Published Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 12:07
by
asa.westlund
in Save our planet (83 views and 2 comments)
Almost
daily we hear alarming news about one of the biggest challenges
of our time – the one about the global warming. As citizens and
consumers we have a responsibility to act. A responsibility not
always easy to handle. Scientific reports from governments,
companies and others are sometimes contradictory, and it’s easy
to lose hope and feel powerless. This is where the EU, as a big
actor on the world wide market has an important role to play. It
is here we see the necessity of political action rather than just
letting the free market decide.
But it is not enough- It must also be easier for all European
citizens to make environment friendly decisions and thereby
taking their own responsibility! The environmental crisis is to
enormous and complex to be solved on just one political level.
Its first when we act both individually, locally, in larger
regions and globally that we can make a change. It does not mean
that we can wait for someone else to take responsibility, rather
that we all must take action now. We have to act as a united
front. Many citizens are trying to take action. With everyday
actions, like leaving the car at home and travel by bus, or
buying locally produced and bio grown products, everyone can make
a difference.
At the same time it has to be easy to make the right choice,...
Published Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 11:23
by
Editor
in Save our planet (107 views and 0 comments)
Socialists are pushing for
more action on climate change, since it is necessary to act now,
leaving aside the disastrous “business as usual approach”.
Socialist MEP Linda McAvan (Labour UK) hosted the WWF debate “EU
Climate action : Do 30% NOW!” on 6 May 2008. Here are a few
conclusions from the meeting:Published Monday, May 5, 2008 at 12:22
by
asa.westlund
in Save our planet (218 views and 4 comments)
Sometimes I wonder if
we only can discuss one environmental topic at the time.Published Monday, May 5, 2008 at 11:55
by
FrancoisC
in Save our planet (96 views and 1 comments)
Tags: climate change, CO2, environment, oil
File:
Il faut en finir avec les énergies fossiles (PSE).rtf
Published Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 09:22
by
eromerof
in Save our planet (175 views and 0 comments)
Willy Brandt: “Democratic socialism has the ability to make new beginnings possible”.
Democratic socialism has been able to respond to new challenges and to a new a state of affairs through equality and social justice. Just as pacifism or feminism were integrated as new elements in the cluster of socialist values, the time has now come to include sustainable development as a central element of our socialist thinking and political practice.
The Left should take into account the consequences of environmental degradation for our planet and introduce solidarity as a fundamental principle in the implementation of a model of sustainable development that is fairer and more responsible. The challenge for the 21st century no longer is to achieve a better redistribution of wealth and fight for equal opportunities but also to respond to the more complex challenge of making the environment healthier both at local and global level. Ecosocialism should therefore be understood as a question of solidarity between and among generations, both in time and space.
A NEW MODEL OF DEVELOPMENT
Europe has paved the way for environmental policies aiming at
‘cleaning up’ the environment. However setting limits to
polluting emissions or working on water and waste management...
Published Monday, April 28, 2008 at 14:45
by
eromerof
in New Social Europe (230 views and 2 comments)
Nowadays, the panorama of the left in Europe does not seem to be very tempting. Only 7 out of 27 countries belonging to EU are ruled by socialist parties. These are: United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain, Hungary, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Cyprus. We could argue that there is a lack of real political leadership, a leadership that in other decades was embodied by politicians such as Francois Mitterrand.
The political victory of Zapatero in Spain last march gives the Spanish socialism a great opportunity to implement and develop politics that can be seen as an example for other European countries. It generates a new opportunity to take the initiative in the European context. Whereas the majority of countries in South America are governed by left parties, sometimes with a strong and questionable populist sense, and whereas United States are given an opportunity to give the power again to the Democratic party, regardless of whether Clinton or Obama wins, the European left movement needs to reshape its political agenda, taking the initiative and dismantling the demagogic and populist discourse of conservative countries, too much focused on very sensitive and easy to be manipulated issues such as security, migration, taxes...
From a Spanish perspective, I would like to introduce some of the main points for a socialist agenda. An...
read morePublished Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at 10:25
by
martina
in Save our planet (498 views and 2 comments)
Climate neutrality, or, in scientific terms 'CO2 neutrality',
describes processes by which the global CO2 balance remains
constant (source: Wikipedia).
In my opinion this CO2 balance no longer exists – we need to
bring back this balance before we can actually maintain it. In a
time of increased environmental awareness, this worthy goal can
nevertheless produce unusual ideas.
Our lifestyles are often careless: jetting off to remote
countries, taking the car to go to the bakery around the corner,
using the tumble dryer and all the other small things which makes
life easy. These actions need no longer give us a guilty
conscience. By spending a bit of money you can compensate for
your polluting sins. For example, take a look at Atmosfair,
Greenmiles, The Climate Company or My Climate. There are probably
more such projects, especially outside Germany. Yet a study from
Tufts
University in Boston revealed that only three of thirteen
such ‘compensation agencies’, including Atmosfair and My Climate,
are actually recommended service providers.
