Pacific Spirit Marine Institute
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
The 10,000 delegates from around the globe descended upon Bali for the beginning of the unprecedented U.N Climate Change Conference. As we pointed out in our November 19 article “…Handing out pink slips“, the additional burden of 10,000 delegates with entourage will have a huge impact on the environment in Bali.
The U.N. estimates 47,000 tons of additional carbon dioxide and other pollutants will be pumped into the atmosphere during the 12-day conference in Bali. Chris Goodall, author of “how to live a low-carbon life” thinks the U.N. underestimates that amount. Goodall is quoted in the ’seattlepi.com’ as saying he believes the real figure will more in the neighborhood of 100,000 tons, which would be close to what, a small country like, Chad churns out in a years time.
What is the solution to throwing a party for 10,000 people and their accompaniment?
Provide 200 bright-yellow mountain bikes for the 10,000 delegates to share.
In the mid-1990’s a ‘yellow bike” program was started in Portland, Oregon. Soon after its launch there the program was tried in Fresno, California. The yellow bikes, in large quantity, were placed randomly around the city for people to use, on their honor. Upon reaching their destination cyclists were to leave the bike at a corner for someone else to use. Alas, these bikes were stolen and repainted, some were stripped and left on street corners without tires or seats. One could see at times only a tiny yellow bike frame slung to the pavement.
We hope the 200 bright yellow bikes provided for the 10,000 delegates at the conference in Bali do not meet the same fate. The gesture of the yellow bikes seems symbolic at best. At worst it looks like just another instance of paying lip-service to a problem that is looking everyday to be insurmountable.
Less talk and more action. We will see if any action comes from all the talk. The conference looks to be a giant trade-show for peddlers cashing in on the global climate crisis and a 2 week vacation in paradise for most of the delegates. It’s being said that despite the UN IPCC scientists pleas for urgent action, there is a “palpable lack of urgency”.
Chairman of the Bali Tourism board, Ida Bagus Ngurah Wijaya, has long been worried Bali facilities and infrastructures would be overstretched by the UN Conference. December is normally Bali’s peak tourist season. With the additional crunch of delegates will Bali be able to hold up under the strain?
Wijaya says with estimates of 15,000-20,000 actual conference participants and accompanying persons attending the UNFCCC, Bali’s carrying capacity is certain to undergo a critical test.
Labels: Bali, IPCC, U.N. Climate Change Summit, Yellow Bikes
© 2009, Pacific Spirit Marine Institute.
IPCC Bali update! One more ‘Yellow Bike’ program
Monday, November 19, 2007
Mother Earth will make her position, as the Ultimate Despot, known one way or another. Just as a fetus signals its mother host with what is known as the quickening, our mother host earth has been signaling her guests, that’s us, with a type of quickening of her own.
The IPCC, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, has presented its 4th and final report for 2007 on Climate Change in Valencia, Spain. The report was compiled from thousands of pages of research data taking place over some 6 years. The research leaves no room for denial that mankind is getting ready to receive its eviction notice from the womb of its Mother Earth.
This report will be in the hands of 10,000 delegates expected in Bali December 3rd through the 14th when they gather to beat, whip and discuss ad nauseam the could’a, should’a, would’a of climate change and its ‘potential’ affect on humanity.
In many ways this final report of 2007 gives hope to humanity that something really meaningful will take place in the effort to bring the earth’s inhabitants into complete alignment on the climate change front.
Quotes from the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali Webpage.
“Our Goals must be nothing short of a real breakthrough in Bali.” Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General.
“…the Bali climate conference so crucial to the future of humankind.” H.E. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of Indonesia.
“…therefore climate change is accelerating.” Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of the IPCC.
‘The consequences of global climate change are so pressing that it doesn’t matter who is responsible for the past, what matters is who is responsible for the future…” “But one responsibility we all have, and that is action…action, action, action!” Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California.
Many of the words used in reporting the conclusions of the final report lean on the old familiar non-committal language of the past such as ‘potential’, ‘could lead to’ and ‘unless’.
Pacific Spirit Marine Institute would like to see language erring on the side of substance and action such as; ‘will lead to’ ‘until’ and ‘evidence’.
We have long past the time for speculating on the ‘might’, ‘could’ and ‘may’ language of Global Warming and Climate Change.
There is evidence man made pollution, greenhouse gases and the wanton disregard for the planet we have shown during the industrial age have lead us down a path of destruction. Every person in the developed nations needs to immediately cease and desist walking with blinders on.
Begin taking steps at home to start giving aide and comfort to the earth. She is not our enemy.
