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spiralsheepWhile I have concerns about the Whitley Awards (and their sponsors) they are at least giving lip-service to community involvement in managing sustainable habitats for wildlife and local people.
spiralsheep
spiralsheepSource: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13056862 by Roger Harrabin
Biofuels targets are 'unethical', says Nuffield report
EU biofuels targets are unethical, according to a report by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics. Its authors recommend the targets should be lifted temporarily until new safeguards are put in place for biofuels grown in Europe or imported. But they stop short of calling for a complete halt to biofuels, which some environmentalists want. And they hold out the hope that new technologies may be able to develop biofuels from cellulose. Crucially, they hope this could be done in a way that does not damage the environment or compete with food crops. However, they acknowledge that progress towards these new biofuels is too slow, and that the next-generation fuels available are too expensive. They want governments to do more to encourage biofuels that use less land, fertiliser and pesticide.
The Council is an independent body that was set up 20 years ago to ponder ethical issues raised by developments in biology and medicine. It has been studying biofuels for 18 months - specifically relating to the EU Renewable Energy Directive target that biofuels should account for 10% of transport fuel by 2020, a much-criticised mandate originally designed as part of Europe's strategy to combat climate change.
Based on what it says is a set of ethical values which will be widely shared, the report says biofuels should:
* not be at the expense of human rights;
* be environmentally sustainable;
* contribute to a reduction of greenhouse gases (some currently increase greenhouse gases);
* adhere to fair trade principles;
* have costs and benefits that can be distributed in an equitable way.
These principles would be backed by a mandatory - and strictly enforced - EU certification scheme, a little like the Fairtrade scheme.
( Full text of article for archiving purposes. )
Biofuels targets are 'unethical', says Nuffield report
EU biofuels targets are unethical, according to a report by the Nuffield Council on Bioethics. Its authors recommend the targets should be lifted temporarily until new safeguards are put in place for biofuels grown in Europe or imported. But they stop short of calling for a complete halt to biofuels, which some environmentalists want. And they hold out the hope that new technologies may be able to develop biofuels from cellulose. Crucially, they hope this could be done in a way that does not damage the environment or compete with food crops. However, they acknowledge that progress towards these new biofuels is too slow, and that the next-generation fuels available are too expensive. They want governments to do more to encourage biofuels that use less land, fertiliser and pesticide.
The Council is an independent body that was set up 20 years ago to ponder ethical issues raised by developments in biology and medicine. It has been studying biofuels for 18 months - specifically relating to the EU Renewable Energy Directive target that biofuels should account for 10% of transport fuel by 2020, a much-criticised mandate originally designed as part of Europe's strategy to combat climate change.
Based on what it says is a set of ethical values which will be widely shared, the report says biofuels should:
* not be at the expense of human rights;
* be environmentally sustainable;
* contribute to a reduction of greenhouse gases (some currently increase greenhouse gases);
* adhere to fair trade principles;
* have costs and benefits that can be distributed in an equitable way.
These principles would be backed by a mandatory - and strictly enforced - EU certification scheme, a little like the Fairtrade scheme.
( Full text of article for archiving purposes. )
Are you freaking kidding me?
Mar. 20th, 2011 07:48 pmthe_future_modernesResistance to fake marine 'protection' builds from Diego Garcia to Baja California :African Union supports Mauritius against UK's purported 'marine reserve'
Throughout the world, opposition is building to fake marine "protected" areas designed to fulfill the agenda of corporate globalization and the privatization of public trust resources.
The rights of indigenous people and fishing families are rarely considered in the creation of these unjust no fishing and gathering zones, whether they are installed in the Chagros Islands by the United Kingdom, the Sea of Cortez by the Mexican government, or along the California coast under Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's corrupt Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative.
