheap heating fuel for London's poor, told reporters in Moscow on Thursday that his country could develop its own nuclear program.
"Maybe some day we will start using nuclear energy," he said, according to Interfax news agency. He did not specify when or how he might obtain nuclear power, but his ambitions will rile a Bush Administration already concerned by Iran's nuclear program.
Moscow has agreed to build nuclear power plants for Tehran, despite Washington's claim that the scheme is a front for a nuclear weapons program.
After Mr Chavez's meeting with President Vladimir Putin, Russia's state arms exporter Rosobornexport said it would sell 24 military planes and 53 attack helicopters to Venezuela in one of a series of deals between the countries worth an estimated $US2.9 billion.
Moscow has recently stepped up arms sales to Venezuela, saying last month that it would license the AK-47 rifle for production in Caracas.
After their meeting on Thursday, Mr Chavez told Mr Putin: "Russia has stretched out its hand to us in the face of international pressure, and even an embargo that was to be imposed on us.
"It gives our soldiers a special spirit of firmness when we hand them Kalashnikov rifles that replace old, 1940s guns."
In an attempt to soften the blow of such deals for Washington, Mr Putin said that co-operation between Moscow and Caracas "is not directed against other states", but added: "Russia will be a secure partner for Venezuela." He said that Russian investment into Venezuela could reach billions of dollars, while expressing admiration for the country's economic growth rate of 8 per cent.
The two men also announced that the Russian oil firm Lukoil would build a gas pipeline in Venezuela's south and drill for oil near the Orinoco River.
Mr Chavez again launched a vitriolic attack on the US. "After almost 200 years, we can say that the United States was designed to fill the entire world with poverty as if in the name of freedom," he said, according to Interfax.
"The United States' empire is the greatest threat which exists in the world today.
"This is a senseless, blind and dumb giant, which does not know the world, does not know human rights, and does not know anything about humanity, culture, conscience, or consciousness."
He said the "winds of war" were blowing in the Middle East and were a "product of hegemony and imperialistic aspirations, which reveal Washington's bid for power over the whole planet".
He added that during a recent visit to Belarus, Russia's neighbour, he had seen a monument to Lenin. The left-wing leader said: "He will always be in our heart and our ideas."
On Wednesday Mr Chavez travelled to Izhevsk where he met Mikhail Kalashnikov, in the wake of the deal to buy 100,000 rifles invented by the weapons designer.
Again contrary to the WSWS drivel, Reinaldo has been charged with several offences including firearms offences, attempted murder and embezzlement of military property. But perhaps the WSWS would have us believe that this is just deep cover for Australia's man in East Timor?
--- In GreenLeft_discussion@yahoogroups.com, "rogerraven" <rogerraven@...> wrote: > > Appalling rubbish from the WSWS (the Healyites) once again. But no > doubt churning out this drivel avoids any serious risk of actually > making a useful contribution. > > Rather than me wasting time on such patently selective and self- > serving propaganda, since Avelino Coelho da Silva is the secretary- > general and national political commissioner of the Socialist Party of > Timor – therefore not from the Australian media - let us have his > views as written in Green Left Weekly: > BEGINS > "For somebody to be accurately classified as a communist, > his/her policies should show some similarity to communist ideas. Yet > Alkatiri, and the Fretilin government he has led, have not the > slightest communist colouring. The social system that has been > fostered is one based on the existence of rich and poor classes. The > Alkatiri government has implemented no policies aimed at ending this > gap. Worse still, the Alkatiri government's policies have worsened > the situation, with the phenomenon of cronyism exacerbating the rich- > poor gap. It is a public secret that senior officials have tended to > facilitate cronyism. > The economic policies of Alkatiri and Fretilin have tended to promote > privatisation. There have been no indications that the Alkatiri > government is interested in nationalising any private firms. There > have been no signs of a left orientation towards land reform. The gap > between rich and poor has grown. Agriculture has been abandoned so > that the country as a whole is dominated by trade and by private > traders. The peasant farmers have grown poorer under these capitalist > policies. You can see the irony of them carrying banners > stating "Viva capitalism! Down with communism!" > Another factor contributing to this situation has been Alkatiri's own > leadership style. He takes a confrontational approach towards > everybody and appears as arrogant. > What has happened in East Timor is not the case of a left-wing > Alkatiri and Fretilin government being forced out of power by mass > mobilisations. Alkatiri fell because he was disliked by some other > elite politicians and because Fretilin was not able to bring forward > another person capable of being a prime minister and of forming a new > government. So some still hope that Fretilin can be destroyed at the > next elections. That is what this is about: right-wing against right- > wing. > END > > So, "the government-owned Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)" > is in the pay of the running dogs of capitalist imperialism as well, > since it "aired a "Four Corners" program on June 19, which dredged up > lurid allegations from Alkatiri's political enemies that the prime > minister had approved the formation of a "hit squad" to murder his > opponents. Quite apart from the dubious and unsupported character of > the claims, the program conveniently ignored the fact that the rebel > soldiers and police officers who were making the charges were clearly > guilty of taking up arms against the state." > > There is much pressure on ABC staff to present a Right-wing view of > the world. Those staff clearly need not look to WSWS to support > their continuing determination to be fair. Indeed, no sensible > person would want any involvement with such a sectarian organisation. > On the face of it, the evidence that it produced showed quite clearly > that Lobato armed a militia group. It is of course also wrong to > say that there is no evidence against Alkatiri - the Four Corners > programme contained no direct evidence, but after being arrested, > Lobato spilled the beans. Alkatiri is formally regarded as a > suspect, and is confined to Dili. Reinaldo has been charged with > firearms offences. > > What Four Corners did was blow down WSWS' house of cards. Had WSWS > done a less sloppy and prejudiced job, they would not now rightly be > humiliated. A conspiracy theory bought from St Vincent de Paul > proves perhaps that you do often get what you pay for. > > The more inexcusable errors of the WSWS include: > * a determination to idolise supposedly "Leftist" figures; > * wilful ignorance of corruption within the East > Timorese elite, oil-driven and power-driven; > * a complete failure to intelligently monitor developments; > * a refusal to acknowledge an elementary communist principle > that a capitalist economy will be dominated by capitalists, whether > in the First World or the Third; > * a refusal to recognise that any Australian Government does > face a real dilemma in intervening in neighbouring countries. > > As I have pointed out several times, this problem is not just one > for East Timor. Many of the issues it raises are shared by the > other "failed" states in our region. Instead of the mindless > regurgitation of patently absurd dogmas developed by > various "Leftist" sects, we should be seeking to examine it in > historical context and with regard to a Marxist-Leninist perspective. > > > --- In GreenLeft_discussion@yahoogroups.com, "Michael Berrell" > <dennyben@> wrote: > > > > > > http://www.wsws.org/articles/2006/jul2006/tim1-j27_prn.shtml > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > >
> Again contrary to the WSWS drivel, Reinaldo has been > charged with several offences including firearms offences, > attempted murder and embezzlement of military property. > But perhaps the WSWS would have us believe that this is > just deep cover for Australia's man in East Timor?
I don't know how bang-on you are here, but I do know that the only way the Left is going to overcome its deep divisions is by its approaching all issues and questions -- and each other -- dialectically. (I don't expect this to be necessarily understood this time either: viz my usual problem with a 'vested interest' like glparramatta).
Consider the WSWS to have made a "first stab" at this important issue; then consider you and GLW to have corrected what was wrong in the first attempt to a higher level of accuracy. And then, no doubt, timorese in Oz will have something to say... etc. (Almost ad infinitum -- but there are real and practical cut-offs somewhere).
- -- grok.
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Studying some Hegel today, I naturally came across a passage which, while it doesn't cover everything going on with Nemo Etomer here, it at least points to one of Nemo's fundamentally flawed ways of thinking:
"It is by referring to this opposition of Understanding to sensation or feeling that we must explain the frequent attacks made upon thought for being hard and narrow, and for leading, if consistently developed, to ruinous and pernicious results."
Please understand that the meaning of a number of Hegel's philosophical keywords differ from how most of us use these words today (or even back then). But Hegel's basically saying: while analysis is fine and dandy (even vitally important) -- if you get carried away with the analysis itself, *bad things are going to happen*. Starting with you 'getting it wrong' -- and going downhill from there.
And it seems to me that Nemo is stuck, from some angle somehow, at the level of Understanding -- instead of carrying on what he has learnt up into the realm of Reason.
In other words: Nemo gets a 'D' for Dialectix. Class dismissed.
- -- grok.
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Kuala Lumpur, Jul 28 (Prensa Latina) Malaysia has urged the US to use its influence over Israel to achieve a cease-fire in Lebanon and the occupied territories of Gaza and West Bank.
Malaysian BERNAMA news agency reported that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi made a truce appeal to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Badawi held a 40-minute meeting at the Parliament chamber with Rice, who had travelled to Malaysia to attend the 13th ASEAN Regional Forum, which gathers delegations from 21 countries.
The prime minister believes that Washington could use its influence over Tel Aviv to achieve a cease-fire, stop the killing of more innocent civilians and the devastation of the Lebanese and Palestinian territories, reported BERNAMA on Friday.
Badawi is the current president of the Non Aligned Countries Movement, president of the Islamic Conference Organization and the ASEAN president.
On Friday, Malaysia presented the case of the indiscriminate Israeli aggression of Lebanon at the 13th ARF, in which Australia, Canada, China, US, India, Japan, New Zealand, Mongolia, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Russia, South Korea, the European Union and East Temor are taking part, apart from the 10 ASEAN nations.
If a socialist revolution is not possible without a working class, why shouldn't political power to the working class masses be a precondition to materialize their power?
Karl Marx wrote that the working class is the only real revolutionary class in history because its emancipation also means the same for humanity and the disappearance of the proletariat as a class.
This has been questioned by groups we can call national "left". Their arguments have been that the class seemingly so easy is led away from its own interests and need someone to guide it right. It is a fact that the working class in developed countries many times has been impotent to come up with solidarity and struggle against barbaric wars. We see this in the wars in the Middle East, lately with Israel's bombardment of Lebanon which neither has been met with workers demonstrations in Israel, Europe nor USA. But the reason for this is fare more complex than the class to its character is economistic or political impotent to understand its own best and not a class with a revolutionary potensial.
If the working class needs a party to lead and guide itself is Karl Marx wrong and Lenin right. He believed it was an intelligentsia from the upper classes which was the only real revolutionary force in history and the working class left on its own doomed to be a reformistic class.
Isn't this pretty contradictive? According to the statecapitalist national 'left is a bourgeois intelligentsia equipped with elitism and authoritarianism the presumed force to lead the masses on a path to a classless non-elitistic and non-hierarchal world society.
The working class is necessary for a socialist revolution and power to the working class masses only possible by and through the class itself.
* No support to the statecapitalist defenders of party dictatorship, police states and nationalism.
> If a socialist revolution is not possible without a > working class, why shouldn't political power to the > working class masses be a precondition to materialize > their power?
Who's saying that it isn't? _You_ would say "the Bolsheviki", etc. _I_ would say you're frigging, completely wrong.
> This has been questioned by groups we can call national > "left". Their arguments have been that the class seemingly > so easy is led away from its own interests and need > someone to guide it right. It is a fact that the working > class in developed countries many times has been impotent > to come up with solidarity and struggle against barbaric > wars. We see this in the wars in the Middle East, lately > with Israel's bombardment of Lebanon which neither has > been met with workers demonstrations in Israel, Europe nor > USA. But the reason for this is fare more complex than the > class to its character is economistic or political > impotent to understand its own best and not a class with a > revolutionary potensial.
This is one reason I fight liberals and pacifists(!) and social-democrats: they're generally nationalists, for one thing. (But in a GOOD sense, you understand). In fact they are one major, MAJOR source of disinformation, misinformation and demoralization. They are pied pipers of the working-class: always leading it back to the bourgeoisie and their rigged electoral-class system.
Proof? Just listen to/watch the "alternative" media for any length of time: it's half petit-bourgeois garbage. Which is see repeated verbatim in fora like Green Left Weekly.
> If the working class needs a party to lead and guide > itself is Karl Marx wrong and Lenin right. He believed it > was an intelligentsia from the upper classes which was the > only real revolutionary force in history and the working > class left on its own doomed to be a reformistic class.
No -- this is a *lie*. And I, for one, wish you'd stop repeating it. Lenin was a practical man who understood the limits of working-class consciousness in its concrete surroundings -- just the very issue you brought up above. Difference with Lenin was, he was able to DO something VERY positive and concrete about it. Marx & Engels would totally have agreed with Lenin's work. Prove different, Nemo.
Lenin's aim was ALWAYS to try and raise the working-class' consciousness by incessant Party work, propaganda, etc. (someone correct me if my whole life has been based on a major misreading of bolshevism, eh?) Lenin was VERY clear on the relationship here (and why don't YOU understand this, Nemo..?): that the more self-aware the masses became -- conversely, the less need for [komradly, brotherly] 'direction' -- i.e. leadership -- from a Party.
What you keep harping on about are the unfortunate concrete factors which led inexorably to stalinism.
It's a nice thought, thinking about how the masses will develop their mental abilities and perceptiveness and knowledge on their own; taking charge of their collective lives, the way we all really should want -- without the need for a 'leg up' from any bunch of 'busy-bodies'... But just look at how the Western working-class believes so much of the bourgeois crap they imbibe each day (and many on the petit-bourgeois Left have drawn VERY wrong and demoralized conclusions from this...)
Ironically enuff, self-consciousness often only improves as people approach some disaster situation (all things being equal). That's some advert for "self"- organization, that is... Hell, we're not even really fighting these bastards who continue to dominate our minds -- but for that you very definitely require some *fighting organization* to plan the fightback and marshall the resources -- and rally the troops. Don't tell me the "Anti-Globalization" Left isn't milling about looking for leadership, Nemo. Even if they deny it to the stars.
(Hey! I've got an idea! Let's hold ANOTHER demo! Ahhh...)
> Isn't this pretty contradictive? According to the > statecapitalist national 'left is a bourgeois > intelligentsia equipped with elitism and authoritarianism > the presumed force to lead the masses on a path to a > classless non-elitistic and non-hierarchal world society.
You sound more and more like an anarchist, Nemo. This is the REAL world here.
Just as there is no perfect investor as bourgeois economic theory demands for its logic, there is no perfect class. And certainly no perfect _downtrodden_ class. There are just scared people, looking for a way out, Nemo. Looking for some SIGN. For some... LEADERSHIP.
> The working class is necessary for a socialist revolution > and power to the working class masses only possible by and > through the class itself.
The way forward to victory is thru a dialectical process of the organized, advanced workers and their non-working-class allies interacting with the mass of the organized and unorganized working-class in general. To the extent that that working-class is *itself* relatively advanced, this relationship becomes _necessarily_ more democratic (the _tendency_, that is -- reality may vary with mileage.)
And then you have the kind of Party Lenin & Marx & Engels & Trotsky would've wished they could have been a part of. Even Stalin too. And Kim Il Sung. And, uh, Pol Pot... Gerry Healy... ;P
> * No support to the statecapitalist defenders of party > dictatorship, police states and nationalism.
Ever heard of "dictatorship of the proletariat" Nemo..?
- -- grok.
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If you want to monitor what's happening on the web, if you are a real info junky, when you want to subscribe to a podcast's show notes as well as the audio, if you want to search for and keep up to date with specific keywords in a range of directories (like Digg <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digg>, delicious <http://del.icio.us/about/>, etc), if you want to aggregate all your email discussion groups in the one place without downloading to your email account, if you want the web to come to you rather than go to it ...then give BlogBridge <http://www.blogbridge.com/>a try.
New edition just out. Still in beta. It's great way to journey the web feed by feed. I love it. BlogBrige puts the web at your fingertips.
GI Special: ----- Original Message ----- From: Thomas F Barton To: Thomas B Sent: Saturday, July 29, 2006 10:59 AM Subject: GI Special 4G28: Nobody Coming Home Now
Jul. 27, 2006 PAULINE JELINEK and RYAN LENZ, Associated Press & by Jim Mannion AFP
WASHINGTON
Military commanders in Iraq are developing a plan to move as many as 5,000 U.S. troops with armored vehicles and tanks into the country's capital in an effort to quell escalating violence, defense officials said Thursday.
As part of the plan, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Thursday extended the tours of some 3,500 members of the 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. It was scheduled to be leaving now, but instead, most of its 3,900 troops will serve for up to four more months.
About 200 of its troops had arrived at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, and another 200 were in Kuwait.
Army officials said the status of those troops would be decided on a case-by-case basis, but that soldiers could be sent back from Kuwait or even Alaska if they are considered essential to the mission.
All flights out for soldiers currently at the end of their deployment were canceled as of Tuesday, as commanders wrestled with the plan and how to supply troops needed for it, a third official said.
The 172nd uses the lighter, faster Stryker troop-carrying vehicle and includes about 4,400 troops. At least 200 have returned to Alaska; others were in Kuwait awaiting transportation home. It wasn't clear Thursday how many members of the unit remained in Iraq.
Defense experts inside and outside the Pentagon worry that diverting U.S. troops to Baghdad could weaken their ability in other parts of the country. [Fucking brilliant deduction.]
The move indicated that US commanders have effectively given up hopes for even a gradual reduction in the US force this year.
It boosted the size of the US force from 14 brigades to 15 brigades, and from 127,000 troops to at least 130,000.
Army officials said that by the end of August the US force should increase to about 134,000 troops with the arrival of another brigade from the 82nd Airborne Infantry Division.
MORE:
Rumsfeld Says Troops Forced To Stay In Iraq "Got On With Life"
Jul. 27, 2006 by Jim Mannion AFP
"If you extend somebody, is there some disappointment that they won't be home when they thought they would be home? Sure," US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told reporters.
He said when an army unit was extended for several months two years ago, "they handled it in a professional way, and got on with life."
[Send this rotten, lying, betraying piece of shit to Ramadi; let him "get on with life."
MORE:
U.S. Command Admits Occupation Has Not Won In Baghdad;
[Guess What the Opposite Of "Win" Is]
JULY 26, 2006 BY MICHAEL R. GORDON, THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY
"Baghdad is truly a must-win," said Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell IV, the senior spokesman for the military command here. "The prime minister has stated it. General Casey has stated it. We have to win in Baghdad. We don't have an option"
[Oh right. That's what an earlier version of this silly asshole said about Saigon. And what an earlier German version of this silly asshole said about Stalingrad. You see, there is another option. War ends. Troops come home. Think Vietnam. The U.S. troops there rebelled and wouldn't fight a rotten Imperial war anymore. Game over.]
IRAQ WAR REPORTS
MARINE KILLED IN AL ANBAR 27 JULY
7/28/2006 HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND NEWS RELEASE Number: 06-07-02C
CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq: A Marine assigned to Regimental Combat Team 5 died due to enemy action while operating in Al Anbar Province today.
West Side Native Killed
7/28/2006 WCPO
Delhi Marine Corporal Timothy Roos was waiting for the day he would get to come home from Iraq to see his newborn daughter.
But the day, which was planned for late September, would never come for the 20-year-old.
Corporal Roos was killed in Ramadi earlier this week when a bomb exploded under his Humvee, his family told 9News on Friday.
They found out about his death around 4 a.m. Friday, less than two weeks after Corporal Roos' wife gave birth to a girl.
Roos, who was on his second tour of duty in Iraq, graduated in 2003 from the Oak Hills Diamond Oaks vocational program, where he was enrolled in ROTC.
He had dreamed of being a Marine since he was a boy, his family told 9News. Roos was even married in his Marine uniform.
"Tim was a very family oriented person," said brother-in-law Brian Pearson. "He wanted to be a Marine since he was two years old. He was very proud to serve our country. He was very much looking forward to coming home to seeing his daughter."
Corporal Roos was commanding trucks in the Ramadi area when a bomb went off under his Humvee, the military told his family.
Maryland Soldier Killed
July 27, 2006 The Associated Press, ROSE HAVEN, Md.
Family members said a soldier from southern Anne Arundel County was killed Saturday in an ambush in Iraq.
Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Swanson, 25, of Rose Haven, was on his third tour of Iraq when he was killed. His uncle, Glenn Swanson, said his nephew was destined to be a career soldier and said he was a dedicated servant.
Swanson was the captain of the soccer team at Southern High School and graduated in 1999.
His funeral is set for Tuesday at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Upper Marlboro. He will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Salvadoran Soldier Killed Near Diwaniya
Jul 28 The Associated Press
A Salvadoran soldier was killed in Iraq on Thursday, the second soldier from this Central American nation to be killed in the conflict in eight days.
The deaths come as Salvadoran President Tony Saca was preparing to ask the nation's congress to approve sending a seventh contingent of 380 troops to replace those now in Iraq.
Deputy Sgt. Donald Alberto Ramirez died from head injuries after the ambulance he was driving was hit with an explosive device on the outskirts of the southern Iraqi city of Diwaniya, Salvadoran Defense Minister Otto Romero said.
With Thursday's death, a total of four Salvadorans have been killed in the Iraqi conflict.
Six Georgian Troops Wounded Near Baquba
27 Jul 2006 Reuters & Civil Georgia, Tbilisi
Guerrillas opened fire on Georgian troops manning a checkpoint near the Iraqi town of Baquba.
Six Georgian servicemen have suffered with a bomb splinter injuries in the Iraqi town of Baquba, a source from the Ministry of Defense told Civil Georgia on July 27.
"All of them are slightly injured," the source said.
Meanwhile Reuters reported quoting an Iraqi army source that gunmen opened fire on a checkpoint manned with Georgian soldiers in Khairnabat, near Baquba 65 km north of Baghdad, on July 27.
Green Bay Soldier Injured In Fatal Attack;
Command Negligence Investigation Begins
Jul 27, 2006 (AP)
GREEN BAY: A Green Bay man is one of three soldiers injured in an attack in Iraq that killed a Cedarburg man.
The family of Sergeant Jeff Vorpahl says he was driving the Humvee when the explosion occurred. The Humvee was hit by an improvised explosive device on Monday, killing 27-year-old Stephen Castner.
The soldiers are with the Milwaukee-based 1st Battalion, 121st Field Artillery Regiment.
Vorpahl's stepfather, Jim Welter, says his stepson underwent several hours of surgery and is expected to recover from his injuries. Welter hopes to have Vorpahl back in the U-S this week.
Vorpahl has served in Iraq for almost a year.
Meanwhile, Governor Doyle says the National Guard Bureau has promised to review training and equipment issues after the fatal attack.
The dead soldier's father has raised complaints about the training Castner received and the limited equipment available to the unit.
Doyle says the concerns are legitimate -- and he brought them up with Lieutenant General H-Steven Blum, the chief of the National Guard Bureau.
According to Doyle, Blum promised to assign the Guard's inspector general to review the issues.
Daphne Soldier Wounded In Baghdad
July 28, 2006 By GUY BUSBY, Staff Reporter, The Press-Register
Family members said Thursday that they are waiting on further word about a Daphne soldier injured when his Bradley fighting vehicle was destroyed in an explosion in Baghdad.
Spec. Ian Boone, 21, a 2003 Baldwin County High graduate, was burned over his face and neck, had his right elbow injured and was cut on his face and head, his stepfather, Ben Powell, said.
