Relative to this article; “Feds mull regulating drugs in water” is the widespread concern by DHS that terrorists could contaminate public and private municipal water resources in communities; nationwide and even globally. If this catastrophe ever did happen, it may take years to re-purify each resource and its infrastructure.

Summary of Associated Press news article: Feds mull regulating drugs in water

A burst of significant announcements in recent weeks reflects an expanded government effort to deal with pharmaceuticals as environmental pollutants:

- For the first time, the Environmental Protection Agency has listed some pharmaceuticals as candidates for regulation in drinking water. The agency also has launched a survey to check for scores of drugs at water treatment plants across the nation.

- The Food and Drug Administration has updated its list of waste drugs that should be flushed down the toilet, but the agency has also declared a goal of working toward the return of all unused medicines.

- The National Toxicology Program is conducting research to clarify how human health may be harmed by drugs at low environmental levels.

The Associated Press reported last year that the drinking water of at least 51 million Americans contains minute concentrations of a multitude of drugs. Water utilities, replying to an AP questionnaire, acknowledged the presence of antibiotics, sedatives, sex hormones and dozens of other drugs in their supplies.

Waste pharmaceuticals reach the environment when people take medicine and excrete the unmetabolized portion. Millions of pounds of waste drugs also escape into waterways from hospitals, drug plants and other factories, farms and the drains of American homes, the AP has reported.

On its new list, the FDA, which regulates medicines, says only 10 active ingredients in controlled-substance drugs need to be flushed to keep them away from children, abusers and pets.

At the same time, the agency announced it is working with partners to develop programs to return unused drugs instead of flushing them down the drain. The agency wants “to encourage their development and future use for all drugs,” declared Dr. Douglas Throckmorton, deputy director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Returned drugs are usually incinerated, which destroys most active ingredients. Community drug takeback programs have increased considerably since the AP’s PharmaWater reports.

The recent announcements have been striking in their speed and breadth. Just last year, Ben Grumbles, Silva’s predecessor at the EPA Office of Water under President George W. Bush, said only one pharmaceutical was under consideration for the list of candidates for water standards. And it was the heart medicine nitroglycerin, better known as an explosive.

Yet some environmentalists say the government should take even bolder action. “Identifying the nature and scope of the problem is not the same thing as addressing the causes of the problem,” said George Mannina, an environmental lawyer in Washington.

He said the EPA should do more to keep drugs out of the nation’s water supplies and not rely on expensive filtering systems at water treatment plants.

Jon Holder, a vice president at Vestara, a seller of equipment to manage waste drugs, said the EPA should be more aggressive about enforcing hazardous waste laws that already apply to some drugs used by hospitals.

For complete story see: AP Enterprise: Feds mull regulating drugs in water

Dec 22, 4:14 PM (ET)

By JEFF DONN

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20091222/D9COJDH80.html

Contaminant Candidate List 3 (CCL 3)

CCL 3 is a list of contaminants that are currently not subject to any proposed or promulgated national primary drinking water regulations, that are known or anticipated to occur in public water systems, and which may require regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The list includes, among others, pesticides, disinfection byproducts, chemicals used in commerce, waterborne pathogens, pharmaceuticals, and biological toxins. The Agency considered the best available data and information on health effects and occurrence to evaluate thousands of unregulated contaminants. EPA used a multi-step process to select 116 candidates for the final CCL 3. The final CCL 3 includes 104 chemicals or chemical groups and 12 microbiological contaminants.

Overview of CCL 3 Process (see 116 item list of Chemical and Microbial Contaminates)

http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw000/ccl/ccl3.html

Those who study current events are largely in agreement that we appear to be reaching a critical tipping point in terms of the environment, economics, geopolitics, and even consciousness. A concerned public – some now openly calling themselves “survivalists” – desire to be more independent and live a more self-sufficient lifestyle. The rise of sustainability and permaculture are direct outcomes of what more and more people perceive to be a sound response to an uncertain global economy.

Permaculture Community in Costa Rica

The epicenter of abundance gone wrong, and misplaced faith in government responsibility (and ability), is North America. Developing countries like Costa Rica have long held an attraction for independent thinkers and those seeking self-sufficiency. Among the developing countries, Costa Rica is the jewel; it is THE top location for more independent living: it is a country with a firmly entrenched history of peace and a wonderful year-round climate that is suitable for an independent lifestyle.

Wind Power in Costa Rica

The world is provably approaching a peak in its productivity and resource abundance; we have moved over the crest and our supplies are in a phase of rapid dwindling, according to many experts. These experts assert that countries primarily producing electricity by fossil fuels will likely face serious hardships keeping up with the ever-growing demand, especially in light of Peak Oil concerns. These same countries that tend to rely on big-box stores and factory farming with long supply lines will have the hardest time adapting. On the contrary, countries that produce electricity by renewable self-sufficient means will likely be the most desirable locations in which to reside during our painful transition away from fossil fuels.

In the early 90s, Costa Rica discovered oil off the Caribbean coast. At that time the country produced roughly half of its electricity from fossil fuels. The government placed a moratorium on drilling because it was too politically toxic, and the government stated that sustainability would be their new goal. Today, Costa Rica produces over 90% of its electricity through renewable means: hydroelectric, wind, and geothermal sources. Additionally, Costa Rica is at the front of the race to become carbon neutral, with its stated goal of becoming so in 2021.

Geothermal Power Plant

Policy aside, the spring-like climate of Costa Rica allows for fresh inexpensive fruits and vegetables all year round. What’s more is that most of the produce is local, so it does not have to be transported long distance; it is usually fresh picked the day of the ferias (farmers markets). By contrast, a pineapple costs more than an entire fast food meal in North America, almost forcing the cash-strapped public to eat the unhealthy alternative. Pineapples rarely cost over $1 at local ferias making eating healthy more affordable, which no doubt contributes to a life expectancy that surpasses The United States.

