BRITISH MPS' VISIT TO BOTSWANA 'CONTROLLED BY THE GOVERNMENT'
5 July 2004
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A delegation of British MPs has just returned
from a visit to Botswana paid for and organised
by the government there. The Bushmen evicted from
their ancestral lands, whose situation they were
supposed to investigate, have denounced the visit
as 'controlled by the government.'
Most of the MPs spent just a few hours talking to
Bushmen in one of the relocation sites, and most
of those chosen to talk to them were appointed by
the government.
When other Bushmen tried to explain how they
wanted to return to their ancestral lands, they
were prevented from speaking. The MPs did not
attempt to visit the hundreds of Bushmen who have
returned to their lands inside the Central
Kalahari Game Reserve.
Not all the MPs, however, were taken in. Dianne
Abbott told the Sunday Telegraph that the
relocation centres were 'more like refugee camps
than communities� I am quite convinced that they
were moved against their will.'
The visit was organised by the huge PR company,
Hill & Knowlton, which has been contracted by the
Botswana government and De Beers to counter the
Bushmen's campaign for their land rights. It is
one of many visits, all similarly stage managed,
led by Nigel Jones MP. Hill and Knowlton have set
up and administer a new all-party group on
Botswana which is chaired by Mr Jones. The trips
are paid for by Botswana's diamond revenue,
controlled by De Beers, and include luxury
safaris.
Nigel Jones told the BBC last week that they only
saw 'one or two people who were not happy'. When
the reporter put it that the Bushmen themselves
were reporting 'huge social dislocation', he
replied, 'Well, we didn't see any of that,' and
went on, 'the government has been pretty
generous.' Mr Jones has previously accused those
supporting the Bushmen's right to return to their
lands as 'prefer[ring] Basarwa women to die in
childbirth in the bush' and 'people to die from
curable diseases'. (The Bushmen are called
'Basarwa' in Botswana, a derogatory term.)
Botswana's President Mogae visited the same
settlement only two weeks ago and handed out food
and blankets to the Bushmen, telling them not to
try to return to their lands, in spite of the
fact that they are now taking the government to
court for the right to go back - the case starts
this week.
The Gana and Gwi Bushmen lived largely by
independent hunting and gathering until the
evictions. They are now destitute and dependent
on government hand-outs. They call the government
sites 'places of death', saying there is nothing
to do there except get drunk. They are arrested
if they try and hunt. Prostitution is becoming
common.
The Bushmen are the indigenous inhabitants of all
of southern Africa and, it is thought, have lived
there for at least 40,000 years.
Stephen Corry, director of Survival, said today,
'For the Oxford-educated president to hand out
blankets to the Bushmen and tell them not to try
and return to their land is like the British
'buying' the land of Canadian Indians for 700
blankets in 1850. British MPs were complicit in
that deal, and now some are doing the same thing
in the Kalahari. Both episodes bring shame on
Britain. Have we learned nothing from history?'
For more information contact Miriam Ross on (+44)
(0)20 7687 8734 or email
[email protected].
--
Survival International is a worldwide organisation supporting tribal
peoples. It stands for their right to decide their own future and
helps them protect their lives, lands and human rights.
Survival International
6 Charterhouse Buildings
London EC1M 7ET
UK
Tel: (+44) (0)20 7687 8700
Fax: (+44) (0)20 7687 8701
General enquiries: [email protected]
http://www.survival-international.org
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Linkwasha Safari Report - June 2004
June has brought us a bit of everything as far as weather is concerned. The beginning of the month was freezing, our lowest temp being 2 deg C at 7 o'clock in the morning!!! Towards the middle of the month some cloud blew in from the south. This certainly warmed things up for us at night and early in the morning. The last half of the month the days generally started off with a cold breeze coming in from the south east and cloudy to begin with. Most clouds would have dissipated by midday. Our highest temp for the month was 27 deg C.
The Linkwasha concession looks in fine shape. The bush is full of colour now with the various trees leaves starting to turn, especially the bright yellow of the Ordeals behind camp. The grass on the plains in front of camp still fairly long and although mostly golden brown there are still a few patches of green grass. The plains at Ngamo have been well grazed by all the Wildebeest and Zebra but a good amount of grass still remains. Waterholes are all looking good and the unpumped natural holes still have good amounts of water.
Despite the constant change in the weather here this month, especially with the cold wind, our species total for this month stood at an impressive 38! Our daily average was 19,5 species and on our best day 23 species were seen.
The Bat Eared Foxes are all coming out just after midday now to escape the cold nights and mornings, and we regularly have a group of 6 feeding on the plains in front of camp.
Aardwolf have been seen on 3 occasions this month, twice near camp and the other from Back Pans. It seems the one near camp is becoming very relaxed with the vehicles now enabling guests to get a good view of this rare nocturnal mammal. Huge herds of Buffalo are now starting to reappear at the waterholes and are all in great condition. Most herds have a good number of young in them.
The big Eland herds have moved off the plains now and remaining are a few small herds of bulls. Elephants made a huge come back at the beginning of the month and we were starting to have them drink out of the swimming pool regularly at night. As soon as the cloudy weather blew in the bigger herds moved off.
Most of the Elephant sightings have been of small breeding herds or bulls. We darted and removed a snare from a 3 year old calf at Ostrich Pan on the 27th. All went well and the calf was seen again in the herd and doing well on the 30th near Back Pans.
Ngamo has been amazing this month for Giraffe where we have sighted some herds in excess of 20 animals. Hyaenas have been very vocal at night around camp and on one evening we were disturbed at the fire by some chasing Wildebeest right through the camp.
The young male Leopard is still patrolling the boardwalks in camp and one often picks up his sandy tracks on the concrete of the main building. One night guests driving back to tent # 9 & 10 spent about 15 minutes with him as he climbed into a Leadwood on the lookout for Spinghare. Lion sightings this month have been very good. We have been spending good time with the pride of 10 and also with the huge Black Maned chap who comes through to check that all's in order with his ladies. We spent a whole morning with the pride at Back Pans as they chased and harassed a troop of baboons for about 30 minutes before tuning their focus on a small herd of Buffalo coming down to drink. We positioned the vehicles on some raised ground and then patiently sat and watched as they stalked the grazing Buffalo. They approached the Buffalo from three different directions and after 45 minutes one young male started the charge. The Buffalo scattered in all directions and after 5 minutes of what seemed like total chaos 3 young males and a young lioness separated a cow from the herd. They jumped onto its back trying to bite the spine and only once the forth lion jumped on its back did it actually go to ground. As they are inexperienced hunters at this stage they were not able to kill the Buffalo and all the bellowing attracted the attention of the now gathered herd. They rushed back, charging, and chased the lions off the shocked cow. She was up in a second and staggered back, amazed at the change of events, into the safety of the herd. While all this was happening one of the adult lionesses killed a small calf that had also been separated. In a short space of time she too was driven off the carcass and the Buffalo would not let he lions feed for over an hour as they guarded the dead calf. All this happened within 30 yards of the vehicle and completely out in the open, a truly awesome experience!
Sightings of the Rhino have been great. He seems to do circuits of the concession and his favorite hang outs are in front of camp, Scotts Pan, Back Pans and Ngamo. We have had no further sightings of the cow with her calf.
Our sighting percentages for this month are : Aardwolf 13%, Bat Eared Fox 87% , Buffalo 83% , Eland 43% ,Elephants 100% , Giraffe 100% , Spotted Hyaena 43% , Leopard 13% , Lion 40% , White Rhino 33% and Sable 73%.
Birding Linkwasha
This months total was 137 species. The pair of Wattled Cranes which arrived late last month are still at Ngamo and with all the water still there are plenty of water birds hanging around on the fringes of the pans. Other interesting sightings were 8 Painted Snipe feeding together at the main pan, the pair of White-backed Ducks in the Hippo pool with ducklings, a White-headed Vulture on a nest near Scotts Pan, Arnot's Chats in the False Mopane Forrest at Ostrich Pan, A Southern Boubou at Ngamo in the Acacia Woodland and a female Cape Shovellor at Ngamo Pan.
Linkwasha Camp is divided into two luxury tented camps - one with seven tents, and the other with three. Linkwasha is situated in a private concession area within Hwange National Park. The area includes many diverse habitats, including Kalahari savannah, acacia woodlands, as well as palm islands and teak forests.
This habitat diversity attracts many different animal populations and over 400 species of birds. The area is known for its big game, particularly the predators, as well as large herds of Elephants and Buffalo during the winter months. Summer months offer a complete contrast, as many of the plains-game (and their predators) migrate to this section of the park to enjoy the lush grazing on the open savannah. Game drives in open 4x4 vehicles, hides and guided walks form part of the Linkwasha experience.