Boone, a trooper in the Army's 10th Cavalry, was either on patrol or returning from a patrol when his vehicle rolled over an improvised explosive device, Powell said.
At about 8:15 a.m. Tuesday, approximately three hours after the explosion, Boone called his family to say that he was not seriously injured. The soldier also said he would not be evacuated out of Iraq for medical treatment after the explosion that injured four members of his patrol, his stepfather said.
"He wanted to call us to beat the official call to let us know he was OK," Powell said. "He called my cell phone so I'd get the call and could tell his mother and she wouldn't worry. As luck would have it, she was in the truck with me and knew right away that something had happened."
Karen Powell said she realized that something was wrong when her husband answered the telephone.
"The whole time Ian's been over there, I was expecting a phone call. You see so many kids over there have something happen to them. When the phone rang, he didn't recognize the number, but I said 'you better answer it, it might be Ian.' When he answered, he said 'Are you OK?' and my heart just dropped," she said Thursday. "I knew it was Ian and something was wrong."
She said that while Boone told her that he was not badly injured, she continues to worry about his condition.
"That's my baby and I can't get to him," she said.
While attending high school, Boone also worked at the Battleship USS Alabama, where his mother now works in the gift shop, Karen Powell said.
Yvonne Rabren, a fellow employee, said Boone has corresponded with workers at the battleship through letters and e-mails since going to Iraq.
"He was a wonderful worker and we're all mother figures here, so we all took him under our wing," Rabren said. "He was so well mannered and always willing to do anything to help."
She said workers at the park were stunned to learn that Boone had been injured.
"I was in total shock. I had to sit down," she said. "Everyone was very, very upset when we heard."
Ben Powell said the Tuesday explosion was not the first time that his stepson had been in an attack.
"He had a close call about a month or so back when the Hummer he was in got destroyed, but he wasn't hurt. I told him, 'You've got to realize you're not bullet-proof, buddy," Powell said. "This was worse. He called to say -- he calls me 'old man' -- 'Old man, I got hurt, but I'm OK.'"
Powell said Boone shipped out for Iraq on Thanksgiving 2005 and is due to return to the United States when his tour of duty ends in November.
Boone enlisted in Daphne in July 2004 and was recently notified that he was on the promotion list for sergeant, Powell said.
Powell, who retired from the Navy after 20 years, said he expects Boone to complete his tour in Iraq.
"He's the type that's not going to quit," Powell said. "He a good soldier, well, I've been told you don't call them soldiers in the cavalry, they're troopers."
He said that even though Boone was shaken after the explosion, he kept his sense of humor.
"He took a camera back with him after he came home from mid-tour leave in March and we'd gotten on him for just sending pictures of landscapes, nothing of him," Powell said. "He said to not count on any pictures for a while because the camera was in the Bradley."
Boone's other family members include his father and stepmother, Danny and Helen Boone of Little River; two sisters, Alicia Odom of Daphne and Angelina Jackson of Clarksville, Tenn.; brother, Todd Powell of Daphne; and grandparents, Todd and Doris Gentry of Linden, Powell said.
U.S. Vehicle Attacked Near Kirkuk;
Casualties Not Announced
7.28.06 (KUNA) An improvised bomb attack targeted Multi-National Force (MNF) vehicle on the way of Kirkuk.
NO MISSION;
HOPELESS WAR:
BRING THEM ALL HOME NOW
U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 172nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team fire mortar illumination rounds in support of a targeting mission in Tall Afar, Iraq, July 4. (AP Photo/Department of Defense, Sgt. Jacob N. Bailey)
Collaborators Killing Each Other
27 Jul 2006 Reuters
A policeman and an Iraqi soldier were killed after their patrols opened fire on each other near a petrol station in the town of Debes, 45 km (28 miles) northeast of Kirkuk, police sources said.
AFGHANISTAN WAR REPORTS
16 Dead In Helicopter Crash:
Two Dutch Soldiers, Two Americans
July 27, 2006 AFP & AP
All 16 people including two Dutch soldiers were killed when their helicopter crashed in south-east Afghanistan, a military spokesman says.
The civilian MI8 helicopter crashed for unknown reasons into mountains in Paktia province on Wednesday.
"There were 16 people on board of multiple nationalities. There are no survivors," US-led coalition spokesman Colonel Thomas Collins said.
Colonel Collins confirmed that two of the dead were Dutch soldiers serving with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
The Russian-made chopper hit a mountain in Algadi village of Jani Khail district in Paktia, provincial police chief General Mohammad Ayob told AFP.
The spokesman says there's no indication yet what caused the crash. He says those on board included at least two Americans.
Two Foreign Occupation Troops Wounded;
Nationality Not Announced
July 28, 2006 2:23 FISNIK ABRASHI, Associated Press Writer & July 27 (Xinhua)
Two coalition soldiers were wounded during a clash with Taliban rebels Thursday in the troublesome Sangin district of southern Helmand province, said Maj. Scott Lundy, a coalition spokesman. He did not disclose the soldiers' nationalities.
Four policemen were killed as the militants attacked their vehicle in Jalai district at around 11:00 a.m. (0630 GMT), the official in Kandahar told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
He said another policeman was killed as militants targeted his vehicle in Loya Wala area in Kandahar city Wednesday night.
Top U.S. General Says Taliban Can't Take Over Afghanistan:
[July 28, 2006 AP Headline]
Saigon 1975 [vietnamwar.com]
Top Confederate General Says Grant Can't Take Over Richmond
December 20, 1864 CSA Press Release
Top American General Says Mao Can't Take Over China
Jan. 14, 1945 New York Times
Top American General Says Ho Can't Take Over South Vietnam
Every Other Day From 1968-1974
TROOP NEWS
THIS IS HOW BUSH BRINGS THE TROOPS HOME:
BRING THEM ALL HOME NOW, ALIVE
The flag-draped casket of Marine Lance Cpl. Geofrey R. Cayer, 20, from St. Joseph's Church after his funeral service in Fitchburg, Mass. July 26, 2006. Cayer, assigned to 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif. died July 18 in Iraq. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
U.S. Government Shits On Combat Vets With Traumatic Brain Injury:
"There Wasn't Any Follow-Up Care"
"Their (VA's) way of dealing with it was dumping him in an extended care facility, which is a nice name for a nursing home facility."
7/24/2006 By Dennis Camired, Gannett News Service [Excerpts]
They've suffered some of the most devastating survivable injuries in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, but they may not be getting the help they need from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
More than 1,000 veterans and their families now share a unique struggle to regain their health after suffering what medicine calls traumatic brain injuries, but what individuals and loved ones find is a complex knot of physical, mental and emotional problems.
Living with the lingering effects of TBI; a blow to the head so severe it disrupts the brain's function; can require a long-term commitment of health care and support, as Sarah Wade has found with her husband.
But, she said, "There wasn't any follow-up care."
Her husband, Ted, was brain injured and lost his right arm while serving as a sergeant with the Army's 82nd Airborne Division. It was Valentine's Day, 2004, when buried artillery shells detonated under his Humvee near Fallujah.
"Their (VA's) way of dealing with it was dumping him in an extended care facility, which is a nice name for a nursing home facility."
Sarah Wade, who lives in Chapel Hill, N.C., with her husband, said their problems with the VA started after Ted Wade left the VA center in Richmond, Va., which offers specialized care for severe and multiple injuries.
She has been acting as her husband's case manager since the VA manager didn't know enough about his injuries.
"One of the things with the VA is that they can always tell you what they can't do, but they can never tell you what they can do," she said, citing the time his private rehabilitation benefits ran out.
"When his contract was up, they (VA) tried to put him in an adult daycare program and transfer his medical care back in-house," she said.
"They had no one who has the expertise to treat him there, otherwise he wouldn't have been sent to this doctor in the first place."
Lisa Schuster of Sylvania, Ohio, said it's difficult to find rehabilitation care at VA medical centers and clinics for her son, former Army Spec. 4 Matthew Drake, who suffered a traumatic brain injury in Iraq when a suicide car bomber targeted his Humvee in 2004.
"At many (VA) facilities, there just is no established traumatic brain injury program and they have no traumatic brain injury specialists," Schuster said. "They kind of operate on a fill-in-the-gap protocol."
Traumatic brain injury is becoming one of the signature combat wounds of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, with about 1,200 reported as of March.
In a recent study of 52 brain-injured veterans, including Ted Wade, the VA Inspector General found that access to care is frequently difficult and many veterans and their families reported problems dealing with the VA health care system.
Schuster said her son is recovering slowly and can walk with a cane for short distances, but she is still struggling trying to care for him in a specially adapted extension to her home built with community donations.
"Financially and emotionally, the support for families just isn't as good as it should be," Schuster said.
"I asked for counseling. I mean I have more post-traumatic-stress-disorder symptoms than he does because he doesn't remember anything."
The VA response was to permit six sessions, Schuster said.
When the VA medical center in Ann Arbor, Mich., could no longer care for him, Schuster said she and her son ran out of options.
"The VA hospital basically had maxed out its resources and I had nowhere to go with him but (home)," she said. "We're struggling mightily now to find the resources to meet his needs."
IRAQ RESISTANCE ROUNDUP
Major Resistance Attack Slams Housing For Rich & Powerful Collaborators
7.27.06 By RYAN LENZ, Associated Press Writer
A rocket and mortar barrage followed by a car bomb blasted an upscale [translation: ruling class], district Thursday, killing 31 people and wounding 153, police said.
The explosion occurred about 200 meters (yards) way from the house of Vice President Adil Abdul-Mahdi, a senior figure in the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution [translation: Supreme Council In Favor Of The U. S. Occupation] in Iraq.
The mortars all landed in mainly commercial areas, with one exploding about 150 meters (yards) from SCIRI's headquarters in Karradah.
The attack was the largest on Karradah in about a year.
The area includes the home of President Jalal Talabani and the head of SCIRI, Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim.
Pipeline Blown Up As Usual
28/07/2006 Evening Echo
A bomb tore through a pipeline southwest of Samarra, about 60 miles north of Baghdad.
The pipeline carries oil from Iraq's largest refinery in Beiji.
Assorted Resistance Action
July 27, 2006 By RYAN LENZ, Associated Press Writer & Reuters & 7.28.06 Reuters & Aljazeera & Evening Echo & AFP
An improvised bomb exploded in one of the patrolling police vehicles on the main street of Kirkuk.
Resistance fighters killed two civilians in Tikrit who were employed by US troops.
The drive-by shooting occurred in the al-Qadissya neighbourhood of Tikrit, about 80 miles north of Baghdad, police said.
A roadside bomb exploded on an Iraqi army patrol near Karmah, 25 miles west of Baghdad, killing four soldiers, police Lt. Ahmed Ali said.
A senior officer in the police unit that protects oil installations was slain in west Baghdad, police reported.
A policeman was killed while leaving a barber shop in the northern city of Mosul.
A policeman was wounded when guerrillas opened fire on him in the city of Mosul 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad, police sources said.
A roadside bomb killed two policemen and wounded two more near Tikrit, 175 km (110 miles) north of Baghdad, police sources said.
An army lieutenant was wounded and a soldier was killed when guerrillas attacked their car in the city of Kirkuk, 250 km (155 miles north of Baghdad, police sources said.
Also Thursday, a car bomb exploded near a vegetable stand in Baqouba, 35 miles northeast of Baghdad, wounding three police said.
A translator working for U.S. troops was found killed in his car near Kut, 170 km (105 miles) southeast of Baghdad, police said.
A roadside bomb exploded near a police patrol, wounding two policemen in Baquba 65km (40 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.
An Iraqi army lieutenant was killed on Friday as his checkpoint was attacked by unknown gunmen southwest of Kirkuk.
Iraqi police source said a checkpoint in the Tal Al-Thahab area was attacked by unknown gunmen using a white sedan, which resulted in the killing of first lieutenant Arshad Nour Ibrahim.
Meanwhile, unknown gunmen using a civilian vehicle have captured a security personnel from the Al-Qadisya area close to Kirkuk power station.
Guerrillas killed an Iraqi soldier in the village of Riyadh.
East of Kirkuk, in Hawija, which has been a focus for the insurgency, a policeman and a bystander were shot dead in an attack aimed at a passing police patrol.
In the oil refining town of Baiji, in the centre of the country, a train station official was shot dead.
IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE RESISTANCE
END THE OCCUPATION
FORWARD OBSERVATIONS
'Operation Shell Game' To Confuse Insurgents, General Says
U.S. To Move Troops From Southern Iraq To North, And From Northern Iraq To South
July 28, 2006 The Borowtiz Report
In a bold attempt to confuse Iraqi insurgents, the U.S. will move 10,000 troops from southern Iraq to the north, and will then move 10,000 other troops from northern Iraq to the south, the Army chief of staff confirmed today.
Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker said at a Pentagon briefing today that the plan, called Operation Shell Game by the Army brass, was the Army's best bet for leaving Iraqi insurgents scratching their heads.
"This is the largest mobilization, re-mobilization, and mobilization in U.S. military history," Gen. Schoomaker said. "We believe that the Iraqi insurgents won't know what hit them -- or, what didn't hit them."
In order to move the Army units from the south to the north while moving an equal number of units from the north to the south, the U.S. military logged onto Mapquest.com early Friday morning, Gen. Schoomaker said.
While some military experts praised Operation Shell Game as a clever strategy to perplex the Iraqi insurgency, critics of the plan wondered aloud whether the Pentagon is increasingly trying to confuse the American people as well.
Gen. Schoomaker, who paused a full ten seconds in an earlier press briefing when asked if the U.S. was winning the war in Iraq, only to answer "I don't think we're losing" -- sought to clarify his position in today's press conference:
"Right now I would have to say the war in Iraq is a tie."
Thou Shalt Not Kill For Oil In Iraq.
From: Richard Hastie
To: GI Special
Sent: July 26, 2006
Thou Shalt Not Kill For Oil In Iraq
Mike Hastie
Vietnam Veteran
July 26, 2006
Photo and caption from the I-R-A-Q (I Remember Another Quagmire) portfolio of Mike Hastie, US Army Medic, Vietnam 1970-71. (For more of his outstanding work, contact at: (hastiemike@earthlink.net) T)
"It Is Time To Replace Every Leader Of Every Nation On Earth"
July 23, 2006 Jesse, TvNewsLIES.org [Excerpt]
It is time to replace very leader of every nation on Earth.
It is time to replace every member of every ruling body in every nation on Earth.
They have failed. They are responsible for death and hatred beyond human comprehension. They are leading us to extinction. They are destroying the very planet on which we live.
These "deciders" make decisions and pass laws that no citizen of the world would approve. They make decisions that would outrage people of all political and religious beliefs and would vehemently oppose.
They force people to hate one another and then they send us to commit atrocities against each other while they remain out of harms way.
It is time for the people of the world to wake up from this insanity and stop fighting for these evil people!
What do you think? Comments from service men and women, and veterans, are especially welcome. Send to contact@militaryproject.org. Name, I.D., withheld on request. Replies confidential.
OCCUPATION REPORT
Robbers In Uniform Driving Military Vehicles Steal $1.3 Million;
Nationality Not Announced
27 Jul 2006 Reuters
Men wearing military uniforms and using military vehicles attacked a cash-in-transit vehicle and stole two Iraqi billion dinars, worth around 1.3 million dollars, police sources said.
"The Mahdi Army Has Evolved Into A Social Force To Be Reckoned With"
"When The Americans Were Here Yesterday, They Were Shooting At Our People Here, Not The Criminals"
Nevertheless, one US general says that he considers Sadr's militia, with its thousands of poorly trained irregulars and its growing reputation for sectarian killings [created by occupation propagandists], to be one of the country's gravest security threats [translation: threats to the U.S. Occupation regime.]
"They're organized and they're spreading,'' he says.
24 July 2006 By Dan Murphy and Awadh al-Taiee, The Christian Science Monitor
BAGHDAD
A floundering government campaign to crack down on militias and increasing sectarian killings have many Shiites turning to militias for protection, particularly radical [translation: Anti-U.S. occupation] cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's violent [translation: armed and prepared to resist U.S. efforts to destroy them] Mahdi Army.
The US and British military have stepped up raids on its leadership after growing impatient with the new government's failure to arrest the militia's commanders. [Right. And "violent," used above, means they don't just stand around sucking their thumbs while the Occupation Commanders order them killed. Duh]
But Sunday, two suicide car bombs in the capital and one in the troubled northern oil city of Kirkuk killed a total of 60 Iraqis, as new Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki jetted off to Britain and the US for talks with Prime Minister Tony Blair and President George Bush on Iraq's crumbling security situation.
Some residents blamed the US raid for the market attack, charging that it forced Mahdi Army members to abandon some of their impromptu checkpoints in the area that are meant to keep out attackers. ["Some"? Were there any who disagreed? Or is this just more reportorial whoring for the occupation?]
"When the Americans come through and break up the checkpoints, that's when we get hit by suicide bombs, like today," says Ahmed Awadh, a Sadr City resident who works in the Ministry of Trade.
"I support the Mahdi Army because they know us here, and we know them. Their checkpoints protect us," he says. "They know all the families, and who has business here.
"It's clear the Americans don't want to provide us with security. They've had three years.''
Immediately following the market blast, Mahdi Army militiamen poured out of the neighborhood's warren of alleys, shutting down dozens of streets and setting up checkpoints, trying to protect against follow-up attacks.
The district of about 2 million, 8 percent of Iraq's population, is largely policed by the militia. The group runs health clinics and religious courts, and arranges lodging for Shiite refugees from Sunni-dominated parts of the country.
Sadr's movement has built a powerful following because of its aid efforts, and Sadr is positioning himself as a voice for poor Shiites who have seen little tangible benefit from regime change.
That follows the same strategy of his father, for whom Sadr City is named, who garnered enormous support among poor Shiites for speaking out against Saddam Hussein until he was killed by the regime in 1999.
"The police and Army don't protect us. When the Americans were here yesterday, they were shooting at our people here, not the criminals,'' says Mohammed al-Askhar, a Mahdi Army member who insisted on using only his nom-de-guerre, which means "Mohammed the Blondie."
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's "government has shown it's powerless. The residents of Sadr City will protect themselves. Everyone here is behind us. We will only disarm when the violence is over," he says.
Sadr and Mahdi Army members brush off allegations from US officials and Sunni Arab politicians that its members run some of the death squads that target Sunni Arabs in revenge attacks.
Nevertheless, one US general says that he considers Sadr's militia, with its thousands of poorly trained irregulars and its growing reputation for sectarian killings, to be one of the country's gravest security threats.
"They're organized and they're spreading,'' he says.
But Mr. Sadr is a powerful member of the ruling coalition in his own right. His movement holds 30 seats in parliament, and his loyalists control four ministries.
While once considered disorganized rabble rousers, the Mahdi Army has evolved into a social force to be reckoned with.
"Today, the Sadrists play a central part in government and parliament,'' the International Crisis Group, a Brussels-based think tank, wrote in a report earlier this month. "The Sadrist movement has deep roots, and its demands reflect many justified grievances."
Maliki appears uncertain of his military's willingness to target Sadr's followers. Many Mahdi Army members also double as Iraqi soldiers and police. There could also be political fallout for Maliki if he appears to be an American puppet. .
Sadr has made the comparison himself with Hizbullah. Speaking on Friday, he vowed to support to the group.
"As the idol of America fell, so will the idol of Israel,'' he said.
While once considered disorganized rabble rousers, the Mahdi Army has evolved into a social force to be reckoned with.
OCCUPATION ISN'T LIBERATION
BRING ALL THE TROOPS HOME NOW!
OCCUPATION PALESTINE/LEBANON
"They Can Withstand Anything But Bowing To The Americans And Israelis"
July 23, 2006 Mitchell Prothero, The Guardian (UK) [Excerpts]
For many who support Hizbullah, 10 days of bombing in Lebanon has not dulled the will to fight. Many claim they can withstand anything but bowing to the Americans and Israelis, reports Mitchell Prothero.
****************************************
The minute Umm Ali hears the Israeli fighter jet engines overhead, she stops looking through the rubble of her destroyed Haret Hreik home in Beirut's southern suburbs, turns her scarf-covered head toward the sky and begins to shout in Arabic at the unseen enemy above. 'Allahu Akbar, God is the Greatest!' she cries, pumping her fist in the air and cursing the Israeli pilots bombing her nation from above.
Within a few seconds another woman also in a full hijab, or headscarf, joins her.
'With our blood and souls we redeem you, Sayeed Nasrallah,' they chant, their voices bounce off the rubble and smoldering jetsam of their lives a week before and draw the attention of two men four floors up in a damaged but livable apartment building. They're almost certainly Hizbollah spotters or snipers because no one but Hizbollah fighters remain in the ground zero of the Israeli campaign to destroy the Shitte militant group.
They begin to wave posters and sing songs honoring the leader of Hizbollah and the war he has started against Israel.
The mood is upbeat and defiant despite the square kilometer having been pummeled into bricks and concrete dust. It's as if they are fighting the Israelis the only way they can: By refusing to be cowed.
A few days after the scene of defiance in Haret Hreik, the city of Baalbek is also deserted save for Hizbollah fighters. But these guys lack the swagger their comrades in the city displayed. Eerily silent save for the occasional motorist speeding out of town and the periodic thunder of distant air-strikes in the surrounding hills of the Mt. Lebanon range, the fighters are coolly welcoming to a car full of western journalists that have surprised them by arriving amid the battle.
Mohammed Mulimh, 29, a farmer, hasn't joined Hizbollah, and can't as he is a one-legged Sunni Muslim. But he supports their efforts and thinks their resolve can win. 'We are used to this,' he says, sipping coffee and resting the one good leg he has. He lost it at five years old to an Israeli air strike during their last invasion in 1982.
'We are farmers, we can fall back on the land, hide in caves, make our own cheese and eat our lambs. The Israelis in their bunkers, this life upsets them. They will quit.'
Back in Beirut on Friday, more than 1,000 refugees from south Lebanon and from Dihya have taken shelter in a three-story underground parking garage.
They're tired and hot in the humidity of the Beirut summer and some young teenagers begin to fight before they are separated and yelled at by ubiquitous Hizbollah volunteers. They appear to be unarmed but their authority is uncontested as they organise people into patrols to clean the parking garage of trash, monitor the sick and tend to the babies.
These might well be the cleanest, most tidy refugees in the history of displaced persons.
Other than the volunteers, who readily admit to being Hizbollah, patrolling with their handheld radios, there's a noticeable lack of fighting age men. There's no point asking where they are. These people don't know, answering only that their son or father is a 'Mujihadeen' or holy warrior.
But here even 18-year-old Ali is a Mujihad for he patrols the complex looking for sick people to take to the clinic staffed with doctors three hours a day upstairs near the supermarket. If the sick cannot wait until it opens, ambulances supplied by Hizbollah will take them to hospitals.
'Mr Hassan Nasrallah has said that this is a war and we will never stop fighting it,' he says. 'It is uncomfortable but we do not mind it. They will not make us quit.'
As he talks, an older woman in a headscarf, who will not give her name, appears and wants to talk.
