[alternet-l] The Alternet News 114

[Alternet News]

THE ALTERNET NEWS - ISSUE 114
February 11th 2005

This issue:

ENVIRONMENTAL WORSHIP/
R.I.P CO2/
PET MARKETS STINK!/
INTERNET ISSUES/
SHARING THE WEALTH/
BLAIR BOYCOTTS BURMA/
GOVERNMENT BLOCK SHOCK/
MANGROVE MASSACRE/
SEEDS OF SHAME/
'DITCH THE DEBT' DEAL/

QUOTE/UNQUOTE/
JOBS/
EVENTS DIARY/


HOT SITES:

The UK government has made no effort to count how many Iraqis have died
or been injured since the invasion began.

Failure to count Iraqi casualties shows a fundamental disrespect for
human life and allows the human cost of the invasion to grow
uncontrollably. You can change this by demanding an inquiry into the
number of casualties.

--> http://www.countthecasualties.org.uk/

Ministers came under fire recently over proposed restrictions on
demonstrations outside Parliament.

--> http://www.parliament-square.org.uk

Peace News will appeal to people already involved in the peace Movement
in some way, and those people who are attracted by nonviolent
alternatives and who are keen to hear more.

--> http://www.peacenews.info

Burma Campaign UK launches a campaign against Western tourism which
finances the regime's oppression (see below).

--> http://www.imnotgoing.com

ENVIRONMENTAL WORSHIP

Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish religious leaders totalling more than
1000 people from 35 states have signed and begun circulating a statement
opposing President Bush's environmental policies (or rather, lack of
them). Evangelicals aren't far behind, having drawn up an "Evangelical
Call to Civic Responsibility" that emphasises Christians' duty to care
for the environment.

"The environment is a values issue," said Rev. Ted Haggard, president of
the 30 million member National Association of Evangelicals. Some
evangelicals are lobbying against Bush's 'Clear Skies' Act, arguing that
it doesn't do enough to decrease mercury pollution, a phenomenon which
is said to harm foetuses.

Many religious activists prefer to speak of "creation care" rather than
"environmentalism," as the latter term, according to political scientist
John C. Green of the University of Akron, brings to the evangelist mind
"druids who worship trees…"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1491-2005Feb5.html
http://forums.techguy.org/archive/t-327778.html


R.I.P CO2

The oil and gas company BP is experimenting with burying carbon-dioxide
emissions deep underground in the Sahara desert. With the countdown to
Kyoto nearing its end, the cost of the project (roughly $100 million) is
expected to cover the injection of about one million tons of CO2 each
year for a period of 20 years (the expected lifetime of the natural-gas
processing plant producing the CO2).

However, the project has already suffered major drawbacks. One of the
two custom-built compressors that force the CO2 underground has been
broken for many months, resulting in 30 percent of the gas intended for
burial escaping into the atmosphere. Not the best start. BP's biggest
worry, though, is whether the CO2 that is injected underground will stay
there; geologists are monitoring the situation. If the project proves
effective, it could serve as a model for other energy companies seeking
to reduce carbon emissions without cutting production.

http://grist.org/cgi-bin/forward.pl?forward_id=4223


PET MARKETS STINK!

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has come
under fresh attack following it's admission that it has no 'scientific'
evidence to defend its claim that lifting the ban on pet markets, as
part of the Animal Welfare Bill, will not cause animal suffering. The
Animal Protection Agency (APA), a national organisation campaigning
against the trade in wild animals for pets, has maintained that pet
markets are inherently cruel and that welfare problems are
insurmountable.

In 1983, sales of pet animals in public places were outlawed, but pet
markets, unbelievably, still continue to occur.

--> http://www.apa.org.uk


INTERNET ISSUES

Many critical issues concerning the Internet will be debated in November
2005 at the World Summit on the Information Society. Questions such as
'Who rules the internet?' 'Who looks after the billions of web addresses
that make up the Internet?' and 'Why are web addresses only in English?'
will be covered in the first debate of its kind. It would appear, to the
vast numbers of those using it, that the Internet is free, democratic
and expanding. Some argue that the current system of Internet governance
keeps the web's essential characteristic of freedom, and keeps the
Internet out of the hands of governments. But others say the system
isn't transparent or accountable enough.