When travelling by plane, Atmosfair can help you obtain a cleaner conscience.
You can pay when you book, but also calculate and compensate for
your CO2 emissions later. When typing...
Tags: blogger of the week, climate change, CO2, electricity, energy, environment
File:
IT_climate_DE.pdf
Published Monday, March 31, 2008 at 11:55
by
cafeneaua.politica
in Save our planet (333 views and 0 comments)
Sign this petition for promoting in Romania and Europe
the healthy life, increasing the use of bicycles, and in this way
for reducing the locals pollution that generate a global worming
amount. Signing this petition you agreed to promote a law
initiative that will force the all Romanian and European local
administrations to generate special places on auto roads from
inside of the towns and communes in the only bicyclist’s
advantage.
Please forward this announcement to yours friends!
In Romanian:
Va invit sa semnati o petitie in favoarea unei initiative legislative in
Romania si Europa ce sa promoveze concret prezervarea calitatii
mediului.
Va rog sa promovati acest mesaj in cercurile de apropiati in
logica unui efort comun pentru un interes comun!
SorinPLATON
Published Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at 14:22
by
Editor
in In the spotlight (314 views and 0 comments)
The Swedish social
democrats discussed the future of EU when the Swedish Social
Democratic Party met in the Swedish Parliament on March 7th. The
keynote speakers were Mona Sahlin, party leader and chair of the
PES group Save our planet, Margot Wallström, Vice-president of
the EU Commission, Jan Eliasson, former Minister for foreign
affairs, and Wanja Lundby-Wedin, President of the Swedish LO and ETUC. Around 250 persons
attended the conference.Published Friday, March 14, 2008 at 16:02
by
Editor
in Save our planet (329 views and 0 comments)
At yesterday’s meeting of socialist and
social democratic prime ministers smart green growth was one of the
big topics.Published Friday, March 14, 2008 at 14:56
by
heisbo
in Save our planet (494 views and 4 comments)
Even though discussion
paper 'Save our
planet' concentrates mostly on energy policy, I would like
discuss also about the influence of the traffic emissions.Published Friday, March 14, 2008 at 11:48
by
AnneSofie
in Save our planet (393 views and 1 comments)
Scandinavian
PES
activists met in the village of Jørlunde, located on the
island of Zealand, Denmark on March 1st and 2nd 2008 to discuss
European democracy, politics and the PES manifesto.
Over sometimes heated discussions, the 80 participants agreed on
a number is issues, which we feel must be included in the PES
manifesto. Here is our suggestions for the theme 'Save our
planet':
Published Thursday, March 13, 2008 at 11:33
by
Editor
in EU in the world (521 views and 2 comments)
Published Monday, March 10, 2008 at 10:12
by
frederic.vareillas
in Save our planet (388 views and 3 comments)
Published Friday, February 29, 2008 at 15:44
by
frederic.vareillas
in Save our planet (449 views and 4 comments)
All right, my friend,
You are concerned about the waste. So, all I can tell you is: What do you suggest we do?
We have two years left before oil and gas cost ten times more
than today; solar energy and wind turbines can supply maximum 7
percent of our total consumption of energy; oceans are littered
with plastic bags, wrappings, and are 80 percent DEAD; the sun is
getting hotter; we are killing the great forests to get wood to
burn (and transform into paper); Earth's temperature is rising 2
degrees Celsius (which is huge) due to CO2 and methane.
What would you say if we could recycle and reutilize nuke waste
and nuke plants?
Think again: We have two years in front of us before the great
depression.
What do you suggest we do?
Friendly,
Fred
Published Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 17:20
by
Gwendoline
in Save our planet (372 views and 4 comments)
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault has been officially inaugurated on 26 February. A big vault has been hollowed in the Spitzberg (Norway): 4,000,000 seeds are now stored by -18°C! Researchers of all over the world have been working hard on this huge project. The aim is to “provide and ultimate safety net to conserve a capacity to feed the planet in the event of a disaster”. This safe deposit system has a refrigerating device to lower the temperature of the mountain that sometimes reaches -3ºC (in case the global warming were to reach peaks). The plant databank is made of edible seeds that would enable humanity to survive and recover from a global catastrophy.
See a video on the project:
This type of projects makes one believes in humankind. Of course
the very reason why we are building such a place is rather sad!
Are we going to witness a Noah's ark for animals? For human
beings? At the end of the day, every so-called superior species
has vanished from the surface of the Earth. So should we really
try to save...