'If America and Israel want to do this to us, there is nothing we can do about it,' she says. 'We don't care about staying here as long as the boys who are fighting and Sayeed Nasrallah and the leaders are ok.
"We can withstand anything as long as we don't have to bow to the Americans and Israelis. Death is normal to us and it means we will go to heaven. May God bless all the Mujihadeen around the world,' she exclaims.
Almost a dozen people have gathered to hear her speech and all nod knowingly. They don't sing but after 10 days they have yet to wilt.
"To Avoid Such 'Potential Threats' That Living Children May Pose Later On, Israel Is Killing Them Now In Lebanon"
"It All Makes Complete Sense"
21 July 2006 SPENCER OSBERG, Special to Shunpiking Online [Excerpts]
In the villages in the hills east of the costal town of Naquora, Rami says the Israelis have bombed all the roads and bridges, meaning nobody can leave and supplies cannot get in. People are beginning to starve and they're too afraid to leave the basements of their homes.
Now the Israelis are bombing the houses. He says there is nowhere to hide and you unable to run.
Between 40 and 70 families from the town took refugee from the bombing at a school, and then on Monday the Israelis bombed the school, killing almost everyone. Rami says seven families where sheltering in a large house next to the hospital and the Israelis bombed them.
It took emergency crews two days to remove all the bodies because the Israeli jets continued to bomb it over and over again, killing some of the emergency workers.
He was helping with the emergency crews trying to rescue people from the rubble and get people to hospital (the Israelis also bombed a section of the hospital on Sunday).
The hospitals in his area and around the south are running out of drugs, bandages and all supplies, and don't have enough doctors or nurses because many of them fled. This means many of the wounded that could be saved are dying because they can't be treated. These people are not yet on the official casualty count.
The morgue has so many bodies that they had to simply start stacking them on top of each other; a lot of the time they were simply collecting pieces of people and putting them in bags to store at the morgue.
Rami described how four members of a German-Lebanese family were killed in the South when an Israeli bomb hit their house.
The grandparents were on the first floor and were blown apart by the blast wave, while the mother and young child were climbing the stairs from the basement, and so were cut in half by the same blast.
The father was on the back deck, and was thrown through the air by the explosion, losing an arm but surviving, but has gone insane with despair and rage.
The Israelis hit the house of another friend in the Red Cross. The blast wave tore most of the skin off the front of his wife, exposing her internal organs. She is still alive but is certain to die within the next few days. His young daughter was also heavily wounded and is now blind. Rami says his friend just fell apart and started banging his head on a wall and screaming.
I asked him if there were a lot of people knew who were killed, and he said it was really hard to tell, because most of the bodies, if still whole, are burned black and unidentifiable.
I remember on the second or third day I heard of a statement concerning the Israeli offensive by my honourable Prime Minister Stephen Harper, to the effect of "Israeli has the right to defend itself."
And as I was thinking this we were watching footage on TV from the village of Dweir in the area of Nabatieh, where an Israeli missile had brought down a house where a family of ten where sheltering. They were all killed, and emergency people were now digging their corpses out of the smashed concrete.
One of diggers stopped as he passed by the camera and held up a body he was carrying by its under arms. She wasn't heavy, would have stood hip height if she could, maybe eight-years old, maybe 10 or 12, it was kind of hard to tell.
She was covered in grey dust from her shoeless toes to the curls on her drooping head, and as the camera panned past her lifeless face you could see the blood caked beneath her nose, and I thought, what exactly is Israeli defending itself from?
I guess if she had survived, when she grew up she might hate the people who'd killed her family, destroyed her home and the homes of her neighbours and flattened her country.
This in turn could place her in the category of 'potential security threat.'
So to avoid such 'potential threats' that living children may pose later on, Israel is killing them now in Lebanon.
It all makes complete sense.
MORE:
Israel Is Killing Them Now In Palestine Too
Palestinian boys sit around the body of three-year-old Palestinian girl Baraa Habib during her funeral in Gaza City. Twenty-four Palestinians, including a baby and two toddlers, were killed as Israel pounded the Gaza Strip with air strikes and artillery on the deadliest day in the territory for two weeks. (AFP/Mahmud Hams)
[To check out what life is like under a murderous military occupation by foreign terrorists, go to: www.rafahtoday.org The occupied nation is Palestine. The foreign terrorists call themselves "Israeli."]
"It's Absurd To Pretend To Destroy A Movement With Such Popular Support As Hezbollah"
The Israeli army could not put down a Shi'ite guerrilla outfit in southern Lebanon - nor a bunch of stone-throwing Palestinian kids, for that matter.
The US Army could not cope with a bunch of scruffy Sunni Arabs armed with fake Kalashnikovs. Sunnis or Shi'ites, stateless or in failed states, freedom fighters or "terrorists", they simply will not go away.
July 25, 2006 Pepe Escobar, Asia Times [Excerpts]
Israel's feverish military machine at least conveys the impression it knows exactly what it's doing - with its made-in-the-USA bombs destroying not just military but civilian targets.
But this does not mean Israel is winning its war against Hezbollah.
Some, but still only a few, Israelis - sometimes in the columns of the daily newspaper Ha'aretz - are beginning to notice that this carnage will lead nowhere.
There are no more than 5,000 Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon. Hezbollah the political party - heavily involved in health, education and social services - is what really matters for Lebanese.
It's absurd to pretend to destroy a movement with such popular support as Hezbollah. Secular democrats may not empathize with the movement, but any serious Middle East observer cannot question its legitimacy.
It may take time, but the Arab street - and radical Islam - will renew efforts to try to hang the rulers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Kuwait from lampposts sooner rather than later.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah's asymmetrical war effort is absorbing everything thrown at it.
According to Jane's Weekly, Hezbollah has done a perfect Vietcong - its fighters operating in a network of underground reinforced bunkers and command posts near the Lebanese-Israeli border almost unassailable by Israel Defense Force bombs.
The practical result is that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah is ever more popular all over the Arab street. Kind of like the new, 21st-century Saladin.
Hezbollah's moral and political cache could not but rise among peoples and movements worldwide who keep being bombed to oblivion but never had a chance to bomb back.
In Iraq, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani was forced to issue a fatwa denouncing the Israeli assault. This means that Sistani knows very well Iraqi Shi'ites may be on the verge of turning all their anger against - who else - the occupying Anglo-American axis.
The fatwa may not be enough to appease them. Israel's rampage has even unified Baghdad's parliament; Sunnis, Shi'ites and Kurds took a unanimous vote condemning Israel and calling for a ceasefire.
As if the few thousand Sunni Arab guerrillas bogging down the mightiest army in history were not enough, Muqtada's Mehdi Army has all the potential to make life even more hellish for the Americans in Iraq.
So this is the way the "war on terror" ends - not with a single bang but with the multi-sonic bangs of asymmetrical actors getting re-energized in their fight against the US-Israel axis.
The Israeli army could not put down a Shi'ite guerrilla outfit in southern Lebanon - nor a bunch of stone-throwing Palestinian kids, for that matter.
The US Army could not cope with a bunch of scruffy Sunni Arabs armed with fake Kalashnikovs. Sunnis or Shi'ites, stateless or in failed states, freedom fighters or "terrorists", they simply will not go away.
Pursuing their own logic, equally impatient Washington neo-cons and Israeli Likudniks would cherish nothing better than the wholesale destruction of civilian infrastructure in Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon, and then in Syria and Iran.
What happened in Iraq, and is still happening in Gaza and now in Lebanon, spells that the world will have to get used to a new reality.
But against this, the asymmetricals will not only be lurking in the shadows; they will retaliate.
NEED SOME TRUTH? CHECK OUT TRAVELING SOLDIER Telling the truth - about the occupation or the criminals running the government in Washington - is the first reason for Traveling Soldier. But we want to do more than tell the truth; we want to report on the resistance - whether it's in the streets of Baghdad, New York, or inside the armed forces. Our goal is for Traveling Soldier to become the thread that ties working-class people inside the armed services together. We want this newsletter to be a weapon to help you organize resistance within the armed forces. If you like what you've read, we hope that you'll join with us in building a network of active duty organizers. http://www.traveling-soldier.org/ And join with Iraq War vets in the call to end the occupation and bring our troops home now! (www.ivaw.net)
DANGER: POLITICIANS AT WORK
Bush Losing Support Of Key Voting Block
[Thanks to Frank M, who sent this in.]
WASHINGTON June 15 - President Bush appears to be losing support among a key group of voters who until now have stood firmly with the president.
A new Gallup poll shows that Bush's approval rating has fallen below 50% and now stands at just 44% among total fucking morons. This represents a dramatic drop compared to a poll taken just last December when 62% of total fucking morons expressed support for the president and his policies.
The current poll, conducted by phone with 1,409 total fucking morons between June 4 and June 8, reveals that only 44% of those polled believe the president is doing a good job, while 27% believe he is doing a poor job, and 29% don't understand the question.
Faltering approval ratings for the president among a group once thought to be a reliable source of loyal support makes Republicans nervous about the upcoming mid-term elections.
"We've got a big problem if we can't depend on the support of total fucking morons," says Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA), Total fucking morons are a key factor in our electoral strategy, and an important part of today's Republican coalition."
"We've taken the total fucking moron vote for granted," says Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL), "and now we're paying for it." Feeney says the poll is a dire warning for Republicans.
"This should send a signal that we have to regain control of the debate if we want the support of our key constituencies in the coming election and beyond. We need to bring public discourse back into the realm of stupidity and vacuity. We should be talking about homosexual illegal immigrants burning flags. We should be talking about the power of pride. We should be talking about freedom fries. These are the issues that resonate with total fucking morons."
But some total fucking morons say it's too late.
Bill Snarpel of Enid, Oklahoma is a total fucking moron who voted for Bush in both 2000 and 2004.
But he says he won't be voting for Bush in 2008.
"I don't like it that he was going to sell our ports to the Arabs. If the Arabs own the ports then that means they'll let all the Arabs in and then we'll all be riding camels and wearing towels on our heads. I don't want my children singing the Star Spangled Banner in Muslim."
Total fucking moron Kurt Meyer of Turlock, California also says his once solid support for Bush has collapsed. "He invaded Iraq and all those soldiers died, and for what? We destroyed all their WMDs, but now their new president is making fun of us and saying he's going to build nuclear bombs and that we can't stop him. Well, nuclear bombs are even worse than WMDs, so what did we accomplish?"
Laura McDonald, a total fucking moron from Chandler, Arizona, says she is disappointed that the president hasn't been a more forceful advocate of Christian values.
"This country was founded on Christian values," she says, "but you'd never know it with all the Mexicans running around. I thought Bush was going to bring Jesus back into the government. Instead, Christians are persecuted worse than ever before in history because all these Mexicans come here and tell Christians that we have to respect their religious beliefs. So now it's illegal for children to pray in school. Soon it will be illegal for them to speak English."
Not all total fucking morons have turned their backs on the president. Jeb Larkin of Topeka, Kansas says he still fully supports Bush. "He is doing a great job. He is a great president. He is a great decider. I have a puppy. His tail sticks straight up and you can see his butthole."
And not all Republican law makers are concerned about the poll, Sen. Lamar Alexander (R- TN), for one. He agrees that the Republican party should not take total fucking morons for granted, but he says they "really don't have anywhere else to go. Just try having a conversation with one of them about global warming. They'll say, 'Oh, but Rush says volcanoes consume more ozone than humans do.' I mean, they're morons! Total fucking morons!"
"They've got nowhere else to go," Alexander reaffirms with a smile, "and they always vote."
Do you have a friend or relative in the service? Forward this E-MAIL along, or send us the address if you wish and we'll send it regularly. Whether in Iraq or stuck on a base in the USA, this is extra important for your service friend, too often cut off from access to encouraging news of growing resistance to the war, at home and inside the armed services. Send requests to address up top.
GI Special distributes and posts to our website copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in an effort to advance understanding of the invasion and occupation of Iraq. We believe this constitutes a "fair use" of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law since it is being distributed without charge or profit for educational purposes to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for educational purposes, in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107. GI Special has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of these articles nor is GI Special endorsed or sponsored by the originators. This attributed work is provided a non-profit basis to facilitate understanding, research, education, and the advancement of human rights and social justice Go to: www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml for more information. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
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TO HIS critics, he is a "pro-Hezbollah cheerleader", a "token Jew" and "smouldering teen idol" who is "working for the destruction of Israel" through his "rabidly anti-Zionist agenda".
He has received death threats, been abused and shunned by members of his family and mocked across sections of the media and the internet.
For a young writer whose first book has barely hit the shelves, Antony Loewenstein, 31, is quickly honing a reputation for getting under people's skin. His book, My Israel Question, is a probing analysis of Israel's direction and an attempt to uncover Australia's Zionist lobby. Loewenstein's timing is also, unfortunately, exquisite. The book, delayed for several months, is being launched this week as war flares along Israel's borders.
Raised in Australia in a family of Jewish emigrants who escaped Europe in 1939, his work is shaped by his life experience as much as recent events in the Middle East. Now after two years of research and soul-searching, Loewenstein awaits reaction to the book's publication, relaxed and comfortable in his Sydney home, with his partner and his pet dog, Chomsky.
*******************
``I never felt comfortable with what I saw as a racially superior mentality. It seemed disturbingly close to racism."
"Looking back on my Sunday school lessons, I felt that I had been hoodwinked."
"How could one still have blind faith in a country that enacts citizenship laws to prevent Palestinians who marry Israelis from living in Israel with full rights?"
"Israel, not unlike Australia, was reared on myths of racial and cultural superiority and long resisted any serious examination of the effects of colonial actions on indigenous peoples."
"It's said that only Israelis have the right to criticise Israel's policies, not those in the Diaspora, though we never say that about other societies."
There is a big battle ahead of us to stop this Nuclear Energy revival which the Howard Government is paving the way.
This email was sent to me from a friend in the USA.
Yours Benny Zable
Dear Benny this came from an investment co thought you would like to get it out to environmental groups in Australia. Betsy
From: Agora Catalog <catalog@...> To: BETSY STANG <bebird@...> Subject: Historic Energy Pact Signed! Here's How to Make 1,084%... Sent: Thursday, 27 July 2006 5:55:15 PM
We sent you this e-mail because you recently placed an order and opted to receive additional information on ways to enjoy a richer, healthier life from Agora, Inc. and its affiliates. To stop receiving these messages, please follow the simple instructions at the bottom of this e-mail.
75 Million Pounds of Uranium Lying Underneath an Australian Mountainside...
$4 Billion Worth of Nuclear Energy Waiting to be Sold...
1.3 Billion Chinese Citizens Desperate for Cheap, Clean, Dependable Power...
1 Tiny Company Controlling It All.
By April 2007 This $1.30 Company Could Explode With Quadruple-Digit Profits Allowing a Small Group of Savy Investors to Become the First New Nuclear-Age Millionaires!
In the wake of a historic energy pact and with just one government signature, a 1,084% gain could occur almost immediately, sending early investors into an overnight retirement...
Dear Reader,
Over 10,000 miles away from the United States, lying off Queensland's Mount Isa in Australia, sits one of the world's largest untapped uranium deposits.
The potential energy resources that could be extracted from this area are conservatively estimated to be worth over $4 billion.
One small Australian mining company owns and controls this uranium treasure chest and is currently sitting on at least 75 million pounds of measured uranium oxide in three different deposits around the area.
And thanks to over 1.3 billion Chinese citizens desperate to keep the power on in their country, this company is about to become one of the biggest energy industry success stories over the last 20 years and send quick-thinking investors into an early retirement.
How soon could this company bump you up into millionaire status?
Once the uranium this company is sitting on is mined, estimates are that investors could see gains as large as 1,084% by April 2007.
Here's the story...
A Historic Agreement = Historic Gains
This past April, Australian Prime Minister John Howard agreed to a historic deal with Chinese Premiere Wen Jiabao for his country to become the prime uranium supplier to China to help satisfy its massive energy needs.
China: The World's Great Energy Devourer. Next Up: Uranium
In 2004 China consumed 2.17 trillion kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity, with consumption projected to rise 4.3% per year until 2025...
China became the second-largest petroleum consumer in 2003. In 2004 it had a total demand of 6.5 million barrels per day (bpd). The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) predicts consumption will reach 14.2 million bpd by 2025...
Coal comprises 65% of China's primary energy consumption. In 2003, 1.53 billion short tons, or 28% of the world total, was consumed by China. The EIA predicts growth in consumption will average 6.2% per year from 2002-2005...
Natural gas currently accounts for only around 3% of total energy being consumed in China, but consumption is expected to nearly double by 2010. Source: Energy Information Administration, CIA World Factbook"
China gobbles up energy, commodities and natural resources faster than it can find ways to replenish them. The country is desperate to keep power grids running, making its nuclear agreement with Australia all the more vital.
China is the world's second-largest energy consumer after the United States, and plans to make the shift away from fossil fuels, intending to quadruple its nuclear energy production by 2020.
Australia, which holds about 40% of the world's known low-cost uranium deposits, has stepped up to the plate to supply China with the needed resources.
Australia's current uranium exports sit at about $355 million per year. With the partnership with China now in place, that figure is expected to climb to $710 million by 2010.
But there's one small company sitting on $4 billion worth of uranium, ready to mine it and deliver it to energy-hungry trade partners. This company holds the exclusive rights to mine this land. It owns a huge section of Mount Isa and every last ounce of uranium that resides underneath it.
Yet due to an outdated government regulation, this company hasn't been able to begin mining the uranium and shipping it out to China yet.
But all of that is about to change. In just a few moments I'll fill you in on all the details as to why this government interference will soon be a thing of the past in Australia, allowing this company to start cashing in on its vast uranium supply.
When this company does start its uranium production it will get a large share of the $710 million up for grabs.
If you're one of the savvy investors who reads this Report and follows the advice contained within it, a small fortune could end up in your pocket if you act fast enough.
The new generation of 'Nuclear Age Millionaires' will soon be upon us. If you care to join them, then there are a few things you'll need to know.
Nuclear Power Lives Again
Nuclear power had long been thought dead thanks to highly publicized reactor meltdowns and safety incidents at Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island plant in 1979 and the Ukraine's Chernobyl plant in 1986.
'Nuclear power didn't go away. Instead it got better.' -- The Boston Globe
Most experts believed that the amount of negative publicity and public health concerns these accidents generated would be impossible for the industry to ever overcome.
20 years later, it appears they were dead wrong.
The world is entering into a new nuclear age. And uranium-rich companies like Australia are going to become hotbeds of economic activity, with foreign trading partners lining up looking to fill their quotas.
Industry insiders currently foresee a future where nuclear power provides half of the world's electricity in the next 50 years.
In short, the world has moved on from these disasters and is once again embracing the many benefits of nuclear power.
There is good reason to give nuclear power a fresh look. It can diversify our sources of energy with a fuel -- uranium -- that is both abundant and inexpensive. More important, nuclear energy can replace fossil-fuel power plants for generating electricity, reducing the carbon dioxide emissions that contribute heavily to global warming.' -- The New York Times"
Now it's time for smart, profit-minded readers, like yourself, to do the same.
But I understand that the memories of Chernobyl and Three Mile Island are hard to overcome for many, so in order to fully accept that nuclear power is once again the wave of the future, you'll need to know the reasons the world is experiencing a nuclear resurrection.
Nuclear Spark #1: The Environment - Nuclear power is clean energy. Global warming is blamed in large part on the burning of fossil fuels in power plants, factories and cars. With nuclear energy, emissions are no longer an issue. Between 1995 and 2005, U.S. nuclear generation avoided the emission of 41.0 million tons of sulfur dioxide, 16.9 million tons of nitrogen oxide, and 7.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide. (The Nuclear Energy Institute).
And on top of that, the amount of waste produced by nuclear energy is far below any other viable energy source on the planet. The high-level waste currently produced by all U.S. nuclear power plants used as fuel rods totals about 2,000 tons per year, compared to over 40 million tons of hazardous waste produced by the United States each year (The Nuclear Energy Institute). As you can see, when it comes to environmental benefits, there's no comparison. These benefits even prompted President Bush to recently comment 'Of all our nation's energy sources, only nuclear power plants can generate massive amounts of electricity without emitting an ounce of air pollution or greenhouse gases.'
Nuclear Spark #2: The Safety - Reuters said it best in a recent article on nuclear resurgence, 'The safety record of the nuclear industry since Chernobyl has been very good. Predictions of a major incident every 10 years have simply proved incorrect.' The nuclear industry has stayed ultra vigilant since the Chernobyl accident, and has had 20 years to perfect its safety systems and develop new safety technologies so that similar incidents will not occur again.
'Advances in reactor designs . . . make another Three Mile Island highly unlikely. The safety record, the improvements in efficiency -- and the nation's insatiable demand for energy -- argue for a push for more nuclear power.' -- The Chicago Tribune
Nuclear scientists and planners have realized that Chernobyl was a flawed plant design and have since abandoned anything remotely resembling it when constructing new plants. And even the Three Mile Island accident, America's worst nuclear disaster, didn't kill or injure a single person, and that was with 30-year-old technology in place.
In fact, there are over 10,000 civilian power reactor years of experience throughout the world, and Chernobyl is the only nuclear power plant accident harming the public. The U.S. Navy has been powering ships with nuclear reactors for 50 years and has had no nuclear accidents. Safety is paramount to the industry, and its track record speaks for itself.
Nuclear Spark #3: The Economy - Since 2001, nuclear power plants have achieved the lowest production costs between coal, natural gas and oil. Nuclear energy isn't subject to rising fuel prices, testy foreign political situations, natural disasters or price gouging.
If you compare nuclear power to the other major energy sources, the numbers are astounding. One uranium fuel pellet, no bigger than a dime, equals out to 17,000 cubic feet of natural gas, 1,780 pounds of coal, or 149 gallons of oil.
Nuclear Spark #4: The Politics - Just about every sensible country is dying to climb out from under the thumb of foreign oil-producing nations, especially terrorist-harboring Middle Eastern states. Nuclear Energy allows these countries to do just that, without having to sacrifice their energy needs or take a chance on an unproven alternative energy.
'We see a convergence of powerful economic and political forces . . . that should lead to a renaissance of nuclear power.' -- Prudential Equity Group, LLC
Uranium is located throughout the world, not only in Australia, but Canada, the United States and South Africa. The supply at this point is almost limitless. New uranium deposits are being discovered daily, so unlike the global oil shortage the world is currently experiencing, uranium and nuclear power is in no danger of running dry.
If we never discovered another ounce of uranium for the rest of time, the amount we currently have available would power the world for the next 70 years. The fact is, nuclear power is the world's best bet to free itself from its unhealthy oil addiction, something that world leaders would love to be able to say they achieved on their watch!
The overall benefits to nuclear power are startling. It's clean, cheap, safe and allows the world to eliminate oil trade partnerships with terrorist-sponsoring governments. It's for all these reasons that nuclear power is back in a big way.
'There's a 'nuclear renaissance' buzz emitting from engineers who design and operate reactors, think tank academics who worry about long-range energy and environmental strategies, utility company executives, top members of the Bush administration and members of Congress.' -- National Geographic
The investment potential in this burgeoning industry is off the charts. If you know where to put your money and when to do it, you'll almost certainly be in line for some massive gains. Once the shift to nuclear power begins full force, the profits will continue to roll in.