Farmers Market in Atenas Costa Rica

The variety of edible plants that can be grown in Costa Rica is fantastic . . . and almost intimidating. The majority of Costa Rica soil is volcanic in nature and quite fertile, providing the organic gardener with natural diversity and natural capital. However, insects do remain a challenge to someone new to organic gardening in the tropics. Rest assured though, every local community seems to have its organic experts who still practice what America lost so long ago. New ventures in permaculture have brought in formal institutes and consultants dedicated to sustainable practices that serve to augment Costa Rican tradition.

Permaculture Community in Costa Rica

One of the greatest characteristics of Costa Rica that often goes unmentioned, and is particularly important to “survivalists,” is its localism and sense of community. We all have read about the political neutrality, wonderful people, peaceful culture, and beautiful landscape; but it is Costa Rica’s localism that really makes it special. In our old agricultural town of Atenas you’ll find small barrios (neighborhoods) with independent schools, churches, markets, clinics, hardware stores, fruit stands, soccer fields, bus stops, and much more. Many expats comment that Costa Rica reminds them of America fifty years ago, when there was a sense of community, family farmers, a strong middle class, and thriving local commerce.

Additionally, since the Central Valley is considered to have one of the best climates on the planet, very few homes in the area require heat or air conditioning, thus reducing energy consumption. Furthermore, solar power for hot water and electricity is frequently used in homes, extending one’s ability to be affordably independent.

The government of Costa Rica has been a world leader in conservation, preserving roughly 30% of its landmass. The government has launched many incentives to protect and plant more forests toward its goal of being the world’s first carbon-neutral country. Because Costa Rica has bountiful forests and a healthy rainy season, water tables remain secure in most of the country. Although some areas of Guanacaste have water challenges in the dry season do to high winds, deforestation and development, fresh water is generally abundant.

Reforestation in Costa Rica

Costa Rica has continually set itself apart as an attractive destination for those seeking independence and tranquility. Costa Rica provides natural abundance and a peaceful atmosphere for one to live self-sufficiently on less income than North America or Europe. Indeed, many expats have already moved or bought property here, and even more are arriving based on their growing concerns over instability in the world. “It sure is a pretty place to ride out a storm,” an American expat proclaimed. And this “storm” may not be quickly passing through. Costa Rica is not only positioned to weather the worst, but it also offers a bounty of proven health and opportunity for those who believe in independence and self-determination.

A Response to Growing Skyscrapers: The Rise of Vertical Farms, Scientific American, Nov. 2009

By Caroline Peckenham and Aylara

Kenn Brown, Monolithic Studios for Scientific American

The world’s population is projected to grow exponentially in the near future, raising concerns about feeding an expected 9.5 billion mouths by 2050. The food crisis of 2009 has already pushed one billion people into hunger (FAO, 2007). In an attempt to tackle the current food crisis, conventional agricultural methods are becoming ever more unsustainable with increased inputs of fertilizers and scarce water resources.  Vertical farms are housed in skyscrapers and grow food in rigorously controlled conditions.  They are among several technological solutions proposed to address the global food supply crisis. Dickson Despommier, a major proponent of vertical farming, advocates building vertical farms in major cities across the globe.  His articles and op-eds on this subject have recently appeared in the New York Times and Scientific American. As a result of the attention being given to this potential solution to the global food crisis, vertical farms are now being considered by urban planners and policy-makers in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dubai and many other urban areas. The authors of this article would like to raise a few questions about the economic and societal implications of this revolutionary idea.

The concept of vertical farming developed as a radical answer to energy inefficient farming techniques, concerns about climate change, and the world’s growing need for food.  Vertical farms of the future will be located in large urban areas, reducing greenhouse gas emissions released during transportation, decreasing transport costs, and allowing overtaxed agricultural land to heal.  Despite the urge to gratefully welcome any solution to feeding the hungry, which at the same time promises to help address the world’s climate challenges, there are many problems inherent in the premise of vertical farming.  Vertical farms require an inordinate amount of energy and water, not unlike conventional farming.  Vertical farming also requires financial resources in order to buy up scarce property in an urban environment, build the  capital intensive farm infrastructure, and maintain the farms.  In light of these issues, how is it possible that vertical farms are being touted as an answer to the global food crisis? The enormous stock of financial and other resources needed for vertical farms is lacking where its most needed – the developing world.  Vertical farms are economically unfeasible in the areas of the world where population is projected to explode, and where, in the majority of cases, water resources are already stretched to their limit.  The bottom line is that promoting urban sustainability through the development of vertical farms is not the answer to the world’s growing need for food.

Rather than developing expensive, unrealistic, and technological solutions to the global food crisis, what about seeking answers from the earth itself?  Despite Despommier’s statement that “agriculture also uses 70% of the world’s available freshwater for irrigation, rendering it unusable for drinking as a result of contamination with fertilizers, pesticides, herbicidies, and silt,” the answer shouldn’t be to turn to ever more technological, input-reliant methods of growing food.  The answer should be to revolutionize the destructive, expensive, and wasteful practices of large scale conventional agriculture.  If land is treated with more care, if sustainable agriculture is practiced globally, and if trade subsidies are abolished on agricultural products from countries with rich soil, the authors believe that land currently under agricultural development would indeed produce enough food for everyone.  Local farmers could feed their communities, surplus crops from certain regions could be traded to regions suffering from drought, and local economies would grow stronger; promoting cohesive societies and better nourished individuals.  On top of these economic and social benefits, the land we live on would eventually become healthier and more productive.