The African Union recently backed Mauritius against the United Kingdom in the dispute over the Chagros Islands in the Indian Ocean. Secret cables between US and British governments released to the UK Guardian by Wikileaks disclosed how the so-called marine protected area supported by Greenpeace and other corporate environmental groups were installed to deny the native Chagossians the right of return and to allow alleged CIA renditioning of "terror" suspects on the US military base at Diego Garcia.MORE
the_future_modernesETA: Tell us in comments the books that you feel would blow our minds!!!
Alternet has 28 books that they aver will change the way you see the world, environmentally, at least. Most of which seem to be written economically privileged cis het white men. There is 1 possibly two white women in the bunch. And thats it. Fuck this shit. Honestly? The only book I want to read out of that bunch is the book about the Gaviotas community in Colombia. Here are a couple of articles and a book review: Gaviotas, Gaviotas: Village of Hope, Alan Weisman: Gaviotas: A Village to Reinvent the World.
But seriously. Where is Vandana Shiva, for instance? The woman is famous and prolific, and is a wellknown activist against food monoculture and various other environmental ills, so why the black out? Why are there no books about the environmental justice movement?
Repost from ecominded poc lj version: None of these resources have mind changing abilities?
How about the The Revolution will not be funded: Beyond the Non profit Induatrial Complex? That sure as hell blew my mind?
!Cochabamba!: Water War in Bolivia
How about Sistah Vegan, a look at how veganism can be considered in light of class and race? Then again, that might expose issues that could be just a little too uncomfortable for some!
Or Dam Nation Which sure as hell ripped my beliefs about dams and waterways and how waste is dealt with completely to bits.
And this stuff is just what came into my mind, you know? Its US-centric, I haven't read all of the stuff here unfortunately and I haven't been keeping up with enviro books so I am sure I missed a ton. But my argument is this, can we PLEASE stop having the enviro movement pretend that its only readers are middle to upper class white people? Cause they are actually the damn minority on this planet, and other stories need to be told, thank you very much!
Alternet has 28 books that they aver will change the way you see the world, environmentally, at least. Most of which seem to be written economically privileged cis het white men. There is 1 possibly two white women in the bunch. And thats it. Fuck this shit. Honestly? The only book I want to read out of that bunch is the book about the Gaviotas community in Colombia. Here are a couple of articles and a book review: Gaviotas, Gaviotas: Village of Hope, Alan Weisman: Gaviotas: A Village to Reinvent the World.
But seriously. Where is Vandana Shiva, for instance? The woman is famous and prolific, and is a wellknown activist against food monoculture and various other environmental ills, so why the black out? Why are there no books about the environmental justice movement?
Repost from ecominded poc lj version: None of these resources have mind changing abilities?
Articles:
A Selection of African-American Environmental Heroes
Indigenous Environmental Justice Issues Enter the Global Ring
Books:
African American Environmental Thought: Foundations To Love the Wind and the Rain:
African Americans and Environmental History
The Quest for Environmental Justice: Human Rights and the Politics of Pollution
New Perspectives on Environmental Justice: Gender, Sexuality, and Activism
All Our Relations: Native Struggles for Land and Life
Ecocide of Native America: Environmental Destruction of Indian Lands and Peoples
The Quest for Environmental Justice: Human Rights and the Politics of Pollution
Confronting Environmental Racism: Voices From the Grassroots
Just Transportation: Dismantling Race and Class Barriers to Mobility
How about the The Revolution will not be funded: Beyond the Non profit Induatrial Complex? That sure as hell blew my mind?
!Cochabamba!: Water War in Bolivia
How about Sistah Vegan, a look at how veganism can be considered in light of class and race? Then again, that might expose issues that could be just a little too uncomfortable for some!
Or Dam Nation Which sure as hell ripped my beliefs about dams and waterways and how waste is dealt with completely to bits.
And this stuff is just what came into my mind, you know? Its US-centric, I haven't read all of the stuff here unfortunately and I haven't been keeping up with enviro books so I am sure I missed a ton. But my argument is this, can we PLEASE stop having the enviro movement pretend that its only readers are middle to upper class white people? Cause they are actually the damn minority on this planet, and other stories need to be told, thank you very much!