The small Australian company I told you about earlier, currently trading for only $1.20, will be among the biggest winners. With Australia's newly signed uranium partnership with China, this company's value is set to explode 1,084% within the next 12 months alone.
This company would be a great buy as high as $20 a share. But it sits at only $1.30. With a price that low, the room for growth practically takes your breath away. And if you think my prediction of a 1,084% gain in the next 12 months isn't realistic, then take a look at what some other uranium mining companies have produced recently.
Western Prospector Group shocked the world with 6,100% in the last 2 years...
UEX Corporation delivered investors 4,900% in 3 years...
International Uranium shot up 2,600% since 2003...
Cameco Corp. returned 1,030% since 2002...
Strathmore Minerals went up 2,850% in the past 3 years...
Frontier Development Group took off to the tune of 1,400% since 2004.
Mining the Next Wave of Uranium Profits
In just the last four years, Uranium's demand and price have increased massively.
In 2002, the price of a pound of uranium sat at $6 -- today it's shot up to $45.
Current global demand is at 160 million pounds per year, and that's before China entered into its agreement with Australia.
There are 440 active nuclear power reactors throughout the world, all running off of uranium, and more are being planned. China alone is building 40.
'The industry is expected to burgeon in Asia in the next quarter century. China, on top of its headlong rush to build coal-burning plants, also has ambitious plans for new reactors: It can get 6,600 megawatts of power now from nine reactors. It's aiming for 40,000 megawatts.' -- National Geographic"
Quite simply, the global demand for uranium is hotter than the nuclear reactors it's being fed into. And that's great news for investors who know the right way to play this situation.
The small Australian mining company that owns the land off Queensland's Mount Isa, underneath which lies 75 million pounds of uranium, is in the prime position of having control of one of the largest deposits in the world.
Now that Australia is responsible for supplying China with the resources needed to fuel its nuclear power program, uranium miners will be working overtime in order to fill all the orders. This company will have more money thrown at it than it knows what to do with.
Now I have to tell you, some people think I'm actually being conservative with my projections, especially given the resources this company has under its control and the unprecedented demand it's going to receive once it begins mining Mount Isa.
The reality is, you could make even more than a 1,084% return. UEX Corp. delivered 4,900% to its investors and International Uranium hauled in 2,600%. Clearly these same kinds of gains are in this company's future when you look at the cold hard facts of its situation.
The truth is, this company is going to make investors a ton of money, and in a very short time at that. The new generation of 'Nuclear Age Millionaires' will be forged in the mines of Mount Isa in Queensland.
Announcing the start of the SIXTH year of 'bobbing around'. You can see it at
http://mudsmith.net/bobbing6-1.html
This issue has something different in it. Someone reviewed 'Sleeper, Awake',
and found in it all sorts of things I wasn't aware of. You can't argue with a
reviewer, but I'd like independent opinions. So, at my request Double Dragon
have reduced the price of the book until August 31, and I am asking people to
read the book, and read the review, and let me know. If you
send an opinion, you've earned a free book.
In addition, I am happy to announce the 20th book to win the LiFE Award:
Literature For Environment, and there is the usual broad range of topics. If you
are interested in psychology, writing, politics, conservation or philosophy, or
want to read an excellent essay, read what people have sent me (with the odd
contribution from myself of course).
All the best,
Bob
------------------------------------------------
Dr Bob Rich bobrich@...http://bobswriting.comhttp://anxietyanddepression-help.comhttp://mudsmith.net
Loving your friends is easy.
Loving strangers is only a little harder.
But you don't graduate until you love your enemies.
------------------------------------------------
stating your name, position, and
(if you are a parliamentarian) political party.
Please include a location,
including COUNTRY.
Dear Parliamentarian or
NGO:
You are urged to sign the appeal
below, even if it may not be your most perfect wording, for a quick
cessation of hostilities in the middle - east, a just peace, and no
escalation of violence.
John Hallam
61-2-9810-2598
foesyd4@...
Dear Prime Minister and Foreign
Minister of Israel, Ambassadors, and Foreign Ministers of the Security
Council, and Leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah:
The undersigned individuals and organisations appeal to you to
immediately cease hostilities in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip and to
commence negotiations leading to a just diplomatic and political
solution to the problems of the Middle East. We appeal to all
parties in this crisis to abide by all UN resolutions, including
Israel to leave occupied land and Hezbollah to be disarmed.
The pursuit of a military solution to problems created by an
overwhelming perception of injustice to non-Israelis could result in
Hezbollah actually being strengthened, with hostility to Israel vastly
magnified. Moreover, this hostility is on the rise worldwide due to
the massive bombing in Lebanon in which civilians are the vast
majority of victims and the infrastructure of the country is being
ruined. This is unacceptable to the world community.
Condemnation is also directed to Hezbollah for directing missiles on
towns and villages in Israel. Bombing and missiles on civilian
targets creates a savage condition that guarantees increased hostility
and hatred.
A project to destroy Hezbollah or other opposing forces by military
means is unrealistic in the long-term, and most likely would achieve
the opposite effect. Similarly, we urge leaders of Hamas and
Hezbollah to understand that efforts to destroy the State of Israel
cannot succeed, and statements to that effect must be ended if
negotiations to end the conflict and improve the lives of people in
the entire region are to succeed.
The current policies to address the problems in the Middle East are,
in our view, terribly inadequate, mired in the past, and
self-defeating. We urge you to cease hostilities immediately and to
commence a process of negotiation towards a just solution, including
the assurance that the Middle East becomes a nuclear weapons free
zone. A rapid decision to proceed with diplomacy rather than
force would be welcomed by the entire world community, and it could be
an important milestone on the journey to liberation from the violence
of the past and the present terror of modern weapons.
On the other side, failure to solve this problem and a continuation of
violence poses the terrible risk of escalation that could include even
the possibility of nuclear strikes. Such possibilities, coupled with
rhetoric of mutual threats, are horrifying. Talk of mutual threats
between Israel and Iran is dangerous in the extreme and must
cease.
We urge you to seize this historic opportunity, and we look forward to
your early response.
Signed:
Pol D'Huyvetter, Friends of the Earth Flanders/For Mother Earth
Peter Cadogan, London Alliance for Local Democracy
Doug Mattern, Association of World Citizens
Yumi Kikuchi, Founder, Global Peace Campaign
Steve Leeper, Mayors for Peace
John Hallam, Friends of the Earth Australia
Irene Gale, Australian Peace Committee
Doreen Borrow, South Coast Australian Peace Committee,
Cameron Schraner, People for Nuclear Disarmament NSW Australia
Project Safe/Com Narrogin/Fremantle, Western Australia
Pauline Mitchell, CICD (Campaign
for International Cooperation and Disarmament) Vic
This is very important! The G8 + 5 countries are basically trying to
pre-empt and degrade
the United Nations climate negotiations that are happening this November in
Nairobi, Kenya.
They figure that with their economic clout (58% of the world's human
population, 61% of oil
consumption, 80% of coal consumption, and 73% of C02 emissions) they can
prevent the
international community from adopting a stricter post-Kyoto agreement.
That's the underlying
reason why the G8 + 5 climate meeting October 3-4 in Mexico City should be
opposed! As
well as to build momentum for serious action in Nairobi...
I hope that people will contact the organizers who issued this call to
counter the G8 + 5
Climate Summit, and find out how you can be supportive! Contact:
G8(AT)RisingTideNorthAmerica.org
(English) OR JusticiaClimatica06(AT)gmail.com
On 7/24/06, benny zable <bennyzable@...> wrote:
CLIMATE JUSTICE NOW! Call to Counter the G8 + 5 Climate Summit! October 3-4
in Mexico City!
¡Enfrente la G8 + 5 Cumbre del Clima! Octubre 3-4 en Ciudad de México:
¡Justicia Climatica Ya!
October 3-4, 2006, Mexico City
Oppose fraudulent G8 climate negotiations!
Stop carbon trading, converge for climate justice!
A zero emissions world is possible! Make it real!
( traducciones en español - el venir pronto - visita www.rtc.revolt.org y
Rising Tide North America )
Please forward widely!
Visit http://rtc.revolt.org/node/337 for article below with links!
********
Join the mobilization! Contact: G8(AT)RisingTideNorthAmerica.org (English)
OR JusticiaClimatica06(AT)gmail.com (Español) NOW!
On Tuesday, October 3 in Mexico City, the Energy and Environment Ministers
from the "Group of Eight" (G8) industrialized countries are scheduled to
begin negotiating a climate change deal to succeed the Kyoto Protocol, which
expires in 2012. They will be joined by Energy and Environment Ministers
from the five "emerging" countries of Brazil, India, China, South Africa and
Mexico. All together, these "G8 + 5" countries represent 58% of the world's
human population, 61% of oil consumption, 80% of coal consumption, and 73%
of C02 emissions, the leading greenhouse gas causing climate change via
industrial-scale burning of coal, oil and gas for energy. Yet rather than
plan how to radically reduce their contribution to global warming, the
substance of these G8 + 5 talks in Mexico City is set to be about how the
Earth's largest economies can "maintain", "encourage", and "expand" their
status quo of massive dependence on fossil fuels, while presenting a
fraudulent face of "energy conservation", "sustainable development" and
"market-based solutions" to citizens, climate activists and environmental
refugees horrified by growing global evidence and personal experience of
climate catastrophe.
The October 3-4 G8 + 5 Climate Summit in Mexico City will closely follow the
course established by the July 15-17 2006 G8 Summit held in St. Petersburg,
Russia, where leaders released their "Communique and Plan of Action on
Global Energy Security". That document, roundly condemned by numerous
international environmental networks and worldwide protests, committed the
G8 to ensuring "trillions of U.S. dollars in investment through the entire
energy chain by 2030." Most of that funding would be used to bulk up
hydrocarbon production, processing and transportation capacity for energy
demand "estimated to rise by more than 50% by the year 2030, approximately
80% of which would still be met by fossil fuels, which are limited
resources," says the G8 Global Energy Security Plan. The G8 countries are
the United States, Canada, England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and
Russia.
The G8 Communique's final paragraph points forward to the Mexico City round
of negotiations, known officially as the "G8 + 5 Energy Ministers Meeting of
the Gleneagles Dialogue on Climate Change." The document declares: "We look
forward to the next Ministerial meeting in Mexico in October 2006, where we
will continue to identify opportunities for greater collaboration to tackle
climate change, while pursuing energy security and sustainable development
through deployment of cleaner, more efficient and low-carbon energy
technologies, finance and market mechanisms, including, as appropriate,
Clean Development Mechanism, Joint Implementation, emissions trade, and
adaptation."
While such language may sound deceptively "green" to those unfamiliar with
the nuances of capitalist doublespeak, climate justice activists are not
fooled! For years, the aspects of the Kyoto Protocol that have come most
under fire from activists are "loopholes" that help corporations evade
emissions cuts. These loopholes include the agreement's "Flexible
Mechanisms," such as trading in carbon credits, as well as Joint
Implementation and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Carbon markets and
mechanisms like the CDM are funded by the industrialized North and enforced
by multilateral development agencies including the World Bank and
International Monetary Fund.
In April 2005, the non-profit monitoring group CDM Watch, based in Bali,
Indonesia, published a report that exposed as false the World Bank's claims
that carbon market modalities such as the CDM are consistent with its own
stated objective of reducing poverty, promoting "sustainable development,"
and financing renewable energy and "sustainable forestry" projects. The
report shows that these claims are untrue and that these goals and project
types are not, in fact, being advanced by the carbon market; that the World
Bank's ongoing financing of fossil fuels and unsustainable forestry projects
works directly against the Bank's stated objectives in developing a carbon
market; that despite its rhetoric, the Bank is in fact using carbon finance
to support unsustainable technologies and practices such as industrial
plantations and large dams; that many of the Bank's top finance recipients
in recent years have been major fossil fuel companies, including many who
were members of the openly anti-Kyoto Global Climate Coalition; that the
Bank's funding for renewable energy is dwarfed by its continued investment
in fossil fuel extraction projects; and that the carbon market is bypassing
the poorest countries and communities, while investment is focused
overwhelmingly on the richer developing countries (such as the five who are
joining the G8 in Mexico City for the October 10-11 Climate Summit) and is
not going to projects that alleviate poverty or deliver sustainable economic
alternatives within these countries. Is this the "cleaner, more efficient,
low-carbon" development that the G8 countries claim emissions trading will
promote?
Other important analyses that reveal the environmental destructivness and
social injustice of carbon trading schemes include reports by Carbon Trade
Watch , Sinks Watch, the International Rivers Network , the World Rainforest
Movement the Global Justice Ecology Project, Rising Tide UK and the
Transnational Institute. Excellent essays include "Carbon Trading or Carbon
Justice?" by Carmelo Ruiz-Marrero ( ¿Comercio de carbono o justicia
climatica? in Spanish), "Trouble in the Air" by Patrick Bond and Rehana
Dada, "Carbon Colonialism and Climate Fraud" by Heidi Bachram, and
"Hoodwinked in the Hothouse: The G8, Climate Change and Free-Market
Environmentalism."
However, with over 100 signatory groups from all continents, the landmark
statement against slash-and-burn neo-colonialism masquerading as virtuous
ecology remains the "Climate Justice Now! Durban Declaration on Carbon
Trading." Drafted in October 2004 at a People's Summit in the coastal South
African city of Durban, this declaration commits climate defense activists
to "help build a global grassroots movement for climate justice, mobilize
communities around the world and pledge our solidarity with people opposing
carbon trading on the ground."
Climate Justice Now!
The Durban Declaration on Carbon Trading
As representatives of people's movements and independent organisations, we
reject the claim that carbon trading will halt the climate crisis. This
crisis has been caused more than anything else by the mining of fossil fuels
and the release of their carbon to the oceans, air, soil and living things.
This excessive burning of fossil fuels is now jeopardising Earth's ability
to maintain a liveable climate.
Governments, export credit agencies, corporations and international
financial institutions continue to support and finance fossil fuel
exploration, extraction and other activities that worsen global warming,
such as forest degradation and destruction on a massive scale, while
dedicating only token sums to renewable energy. It is particularly
disturbing that the World Bank has recently defied the recommendation of its
own Extractive Industries Review which calls for the phasing out of World
Bank financing for coal, oil and gas extraction.
We denounce the further delays in ending fossil fuel extraction that are
being caused by corporate, government and United Nations' attempts to
construct a "carbon market", including a market trading in "carbon sinks".
History has seen attempts to commodify land, food, labour, forests, water,
genes and ideas. Carbon trading follows in the footsteps of this history and
turns the earth's carbon-cycling capacity into property to be bought or sold
in a global market. Through this process of creating a new commodity -
carbon - the Earth's ability and capacity to support a climate conducive to
life and human societies is now passing into the same corporate hands that
are destroying the climate.
People around the world need to be made aware of this commodification and
privatization and actively intervene to ensure the protection of the Earth's
climate.
Carbon trading will not contribute to achieving this protection of the
Earth's climate. It is a false solution which entrenches and magnifies
social inequalities in many ways:
• The carbon market creates transferable rights to dump carbon in the air,
oceans, soil and vegetation far in excess of the capacity of these systems
to hold it. Billions of dollars worth of these rights are to be awarded free
of charge to the biggest corporate emitters of greenhouse gases in the
electric power, iron and steel, cement, pulp and paper, and other sectors in
industrialised nations who have caused the climate crisis and already
exploit these systems the most. Costs of future reductions in fossil fuel
use are likely to fall disproportionately on the public sector, communities,
indigenous peoples and individual taxpayers.
• The Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), as well as many
private sector trading schemes, encourage industrialised countries and their
corporations to finance or create cheap carbon dumps such as large-scale
tree plantations in the South as a lucrative alternative to reducing
emissions in the North. Other CDM projects, such as hydrochlorofluorocarbons
(HCFC) -reduction schemes, focus on end-of pipe technologies and thus do
nothing to reduce the impact of fossil fuel industries' impacts on local
communities. In addition, these projects dwarf the tiny volume of renewable
energy projects which constitute the CDM's sustainable development
window-dressing.
• Impacts from fossil-fuel industries and other greenhouse-gas producing
industries such as displacement, pollution, or climate change, are already
disproportionately felt by small island states, coastal peoples, indigenous
peoples, local communities, fisherfolk, women, youth, poor people, elderly
and marginalized communities. CDM projects intensify these impacts in
several ways. First, they sanction continued exploration for, and
extraction, refining and burning of fossil fuels. Second, by providing
finance for private sector projects such as industrial tree plantations,
they appropriate land, water and air already supporting the lives and
livelihoods of local communities for new carbon dumps for Northern
industries.
• The refusal to phase out the use of coal, oil and gas, which is further
entrenched by carbon trading, is also causing more and more military
conflicts around the world, magnifying social and environmental injustice.
This in turn diverts vast resources to military budgets which could
otherwise be utilized to support economies based on renewable energies and
energy efficiency.
In addition to these injustices, the internal weaknesses and contradictions
of carbon trading are in fact likely to make global warming worse rather
than "mitigate" it. CDM projects, for instance, cannot be verified to be
"neutralizing" any given quantity of fossil fuel extraction and burning.
Their claim to be able to do so is increasingly dangerous because it creates
the illusion that consumption and production patterns, particularly in the
North, can be maintained without harming the climate.
In addition, because of the verification problem, as well as a lack of
credible regulation, no one in the CDM market is likely to be sure what they
are buying. Without a viable commodity to trade, the CDM market and similar
private sector trading schemes are a total waste of time when the world has
a critical climate crisis to address.
In an absurd contradiction the World Bank facilitates these false,
market-based approaches to climate change through its Prototype Carbon Fund,
the BioCarbon Fund and the Community Development Carbon Fund at the same
time it is promoting, on a far greater scale, the continued exploration for,
and extraction and burning of fossil fuels – many of which are to ensure
increased emissions of the North.
In conclusion, 'giving carbon a price' will not prove to be any more
effective, democratic, or conducive to human welfare, than giving genes,
forests, biodiversity or clean rivers a price.
We reaffirm that drastic reductions in emissions from fossil fuel use are a
pre-requisite if we are to avert the climate crisis. We affirm our
responsibility to coming generations to seek real solutions that are viable
and truly sustainable and that do not sacrifice marginalized communities.
We therefore commit ourselves to help build a global grassroots movement for
climate justice, mobilize communities around the world and pledge our
solidarity with people opposing carbon trading on the ground.
Signed 10 October 2004
Glenmore Centre, Durban, South Africa
In March 2006, tens of thousands of people gathered in Mexico City to
demonstrate against the commodification and privatization of water at the
Fourth World Water Forum. As the G8 Energy Ministers meet this October 3-4
to advance their criminal agenda auctioning off the air and atmosphere
beneath the cynical banner of cleansing the climate, amid the global warming
crisis that every day grows undeniably graver, dare our resistance be any
less? Reclaim our fate! Resist the G8!
Join the mobilization! Contact: g8(AT)risingtidenorthamerica.org (English)
OR justiciaclimatica06(AT)gmail.com (Español) NOW!
This is very important! The G8 + 5 countries are basically trying to pre-empt and degrade the United Nations climate negotiations that are happening this November in Nairobi, Kenya. They figure that with their economic clout (58% of the world's human population, 61% of oil consumption, 80% of coal consumption, and 73% of C02 emissions) they can prevent the international community from adopting a stricter post-Kyoto agreement. That's the underlying reason why the G8 + 5 climate meeting October 3-4 in Mexico City should be opposed! As well as to build momentum for serious action in Nairobi...
I hope that people will contact the organizers who issued this call to counter the G8 + 5 Climate Summit, and find out how you can be supportive! Contact: G8(AT)RisingTideNorthAmerica.org (English) OR JusticiaClimatica06(AT)gmail.com
CLIMATE JUSTICE NOW! Call to Counter the G8 + 5 Climate Summit! October 3-4 in Mexico City!
¡Enfrente la G8 + 5 Cumbre del Clima! Octubre 3-4 en Ciudad de México: ¡Justicia Climatica Ya!
October 3-4, 2006, Mexico City Oppose fraudulent G8 climate negotiations! Stop carbon trading, converge for climate justice!
A zero emissions world is possible! Make it real! ( traducciones en español - el venir pronto - visita www.rtc.revolt.org y Rising Tide North America )
Join the mobilization! Contact: G8(AT)RisingTideNorthAmerica.org (English) OR JusticiaClimatica06(AT)gmail.com (Español) NOW!
On Tuesday, October 3 in Mexico City, the Energy and Environment Ministers from the "Group of Eight" (G8) industrialized countries are scheduled to begin negotiating a climate change deal to succeed the Kyoto Protocol, which
expires in 2012. They will be joined by Energy and Environment Ministers from the five "emerging" countries of Brazil, India, China, South Africa and Mexico. All together, these "G8 + 5" countries represent 58% of the world's
human population, 61% of oil consumption, 80% of coal consumption, and 73% of C02 emissions, the leading greenhouse gas causing climate change via industrial-scale burning of coal, oil and gas for energy. Yet rather than
plan how to radically reduce their contribution to global warming, the substance of these G8 + 5 talks in Mexico City is set to be about how the Earth's largest economies can "maintain", "encourage", and "expand" their
status quo of massive dependence on fossil fuels, while presenting a fraudulent face of "energy conservation", "sustainable development" and "market-based solutions" to citizens, climate activists and environmental
refugees horrified by growing global evidence and personal experience of climate catastrophe.
The October 3-4 G8 + 5 Climate Summit in Mexico City will closely follow the course established by the July 15-17 2006 G8 Summit held in St. Petersburg,
Russia, where leaders released their "Communique and Plan of Action on Global Energy Security". That document, roundly condemned by numerous international environmental networks and worldwide protests, committed the
G8 to ensuring "trillions of U.S. dollars in investment through the entire energy chain by 2030." Most of that funding would be used to bulk up hydrocarbon production, processing and transportation capacity for energy
demand "estimated to rise by more than 50% by the year 2030, approximately 80% of which would still be met by fossil fuels, which are limited resources," says the G8 Global Energy Security Plan. The G8 countries are
the United States, Canada, England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia.
The G8 Communique's final paragraph points forward to the Mexico City round of negotiations, known officially as the "G8 + 5 Energy Ministers Meeting of
the Gleneagles Dialogue on Climate Change." The document declares: "We look forward to the next Ministerial meeting in Mexico in October 2006, where we will continue to identify opportunities for greater collaboration to tackle
climate change, while pursuing energy security and sustainable development through deployment of cleaner, more efficient and low-carbon energy technologies, finance and market mechanisms, including, as appropriate,
Clean Development Mechanism, Joint Implementation, emissions trade, and adaptation."