Photo credit: dornob.com

Not only do vertical farms present a fairy tale answer to feeding urban poor and those globally suffering from undernourishment, but they threaten to diminish the already stressed relationships between people and place that contribute to healthy societies and communities.  Much has been written on the effects of urbanization on mental health and psychological well being.  Much has also been written and discussed on the importance of a connection to one’s neighbors and a connection to the land one lives on to human happiness and well-being.  83.5% of the world’s population is projected to be living in urban areas by 2050 (United Nations, 2000).  While there is nothing immoral or inherently bad about life in urban areas, what kind of future are we looking forward to if the majority of humans will have a decreasing connection to the land they live on, the farmers who grow their food, or the sense of community that gives meaning to life and a feeling of belonging?  Building vertical farms promotes urbanization.  Vertical farms propose to feed the growing ranks of urban dwellers from within the bounds of each metropolis.  In the developed world, where vertical farms are financially feasible and where more and more people suffer from depression and feelings of loneliness, how can vertical farms really contribute to a better society?  More urbanization will only worsen the societal ills which plague many parts of the “developed” world.  Happiness and well-being can be fostered by efforts at relocalization, promotion of farmers markets and community-supported agriculture, and revitalization of local farms and local economies.

We applaud any efforts to eat locally, to decrease emissions from the transport of food goods, and to make use of urban gardening techniques.  Rooftop gardens, “vertical gardens” on vines on your balcony, and city gardens in abandoned lots are all approaches to growing food in an urban environment that promote collaboration, a sense of community, a sense of place, and a sustainable urban life.  We are not fundamentally opposed to the concept of vertical urban farming, but strongly disagree with the belief that this can be a solution to feeding the unfed, or meeting the growing nutritional need of the urban impoverished.  We also believe that such technological solutions to basic human needs should be approached with caution, with consideration for societal implications, and only when combined with efforts at revitalizing small scale farming and relocalization of food systems in rural and semi-rural areas.  Is it unrealistic to expect conventional methods of agriculture to be replaced by sustainable, locally-based farming? Yes.  But rather than channeling our intellectual, financial, and technological resources to develop a concept like vertical farming that can only lead to further breakdown of human connections and a sense of place, we should channel those efforts and resources to fixing what we already have, taking care of our natural resources, and building a more cohesive human community.  Currently in press, Despomeir’s new book on vertical farms is called Vertical Farm: The Big Idea That Could Solve The World’s Food, Water and Energy Crises. With the economic and societal implications of vertical farms, we are left wondering – what’s the big idea?

Recently I have had a thought going through my mind on how I can make a real impact in my community.  I thought about my profession, architecture, and what I could do to better the community.  My thinking was influenced by what a friend of mine said that we as the church should be doing what our government social programs are doing.  Those were my guiding factors in my thought process.  This is what I came up with.  It’s just in the idea phase now and obviously requires a lot of planning.

As a deacon I know that the low-income housing in Ottawa is not very abundant.  So my idea is to provide my architectural services to design some low-income housing in the area.  I also thought about changing municipal legislation so that with x many new housing developments a low-income housing project must also be built.  So the costs would come from the developers and the city’s development fees.  This would ensure a consistent amount of low-income housing being built along with all other developments.  It would also ensure that low-income ‘areas’ such as ‘projects’ don’t happen because they would be spread out across the city.  Being in architecture I know that the majority of this idea is logistics and political red tape, and the actual architecture is the easy part.  But regardless I can come at it from the architectural point of view and make it happen from there.

So that’s my idea.  Purely still in its idea form, but I think it can be done and would have a large impact on the community.  Now to start.  Let me know what you think!

bg

The Michaux Promenade is one portion of a a lager rails-to-trail strategy within the 3000 acres. However, because of its position, it offers unique opportunities for strategic linkages and economic stimulus. From west to east, the Promenade has the potential to build a unique multi-modal connection for the community, and enhance recreational potentials of the Noisette Preserve.

The Intersection of Durant, Rivers and the Michaux Promenade offers promise of renewed stimulus and vitality, building on strategies described elsewhere in the Master Plan. Drawing form the personality of the Historic Iron Dog Area, this node will stimulate new development, embracing sustainable principles, higher expectations for urban form, and mixed-use diversity. The south side of the existing shopping center east of the Durant / Rivers intersection will be the starting point of the promenade, bringing new economic opportunities for visitor services. Additional municipal parking will be integrated at strategic points along Preserve crossings.

To the east, the promenade serves as a launching point for woodland paths into strands of oak forest. Farther east, the Michaux promenade crosses South Rhett, and a proposed interpretive site, additional civic parking and launching points for preserve trails. Continuing on, the Michaux Promenade become more to open to vistas, lowlands, and marsh. The O’hear crossing offers the p0ossibiliy to move over the Noisette again, or continue on. Shortly after, it becomes elevated over a north tributary of the creek. A new bridge and extension to Noisette Boulevard ties the Promenade to the larger north and south bike path system. The final extension to the cooper river will flank the norther gateway, also making a connection with the North Charleston Riverfront Park.

The proposed Michaux Promenade would run from Rivers Avenue to Noisette Boulevard. It will be part of an extinsive greenway and parkway network conecting the entrie community.

Existing conditions of an unused line looking east.

The same abondond line after undergoing refurbishment.

With the collapse of the financial markets in September 2008, society marked a new chapter in history books. This new chapter covers what we know as the great economic crisis, as measured in flowing US dollars. Economies all around the world either contracted or slowed their growth as measured in gross domestic product (GDP). Lives were directly impacted everywhere as millions of jobs were shed, entire industries collapsed, and the ability to purchase goods and services significantly declined. Many will look back and say that lax government regulations on banks spurred the housing bubble that largely brought down the number we so much have trusted to measure how we’re doing: the GDP. But in reality, those of us who understand what was going on decades before this “economic crisis” know that the real crisis is nothing but old and persistent.

The problem with marking a new chapter in history because of the GDP measure is that it fails to capture reality in big ways. While there was more money flowing before and therefore people could at least purchase basic goods and services to live, the real value that measures our satisfaction with life was never increasing; in fact, in many cases, it was declining. GDP, a very old measure of economic performance, unfortunately does not measure quality of life as we assume. In the past, it was true that higher GDP coincided with higher quality of life, but that goes mainly for developing countries. Clearly, if a poor farmer goes from having to work tirelessly to grow food to living in an urban city with basic services met easily, there’s a big change in quality of life. But when you already have basic needs met, GDP doesn’t always coincide with higher quality of life, and that’s exactly why we’ve been wrong to think that the crisis is new.

