The UK Government is launching a new campaign urging Britons to stop wasting water and save 20 litres a day. The average UK household uses over 100,000 litres of water a year, the equivalent of 150 litres per person per day - one of the highest usage figures in Europe.
Despite the UK's reputation for frequent rainfall and being surrounded by water, many parts of the country - particularly in the densely populated south east - actually have less water available per head than many European countries, including Italy, Greece and France.
The water-saving campaign recommends turning off the tap whiling cleaning your teeth, reducing shower times by as little as a minute, using a bowl to wash up rather than a running tap and watering the garden with a watering can instead of a hosepipe. Many people now collect rainwater to use on their garden.Why not collect your shower water and use it to flush the loo? Or use washing up water to water the garden, for many houses this can be done by redirecting a drain.
The Government have yet to encourage anyone to do anything that I can see. Other countries have toilets that have a low flush/high flush option, I have only seen them here in a few eco houses.
So whose fault is it that only around 13% of households have invested in simple measures like a water-saving toilet cistern; just 3% use aerated water-efficient showerheads.
The Defra initiative, which is part of the Government's Act on CO2 campaign, will be fronted by TV presented Kate Humble.
Some more water saving sites:
actonco2 ecocamel shower head, waterwise , reducereuserecycle, plumb world.
I have blogged before about getting a free , Eaga Showersmart water saving device.
Saturday, 7 November 2009
Friday, 6 November 2009
The Rainbow Warrior Comes To London
Come along and take a tour of the ship. Tours will take place:
London - Thames Quay, West India Docks
Sat 21st November 10am – 5pm
Sun 22nd November 10am – 5pm
Edinburgh - Cruise Liner Berth, Ocean Terminal, Leith Docks
Sat 28th November 10am – 5pm
Sun 29th November 10am – 5pm
Last tours start at 4.30pm at both locations.
Please register online and let us know which day you'd like to come along, so we can get an idea of numbers.
The Rainbow Warrior will be visiting us on her way to the climate summit in Copenhagen in December. Rich countries, including the UK, must take action at Copenhagen by committing to higher emissions cuts and putting money on the table both to stop emissions from deforestation and support low-carbon technology.
Here in the UK we need the political will to take action on climate change. Greenpeace has produced a 12-point manifesto detailing the steps that need to be taken for Britain to build a low-carbon economy. The Rainbow Warrior will be helping us to encourage MPs to sign up to the manifesto.
Visit www.greenpeace.org.uk/rainbow to register now.
London - Thames Quay, West India Docks
Sat 21st November 10am – 5pm
Sun 22nd November 10am – 5pm
Edinburgh - Cruise Liner Berth, Ocean Terminal, Leith Docks
Sat 28th November 10am – 5pm
Sun 29th November 10am – 5pm
Last tours start at 4.30pm at both locations.
Please register online and let us know which day you'd like to come along, so we can get an idea of numbers.
The Rainbow Warrior will be visiting us on her way to the climate summit in Copenhagen in December. Rich countries, including the UK, must take action at Copenhagen by committing to higher emissions cuts and putting money on the table both to stop emissions from deforestation and support low-carbon technology.
Here in the UK we need the political will to take action on climate change. Greenpeace has produced a 12-point manifesto detailing the steps that need to be taken for Britain to build a low-carbon economy. The Rainbow Warrior will be helping us to encourage MPs to sign up to the manifesto.
Visit www.greenpeace.org.uk/rainbow to register now.
We need climate finance NOW!
Tomorrow finance ministers of the world’s 20 biggest economies are meeting in Scotland.
To strike a new global climate deal at December's UN Copenhagen Summit, strong financing will be essential -- but there is still no global pledge of funds on the table and this isn’t even on the agenda for Saturday's meeting.
This is an emergency -- the Copenhagen talks could collapse without a funding plan. Let’s flood our finance ministries with messages over the next 36 hours, pressing them to put climate back on the agenda before it’s too late:
Send a message now!
There’s no shortage of bold and practical ideas for how the funds could be raised –for example, levies to close the tax−free loophole on aviation and shipping fuels or a charge on financial speculation could raise tens of billions each.