The tented rooms, built under thatch, are large and comfortable. Each room has en-suite facilities including a shower, basin, and flush toilet - and an outdoor shower. A raised walkway links the rooms, the lounge and dining room. Each room overlooks an expansive plain in front of camp - so different species of game can be sighted on the savannah.
NOTED GAME VIEWING
The area is known during our winter months for its big game, in particular large concentrations of Elephant and Buffalo. Lion, Leopard, Cheetah and Hyena are regulars, and their prey includes all the plains game. Roan and Sable are seen in the woodlands. Birdlife is abundant and diverse. During the summer, after the first rains, we see a large influx of the plains game - Eland, Zebra, Giraffe and Wildebeest arrive in large concentrations to feed off the new grasses and shrubs on the plains, closely followed by their predators.
LOCATION
o The camps are situated within the South Eastern section of Hwange National Park on a private concession bordering onto Makalolo Plain's concession in Zimbabwe.
PRICING
High Season: 1 July - 31 October
Low Season: 1 January - 30 June and November/December
Camp Descriptions
There are two camps next to each other. A three-roomed camp and a seven-roomed camp, which means we can accommodate 6,14 or 20 guests.
Linkwasha Camp Main:
There are seven tents in total consisting of:
six twin bedded tents
One honeymoon tent with outside bath
This camp can accommodate 14 guests.
Little Linkwasha Camp:
Three tents in total consisting of:
Two twin bedded tents
One honeymoon tent with outside bath
This camp can accommodate six guests.
Tour leader accommodation is in staff area, with shared bathroom
Tent details:
o En-suite bathrooms in tent
o Outdoor showers
o Fans
o Mosquito proof
o Wooden doors
o Luxury tents under thatch
o Gas radiator heaters in the winter months
o Soaps, shampoos and insect repellents are supplied in each room
CAMP DESCRIPTION
o Slightly raised decks under thatch
o Plunge pool in each camp
o Fantastic views across the floodplains and waterhole
o Curio shop
o Library
o Outdoor boma for dinner under the stars as well as regular dining room under thatch
GAME VIEWING
Lion, large herds of Elephant, Buffalo, Hyena, Giraffe, Sable, Wildebeest, Impala, Waterbuck, Reed Buck.
The large open plains allow one to see large quantities of animals. Summer game viewing is excellent with Wildebeest, Zebra and Eland found in abundance on the plains. In winter the water holes are magnets for Elephant and on some days each water hole can get up to 1000 Elephants coming down to drink.
ACTIVITIES
o Game drives in 3x7 and 1x9-seater 4x4 landrovers
o Walking safaris with an armed professional guide
o Hides
o Wind and water resistant ponchos are provided for game drives
SUGGESTED DAILY ACTIVITY SCHEDULE
Below is only a suggestion as to what may happen in camp - as daily wildlife sightings tend to throw the schedule right out of schedule.
summer/winter
05h00/06h00 - Wake Up
05h30/06h30 - Light breakfast
06h00/07h00 - Game drive, canoeing, boating, walk with drinks & snacks
10h30/11h00 - Brunch/lunch
- Option to rest or sit at hides
15h30/15h30 - Afternoon tea
16h00/16h00 - Game drive / walk with drinks and snacks
20h00/20h00 - Dinner under the stars or under thatch
ELECTRICITY & WATER
o Camp has 220v generator-powered electricity, power is stored in 12v batteries which power the lights and fans in the rooms
o Video camera batteries can be charged while on a game drive
o Water for showers etc is heated by solar power
DRINKS POLICY
All drinks are included in the nightly tariff, except for imported champagne and hard to obtain drinks such as Bourbon.
LAUNDRY POLICY
Daily service, weather permitting, included in the nightly tariff.
EXTRAS PAYMENT
Curios and/or tips/gratuities will be billed to the tent number and settled on check-out. Payment can be made by cash (US$), travellers' cheques, and Visa or MasterCard credit cards.
If guests wish to tip, our recommended tipping schedule is as follows:
Guides - US$5.00 per person per day
General camp staff - US$3.00 per person per day
Specialist guides (if applicable) - US$10.00 per person per day. This is the suggested gratuity schedule only and is subject to service standards.
FLYING TIMES
to/from Victoria Falls - 50-60 minutes
to/from Hwange airport - 20 minutes
Makalolo to Giraffe Springs - 30 minutes
AIR STRIP DETAILS
Linkwasha airstrip is located 45 minutes' drive from camp.
Linkwasha airstrip co-ordinates: S 19.07.93, E 027.11.79
1000m long, grass strip, can take King Airs 90's, provided that they have high flotation landing gear.
GUEST COMMENTS
P.S & S.S - CT - USA - "Thank you for the Rhino and the Lions. We were charmed by the peaceful surroundings and the troubles of the world seemed to vanish! Wish all people were able to experience this "wild" life!"
A.B - CA - USA - "What a wonderful time and super guides. Best sunset pictures ever!"
K.D & D.D - WA - USA - "FANTASTIC! INCREDIBLE! A piece of heaven!! Great rooms, incredible food and warm and hospitable hosts. We could not have wished for more. It has met our expectations in every way!"
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Vacationtechnician personalized luxury adventure travel transports you to the most exquisite wilderness and peaceful retreats on Earth. Conserving rare biodiversity through low volume tourism; our aim is your indulgence -at no one's expense. Plan now to be assured a rejuvenating escape at a restful pace -to an unspoiled gem in the purest sense.
.::. vacationtechnician.com = conserving the most enchanting wilderness chill out retreats on Earth .::.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
International private sector partnership attempts to tackle �Kyoto Protocol Exempt Global Airline Industry�s Pollution,� -one traveler at a time.
Greenwood Lake, New York (PRWEB) Jun 29, 2004 � The Global Airline Industry is sharply reducing the positive environmental benefits of the Kyoto Protocol.
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The VacationTechnician Company
155 Blueberry Hill
Greenwood Lake, NY 10925
1-866-589-8792 USA
001-866-589-8792 International
http://www.vacationtechnician.com/x/climatecare.htm
Tom Morton
ClimateCare
58 Church Way
Oxford
OX4 4EF
United Kingdom
http://www.climatecare.org
Tel: +44 (0)1865 777 770
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Vacationtechnician personalized luxury adventure travel transports you to the most exquisite wilderness and peaceful retreats on Earth. Conserving rare biodiversity through low volume tourism; our aim is your indulgence -at no one's expense. Plan now to be assured a rejuvenating escape at a restful pace -to an unspoiled gem in the purest sense.
.::. vacationtechnician.com = conserving the most enchanting wilderness chill out retreats on Earth .::.
First Ever Standards Linking Climate Change, Biodiversity and Poverty Opened Up for Global Peer Review
Global Collaboration between Private Sector, Conservation Groups and Academia seek practical solutions to fight global warming while conserving biodiversity and alleviating poverty
Washington, DC - The first ever set of standards certifying land use projects that reduce global warming while conserving the environment and alleviating poverty have been opened up for global peer review and comment by the Climate, Community & Biodiversity Alliance (CCBA).
This "multiple benefit" approach which incorporates climate, environmental and social issues addresses shortfalls in existing land-based climate strategies. With input from environmental organizations, academic institutions and the private sector, the Climate, Community & Biodiversity (CCB) Standards will help companies, conservation organizations, governments and international funding groups to efficiently identify cost-effective carbon emission reduction projects that also have a positive impact on biodiversity and local communities.
The CCBA members include: BP, Conservation International, GFA Terra Systems, the Hamburg Institute of International Economics, Intel, The Nature Conservancy, Pelangi, and SC Johnson. Other institutions helping refine the standards and ensure broad input include the World Agroforestry Center (formerly ICRAF) in Kenya, the Centro Agronomico Tropical de Investigacion y Ensanansa (CATIE) based in Costa Rica, and the Center for International Forestry Research based in Indonesia.
"Integrated projects are the most immediate and realistic solutions to combat biodiversity loss, reduce poverty and fight climate change," said John-O Niles, CCBA project manager. "The standards will help the private sector and government funding agencies identify multiple-benefit projects that solve three pressing global problems. The standards will also ensure that land management efforts do not narrowly address one important problem while ignoring or exacerbating others."
All parties interested in reviewing and commenting on the standards can do so online at www.climate-standards.org. The first stage of the public comment period runs from June 7th through July 15th, 2004. Field-testing and a second round of comments will take place later this year.
"We hope this first draft of the CCB Standards will stimulate a broad set of comments and perspectives from around the world," said Michael Dutschke, staff member with the Hamburg Institute of International Economics. "With a wide range of input, the next draft of the standards will be an improved, collaborative effort that includes the views of stakeholders outside the original members of our Alliance."
