Comment Global Nov-Dec 2007

November 2007

 * IEA projections on energy in China and India fail to adequately incorporate options for substantially expanding renewable energy and improving energy efficiency in either countries, according to Greenpeace, November 7  topic

October 2007

 * Converting arable land to pure fuel production a "crime against humanity", says United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, October 26 topic, topic


 * New UN Report points to international emergency - an "important call for global political leadership in a fast degrading World", FoE, October 25 topic


 * Cod stocks begin to recover - politicians need to act with the greatest possible caution on this new advice, say Greenpeace, Ocotber 16 topic, place, topic


 * The only way to save the rainforest is to save the Indians, by recognising their land rights, says Brazilian shaman. October 10 "...you want to buy pieces of rainforest, or to plant biofuels. These are useless. The forest cannot be bought; it is our life and we have always protected it. Without the forest, there is only sickness, and without us, it is dead land. The time has come for you to start listening to us. Give us back our lands and our health before it’s too late for us and too late for you." Davi Kopenawa Yanomami, winner of the UN Global 500 award, who is traveling to London and Germany, to launch a report by Survival about the crisis in indigenous peoples’ health. Research from Survival shows that more than 162 million hectares of the Amazon rainforest - over 15,000 times more rainforest than is involved in the Cool Earth scheme - have already been secured – through their protection as indigenous territories. Research by Brazilian and USA scientists shows that the most effective way to stop logging in the Amazon is to protect Indian lands, which occupy one fifth of the Brazilian Amazon. But the lands of many tribes remain unprotected. topic

September 2007

 * Greenpeace on shrinking Arctic sea ice, September 21 - "The canary in the coal mine is singing very loudly now. At this rate we could see the end of summer sea ice in our lifetimes. It's well known that the loss of ice at the North pole means the Earth absorbs more heat from the sun, instead of reflecting it, and that means even more warming. And yet the world's greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. When will politicians, like our own Gordon Brown, realise this is a planetary emergency and react accordingly? As it is Britain is on the cusp on building new runways and new coal-fired power stations. It’s almost unbelievable." John Sauven. topic, Polar ice packs

July 2007

 * Eco-junk, Green consumerism will not save the biosphere. By George Monbiot, July 24 topic

June 2007

 * Build sustainability from the bottom-up, says The Ring alliance of 13 leading research organisations on 5 continents, International Institute for Environment and Development, IIED, June 18 / Global connections - News

May 2007

 * "Environmentalism can't succeed until it confronts the destructive nature of modern work - and supplants it." The Ecology of Work by Curtis White, Published in the May/June 2007 issue of Orion magazine / Rewarding work, Inspiring Quotes 16


 * Forum:Have we a measure of the climate change catastrophe?, from May 11


 * The rich world's policy on greenhouse gas now seems clear: millions will die, George Monbiot, The Guardian, May 1 / Global climate change comment

June 2005

 * Live 8 - Making Poverty History? Or Entrenching Our Irresponsibility? By John Bunzl, June 30