Last month, we targeted the European Union with ads and campaigns −− and they set a precedent by starting to put money on the table. But Europe must raise their offer, and other rich countries need to join them. $150 billion a year is needed by 2020 to invest in low−carbon development and the green economies of the future. We can do it, but it’ll take a massive surge of political will.
That’s where we come in. As hundreds of thousands of citizens from every one of these countries, let’s challenge our own finance ministers to be real leaders not climate villains −− press them to agree a climate finance package at this link
To strike a new global climate deal at December's UN Copenhagen Summit, strong financing will be essential -- but there is still no global pledge of funds on the table and this isn’t even on the agenda for Saturday's meeting.
This is an emergency -- the Copenhagen talks could collapse without a funding plan. Let’s flood our finance ministries with messages over the next 36 hours, pressing them to put climate back on the agenda before it’s too late:
Send a message now!
There’s no shortage of bold and practical ideas for how the funds could be raised –for example, levies to close the tax−free loophole on aviation and shipping fuels or a charge on financial speculation could raise tens of billions each.
Last month, we targeted the European Union with ads and campaigns −− and they set a precedent by starting to put money on the table. But Europe must raise their offer, and other rich countries need to join them. $150 billion a year is needed by 2020 to invest in low−carbon development and the green economies of the future. We can do it, but it’ll take a massive surge of political will.
That’s where we come in. As hundreds of thousands of citizens from every one of these countries, let’s challenge our own finance ministers to be real leaders not climate villains −− press them to agree a climate finance package at this link
Thursday, 5 November 2009
UK Forcast to miss 2010 carbon-reduction goal
Forecasts of our likely failure to meet carbon reduction targets is putting UK Government credibility on climate change at risk, say independent analysts
We're likely to miss carbon reduction goals for 2010 by a wide margin, according to projections from Cambridge Econometrics.
Co-editor of the report professor Paul Ekins urged greater commitment to targets, saying:
A spokesperson for the environment ministry rejected the analysis, saying it did not take into account the "ambitious measures" already put into place. He did not explain what "ambitious measures" he had in mind; expanding airports & widening motorways are just a couple of policies for increasing emissions.
Useful links
theecologist
endseurope
carbonadvicegroup
iol
We're likely to miss carbon reduction goals for 2010 by a wide margin, according to projections from Cambridge Econometrics.
Co-editor of the report professor Paul Ekins urged greater commitment to targets, saying:
It is imperative for UK credibility in this area that the 2020 targets do not [fail], but this requires strong action soon. The next Government (following the 2010 general election) would need to, urgently set out not only the details of its ambitious carbon-reduction policies, but also move swiftly to their implementation if it is to achieve the statutory goal of a 34 per cent reduction in GHGs by 2020. The achievement of the 2020 target would make it more likely that the UK will be on track for its longer-term target of an 80 er cent reduction in emissions by 2050.'
A spokesperson for the environment ministry rejected the analysis, saying it did not take into account the "ambitious measures" already put into place. He did not explain what "ambitious measures" he had in mind; expanding airports & widening motorways are just a couple of policies for increasing emissions.
Useful links
theecologist
endseurope
carbonadvicegroup
iol
Planning Success For The Bath Road Reservior; For The Moment
What an interesting planning meeting last night at Reading Borough Council. I met campaigners, residents, and fellow Reading West PPCs Alok Sharma(Cons) and Naz Shakar(Lab).
Most of the public were there to support the Bath Rd Reservoir Campaign, where Thames Water are trying to sell of a reservoir and make money. They failed this time,the council approved a dozen reasons to turn down the application. But the Labour Cllrs said they have no intention of preserving the reservoir, they just didn't like this scheme. The campaigners may be forced to keep going, as Thames Water bring more schemes till they get one accepted. I suggested that while the best result would be to keep the reservoir as it is, the second best would be to use the reservoir structure as an underground ecohome, its big enough to contain several flats. This would at least keep the trees and the look of the place, while having some homes that are inspiring eco homes at the highest standards.
Another contentious local planning issue is 22 Alexandra Road, where developers want to turn a house into flats. The neighbours are campaigning against it, and had a protest at the meetings, wearing marked up T shirts. Perhaps they should get a website. Unfortunately this could be just one among many such developments.