Since the 1970’s, it’s been pretty clear that quality of life in the United States has remained flat or even worsened. We may have more purchasing power, but our satisfaction with our lives really hasn’t improved. Social problems, for instance, have increased in severity as more people suffer from modern diseases, more work has meant less leisure, and technology obsession has meant less time being outside, spending time with people we care about, and doing the things we actually want to do.

On top of all this, add to it our ever-increasing total debt to our children and grandchildren. While we think we’re better off, entire communities continue to deteriorate and many have been destroyed, perhaps forever. While we think we have made it pretty far, entire ecosystems will probably never be what they once were. And while GDP has grown, we’ve never really been able to reduce our gross economic debt at all, even during the “great” Clinton years. We have ignored to invest in people, decided that destroying vital ecosystems is more important than using the services they provide, and wasted money in special interest giveaways (wars, lax regulations on banking, insurance companies, food subsidies, etc.). All of this under a political framework that supposedly should work pretty well. The fact is that it hasn’t and it probably never will unless it’s drastically changed (Note: I strongly believe in the power of democracy AND markets!).

So, when we put together the real value that comes closer to measuring actual quality of life, we realize that we’ve been in a real crisis for more than three (as in 3) decades. The difference between the “financial crisis” and the “real crisis” I refer to here is that one couldn’t be hidden from people while the other could. The financial crisis couldn’t be hidden from people because they felt the impacts directly. They saw their own lives change for the worse. The “real crisis” was hidden from us because we always said GDP was growing, and since people had basic needs met and didn’t think their social deterioration was really a result of their society’s decisions (but rather personal or community decisions), not that many people could figure out that we were going right into a cliff, as we continue to do. The figure below, from an organization called Redefining Progress, shows the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) for the last several decades.

The differences between GDP and GPI are not complex. GDP measures the value of total final products and services (whether they’re purchased or not), including the use of dangerous weapons to kill innocent civilians, the destruction of mountains to extract coal, and even the care provided to those affected by the same epidemics we indirectly promote. It also includes corporate profits handed as giveaways, NASA missions to find life on other planets, and lobby money to make sure politicians continue to keep this “real crisis” from ending. GPI, on the other hand, is the GDP figure minus all the bad things I just mentioned and more, except for a few. GPI takes into account the cost of ecosystem services we destroy and the cost of social deterioration. An improvement would be to also deduct a portion of lobby money to keep the status quo, “life discovery” NASA missions, and the appropriate portion of corporate giveaways that do nothing to improve lives.

The central idea behind this measure (GPI) is sustainability, the fact that we are fools to measure quality of life simply by our valuation of the goods and services we produce ourselves, regardless of their actual impact on society. Sustainability is a wake-up call that reinforces the notion that to improve quality of life, we have to balance out several needs. Those include the need to preserve valuable ecological services, the need to enhance communities and social cohesion, and the need to have working institutions instead of decision bodies masked with “progress as measured by GDP” in the surface.

The biggest mistake we can do is to come out of this “financial crisis” thinking that restoring GDP growth is success. We have to first recognize that we’ve already put a huge ecological and economic burden on our children in the form of climate change, the loss of vital ecological services, and a staggering economic debt that nobody knows how it will be paid. Then, we have to decide to stop investing in things that don’t really matter for people’s well-being now and in the future and invest in people themselves, in restoring ecological services, and in preventing economic waste. It doesn’t just mean changes at the government level; it also means cultural changes in main street and beyond. The Obama administration is quietly making a change in that direction, but unless it decides to actually talk about it, the “real crisis” will stay with us and perhaps worsen for decades to come.

What is Sustainable development? There are a number of ways in which sustainable development has been defined and redefined in span of time. Nevertheless, the core concept behind remained intact. Sustainable development is use of resources in a pattern that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for future generations read more.

Easter Island, it’s well known across the globe as a world heritage site for its renowned enormous stone statues called moai, once build by the inhabitants of the island. And not to mention its one of the world’s most famous yet least visited archaeological sites read more.

Much time has passed since the end of the Copenhagen climate meeting (COP 15), but there is still widespread disagreement about what, if anything, was achieved at what was billed a “historic moment” in humanity’s struggle to reign in the specter of human induced climate change. Historic the moment may well be, but possibly for different reasons than the organizers originally envisioned.

During his closing press conference, UN Climate Chief Yvo de Boer noted that the “the agreement (Copenhagen Accord) is “politically important, demonstrating a willingness to move forward. It brings together a diversity of countries that have put in place a letter of intent with the ingredients of an architecture for a response to climate change…but it is not legally binding.”

Contrast this UN doublespeak with comments made by China’s chief negotiator Su Wei who flatly announced that “this is not an agreed accord, it is not an agreed document, it is not formally endorsed or adopted.” This characterization is reaffirmed by the first sentence of the Decision of COP 15 which states, “The Conference of Parties (COP), takes note of the Copenhagen Accord of 18 December 2009.” The two and a half page document then goes on to describe what the member states would have agreed to if the Accord had been adopted. To be fair, most national delegations did support the Accord, but the COP decision-making process requires any final agreement to be adopted by consensus, which did not happen.

An “unprecedented deal” as Obama declared, it was not. It may be “an important step” but that is not what was supposed to happen in Copenhagen. The 1992 Rio Convention was a first step, as was the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. The December 2007 “Bali Roadmap” committed the world’s leaders to deliver a legally binding post-2012 architecture that would guide businesses and governments towards a low carbon future within two years. We are still waiting.