While such language may sound deceptively "green" to those unfamiliar with the nuances of capitalist doublespeak, climate justice activists are not
fooled! For years, the aspects of the Kyoto Protocol that have come most under fire from activists are "loopholes" that help corporations evade emissions cuts. These loopholes include the agreement's "Flexible
Mechanisms," such as trading in carbon credits, as well as Joint Implementation and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Carbon markets and mechanisms like the CDM are funded by the industrialized North and enforced
by multilateral development agencies including the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
In April 2005, the non-profit monitoring group CDM Watch, based in Bali, Indonesia, published a report that exposed as false the World Bank's claims
that carbon market modalities such as the CDM are consistent with its own stated objective of reducing poverty, promoting "sustainable development," and financing renewable energy and "sustainable forestry" projects. The
report shows that these claims are untrue and that these goals and project types are not, in fact, being advanced by the carbon market; that the World Bank's ongoing financing of fossil fuels and unsustainable forestry projects
works directly against the Bank's stated objectives in developing a carbon market; that despite its rhetoric, the Bank is in fact using carbon finance to support unsustainable technologies and practices such as industrial
plantations and large dams; that many of the Bank's top finance recipients in recent years have been major fossil fuel companies, including many who were members of the openly anti-Kyoto Global Climate Coalition; that the
Bank's funding for renewable energy is dwarfed by its continued investment in fossil fuel extraction projects; and that the carbon market is bypassing the poorest countries and communities, while investment is focused
overwhelmingly on the richer developing countries (such as the five who are joining the G8 in Mexico City for the October 10-11 Climate Summit) and is not going to projects that alleviate poverty or deliver sustainable economic
alternatives within these countries. Is this the "cleaner, more efficient, low-carbon" development that the G8 countries claim emissions trading will promote?
Other important analyses that reveal the environmental destructivness and
social injustice of carbon trading schemes include reports by Carbon Trade Watch , Sinks Watch, the International Rivers Network , the World Rainforest Movement the Global Justice Ecology Project, Rising Tide UK and the
Transnational Institute. Excellent essays include "Carbon Trading or Carbon Justice?" by Carmelo Ruiz-Marrero ( ¿Comercio de carbono o justicia climatica? in Spanish), "Trouble in the Air" by Patrick Bond and Rehana
Dada, "Carbon Colonialism and Climate Fraud" by Heidi Bachram, and "Hoodwinked in the Hothouse: The G8, Climate Change and Free-Market Environmentalism."
However, with over 100 signatory groups from all continents, the landmark
statement against slash-and-burn neo-colonialism masquerading as virtuous ecology remains the "Climate Justice Now! Durban Declaration on Carbon Trading." Drafted in October 2004 at a People's Summit in the coastal South
African city of Durban, this declaration commits climate defense activists to "help build a global grassroots movement for climate justice, mobilize communities around the world and pledge our solidarity with people opposing
carbon trading on the ground."
Climate Justice Now!
The Durban Declaration on Carbon Trading As representatives of people's movements and independent organisations, we reject the claim that carbon trading will halt the climate crisis. This
crisis has been caused more than anything else by the mining of fossil fuels and the release of their carbon to the oceans, air, soil and living things. This excessive burning of fossil fuels is now jeopardising Earth's ability
to maintain a liveable climate.
Governments, export credit agencies, corporations and international financial institutions continue to support and finance fossil fuel exploration, extraction and other activities that worsen global warming,
such as forest degradation and destruction on a massive scale, while dedicating only token sums to renewable energy. It is particularly disturbing that the World Bank has recently defied the recommendation of its
own Extractive Industries Review which calls for the phasing out of World Bank financing for coal, oil and gas extraction.
We denounce the further delays in ending fossil fuel extraction that are being caused by corporate, government and United Nations' attempts to
construct a "carbon market", including a market trading in "carbon sinks".
History has seen attempts to commodify land, food, labour, forests, water, genes and ideas. Carbon trading follows in the footsteps of this history and
turns the earth's carbon-cycling capacity into property to be bought or sold in a global market. Through this process of creating a new commodity - carbon - the Earth's ability and capacity to support a climate conducive to
life and human societies is now passing into the same corporate hands that are destroying the climate.
People around the world need to be made aware of this commodification and privatization and actively intervene to ensure the protection of the Earth's
climate.
Carbon trading will not contribute to achieving this protection of the Earth's climate. It is a false solution which entrenches and magnifies social inequalities in many ways:
• The carbon market creates transferable rights to dump carbon in the air,
oceans, soil and vegetation far in excess of the capacity of these systems to hold it. Billions of dollars worth of these rights are to be awarded free of charge to the biggest corporate emitters of greenhouse gases in the
electric power, iron and steel, cement, pulp and paper, and other sectors in industrialised nations who have caused the climate crisis and already exploit these systems the most. Costs of future reductions in fossil fuel
use are likely to fall disproportionately on the public sector, communities, indigenous peoples and individual taxpayers.
• The Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), as well as many private sector trading schemes, encourage industrialised countries and their
corporations to finance or create cheap carbon dumps such as large-scale tree plantations in the South as a lucrative alternative to reducing emissions in the North. Other CDM projects, such as hydrochlorofluorocarbons
(HCFC) -reduction schemes, focus on end-of pipe technologies and thus do nothing to reduce the impact of fossil fuel industries' impacts on local communities. In addition, these projects dwarf the tiny volume of renewable
energy projects which constitute the CDM's sustainable development window-dressing.
• Impacts from fossil-fuel industries and other greenhouse-gas producing industries such as displacement, pollution, or climate change, are already
disproportionately felt by small island states, coastal peoples, indigenous peoples, local communities, fisherfolk, women, youth, poor people, elderly and marginalized communities. CDM projects intensify these impacts in
several ways. First, they sanction continued exploration for, and extraction, refining and burning of fossil fuels. Second, by providing finance for private sector projects such as industrial tree plantations,
they appropriate land, water and air already supporting the lives and livelihoods of local communities for new carbon dumps for Northern industries.
• The refusal to phase out the use of coal, oil and gas, which is further
entrenched by carbon trading, is also causing more and more military conflicts around the world, magnifying social and environmental injustice. This in turn diverts vast resources to military budgets which could
otherwise be utilized to support economies based on renewable energies and energy efficiency.
In addition to these injustices, the internal weaknesses and contradictions of carbon trading are in fact likely to make global warming worse rather
than "mitigate" it. CDM projects, for instance, cannot be verified to be "neutralizing" any given quantity of fossil fuel extraction and burning. Their claim to be able to do so is increasingly dangerous because it creates
the illusion that consumption and production patterns, particularly in the North, can be maintained without harming the climate.
In addition, because of the verification problem, as well as a lack of credible regulation, no one in the CDM market is likely to be sure what they
are buying. Without a viable commodity to trade, the CDM market and similar private sector trading schemes are a total waste of time when the world has a critical climate crisis to address.
In an absurd contradiction the World Bank facilitates these false,
market-based approaches to climate change through its Prototype Carbon Fund, the BioCarbon Fund and the Community Development Carbon Fund at the same time it is promoting, on a far greater scale, the continued exploration for,
and extraction and burning of fossil fuels – many of which are to ensure increased emissions of the North.
In conclusion, 'giving carbon a price' will not prove to be any more effective, democratic, or conducive to human welfare, than giving genes,
forests, biodiversity or clean rivers a price.
We reaffirm that drastic reductions in emissions from fossil fuel use are a pre-requisite if we are to avert the climate crisis. We affirm our responsibility to coming generations to seek real solutions that are viable
and truly sustainable and that do not sacrifice marginalized communities.
We therefore commit ourselves to help build a global grassroots movement for climate justice, mobilize communities around the world and pledge our
solidarity with people opposing carbon trading on the ground.
Signed 10 October 2004 Glenmore Centre, Durban, South Africa
In March 2006, tens of thousands of people gathered in Mexico City to demonstrate against the commodification and privatization of water at the
Fourth World Water Forum. As the G8 Energy Ministers meet this October 3-4 to advance their criminal agenda auctioning off the air and atmosphere beneath the cynical banner of cleansing the climate, amid the global warming
crisis that every day grows undeniably graver, dare our resistance be any less? Reclaim our fate! Resist the G8!
Join the mobilization! Contact: g8(AT)risingtidenorthamerica.org (English) OR justiciaclimatica06(AT)gmail.com (Español) NOW!
CLIMATE JUSTICE NOW! Call to Counter the G8 + 5 Climate Summit! October 3-4
in Mexico City!
¡Enfrente la G8 + 5 Cumbre del Clima! Octubre 3-4 en Ciudad de México:
¡Justicia Climatica Ya!
October 3-4, 2006, Mexico City
Oppose fraudulent G8 climate negotiations!
Stop carbon trading, converge for climate justice!
A zero emissions world is possible! Make it real!
( traducciones en español - el venir pronto - visita www.rtc.revolt.org y
Rising Tide North America )
Please forward widely!
Visit http://rtc.revolt.org/node/337 for article below with links!
********
Join the mobilization! Contact: G8(AT)RisingTideNorthAmerica.org (English)
OR JusticiaClimatica06(AT)gmail.com (Español) NOW!
On Tuesday, October 3 in Mexico City, the Energy and Environment Ministers
from the "Group of Eight" (G8) industrialized countries are scheduled to
begin negotiating a climate change deal to succeed the Kyoto Protocol, which
expires in 2012. They will be joined by Energy and Environment Ministers
from the five "emerging" countries of Brazil, India, China, South Africa and
Mexico. All together, these "G8 + 5" countries represent 58% of the world's
human population, 61% of oil consumption, 80% of coal consumption, and 73%
of C02 emissions, the leading greenhouse gas causing climate change via
industrial-scale burning of coal, oil and gas for energy. Yet rather than
plan how to radically reduce their contribution to global warming, the
substance of these G8 + 5 talks in Mexico City is set to be about how the
Earth's largest economies can "maintain", "encourage", and "expand" their
status quo of massive dependence on fossil fuels, while presenting a
fraudulent face of "energy conservation", "sustainable development" and
"market-based solutions" to citizens, climate activists and environmental
refugees horrified by growing global evidence and personal experience of
climate catastrophe.
The October 3-4 G8 + 5 Climate Summit in Mexico City will closely follow the
course established by the July 15-17 2006 G8 Summit held in St. Petersburg,
Russia, where leaders released their "Communique and Plan of Action on
Global Energy Security". That document, roundly condemned by numerous
international environmental networks and worldwide protests, committed the
G8 to ensuring "trillions of U.S. dollars in investment through the entire
energy chain by 2030." Most of that funding would be used to bulk up
hydrocarbon production, processing and transportation capacity for energy
demand "estimated to rise by more than 50% by the year 2030, approximately
80% of which would still be met by fossil fuels, which are limited
resources," says the G8 Global Energy Security Plan. The G8 countries are
the United States, Canada, England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and
Russia.
The G8 Communique's final paragraph points forward to the Mexico City round
of negotiations, known officially as the "G8 + 5 Energy Ministers Meeting of
the Gleneagles Dialogue on Climate Change." The document declares: "We look
forward to the next Ministerial meeting in Mexico in October 2006, where we
will continue to identify opportunities for greater collaboration to tackle
climate change, while pursuing energy security and sustainable development
through deployment of cleaner, more efficient and low-carbon energy
technologies, finance and market mechanisms, including, as appropriate,
Clean Development Mechanism, Joint Implementation, emissions trade, and
adaptation."
While such language may sound deceptively "green" to those unfamiliar with
the nuances of capitalist doublespeak, climate justice activists are not
fooled! For years, the aspects of the Kyoto Protocol that have come most
under fire from activists are "loopholes" that help corporations evade
emissions cuts. These loopholes include the agreement's "Flexible
Mechanisms," such as trading in carbon credits, as well as Joint
Implementation and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Carbon markets and
mechanisms like the CDM are funded by the industrialized North and enforced
by multilateral development agencies including the World Bank and
International Monetary Fund.
In April 2005, the non-profit monitoring group CDM Watch, based in Bali,
Indonesia, published a report that exposed as false the World Bank's claims
that carbon market modalities such as the CDM are consistent with its own
stated objective of reducing poverty, promoting "sustainable development,"
and financing renewable energy and "sustainable forestry" projects. The
report shows that these claims are untrue and that these goals and project
types are not, in fact, being advanced by the carbon market; that the World
Bank's ongoing financing of fossil fuels and unsustainable forestry projects
works directly against the Bank's stated objectives in developing a carbon
market; that despite its rhetoric, the Bank is in fact using carbon finance
to support unsustainable technologies and practices such as industrial
plantations and large dams; that many of the Bank's top finance recipients
in recent years have been major fossil fuel companies, including many who
were members of the openly anti-Kyoto Global Climate Coalition; that the
Bank's funding for renewable energy is dwarfed by its continued investment
in fossil fuel extraction projects; and that the carbon market is bypassing
the poorest countries and communities, while investment is focused
overwhelmingly on the richer developing countries (such as the five who are
joining the G8 in Mexico City for the October 10-11 Climate Summit) and is
not going to projects that alleviate poverty or deliver sustainable economic
alternatives within these countries. Is this the "cleaner, more efficient,
low-carbon" development that the G8 countries claim emissions trading will
promote?
Other important analyses that reveal the environmental destructivness and
social injustice of carbon trading schemes include reports by Carbon Trade
Watch , Sinks Watch, the International Rivers Network , the World Rainforest
Movement the Global Justice Ecology Project, Rising Tide UK and the
Transnational Institute. Excellent essays include "Carbon Trading or Carbon
Justice?" by Carmelo Ruiz-Marrero ( ¿Comercio de carbono o justicia
climatica? in Spanish), "Trouble in the Air" by Patrick Bond and Rehana
Dada, "Carbon Colonialism and Climate Fraud" by Heidi Bachram, and
"Hoodwinked in the Hothouse: The G8, Climate Change and Free-Market
Environmentalism."
However, with over 100 signatory groups from all continents, the landmark
statement against slash-and-burn neo-colonialism masquerading as virtuous
ecology remains the "Climate Justice Now! Durban Declaration on Carbon
Trading." Drafted in October 2004 at a People's Summit in the coastal South
African city of Durban, this declaration commits climate defense activists
to "help build a global grassroots movement for climate justice, mobilize
communities around the world and pledge our solidarity with people opposing
carbon trading on the ground."
Climate Justice Now!
The Durban Declaration on Carbon Trading
As representatives of people's movements and independent organisations, we
reject the claim that carbon trading will halt the climate crisis. This
crisis has been caused more than anything else by the mining of fossil fuels
and the release of their carbon to the oceans, air, soil and living things.
This excessive burning of fossil fuels is now jeopardising Earth's ability
to maintain a liveable climate.
Governments, export credit agencies, corporations and international
financial institutions continue to support and finance fossil fuel
exploration, extraction and other activities that worsen global warming,
such as forest degradation and destruction on a massive scale, while
dedicating only token sums to renewable energy. It is particularly
disturbing that the World Bank has recently defied the recommendation of its
own Extractive Industries Review which calls for the phasing out of World
Bank financing for coal, oil and gas extraction.
We denounce the further delays in ending fossil fuel extraction that are
being caused by corporate, government and United Nations' attempts to
construct a "carbon market", including a market trading in "carbon sinks".
History has seen attempts to commodify land, food, labour, forests, water,
genes and ideas. Carbon trading follows in the footsteps of this history and
turns the earth's carbon-cycling capacity into property to be bought or sold
in a global market. Through this process of creating a new commodity -
carbon - the Earth's ability and capacity to support a climate conducive to
life and human societies is now passing into the same corporate hands that
are destroying the climate.
People around the world need to be made aware of this commodification and
privatization and actively intervene to ensure the protection of the Earth's
climate.
Carbon trading will not contribute to achieving this protection of the
Earth's climate. It is a false solution which entrenches and magnifies
social inequalities in many ways:
• The carbon market creates transferable rights to dump carbon in the air,
oceans, soil and vegetation far in excess of the capacity of these systems
to hold it. Billions of dollars worth of these rights are to be awarded free
of charge to the biggest corporate emitters of greenhouse gases in the
electric power, iron and steel, cement, pulp and paper, and other sectors in
industrialised nations who have caused the climate crisis and already
exploit these systems the most. Costs of future reductions in fossil fuel
use are likely to fall disproportionately on the public sector, communities,
indigenous peoples and individual taxpayers.
• The Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), as well as many
private sector trading schemes, encourage industrialised countries and their
corporations to finance or create cheap carbon dumps such as large-scale
tree plantations in the South as a lucrative alternative to reducing
emissions in the North. Other CDM projects, such as hydrochlorofluorocarbons
(HCFC) -reduction schemes, focus on end-of pipe technologies and thus do
nothing to reduce the impact of fossil fuel industries' impacts on local
communities. In addition, these projects dwarf the tiny volume of renewable
energy projects which constitute the CDM's sustainable development
window-dressing.
• Impacts from fossil-fuel industries and other greenhouse-gas producing
industries such as displacement, pollution, or climate change, are already
disproportionately felt by small island states, coastal peoples, indigenous
peoples, local communities, fisherfolk, women, youth, poor people, elderly
and marginalized communities. CDM projects intensify these impacts in
several ways. First, they sanction continued exploration for, and
extraction, refining and burning of fossil fuels. Second, by providing
finance for private sector projects such as industrial tree plantations,
they appropriate land, water and air already supporting the lives and
livelihoods of local communities for new carbon dumps for Northern
industries.
• The refusal to phase out the use of coal, oil and gas, which is further
entrenched by carbon trading, is also causing more and more military
conflicts around the world, magnifying social and environmental injustice.
This in turn diverts vast resources to military budgets which could
otherwise be utilized to support economies based on renewable energies and
energy efficiency.
In addition to these injustices, the internal weaknesses and contradictions
of carbon trading are in fact likely to make global warming worse rather
than "mitigate" it. CDM projects, for instance, cannot be verified to be
"neutralizing" any given quantity of fossil fuel extraction and burning.
Their claim to be able to do so is increasingly dangerous because it creates
the illusion that consumption and production patterns, particularly in the
North, can be maintained without harming the climate.
In addition, because of the verification problem, as well as a lack of
credible regulation, no one in the CDM market is likely to be sure what they
are buying. Without a viable commodity to trade, the CDM market and similar
private sector trading schemes are a total waste of time when the world has
a critical climate crisis to address.
In an absurd contradiction the World Bank facilitates these false,
market-based approaches to climate change through its Prototype Carbon Fund,
the BioCarbon Fund and the Community Development Carbon Fund at the same
time it is promoting, on a far greater scale, the continued exploration for,
and extraction and burning of fossil fuels – many of which are to ensure
increased emissions of the North.
In conclusion, 'giving carbon a price' will not prove to be any more
effective, democratic, or conducive to human welfare, than giving genes,
forests, biodiversity or clean rivers a price.
We reaffirm that drastic reductions in emissions from fossil fuel use are a
pre-requisite if we are to avert the climate crisis. We affirm our
responsibility to coming generations to seek real solutions that are viable
and truly sustainable and that do not sacrifice marginalized communities.
We therefore commit ourselves to help build a global grassroots movement for
climate justice, mobilize communities around the world and pledge our
solidarity with people opposing carbon trading on the ground.
Signed 10 October 2004
Glenmore Centre, Durban, South Africa
In March 2006, tens of thousands of people gathered in Mexico City to
demonstrate against the commodification and privatization of water at the
Fourth World Water Forum. As the G8 Energy Ministers meet this October 3-4
to advance their criminal agenda auctioning off the air and atmosphere
beneath the cynical banner of cleansing the climate, amid the global warming
crisis that every day grows undeniably graver, dare our resistance be any
less? Reclaim our fate! Resist the G8!
Join the mobilization! Contact: g8(AT)risingtidenorthamerica.org (English)
OR justiciaclimatica06(AT)gmail.com (Español) NOW!
if anyone can help with translations into spanish, spreading the word to people in
mexico, latin america & beyond, or anything else ( like $$$ !!) for
this effort ... please let me know ASAP!
===
CLIMATE JUSTICE NOW! Call to Counter the G8 + 5 Climate Summit! October 3-4 in Mexico City!
¡Enfrente la G8 + 5 Cumbre del Clima! Octubre 3-4 en Ciudad de México: ¡Justicia Climatica Ya!
October 3-4, 2006, Mexico City Oppose fraudulent G8 climate negotiations! Stop carbon trading, converge for climate justice! A zero emissions world is possible! Make it real!
Join the mobilization! Contact: G8(AT)RisingTideNorthAmerica.org (English) OR JusticiaClimatica06(AT)gmail.com (Español) NOW!
On Tuesday, October 3 in Mexico City, the Energy and
Environment Ministers from the "Group of Eight" (G8) industrialized
countries are scheduled to begin negotiating a climate change deal to
succeed the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012. They will be joined
by Energy and Environment Ministers from the five "emerging" countries
of Brazil, India, China, South Africa and Mexico. All together, these
"G8 + 5" countries represent 58% of the world's human population, 61%
of oil consumption, 80% of coal consumption, and 73% of C02 emissions,
the leading greenhouse gas causing climate change via industrial-scale
burning of coal, oil and gas for energy. Yet rather than plan how to
radically reduce their contribution to global warming, the substance of
these G8 + 5 talks in Mexico City is set to be about how the Earth's
largest economies can "maintain", "encourage", and "expand" their
status quo of massive dependence on fossil fuels, while presenting a
fraudulent face of "energy conservation", "sustainable development" and
"market-based solutions" to citizens, climate activists and
environmental refugees horrified by growing global evidence and
personal experience of climate catastrophe.
The October 3-4 G8 + 5 Climate Summit in Mexico City will
closely follow the course established by the July 15-17 2006 G8 Summit
held in St. Petersburg, Russia, where leaders released their "Communique and Plan of Action on Global Energy Security".
That document, roundly condemned by numerous international environmental networks and worldwide protests,
committed the G8 to ensuring "trillions of U.S. dollars in investment
through the entire energy chain by 2030." Most of that funding would be
used to bulk up hydrocarbon production, processing and transportation
capacity for energy demand "estimated to rise by more than 50% by the
year 2030, approximately 80% of which would still be met by fossil
fuels, which are limited resources," says the G8 Global Energy Security
Plan. The G8 countries are the United States, Canada, England, France,
Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia.
The G8 Communique's final paragraph points forward to the
Mexico City round of negotiations, known officially as the "G8 + 5
Energy Ministers Meeting of the Gleneagles Dialogue on Climate Change."
The document declares: "We look forward to the next Ministerial meeting
in Mexico in October 2006, where we will continue to identify
opportunities for greater collaboration to tackle climate change, while
pursuing energy security and sustainable development through deployment
of cleaner, more efficient and low-carbon energy technologies, finance
and market mechanisms, including, as appropriate, Clean Development
Mechanism, Joint Implementation, emissions trade, and adaptation."
