Wednesday, July 18, 2007



















"THE WORLD'S FIRST 'ZERO CARBON' CITY"


World's First 'Zero-Carbon' City


IPS, 15 June 2007 - A city free of cars, pedestrian-friendly, powered by renewable energy and surrounded by wind and photovoltaic farms -- all in the middle of a petroleum-rich desert.

This five billion US dollar plan, which might do credit to a sci-fi film set, is envisaged for Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). When complete, in 2009, it will be the nearest thing yet to a zero-carbon, zero-waste city.

Using the traditional planning principles of a walled city, together with existing technologies to achieve sustainable development, this six sq km expanse will house an energy, science and technology community.

Called the Masdar (meaning ‘source' in Arabic) Initiative, this ambitious plan for a 'Green City' is being driven by the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, a private, joint stock company established and wholly-owned by Mubadala Development Company.

‘‘As the first major hydrocarbon-producing nation to take such a step, Abu Dhabi has established its leadership position by launching Masdar, a global cooperative platform for open engagement in the search for solutions to some of mankind's most pressing issues -- energy security, environment and truly sustainable human development,'' Masdar chief executive Sultan Al Jaber said.

Abu Dhabi accounts for more than 90 percent of the UAE's oil resources, and the country's reserves, exceeding 100 billion barrels, ranked third largest in the world.

The ‘Green City' will house the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, a graduate science and research institute that will be established in cooperation with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; world-class laboratories; commercial space for related-sector companies; light manufacturing facilities and a selected pool of international tenants who will invest, develop, and commercialise advanced energy technologies.

It will also host Masdar's offices, residences for its staff, as well as a science museum and edutainment facilities. It is expected to house at least 50,000 people initially and as many as 100,000 eventually.

‘‘We are creating a synergetic environment; it is a true alternative energy cluster with researchers, students, scientists, business investment professionals, and policy makers in the same community. It will combine the talent, expertise and resources to enable the required technological breakthroughs,'' Jaber explained to IPS.

To encourage people to be a part of this setup amid harsh weather conditions that witness temperatures soaring up to nearly 50 degrees Celsius during July and August, a pedestrian-friendly environment has been planned with narrow streets and shaded walkways. The maximum distance to the nearest transport link and amenities is likely to be no more than 200 m and will be complemented by a rapid personal transport system.

This self-sustaining city is expected to provide up to 1,500 companies with an attractive incentives package, including a one-stop shop programme for government services, transparent laws, 100 percent foreign ownership, tax-free environment, intellectual property protection and proximity to nearby manufactures, suppliers and markets.

Mohammed Raouf of the Gulf Research Centre, said the Abu Dhabi plan could be replicated and improved upon. ‘‘We need more than just ideas, thoughts and studies; we need ways to implement them effectively. Hopefully this initiative will trigger others in the region to follow suit.''

Though the Dubai-based environmentalist was sceptical about achieving ‘zero levels of carbon emissions', he said, ‘‘There is no doubt this project will cut emissions drastically.''

According to a recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the greenhouse effect on climate change in the Middle East region will increase the region's temperatures by 1-2 degrees Celsius during the next 25 years. The ‘Green City' plan is a part of Abu Dhabi's decision in April 2006 to embrace renewable and sustainable energy technologies.

In another responsive initiative in March, the UAE signalled the commencement of a major national carbon dioxide emission reduction programme by announcing an initiative aimed at delivering a national carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) network.

It is estimated that the CCS network could reduce UAE's carbon dioxide emissions by almost 40 percent, increase oil production by up to 10 percent and liberate large quantities of natural gas. This could be achieved through the separation of the gas from industrial and energy related sources and its transportation to oil reservoirs for enhanced oil recovery.

Announcing the plan, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, told the media, ‘‘We are a leading provider of energy for the world. As such we must, and do, recognise the responsibility to constantly seek out and incorporate technologies to make that provision more environmentally efficient.''

Abu Dhabi also plans to invest 350 million US dollars in a 100 Mw solar power plant and hopes to tap into a growing global trend among environment-conscious investors. The plant will be expandable to 500 Mw with a target to generate enough power for 500,000 households.

‘‘As an environmentalist I am ready to pay more to live in a place where the quality of life is better. But, ordinary citizens, especially those in the low income group, do not care or understand this. Hence, it is important to keep the price of ‘green' development affordable,'' Raouf told IPS.

‘‘By attempting the first carbon neutral city in the world, Masdar is demonstrating its commitment to change the way the world understands energy and sustainable resource utilisation. One day all cities will be built like this,'' Jaber added.

This article is reproduced with the kind permission of the
Inter Press Service News Agency (IPS).
Visit IPS News for more news and articles and to subscribe to free newsletters.

Please note:
This article is for information purposes only. The WBCSD does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of ny information.

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SHOULD THIS DIRTY SWINE HAVE BEEN PUBLICLY CASTERATED?