One of the most damaging results of COP 15 is that the all but a select few world leaders were shut out of the final negotiating process. Around 120 presidents and prime ministers attended the Summit, but only a small handful was involved in crafting the actual Accord. Previous drafts crafted and negotiated by thousands of researchers, officials and activists who worked 20 hour days to fill in the details of complex proposals to strengthen carbon markets, set meaningful emissions reduction targets and create a new framework for reducing deforestation in developing countries (REDD) were largely ignored by Obama and friends. This served to further deepen the sense of distrust that developing countries and citizens worldwide feel for the UN climate regime. Those who had hoped that Obama would miraculously save the day were sorely disappointed.

The big winners in Copenhagen were China and other developing countries interested in avoiding making mandatory commitments to reduce emissions. The Kyoto Protocol only requires developed country signatories to take concrete steps. The rest of the World essentially gets a free pass. Without a formal legal/regulatory framework, developing countries can make “aspirational” claims about future emissions without fear of retribution. Some use the term “symbolic politics” to characterize the tendency of politicians to make bold statements without substantive follow through. A less charitable name for it is “green washing.”

To be fair, mitigating and adapting to climate change is something that most developing countries cannot afford to do on their own. Less wealthy nations also rightly insist that developed countries should pay for damage done by past emissions. Hearing their cries for help, Hillary Clinton parachuted into town on the next to last scheduled day of the conference bearing tidings of great joy, a promise to marshal $100 billion in yearly climate related aid by 2020. $100 billion sounded like a nice round number, a sound bite that lit up the newswires. However, few details were given about where this aid will come from. Similar promises have been made before. One neat little trick that donor countries like to play is to take existing official development assistance (ODA) and “reclassify” it as environmentally related aid. Overall outlays do not increase; they just gets used differently for things like saving rain forests rather than building schools or feeding the hungry.  

Clinton promises that some of the money will come from yet to be developed mandatory carbon trading markets in the United States and elsewhere. Carbon trading is already a reality in the European Union (EU). The main benefit of a carbon market is that it integrates the social and environmental costs associated with GHG emissions into the price of doing business. The present EU price for one tonne of CO₂ equivalent emissions is about 11 EUROs (12/21/09). Putting a price on carbon provides businesses with an incentive to reduce emissions, usually through increased energy efficiency or switching from high carbon (coal or oil) to low carbon (solar or wind) energy sources. Governments can use their own cut from the proceeds generated by carbon trading to make additional social and environmental investments (like providing more help to developing countries). However, in order to make this system work, governments must first establish legally binding rules and regulations to guide market operations and establish emissions caps for large firms. COP 15 was supposed to establish a framework for setting up these markets. If businesses do not know the rules of the game, they will not make necessary investments to reduce their emissions.

So, where does this leave us? A majority of world leaders established a set of nonbinding aspirational goals to combat global warming. Some of these goals are more robust than previous statements. Click here for a full list. Certainly research interest in and public awareness of global warming has increased. These are all steps in the right direction. However, without a clear, legally binding global accord, these steps alone will not get us to where we need to go. Historians, and our progeny, will remember Copenhagen. But the jury is still out on whether it will be recalled as a positive turning point in our collective response to confront climate change or a failed last ditch effort in humanity’s accelerating slide towards uncontrollable global warming.

The discovery so close to Christmas has pleased local Christians.

“They say if the people do not speak, the stones will speak,” said a smiling Father Jack Karam of the nearby Basilica of the Annunciation, the site where Christian tradition says Mary received the angel’s word.

Alexandre’s team found remains of a wall, a hideout, a courtyard and a water system that appeared to collect water from the roof and supply it to the home. The discovery was made when builders dug up the courtyard of a former convent to make room for a new Christian center, just yards (meters) away from the Basilica.

The complete story can be found @ http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091221/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_antiquities

Concluded 

Well, to make it short: In 2008 Hypo Group Alpe Adria came in tremendous financial turbulences. The Global Financial Crisis exposed within a few days that Hypo Group Alpe Adria in fact is bankrupt, and so is the mother bank BayernLB. “Well, from a Geographers perspective a tsunami seems to be a quite helpful event in order to map vast subsurface swamplands of joint political and financial corruptive interactions”, Sustainche is convinced. Indeed, dubious national and international banking businesses, falsification of balance sheets, fraud, nepotism and money laundry is not restricted to countries that are traditionally called The Balkans. “Yes”, Sustainche concludes, “the Balkans does not begin in front of Vienna; the Balkans in fact DOES begin in Munich, Bavaria.

Sustainche is sad and speechless at the same time. When leaving Macedonia he thought that he safely escaped from the region of corruption, fraud, nepotism and money laundry, and now he finds himself in the same kind of surrounding environment, which by no means is in favour of Sustainable Development and a better quality of life. Also here politicians trample on each and every small flower planted and nursed by citizens to support Sustainable Development ! 

In the meantime the BayernLB is extremely happy to have sold their share of the Hypo Group Alpe Adria for only 1 (in words ‘one’) Euro (!) in order to not increase the losses beyond 3.8 Billion Euro. Hypo Group Alpe Adria is nationalized by the Republic of Austria and the Austrian tax payers start enjoying to pay the bill in the magnitude of 19 Billion Euro, which otherwise would have wiped out the wonderful tourism paradise Kaernten from the financial map of the world. Bavarian politicians now need to explain their beloved citizens that Balkan-Munich is not a financial centre of the world, and that unfortunately they have no moneyski left to support kindergarten and school education as well as University studies. 

All in all Kaernten politicians feel extraordinarily happy; they have a good laugh having shown the Bavarian provincial dwarf-(locally called ‘Provinzwichtl’)-politicians on the spot that they are the better Balkan boys. Sustainche would imagine that the honourable ‘Club of Best Balkan Boys (CBBB)’ already organized a huge Christmas party to celebrate the great victory with oro and skara in Hotel Aleksandar Palace in Skopje … wonderful ‘Golden Macedonia’ … wonderful ‘Golden Balkans’ …  

Merry Christmas, World !
Sustainche

Almost a year after taking oath of office and with the unexpected Nobel Peace Award to his brief presidential CV, President Obama must be evaluated as to his effective achievements in his first year in the White House.

