Greenhouse gases

This weekend, leaders of 21 nations--responsible for half the world's greenhouse gases--will meet at the APEC summit in Australia. Climate change tops their agenda. But according to leaks, a growing number around US President Bush and Australia's John Howard want to ditch the binding global targets needed to avert catastrophic climate change, and replace them with empty rhetoric about "aspirational goals" and voluntary action. The global climate movement has built up tremendous energy this year--we mustn't let the cynics hijack our campaign and turn it into hot air. We need to make sure the Asia-Pacific leaders, and the 1100 journalists covering the summit, can't ignore the world's call for binding targets. To grab their attention, let's create a spectacular photo petition of "target" images all over the world--we already have "target ceremonies" planned at the Great Barrier Reef, Patagonia, Palau, and many more! Submitting your own target photo is easy and fun--click here to learn how: http://www.avaaz.org/en/apec/b.php
To contribute, you can just draw a target--a dot with circles around it--on the palm of your hand, and snap a photo with your cell phone,
You could print the special target logo from our website, and take a picture of yourself holding it up as a sign,
Or get creative--paint it on the side of your house, carve it into a snowbank or a beach, or get friends together and make a human target in a park.Once you have your picture, click through to our website at this link to send it to Avaaz-- it will pop up in our global photo map right away. We'll also show the first wave of photos at a big press conference in Sydney this Wednesday 5th September, so there's no time to spare! We'll also deliver the biggest global petition for binding climate targets--we can use the "targets" spectacle to amplify our efforts. Avaaz has worked with Australian allies at GetUp to plan a stunning series of target ceremonies--including a 144 square-metre target banner that swimmers will float over the Great Barrier Reef. (If climate change is not reined in, the Reef will be extinct by 2030. Its caretakers are excited to help keep it alive!) These powerful images will join the photos contributed by the rest of us around the world, to send an unmistakable, global call to action. We want to make sure the leaders gathering in Australia see targets on the news as they go to sleep, and in the newspapers when they wake up. So click here to see all the targets that have been sent in so far, and to send in your own: http://www.avaaz.org/en/apec/b.php Last week, after international campaigners revealed prime minister Howard's plans to junk real targets at APEC (the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit), Australia's main opposition party took up the rallying cry. Howard is set to call an election shortly after the summit. By focusing public attention on this issue, we can multiply the pressure on him and other leaders in the "Axis of Global Warming"--and strengthen the hands of those leaders who support the right policies, from New Zealand to Chile and the Philippines. Most of all, we can try to pin down those wavering leaders in the middle, unsure which way to decide. Every leader must answer: do they support global, binding targets? Or are they full of hot air and voluntary "aspirations"?The APEC summit is the first of a string of critical meetings this fall, leading up to a major conference in Bali, Indonesia where work will begin on the next Kyoto Protocol. What happens in Australia will shape everything that comes after. And because of the worldwide movement that hundreds of thousands of Avaaz members have driven forward--from the G8 to Live Earth--we now have a real chance to shape what happens in Sydney. The world needs binding global targets to stop climate catastrophe. Let's join together, demand action, and aim high -
Here are some links for more information on the issue of climate change at APEC, as well as the Summit's implications for the rest of the world:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/09/03/africa/apec.php
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6976617.stm
http://www.avaaz.org/blog/en/

Human cynism

I can't help myself thinking that we are too ignorant or too cynic. Why we don't look to ourselves a bit? because we are humans we can do whatever we want?
I read this article in the local newspaper:
The department of Food and Agriculture has issued a warning on the sulphur-crested cockatoo, flocks of which have been detected at Muchea.
The warning follows the more recent capture of three of the declared pests at Mundaring.
Department biosecurity officer Glen Coupar said the cockatoo was a threat to agriculture, the environment and buildings.
The birds were normally found only in other states and northern Australia, including the Kimberley. The department allowed people to keep sulphur-crested cockatoos only under permit in a double-door aviary.

Ok now the cockies are pests. What about us? aren't we pests? Cockies don't destroy massively bushes and forests, they don't construct big concreted cities and suburbs, they don't pile thousands of rubbish, they don't use cars that goes with CO2, they don't make mass destruction weapons, etc.
If they have to control the population I imagine how: kill them massively I don't think the department will use humanitarian ways like hormonal food for instance.
Poor animals.

Pressure the G8

I got this e-mail from avaaz:
The biggest climate movement-building day in history is just days away on July 7th, when one third of our entire planet will watch the "Live Earth" concerts. Organizer and An Inconvenient Truth star Al Gore has just sent this personal message to us about what we need to do to get ready for this incredible opportunity:
Dear Avaaz,
The 385,000 Avaaz members, from every corner of the world, who mobilized to pressure the G8, amazed me. Avaaz's work is truly inspiring. Now we have the opportunity to expand on your great effort.Will you commit to organize a Live Earth party on July 7th? The parties will be fun -- and they'll make a difference. If you've got a few friends and a TV, you've got everything you need. Together, I know we can convince everyone attending these parties to get involved. This will be a unique moment when the uninterrupted and undivided attention of the world will be focused on the climate crisis. We cannot let it slip by. You can sign up to host a Live Earth party here:http://www.avaaz.org/en/live_earth/lb.phpSincerely,http://www.avaaz.org/en/live_earth/lb.php/?cl=11412058For one day, on July 7th, EVERYONE will be a climate activist. We need to capture this opportunity, and turn the biggest party in history into the biggest movement ever.
With hope, Ricken, Paul, Ben, Graziela, Galit, Iain and the Avaaz team

"Big plans" for Jindee

According to Wanneroo Times there are "big plans" for Jindalee:

"A proposed beachside village in Jindee, near Butler, will be built closer to the coast than other devolpments because the coastline includes a rocky headland.

Planing and Infraestructure Miniester Alannah MacTiernan said the developer would retain the beach and healand for pulbic to use to secure a continuous reserve along the coast.

(...)

Wanneroo Mayor Jon Kelly said while he was yet to see the final proposal, he was keen for the project to progress. The coastal village would include cafes, shops, accommodations and some high density residential development near a swimming beach."

And what about the Kangaroos and other animals that live there? And the native planst and bush?

No answer for that.

Heartbreaking news

This is the news about the destiny of Alkimos area (North Coast Times). Very depressing:
A district structure plan for Alkimos Eglinton will be released for public comment.
Councillors accepted the plan at a council meeting last week with a condition that the proponent, who submitted the document on behalf of landowner, completes three specified tasks before and during the advertising period.
These task include the preparation of a staged plan for the 2606ha development.
It is the next major stage of development in the North-West corridor.
A council report says that councillors did not need to assess the structure plan in detail before moving forward.
A preliminary overview found that the document was ready for advertising.
The city will now forward a copy of the structure plan to the WA Planning Commission and with an accompanying invitation for the WAPC to comment.
The development will attract between 53.000 and 55.000 people and about 20.000 more dwellings to the city.
It could include regional centres, service commercial areas, coastal villages, local centres, playing fields and pedestrian and cycle paths as well as provisions for various local and regional employment opportunities.

No one mentions all the trees and animals that are going to die in the name of progress