The CCB standards are primarily designed for projects that mitigate or adapt to climate change. Climate change land use projects, also called land use, land-use change and forestry projects and abbreviated LULUCF, reduce or prevent emissions (e.g., conservation of threatened ecosystems), sequester carbon (e.g., ecosystem restoration, reforestation, agro-forestry, afforestation) or develop substitutes for fossil fuels (bioenergy projects). The Standards, however, can evaluate land management projects outside of the climate change arena. The Standards will work in developing, developed or emerging economies and can be used for projects with private investment, public investment or a combination.
"The CCBA offers Intel the opportunity to efficiently address several important global issues in one organization," said Terry McManus, Intel Fellow, Intel Corporation.
"We hope that these standards will influence the array of policies that are emerging at the state, national and international level. Current policies to reduce global warming emissions do not do enough to encourage land use projects with biodiversity and social benefits," said Tia Nelson, Director of the Climate Change Initiative at the Nature Conservancy. "With these new standards we have a chance to change that and ensure multiple environmental gains."
The CCB Standards will ensure that land management projects using the Standards deliver clear and compelling benefits for the climate, biodiversity and communities. To earn certification, a project must satisfy minimum requirements in each of these areas. A project must also score 50 out of 100 points for each of the components. This scoring system will also enable CCB-rated projects to be compared with one another.
The scoring system will look at several factors in the three integrated categories:
Climate Change: The climate standards identify a variety of factors to quantify the amount of carbon emissions reduced or absorbed by land based projects including baselines, additionality, leakage, monitoring and the permanence of the climate benefit.
Community: The community standards identify land-based carbon projects that involve local communities in the design and operation of land management projects and produce real and verifiable benefits for project communities.
Biodiversity: The biodiversity standards identify projects that enhance landscape management by restoring and/or maintaining local plant and animal species populations, their associated genetic variability, and their habitats, restoring and/or maintaining biological connectivity, and conserving or enhancing water resources.
Overwhelming scientific evidence implicates greenhouse gases generated by human activity in changing the global climate. Simultaneously, record numbers of people subsist in poverty and massive biodiversity losses continue largely unabated. Making matters worse, these challenges reinforce one another. Climate change can exacerbate poverty and accelerate biodiversity loss. Poverty often forces local people to exploit their environment unsustainably. And degraded environments in turn can contribute to poverty and hasten climate change.
"With international input from the private sector, conservation community and academia, we can ensure that the CCB standards are more than just an academic exercise, but rather a practical tool that will produce real conservation and community outcomes," said Michael Totten, Conservation International's Senior Director of Climate. "Broad based feedback from all stakeholders will only further strengthen the work that has been done."
CCB certified projects will counter climate change, promote sustainable development and conserve or restore biodiversity. In addition to these tangible benefits, integrated efforts can attract a unique portfolio of investors and resources. For example, a reforestation project - with clear multiple benefits - may attract private investors for carbon credits, government money for sustainable development and private conservation dollars for biodiversity activities.
On the other hand, poor quality land management can hasten climate change, damage ecosystems and harm community livelihoods. An example of an inferior project is a non-native plantation that blocks migratory routes of key species and illegally evicts local people. Some inferior projects will cause harm, while others may cause tradeoffs between climate change mitigation, sustainable development and biodiversity conservation.
This draft marks the beginning of a broad, international review. Community groups, non-profit organizations, companies, academics, government agencies and individuals are encouraged to review this draft and suggest improvements. All types of comments are welcome: critiques, improvements, specific language changes and comments on the overall structure. A review team will consider comments and revise the Standards accordingly. The review team includes the original authors and three world-class advising institutions. After the revisions, a second draft of the Standards will be re-posted on the website for additional comments. Simultaneously, the revised Standards will be field-tested at a dozen sites around the world. Based on field-testing and further comments, the review team will again modify the standards into a final form. The final CCB Standards will be distributed and available on the Internet in late 2004 or early 2005.
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Vacationtechnician personalized luxury adventure travel transports you to the most exquisite wilderness and peaceful retreats on Earth. Conserving rare biodiversity through low volume tourism; our aim is your indulgence -at no one's expense. Plan now to be assured a rejuvenating escape at a restful pace -to an unspoiled gem in the purest sense.
.::. vacationtechnician.com = conserving the most enchanting wilderness chill out retreats on Earth .::.
Global Airline Industry reducing Positive Environmental Benefits of Kyoto Protocol
"At the Third Session of the Conference of the Parties in Kyoto, international aviation emissions were not included in the agreed targets, because of the difficulties that had arisen over the methodologies for allocating these emissions". Reference
The largest negative impact of your holiday travel is the greenhouse gas emissions from your air travel. The Vacation Technician Company and Climatecare offer a convenient way of both calculating these emissions and �repairing� their impact on the climate -thereby making an equivalent emissions reduction or "offset."