While I applaud the people who object to these project, what about the underlying reasons that it happens? The utilities were privatised, so now maximising profits is all important, providing the service to customers comes second.
The other factor is the pressure to build houses; again its the government that is at fault here. Gordon Brown, when Chancellor, commissioned Kate Barker to investigate house price rises. She decided the answer is to build millions of houses; covering the landscape in them. Was there any thought to to the loss of the environment and the strain on resources? She did admit later that her influential review of Britain's housing supply for the Treasury should have acknowledged the environmental impact of increased house building. "I do have one regret about the review. I should have said more clearly that if you do increase the rate of housing, there are issues about energy and water usage and the use of materials."
Friends of the Earth attacked Barker's review, saying it was anti-democratic by suggesting local authority planning committees must increase housing supply. Also the house price rises at the time were largely caused by the demand-side of the housing market, for example concerning loan policies, rather than being a result of constraints on the supply of new houses. Also regional variations in the job market, causing people to leave houses empty in some areas while straining others. There is no plan to manage this imbalance, I have suggested before that the government could move some of its offices from London and the South East. The driving license authorities were moved to Wales some time ago, why not others?
The flawed Barker Review lead to the 2007 planning white paper. FoE say it sets out a series of reforms to make the planning system better for business. Local authorities have Development Plans. Find yours here.
In Reading we are told that for the period 2001-2006 1,350 housing units must be built every year. We have many empty homes and offices in Reading, the homes should be occupied. It may be worth converting some of the empty office blocks to flats rather than continue to build on ever more dodgy sites such as flood plains.
The Regional tier of Government has imposed their own target, which is 611 per year till 2026.
Consequences of the rise in building so many houses are many.
Ever wonder why the roads are constantly being dug up? Every utility has to keep upgrading their services to cope with the increased number of houses, among other reasons. And because they are all privatised they will not coordinate the work, there is no money in it for them so they won't do it.
On the subject of Roads, there are a few reasons why traffic gets worse every year. One of them, you guessed it, is that more people living in an area will mean more people with more cars.
So just opposing individual developments is not enough, with the agenda of ever more housing being thrust on us by the government, to stop one means more built elsewhere.
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
Peter Tatchell victim of "lies and smears"
Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell has claimed he is a victim of "lies and smears" after complaining about a chapter in an academic text.
Tatchell was mentioned in 'Out Of Place', which contained a chapter on gender, sexuality and terrorism. He received an apology from Raw Nerve Books over passages which alleged he was racist and Islamophobic.
The chapter, authored by Jin Haritaworn, Tamsila Tauqir and Esra Erdem, claimed that Tatchell and gay rights organisation OutRage! were "part of the Islamophobia industry" and were involved in "racial politics". It also alleged Tatchell had equated "Muslims as Nazis", and said he had "collaborated with the extreme right" and "participated with several racist and fascist groups."
Rather than attack him, he should be given a peerage for his courage and persistent campaigning. He tried to arrest Mugabe on charges of torture and other human rights abuses. In 2006, New Statesman readers voted him sixth on their list of "Heroes of our time". He was named Campaigner of the Year in The Observer Ethical Awards 2009.
Tatchell, Green Party PPC in Oxford East received an apology from Raw Nerve Books, a non-profit publisher based at the University of York, which accepted the accusations could not be supported.
However, he has now been accused of censorship and that the three academics have been spreading untrue smears about him. In a statement, Tatchell said:
He also denied using libel laws, claiming this was "another lie".
A statement from Raw Nerve Books said: "One of the articles – ‘Gay Imperialism: Gender and Sexuality Discourse in the war on terror' by Jin Haritaworn, with Tamsila Tauqir and Esra Erdem – contains inaccuracies. While, like the rest of the book, it addresses important issues, the inaccuracies mean that the debate has been skewed and the issues obscured.
"The publishers apologise for inaccuracies in the article. The book was already out of print when these errors were brought to our attention. Raw Nerve unsuccessfully encouraged the editors of the book (and thereby the authors of the article) to refute or retract the errors.
