Category: Archive

The British Government’s energy review recommended phasing out the "stand-by" function on televisions and computers and trialling "smart" electricity meters among the energy saving measures to be adopted, reported The Independent Online Edition on Wednesday, 12 July.

Substantial range of initiatives: The report said these were among a substantial range of other initiatives designed to put Britain on the road to the long-term climate change target of Prime Minister, Tony Blair, of cutting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 60 per cent (on 1990 levels) by 2050.

21-25 per cut in emissions estimated by 2020: Officials said that when the new measures were implemented they would cut Britain’s CO2 emissions by 21 to 25 per cent below 1990 levels, by 2020. The measures had the double purpose of saving energy and making the energy used less carbon-intensive.

Many measures have been advanced by green groups: Many of the proposed measures – not least the new plans for decentralised energy and local "micro-generation" of electricity – were proposals that environmentalists had long been calling for.

Other energy-saving measures: Besides phasing out the “stand-by” function on computers and television and introducing smarter meters, the new energy-saving measures unveiled also included:

• driving the least efficient domestic electronic goods out of the market,

• providing incentives for large organisations such as supermarkets, hotels and local authorities to cut carbon emissions; and

• making new housing developments low carbon, or carbon neutral, over the long term.

Reference: Digest of latest news reported on website of Climate Change Secretariat of United Nations Framework on Climate Change Control (UNFCCC). 12 July. Address: PO Box 260 124, D-53153 Bonn. Germany. Phone: : (49-228) 815-1005, Fax: (49-228) 815-1999. Email: press@unfccc.int
http://www.unfccc.int

Erisk Net, 13/7/2006

A recent report by the Australian Glass and Glazing Association (AGAA) shows householders how to acheive five star energy efficiency for less than $2,000. Such an investment will save around $800 per year on energy bills, paying for itself in two and a half years. Energy efficient houses use 60 per cent less energy than the average suburban house.

Given that the median price for first home buyers has fallen 4.2 per cent in the December quarter, the AGGA says that governments should encourage buyers to invest the difference in energy efficiency. "Should the proposed energy efficiency requirements not be adopted, you have to ask, ‘Who shoulders the burden?’" said ian Koochew, executive director of the Association.

The British Conservative Party believes that nuclear energy should be the "last resort" for electricity generation. UK Conservative Leader, David Cameron, told the local government association in Britain last week that energy generation should be decentralised to allow communities to become independent and increase the options for power generation. The UK Labour Party had announced that it would overrule local councils who ban nuclear power plants in their jurisdiction, but in the last week Prime Minister Tony Blair has said he has "changed his mind" on nuclear energy and that he now believes UK energy needs can be met without it.

An article submitted to the Journal of Geophysical Research reports that the enormous aerosol haze from Asia is responsible for the observed shift in monsoonal weather patterns increasing rain across the North West of Australia as far south as Alice Springs. Climate change models which include the effect predict this increase in rainfall, those that do not predict decreased rain in North Western Australia. Residents from Broome to Alice Springs and north have experienced much more humid summers resulting in extended grass lands and the failure of evaporative air conditioning that relies on dry air.

Farrell rejected those calls, saying "We cannot allow political pressure from critics of unpopular ideas to inhibit the free exchange of ideas."

"There is no question that Mr. Barrett holds personal opinions that many people find unconventional," Farrell said in a statement. "These views are expected to take a small, but significant, role in the class. To the extent that his views are discussed, Mr. Barrett has assured me that students will be free _ and encouraged _ to challenge his viewpoint."

Farrell launched a review after Barrett spoke on the talk show about his views that the terrorist attacks were the result of a government conspiracy designed to spark war in the Middle East. Barrett is active in a group of scholars who believe, among other things, the twin towers were blown up by U.S. government operatives.

His remarks prompted calls from state Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, and Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Green for his immediate dismissal. Gov. Jim Doyle, a Democrat, joined the critics in questioning whether Barrett was competent to teach.

Wave of anti-union activity by government

The Iraqi regime’s decision comes in the wake of a series of anti-union measures, including the disbanding of the council of the lawyers’ union, freezing the writers’ union accounts and the September 2005 decree making all trade union activity illegal.  For that anti-union act the regime used the pretext of promising the promulgation of a future law to ‘regulate’ trade union organisations and their activities.

This action follows in the footsteps of US administrator Paul Bremer In 2004 Paul Bremer, the occupation’s then pro-consul in Iraq, declared trade union activity in the state sector illegal.  That decision re-enacted Saddam Hussain’s 1987 decree banning workers’ unions in the state sector by declaring them to be ‘civil servants’ rather than ‘workers’.

Hamstringing opponents of oil rip-off

Iraq’s enormous oil wealth is being groomed for Production Sharing Agreements, which would transfer effective control over all aspects of oil policy, production and marketing to multination oil companies.  The oil workers’ union is one of the most effective opponents of this policy, organising an anti-privatisation conference last year and another one to come this year.

More information here.

Where is the coverage? Where is the outrage?

Why isn’t this being covered by the mainstream media? Over 2,500 American troops have died for this government, and we must not let them die for a Pinochet-esque regime that represses the most basic rights of workers rather than a genuine democracy.

Below is a list of links to contact information for the US’ most prominent news organizations. It is our duty as progressives to ask them why they are not covering this story of utmost importance.

Associated Press
Reuters
Agence France Presse
New York Times
Washington Post
Los Angeles Times
USA Today
McClatchy/Knight-Ridder (under "SITE SERVICES")
Christian Science Monitor

Also, here’s some background information on the plight of Iraqi labor unions:

Pinkertons at the CPA
Iraqi Labor Leader: We Will Defend Our Oil
Murdered Iraqi Trade Unionist Trapped Between U.S. and Insurgents

And here are the official web sites of the Iraqi labor unions. They deserve our support for facing off against the theocratic and fascistic insurgency and the heavy-handed, neoliberal occupation.

Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq (FWCUI) & Union of the Unemployed
Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions
General Union of Oil Employees/Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions