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Showing posts from August, 2008

KUMMING,CHINA(NO CAR)

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In 2007, Kunming, China joined over 100 cities around the country for a “No Car Day” (无车日). One year later, Kunming has upped the ante by instituting a “No Car Day” on the last Saturday of every month. On “No Car Day” private cars are not allowed to drive within the first ring of the city - but taxis, buses, bikes, and motorcycles are. Policemen enforce the ban on driving and citizens seem receptive to the idea of less congested streets and cleaner air. . . . . . . . . . . . .THIS . .IDEA . .OF . .NO CAR . .DAY . . .MAY . .TURN . .OUT TO BE CHINAS GREATEST . .EXPORT .. . Known as the “Spring City” because of its good weather and greenery, Kunming has extra incentive to promote public transportation through environmentally friendly campaigns in order to maintain its allure for tourists.

NO CAR DAY(CHINA-08)

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China Car Free Day September 22, 2008 China, the entire country, will have a car free day on September 22, 2008. China plans to ban cars from streets in 108 cities in its first ``No Car Day'' on Sept. 22, part of an effort to promote environmental protection and ease congestion in the world's second-largest auto market. Streets in areas of Beijing, Shanghai and other cities will be open only to pedestrians, bicycles, taxis and buses from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., according to the Ministry of Construction. Sept. 22 is World Carfree Day, a United Nations-backed global campaign. About 4.37 million new vehicles began using China's roads in the first half as economic growth makes cars and trucks affordable to more people. Growth in traffic helped China surpass the U.S. as the world's largest carbon-dioxide emitter last year. ‘No Car Day' will cut 3,000 tons of emissions and save 33 million liters of gasoline. . . . . .IF JUST ONE CAR FREE DAY IN CHINA CUTS THIS MUCH EMISSI

WORLD CAR FREE DAY

Every September 22, people from around the world get together in the streets, intersections, and neighbourhood blocks to remind the world that we don't have to accept our car-dominated society. 2008 should be no different. But we do not want just one day of celebration and then a return to "normal" life. When people get out of their cars, they should stay out of their cars. It is up to us, it is up to our cities, and our governments to help create permanent change to benefit pedestrians, cyclists, and other people who do not drive cars. Let World Carfree Day be a showcase for just how our cities might look like, feel like, and sound like without cars…365 days a year. As the climate heats up, World Carfree Day is the perfect time to take the heat off the planet, and put it on city planners and politicians to give priority to cycling, walking and public transport, instead of to the automobile. So take the time, browse the links and resources provided on google, and join in

BUDAPEST BICYCLISTS (07)

. . . . . . . . .. THOUSANDS OF CYCLISTS CELEBRATED WORLD CAR FREE DAY AT THIS "CRITICAL MASS"RALLY IN BUDAPEST HUNGARY ON SEPTEMBER 22-2007 . . . .

HYBRID HYPE

. . . IF YOU LISTEN TO SOME OF THE POLITICIANS IN THE PRESENT ELECTION CAMPAIGN IN THE USA AND CANADA YOU MIGHT GET THE IMPRESSION THAT THE HYBRID CAR WILL SAVE THE PLANET . . . . .THIS NOTION IS COMPLETELY FALSE . ...THE "H-CAR" STILL NEEDS GASOLINE AND ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE (ROADS MADE OUT OF ASPHALT(CRUDE OIL PRODUCT) AND TONS OF ENERGY TO PRODUCE AND MAINTAIN SUCH A VEHICLE . .SO DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE NO MATTER HOW THE SPIN DOCTORS SUGAR COAT IT.

carfreeday toronto

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The City of Toronto Official Plan envisions a city where walking and cycling help to relieve congestion, improve air quality and encourage healthy living.Yet less than 2% of the City of Toronto transportation budget is dedicated to walking and cycling infrastructure. Toronto City Council needs to treat active transportation as a serious form of transportation that is just as important as cars, trucks and public transit. . . . .THIS MONDAY (SEPT22)IS INTERNATIONAL CAR FREE DAY . . . .JOIN IN THE COMMUNITY STREET FESTIVALS IN YOUR AREA . . .CHECK OUT "CAR FREE DAY"ON GOOGLE FOR MORE INFO.

