Published Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 17:59
by
Editor
in Save our planet (96 views and 0 comments)
At the end of the day
eco-friendliness is all about improving our living conditions.
According to Michael Cohen, Mayor of Kalkara, Malta, this is easily
forgotten in everyday talk about bans and restrictions which will
help us save our planet – but at the same time force us to
fundamentally change our way of living.Published Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 10:36
by
Editor
in New Social Europe (104 views and 1 comments)
Last Wednesday
evening around 18h30. In the renovated Brigittines chapel in
Brussels Sp.a co-workers are getting nervous. This
evening we present our input for the PES manifesto. We have
worked hard to provide for an interesting program (attached), but
can it compete with the beautiful spring evening?
At 7 o’clock our fears prove to be unfounded. Sp.a International
Secretary Saïd
El Khadraoui can introduce the evening before approximately
80 people. We kick off with a debate about New Social
Europe. Europe has done pioneering work on certain domains,
but it turns out that a lot more can be gained at European level.
For example, the health services directive that we are still
waiting for. There is no discussion about the need for a more
social approach of the Lisbon objectives. But ambitious and
enforceable European objectives concerning social themes are a
logical next step. The conclusions run parallel: Europe has a lot
of instruments at his disposal, but lacks ambition and
decisiveness when it comes to social themes. Political action
pays off, that becomes clear in dossiers such as the adjusted
Bolkenstein directive. As...
Tags: democracy, energy, environment, health, political parties, transparency, treaty, welfare
File:
manifesto_spa_FR.pdf,
flyer_spa.pdf
Published Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 09:42
by
Duncan Anderson 
in EU in the world (120 views and 0 comments)
I don't want to suggest that PES/EU can solve this problem within one term of office. But I do think that the EU should start talking to other countries and organisations about dealing with the consequences of over population.
Over population or having more people on the planet that it can sustain was a topic of discussion during the 1970s and China responded. I'm not saying that we or other countries should follow China's route.
But over population is at the core of many global problems. We need to use artificial fertilisers and G.M. products to feed the world and even then a lot of people starve. There is insufficient water to both grow food for people and for them to drink. We can't provide enough energy for everybody without damaging the planet.
Question, how do we address the twin problems of having a sustainable level of population on this planet? Answer, I don't know, but I'm interested in listening to there people's views.
If it is decided to reduce the population we have to consider the demographics of having more older people who are above a working age - but still need food, water and energy - than younger people who would be generating income and therefore taxes to pay for the water, food and energy of the older people.
But until we start discussing these concepts, both amongst ourselves and with other countries we're not going to fully understand the problems and therefore we won't find the correct answers.
read morePublished Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 12:07
by
asa.westlund
in Save our planet (203 views and 3 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 (182 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 (293 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 (208 views and 2 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 (213 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 Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 11:30
by
Editor
in Save our planet (301 views and 1 comments)
Sometimes it takes old
technologies to solve the problems of modern life! This is the case
in the Greater Manchester Region, United Kingdom, where good
old-fashioned rail helped the regions out of its problems with
traffic congestion and pollution.Published Friday, April 11, 2008 at 10:31
by
noelhatch
in New Social Europe (243 views and 0 comments)
However, the economic layers of governance have been eroded by
globalisation. There is an increased pressure on costs. If we
debate the reform of the European social model, we need to debate
the reform of globalisation. Economic globalisation increases
within and between countries.
How can we develop a politics of international
redistribution?