"Given that factual errors remain in the book, the publishers – with great sadness – have no alternative but to refrain from republishing. The publishers do not wish to participate in silencing or censoring, but do wish to uphold scholarly and honest debate. If the issues of inaccuracy can be resolved, the publishers would be delighted to publish a new edition of the book. "
The authors explicitly claim or implicitly insinuate the following:
Tatchell has “claimed the role of liberator and expert about Muslim gays and lesbians.” 'Not true. I have never made such a claim or adopted such a role.'
Tatchell is Islamophobic and is “part of the Islamophobia industry.” 'Not true. I have defended many Muslim victims of injustice and condemned anti-Muslim prejudice. Indeed, in 1998 I drafted a law to protect Muslims (and others) against discrimination, harsssment and hate crimes. It was, sadly, rejected by the government.'
The authors of the chapter and the book's editors did not respond to calls for comment by the time of publication. The authors are:
- Dr Jin Haritaworn of the LSE’s Gender Institute
- Tamsila Tauqir of the Safra Project: “a resource project working on issues relating to lesbian, bisexual and/or transgender women who identify as Muslim religiously and/or culturally (Muslim LBT women).”. She was awarded an MBE last year.
Esra Erdem Department of Economics, University of Oxford; Political Economy, Feminist Theory, Migration Studies
Tatchell was mentioned in 'Out Of Place', which contained a chapter on gender, sexuality and terrorism. He received an apology from Raw Nerve Books over passages which alleged he was racist and Islamophobic.
The chapter, authored by Jin Haritaworn, Tamsila Tauqir and Esra Erdem, claimed that Tatchell and gay rights organisation OutRage! were "part of the Islamophobia industry" and were involved in "racial politics". It also alleged Tatchell had equated "Muslims as Nazis", and said he had "collaborated with the extreme right" and "participated with several racist and fascist groups."
Rather than attack him, he should be given a peerage for his courage and persistent campaigning. He tried to arrest Mugabe on charges of torture and other human rights abuses. In 2006, New Statesman readers voted him sixth on their list of "Heroes of our time". He was named Campaigner of the Year in The Observer Ethical Awards 2009.
Tatchell, Green Party PPC in Oxford East received an apology from Raw Nerve Books, a non-profit publisher based at the University of York, which accepted the accusations could not be supported.
However, he has now been accused of censorship and that the three academics have been spreading untrue smears about him. In a statement, Tatchell said:
"The real censorship is by my critics. Some of them are posting entirely false allegations, often on closed lists that do not allow me to post my side of the story.
"Many of my detractors now claim that I forced the book to be withdrawn from sale and that I pressured the publishers to declare it out of print. Not so. I have not suppressed the book, Out of Place, or forced it out of print. The book was listed as out of print on the Raw Nerve Books website before I contacted the publishers and challenged the lies and falsehoods written about me. The book was not withdrawn on my account. It had already ceased to be available before I approached the publishers."
He also denied using libel laws, claiming this was "another lie".
A statement from Raw Nerve Books said: "One of the articles – ‘Gay Imperialism: Gender and Sexuality Discourse in the war on terror' by Jin Haritaworn, with Tamsila Tauqir and Esra Erdem – contains inaccuracies. While, like the rest of the book, it addresses important issues, the inaccuracies mean that the debate has been skewed and the issues obscured.
"The publishers apologise for inaccuracies in the article. The book was already out of print when these errors were brought to our attention. Raw Nerve unsuccessfully encouraged the editors of the book (and thereby the authors of the article) to refute or retract the errors.
"Given that factual errors remain in the book, the publishers – with great sadness – have no alternative but to refrain from republishing. The publishers do not wish to participate in silencing or censoring, but do wish to uphold scholarly and honest debate. If the issues of inaccuracy can be resolved, the publishers would be delighted to publish a new edition of the book. "
Academics are supposed to adhere to the highest standards of facts, truth and of evidence-based assertions, with proper footnoting and sourcing for what they write. The authors of the chapter that defames me did not do this. They made claims that are untrue and for which there is no evidence. They provided no footnotes or sources for their outrageous false allegations. They are guilty of poor research, shoddy scholarship and desertion of academic standards.