guelph by-election

. . . . . . . . . . . ."why vote green" LET ME COUNT THE WAYS . . . .SEE THE ATTACHED YOUTUBE VIDEO

WAR OVER OIL

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In two short weeks, Georgia has redefined the relationship between Russia and the West and created a vastly different global dynamic. For many people, this war was never really just about territory or ideology, it was about influence over a vital energy corridor to the West. Georgia is home to one of the world's most important pieces of infrastructure, a pipeline which carries oil from the Caspian Sea to Europe. Construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline began in 2003 and was completed in 2005. Even then Georgians knew it would probably make this country much more important to the rest of the world. The BTC pipeline is the second-longest oil pipeline in the world, carrying 1.2 million barrels of crude every day on a journey from the Caspian Sea, straight through to the Mediterranean. It stretches from Baku in Azerbaijan, through Georgia, passing very close to the capital Tbilisi and then travelling on to the Turkish coastline where the oil is shipped to hungry western m

bottled water BAN

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TORONTO (CBC) - City councillors in London, Ont., have voted to ban the sale of bottled water on city premises despite protests from the beverage industry. The 15-3 vote late Monday came after heated debate in the municipality on the role of bottled water at city facilities such as city-owned buildings, arenas and community centres. Municipal officials have maintained that tap water costs about an eighth of a cent per litre while bottled water can range anywhere from 30 cents to $4 a bottle. Environmentalists have said they are concerned by the amount of energy it takes to transport the bottles, as well as the waste produced by them, particularly when most areas of Canada have safe water supplies. . .note:one of the reasons for the ban is to reduce the amount of plastic bottles going to landfill sites in Ontario and Michigan,and also to prevent birds and animal species from ingesting them as in the above photo.

CAR FREE WEEK ?

China welcomes car-free week 2007年09月18日 01:24 Shenzhen Daily An array of activities was held in 108 cities including Shenzhen to mark the car-free week initiated by the Ministry of Construction, which began Sunday and ends Sept. 22. The week is designed to increase public awareness about energy saving and environmental protection. Urban residents are urged to take public transport, ride bicycles or walk instead of driving during the week. 1 Students from Tianjin Institute of Physical Education ride man-powered vehicles at a ceremony to mark the beginning of the car-free week Sunday. 2 A bride and groom wave to guests from a bus during their wedding ceremony in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province on Sunday. 3 Residents ride bicycles to welcome car-free week in Hefei, Anhui Province on Sunday. 4 Government officials sign a board to show their support for the car-free week in Shenzhen on Sunday. 5 Participants of a bicycle-riding event read materials promoting the car-free week in Ta

CAR FREE (CHINA)

周一, 2008年8月18日 去私家车免费 每9月22日,来自世界各地的聚在一起,在街头,路口,和邻里座,以提醒世人,我们没有接受我们的汽车占主导地位的社会。 2008年应该没有什么不同。 但是我们不希望只是一天的庆祝活动,然后返回到“正常”的生活。当人们走出他们的车,他们应留出他们的汽车。这是美国,这是达到我们的城市,和我们的政府,帮助建立永久性的变化,以有利于行人,骑自行车,和其他人谁不开车。 让世界汽车免费天是一个展示如何我们的城市看起来可能会像,感觉,和健全的一样,没有车…一年365天。 随着气候升温,世界carfree天是完美的时间来考虑热小康这个星球,并把它放在城市规划者和政治家给予优先考虑骑自行车,步行和公共交通,而不是向汽车。 因此,采取的时间,浏览的联系和提供的资源,组织和参加在对庆祝活动!