FYI:
Reuters CNN May 24, 2004 - In Sydney Airport's crowded international terminal, passengers make last-minute passport checks or fret over toddlers in pushchairs as they wait in the snaking queue to check in for the 23-hour flight to London.
But few of the 400 passengers crammed on to each jumbo jet taking off over Botany Bay ever consider the environmental impact of their 17,000km intercontinental trip.
Passengers will consume at least 1600 meals in plastic containers, but each plane travelling to London will guzzle more than 200 tonnes of jet fuel and pump out more than 500 tonnes of carbon dioxide, as well as other greenhouse gases.
"Beneath the glamorous high-flying image of aviation is a grossly polluting industry," said said Paul de Zylva, head of Friends of the Earth in London.
Scientists say airlines rate as one of the most polluting forms of transport, with 16,000 commercial jets producing more than 600 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.
Climate change, caused by greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, is deemed by many experts to be the biggest long-term threat to mankind.
The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates aviation causes 3.5 per cent of man-made global warming and that figure could rise to 15 per cent by 2050.
Nasa scientists say condensation trails from jet exhausts create cirrus clouds that may trap heat rising from the earth's surface.
This could account for nearly all the warming over the United States between 1975 and 1994.
Earth's Climate & You...Click for Facts
The International Air Transport Association, the body which represents the world's airlines, accepts that aircraft cause environmental damage.
"Every minute we can save in flight times has a positive impact on the environment and on our costs," said Iata spokesman Anthony Concil.
Despite the industry's heavy environmental toll, guidelines on international aircraft emissions were excluded from the Kyoto protocol on climate change and aviation fuel is tax-exempt.
Aerospace firms have made huge leaps forward, with commercial jets 70 per cent more fuel-efficient per passenger kilometre than they were 40 years ago, thanks to better engines, lighter materials and aerodynamic designs.
And cost-obsessed carriers are continuously searching for ways to use capacity better, find more direct flight paths and cut congestion in order to trim the hefty fuel bills which make up 25 per cent of airline operating costs.
Dirt cheap airfares, thanks to the runaway success of low-cost carriers, mean thousands more people are now taking to the skies.
"It's a catch-22 situation. Many developing countries want to promote tourism as a revenue source and a lot of no-frills airlines are appearing in Malaysia and other parts of Asia," said Gurmit Singh, of Malaysia's Centre of Environment Technology and Development.
The sheer growth of passenger volumes is likely to negate the benefits of future improvements, say environmentalists.
Simon Thomas, chairman of London-based environmental consultancy Trucost, estimates that technological improvements help trim emissions by around 1 per cent a year, a drop in the ocean when the aviation industry is forecasting 5 per cent annual traffic growth for the next two decades.
The aviation industry opposes any new green taxes, saying many airlines are still in recovery mode after the September 11 attacks.
Instead of curbing damaging emissions, new levies would only bump up fares and damage low-cost carriers in particular, say aviation groups.
But green initiatives such as global emissions trading schemes for airlines are gaining favour.
British Airways already takes part in emissions trading and budget airline EasyJet said it would support any Government moves towards an aviation emissions trading scheme.
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Vacationtechnician personalized luxury adventure travel transports you to the most exquisite wilderness and peaceful retreats on Earth. Conserving rare biodiversity through low volume tourism; our aim is your indulgence -at no one's expense. Plan now to be assured a rejuvenating escape at a restful pace -to an unspoiled gem in the purest sense.
.::. vacationtechnician.com = conserving the most enchanting wilderness chill out retreats on Earth .::.
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22 June 2004
BOTSWANA PRESIDENT PERSONALLY GIVES BLANKETS TO
BUSHMEN AND TELLS THEM NOT TO GO HOME
Plan a Bushman Safari with vacationtechnician.com
In a surprising move, last week the president of
Botswana personally visited New Xade, one of the
government sites where the 'Bushmen' were taken
after being expelled from their ancestral land.
Although it was only 3 weeks before the Bushmen
take his government to court for the right to
return to their land, President Festus Mogae was
accompanied by Sidney Pilane, the lawyer acting
for the government in the case.
Pre-judging the court's ruling, the president
told the San Bushmen that they should not try to
return to their land and also distributed
handouts of food, clothing and blankets.