Every sheet of paper, every can or bottle that ends up in your personal garbage can should break your heart to the point of taking action.
It’s a lofty idea to think that 10,000 delegates from around the world will travel to Bali and solve the problems we are facing, but 10,000 delegates is the picture of trying to build an elephant by committee. Before they have even touched pen to paper they 10,000 extra people traveling to one location have already added to the problem of pollution.
Restoring health to the oceans will go a long way toward helping to heal the rest of the planet’s problems. Politics, industry and man’s penchant for over-indulgence all go hand in hand hurling us into a future we cannot contemplate.
Reduce Reuse Recycle.
Photo Thanks: NASA.gov
Labels: Climate Change, Global Warming, IPCC, U.N. Climate Change Summit
© 2009, Pacific Spirit Marine Institute.
IPCC Report! Earth’s Ready To Start Handing Out Pink Slips!
Friday, October 26, 2007
But…maybe you can identify this man or woman, spend as much time as you need.
They shoot horses don’t they?
1,400 scientists have concluded humans have punched their dance card for the final time. Humans have danced themselves to the brink of annihilation and done it without taking so much as a break to sleep. However, it seems we have taken more than enough time to have sex and over eat.
Let them eat cake and reproduce into oblivion.
Earth’s population has grown by 34% since 1987.
Each person in the world requires 1/3 more of the earths resources than she is able to now supply. Just try to balance your checking account with that kind of cash flow. It can’t be done. The earth ‘audit’ was done by 400 scientists all experts in their field and then vetted by 1.000 others.
In the face of what seems to be the most dire predictions of doom awaiting the planet we are slapped the cold wet fist of industry:
damage sustained to the environment was of fundamental economic concern, and if left unchecked would affect economic growth
Is there no light at the end of this tunnel? There will be zero commerce when the stores and factories stand empty vanquished of consumers and workers. It seems patently obvious to most of us a symbiotic relationship between profits and consumers must exist. Killing the customer doesn’t make much sense, but that is exactly the monster that has been methodically created.
Achim Steiner, executive director of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), said “The systematic destruction of the Earth’s natural and nature-based resources has reached a point where the economic viability of economies is being challenged, and where the bill we hand to our children may prove impossible to pay.”
On the very same pages these stories are crying doom and extinction are listed a bevy of mind-numbing fluff.
Click here to see rugby legends discuss the topics you raised!
Love Sudoku? Play our brand new interactive game!
Play Fantasy CEO!
Play Fantasy Football!
New suspect in Madeleine McCann disappearance! (he has no face, but look at the sketch anyway)
Find out what was behind Marie Osmond’s Fall on Dancing with the Stars!
Oh please, can we become any more pathetic?
May my finger fall off if I try to click on one more totally irrelevant story designed to detour my mind from the real problems facing me, and the rest of us today!
See how the scientists were chosen
Labels: Environment, Humanity survival, U.N. Climate Change Summit, UNEP, United Nations
© 2009, Pacific Spirit Marine Institute.
Humanity’s very survival at risk!
Friday, October 5, 2007
What do you do if you hold the world record for being the deforestation champion? You host the U.N. Climate Change summit!
Before your guests arrive, from 189 countries, you spruce things up by planting 79 million trees in a single day.
That’s what is happening in Indonesia, where they destroyed an area of forest the size of 300 soccer fields PER HOUR between 2000 and 2005, this according to Greenpeace.
It would be nice attain a world record for planting the most trees in one day. I’m kind of feeling like 79 million seedlings still wouldn’t equal 300 soccer fields per hour for 5 years, but it’s a nice start.
Indonesia is one of the worlds top 3 greenhouse gas emitters due to deforestation, along with the U.S. and China.
China recently became #1 ahead of the U.S.
The tree planting event is scheduled to take place in November with the summit being held in December.
Australia will contribute $22 million to preserve 173,000 acres of peat forest in Indonesia’s kalimantan region and re-flood nearly 500,000 acres of dried up peat swamps. The dried up peat swamps were left as a result of a failed plan to use that land to grow rice. Indonesia wanted to provide all of it’s own rice needs. 10 years later the fields of peat lie brittle and dry catching fire frequently.
When the peat lands burn it sends billows of smoke on the wind to neighbors in the region. Not exactly a good neighbor policy.
The plan is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 700 million tonnes over the next 30 years.
Photo Thanks: IAEA, International Atomic Energy Agency
Labels: Australia, IAEA, Indonesia, U.N. Climate Change Summit, deforestation, greenhouse gas
© 2009, Pacific Spirit Marine Institute.
79 Million Trees to be Planted in 1 Day!