Published Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 12:26
by
Editor
in Save our planet (491 views and 1 comments)
Published Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 10:16
by
frederic.vareillas
in Save our planet (444 views and 2 comments)
Dear friends,
I would like to share two other readings with you so as we're
able to think Europe's near future through:
First: There's a very interesting issue of "L'Ecologiste" #24;
Oct-Dec 2007 (French version of the original "The Ecologist",
London, UK) about the biofuel hoax and slowing our cars' speed.
Also look at the present issue of "The Ecologist": "The end
of food as we know it" (London, 2008). You should also have
a look at the website: www.theecologist.org – it’s interesting
(English and French versions available).
Second: A French essay by Eric Orsenna and Le Cercle des
Economistes: "Un monde de ressources rares" (2008,
paperback, French only). They offer some economical and political
ways to deal with scarcity.
Your friend,
Frederic (Paris)
Published Monday, February 25, 2008 at 17:22
by
frederic.vareillas
in Save our planet (489 views and 2 comments)
Dear friends,
I have read your remarks about my
post.
True. Nuclear power is not 100 percent safe but which energy is?
Coalmines ? Gas? Forget it: To many deaths. And oil is the
poison, our lethal addiction. I remember Chernobyl but, compared
to a French reactor, Chernobyl 3 was a poor piece of junk. Risk
zero doesn't exist.
Do we really have a choice? For the generation to come (25
years), nuclear power is the only possible choice unless we want
to be in a new dark age (back to middle ages). Do you want this
regression? Again, do we have a choice? We should have changed
and adapted 25 years ago when the oil prices quadrupled. We
didn't. Europe needs power - Europe needs electricity to avoid
wars and to keep civilized.
As to the disposal of nuclear WASTE I recommend again you read
Sir Jim Lovelock's book "Revenge of Gaia". This book is
a project to save civilization from the dark age. While you're at
it, you should also read "Vers un monde de ressources
rares" by Eric Orsenna and Le Cercle des Economistes" (2007,
paperback).
Then you'll understand the urgency of the present Europe's (and
Earth's) situation. Good luck, keep it up!
Your friend,
Frederic (Paris)
Published Monday, February 25, 2008 at 09:20
by
frederic.vareillas
in Save our planet (431 views and 6 comments)
Hi,
I strongly advise all PES activists to read sir James Lovelock's "The
revenge of Gaia" (2008, paperback). We absolutely need to
take his views into account.
Lovelock is 89 years old: He has nothing to lose and he tells us
everything we need to know.
Please read his book and think twice before you get your act
together.
Yours faithfully,
Frederic (Paris, France)
Published Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 15:55
by
Eric
in Save our planet (621 views and 3 comments)
Hey!
It’s my third day as your guest blogger, and today I would like
to present some specific policy proposals. And I will start with
a political issue very close to my heart: the environment.
None of my parents (Bo and
Gunnel) were members of a political party when I
grew up. However, my dad Bo was very interested in politics in
general, and environmental issues in particular. He started
working with green issues already in the early 1960s, when
Rachel Carson’s book ”Silent Spring” served as one
of the first alarm bells. At the time, my dad did some research
into why some birds’ eggs were too shallow and broke before the
new little bird was born. The reason was that the birds were fed
with foodstuffs containing mercury.
Ever since 1960s, we have gradually become better at ensuring
that growth must be ecologically and socially sustainable. If
growth means that birds are fed mercury, our society will not be
sustainable in the long run. The EU has been good at slowly
transforming societies in the right direction in this way, and
Mark Leonard wrote a fantastic little book about
how the EU's ”soft power” is so much more efficient than the...
Published Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 11:42
by
Editor
in Save our planet (658 views and 2 comments)
When speaking to Ilmar
Reepalu, Mayor of Malmö, Sweden, and member of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions, you realize
that mentality is really the key to change when it comes to
combating climate change. Since the mid-nineties Reepalu has been
working to change Malmö from an industrial town to a modern, green
capital of the region. And with great success – Malmö has received
numerous prizes for its green projects, most recently the
prestigious ‘LivCom’ award in London. Published Friday, January 25, 2008 at 09:57
by
Editor
in Save our planet (592 views and 1 comments)
This week Barroso
presented one of his most ambitious proposals to date; a climate and energy package that outlines how Europe
can lead in climate protection. But is it really ambitious enough?
Here are a few of the package’s key ingredients:
Reactions are mixed. Ministers and energy companies are
complaining that they find the targets way too...