Man charged over sex with girls, boys, animals. A Napier(NZ) man has appeared in court charged with sex offences involving children of both genders, as well as a dog, a cow, a pig and a horse.


The man entered no pleas in Napier District Court yesterday to 17 charges, alleging offences as long ago as 1954, when he was a young teenager, and continuing until as recently as 1990.

The charges allege rape and other indecencies with young girls, a cow, a pig, an indecent act with a mare, and an indecent assault on a boy.

The offences are alleged to have happened in Napier.

The historic nature of the charges is highlighted by one allegation that the man attempted to "carnally know" a girl under the age of 12 in the mid-1950s.

The former offence of carnal knowledge is now known as unlawful sexual intercourse or rape, depending on a complainant's age.

The man was granted interim name suppression and remanded on bail to appear in court again on August 15.

A police investigation sparked by complaints at the end of 2005 saw inquiries

extended overseas before the man was arrested and charged earlier this month.

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Tuesday, July 17, 2007

From AlterNet.org:

Rep. Ellison: Bush is Like Hitler, 9/11 Like the Reichstag Fire
Adam Howard
This post, written by Pam Spaulding, originally appeared on Pam's House Blend

Watch out folks, he wants to go out with a bang. From The Guardian: Cheney pushes Bush to act on Iran.


The balance in the internal White House debate over Iran has shifted back in favour of military action before President George Bush leaves office in 18 months, the Guardian has learned.


The shift follows an internal review involving the White House, the Pentagon and the state department over the last month. Although the Bush administration is in deep trouble over Iraq, it remains focused on Iran. A well-placed source in Washington said: "Bush is not going to leave office with Iran still in limbo."


...The vice-president, Dick Cheney, has long favoured upping the threat of military action against Iran. He is being resisted by the secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, and the defence secretary, Robert Gates.


Last year Mr Bush came down in favour of Ms Rice, who along with Britain, France and Germany has been putting a diplomatic squeeze on Iran. But at a meeting of the White House, Pentagon and state department last month, Mr Cheney expressed frustration at the lack of progress and Mr Bush sided with him. "The balance has tilted. There is cause for concern," the source said this week.

Add Sam Brownback and Holy Joe to the war drumbeat.


On Wednesday, the Senate voted 97-0 to pass a resolution sponsored by Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) to censure Iran "for what it said was complicity in the killing of U.S. soldiers in Iraq." The resolution required the Bush administration to regularly report to Congress on Iran's role in Iraq.


...Sen. Sam Brownback appeared on Fox News shortly after the vote and declared he was ready to preemptively strike Iran. Host Sean Hannity asked Brownback, "There's probably going to come a point for the next president that they?re going to have to determine whether to go out and have that preemptive strike. And you?re ready and would be ready to do that?...


Yes, I am, and I think we have to be," Brownback answered.

Is the whole purpose of this administration and its unhinged supporters to destroy the military and bankrupt the country, never mind leaving it more vulnerable to terrorism? Oh, never mind. Let's just worry about whether Nicole Richie is going to jail for her latest DUI...

Meanwhile...

* L.A. Times: Most foreign insurgents in Iraq are Saudis. Is there a plan to to bomb Bush's pals yet?


Most foreign fighters and suicide bombers in Iraq come from Saudi Arabia, despite attempts by US officials to portray Syria and Iran as the main culprits of violence, a US newspaper reported Sunday.


Citing an unnamed senior US military officer and Iraqi lawmakers, the Los Angeles Times newspaper said about 45 percent of all foreign militants targeting US troops and Iraqi security forces were from Saudi Arabia, 15 percent from Syria and Lebanon, and 10 percent from North Africa.

* Marine: unit told to "crank up the violence level" on Iraqis. Manhood in question when matters are out of control in Iraq? Just beat and kill anyone for "progress."


A Marine corporal, testifying Saturday at the murder trial of a buddy, said that Marines in his unit began routinely beating Iraqis after being ordered by officers to "crank up the violence level."


Cpl. Saul H. Lopezromo said Marines in his platoon, including the defendant, Cpl. Trent D. Thomas, were angry when officers criticized them as not being as tough as other Marine platoons.


...Within weeks of allegedly being scolded, seven Marines and a Navy corpsman went out late one night to find and kill a suspected insurgent in the village of Hamandiya near the Abu Ghraib prison. The Marines and corpsman were from 2nd Platoon, Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment.


Lopezromo said their target was known to his neighbors as the "prince of jihad" and had been arrested several times, only to be released by the Iraqi legal system.


Unable to find their target, the Marines and corpsman dragged another man from his house, fatally shot him, and then planted an AK-47 assault rifle near the body to make it look like he had been killed in a shootout, according to court testimony.



Tagged as: iran, iraq war, bush, brownback, lieberman, cheney

Pam Spaulding is the editor and publisher of Pam's House Blend, honored as "Best LGBT Blog" in the 2005 and 2006 Weblog Awards.

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