GO-CAR-FREE

Every September 22, people from around the world get together in the streets, intersections, and neighbourhood blocks to remind the world that we don't have to accept our CAR DOMINATED SOCIETY. 2008 should be no different. But we do not want just one day of celebration and then a return to "normal" life. When people get out of their cars, they should stay out of their cars. IT IS UP TO US, IT IS UP TO OUR CITIES, AND OUR GOVERNMENTS to help create permanent change to benefit pedestrians, cyclists, and other people who do not drive cars. Let WORLD CAR FREE DAY be a showcase for just how our cities might look like, feel like, and sound like without cars…365 days a year. As the climate heats up, World Carfree Day is the perfect time to take the heat off the planet, and put it on city planners and politicians to give priority to cycling, walking and public transport, instead of to the automobile. So take the time, browse the links and resources provided, and join in on the ce

CAR FREE DAY

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. . . . . . . . . .SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 21-2008, 10AM TO 2PM MISSISSAUGUA,AND MONDAY SEPTEMBER 22-2008,10 AM TO 2 PM,TORONTO,ONTARIO,CANADA . . WILL CELEBRATE CAR-FREE DAY ALONG WITH HUNDREDS OF CITIES AROUND THE WORLD . . .CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL REGION TO FIND OUT MORE INFO ABOUT THIS INTERNATIONAL EVENT OR GOOGLE IT ON THE INTERNET.

SOGGY SUMMER

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. . . . . . . . . EVEN THOUGH THIS PHOTO SHOWS A BRIGHT SQUASH BLOSSOMING INTO FRUITION IT HAS BEEN A VERY SOGGY RAINY SUMMER . . . IN FACT THE RAINFALL FOR THE MONTHS OF JUNE,JULY AND AUGUST(SO FAR STILL VERY WET)2008 HAS BROKEN ALL PREVIOUS RECORDS FOR AMOUNT OF RAIN. ..THE GOOD THING ABOUT THIS WEATHER IS VERY LITTLE SMOG SINCE IT IS ALSO COOLER WITH THE LARGE AMOUNT OF CLOUDS.

CARBON TAX NOW

THE SOONER THE BETTER . . . . TAX THE POLLUTERS

PIPELINE (GEORGIA)

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Although there has been widespread coverage in the American media of the tragic events unfolding in South Ossetia, essential background information about the conflict has often been omitted. First and foremost, nearly all of the articles avoid calling Georgia's action on Aug. 7 what it was - a clear act of military aggression by Georgia directed against the residents of South Ossetia and the Russian peacekeepers deployed in the region. ------------------------------------------- On Conflict in Georgia / Follow the pipeline . . . .it goes from the Caspian sea overland through Georgia to a terminal in Turkey. . . ..millions of tons of crude oil and gas are shipped annually by this route . . . . .ONE BILLION MOTOR VEHICLES ON PLANET EARTH IS DROOLING TO GET THIS OIL . . .REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE KILLED OR HOW MUCH DAMAGE IS DONE TO THE ENVIRONMENT . . .WOULD IT NOT MAKE SENSE TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF GAS GUZZLING CARS AND REDUCE DEMAND ?? NO O O O THAT'S TOO SIMPLE . . .

WAR :THE FACTS

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RE : WAR IN GEORGIA . . . .Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline route through that country carries 5 MILLION TONS PER YEAR to the outside world from one of the richest oil reserves in the world from the Caspian Sea . . . . .MOST OF THAT SUPPLY IS USED TO FILL THE GAS TANKS OF ONE BILLION CARS SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD . . . .PERIOD....next time you fill up the gas tank in your car . . .remember that people are being killed in Georgia,Iraq and Afghanistan so that you can live your energy guzzling lifestyle with these motorized monsters called cars. . . . . . .HOW DYSFUNCTIONAL IS A CAR .?? . . .LAST WEEK WHILE I WAS WAITING FOR A BUS I TOOK AN UNOFFICIAL SURVEY OF CARS THAT WERE PASSING BY THE BUS STOP.ROUGHLY NINETY PERCENT OF THE CARS HAD ONLY ONE PASSENGER(THE DRIVER). . .IMAGINE. .TO TRANSPORT A 100 POUND HUMAN BEING CAR DRIVERS USE AN EARTH DESTROYING BEHEMOTH WEIGHING APPROX. 3000 POUNDS .WHATEVER HAPPENED TO EFFICIENCY ??