Journalists are all too aware of the importance of being able to freely
access and exchange information, and thus the media has a responsibility
to analyse and report on the politics of the Internet.

--> http://www.panos.org.uk/


SHARING THE WEALTH

In Montreal, 1 February 2005, negotiations begin on an international
regime for access to 'genetic resources' and benefit sharing.
Representatives from the 188 Parties to the Convention on Biological
Diversity will continue the negotiations at a one-week meeting in
Bangkok from 14 to 18 February.

"Ensuring the 'fair and equitable sharing of the benefits derived from
genetic resources is one of the three basic objectives of the
Biodiversity Convention," said Hamdallah Zedan, the Executive Secretary
of the Convention. He added "The issue is highly complex and has the
potential to involve enormous sums of money. We need effective agreed
international measures to protect the legitimate interests of both the
communities and countries that provide genetic resources and the
researchers and companies that use them".

The main idea behind the talks is that by granting a company or
organisation access to its genetic resources (such as plants that can be
used to produce new pharmaceuticals or fragrances), a country will in
return receive a fair share of the profits or other benefits.

--> http://www.biodiv.org/doc/meeting.aspx?mtg=ABSWG-03


BLAIR BOYCOTTS BURMA

Tony Blair has joined political leaders and celebrities in backing a
campaign urging tourists not to holiday in Burma due to the country's
human rights abuses.

Michael Howard, the Tory leader, and Charles Kennedy, the Liberal
Democrat leader, have also urged holidaymakers to avoid visiting the
country after Burma Campaign UK revealed that the military junta is
using child and slave labour to build hotels and other tourist
developments. The regime has also detained 1,300 political prisoners,
including Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the opposition National League
for Democracy, who has been under house arrest for more than a year.

Yvette Mahon, director of Burma Campaign UK, said: "In Burma tourism
doesn't help most ordinary people, instead it finances the regime that
keeps them poor and oppressed". Show your support for Burma's move to
democracy by signing a petition;

--> http://www.imnotgoing.com


GOVERNMENT BLOCK SHOCK

The Government recently blocked a new law aimed at cutting emissions of
carbon dioxide, the main gas responsible for climate change. The

Renewable Heat Bill had been introduced by Angus MP Mike Weir to help
reduce carbon dioxide emissions by increasing the use of renewable fuels
such as wood, straw, solar power and ground heat.

Friends of the Earth's Head of Research, Dr Dan Barlow, said:

"We are bitterly disappointed that a Government which claims to take
climate change seriously has blocked this Bill. Given that the UK is not
on track to meet its own greenhouse gas reduction targets it is shocking
that it has failed to back this initiative to reduce emissions by
supporting renewable heat."

http://www.foe-scotland.org.uk


MANGROVE MASSACRE

Many of the deaths caused by the Tsunami in South East Asia could have
been prevented with better protection of the mangrove habitats. The
areas worst affected have been hit by tsunamis in the past, with far
fewer deaths resulting, because the coastlines of South East Asia were
protected by a natural defence system composed of coral reefs and
mangrove forests. The force of many of the previous tsunamis was reduced
on impact with the coral reefs before hitting the coast, where a dense
layer of red mangrove trees then met them. These flexible trees, with
long branches growing down into the sand below the surface of the sea,
effectively absorb the shock of the waves. Behind the red mangrove trees
there is a second layer of black mangrove trees, which are taller, and
serve to slow the waves further.

Since the 1960s, the mangrove forests of South East Asia have been
systematically destroyed to make way for commercial shrimp farming and a
massive increase in the tourism industry. The aquaculture and tourism
industries succeeded in diluting the protective regulations that were in
place until they were able to take over most of the buffer zone. Almost
70% of the region's mangrove forests have now disappeared.

