[alternet-l] AlterNet # 53

[Adrian Harris]

THE ALTERNET NEWS - ISSUE # 53
This issue:

HOT SITES/
RIVERS POISONED/
NEW FOREST PORT?/
WORLDWATCH WARNING/
SOCIAL FORUM/
ISP BEST BUY/
ETHICAL MEDIA NETWORK/
ECUADOR THREAT/
PARENTS AT WORK/
DISARMERS NOT GUILTY/
WATER/
QUOTE/UNQUOTE/
DIARY/

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HOT SITES

Informaction is a free automated lobbying service for anyone interested in
the environment. 
--> http://www.q-net.net.au/~ecofreco/

The Alternatives to Violence Project aims to enable people to understand
the causes of conflict and help them to live and work together more
harmoniously:
--> http://www.avpbritain.org.uk/

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RIVERS POISONED 
Arsenic-laden runoff from a mining operation has contaminated three small
Amazon river tributaries, putting thousands of people at risk. Arsenic from
an old manganese processing plant seeped into the underground springs that
feed the tributaries around the city of Santana, 1,640 miles north of Sao
Paulo.

More:
---> http://enn.com/news/wire-stories/2001/01/01172001/ap_river_41395.asp

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NEW FOREST PORT?

Associated British Ports is planning to build a huge new container port on
Dibden Bay in Southampton Water.  The project will create one of the
largest dock areas in Europe, with more than a mile of shipping berths, a
500-acre terminal, and more than 3,000 heavy lorry journeys a day. 

But the site is on the edge of the New Forest Heritage Area, and actually
inside the proposed boundary of the New Forest National Park. Chief
Executive of the Countryside Agency, Richard Wakeford said "It will impact
strongly on the area's unique landscape and character and will
significantly affect the setting of the New Forest," 

The deadline for the DETR to receive letters of objection is 26th January.

Background:
--> http://members.aol.com/dibdenbay/

Independent article:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/UK/Environment/2001-01/dibden150101.shtml 

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WORLDWATCH WARNING

The Worldwatch Institute Report on the Environment claims that we have
reached 'a dangerous crossroads', as accelerated ecological decline has
coincided with a loss of political momentum.

"Governments squandered a historic opportunity to reverse environmental
decline during the prosperity of the 1990s," said Christopher Flavin,
President of the Institute and co-author of the report. 

Some of the planet's key ecological systems are in decline, and
environmental degradation is leading to more severe natural disasters. The
choice before today's political leaders is historic, perhaps even
evolutionary. 


Co-author Gary Gardner said  "
people have surmounted great challenges
before, from the abolition of slavery in the 19th century, to the
enfranchisement of women in the early twentieth. Change can move quickly
from impossible to inevitable." 

A few indicators from the report:

* Debt Crisis: By 1998, the heavily indebted poor countries had
international debts of $214 billion-a huge sum for them, but equal to just
4.5 months of western military spending.
* CFCs: Following the adoption of the Montreal Protocol, global production
of CFCs dropped by 85 percent between 1986 and 1997. 
* HIV/AIDS: By 2000, HIV infection rates had reached 20 percent in South
Africa, 25 percent in Zimbabwe, and 36 percent in Botswana. 
* Meat Eating: World meat consumption has climbed from 44 million tons in
1950 to 217 million tons in 1999, an increase of nearly fivefold.

Gladly, the last year brought some good news:

* In December, negotiators from 122 countries agreed to a historic treaty
that will severely restrict 12  persistent organic pollutants.
* Organic farming now has a world-wide annual market of $22 billion and may
get a further boost from strict organic farming standards issued by the
U.S. government last December.

More:
--> http://www.worldwatch.org/alerts/010113.html

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SOCIAL FORUM

Southwark Social Investment Forum is organising a gathering for community
groups on April 7 th. in south London. The project aims to bring together a
variety of non-commercial, non-political, non-council groups to show people
what they do.

LETSLink London and the New Economics Foundation are already involved.
Groups do not need to be from Southwark and free stalls are available. 

If you are interested in attanding, e-mail Peter Challen:
101665.1247 at compuserve.com

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ISP BEST BUY

Ethical Consumer is an alternative consumer organisation that looks at the
social and environmental records of the companies behind the brand names.
The latest issue of their magazine (Jan 2001) includes a survey on Internet
Service Providers. The best buy is, of course (!), GreenNet.

--> http://www.ethicalconsumer.org/ 

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ETHICAL MEDIA NETWORK

How can we make the most of the Internet? What can we do to maximise the
positive and minimise the negative? If you have thoughts on these
questions, then Ethical Media (www.ethicalmedia.com) and Smartchange
(www.smartchange.org) would welcome you at an informal evening of dialogue
and drinks.  The evening is open to anyone interested in new media and
social responsibility, and aims to network and explore ideas.