Surely, media all over the world but more so the U.S. press will undertake a point by point fulfilment analysis of the President’s electoral promises. From a global point of view, one must get down to brass tacks to properly evaluate Obama’s first year in office.

At this point and time, the closing of the U.N. Summit on Climate Change in Copenhagen could be the best indicator of the pressures the U.S. President must have been subjected to in the last twelve months since his historic election.

The U.S. stand on curtailing CO₂ emissions showed signs of a shift away from the irresponsible disregard of the Bush Administrations (2000-2008) of the Kyoto Protocol; a new will to participate was expressed upon Obama’s takeover. However, after the Asian Presidential tour in November that ended with a China-US meet, thunder clouds again appeared in the December Copenhagen summit skies.

Obama’s charms lost force and the Chinese Government did not succumb to his persuasive speeches. Moreover, China has a firm grip on U.S. Government Bonds which are the funding source for the Obama’s anti-crisis strategy.

The Asian posture, mainly China and India, have remained unchanged in spite of the President’s efforts during his Beijing summit and at the first dignitary banquet at the White House in honour of India’s Prime Minister Singh. Without the United States and China accepting the European Union’s CO₂ cutback proposal and financial scheme, any alternative agreement would be a whitewash that would fall short of all minimum expectations.

And this is exactly what has happened.

Obama’s four-hour negotiations resulted in a lame pronouncement initially only back by India and South Africa, to later add in China and Brazil. President Obama has sought a way out that has put his goodwill relations with the European bloc in jeopardy.

Obama has likewise had his hands pretty tied up at the home front to make any spectacular promises on the principle issues at stake at the Copenhagen meet.  How much of Obama’s climate change posture is due to a need to face up to global challenges for approval of vital bills into laws?

At the outset of the New Millennium’s second decade, the world’s most powerful man Barack Obama, as Head-of-State of a nation whose international supremacy is put to test, must set up a visionary list of priorities in his quest of long-term objectives. A clash of interests among main issues vital before the eyes of the average American such as healthcare, Afghanistan troops, Guantanamo, Iraq withdrawal, unemployment, climate change, sustainability, etc. have been cleverly manipulated to cast the shadow of a doubt as to Obama’s capacity to live up to his campaign promises.

Has Obama’s lukewarm speech before the Copenhagen climate change assembly anything to do with the upcoming voting of indispensible funding and bill approvals on the mentioned issues in the U.S. Senate?

Have potent lobbies influenced the Obama Administration to prevent signing a new protocol that could prejudice vested interests profits and multinational expansion strategies?

There are relevant lessons to learn from Copenhagen. One that cannot be missed is Obama’s failure to live up to expectations in Oslo earlier this month. He now has to double his efforts not only to turn his words into acts but also to end his so-called just wars.

Obama must admit he cannot walk alone towards a better world in peace. We, the people of the world, are watching.

Fernando Fuster-Fabra, Madrid

Continued

“Ok, so, let’s have a look further north”, Sustainche becomes enthusiastic. North of Slovenia there is a country situated that is called Austria, and Slovenia’s bordering Province (‘Bundesland’) is named Kaernten. Kaernten is a famous tourism resort for many foreigners. Kaernten for quite some time was ruled by an internationally famous local Prime Minister (locally called ‘Landeshauptmann’) whom many foreigners thought to be a right-wing populist, if not a Nazi. He tragically died in a car accident in 2008. Kaernten is also famous for a bank called Hypo Group Alpe Adria. In one way or another Hypo Group Alpe Adria Bank was always under control of local Kaernten politicians, and it were these politicians who fostered the banks expansion to the countries of Ex-Yugoslavia on the Balkans. Since 2004 Hypo Group Alpe Adria Bank is subject to various investigations on dubious national and international banking businesses, falsification of balance sheets, fraud, nepotism and money laundry. “Well, all this is expected to be very much likely for Balkan countries, isn’t it”, Sustainche thinks and he remembers that some strange mutual aid between banks and politicians were also discussed in Macedonia. 

Ok, some malicious Germans anyway express the strong opinion that the Balkans begins in Vienna, which somehow refers to the historical event that the Turkish Empire in the year AD 1683 stood in front of Vienna and there was besieged by a coalition of various Christian troops, among them Bavarians. 

Bavaria today is a so-called Free State within the Federal Republic of Germany. Bavarian culture is well-known to be different from other Germans’ behaviour in various ways. Bavaria is a famous tourism resort for many foreigners. Everybody around the world knows the legendary ‘Munich October Festival’, when annually in September absolutely normal people become so drunk that they don’t know where and who they are. Bavaria for quite some time was ruled by an internationally famous right-wing conservative local Prime Minister and – let’s say – businessman. He was so successful, and transformed Bavaria from an agrarian backyard into a prosperous business country, that he was always elected Prime Minister with more than 50% support by his beloved voters. Some Bavarians even today believe that the said Prime Minister and his ruling political party have also built the Alpine Mountains in order to support a flourishing tourism economy. There were also Bavarian Prime Ministers afterwards, but these politicians by no means were as successful as THE ONE AND ONLY Prime Minister. Of course Bavaria has its own Bank, called BayernLB. In 2007 the BayernLB all of a sudden discovered that the people in Bavaria and Kaernten have something in common in terms of culture and business behaviour. Therefore, the BayernLB bought the majority share of the Hypo Group Alpe Adria for 1.6 Billion Euro. Sustainche’s Blog readers might easily notice that the year 2007 is only three years later than 2004 . Sustainche remembers that he saw huge advertisement posters in Kisela Voda and Skopje proudly announcing the arrival of the Hypo Group Alpe Adria in Macedonia. 