He told the Bushmen: 'I am your father and I have come to
check up on my children.'
Stephen Corry, director of Survival, which is
very well-known in Botswana for its support of
the Bushmen, said today, 'To pretend that this
visit is not a blatant attempt to influence the
court case, and the British MPs' trip,* is just
na�ve.
In other countries, a visit from the head
of state - and defendant - so close to the court
hearing would not be allowed.
The irony is that the president's handouts actually reinforce the
state of dependency the Bushmen have been reduced
to. These hunter-gatherers are no longer allowed
to hunt and have been turned by the government
into beggars and prostitutes.
So the president's actions are in fact entirely in keeping with his
prevailing attitude, that the Bushmen are to be
stripped of their ability to lead lives outside
of government control. To call this 'development'
is just a mockery. It's an appalling 21st century
echo of how indigenous peoples in North America
were once robbed of their lands in exchange for a
few blankets.'
A Bushman who must remain anonymous said of the visit, 'This is just bribery.'
* A group of British MPs is due to visit New Xade
at the end of June 2004. They are: Nigel Jones, Dianne
Abbott, Tony Banks, Ashok Kumar, Alan Meale,
Roger Godsiff, Jane Griffiths, Andrew Hunter,
John Horam, Paul Keetch.
UK: New motion in Parliament on Bushmen
A second Early Day Motion has been tabled in the UK�s House of Commons supporting the Bushmen�s right to return to their homeland. 24 MPs have already signed; if you live in the UK, please urge your MP to sign too. The motion (EDM no. 1168) can be read at http://edm.ais.co.uk/weblink/html/motion.html/ref=1168. To locate your MP you can use the following website: http://www.locata.co.uk/commons/
BOTSWANA: Bushman hunters arrested
Three Bushmen from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve in Botswana have been arrested and charged with �unlawful hunting�. The three were hunting near the resettlement centre of New Xade, where they have been forced to live since the government evicted them from their reserve in 2002. The arrests are the latest in a rising tide of persecution of Gana and Gwi Bushman hunters. The Bushmen were banned from hunting and gathering in the reserve after the evictions, and since then those hunting around the resettlement centres have faced harassment, arrest and heavy fines or imprisonment. �I feel angry because I am a hunter and I�m not allowed to hunt. I have children but I don�t know how to feed them,� says one man. In the resettlement centres, the Bushmen are dependent on government rations.
For more information contact Miriam Ross on (+44)
(0)20 7687 8734 or email
[email protected]
Survival International is a worldwide organisation supporting tribal
peoples. It stands for their right to decide their own future and
helps them protect their lives, lands and human rights.
Survival International
6 Charterhouse Buildings
London EC1M 7ET
UK
Tel: (+44) (0)20 7687 8700
Fax: (+44) (0)20 7687 8701
General enquiries: [email protected]
http://www.survival-international.org
*`�*-.,_,.-*`�*-.,_,.-*�
Vacationtechnician personalized luxury adventure travel transports you to the most exquisite wilderness and peaceful retreats on Earth. Conserving rare biodiversity through low volume tourism; our aim is your indulgence -at no one's expense. Plan now to be assured a rejuvenating escape at a restful pace -to an unspoiled gem in the purest sense.
.::. vacationtechnician.com = conserving the most enchanting wilderness chill out retreats on Earth .::.
June 22, 2004
DeBeers Diamonds: Last Straw for Botswana Bushman?
The court case that could decide the future of the Gana and Gwi
Bushmen will be held in July this year. Two hundred and forty-eight
Bushmen and Bakgalagadi are taking Botswana to court over the
government's forced eviction of them and their families from their
ancestral land, in what could be a test case for Bushman rights
across southern Africa.
Sign the Petition to support the Bushmen.
The case will begin on 4 July with an 'inspection in loco' of the
resettlement centres, and of the Bushman communities in the Central
Kalahari Game Reserve to which nearly 200 Bushmen have returned
despite government opposition. Fearing that their voices will not be
heard, as has been the case in previous government-led tours, the
Bushmen are calling for observers from the local and international
media to observe the 'inspection'.
The Bushmen want the government to recognise their rights to return
to their land and live there without fear of further eviction, and to
hunt and gather freely. The original case was dismissed on a
technicality in April 2002. The Bushmen appealed, and won the right
to have the case re-heard on its merits.
Note: Wildlife department permits are required to enter the Central
Kalahari Game Reserve. Entry to the resettlement centres outside the
reserve is unrestricted.