http://www.brandt21forum.info


SEEDS OF SHAME

As part of sweeping "economic restructuring" implemented by the Bush
Administration in Iraq, Iraqi farmers will no longer be permitted to
save their own seeds, which include those that the Iraqis themselves
have developed over hundreds of years. Instead, they will be forced to
buy seeds from US corporations. This is due to the fact that, in recent
years, transnational corporations have patented and now own many seed
varieties originated or developed by indigenous peoples. It appears that
in a short time Iraq will be living under the now-familiar American
credo: Pay Monsanto, or starve. The American Administrator of the Iraqi
CPA (Coalition Provisional Authority) government, Paul Bremer, updated
Iraq's intellectual property law to 'meet current
internationally-recognized standards of protection'. The updated law
makes saving seeds for next year's harvest, practiced by 97% of Iraqi
farmers in 2002 (and the standard farming practice for thousands of
years across human civilizations) to be now illegal.

http://www.stwr.net/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=78


'DITCH THE DEBT' DEAL

The leaders of the world's richest nations are likely to sign a deal
this year on debt relief, aid and trade to help the world's poorest
nations, by providing complete debt write-offs, extra development
assistance and better access for developing countries to western
markets.

http://southasia.oneworld.net/link/gotoarticle/addhit/102778/1893/13090



QUOTE/UNQUOTE

"Love builds bridges where there are none."
- R. H. Delaney



JOBS

GreenNet needs you... the GreenNet Educational Trust is looking for new
Trustees. We are looking for enthusiastic people who have a general
interest in the issues surrounding ICTs, particularly as they relate to
society and 'the right to communicate', either in the UK, Europe or
globally.

If you are interested please contact the Trustees for further details on
trustees at greenneteducationaltrust.org.uk (with the subject line 'New
Trustee information').

Project Officer, waste prevention,
Women's Environmental Network
Co-ordinating a major national project, providing information and advice
to the UK real nappy campaign and co-ordinating Real Nappy Week
activity. Closing date: 21-02-2005 Salary: £25,524 full time, 10 month
fixed term contract Location: East London
http://www.wen.org.uk/

Funding Officer
PBI Colombia busca un/a TRABAJADOR/A DE FINANCIACIÓN
El/La Trabajador/a de Financiación de PBI Colombia trabaja en la oficina
del proyecto en Londres (COP) como parte de un equipo de dos personas,
en estrecha coordinación con la Coordinadora y Administradora del
proyecto. Location: London
Closing date: 28-02-2005 Salary: £23,243
http://www.gn.apc.org/jobs.shtml?AA_SL_Session=c976ea7d0485fb748b473c82144987b9&x=122814

Campaign Project Manager, UNICEF UK
Develop, coordinate and champion UNICEF UK's organisation-wide
campaigns. Two years' campaign project management experience required,
ideally gained within the voluntary sector.
Closing date: 15-02-2005 Salary:  £26,230- 30,110 pro rata (28 hours per 
week)
http://www.unicef.org.uk/

Programme Coordinator for UK Schools Programme, Learning for Life
Learning for Life (LfL) works with local partners to deliver quality
education in areas of South Asia that are often remote and challenging.
LfL has a vacancy for a coordinator to manage and develop the activities
of the UK Schools programme, which promotes awareness of South Asia
amongst primary school children.
Closing date: 18-02-2005 Salary: £20,400 admin at learningforlifeuk.org

Director of Communications, Liberty / NCCL
Closing date: 15-02-2005
pennym at liberty-human-rights.org.uk

Integration Programme Coordinator
European Council on Refugees and Exiles
Salary: £30,378.90
Location: Liverpool Street, London, United Kingdom
Closing Date: 24.02.2005
http://www.oneworld.net/job/view/10782

Staff Lawyer
International Institute for Environment and Development
Salary: £29,336 - £32,924, (depending on experience)
Location: London, United Kingdom
Closing Date: 21.02.2005
http://www.oneworld.net/job/view/10775

Human Resources Officer
International Institute for Environment and Development
Salary: £21,410 - £26,739 per annum (pro rata) + benefits
Location: London, United Kingdom
Closing Date: 21.02.2005
http://www.oneworld.net/job/view/10774

Director, Ethical Property Foundation
Ethical Property Foundation is a new charity set up to help the
voluntary and community sectors make positive property decisions. You
will need at least 2 years experience of management at a senior level as
well as experience of the voluntary and property sectors.
Salary £25,000 - £35,000 Closing date: Monday 28th February.
http://www.ethicalproperty.org.uk


