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>WORLD CARFREE NEWS >>>
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>Edition no. 42 - April 2007 - English version
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>Contents:
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>QUOTATION OF THE MONTH
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>IN THE NEWS
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>WORLD CARFREE NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS
>- TOWARDS CARFREE CITIES VII, AUGUST 27-31, ISTANBUL: CALL FOR PROGRAMME PROPOSALS AND REGISTRATION
>- CARBUSTERS CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: OUR CITIES, OUR SELVES
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>GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
>- LAST CHANCE TO GIVE YOUR OPINION ON URBAN TRANSPORT GREEN PAPER
>- TRANSPORT FUNDING CUTS IN THE USA
>- INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE G8 - JUNE 8
>- THE ROLE OF THE DONKEY AND THE MULE IN THE CULTURE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN - OCTOBER 12-14, HYDRA, GREECE
>- THE BREAK: A SHORT FILM ABOUT MUSIC AND TRAFFIC
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>QUOTATION OF THE MONTH >>
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>"As someone who lived under communism for most of my life I feel obliged to say that the biggest threat to freedom, democracy, the market economy and prosperity at the beginning of the 21st century is not communism or its various softer variants. Communism was replaced by the threat of ambitious environmentalism. This ideology preaches earth and nature, and under the slogans of their protection - similarly to the old Marxists - wants to replace the free and spontaneous evolution of mankind by a sort of central (now global) planning of the whole world."
> - Czech President Vaclav Klaus, answering questions from the House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress, Committee on Energy and Commerce, on humanity's contribution to climate change
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>IN THE NEWS >>
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>- As was reported in World Carfree News #40, the 4x4 network had a day of peaceful actions planned on the final day of the Geneva Motor Show, March 19. However before the actions could take place, Geneva police arrested all 10 activists and the camera crews who planned to take part. They were kept for more than eight hours for questioning, strip-searched, and charged with being "the alleged authors of threats alarming the public." Geneva Police seized their video material, laptops and mobile phones. "The disproportionate character of the measures taken to prevent a non-violent action," says Jeroen Verhoeven of the 4x4 network, "gives reason to question the underlying motive of this intervention of the Geneva Police."
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>- On Saturday, April 14, US citizens held over 1,300 demonstrations, actions and happenings across the country putting pressure on the government to cut carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. "The forces of inertia and business-as-usual are still in control," writes Bill McKibben of Step It Up, the organising force behind the day, "and only our voices, united and loud, joyful and determined, can change that reality."
>- On March 21, the European Commission announced it was taking Poland to the European Court of Justice over the construction of the Via Baltica expressway through the Rospuda Valley [Europa.eu].
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>- Dresden will lose its UNESCO World Heritage Site status as the government has decided to go ahead and build a controversial motorway bridge over the Elbe River Valley. On March 13, The Saxony High Court overturned an earlier 2006 ban by the Dresden Courts and said construction should go ahead, even if the World Heritage status is lost. For more information, see <www.elbwiesen- erhalten.de/en/start.html>.
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>- On April 2, the US Supreme Court ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency can no longer make excuses and refuse to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles [Earthjustice.org].
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>- The governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, says the environmentalists have to move from the margins to the mainstream realm of hip and sexiness, just like bodybuilding and disco dancing did in the 1970s [BBC.co.uk].
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>- Fidel Castro said that President Bush's worldwide promotion of corn-based ethanol to run cars "means none other than the internationalisation of genocide" [BBC.co.uk].
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>- City councillors in Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories, in Canada's sub-arctic, are taking steps to remove the requirement that builders of new houses be required to construct and pave driveways [submitted by Paul Falvo].
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>- A report by the San Francisco County Transportation Authority showed that when parts of Golden Gate Park are carfree, attendance in the park doubles, and there are no negative impacts on parking or traffic in the surrounding neighbourhoods [Goldengatepark.org].
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>- Thanks to the work of Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard, city officials in the city have to leave their cars at home once a month and bike or take public transport to work [BBC.co.uk].
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>- Americans took 10.1 billion trips on local public transport in 2006, the highest since 1957 [Emagazine.com].
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>- In Canberra, Australia, the average frequency of bus services is once an hour. "They [Canberra's planners and politicians] love cars and they think public transport is for losers," says Dr Paul Mees of the University of Melbourne [Transporttimes.co.uk].
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>- In China, some car drivers are intentionally killing their traffic victims to avoid paying costly compensation. If a car driver injures a pedestrian, the driver must pay for expensive hospital costs, while the family of a dead pedestrian receives only a one-time fee [Fr.online.de].
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>- Carlife PMP, a Czech insurance company, is offering insurance to drivers who are afraid of losing their license because they are often caught talking on the phone while driving or failing to stop for pedestrians [Prague Post].
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>- A UK cyclist who picked up a prostitute on a street corner could not be prosecuted, for the law on "kerb crawling" states that the offender has to be in a car [Timesonline.co.uk].
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>- Sardine Man is travelling the UK, drawing attention to the problem of rail overcrowding [Sardineman.org.uk].
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>WORLD CARFREE NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS >>
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>TOWARDS CARFREE CITIES VII, AUGUST 27-31, 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.
> See <www.worldcarfree.net/conference/> for the online registration form, payment information, and the full version of this announcement. Also note that all are welcome to attend World Carfree Network's AGM on the last day of the conference, August 31.
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>CARBUSTERS CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: OUR CITIES, OUR SELVES
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>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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>LAST CHANCE TO GIVE YOUR OPINION ON URBAN TRANSPORT GREEN PAPER
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>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.
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>TRANSPORT FUNDING CUTS IN THE USA
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>In 2006, US states were required to return part of their transportation budgets to Congress. Many states chose to cut or eliminate their Transportation Enhancements (TE) programs - the largest source of bike trail development funding. On March 19, US states received an order for the return of $3.47 billion of transport funds. This could be the end of most of the funding for trails, walking and biking across the country. Visit the following page to take immediate action:
><http://support.railstotrails.org/site/R?i=lxKR1TYqsnr493HKeKVX5g>.
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>INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE G8 - JUNE 8
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> From the Rising Tide: "On June 8, thousands of people around the world will take action to challenge the fossil fuel madness of the G8 government and their oil-addicted business buddies. Actions targeting the root causes of climate change are planned around world. Use this day to take action in your local area." See Risingtide.org.uk for further information.
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>THE ROLE OF THE DONKEY AND THE MULE IN THE CULTURE OF THE MEDITERRANEAN - OCTOBER 12-14, HYDRA, GREECE
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>The Free University of Hydra is organising an international conference celebrating the role of donkey and the mule in the culture of the countries bordering the Mediterranean basin. The conference will include some focus on mules and donkeys as an environmentally sustainable transport option. The Greek island of Hydra is carfree, and a large percentage of personal and goods transport is by donkey or mule. More information at <http://www.geocities.com/DonkeyConference/>.
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>THE BREAK: A SHORT FILM ABOUT MUSIC AND TRAFFIC
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>For an inspiring short film about how we can musically change the traffic tempo that drums its way through our streets, watch this short film by Czech filmmaker Vit Klusak: <http://www.provazek.cz/obrazky/video/budar_vaclavak.wmv>.
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>...
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>Bulletin #42 by Steven Logan
><selogan(at)worldcarfree.net>
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>[end]
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>_________________________________________________
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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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>World Carfree News is published once a month by World Carfree Network.
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