Jin Haritaworn, Tamsila Tauqir and Esra Erdem suggest that I am anti-Muslim. This is pure fiction. I have campaigned against fundamentalist Muslims (in the same way that I have campaigned against fundamentalist Christians), not against Muslim people in general. I have always made this distinction very clear.
The authors explicitly claim or implicitly insinuate the following:
Tatchell has “claimed the role of liberator and expert about Muslim gays and lesbians.” 'Not true. I have never made such a claim or adopted such a role.'
Tatchell is Islamophobic and is “part of the Islamophobia industry.” 'Not true. I have defended many Muslim victims of injustice and condemned anti-Muslim prejudice. Indeed, in 1998 I drafted a law to protect Muslims (and others) against discrimination, harsssment and hate crimes. It was, sadly, rejected by the government.'
The authors of the chapter and the book's editors did not respond to calls for comment by the time of publication. The authors are:
- Dr Jin Haritaworn of the LSE’s Gender Institute
- Tamsila Tauqir of the Safra Project: “a resource project working on issues relating to lesbian, bisexual and/or transgender women who identify as Muslim religiously and/or culturally (Muslim LBT women).”. She was awarded an MBE last year.
Esra Erdem Department of Economics, University of Oxford; Political Economy, Feminist Theory, Migration Studies
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Riot In Jerusalem
Israeli forces stormed Jerusalem’s holiest shrine on Sunday, firing stun grenades to disperse hundreds of stone-throwing Palestinian protesters in an eruption of violence at the most critical spot in the Holy Land. A wall of Israeli riot police closed in on the crowd, sending many protesters — overwhelmingly young men — running for cover into the black-domed Al Aqsa mosque. Dozens of protesters remained holed up inside the mosque for several hours, occasionally opening shuttered doors to throw objects at police. The protesters eventually left peacefully and the compound was closed. There were no serious injuries.
Over the weekend, Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah issued a joint communique in Cairo accusing Israel of taking unilateral steps in Jerusalem that they said were undermining efforts to resume peace negotiations and could have catastrophic consequences for the entire region. As part of an intensifying struggle over Jerusalem, Arab leaders are critical of construction in the city and alleged violations of the status quo on the Temple Mount.
Frictions in recent weeks have stemmed largely from rumours among Palestinians about Israeli plans to allow Jews to pray at the site or to dig under the compound and harm the Muslim buildings there. Israel has carried out numerous archaeological digs in nearby areas. The site has been under Israeli occupation since 1967, but is administered by a Muslim religious body known as the Waqf. The compound is opened for several hours a day to allow tourists and Jews to visit, though only Muslims are allowed to pray there. Israeli police were quick to prevent the Jewish fringe group that wanted to pray on the mount from entering the compound!
But it seems
In late August, Sheik Taysir Tamimi, a leading Palestinian cleric, claimed that the Jewish temples never existed, that Jerusalem was never a Jewish city, that Al-Aksa was built by angels and that the Western Wall was a tying post for Muhammad's horse, al-Burak!
Israel retorts that Jewish claims about the temples having been located on the mount are universally accepted by scholars and that the historic and archeological evidence is incontrovertible.
The political subtext for much of the Arab discontent is former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert reportedly offered the Palestinians a far-reaching deal on Jerusalem -- Arab neighborhoods would become part of Palestine, there would be a special regime for the Temple Mount until final arrangements were worked out and what is today eastern Jerusalem would become the capital of the Palestinian state -- whereas Netanyahu (Current PM) insists on a united Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty.
The Palestinians seek to make east Jerusalem, including the holy compound, the capital of a future independent state. There are accusations that Israel was tunneling under the Al-Aksa Mosque on the Temple Mount compound, and that the Israeli government has a master plan to isolate Arab eastern Jerusalem from the West Bank.
The allegations followed weeks of tension that erupted after a Jewish fringe group announced plans to visit and pray at the Temple Mount and a radical Israeli-Arab cleric charged that Al-Aksa was in danger and called upon Muslims to put their bodies on the line to defend it.