EVENTS

SATURDAY 12TH FEBRUARY
Valentine's Make Love Not War Party is CANCELLED, but workshops are 
still happening. Circle Community Centre (the big old St George's Theatre)
49 Tufnell Park Rd, London N7 0PS (Tufnell Park or Holloway tube).
Cost - £3/£5.  All day workshops and creative forum by the European 
Creative Forum crew, including 5 - 6.15pm workshop on nonviolent direct 
action and the peace movement.
--> http://www.circlecommunity.org.uk/
--> http://www.peace-not-war.org/

SATURDAY 12TH FEBRUARY
Kyoto Climate March
Assemble 11.30 am Lincoln's Inn Fields (Holborn Tube)
The main march will involve a parade of the flags of all the countries
that have ratifed the Kyoto Protocol (132 at last count) and will go
from Lincoln's Inn Fields via the ExxonMobil offices and the Australian
embassy (Aldwych) to end at the US embassy for speeches at around 2.00
pm. Speakers to include Caroline Lucas MEP (Green Party). Cycle route
from Thames Barrier, assemble 9am.
For transport and local contact details and events around the country
--> http://www.campaigncc.org

TUESDAY 15 FEBRUARY, 4pm
Mass Die-In, Parliament Square, London
Supported by Stop the War, CND, MAB and National Union of Students
This action aims to draw public attention to the 100,000 Iraqi civilians
and 1,300 troops who have died in the illegal invasion and occupation of
Iraq, and to call for the withdrawal of troops.
http://www.stopwar.org.uk

10 - 15 Feb: National Honey Week
National Honey Week will give honey lovers the chance to celebrate all
that is good about honey.
http://www.honeyassociation.com/

FRIDAY 18 FEBRUARY: Holding Up The Sky - an Evening of Myth, Music and 
Magic.
8pm at The Bristol Folk House, Park Street.
Cassandra Wye, the internationally renowned Bristol-based storyteller,
will be performing a series of tall tales from the Indian Ocean. She
will be supported by Indian classical musicians Simon Kohli and Dhyan
Singh, and all proceeds will go to help the victims of the Asian tsunami
to rebuild their lives after the tragedy. Cost: 6 / £5 concessions.

http://www.bristolticketshop.co.uk

Positive Global Movements
6th - 11th February 2005, 6pm - 11pm
Rampart Creative Social Centre, 15 to 17 Rampart St. London E1,

Celebrating "The Movement of Movements" - the growth of people's
uprising and taking control of their communities without leadership
across the world - an exhibition of photographs and information
about positive global movements and the technology that supports them
with video screenings followed by discussions.

Saturday 12th 1pm - 8pm, the exhibition is transporting up to Saint
Georges Theatre for The Creative Forum Event (see above) where Jason
Harris will give an illustrated talk about the Alberdi School, a
Venezuelan school run by the community.

FRIDAY 25 FEBRUARY
No Sweat fashion shows for Haiti
The London College of Fashion 20 John Princes Street, London W1G 0BJ
No Sweat and the London Institute Students' Union are putting on two
major fashion shows, at 2.30 and 6.30, aiming to highlight the abuse of
sweatshop workers involved in garment production.

Tickets cost £2.50, money raised to Batay Ouvriye which is attempting to
unionise the Free Trade Zone on the Haitian-Dominican Republic border.
In this FTZ workers stitch Levi jeans for £10 a week and face anti-union
violence from right-wing militias hired by management.
http://nosweat.org.uk

WEDNESDAY 23 MARCH
World Meteorological Day (WMD). This year the theme is "Weather,
climate, water and sustainable development". WMD 2005 will focus on the
vital contribution of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services
to sustainable socio-economic development, environmental protection and
poverty alleviation.
--> http://www.un-ngls.org/wmd

Also see SchNEWS events at http://www.schnews.org.uk/pap/yourarea.htm

Add diary dates at http://www.gn.apc.org/calendar/calindex.shtml and
http://www.networkforpeace.org.uk/events.htm (diary dates collected by
NfP are passed on to Peace News for their diary page. In order to get a
diary listing in PN, groups can email nfp at gn.apc.org with details).



This edition of AlterNet is edited by Lucie Evans for GreenNet.
--> http://www.gn.apc.org

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