From: "firefly brigade" <fireflybrigade@yahoogroups.com>
WCN Info <info@worldcarfree. net> wrote:
Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2007 12:11:14 +0100
From: "WCN Info" <info@worldcarfree. net>
To: info@worldcarfree. net
Subject: [world-carfree- news_eng] WORLD CARFREE NEWS #44 - JUNE 2007
WORLD CARFREE NEWS >>>
Edition no. 44 - June 2007 - English version
Contents:
QUOTATION OF THE MONTH
IN THE NEWS
WORLD CARFREE NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS
- BECOME A MEMBER OF WORLD CARFREE NETWORK
- TOWARDS CARFREE CITIES VII, AUGUST 27-31, ISTANBUL
- 2ND ANNUAL STREET CONVERSION DESIGN CONTEST
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
- SEEKING CHILDREN'S DRAWINGS/STORIES/ POEMS
- FRIENDS OF THE EARTH: JOBS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
- GTZ PHOTO GALLERY
- TELL THE EU TO MAKE CARS MORE FUEL-EFFICIENT
QUOTATION OF THE MONTH >>
"I'm 6 feet 4 inches and I weigh 250 pounds, so for me, it's [an SUV] a comfort thing. I have a son who is 4 and a daughter who is 16, and we use the SUV to haul kids around, take them to parties. We use it to go to the mountains and we pull a water-skiing boat behind it...[but] it would be nice if they could get this fuel thing together. As a citizen of the United States, I'm concerned about global warming. It's not that I don't consider those things. We try not to drive that far."
- Dr. Reginald Fulford, who recently bought a Ford Expedition, <wwww.sfgate. com>.
IN THE NEWS >>
- Iran wants to make woman's bicycles that would comply with Islamic Law. It means designing a bicycle that would hide the movements of the woman's body [<
www.worldnew saustralia. com.au>].
- A UK Lexus ad that claimed "High performance. Low emissions. Zero guilt" has been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority [<
. guardian. co.uk>].
- Norway would like to be "carbon-neutral" by the year 2050. "The price tags on products will have to reflect the distance they have travelled," said Helge Drange, a scientist at the Nansen environmental research centre. "Roses from Africa and the Netherlands will be less affordable."
- On the CO2 market, Norway could make itself "carbon-neutral" by spending EUR 1 billion on CO2 carbon credits [Agence France Presse].
- A London Court of Appeal ruled that any organiser of Critical Mass bike rides must notify the lespu at least six days before the ride, the route, date, and name of organiser. It is up to the lespu to prove that a person actually organised the ride. Thus, it is not a crime to ride in a Critical Mass, just a crime to organise it [Friends of the Earth Rights and Justice Centre].
- For the first time in 26 years Americans are driving less. Seventy percent of people polled in a USA Today/Gallop Poll say they have taken steps to reduce driving [<
www.usatoday .com/news/ nation/2007- 05-17-gas- prices_N. htm>].
- A San Francisco driver waited 90 minutes at a gas station to save US$4 on filling up her car [www.sfgate.com ].
- In the Netherlands, 16 of 24 new road projects are on hold because of fears of pollution. Since the government has already set aside the EUR4 billion to fund these projects, Elco Brinkman of the Dutch construction industry lobby group, suggests going ahead and building the roads, but not letting people drive on them until fears of climate change have subsided [ Dutchnews.nl].
- Caltrans, the California Transportation Department, has decided to close a portion of a Southern California highway, which is being upgraded, in order to protect construction workers from road rage. One motorist threatened to climb a water tower and shoot workers with a rifle, said Terri Kasinga, a Caltrans spokeswoman [ Latimes.com].
- Car burnings are on the rise in Berlin and no one knows who is doing it. A website tracks the date, location, and make of car that went up in flames: <
www.brennend e-autos.de/>.
- According to Jerry Schneider of Innovative Transportation Technologies, the prestigious carfree district in Abu Dhabi reported on in last month's news bulletin will have light rail lines and a Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) network.
- More than 250,000 cyclists participated in the Berlin "Sternfahrt" bike ride on Sunday, June 3. Eighteen groups of cyclists came from all over Berlin and Germany, via Germany's autobahns, and converged at Brandenburg Gate for the annual Eco festival ("Umweltfestival" ). Photographs can be found here: <
. radzeit.de/ v/Sternfahrt/ 2007/> and here <http://gallery. radzeit.de/ v/Sternfahrt/ 2007/Brandenburg +an+der+Havel/ P1020112. JPG.html >.
