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WORLD CARFREE NEWS >>>
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Edition no. 41 - March 2007 - English version
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Contents:
QUOTATION OF THE MONTH
IN THE NEWS
WORLD CARFREE NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS
- TOWARDS CARFREE CITIES VII, AUGUST 27-31, 2007, ISTANBUL: CALL FOR
PROGRAMME PROPOSALS AND REGISTRATION
- PORTLAND, OREGON, USA TO HOST TOWARDS CARFREE CITIES VIII, JUNE 2008
- CARBUSTERS CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: OUR CITIES, OUR SELVES
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
- GREEN PAPER ON URBAN TRANSPORT: MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
- FREEWAY REMOVALS
- BUND AUTOMOBILE ADBUSTING CONTEST
- CARFREE TIMES #45 ONLINE
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QUOTATION OF THE MONTH >>
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"Personally, I think tradable emission certificates are the most sensible
instrument to reduce CO2 emissions, and a very
market-friendly one."
- German chancellor Angela Merkel
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IN THE NEWS >>
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- The Via Baltica Expressway protest camp has packed up due to the start of
breeding season for rare birds. This should
keep the builders from constructing anything on this protected nature site
for the time being. The European Commission has
warned the Polish Government to cease construction of this expressway
through the protected Rospuda Valley in northeast
Poland, or it will be taken to the European Court of Justice. The
government responded that EU law was not breached during
the project preparations. The Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas will
make a public announcement next week on whether
or not to take Poland to court. For background information on the road
building see <
www.worldcarfree.net/viabaltica.php>
[Via Baltica Team].
- Ungdomshuset, the Copenhagen "Youth House," has been completely
demolished after functioning as a political, social and
cultural community centre since 1982. Riots broke out in Copenhagen as a
result of the evictions, and solidarity protests
took place around the world [Indymedia.org.uk].
- Opposition parties in the Canadian government passed a bill requiring
Canada to meet its Kyoto commitments. When Canada
signed the Kyoto Protocol in 1998 it meant that by 2012 carbon dioxide
emissions in the country would be 6% lower than 1990
levels. A recent government audit showed that emissions have increased 27%
above 1990 levels. The government "hinted" that
it might ignore the law [CBC and BBC].
- New York State senator Carl Kruger introduced legislation banning the use
of iPods and other electronic gadgets while
crossing the street. "What's happening is when they're tuning into their
iPod or Blackberry or cell phone or video game,
they' re walking into speeding buses and moving automobiles," said Kruger.
"It's becoming a nationwide problem."
- Beginning February 25, any "identifiable" group of 50 or more is required
to get a New York Police Department (NYPD)
parade permit, including approval of the planned route; the rule is
directed against Critical Mass monthly bike rides. On
February 27, the New York City Council passed a regulation to reduce the
number of pedicabs in the city from 450 to 325.
They are also banned from parks. For the full story see
<
www.worldcarfree.net/nyc/> [submitted by Naomi Renek of Time's
Up!].
- At the Gothenburg Auto Show the local branch of Friends of the Earth and
The 4X4 Network handed out 200 air-filled
balloons to children visiting the Auto Show with the message: "60 metres by
car = this much CO2!" For the full report see
<
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/03/364339.html>.
- Guayaquil, Ecuador, has received the 2007 Sustainable Transport Award
from the Institute for Transport and Development
Policy (ITDP) for its work in setting up a Bus Rapid Transit system,
improving public spaces, and celebrating its first
ever carfree Sunday [Itdp.org].
- As of February 19, Milan drivers are paying a "pollution charge" to enter
a 60 km2 area of the city. All profits will
fund public transport [Eltis.org].
- On March 8, the 27 leaders of the European Union agreed to a minimum 10%
target for biofuels in transport by 2020.
European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E) was urging the EU
heads of state to reject the proposal. "Biofuels
are often referred to as 'carbon neutral,'" writes T&E. "They are not. In
reality, they release greenhouse gases throughout
their production cycle" [Transportenvironment.org and Reuters].
- In the UK, 1.8 million people signed an anti- road pricing online
petition. However, Friends of the Earth and Transport
2000 called the petition "scare-mongering" as citizens are not being given
accurate information about how road pricing "as
part of a package of measures including greater investment in public
transport, safer streets for cycling and walking and
better land-use planning" can help solve Britain's transport problems. The
government, for its part, will not say where the
money from the scheme would go [Road Block E- Bulletin].
- In Hanoi, Vietnam, developers want to turn a 50- hectare park into a mini
Disney World. The main investor Vincom says it
will turn the park into the "number one entertainment place in Hanoi" and
will provide 500 parking spots "under the green
trees to meet the hot demand for parking in the city" [English.vietnamnet.vn].
