5 Odd & Important green news stories from the bank holiday weekend
Posted on 02. Sep, 2009 by annied in Green News, WWF, green media
Japan
1. Japan elected a leftist government, but it doesn’t necessarily mean tougher action on climate change.
According to our friends at ClimaticoAnalysis.org, environmental activists ought to tone down the celebrating a wee bit (check out their blog post on the subject). Although the government wants 15% cut in GHG emissions by 2050, the DJP wants 30% cut by 2050– seems like a big difference but it isn’t, 30% includes buying of carbon credits and emissions and GHG absorption by forests and such.
Climatico also believes that the DJP has an unwinnable battle ahead of it because in order to reduce emissions 30% they will have to impose a carbon tariff, and get the electorate to swallow the ¥76,000 per annum per household cost. And there’s convincing India and China that 30% by 2050 is sufficient for Japan, based on the GHG emissions needs of emerging markets for the forseeable future.
2. Psyched about hosting a nuclear repository? Yep! Talk about commitment to green!
The Swedish town Osthammar will be the world’s first repository for spent nuclear fuel. Excited about it? Yes; an overwhelming 79% of the town’s population are happy that they will be a nuclear dumping ground for the next 100,000 years. Osthammar won out due to it’s optimal underground rock quality. The repository will be ready by 2023 and will be 500m under ground.
(Source: The Monocle, 26.3 Sep (2009), pg 42)
3. Green farmers dating site
Are you tired of your City job? Dream of baaing sheep and mooing cows and growing your own food? Farmers in Quebec need partners– like spouses. Apparently the number of young single farmers in the provence has doubled in the last four decades. Solution? Online dating. But more than uniting agriculture lovers in holy matrimony, the site aims for more practical use as well– making up for equipment and livestock shortages.
(Source: The Monocle, 26.3 Sep (2009), pg 45)
4. Syria’s DOC Lattakieh– new green organic commitment from the East
As it’s Ramadan this month, it’s nice to have a look at what the East is doing about climate change:
Syrian wine makers are about to be all the rage in the wine world, we’d wager (more so if governments would lift that pesky trade embargo– just for the wine, which your bloggess has personally sampled;-) The wine industry in Syria is about to become bigger and greener: The Saadé brothers of Lattakieh will be producing a new organic label Bargylus.
What’s green about it? They are so committed to quality ingredients and authentic local production that they are retraining local farmers in strict organic farming techniques and the use of top of the line equipment. The Saadé brothers are applying for a patent DOC (dOrigine Contrôlée) to ensure wine production from Lattakieh stays local and valuable.
(Source: The Monocle, 26.3 Sep (2009), pg 78)
5. Australia had an oil spill last week:
With all the holiday revelry and drunkenness had by all in the UK last weekend, we wanted to remind you that not such a great time is being had down-under. An oil spill in the Timor Sea off the Western coast of Australia is said to be bigger than previously thought. Send some support to WWF Au and other NGO’s down for the good work they do to raise awareness and help the clean up.
Something positive to come of the spill: the Environment Minister Peter Garrett has ruled against a new gas project involving Shell and Chevron.
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