To be concluded

Organizations work together to provide safe water, plumbing for Bahia Honda School

From: http://www.thebocasbreeze.com/previous-issues/october-octubre-2009-volu.shtml
story and photos by Adrienne Ochenkoski

Two local organizations, Bocas Educational Service Organization (BESO) and Operation Safe Drinking Water (OSDW), have teamed up for their first collaborative effort in Bocas del Toro. A while back, a stateside group from the Forest Ridge Community Church in Monument, Colorado had contacted BESO, expressing their interest in making a Mission Trip to Bocas to do some volunteer work. Local residents Dale and Kim Kaspar, who live near the Bahia Honda School on Isla Bastimentos, had called attention to the grave need for safe water and a plumbing system for the young students and teachers. Having access to fresh drinking water was becoming of critical importance, as in recent months some students were in need of medical care due to illnesses caused by consuming unsafe water. BESO got the two benevolent groups together to assist with getting the job done.

BESO approved a $3,000 donation toward the construction of a building that will house bathrooms and a sink for the children. Assisted by the church group volunteers, Dale and Kim have the project well underway. The building has been erected and the water and drainage pipes have been installed. The toilets and sink will soon be in position. The Panamanian government has agreed to cover the cost of the septic system that will complete the project.

Where the students used to get their water: from this tainted local stream
Los alumnos solían sacar agua de este lugar: un arroyo local contaminado

BESO called on the assistance of OSDW, requesting the donation of the necessary rainwater catchment tank. Joe Bass, executive director of the organization, said there was indeed a tank available. Joe, with the assistance of his capable local worker, Beneritto Dixon, along with Dale and Kim, installed the PVC gutters and tank beneath the roof of the school. A quick test showed there were no leaks and water easily flowed from the ample roof into the tank. The system will also provide the crucial safe, clean water needed to cook the children’s meals.

BESO and OSDW count on local resident sponsors like Dale and Kim to draw their attention to where their services are most needed in Bocas del Toro. Thanks to the generosity of visiting volunteers, and donations made locally and via their websites, BESO and OSDW are able to complete important projects such as these.

A heartfelt thank you to the visiting members of Forest Ridge Community Church for their selfless desire to help those less fortunate globally. The synergy between volunteers, BESO and OSDW cannot be underestimated. The two philanthropic organizations look forward to more collaborative efforts well into the future for the health and safety of area schoolchildren.

For more information about volunteering or to make a donation, please visit www.bocasbeso.info or www.operationsafedrinkingwater.org.

Together we really are making a difference!

Beneritto Dixon and Joe Bass complete the placement of the PVC pipes to catch the fresh rainwater
Beneritto Dixon y Joe Bass completan la instalación de tuberías de PVC para recolectar agua de lluvia fresca

Organizaciones trabajan juntas para proveer tuberías con agua potable a la escuela de Bahía Honda
por Adrienne Ochenkoski

Dos organizaciones locales, Organización de Servicios Educativos de Bocas (BESO) y Operación Agua Potable Segura (OSDW), se han unido para trabajar conjuntamente en Bocas del Toro. Hace un tiempo atrás, un grupo de la Iglesia de la Comunidad Forest Ridge en Monument, Colorado, contactó a BESO, y expresó su interés de realizar un Viaje Misionero a Bocas para hace trabajo comunitario. Los residentes locales, Dale y Kim Kaspar, quienes viven cerca de la Escuela de Bahía Honda en la Isla Bastimentos, han comentado la urgente necesidad de agua potable y un sistema de tuberías para los alumnos y maestros. El tener acceso a agua potable fresca era de suma importancia, ya que hace pocos meses atrás, algunos alumnos necesitaron cuidado médico debido a las enfermedades causadas por el consumo de agua contaminada. BESO juntó a los dos grupos para asistir y lograr que se concluya el trabajo.

BESO aprobó la donación de $3,000 para la construcción de un espacio que tenga baños y una tina para los chicos. Con la asistencia de un grupo voluntario de la iglesia, Dale y Kim pusieron el proyecto en camino. La construcción se ha realizado y el agua y las tuberías de drenaje se han instalado. Los baños y las tinas se ubicarán pronto. El gobierno panameño ha acordado cubrir los costos del sistema séptico que completará el proyecto.

BESO solicitó la ayuda de OSDW a través de una donación de un tanque de recolección de agua de lluvia que era tan necesitado. Joe Bass, director ejecutivo de la organización, le dijo que tenían un tanque disponible. Joe, con la ayuda de su hábil trabajador local, Beneritto Dixon, Dale y Kim, instalaron los canales de PVC y el tanque debajo del techo de la escuela. Una rápida prueba demostró que no había pérdidas y el agua fluyó fácilmente del amplio techo al tanque. El sistema también proveerá el agua potable crucial para la preparación de las comidas de los niños.

BESO y OSDW cuentan con el patrocinio de residentes locales como lo son Dale y Kim para que informen dónde son más necesarios los servicios en Bocas del Toro. Gracias a la generosidad de voluntarios visitantes y las donaciones hechas a nivel local y vía página de Internet, BESO y OSDW pueden completar importantes proyectos como este.

BESO members Mary Ann Nash and Adrienne Ochenkoski check on the progress of the plumbing system project
Miembros de BESO, Mary Ann Nash y Adrienne Ochenkoski, observando el progreso del proyecto del sistema de tuberías

Un sentido agradecimiento a los miembros que nos visitaron de la Iglesia de la Comunidad Forest Ridge, por su desinteresada ayuda a aquellos desafortunados en el mundo. La sinergia entre los voluntarios, BESO y OSDW no puede ser desestimada. Las dos organizaciones filantrópicas están muy interesadas en colaborar más en el futuro con la salud y seguridad de los niños del área.

Para más información para participar como voluntario o hacer donaciones, por favor visitar www.bocasbeso.info o www.operationsafedrinkingwater.org.

¡Juntos realmente hacemos la diferencia!