- Retired Italian Cardinal Giacomo Biffi told Pope Benedict XVI that the
antichrist will present himself as a "pacifist,
ecologist and ecumenist." If respect for nature is absolute, he says, then
it becomes the basis for idolatry and an
obstacle to salvation [Catholic News Service and Harpers.org].
- Around one in two Czech people drive to buy food [Prague Daily Monitor].
- Central Point, Oregon, has a rubber sidewalk made from recycled tires
[Mailtribune.com].
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WORLD CARFREE NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS >>
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TOWARDS CARFREE CITIES VII, AUGUST 27-31, 2007, ISTANBUL: CALL FOR
PROGRAMME PROPOSALS AND REGISTRATION
This year's conference theme "Building a Livable Future in a Changing
Climate" emphasises the potential and urgency of
addressing global climate change through the creation of high-quality,
carfree human habitats, while also hinting at the
growing potential for change in the social and political climate.
World Carfree Network and our hosts the Turkish Traffic Safety
Association are now seeking programme proposals on this
theme in any of the following four categories: (1) presentations, (2)
debates/strategic discussions/project development
meetings, (3) interactive workshops/activities, and (4)
actions/excursions/on-site visits. In addition, we are accepting
submissions of short films for the video night, posters or other
installations for the exposition space, and street
reclaiming activities for a pedestrianisation action.
Proposals of 1-2 pages in length can be sent in English or Turkish to
<istanbul(at)worldcarfree.net> by April 30,
including a title and description of your proposed activity, the applicable
sub-theme(s) (Climate Change, Political Change,
Socio-Economic/Cultural Change, or Change in the Physical/Spatial
Environment), the anticipated or desired outcome of the
activity, any relevant personal information or experience, and your full
contact details.
The early registration period closes on March 31. See
<www.worldcarfree.net/conference/> for the online registration
form, payment information, and the full version of this announcement.
PORTLAND, OREGON, USA TO HOST TOWARDS CARFREE CITIES VIII, 2008
The Steering Committee of the World Carfree Network has decided that
Towards Carfree Cities VIII will take place in
Portland, USA. Congratulations to Shift, the host organisation. You can
contact the hosts at portland@???. The
conference will likely take place in mid-June.
CARBUSTERS CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: OUR CITIES, OUR SELVES
Carbusters #31: "Our Cities, Our Selves"
Looks at how urban form shapes our physical, mental, and spiritual health.
Deadline for submissions: May 15, 2007
What is "urban form"? It's how our towns and cities are built. This time
around, we're asking you to take a look at your
surroundings. What do you see? How do the circumstances of your
surroundings shape your daily habits? What changes would
you like to see and how might these changes change you? Reply to
<editors@???>.
As usual, we are always looking for good stories, graphics, photos,
and links encouraging the carfree lifestyle as well
as reports from the front lines of carfree activism. We always welcome cool
stickers, stencils and other agitprop for
reproduction in the magazine and to offer in the resources section of our
website.
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GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS >>
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FREEWAY REMOVALS
Is freeway (motorway) removal going to become a global movement in the 21st
century? Charles Siegel thinks so and he has
set up a site documenting the histories of freeway removals. Check it out
at <
www.preservenet.com/freeways>.
GREEN PAPER ON URBAN TRANSPORT: MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
The European Commission is seeking the public's opinion on "how best the EU
may contribute to improving transport and
mobility in urban areas" in preparation for the Green Paper on Urban
Transport. This document will be published in late
2007 and will be used when making European policy on urban transport. To
fill in the online questionnaire go to
<
http://ec.europa.eu/transport/clean/green_paper_urban_transport/public_consultation_en.htm>.
The deadline is April 30.
BUND AUTOMOBILE ADBUSTING CONTEST
BUND, Friends of the Earth Germany, is looking for "subvertisements" - fake
advertisements that call attention to the car
industry and climate change. The winning design will be used on postcards
printed by BUND and as part of a BUND web
campaign. The contest closes March 31. For more information (in German) visit
<
http://vorort.bund.net/klimaschutz/enttarnt/contest.php>.
CARFREE TIMES #45 ONLINE
The 45th edition of JH Crawford's Carfree Times is online. See beautiful
pictures of Portugal and read about carfree news
from around the world at <
www.carfree.com/cft/i045.html>.
...
Bulletin #41 by Steven Logan
<selogan(at)worldcarfree.net>
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WORLD CARFREE NETWORK
Kratka 26, 100 00 Prague 10, Czech Republic
tel/fax: +(420) 274-810-849
< info@??? et > - <
http://www.worldcarfree.net >
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