Henning proposed that we needed a politics of national and
international redistribution - we need to explore a global social
politics. This includes:
Published Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at 10:25
by
martina
in Save our planet (538 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 Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at 15:12
by
Wind Energy
in Save our planet (410 views and 0 comments)
The world is facing
an energy and climate crisis. Globally, the energy sector emits 26
billion tonnes of CO2 each year and electricity production alone
accounts for 41% of emissions. The International Energy Agency
expects CO2 emissions in 2030 to have increased by 55% to reach
more than 40 billion tonnes of CO2. The share of emissions coming
from electricity production will increase to 44% in 2030, reaching
18 billion tonnes of CO2. Europe is going to be importing a growing
share of its energy at unpredictable but most likely higher prices,
from unstable regions, in ever-fiercer competition with the rest of
the world and at staggering environmental cost. Spare electricity
generating capacity is at a historic low. Europe has to invest in
new capacity to replace ageing plants and meet future demand. In
the period 2005-2030, the EU needs to install 862 GW of new
electricity generating capacity. 427 GW of generating capacity will
be retired in the EU and an additional 435 GW will be needed to
satisfy the growing demand for power. The required capacity exceeds
the total capacity operating in Europe (723 GW). Satisfying our
energy needs over the coming decades will be a big challenge. For a
region that currently imports 56% of its energy – and is on track
to reach 70% in the next 20 to 30 years – the challenge is big. Our
own...
read more
Published Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at 12:00
by
noelhatch
in New Social Europe (188 views and 0 comments)
Published Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 10:16
by
cafeneaua.politica
in Save our planet (412 views and 2 comments)
The most important matter of sustainable development doesn’t support the quantity of economic growth but the quality of an environmental, economic, social, and cultural development.A sustainable community effort consists of a long-term and integrated systems approach to developing and achieving a healthy community by balanced environmental, economic, social, and cultural issues. The Romanian (European) Social Democrats advocates a sustainable development of our planet and not the destruction of the environment and our resources.
It is necesary that the price of the different resources must cover all calculatable external costs. The government has to add the calculated charges so the different resources get the same conditions on the market. If the charges are creating an income, this income is to restitute to the inhabitants and to the companies (the same restitution per inhabitants or worker).
As basic measures we can talk about sustainable development when total production of the region is sufficient to provide for the inhabitant’s needs without requiring more resources than the area can regenerate (energies,...
read morePublished Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 09:40
by
Editor
in In the spotlight (321 views and 1 comments)
A group of German PES activists are the first to send in a paper
with ideas for the PES manifesto. Read the German contribution in the documents section of
Yourspace.
The EU working group from the SPD in Berlin proposes eight 'building
blocks' for the PES manifesto:
Published Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at 16:50
by
Poul_Nyrup_Rasmussen
in Save our planet (398 views and 5 comments)
The suggestion to
focus more on environmental issues is certainly a good one. I
usually refer to it as a new strategy for ‘smart green growth’, but
‘New Sustainable Europe’ and ‘New Social Europe is also Green’ are
also catchy headlines. Thanks to our PES activist for his
ideas!Published Monday, March 17, 2008 at 10:15
by
Editor
in Save our planet (383 views and 0 comments)
Published Friday, March 14, 2008 at 14:56
by
heisbo
in Save our planet (538 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 11:52
by
AnneSofie
in EU in the world (480 views and 0 comments)
The manifesto theme
'EU in the
world' was also on the agenda when PES activists from Denmark, Sweden and Norway met in
Jørlunde, Denmark on March 1st and 2nd. Here are a few
conclusions from this dedicated discussion group:
Published Friday, March 14, 2008 at 11:48
by
AnneSofie
in Save our planet (428 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 Monday, March 10, 2008 at 10:12
by
frederic.vareillas
in Save our planet (409 views and 3 comments)
Published Saturday, March 1, 2008 at 18:32
by
rikkeindenmark
in New Social Europe (458 views and 0 comments)
The afternoon of the Danish conference on the PES manifesto ended with a plenary where the four work groups presented a ‘top 3’ of priorities for their manifesto theme. Here are, from my view, some of the most interesting ideas brought forward:
Published Friday, February 29, 2008 at 15:44
by
frederic.vareillas
in Save our planet (467 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 (394 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 (532 views and 1 comments)
Published Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 10:16
by
frederic.vareillas
in Save our planet (474 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 (525 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 (465 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 Friday, February 15, 2008 at 10:50
by
carl0s
in Save our planet (522 views and 3 comments)
Many of our European
cities are blessed with a ring of surrounding countryside, such as
forests and other protected places. These act as a city's lungs and
provide an escape from the urban pace of life. In health terms, I
have never seen an adequate cost-benefit analysis of what this
means for the public.Published Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 15:55
by
Eric
in Save our planet (678 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 (725 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. 
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