(left to right) Grateful teacher, Kim Kaspar, Beneritto Dixon, Dale Kaspar and Joe Bass, of OSDW, in front of the newly installed rainwater catchment tank
(de izquierda a derecha) Una maestra agradecida, Kim Kaspar, Beneritto Dixon, Dale Kaspar y Joe Bass de OSDW frente al nuevo tanque de recolección de agua de lluvia

When it comes to creating easy online donation, Tostan offers smart features.  The nonprofit’s name means “breakthrough” in the West African language of Wolof,  and it strives to attain sustainable development through education.  Spending 84.1% of funding on program expenses , Tostan works from its base in Senegal to empower communities without access to education to become holistically self-sufficient.

Not only can a donor contribute directly to Tostan through its donation tab, the nonprofit provides other creative methods to participate in its efforts.  Tostan does well to offer site visitors a separate tab, “Free Ways to Give.”  Easily identified, visitor can find other methods, especially during a tight holiday season, to donate.

Two of the methods, Good Search and Amazon take no effort at all.  Good Search is a search engine that will make small donations to chosen charity when used.  Amazon will make a free referral to Tostan every time the site is accessed through the Tostan site.    Clearly marked and easily accessed, these donation platforms empower a youthful generation with high ideals and low cashflow to begin a relationship with an organization.

Interestingly, this post comes in the wake of a  critical NY Times article regarding the abundance of questionable 501(c)(3) nonprofits offering similar services and damaging tax breaks.  In a harsh economy and a competitive nonprofit sector,  international development organizations with unique foundation and creative methods of donating stand out.  It is important, as the Charity Navigator blog notes, to truly research your charity. 

Write a comment and share other nonprofit sites that make donating a cinch or that have a standout model.

PRESIDENT EVO MORALES: [translated] Capitalism is the worst enemy of humanity. Capitalism—and I’m speaking about irrational development—policies of unlimited industrialization are what destroys the environment. And that irrational industrialization is capitalism. So as long as we don’t review or revise those policies, it’s impossible to attend to humanity and life.

Well, the expected sad ending at Copenhagen has occurred. Sure, Pres. Obama tried to put lipstick on the pig, but a non-binding agreement without significant targets is an insult to the paper it will be printed on. The only glimmer of hope is that some nations are realizing that creating the technologies, services, and businesses to rebuild and maintain a green environment are good to make that other kind of green, money. If this genesis of an idea, that intersects at economic self-interest, entrepreneurial vision, and build a sustainable world, flourishes those economies (and China is rapidly becoming one of those) that embrace  the next wave will build sustainable competitive advantage and a higher standard living for their citizens. The great dividend that will be paid will be a better world for most of humanity. Let’s hope North America is not left behind.

Update: The Times of London reports that ‘the U.S., China, India, Brazil, and South Africa—have agreed to list the actions they will take to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by specific amounts and have agreed to a cap on worldwide temperature increases at no more than 2 degrees. But there is no goal of creating a legally-binding treaty before the end of 2010 thus no enforcement provisions for this agreement. The major positive outcome for developing nations is the $30 billion of climate aid richer nations have promised to provide over the next three years, and $100 billion a year from 2020. Countries have until February 1 to announce emissions targets, though it’s unlikely any of them will.’

Sustainche is well aware that Christian humans soon celebrate Christmas. This is to remember the birth of Jesus of Nazareth who as Jesus Christ gave the name to Christianity. During this time of the year Christians enjoy listing Christmas stories. Therefore, Sustainche has the great pleasure to present his very special Christmas story. 

Once upon a time Polar Bear Sustainche was born somewhere in the Polar Regions.  He does not know where exactly. It is assured that Sustainche lived in Macedonia, a country that is situated in the southern part of the Balkans. Now, that he arrived in Germany, Sustainche feels privileged to be able to discuss cultural behaviours and business approaches from different perspectives, for example the Central and the South-Eastern European perspective. 

Being a Geography student Sustainche is used to first of all spatially define the region he wants to discuss about: The Balkans. The Balkans takes its name from the Balkan Mountains, which run through the centre of Bulgaria into eastern Serbia. Thus, the Balkans is basically a topographical-geomorphological description, which since Turkish times describes the chains of wooded mountains that are bordered by the Adriatic, Ionian, Aegean and Black Sea in the west, south and east; the northern boundary is usually given with the Danube, Sava, Kupa and Krka rivers. 

Countries which are geographically fully or significantly located within the Balkans are: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo and Greece. Concordantly, Slovenia, Romania and Turkey are located mainly outside this given Balkan region and are therefore not considered to be Balkan countries. 

Well, Sustainche is quite aware of the fact that the Greeks do not like to be named Balkan people. Unfortunately, the topographical-geomorphological allocation of Greece is without any dispute. Sorry, my Greek friends ! Sustainche has read lately in the newspapers that the newly elected Prime Minister of Greece, Georgios Papandreou, announced: ‘We either change our behaviour, or our country will collapse.’ Mr. Papandreou referred to the tremendous state deficit of 300 Billion Euro which equals to unbelievable 12.7% of the country’s gross national product (GNP) and he further on elaborated that all this misery is due to continues corruption, nepotism and fraud.

Sustainche is sure that if he would ask anybody on the street somewhere in Germany, corruption, nepotism and fraud would be typical characteristics which normal citizens would find to describe the Balkans culture and business behaviour. In this respect the Balkans indeed could be spatially re-defined, let’s say based on perceived socio-economical behavioural attitudes. “This sounds to be a very interesting geographical exercise”, Sustainche agrees, “and I’m excited to see in particular how the northern boundary of the Balkans will be altered. 

While living in Macedonia Sustainche remembers that many Macedonians considered the Slovenians to be thieves. After Yugoslavia’s break up Slovenia used some kind of creative bookkeeping tricks to show off as to be a quite rich country and Slovenian companies were usually overrated in terms of their value. All this was of course a nice start-up in the new capitalistic freedom. “Hmmm … , Sustainche thinks, “I’m not sure whether this qualifies Slovenia to be included in the club of Balkan countries.” True, on a worldwide scale ‘creative bookkeeping’ sounds rather normal … as normal as for example in Japan.

To be continued