CLIMATE WARS

Does a war comparison sound dramatic? In April 2007, Margaret Beckett, then foreign secretary, gave a largely overlooked lecture called Climate Change: The Gathering Storm. ""It was a time when Churchill, perceiving the dangers that lay ahead, struggled to mobilize the political will and industrial energy of the British Empire to meet those dangers. He did so often in the face of strong opposition,"" she said. ""Climate change is the gathering storm of our generation. And the implications - should we fail to act - could be no less dire: and perhaps even more so."" In terms of what is possible in times of economic stress and isolation, Cuba provides an even more embarrassing example to show up our national tardiness. In a single year in 2006 Cuba rolled-out a nationwide scheme replacing inefficient incandescent lightbulbs with low-energy alternatives. Prior to that, at the end of the cold war, after losing access to cheap Soviet oil, it switched o

HIGHWAY 401 TORONTO

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. . . . . .AS A RESULT OF A PROPANE EXPLOSION NEAR THE 401 HIGHWAY IN TORONTO,CANADA . . . .THIS SECTION OF THE BUSY ROAD IS CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT 11 MILES.

KILLER CARS

Three Die on Bulgarian Roads Overnight 10 August 2008, Sunday A total of 21 serious traffic accidents have occurred in Bulgaria over the last 24 hours claiming the lives of 3 people and sending 23 to the hospitals with injuries, according to the Interior Ministry's press-center. 3 of the injured are in critical condition. Since the beginning of August 32 people total have died on the Bulgarian roads and 273 have been injured. The number of traffic accidents in August has reached 220. The number of traffic accidents since the beginning of the year has reached 4640 with 597 people dead and 5786 injured. The summer months of July, August and September are usually the deadliest with most accidents occurring in August compared to any other month of the year. . . . . . . .THIS IS AN ITEM FROM A NEWSPAPER IN SOFIA BULGARIA,AUGUST 10-2008 . . . . . IF YOU NEED MORE REASONS TO NOT BUY A CAR THIS SHOULD BE IT . . . . .THERE IS MORE DEATHS OCCURING ON THE ROADS THAN IN MOST WARS.

CLIMATE (FINAL 100 MONTHS)

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The concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere today, the most prevalent greenhouse gas, is the highest it has been for the past 650,000 years. In the space of just 250 years, as a result of the coal-fired Industrial Revolution, and changes to land use such as the growth of cities and the felling of forests, we have released, cumulatively, more than 1,800bn tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere. Currently, approximately 1,000 tonnes of CO2 are released into the Earth's atmosphere every second, DUE TO HUMAN ACTIVITY. Greenhouse gases trap incoming solar radiation, warming the atmosphere. When these gases accumulate beyond a certain level - often termed a "tipping point" - global warming will accelerate, potentially beyond control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .FOR MORE INFO ON THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE . . . . ^^^ http://www.onehundredmonths.org ^^^. . . . THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

BEIJING POLLUTION

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THE PROBLEM Air pollution in Beijing is a problem. Figures for particulate matter (PM10) - tiny airborne particles caused by the BURNING OF FOSSIL FUELS LIKE PETROL(GASOLINE)IN MOTOR VEHICLES - are regularly several times higher than the WHO air quality guideline level of 50 micrograms/cubic metre. WHO IS THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION . . . . . .WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT CHINA HAS A LOT OF POLLUTION . . . .THE WHOLE WORLD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING IT . . .BY CONTINUING TO MASS PRODUCE AUTOMOBILES WHICH IS THE ROOT CAUSE . . . . . .PRESENTLY THERE ARE ALMOST ONE BILLION MOTOR VEHICLES ON PLANET EARTH AND COUNTING . . . .THIS IS A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY AND POLLUTION AND ECOLOGY DESTRUCTION IS THE END RESULT