- When Bulgaria joined the European Union at the start of 2007, it also meant the removal of import taxes on EU goods. In the first three months of the year, 60,000 used cars were imported, doubling last year's numbers. The Union of Importers of Automobiles in Bulgaria expects 320,000 used cars to enter the country this year. Car ownership in Bulgaria is among the lowest in the EU [Transitions Online].
- It is costing GBP 21 million (EUR 31 million) per mile to widen the M1 motorway. The price of the total project has risen from GBP 3.7 billion to GBP 5.1 billion [Observer.guardian. co.uk ].
- If drivers on an Indian highway do not give an aging elephant food, he refuses to let them pass [http://www.dailyind ia.com/show/ 147119.php/ Pay-road- tax-to-an- elephant- on-Orissa- highway ].
WORLD CARFREE NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS >>
BECOME A MEMBER OF WORLD CARFREE NETWORK
World Carfree Network depends on the financial support of people around the world who value our work, particularly now as we seek to become more financially stable. By joining us as a member, you help us promote carfree thinking and carry out our projects more effectively (and if you like, as a member you can also get involved more actively in the network). We have four membership levels, each including a subscription to Carbusters magazine and some extra gifts to thank you for your generosity. There is even a student/limited income level. Go to <
www.worldcar free.net/ join/individuals .php> and become a member now!
TOWARDS CARFREE CITIES VII, AUGUST 27-31, ISTANBUL
We are still accepting proposals for presentations, workshops and other programme content. See <
www.worldcarfree. net/conference/ proposals. php> for details. To ensure that your proposal can be included in the programme, please send it by the end of June.
Conference registration is open, and participants should already book their accommodation. Two suggested options are Sebnem Hotel (www.sebnemhotel. net) and Sultan Hostel (
www.sultanhostel. com).
Please see the conference website (www.worldcarfree. net/conference) for further information.
We hope to see you in August and welcome you to Istanbul.
2ND ANNUAL STREET CONVERSION DESIGN CONTEST
Due to the popularity of last year's competition and the importance of continuing to promote alternative and creative uses of public space, the Street Conversion Design Contest returns in 2007.
Again there are three submission categories: a parking space, a block-long segment of street, and an intersection with the adjoining streets.
The contest is open to all. The details and guidelines are posted at <
www.worldcarfree. net/contest/>. The deadline for submissions will be August 15, and the judging will take place at the Towards Carfree Cities VII conference in Istanbul. Please circulate widely.
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS >>
SEEKING CHILDREN'S DRAWINGS/STORIES/ POEMS
The Sustainable Transport Book project is putting together a book written entirely by children and young people. The project would like to know: how do you get to school? How long does it take? Do you enjoy the journey? Do you face any challenges on the way? How does your trip affect the environment? These questions can be answered in the form of drawings, stores, poems, articles, or photos. More information at <
www.peacechild. org/transport> or write Anna Kitteringham at transport(at) peacechild. org. The closing date is June 30.
FRIENDS OF THE EARTH: JOBS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Frequently, road building and car manufacturing are justified on the grounds that they will create jobs. In order to counter this myth that sustainable projects means less jobs, Friends of the Earth UK has put together a database of arguments and examples about job creation on environmentally sustainable projects. For information and access to the database visit <
. foe.co.uk/ campaigns/ economics/ jobs>.
GTZ PHOTO GALLERY
As part of its Sustainable Urban Transport project, GTZ offers a wealth photos from Asia and Africa. Have a look at <
www.sutp. org/index. php?option= com_zoom&Itemid=51&lang=en> and if you are interested in using the pictures for your project, contact sutp(at)sutp. org for more information.
TELL THE EU TO MAKE CARS MORE FUEL-EFFICIENT
As car manufacturers are unable to meet their own voluntary CO2 emission reductions, the EU would like to make 120gCO2/km targets mandatory by 2012. "Please tell the EU to take tough action to improve car fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions from new cars," writes Friends of the Earth. The deadline for responses is June 30 <
www.foeeurop e.org/cyberactio n>.
Bulletin #44 by Steven Logan
<selogan(at)worldcar free.net>
[end]
World Carfree News is published once a month by World Carfree Network.