While such language may sound deceptively "green" to those
unfamiliar with the nuances of capitalist doublespeak, climate justice
activists are not fooled! For years, the aspects of the Kyoto Protocol
that have come most under fire from activists are "loopholes" that help
corporations evade emissions cuts. These loopholes include the
agreement's "Flexible Mechanisms," such as trading in carbon credits,
as well as Joint Implementation and the Clean Development Mechanism
(CDM). Carbon markets and mechanisms like the CDM are funded by the
industrialized North and enforced by multilateral development agencies
including the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
In April 2005, the non-profit monitoring group CDM Watch,
based in Bali, Indonesia, published a report that exposed as false the
World Bank's claims that carbon market modalities such as the CDM are
consistent with its own stated objective of reducing poverty, promoting
"sustainable development," and financing renewable energy and
"sustainable forestry" projects. The report shows that these claims are
untrue and that these goals and project types are not, in fact, being
advanced by the carbon market; that the World Bank's ongoing financing
of fossil fuels and unsustainable forestry projects works directly
against the Bank's stated objectives in developing a carbon market;
that despite its rhetoric, the Bank is in fact using carbon finance to
support unsustainable technologies and practices such as industrial
plantations and large dams; that many of the Bank's top finance
recipients in recent years have been major fossil fuel companies,
including many who were members of the openly anti-Kyoto Global Climate
Coalition; that the Bank's funding for renewable energy is dwarfed by
its continued investment in fossil fuel extraction projects; and that
the carbon market is bypassing the poorest countries and communities,
while investment is focused overwhelmingly on the richer developing
countries (such as the five who are joining the G8 in Mexico City for
the October 10-11 Climate Summit) and is not going to projects that
alleviate poverty or deliver sustainable economic alternatives within
these countries. Is this the "cleaner, more efficient, low-carbon"
development that the G8 countries claim emissions trading will promote?
However, with over 100 signatory groups from all continents,
the landmark statement against slash-and-burn neo-colonialism
masquerading as virtuous ecology remains the "Climate Justice Now!
Durban Declaration on Carbon Trading." Drafted in October 2004 at a
People's Summit in the coastal South African city of Durban, this
declaration commits climate defense activists to "help build a global
grassroots movement for climate justice, mobilize communities around
the world and pledge our solidarity with people opposing carbon trading
on the ground."
Climate Justice Now!
The Durban Declaration on Carbon Trading
As representatives of people's movements and independent
organisations, we reject the claim that carbon trading will halt the
climate crisis. This crisis has been caused more than anything else by
the mining of fossil fuels and the release of their carbon to the
oceans, air, soil and living things. This excessive burning of fossil
fuels is now jeopardising Earth's ability to maintain a liveable
climate.
Governments, export credit agencies, corporations and international
financial institutions continue to support and finance fossil fuel
exploration, extraction and other activities that worsen global
warming, such as forest degradation and destruction on a massive scale,
while dedicating only token sums to renewable energy. It is
particularly disturbing that the World Bank has recently defied the
recommendation of its own Extractive Industries Review which calls for
the phasing out of World Bank financing for coal, oil and gas
extraction.
We denounce the further delays in ending fossil fuel extraction that
are being caused by corporate, government and United Nations' attempts
to construct a "carbon market", including a market trading in "carbon
sinks".
History has seen attempts to commodify land, food, labour, forests,
water, genes and ideas. Carbon trading follows in the footsteps of this
history and turns the earth's carbon-cycling capacity into property to
be bought or sold in a global market. Through this process of creating
a new commodity - carbon - the Earth's ability and capacity to support
a climate conducive to life and human societies is now passing into the
same corporate hands that are destroying the climate.
People around the world need to be made aware of this
commodification and privatization and actively intervene to ensure the
protection of the Earth's climate.
Carbon trading will not contribute to achieving this protection of
the Earth's climate. It is a false solution which entrenches and
magnifies social inequalities in many ways:
• The carbon market creates transferable rights to dump carbon in
the air, oceans, soil and vegetation far in excess of the capacity of
these systems to hold it. Billions of dollars worth of these rights are
to be awarded free of charge to the biggest corporate emitters of
greenhouse gases in the electric power, iron and steel, cement, pulp
and paper, and other sectors in industrialised nations who have caused
the climate crisis and already exploit these systems the most. Costs of
future reductions in fossil fuel use are likely to fall
disproportionately on the public sector, communities, indigenous
peoples and individual taxpayers.
• The Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), as well as
many private sector trading schemes, encourage industrialised countries
and their corporations to finance or create cheap carbon dumps such as
large-scale tree plantations in the South as a lucrative alternative to
reducing emissions in the North. Other CDM projects, such as
hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) -reduction schemes, focus on end-of
pipe technologies and thus do nothing to reduce the impact of fossil
fuel industries' impacts on local communities. In addition, these
projects dwarf the tiny volume of renewable energy projects which
constitute the CDM's sustainable development window-dressing.
• Impacts from fossil-fuel industries and other greenhouse-gas
producing industries such as displacement, pollution, or climate
change, are already disproportionately felt by small island states,
coastal peoples, indigenous peoples, local communities, fisherfolk,
women, youth, poor people, elderly and marginalized communities. CDM
projects intensify these impacts in several ways. First, they sanction
continued exploration for, and extraction, refining and burning of
fossil fuels. Second, by providing finance for private sector projects
such as industrial tree plantations, they appropriate land, water and
air already supporting the lives and livelihoods of local communities
for new carbon dumps for Northern industries.
• The refusal to phase out the use of coal, oil and gas, which is
further entrenched by carbon trading, is also causing more and more
military conflicts around the world, magnifying social and
environmental injustice. This in turn diverts vast resources to
military budgets which could otherwise be utilized to support economies
based on renewable energies and energy efficiency.
In addition to these injustices, the internal weaknesses and
contradictions of carbon trading are in fact likely to make global
warming worse rather than "mitigate" it. CDM projects, for instance,
cannot be verified to be "neutralizing" any given quantity of fossil
fuel extraction and burning. Their claim to be able to do so is
increasingly dangerous because it creates the illusion that consumption
and production patterns, particularly in the North, can be maintained
without harming the climate.
In addition, because of the verification problem, as well as a lack
of credible regulation, no one in the CDM market is likely to be sure
what they are buying. Without a viable commodity to trade, the CDM
market and similar private sector trading schemes are a total waste of
time when the world has a critical climate crisis to address.
In an absurd contradiction the World Bank facilitates these false,
market-based approaches to climate change through its Prototype Carbon
Fund, the BioCarbon Fund and the Community Development Carbon Fund at
the same time it is promoting, on a far greater scale, the continued
exploration for, and extraction and burning of fossil fuels – many of
which are to ensure increased emissions of the North.
In conclusion, 'giving carbon a price' will not prove to be any more
effective, democratic, or conducive to human welfare, than giving
genes, forests, biodiversity or clean rivers a price.
We reaffirm that drastic reductions in emissions from fossil fuel
use are a pre-requisite if we are to avert the climate crisis. We
affirm our responsibility to coming generations to seek real solutions
that are viable and truly sustainable and that do not sacrifice
marginalized communities.
We therefore commit ourselves to help build a global grassroots
movement for climate justice, mobilize communities around the world and
pledge our solidarity with people opposing carbon trading on the ground.
Signed 10 October 2004
Glenmore Centre, Durban, South Africa
In March 2006, tens of thousands of people gathered in
Mexico City to demonstrate against the commodification and
privatization of water at the Fourth World Water Forum. As the G8
Energy Ministers meet this October 3-4 to advance their criminal agenda
auctioning off the air and atmosphere beneath the cynical banner of
cleansing the climate, amid the global warming crisis that every day
grows undeniably graver, dare our resistance be any less? Reclaim our fate! Resist the G8!
Join the mobilization! Contact: g8(AT)risingtidenorthamerica.org (English) OR justiciaclimatica06(AT)gmail.com (Español) NOW!
Perhaps even more disturbing is the report in the Canberra Times
that the US has started building more nuclear weapons. On the pretext
that the existing ones are not safe!!
Jo
At 8:27 PM +1000 22/7/06, Anne Goddard wrote:
Global nuclear stockpiles, 1945-2006
Posted by: "glparramatta"
glparramatta@... glparramatta
Thu Jul 20, 2006 3:27 pm (PST)
The future. All five original nuclear weapon states continue to
insist
that nuclear weapons are essential to their national security,
which
translates into substantial global nuclear weapon stockpiles for
the
foreseeable future and the possibility that more nations will want
the
Bomb as well. India has committed to possessing a triad of nuclear
forces including land-based ballistic missiles, nuclear-capable
aircraft, and sea-based missiles that will probably require an
arsenal
of 100-150 warheads. Not to be outdone, Pakistan will likely keep
pace
with a similarly sized arsenal. Whether Israel's nuclear arsenal
remains
opaque will likely depend on the development of Iran's nuclear
program,
which appears to be about three to ten years away from joining the
nuclear weapon club. Despite nuclear weapon states' progress in
reducing
global stockpiles, convincing nations to abandon their nuclear
arsenals
altogether remains a formidable task, one that will likely remain
impossible until the nuclear powers themselves renounce their
weapons.
...my comment, listen to the elder women of Australia, "the
poison, leave
it"
or perhaps everyone should have their own nuclear weapon in their
own
backyard, my neighbour and i would happily host one each. Can our
government
guarantee their safety until they corode
and disintigate into their own
via:
GreenLeft_discussion@yahoogroups.com
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I could hardly look at the appalling pictures that Anne has just posted - I have nothing useful to add to the discussion of them but do hope international bodies will follow up on their talk of possibly prosecuting people for war crimes involved in this dreadful war which seems to never end. Perhps we should collectively do something to pressure these international bodies?
Now, I have just been sent the following article which is, perhaps, equally horrific (if not graphically illustrated), and also demands our urgent attention.
I certainly don't want to discourage people - it is vitally important to keep ourselves together and working towards some kind of positive future for the human species in spite of all the ugly and frightening news. Sorry, I can't seem to think of much good news at present.
Try to keep your chins up and keep working together,
John Hill
http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=34027
BIODIVERSITY: Scientists Warn of Species Holocaust Stephen Leahy
BROOKLIN, Canada, Jul 19 (IPS) - The world's accelerating biodiversity crisis requires a new international coordinating mechanism to provide a united, authoritative scientific voice that can inform government decision-making internationally, experts say.
A large number of species are likely to become extinct in this century, warned 19 leading scientists and policy experts Wednesday in the science journal Nature.
They have signed a declaration stating that the gap between biodiversity science and public policy must be closed urgently and the world's scientific community must be far more strongly organised and integrated.
"It is the bits of biodiversity acting together that creates the ecological goods and services that we depend on for life," said Georgina Mace, director of science at the Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London.
"There is much we don't understand about how biodiversity sustains life and we have not been managing (it) sustainably," Mace told IPS.
The Convention on Biodiversity (CBD), signed by 150 government leaders at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, set a target of reducing the rate of loss of biodiversity by 2010, but nearly everywhere, the rate of decline is accelerating, she said.
The four-year Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, carried out by more than 1,300 researchers from 95 countries, warned last year that the current rate of species loss is estimated to be 1,000 times faster than at any time in history. With the added stresses of climate change, up to 30 percent of all mammal, bird and amphibian species are in danger of disappearing by 2050, it found.
Until recently, biologists have tended to focus on simply counting and describing species, but now realise the need to monitor populations, model the rates of species loss and determine the implications for humanity, Mace said.
Addressing the biodiversity crisis requires a global mechanism along the lines of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), said Robert Watson, chief scientist at the World Bank and former chair of the IPCC and the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.
"The IPCC played a major role in assessing climate science, determining the impacts and looking at the policy options and technologies to deal with the issue," Watson told IPS. "It is a wonderful example of academics working with politicians."
The climate change panel, the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology, the Ozone Assessment Panel and other scientific collaborations today serve as reliable sources of information and advice for the public, their governments and decision-makers.
"They then choose what to do," Watson said.
Biodiversity is intrinsically more complex than other major problems like the stratospheric ozone hole or even global climate change. It includes all species, down to the microorganisms that make up one-third of all living beings on the planet. But more than that, it also refers to all of interactions of these species that have made the Earth that gave rise to humans and continue to make it possible for people to live here.
"Biodiversity provides ecosystem services such as disease and climate regulation, storm protection and habitat for useful species. The loss of biodiversity imposes real economic costs on society, and we need to develop clear science guidance for policy options accordingly," says signatory Charles Perrings of Arizona State University in the United States and the vice chair of Diversitas, an international scientific organisation based in Paris.
Before making major changes to ecosystems, a better understanding is needed of the goods and services they provide, said Watson.
Cutting down forests releases large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, increasing CO2 levels and making the land more vulnerable to erosion, which in turn reduces water quality and quantity, he said. Some forests may have a greater value to society if they are left alone.
"Unfortunately air and water have no value in the market," he noted.
For example, the value of mangrove forests in protecting shoreline communities from storms or tsunamis is not understood by finance ministers, and a major effort to determine the true economic value of nature's services is needed.
"It is critical to get the world economic system right because subsidies in agriculture and energy undermine the sustainability of ecosystems," Watson said.
Existing treaties such as the Convention of Biological Diversity "do not have the structural means to mobilise the expertise of a large scientific community that spans a wide range of disciplines," according to the declaration's signatories.
"Most cutting-edge experts in climate, agriculture, sociology, marine biology and so forth have never heard of the CBD," said Watson.
A new international panel on biodiversity would provide the best science and evidence and the CBD would make the political decisions.
A structured and continuous assessment of the science to get a clear picture of what is happening is needed along with mechanisms to integrate this knowledge and the consequences into policy, said Watson.
"Because ecosystems are specific to local regions, these assessments will have to be done at that level and dialogues with governments, industry and NGOs will have to be done on multiple scales," he explained.
The proposed biodiversity panel would need funding from governments as well as the private and development sectors, but it must be objective and independent, the authors of the Nature paper stressed. It also should be transparent and representative of all geographic regions.
The French government is funding a global consultation process expected to produce recommendations within 18 months. The consultations will determine what kind of information is needed by decision-makers in many fields with an impact on biodiversity -- including industry, fisheries, transportation, and parks management -- in order to design a panel that addresses those requirements.
"For the sake of the planet, the biodiversity science community has to create a way to get organised, to coordinate its work across disciplines, and together with one clear voice advise governments on steps to halt the potentially catastrophic loss of species already occurring," Watson concluded. (END/2006)
22 July 2006 01:18 Home > News > World > Science & Technology Earth faces 'catastrophic loss of species' By Steve Connor, Science Editor Published: 20 July 2006
Life on earth is facing a major crisis with thousands of species threatened with imminent extinction - a global emergency demanding urgent action. This is the view of 19 of the world's most eminent biodiversity specialists, who have called on governments to establish a political framework to save the planet.
The planet is losing species faster than at any time since 65 million years ago, when the earth was hit by an enormous asteroid that wiped out thousands of animals and plants, including the dinosaurs. Scientists estimate that the current rate at which species are becoming extinct is between 100 and 1,000 times greater than the normal "background" extinction rate - and say this is all due to human activity.
The call for action comes from some of the most distinguished scientists in the field, such as Georgina Mace of the UK Institute of Zoology; Peter Raven, the head of the Missouri Botanical Garden in St Louis, and Robert Watson, chief scientist at the World Bank. "For the sake of the planet, the biodiversity science community had to create a way to get organised, to co-ordinate its work across disciplines and together, with one clear voice, advise governments on steps to halt the potentially catastrophic loss of species already occurring," Dr Watson said.
In a joint declaration, published today in Nature, the scientists say that the earth is on the verge of a biodiversity catastrophe and that only a global political initiative stands a chance of stemming the loss. They say: "There is growing recognition that the diversity of life on earth, including the variety of genes, species and ecosystems, is an irreplaceable natural heritage crucial to human well-being and sustainable development. There is also clear scientific evidence that we are on the verge of a major biodiversity crisis. Virtually all aspects of biodiversity are in steep decline and a large number of populations and species are likely to become extinct this century.
"Despite this evidence, biodiversity is still consistently undervalued and given inadequate weight in both private and public decisions. There is an urgent need to bridge the gap between science and policy by creating an international body of biodiversity experts," they say.
More than a decade ago, Edward O Wilson, the Harvard naturalist, first estimated that about 30,000 species were going extinct each year - an extinction rate of about three an hour. Further research has confirmed that just about every group of animals and plants - from mosses and ferns to palm trees, frogs, and monkeys - is experiencing an unprecedented loss of diversity.
Scientists estimate that 12 per cent of all birds, 23 per cent of mammals, a quarter of conifers, a third of amphibians and more than half of all palm trees are threatened with imminent extinction. Climate change alone could lead to the further extinction of between 15 and 37 per cent of all species by the end of the century, the scientists say: "Because biodiversity loss is essentially irreversible, it poses serious threats to sustainable development and the quality of life of future generations."
There have been five previous mass extinctions in the 3.5 billion-year history of life on earth. All are believed to have been caused by major geophysical events that halted photosynthesis, such as an asteroid collision or the mass eruption of supervolcanoes. The present "sixth wave" of extinction began with the migration of modern humans out of Africa about 100,000 years ago. It accelerated with the invention of agriculture 10,000 years ago and began to worsen with the development of industry in the 18th century.
Anne Larigauderie, executive director of Diversitas, a Paris-based conservation group, said that the situation was now so grave that an international body with direct links with global leaders was essential. "The point is to establish an international mechanism that will provide regular and independent scientific advice on biodiversity," Dr Larigauderie said. "We know that extinction is a natural phenomenon but the rate of extinction is now between 100 and 1,000 times higher than the background rate. It is an unprecedented loss."
The scientists believe that a body similar to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change could help governments to tackle the continuing loss of species. "Biodiversity is much more than counting species. It's crucial to the functioning of the planet and the loss of species is extremely serious," Dr Larigauderie said. "Everywhere we look, we are losing the fabric of life. It's a major crisis."
Species under threat
Land mammals
The first comprehensive inventory of land mammals in 1996 found a quarter, including the Iberian lynx were in danger of extinction. The situation has worsened since.
Reptiles & amphibians
The Chinese alligator is the most endangered crocodilian - a survey in 1999 found just 150. Frogs, toads, newts and salamanders are the most threatened land vertebrates.
Birds
One in five species are believed to be in danger of extinction; that amounts to about 2,000 of the 9,775 named species. Most are at risk from logging, intensive agriculture, trapping and habitat encroachment. Many experts believe the Philippine eagle and wandering albatross could become extinct this century.
Marine life
The oceans were thought to be immune from the activities of man on land, but this is no longer true. Pollution, overfishing, loss of marine habitats and global warming have a dramatic impact on biological diversity. More than 100 species of fish, including the basking shark are on the red list of threatened species.
Plants
Many plants have yet to be formally described, classified and named - and some are being lost before they have been discovered by scientists. Plants of every type are being lost.
Insects & invertebrates
Many insects are wiped out by pesticide-reliant intensive agriculture. Others, such as the partula tree snails of Tahiti are menaced by invasive species.
--------------------- "Only after the last tree has been cut down, Only after the last river has been poisoned, Only after the last fish has been caught, Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten." Cree Prophecy http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/margins-to-centre www.electronicintifada.net
Hello Anne and all -
I'm presently reviewing Helen Caldicott's new book -
Nuclear Power Is Not the Answer which Helen knows I
doing. It's an excellent but technical book and I
hope she approves of what I intend saying about it in
considerable detail. I'll send it to you when done
and hope you approve too.
Presently I'm obsessed with the Middle East conflict
on 2 fronts and working on my second article about it
- first on Palestinians and this one on Lebanon and
Hezbollah. A preview - Israel with US complicity and
support and that of the West and Arab world has and is
committing the most extreme war crimes against
innocent people and getting away with it. I have
plenty to say and am doing without reservation - and
I'm a Jew and not a self-hating one....a meaningless
notion.
Steve
--- Anne Goddard <winter___@...> wrote:
> Global nuclear stockpiles, 1945-2006
> Posted by: "glparramatta"
> glparramatta@... glparramatta
> Thu Jul 20, 2006 3:27 pm (PST)
> The future. All five original nuclear weapon states
> continue to insist
> that nuclear weapons are essential to their national
> security, which
> translates into substantial global nuclear weapon
> stockpiles for the
> foreseeable future and the possibility that more
> nations will want the
> Bomb as well. India has committed to possessing a
> triad of nuclear
> forces including land-based ballistic missiles,
> nuclear-capable
> aircraft, and sea-based missiles that will probably
> require an arsenal
> of 100-150 warheads. Not to be outdone, Pakistan
> will likely keep pace
> with a similarly sized arsenal. Whether Israel's
> nuclear arsenal remains
> opaque will likely depend on the development of
> Iran's nuclear program,
> which appears to be about three to ten years away
> from joining the
> nuclear weapon club. Despite nuclear weapon states'
> progress in reducing
> global stockpiles, convincing nations to abandon
> their nuclear arsenals
> altogether remains a formidable task, one that will
> likely remain
> impossible until the nuclear powers themselves
> renounce their weapons.
>
> ...my comment, listen to the elder women of
> Australia, "the poison, leave
> it"
> or perhaps everyone should have their own nuclear
> weapon in their own
> backyard, my neighbour and i would happily host one
> each. Can our government
> guarantee their safety until they corode and
> disintigate into their own
> little individual bunkers?
> a.
>
> Full:
>
http://www.thebulletin.org/article_nn.php?art_ofn=ja06norris
>
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> GreenLeft_discussion@yahoogroups.com
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There was only one devastating picture yesterday : that of two people who were killed in air strikes on Akkar,(the poorer area) in the north, late Wednesday night.
Both corps were black, both were dismembered , both were "weird". I don't think it matters anymore to try to prove that Israel is using unconventional , forbidden weapons .. that would only prove that it should have used "allowed" weapons. Who cares, people are dying anyway. And whatever weapons are being used , the pollution they're creating will kill the survivors from cancer later.
The rest of the pictures were less devastating, conventional : demolished houses, wiped out villages and towns, more refugees , some of them starving, lovely babes on board of US marines ships and colored people from poor countries lining up in front of embassies hoping they will get them out of this hell.
The really devastating pictures will came later , much later, some day when all this will stop maybe we'll be able to visit the ruins of whole villages. But even then it might be too late : how long does it take corps buried under rubbles to disintegrate and vanish ?
Anyway , so I left the office early and went home with my friend who's staying with us because his house is in the southern suburb of Beirut. I was a bit worried because my brother in law , Khalil's brother, was there too and I was wondering if I'd be able to manage space for everybody to sleep comfortably.
Raed, my brother in law, and his eight-month pregnant wife , had left Jebshit in the south yesterday morning. They reached Beirut by 5:00 pm.
They had crossed a bridge in Habbouche who'd been targeted only once . It was destroyed but cars were still able to find a way through. Half an hour after Raed had crossed the bridge, it was bombed again and completely demolished this time (sounds like an Indian movie, right?). Of course Raed knew nothing about that , he trying to make out to Saida, then up to Baakline in the Shouf then way down back to Beirut.
When I got home , I asked if they had dinner. I was a bit ashamed because my fridge is empty. I hadn't had time lately to buy grocery and I'm "heavily" relying on milk to feed Kinda, my daughter. "Dinner ?" Raed asked , "we had 9 shawarma sandwiches, Rana (his wife) and I. Today was the first time we eat in 3 days".
He tells stories about Jebshit. Sad ones. No electricity , no water, no roads, no food, no newspapers. Some villages even run out of batteries, so they can't even listen to the news on the radio. Funny, isn't it, that in Beirut we know more about what's going on than the people concerned. Raed only knew they blew the Habbouche bridge when he listened to the news after he reached Beirut.