Wednesday 24 from 6.30pm onwards, upstairs at the Sun Tavern, 66 Long Acre,
Covent Garden, London WC2E 9JH E-mail marco at ethicalmedia.com or
roy at smartchange.org

More:
--> http://www.ethicalmedia.com

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ECUADOR THREAT


A consortium of multinational companies is proposing to build an oil
pipeline through pristine cloud forests in north-western Ecuador. The
project would destroy the unique habitat of  over 450 species of birds,
imperil a host of endangered plants and animals and undermine the
livelihoods of local residents. 

Two routes have been approved.  The northern route is proposed by OCP Ltd.,
a multinational consortium. This is the most environmentally destructive
route, and passes through an area of recent volcanic activity.

The southern route follows the path of an existing pipeline and passes
primarily through previously deforested areas, thus causing far less
environmental impact.

Campaigners accept that the pipeline is important for the economic
development of Ecuador, but insist that the right route is chosen and
proper safeguards established from the beginning.

More:
-->Birdlife International: www.wing-wbsj.or.jp/birdlife/mindo.htm 

Contact: pipeline at ecnet.ec

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PARENTS AT WORK

Parents At Work campaign for a better balance between work and life. They
are offering free resources for managers of not-for-profit organisations
which explains maternity obligations, parental and emergency leave,
flexible working, childcare and developing work-life policies.

Contact:
info at parentsatwork.org.uk

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DISARMERS NOT GUILTY

Two Trident Ploughshares activists have been acquitted of conspiracy to
commit criminal damage. In November 1999 the two activists attempted to
decommission the Trident submarine Vengeance. 

Activists greeted the verdict with delight. Rachel Wenham, who is herself
waiting retrial after disarming the same submarine in February 1999, said:
"At long last we have got justice from the English courts. The verdict
shows that when ordinary British people are given the chance to decide on
Trident and the rights of activists to intervene they are willing to be led
by their conscience."

Trident Ploughshares:
--> http://www.tridentploughshares.org/ 

To celebrate, why not join the Big Blockade of Faslane Navel Base on
February 12 !?

Briefing:
--> http://www.cndscot.dial.pipex.com/protest/bbintro.html

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WATER

The Language of Water is an International science/art conference which will
bring together a range of scientists and artists with the aim of improving
understanding of the importance of water in evolution and the emotional and
physical welfare of human beings.  Participants include novelist Lindsay
Clarke, Susan Greenfield CBE, (presenter of BBC TV’s ‘Brain Story’), and
pioneering Japanese water crystallographer, Dr Masaru Emoto.

Contact Dr Alan Rayner: 
A.D.M.Rayner at bath.ac.uk. 

The Language of Water is to be held in Bath in April 2001
--> http://www.languageofwater.com

The International Water Law site has news on social and environmental water
issues:
--> http://www.internationalwaterlaw.org/


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QUOTE/UNQUOTE

After the legal wrangles of December 2000, George W. Bush will be sworn in
as the 43rd President of the US this month. At this historic moment, the
words of Nostradamus seem somehow prophetic:

" Come the millennium, month 12, In the home of greatest power, The village
idiot will come forth, To be acclaimed the leader."

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DIARY DATES:

Reclaim the Streets: 020 7281 4621; rts at gn.apc.org
LONDON MEETING EVERY TUESDAY 7pm - Cock Tavern pub, Phoenix Road,

JANUARY

22: Tyneside Socialist Forum is hosting a discussion on green/red politics
and activity. St Thomas Church, Haymarket, Tyneside at 7:30 pm.
E-mail: info at risingtide.org.uk

FEBRUARY

4-23: THE MARKET: MASTER OR SERVANT?
The course looks at the origins of our society's faith in the market as the
only reliable route to prosperity and freedom, and examines the evidence
and arguments used to justify it. It explains how international
institutions such as the World Bank and the IMF enforce the free market
dogma in the South, the effects such policies have on ecosystems and
societies, and how an environmental division of labour is emerging between
the rich and the poor nations. 

Details: http://www.gn.apc.org/schumachercollege/collprog.htm
E-mail: schumcoll at gn.apc.org

10-11: Permaculture Design Course
The course will run over six fortnightly weekends in Okehampton, Devon.
Email George Sobol - terrafirma at gn.apc.org 

12: The Big Blockade
Big Blockade of Faslane Navel Base
Action Line 0141 423 2859 
Briefing webpage: 

www.cndscot.dial.pipex.com/protest/bbintro.html

24: I Love CUBA cabaret organised by Cuba Solidarity Campaign
Camden Centre, Bidborough Street, London NW1
World sounds from John Williams and friends, comedy from Kevin Day, Salsa
from Merengada.
More special guests to be announced.
8.30pm - 2am, doors open 7.30pm
Advance tickets on 020 7263 6452 or 020 7281 4057
£15/£12 conc. (£18/£14 on door)

25: Kent Socialist Alliance at the Three Tuns 8pm.
Email Dr David Turner dst at canterbury.u-net.com

28: Introduction to Permaculture course through Crediton Community College.
8 sessions. Concessions are available.
For more info/bookings the contact 01363 777918

More Diary Dates on GreenNet:


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