Published Wednesday, January 9, 2008 at 15:07
by
Editor
in Save our planet (951 views and 2 comments)
Most people know that
owning a car impacts on the environment – but less are aware that
buying new clothes and going out for dinner also result in CO2
pollution.Published Friday, December 14, 2007 at 11:03
by
Editor
in Save our planet (528 views and 2 comments)
Today is the last day
of the UN climate conference in Bali. The big question
that has driven the talks in Bali is whether world leaders can
agree on a ‘new Kyoto’ – find common grounds for a new
international agreement on how to deal with climate change.Published Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 10:00
by
taipale
in Save our planet (609 views and 5 comments)
Best regards from
Bali. I was there last week to organize and speak in
two side events on behalf of the Ministry of the Environment of
Finland. The topic in both of the events was to highlight the
energy and emission savings potential of buildings and
construction. Big.Published Tuesday, December 4, 2007 at 16:27
by
Editor
in Save our planet (714 views and 4 comments)
A roundtable debate
on the ‘Save
our planet’ manifesto theme concluded the first day of PES
Council. Here are a few opinions and impressions from the
debate:Published Thursday, November 22, 2007 at 18:00
by
Editor
in Save our planet (545 views and 0 comments)
Who should lead the fight against climate change, if not Europe’s socialists and social democrats?
This question, posed by Stephan Singer, of WWF European Climate and Energy Policy Unit, was answered by speakers and delegates at the PES Council today. They want to turn the planetary emergency into a global opportunity. The PES adopted a resolution which offers a roadmap for combating global warming.
Speakers in the debate underlined that we know enough about the threat, and we already have many of the solutions. “It’s time to act”, said Linda McAvan, Vice-President of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament. To keep the rise in average global temperatures below 2°C, the PES calls for binding targets for the reduction of green house gas emissions in all industrialised countries and for the limitation of CO2 emission increases in emerging economies. The aim for 2050 is a reduction of global CO2 emissions by at least 50%. This is only possible with effective global, regional and national policies and an effective system international emissions trading system.
New, sustainable energy resources are the key for a low carbon economy. This requires massive investment in research, development and innovation, not least in Europe, as well as a global partnership to help developing economies get eh latest green technology to fight climate change and to cope with climate changes. Without our solidarity poorer countries cannot...
read morePublished Wednesday, November 7, 2007 at 14:35
by
Editor
in Save our planet (767 views and 1 comments)
Earlier this month more than 150 PES activists gave input to the PES manifesto at a big activist gathering in Brussels. We asked a few of them what they think the priorities should be for the theme Save our planet:
Friedhelm
Krawelitzki, Germany, teacher
“One important thing would be to stop gene technology. In the hands of capitalists gene technology is a dangerous instrument. I am concerned that it will create more poverty and does not contribute to the general development. In Germany there has already been an action against gene technology and I think it should be taken up at the European level as well.”
Aleksander Glogowski, France, communication officer
“In my opinion the PES manifesto should mention research in technologies that can supply energy in a new and more environmentally friendly ways. National governments and the Commission’s research funds should focus a lot more on this type of...
read morePublished Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 11:51
by
Editor
in Save our planet (844 views and 0 comments)
What will the PES do to encourage a low carbon consumption
style in Europe?
How will Europe’s socialists and social democrats address the
challenge of climate change?
Where does the PES stand on nuclear energy?
These were some of the questions we received when we encouraged
Yourspace users to ask questions to Mona Sahlin, leader of the
Social Democratic Party of Sweden and responsible for the
manifesto theme Save our planet. Check out her answers in the video
below.
read more
Published Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 11:01
by
Editor
in Save our planet (745 views and 2 comments)
Al Gore and the
United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have
been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize by the Norwegian Nobel
Committee "for their efforts to build up and disseminate
greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the
foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such
change."
According to the Committee Chairman, "a peace price is a positive message and support to all fighting for peace in the world." The award highlights the potential of climate change to cause conflict between nations - and the potentially transforming impact of the co-operation needed between nations to tackle this challenge. Is encouraging international collaboration to fight climate change the EU's next big task?
read morePublished Tuesday, October 2, 2007 at 10:51
by
Editor
in Save our planet (889 views and 6 comments)
Sometimes solving one problem brings about another. A recent study by the European Trade Union Confederation looks into the relationship between climate change and employment. One of the conclusions of the report is that prevention of climate change bears the risk of increased unemployment: If economic activities are slowed down in order to reduce energy consumption many jobs will be lost. Especially the energy, construction and transport sectors are in risk of unemployment, if CO2 emissions are cut in a way that might benefit the environment, but not the job market.
The study underlines the need for a European strategy for smart, green growth. We need to consider how to reduce CO2 without loosing jobs. Here the report is optimistic and concludes that with the right political initiatives lowering our energy consumption can even create new jobs. The transport sector is highlighted as an example, where jobs in public transport and rail are expected to increase.
How do you think we can balance fighting climate change with economic growth and high employment?
read morePublished Thursday, September 27, 2007 at 12:47
by giselaoliveira in New Social Europe ( comments)
PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen had a meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Br
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