I have to admit to all of you that I have very mixed, weird, sick feelings about all this.
The first three or four days were very strange. I was in Beirut , sitting in an air conditioned office, watching the devastation of the South and the southern suburb. It felt like when you watch news and pictures from Palestine and Iraq. You feel frustrated and concerned, but you know there's not much you can do for them, for mere geographical reasons, at least that's the excuse one uses to comfort one's self. But "this" was happening a few kilometers away and I'd still be sitting here watching. The other weird feeling was related to the first one: I felt that I was paying my dues. The guilt feeling I've always had toward Palestine, and later towards Iraq, has diminished a little bit. I felt like hugging Palestine and Iraq and screaming to them "We're with you, like you: left alone, suffering and part of your cause, a great one."
Sometimes I just flip and cry. Cry because I'm so helpless and angry. And most of the time I turn on my "automatic engine on". I wake up at six , come to the office, report hideous stories , feel nothing about them , do my job : double check , choose "fantastic" headlines , pick up the "best" pictures, try to be as professional as one can be. I do that for 12 to 14 hours. I'd then go home, pick up my daughter from my mother's house , and go to bed at one. The Israelis love to start their raids at ten past one, sometimes at five past one. That's when I'm in bed. Every night, when they start, I rush out to the balcony to see where the smoke comes from. I live on the twelfth floor. Every night , when I go out , I see the moon , my lovely moon , shyly hiding behind the clouds caused by the fires that are surrounding my Beirut.
This morning , I stayed home till 12:00. I played with Kinda. My poor little baby. She doesn't understand what's going on. She keeps asking about her cousins. She looks at their pictures and keeps repeating their names; as if it was an exercise not to forget them. I tell her they're in the mountains, and that we can't go there. When they call us, she refuses to talk to them. She thinks they abounded her.
The first time she heard the bombing, she rushed to my arms asking me if this was fireworks . I said " no , this is boum boum , ha ha ha " and started laughing. So now, every time she hears the bombing she starts singing "boum boum " and she laughs.
I left her at noon. She was sleepy, and wouldn't go to bed. It took a few minutes to realize the reason : she wanted to fall asleep in my arms. Before July the 12th, I would not move at her bed time. I'd put her on my lap , sing to her until she sleeps. For 10 days now, she's been sleeping in the stroller at my mother's house: only to guaranty that I will come pick her up when I finish working.
Two last notes: I feel ashamed talking about my daughter while other people's kids were either killed or lack of food and shelter. But I feel so guilty towards her.
Second : to all the Israelis who have been sending their comments on what I write , I say this : I agree with you , we are savages , blood lovers, we don't have feelings, and we actually enjoy looking at the pictures of victims. Actually , each time we see one , we party and dance. And in my writings, I'm only pretending to have feelings , and being pathetically sentimental only to bluff. Here, I'm admitting it. And to all my friends in the west : don't believe anything I say , cause I'm only viciously using you and trying to turn you into sympathizers of fundamental terrorism.
Hanady
Beirut July 19, 2006
The attached pictures are hideously gruesome, but you have to look at them . Help me find out what kind of weapons cause this kind of dismemberment and mutation.
What kind of weapons cause this kind of damage? Do you know? Could you find out?
None of this is confirmed, or could be here and now. However, there are growing doubts that Israel might be using internationally forbidden weapons in its current aggression against Lebanon. News from "Southern Medical Center", a hospital in Saida( in South Lebanon) are not good. Dr. Bashir Sham, member of "French Association of Cardiovascular Surgeons", explains that the way the corps look when they reach the hospital, especially those of the air strikes in Doueir and Rmayleih, is very abnormal." One might think they were burnt , but their colour is dark , they're inflated, and they have a terrible smell" All this , and the hair is not burnt nor do the bodies bleed.
Eight of the victims of an air strike on Rmayleih bridge, near Saida, on the 15th of July, were transferred to Sham's hospital.
Sham says that only chemical poisonous substances "lead to instant death without bleeding". And what indicates the power of these substances, is the high and unusual of number of dead victimes, compared to the number of injuries.
Sham thinks that whatever "abnormal " substance causing these features might penetrate through the skin, or another explanation would be that the missiles contained toxic gas that stopped the proper functioning of the nervous system, and led to blood clotting.
These toxic materials cause immediate death, within two to thirty minutes, according to Sham, who admits that these doubts can't be proven, not even by an autopsy.
The director of the same medical center, Ali Mansour, says that due to the strong smell of the corps, he couldn't breath properly for at least 12 hours after the corps were handled.
He explains that the center received eight bodies from Rmeileh last Monday, and none of them was bleeding.
Mansour tells us the hospital wrote to both the commissioner of the European Union for Foreign Affaires Javier Solana, and the United Nations Secretary general Kofi Anan. He said that dr Sham will communicate his doubts to the Doctors Order in Lebanon.
CAN YOU HELP US , PLEASE!
Hanady
Beirut
A body killed by a burning object lies in a Beirut suburb July 17- Reuters
A Lebanese firefighter extinguishes the charred body of a Lebanese truck driver who was killed when Israeli planes attacked the port in Beirut July 17 - AP
A member of the Lebanese Red Cross walks past a badly burnt body in Beirut's port, which was targeted by Israeli warplanes, July 17 - Reuters
A member of the Lebanese Red Cross walks past a badly burnt body in Beirut's port, which was targeted by Israeli warplanes
A member of the Lebanese Red Cross walks past a badly burnt body in Beirut's port, which was targeted by Israeli warplanes-2.
Lebanese firefighters try to extinguish the fire while the dismembered and burnt corpses of two Lebanese civilians killed in an Israeli air raid lie on the ground at the port in Beirut
Lebanese men remove a recovered body of a man from the back of a vehicle in Beirut July 17- Reuters.jpg
Lebanese Red Cross members remove the dismembered and burnt corpses of two Lebanese civilians killed in an Israeli air raid at the port in Beirut 17 July
Lebanese Red Cross members remove the dismembered and burnt corpses of two Lebanese civilians killed in an Israeli air raid at the port in Beirut.
look at his right eye - Lebanese citizens gather around a man who was killed by shrapnel from an explosion in Kfarshima, near Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, July 17 -AP
look at the foot - beirut prot july 17 - Reuters
Sidon
A Lebanese medic carries the body of a young girl, in a refrigerated truck used as a makeshift morgue, in the port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Monday, July 17 - AP
A Medic inspects burned bodies of Lebanese civilians who were attacked as they passed by a bridge that was targeted in north Saida, southern Lebanon, July 17 - Reuters
Tyr
A badly injured Lebanese civilian is seen at a hospital following Israeli air strikes on a house in the southern city of Tyre, 17 July - AFP
A Lebanese rescue worker gathers the remains of a woman from the rubble of residential buildings hit by the Israeli bombardement in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, 18 July - AFP
An 18-month-old Lebanese child lies dead 17 July on a hospital bed in Saida eight hours after being injured yesterday in an Israeli air attack in Tyre - AFP
Lebanese man that was injured and burned by Israeli attacks on Tyre, lies in a hospital in south Lebanon July 15 - Reuters
The corpse of a dead man lies admist the rubble from devastating Israeli air strikes in Tyre, south Lebanon, 16 July - AFP
The corpse of a Lebanese civilian lies amidst the rubble following a devastating Israeli air strike in Tyre, south Lebanon, 16 July a
Rmayleh
A civil defense member transports the corpse of a Lebanese civilian killed in an Israeli air raid that targeted the Rmeyleh bridge near Saida 17 July afp.
A Lebanese medic carries the body of a young girl, in a refrigerated truck used as a makeshift morgue, as another body lies covered, in the port city of Sidon, Lebanon, Monday, July 17
Civil defence rescuers carry the body of a woman away from a civilian car that was struck by an Israeli warplane missile- rmayleih juy 17 - AP
Drivers carry away Lebanese Ali Wahid after he was seriously wounded in his car, while he was driving past a bridge when was struck by an Israeli warplane missile- rmayleh july 17 ap.
Lebanese Red Cross members cover the burnt corpse of a Lebanese civilian killed in an Israeli air raid that targeted the Rmeyleh bridge in Saida 17 July AFP.
look at his face - A 7-year-old Lebanese boy fights for his life on a hospital bed in Saida 17 July 2006 after being injured in an Israeli air raid - AFP
Marwahin
A badly charred and mutilated body lies on the ground after an Israeli missile hit a van carrying passengers on a road in southern Lebanon, July 15, - Reuters
A body of a man from the southern village of Marwahin, who was killed along with 17 others near the village of Shamaa
A United Nations medic holds a body that was badly charred and destroyed after an Israeli missile hit a van carrying passengers on a road in southern Lebanon, July 15 - Reuters.
KILLED ON THE SAME ROAD IN THE SOUTH JULY 15 - REUTERS
Lebanese civil defence member carries the corpse of a young girl from the southern village of Marwahin
MARWA Marwa Abdallah, who survived Saturday's attack on a van in Tyre where twenty people where killed IN HOSPITAL JULY 16 - REUTERS.
MARWAHIN (SOUTH ) JULY 15 - AFP
MARWAHIN (SOUTH ) JULY 15 - REUTERS
Zebdine
A Lebanese Red Cross staff collects human remains following an Israeli air raid on Zebdine village (south )JULY 16 AFP
Teir Harfa
TEIR HAFRA 1 (SOUTH) JULY 15 - AP
TEIR HAFRA 2 SOUTH) JULY 15 - AP
TEIR HAFRA 3(SOUTH) JULY 15 - AP
TEIR HAFRA 4 (SOUTH) JULY 15 - AP
TEIR HAFRA 5 (SOUTH ) JULY 15 - AP
TEIR HAFRA 6 (SOUTH ) JULY 15 AP
Bekaa
look at the eye- Issam Mostafa, a 3-year-old Lebanese boy, rests at a hospital in Shtora in the Bekaa valley 17 July afp.
:: Article nr. 24885 sent on 21-jul-2006 20:10 ECT
:: The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Uruknet .
COMMENTS BY REGISTERED READERS OF URUKNET
The underneath postings are under the only responsability of the authors, and not necessarily we agree with them. If someone feels that any comment contains pornographic or racist expressions, or contents contrary to the law, let us know and - if our legal office confirms - it will removed asap.
Comment posted: by moneylender on 21 Jul 2006 - 22:10
Of all the countries South Africa is supplying banned cluster bombs.The Joe Salvo, Bloomberg and others who along with Nelson fought aparthied will be turning in their graves
Comment posted: by ricky_radical on 22 Jul 2006 - 05:55
Looks like a laser death ray forulated by the good old USA to be used for ethnic cleansing and collateral damage on it's own citizens in the name of terrorist acts. The US right now has the most sophisticated weapons of mass destruction so my guess is that it came from them as a gift so they could see the results on live bodies. Now they know so watch out world the US Terrorism Team is headed to a developing nation very soon!
Comment posted: by franko on 22 Jul 2006 - 09:36
The powerful will always say and perversly believe that those less-privilidged and in need of compassion are savages or nothing more than animals, and without feelings. That is how they justify their terrible treatment of them. To say otherwise is an outrage and in itself an offense worthy of the same treatment. The saddest part of all of this is the fact that most of those being mutilated and killed would never even have thought of hurting anyone like this. Might is right is not only ugly, it is sickening, and the only policy that the USA and its allies seems to know. Share what you see here, let everyone know how ugly our leaders are in heart and spirit to think that this is the right way to broker peace.
di Aldo Bernardini, Ordinario di Diritto internazionale all'Università di Teramo
:: ONU - XX Assemblea Generale (1965):
La XX Assemblea Generale dell’ONU (1965) dichiara "la legittimità della lotta da parte dei popoli sotto oppressione coloniale, per esercitare il loro diritto all' autodeter- minazione e all'indipendenza". Inoltre, l'Assemblea invita "tutti gli Stati a fornire assistenza morale e materiale ai movimenti di liberazione nazionale nei territori coloniali".
:: ONU - Risoluzione 1514
"L'Assemblea Generale dichiara che: la soggezione dei popoli a dominio straniero, conquista e asservimento costituisce una negazione dei diritti umani fondamentali, è contraria alla Carta delle Nazioni Unite ed è un impedimento alla promozione della pace e della cooperazione mondiali. Tutti i popoli hanno diritto all' autodeter- minazione; in virtù di tale diritto essi devono liberamente determinare il loro status politico e liberamente perseguire il loro sviluppo economico, sociale e culturale".
:: Convenzione di Ginevra, Protocollo Addizionale I (1977):
La lotta armata può essere usata, come ultima risorsa, come mezzo per esercitare il diritto all' autodeter- minazione.
:: Tribunale penale internazionale
In base allo Statuto del Tribunale penale internazionale, sono definiti “crimini di guerraâ€: (1) attacchi lanciati intenzionalmente contro popolazione civili in quanto tali o contro civili che non prendano direttamente parte alle ostilità ; (4) attacchi lanciati intenzionalmente nella consapevolezza che gli stessi avranno come conseguenza la perdita di vite umane tra la popolazione civile, e lesioni a civili o danni a proprietà civili ovvero danni diffusi duraturi e gravi all’ambiente naturale che siano manifestamente eccessivi rispetto all’insieme dei concreti e diretti i vantaggi militari previsti.
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You are using a MS operating system! Nothing so wrong with this, but try also others (Mac, Linux, Unix)
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22-Jul-2006 12:15
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Global nuclear stockpiles, 1945-2006
Posted by: "glparramatta" glparramatta@... glparramatta
Thu Jul 20, 2006 3:27 pm (PST)
The future. All five original nuclear weapon states continue to insist
that nuclear weapons are essential to their national security, which
translates into substantial global nuclear weapon stockpiles for the
foreseeable future and the possibility that more nations will want the
Bomb as well. India has committed to possessing a triad of nuclear
forces including land-based ballistic missiles, nuclear-capable
aircraft, and sea-based missiles that will probably require an arsenal
of 100-150 warheads. Not to be outdone, Pakistan will likely keep pace
with a similarly sized arsenal. Whether Israel's nuclear arsenal remains
opaque will likely depend on the development of Iran's nuclear program,
which appears to be about three to ten years away from joining the
nuclear weapon club. Despite nuclear weapon states' progress in reducing
global stockpiles, convincing nations to abandon their nuclear arsenals
altogether remains a formidable task, one that will likely remain
impossible until the nuclear powers themselves renounce their weapons.
...my comment, listen to the elder women of Australia, "the poison, leave
it"
or perhaps everyone should have their own nuclear weapon in their own
backyard, my neighbour and i would happily host one each. Can our government
guarantee their safety until they corode and disintigate into their own
little individual bunkers?
a.
Full:
http://www.thebulletin.org/article_nn.php?art_ofn=ja06norris
via:
GreenLeft_discussion@yahoogroups.com
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I agree with Ian Low's response.
This researcher says 'Thorium is radioctive but you can hold it in your
hand.' Of course you can, if you want ionising radiation to penetrate your
body. All ionising radiation causes cancer. Period.
:)
Bob
------------------------------------------------
Dr Bob Rich bobrich@...http://bobswriting.comhttp://anxietyanddepression-help.comhttp://mudsmith.net
Loving your friends is easy.
Loving strangers is only a little harder.
But you don't graduate until you love your enemies.
------------------------------------------------
Subject: Bob Brown's latest media release on Nuclear Enrichment
Wednesday, 19 July 2006
Howard-Bush plan to make Australia uranium enricher
"PM should put it to a referendum" - Brown
Today's Australian newspaper confirms the Greens' contention that Prime Minister Howard's policy on Australia enriching uranium was bred at his recent meeting with President Bush in Washington.
Mr Howard now says the President "would accept" Australia setting up uranium enrichment plants.
"The follow-on logic is for Australia to harbour major nuclear waste dumps," Senator Brown said.
"We supply enriched uranium, other countries fuel their reactors for now and we put up with the waste forever. Let the Prime Minister put it to a referendum," Senator Brown said.
From: "Brown, Bob (Senator)" <Senator.Bob.Brown@...>
Subject: Bob Brown's media release on Uranium Enrichment
Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2006 16:14:56 +1000
Wednesday, 19 July 2006
Howard-Bush plan to make Australia uranium enricher
"PM should put it to a referendum" - Brown
Today's Australian newspaper confirms the Greens' contention that Prime
Minister Howard's policy on Australia enriching uranium was bred at his
recent meeting with President Bush in Washington.
Mr Howard now says the President "would accept" Australia setting up uranium
enrichment plants.
"The follow-on logic is for Australia to harbour major nuclear waste dumps,"
Senator Brown said.
"We supply enriched uranium, other countries fuel their reactors for now and
we put up with the waste forever. Let the Prime Minister put it to a
referendum," Senator Brown said.
Wednesday, 19 July 2006
Howard-Bush plan to make Australia uranium enricher
"PM should put it to a referendum" - Brown
Today's Australian newspaper confirms the Greens' contention that Prime
Minister Howard's policy on Australia enriching uranium was bred at his
recent meeting with President Bush in Washington.
Mr Howard now says the President "would accept" Australia setting up uranium
enrichment plants.
"The follow-on logic is for Australia to harbour major nuclear waste dumps,"
Senator Brown said.
"We supply enriched uranium, other countries fuel their reactors for now and
we put up with the waste forever. Let the Prime Minister put it to a
referendum," Senator Brown said.
Further information: Ebony Bennett 0409 164 603
:-)
the sleeping appear to be waking...
at long last...
----- Original Message -----
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<Senator.Bob.Brown@...>; <cjbulley@...>;
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Cc: <bobrich@...>; <lendmanstephen@...>;
<ClimateChangeAction@...>; <christine.phelps@...>;
<michelle.braunstein@...>; <ben.pearson@...>;
<john@...>; <aha@...>;
<MattMC123@...>; <natalie.lowrey@...>;
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Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 1:44 PM
Subject: Worldwide Protests Slam G8 Support of Nuclear, Coal, Oil
** For Immediate Release** July 17th, 2006
Contact: Ethan Green, Rising Tide North America
856.424.7662 (Backup: 503.493.7495)
g8@...http://rtc.revolt.org
Worldwide Protests Slam G8 Support of Nuclear, Coal, Oil
The protests included large "banner drops" in multiple cities, protests of
coal and oil companies, and rallies at the U.S. embassy in London and the
Washington, DC home of U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman. On Friday,
protestors showed up at Bodman's home, demanding that the United States and
the G8 abandon the focus on nuclear, coal, and on oil wars as "energy
security." They chanted "No Coal, No Nukes, G-8 shut it down!" No arrests
took place.
"The G8 countries represent just 15 percent of the world's population but
they produce 45 percent of all human emissions of carbon dioxide, the
leading greenhouse gas," said Ethan Green of Rising Tide North America, a
group that publicized the July 15 protests against climate change and the G8
in the United States.
"Poor, indigenous and environmentally vulnerable communities should not bear
the brunt of disease epidemics, droughts, floods, melting ice, rising
oceans, hurricanes, and other catastrophes caused by the global climate
change that rich countries are responsible for due to our prodigious burning
of coal, oil and gas for energy," said Green.
***********
Protesters Condemn G8 Support of Nuclear, Coal, Oil
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, July 17, 2006 (ENS) - Demonstrators blockading a
main thoroughfare in St. Petersburg were arrested on Sunday as they
protested the Group of Eight, G8, statement on Global Energy Security that
includes support for nuclear power. They blocked the entrance of a hotel on
the Nevsky Prospekt which was used by participants of the G8 summit.
Protesters from St. Petersburg, Moscow, Minsk, Chishinau, Warsaw, Kiev,
Cardiff, and Berlin took part in the demonstration, displaying posters
saying "No G8!" in Russian and English.
Russian riot police arrested all of the 37 activists and cleared the
roadway. Some of the activists sat down and had to be carried away, others
were forced to leave the street in what they said was a brutal manner.
"We wanted to voice our demands to not develop nuclear energy," said Olga
Miryasova from Russia's Network Against the G8.
The protesters staged their demonstration to coincide with the G8 summit at
Strelna where the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia,
the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union wound up their
three day meeting today.
The sit-in took place despite the growing suppression of dissent by the
Russian government in recent years. Russian authorities preemptively
arrested over 200 activists before the G8 summit and forbade protesters from
leaving an alternative conference in St. Petersburg held on Saturday.
The G8 statement on global energy security advocates nuclear energy as one
way to address global climate change, yet environmental activists warn that
nuclear energy cannot be considered a positive way to reduce carbon
emissions and combat global climate change.
"Nuclear reactors are dangerous, extremely expensive, take many years to
build, and require massive government subsidies," the demonstrators said in
a statement.
The activists say they would like this funding to be used to quickly reduce
carbon emissions through energy efficiency measures, development of
renewable energy sources, and restoration of damaged wetland and forest
ecosystems.
In coalition with the protests in St. Petersburg, international
demonstrations occurred on July 14 and 15 in numerous cities in the United
States, the United Kingdom, Venezuela, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and
Germany.
The protests included large "banner drops" in multiple cities, protests of
coal and oil companies, and rallies at the U.S. embassy in London and the
Washington, DC home of U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman.
O
n Friday, protestors showed up at Bodman's home, demanding that the United
States and the G8 abandon the focus on nuclear, coal, and on oil wars as
"energy security." They chanted "No Coal, No Nukes, G-8 shut it down!" No
arrests took place.
"The G8 countries represent just 15 percent of the world's population but
they produce 45 percent of all human emissions of carbon dioxide, the
leading greenhouse gas," said Ethan Green of Rising Tide North America, a
group that publicized the July 15 protests against climate change and the G8
in the United States.
"Poor, indigenous and environmentally vulnerable communities should not bear
the brunt of disease epidemics, droughts, floods, melting ice, rising
oceans, hurricanes, and other catastrophes caused by the global climate
change that rich countries are responsible for due to our prodigious burning
of coal, oil and gas for energy," said Green.
On Friday, as a part of the Global Day of Action Against the G8 a small
group of protesters demonstrated in front of the Consulate General of the
Russian Federation in Sydney, Australia. The five protesters displayed
signs, shared vodka and iced tea, discussed the implications of the G8's
continued existence, and expressed solidarity with the protesters in Russia.
In fear of a larger demonstration, the consulate was closed to visitors,
part of the street was cordoned off, and at least 10 police officers guarded
the area near the entrance.
In Canada on Tuesday, a demonstration is planned at the Sidney, British
Columbia office of federal Minister of Natural Resources Gary Lunn, to
protest the withdrawal of support for the Kyoto climate protocol by the
recently elected Conservative government.
The protesters, organized by the Western Canada Wilderness Committee, will
hold a brief rally with speakers, songs by the Raging Grannies, placards,
and banners, followed by a petition drive to passersby in downtown Sidney,
about 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of the provincial capital of Victoria.
The Western Canada Wilderness Committee is calling on the federal
Conservative government of Canada to "at the very least, honor Canada's
participation in the Kyoto Accord by working to achieve its emissions
targets for Canada of six percent below 1990 emissions levels by the year
2012."
The protesters fault the Conservatives for "scrapping Canada's obligation to
meet Kyoto's emissions reductions targets, falsely stating that it's
impossible to meet the targets."