USA Secretary of State Hilary Clinton is in the region trying to start peace talks. Has anyone heard from Mr T Blair?
"Jerusalem must be the capital of two States -- Israel and Palestine -- living side-by-side in peace and security, with arrangements for the holy sites acceptable to all, if peace in the Middle East is to be achieved" said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
The riot took place on the holiest site in the Jewish Religion, the location of the temple that for centuries was the centre of Judaism. Though only the wall remains now, its associated with all the Jewish biblical prophets who are also revered in Christianity and Islam. The site is the location and the third holiest site in Islam. It is regarded as the the location Muhammad ascended to heaven and of the al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, the oldest extant Islamic structure in the world.
Links
dawn.com
jta
N.Y.Times
china view
Over the weekend, Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah issued a joint communique in Cairo accusing Israel of taking unilateral steps in Jerusalem that they said were undermining efforts to resume peace negotiations and could have catastrophic consequences for the entire region. As part of an intensifying struggle over Jerusalem, Arab leaders are critical of construction in the city and alleged violations of the status quo on the Temple Mount.
Frictions in recent weeks have stemmed largely from rumours among Palestinians about Israeli plans to allow Jews to pray at the site or to dig under the compound and harm the Muslim buildings there. Israel has carried out numerous archaeological digs in nearby areas. The site has been under Israeli occupation since 1967, but is administered by a Muslim religious body known as the Waqf. The compound is opened for several hours a day to allow tourists and Jews to visit, though only Muslims are allowed to pray there. Israeli police were quick to prevent the Jewish fringe group that wanted to pray on the mount from entering the compound!
But it seems
Jews are indeed building homes in Arab neighborhoods in eastern Jerusalem, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to halt their activities. There is tunneling under the Arab neighborhood of Silwan as archeologists search for remains of the biblical City of David, and Jewish construction in the Arab neighborhoods of Sheik Jarrah and Ras al-Amud. National parks and archeological digs around the Old City's holy basin are supported and undertaken by right-wing Jewish organizations with a clear agenda: to make dividing the city impossible, leaving it all under Israeli jurisdiction and thereby rendering Muslim religious control of the Temple Mount politically irrelevant.
In late August, Sheik Taysir Tamimi, a leading Palestinian cleric, claimed that the Jewish temples never existed, that Jerusalem was never a Jewish city, that Al-Aksa was built by angels and that the Western Wall was a tying post for Muhammad's horse, al-Burak!
Israel retorts that Jewish claims about the temples having been located on the mount are universally accepted by scholars and that the historic and archeological evidence is incontrovertible.
The political subtext for much of the Arab discontent is former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert reportedly offered the Palestinians a far-reaching deal on Jerusalem -- Arab neighborhoods would become part of Palestine, there would be a special regime for the Temple Mount until final arrangements were worked out and what is today eastern Jerusalem would become the capital of the Palestinian state -- whereas Netanyahu (Current PM) insists on a united Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty.
The Palestinians seek to make east Jerusalem, including the holy compound, the capital of a future independent state. There are accusations that Israel was tunneling under the Al-Aksa Mosque on the Temple Mount compound, and that the Israeli government has a master plan to isolate Arab eastern Jerusalem from the West Bank.
The allegations followed weeks of tension that erupted after a Jewish fringe group announced plans to visit and pray at the Temple Mount and a radical Israeli-Arab cleric charged that Al-Aksa was in danger and called upon Muslims to put their bodies on the line to defend it.
USA Secretary of State Hilary Clinton is in the region trying to start peace talks. Has anyone heard from Mr T Blair?
"Jerusalem must be the capital of two States -- Israel and Palestine -- living side-by-side in peace and security, with arrangements for the holy sites acceptable to all, if peace in the Middle East is to be achieved" said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
The riot took place on the holiest site in the Jewish Religion, the location of the temple that for centuries was the centre of Judaism. Though only the wall remains now, its associated with all the Jewish biblical prophets who are also revered in Christianity and Islam. The site is the location and the third holiest site in Islam. It is regarded as the the location Muhammad ascended to heaven and of the al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, the oldest extant Islamic structure in the world.
Links
dawn.com
jta
N.Y.Times
china view
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