They object to the elimination of over a dozen major federal climate change
programs, including the C$1 billion dollar Partnership Fund which was to be
used for climate change projects for five provinces, as well as the
EnerGuide Program to provide rebates to Canadians who buy more energy
efficient appliances.
The Wilderness Committee says a leaked government document shows the
Conservatives are "working to delay, obstruct and sabotage progress during
negotiations among Kyoto signatories by trying to weaken emissions
reductions targets, with a goal of eventually eliminating the entire
agreement."
Instead of reducing greenhouse gases, the demonstrators say the
Conservatives are granting "huge subsidies to the highly destructive Alberta
tar sands industry and the oil and gas industry in general."
Below is a letter to the Uranium Mining Processing and Nuclear Energy Review Secretariat, copied to this list for information... please feel free to use my words in your own letters if you wish, and please take a moment to sign the Global Petition to Mitigate Climate Change here:
I write with the future of the children of our great nation foremost in my mind, and as many polls would strongly suggest, on behalf of the majority of the people of Australia, who are against an expansion of the nuclear industry.
I believe there is no more important issue for the present and future generations as the need to commence making substantial cuts in greenhouse gas emissions as quickly and as cost-effectively as possible.
* Nuclear power plants are expensive with long, capital-intensive construction times before they generate any energy at all.
* The question of nuclear waste disposal remains unresolved.
* Taxpayer funds invested into the nuclear fuel cycle expansion will threaten funding of lesser-cost, cleaner, more flexible and more quickly implementable renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.Thus going down the nuclear energy track will hinder, rather than facilitate the necessary speedy action required for adequate climate change mitigation and the urgent need to address a smooth transition away from an oil dependant society.
* Our energy tax dollars must be invested wisely for the long term well being of society. I strongly recommend viable and sustainable energy sources; solar, wind, tidal, wave, geothermal, these areas are where our energy tax dollars should be heading. The elements of nature can adequately provide Australians with their energy needs.
* Feeding power back into the grid from individual properties (and businesses) which run on the above "naturally abundant" types of energy will create never ending adequate energy supplies for all.
* Nuclear fuel is limited, and will run out.
* Investing into public transport systems will create a society that is not totally dependent on car ownership to remain mobile, with "peak oil" and high fuel prices at the bowser now, oil dependency is a growing global concern. Inadequate transportation systems and car dependency will cause a break down in society as we know it. It is up to our elected representatives to ensure the transition away from oil dependency is smooth.
Waging war on countries that have access to oil and the use of depleted uranium weapons in those wars is an obvious "spin off" to the nuclear cycle. The global nuclear arsinal and Austrtalia's part in the cycle of war for global dominance must be immediately halted.
Unfortunately, with scientific concerns about "peak oil", global oil dominance will not see a solution to societies transportation needs. Oil is running out, and nuclear war will never benefit any society. Australia's leaders should be doing just that, leading its citizens down a peaceful track, which is sustainable, and provide her citizens with a smooth transition from oil dependency. Continuing to be a part of the deadly nuclear cycle of war and nuclear waste is not only foolhardy, but pointless in the long term (except of course to those who profit in the short term from the industry).
It is nearly 30 years since the Ranger Uranium Environmental Inquiry, a much broader and longer-running Inquiry than the current Inquiry, found:
“The nuclear power industry is unintentionally contributing to an increased risk of nuclear war. This is the most serious hazard associated with the industry”; and
“Policy respecting Australian uranium exports, for the time being at least, should be based on a full recognition of the hazards, dangers and problems of and associated with the production of nuclear energy, and should therefore seek to limit or restrict expansion of that production.”
I note that in the brief Issues Paper released by the Inquiry the issue of recognising externalities is raised.All energy-producing technologies should pay the full pollution costs associated with their use.I therefore also urge the Inquiry to recommend the removal of all externalities tilting the economic playing field in favour of polluting activities associated with energy supply.
For the above reasons I am opposed to any Australian involvement in the nuclear fuel cycle, including current uranium mining and export, and I urge the Inquiry to recommend the cessation of such activities to the Commonwealth Government.
NEW YORK, Jul 18 (OneWorld) - Leaders of
the world's industrial nations have drawn fire from international civil
society groups after they embraced an energy plan that favors continued
reliance on oil and other fossil fuels with no hint of any solid steps
to deal with the impending threat of climate change.
Monday, at a summit held in St. Petersburg, Russia, the Group of
Eight (G-8) industrialized countries endorsed a joint statement on
"global energy security," indicating their readiness to spend billions
of dollars on further exploration of oil and nuclear energy
infrastructure, despite strong opposition from environmental activists.
The summit was attended by all heads of state from the G-8
countries, which include the United States, Britain, France, Italy,
Germany, Japan, Australia, and Russia. Leaders from five fast growing
industrial countries--China, Brazil, India, South Africa, and
Mexico--also took part in the meeting but as observers.
The G-8 statement on "energy security" identifies nuclear energy
as one way to address global climate change, but environmental
activists contend that this cannot be considered a favorable way to
reduce carbon emissions. They reason that nuclear reactors are
dangerous, extremely expensive, take many years to build, and require
massive government subsidies.
Critics say they would like to see the proposed amount of funding
spent on drastic cuts in carbon emissions through energy efficiency
measures, development of renewable energy sources, and restoration of
damaged wetland and forest ecosystems.
The G-8 countries represent just 15 percent of the world's
population, yet they produce 45 percent of all human emissions of
carbon dioxide, the leading greenhouse gas responsible for global
warming.
"Poor, indigenous, and environmentally vulnerable communities
should not bear the brunt of the global climate change that the rich
countries are creating," says Ethan Green of the Rising Tide North
America, a group that organized a series of protests in the United
States on the issue of climate change last Sunday.
Equally critical of the G-8 plan on energy security, Mike Hudema
of the U.S.-based advocacy group Global Exchange notes that the world's
top 20 oil companies are based in the G-8 countries, which according to
him, enjoy "open door" policies with their governments.
"It's no surprise that these companies are the biggest polluters,"
says Hudema. "The G-8 already gives over a hundred billion dollars in
subsidies to nuclear developers, yet refuses to subsidize safer
sustainable alternatives--like wind, water, and solar power."
To him, the G-8 plan "makes no ecological sense."
Scientists who work with the G-8 hold quite similar views. Last
Friday, they issued a joint statement urging the Group to heed its own
recommendations prepared at the previous summit held in Gleneagles,
Scotland, and pursue sustainable energy growth, in response to the
increasing threat of the climate change.
Shortly before the start of the three-day summit, a coalition of
youth groups, representing more than 20 countries from around the
world, appealed to the G-8 leaders to rethink their position on energy
security.
Their statement responded to a leaked G-8 document suggesting the
Group invest an estimated $17 trillion in building infrastructure for
nonrenewable energy sources over the coming decades.
Reflecting on the consequences of the proposed G-8 investment in
nonrenewable energy resources, the youth coalition said it would "lock
the world into a massive increase in greenhouse gas emissions that can
only lead to dangerous and irreversible global climate change."
Currently, nearly 80 percent of the world's energy comes from oil,
coal, or natural gas--fossil fuels that contribute to the greenhouse
gas emissions that precipitate climate change--according to the
Worldwatch Institute, a U.S.-based independent think tank.
The Institute's researchers note that in the past two years there
has been no let-up in demand for fossil fuels despite continued
increase in energy prices.
Last week, members of the youth coalition and other groups
organized demonstrations in Russia, where the summit was to be held, as
well as in other G-8 countries including the United States, Britain,
and Germany. In recent days, anti-G-8 protests have also taken place in
Venezuela, New Zealand, and the Netherlands.
Activists claim that during the demonstrations in St. Petersburg
more than 200 activists were arrested and many who came from outside
Russia faced intimidation and harassment at the hands of local police.
Some protesters charged that police had confiscated their passports in
an attempt to discourage them from taking part in the rallies.
URGENT! - Actions are now being organized in solidarity with
activists in St. Petersburg, Russia who have been arrested, assaulted
and repressed by the Russian police state. As the summit opened,
demonstrations in the city were either outlawed, stopped by the police,
or broken up by force. More than 200 people had already been imprisoned
before the G8 Summit, some accused of "terrorism," to prevent them
taking part in possible demonstrations.Yesterday (Sunday July 16)
around 50 people were arrested. More than 30 people were arrested at
the blockade of a hotel in St. Petersburg used by participants in the
G8 Summit. Police attacked and arrested journalists before turning on
the protesters. 12 activists were also arrested during a weekly
anti-war picket, and 6 Belorussian activists were arrested and
physically abused by police for organising a press conference. Protest
against this police violence and repression! Organize solidarity
demonstrations at the nearest Russian Embassy or Consulate!
International Solidarity demonstrations have been called this week in
London, UK; Strasbourg, France; and Berlin, Germany.( For more information:
UK Indymedia
and
int.ru.indymedia.org)
Forward widely!
CHRONICLE OF INTERNATIONAL ACTIONS AGAINST THE 2006 G8 SUMMIT
=====
Amsterdam, The Netherlands - Anti-G8 Critical Mass bicycle
demonstration that occupied a few of the busiest 'highways' in town and
ended at the building of Shell Research to show solidarity with
activists in Rossport (Ireland) resisting a pipeline-project from
Shell. In the morning a small action was also held at the Russian
Embassy in The Hague. (
http://int.ru.indymedia.org/newswire/display/89/index.php and Pictures:
http://indymedia.nl/nl/2006/07/37709.shtml )
Asheville, USA - Climate Justice Day! Bicycle workshops and skillshares, followed by Critical Mass bike ride.
Auckland, New Zealand - Climate Justice Day! 5 simultaneous banner
drops over bridges, with slogans like "Stop Climate Change Now" and
"International Climate Justice Day," followed by a Critical Mass bike
ride. (
http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20060716115236282 )
Brisbane, Australia - Climate Justice Day! "Reclaim the Streets"
party with banners including "Don't Run Away From Climate Change." The
streets were seized for a couple of hours as people danced along with a
mobile sound system, visiting the offices of companies responsible for
exporting coal, building road tunnels & dams. Organized by Rising
Tide Australia. ( Pictures: http://risingtide.org.au/node/125
)
Davis, California - Protest against Monsanto in solidarity with
anti-G8 global days of action, in front of the USDA building in Davis.
Rally against SB 1056, the biotech-sponsored bill that prevents local
communities from their Constitutional right to vote on whether or not
their town, city or county will allow Genetically Modified Organisms
(GMOs) and Genetically Engineered (GE) seed crops to be grown in their
voting district. ( http://rtc.revolt.org/node/291 )
Gao, Mali, Africa - The fifth edition of the People's Forum -- a
popular convergence to educate, exchange, communicate, inform, plan
citizens' actions and elaborate alternatives to neoliberal
globalization -- started on July 15 as a counterweight to the G8 summit
in St Petersburg, Russia. Several hundred people attended this
three-day gathering to raise awareness about the problems faced by poor
people in Western Africa, including neo-colonial plunder of the natural
and energy resources of the South. (
http://int.ru.indymedia.org/newswire/display/106/index.php )
Hamburg, Germany - Many groups called for a Reclaim The Streets Day
under the slogan: "We are not going to demand anything. We are not
going to ask for anything. We are going to take. We are going to
occupy." ( http://reclaimthestreets-hh.tk )
Lawrence, Kansas, USA - Carnival against Capital in solidarity with
the anti-G8 protests in St. Petersburg, Russia and around the
world.Featuring live music including Erik Petersen from the punk/folk
group Mischief Brew, and local hip-hop and folk act Joe Carr, plus
food, face painting, and other activities. ( http://rtc.revolt.org/node/282 )
London, England - Climate Justice Day! "G ATE MY PLANET" protest
party outside the Embassy of the country most responsible for setting a
policy direction that can only lead to planetary catastrophe: the
United States. Organized by the Campaign Against Climate Change. ( http://www.campaigncc.org )
London, England - In solidarity with Climate Justice Day, banner
unfurled featuring the digits 'C' 'O' and '2' and leaflets distributed
outside the office of Tulchan Communications, a public relations firm
that counts Drax Group plc, which owns and runs the UK's dirtiest
coal-fired power plant plant, amongst its clients. Organized by London
Rising Tide. (
http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20060715111242974&query=drax )
Madrid, Spain - Actvists from the Global Action Madrid collective
symbolically hanged straw-puppets representing the G8 leaders,
denouncing the criminal policies and extreme impoverishment of indebted
countries carried out by the world's eight most powerful countries. (
http://int.ru.indymedia.org/newswire/display/126/index.php )
Maine, USA - Climate Justice Day! Truckload of construction and
demolition debris dumbed in Governor Baldacci's driveway, protesting
and bringing attention to his continual support of the importation,
dumping, and burning of toxic construction and demolition debris behind
claims of supporting alternative and renewable energy. (
http://maineindymedia.org/newswire/display/4102/index.php)
Manchester, England - Bicycle carnival in solidarity with Climate
Justice Day and anti-G8 protesters in Russia. The cycling protest in
Manchester was a celebration of the bicycle as a mode of transport that
doesn't pollute or cause climate change. Cyclists took to the road
cheering, blowing whistles and playing musical instruments as they
rode. Organized by Manchester Camp for Climate Action. ( call to
action: http://earthfirst.org.uk/actionreports/?q=node/1466 AND pictures: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/07/345162.html )
Manila, Phillipines - Anarchist Festival organized in response
against the G8 Summit (solidarity), in celebration of the 70th
anniversary of the Spanish Revolution, and resistance to the Phillipine
President's annual "State of the Nation Address." ( http://afesta.blogsome.com )
St. Petersburg, Russia - Participants in the Russian Social Forum,
which was held in St.Petersburg on July 13-15, were not allowed to have
a march, although they requested permission from City Hall weeks
before. Police blocked them at the Kirov stadium, where the Social
Forum was held, and prevented from taking to the streets of the city.
About 150 activists held a rally behind closed gates, facing lines of
riot police, who outnumbered the activists. [
video | report
| photos: 1
| 2]
Straslund, Germany - (Thursday 13 July, 2006) Around 1,500 people
from the peace, counter-globalisation and anti-fascist movements in
Germany against US President Bush and German Chancellor Angela Merkel's
pre-G8 meeting in Stralsund, on the Baltic coast in northern Germany. (
http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20060714111646662)
Sydney, Australia - Protesting the ongoing brutality of the
capitalist system, environmental destruction, and attacks on human
rights that the goverments of the G8 countries perpetrate, activists
shut down the Russian Consulate in Sydney. (
http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2006/07/116904.php )
Washington, DC, USA - Critical Mass bike ride through downtown DC to
US Vice President Dick Cheney's home, followed by a rally against oil,
coal and nuclear energy outside the home of US Department of Energy
(DOE) Secretary Samuel Bodman. Protesters chanted "No Nukes, No Coal,
G8 Shut It Down!" Organized by DC Anti-War Network. ( http://rtc.revolt.org/node/281 )
Wellington, New Zealand - In solidarity with Climate Justice Day,
activists climbed a waterfront building to unfurl a banner in-front of
a 5 storey high picture of a tsunami wave reading, 'Will you get Thru?
Get Ready - Get Thru Climate Change.' Spokesperson Gareth Hughes said
"Climate Change is the most urgent issue facing New Zealand and World
and as this banner demonstrates we have got to get ready both to
mitigate its effects but also to adapt to a World a changing climate
and more extreme weather events." The activists said their action was
timed to happen just before the G8 meeting in St Petersburg, where the
8 richest industrialized countries will gather under the euphemistic
banner of "Energy Security."(
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0607/S00180.htm )
** For Immediate Release** July 17th, 2006
Contact: Ethan Green, Rising Tide North America
856.424.7662 (Backup: 503.493.7495)
g8@...http://rtc.revolt.org
Worldwide Protests Slam G8 Support of Nuclear, Coal, Oil
The protests included large "banner drops" in multiple cities, protests of
coal and oil companies, and rallies at the U.S. embassy in London and the
Washington, DC home of U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman. On Friday,
protestors showed up at Bodman's home, demanding that the United States and
the G8 abandon the focus on nuclear, coal, and on oil wars as "energy
security." They chanted "No Coal, No Nukes, G-8 shut it down!" No arrests
took place.
"The G8 countries represent just 15 percent of the world's population but
they produce 45 percent of all human emissions of carbon dioxide, the
leading greenhouse gas," said Ethan Green of Rising Tide North America, a
group that publicized the July 15 protests against climate change and the G8
in the United States.
"Poor, indigenous and environmentally vulnerable communities should not bear
the brunt of disease epidemics, droughts, floods, melting ice, rising
oceans, hurricanes, and other catastrophes caused by the global climate
change that rich countries are responsible for due to our prodigious burning
of coal, oil and gas for energy," said Green.
***********
Protesters Condemn G8 Support of Nuclear, Coal, Oil
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, July 17, 2006 (ENS) - Demonstrators blockading a
main thoroughfare in St. Petersburg were arrested on Sunday as they
protested the Group of Eight, G8, statement on Global Energy Security that
includes support for nuclear power. They blocked the entrance of a hotel on
the Nevsky Prospekt which was used by participants of the G8 summit.
Protesters from St. Petersburg, Moscow, Minsk, Chishinau, Warsaw, Kiev,
Cardiff, and Berlin took part in the demonstration, displaying posters
saying "No G8!" in Russian and English.
Russian riot police arrested all of the 37 activists and cleared the
roadway. Some of the activists sat down and had to be carried away, others
were forced to leave the street in what they said was a brutal manner.
"We wanted to voice our demands to not develop nuclear energy," said Olga
Miryasova from Russia's Network Against the G8.
The protesters staged their demonstration to coincide with the G8 summit at
Strelna where the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia,
the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union wound up their
three day meeting today.
The sit-in took place despite the growing suppression of dissent by the
Russian government in recent years. Russian authorities preemptively
arrested over 200 activists before the G8 summit and forbade protesters from
leaving an alternative conference in St. Petersburg held on Saturday.
The G8 statement on global energy security advocates nuclear energy as one
way to address global climate change, yet environmental activists warn that
nuclear energy cannot be considered a positive way to reduce carbon
emissions and combat global climate change.
"Nuclear reactors are dangerous, extremely expensive, take many years to
build, and require massive government subsidies," the demonstrators said in
a statement.
The activists say they would like this funding to be used to quickly reduce
carbon emissions through energy efficiency measures, development of
renewable energy sources, and restoration of damaged wetland and forest
ecosystems.
In coalition with the protests in St. Petersburg, international
demonstrations occurred on July 14 and 15 in numerous cities in the United
States, the United Kingdom, Venezuela, New Zealand, the Netherlands, and
Germany.
The protests included large "banner drops" in multiple cities, protests of
coal and oil companies, and rallies at the U.S. embassy in London and the
Washington, DC home of U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman.
O
n Friday, protestors showed up at Bodman's home, demanding that the United
States and the G8 abandon the focus on nuclear, coal, and on oil wars as
"energy security." They chanted "No Coal, No Nukes, G-8 shut it down!" No
arrests took place.
"The G8 countries represent just 15 percent of the world's population but
they produce 45 percent of all human emissions of carbon dioxide, the
leading greenhouse gas," said Ethan Green of Rising Tide North America, a
group that publicized the July 15 protests against climate change and the G8
in the United States.
"Poor, indigenous and environmentally vulnerable communities should not bear
the brunt of disease epidemics, droughts, floods, melting ice, rising
oceans, hurricanes, and other catastrophes caused by the global climate
change that rich countries are responsible for due to our prodigious burning
of coal, oil and gas for energy," said Green.
On Friday, as a part of the Global Day of Action Against the G8 a small
group of protesters demonstrated in front of the Consulate General of the
Russian Federation in Sydney, Australia. The five protesters displayed
signs, shared vodka and iced tea, discussed the implications of the G8's
continued existence, and expressed solidarity with the protesters in Russia.
In fear of a larger demonstration, the consulate was closed to visitors,
part of the street was cordoned off, and at least 10 police officers guarded
the area near the entrance.
In Canada on Tuesday, a demonstration is planned at the Sidney, British
Columbia office of federal Minister of Natural Resources Gary Lunn, to
protest the withdrawal of support for the Kyoto climate protocol by the
recently elected Conservative government.
The protesters, organized by the Western Canada Wilderness Committee, will
hold a brief rally with speakers, songs by the Raging Grannies, placards,
and banners, followed by a petition drive to passersby in downtown Sidney,
about 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of the provincial capital of Victoria.
The Western Canada Wilderness Committee is calling on the federal
Conservative government of Canada to "at the very least, honor Canada's
participation in the Kyoto Accord by working to achieve its emissions
targets for Canada of six percent below 1990 emissions levels by the year
2012."
The protesters fault the Conservatives for "scrapping Canada's obligation to
meet Kyoto's emissions reductions targets, falsely stating that it's
impossible to meet the targets."
They object to the elimination of over a dozen major federal climate change
programs, including the C$1 billion dollar Partnership Fund which was to be
used for climate change projects for five provinces, as well as the
EnerGuide Program to provide rebates to Canadians who buy more energy
efficient appliances.
The Wilderness Committee says a leaked government document shows the
Conservatives are "working to delay, obstruct and sabotage progress during
negotiations among Kyoto signatories by trying to weaken emissions
reductions targets, with a goal of eventually eliminating the entire
agreement."
Instead of reducing greenhouse gases, the demonstrators say the
Conservatives are granting "huge subsidies to the highly destructive Alberta
tar sands industry and the oil and gas industry in general."
Climate activists occupy Didcot coal power station in UK
press release - July 18th 2006:
Early this morning activists from climate change pressure group Reclaim Power
occupied a lighting tower at Didcot power station in Oxfordshire. Three
climbers scaled the tower and unfurled a 50-foot orange and black
banner with the words 'Climate Crime'. They plan to remain there for
several hours in a peaceful but visually dramatic action to highlight
the role of coal-fired power stations in climate change.
Lyn Barth from Reclaim Power said, "This is a shot across the bows
for the coal industry. Coal produces more greenhouse gases than any
other form of electricity generation. The future isn't in fossil fuels
or nuclear. The future is in reducing our energy consumption and
sustainable alternative energy. Otherwise we leave a legacy of
destruction to our children."
Campaigners are concerned that the government and companies like the
owners of Didcot power station, RWE/npower, are failing to take serious
action on climate change.
Ms Barth continued: "It is up to individuals to force them to stop their emissions before the planet reaches a catastrophe."
This is not the first time Didcot has been targeted by protestors
against climate change. The action against Didcot is part of a series
of actions, which include the publicly announced occupation planned for
Britain's largest coal power station, Drax in Yorkshire, during the
Camp for Climate Action.
NOTES:
1. This action was carried out by autonomous activists in support of
climate campaign group Reclaim Power (www.reclaimpower.org.uk).
3. Reclaim Power is calling for mass direct action at Drax power
station in North Yorkshire on 31st August. Drax is the largest single
emitter of greenhouse gases in the UK
4. Reclaim Power is part of the Camp for Climate Action (26th
August-4th September), creating grassroots solutions to climate change
through ten days of actions, education, networking and skill-sharing.
For more information see www.climatecamp.org.uk
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