Permits are also required for filming. In the past, film makers have
sometimes been prevented from filming by the police, even when they
had the required permit.
For further information, please contact Kali Mercier at +44 20 7687
8731 or email [email protected]
--
Survival International
6 Charterhouse Buildings
London EC1M 7ET
UK
Tel: (+44) (0)20 7687 8700
Fax: (+44) (0) 20 7687 8701
General enquiries: [email protected]
http://www.survival-international.org
.::.
Vacationtechnician personalized luxury adventure travel transports you to the most exquisite wilderness and peaceful retreats on Earth. Conserving rare biodiversity through low volume tourism; our aim is your indulgence -at no one's expense. Plan now to be assured a rejuvenating escape at a restful pace -to an unspoiled gem in the purest sense.
.::. vacationtechnician.com = conserving the most enchanting wilderness chill out retreats on Earth .::.
Safari Field Reports
About The VacationTechnician Company
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Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe - With a name like that, one would think this town would have no trouble attracting tourists. After all, Victoria Falls, the town, is cheek-by-jowl with Victoria Falls, the waterfall - a jaw-dropping, heart-stopping torrent one mile wide and 300 feet high, its constant roar audible for a mile or more, its towering cloud of spray visible from the farthest horizon. Mere words do not do justice to Victoria Falls. One must see it to appreciate it.
Makalolo Safari Report June 2004
Linkwasha Safari Report June 2004
Plan a Zimbabwe Safari with vacationtechnician.com
Where better to start to see the waterfall than Victoria Falls, the town? Until lately, the answer was "nowhere."
In the contest for falls-hungry tourists, Victoria Falls towered over its only rival, Livingstone, just across the broad Zambezi River in Zambia. Lively Vic Falls embraced everyone from backpackers to jet-setters; bungee-jumpers to golfers. Livingstone, disheveled and sedentary, had some historic cachet: it is named after the explorer David Livingstone, the first European to see the falls. But for tourists, it was an afterthought. Then Zimbabwe imploded. And the tables turned.
Suddenly, prosaic Livingstone is hot, jamming visitors into new four-star hotels and river's-edge lodges, bursting with upscale craft and souvenir shops, clubs and casinos. Victoria Falls is not. "There's just no one coming here," a disconsolate businessman said, a conclusion borne out by even a brief stroll in the deserted shopping district. Since early 2000, when squatters began occupying that nation's white-owned farms in what would become a wholesale seizure of commercial farmland, tourism in Zimbabwe has hit the skids. Things grew worse in 2002, after President Robert G. Mugabe was re-elected in balloting marred by widespread violence. It deepened further last year, as inflation roared past 600 percent and fuel shortages became pervasive.
In truth, Zimbabwe's violence and repression have largely passed by Victoria Falls. The region is so solidly in the camp of Mr. Mugabe's political opponents - and such an important source of scarce hard currency - that the government has avoided measures seen in other opposition centers, like the invasions of pro-government youth militia, which might scare tourists away.
But Zimbabwe's reputation has grown increasingly ugly, especially among tourists from members of the Commonwealth nations, mostly former British possessions. Mr. Mugabe quit the Commonwealth in December after it refused to lift its suspension of Zimbabwe in protest of the nation's human rights policies.
One hotelier in Victoria Falls, who refused to be identified for fear of retaliation, said tourist traffic from Europe and the United States has been little affected by Zimbabwe's turmoil, but that visits from commonwealth nations have all but dried up. Some tour agencies in some Commonwealth nations have removed Zimbabwe from their lists, one South African agent said, and replaced it with package trips to Zambia.
During a recent visit to the Zambian side of Victoria Falls, Mike Carter, a New Zealand appraiser on vacation with his family, emerged raincoat-clad from the falls' drenching mist and said, "We never considered coming to Victoria Falls," the town. "We wouldn't bother going 'til they sort things out." Zimbabwe's loss has been Zambia's gain. Livingstone's hotel occupancy has jumped since 2000, to 50 percent from an average of 36 percent, despite a brace of new hotels.
The contrast with Victoria Falls could hardly be more stark. Zimbabwe businessmen say average hotel occupancy runs between 20 and 30 percent, and some of the bigger four-and five-star resorts have severely pared their staff to keep from closing. The world-famous grand dame of local hostelries, the Victoria Falls Hotel, marked its centennial in June with hallways of empty rooms despite an effort to lure celebrants with a 100th-birthday package. The plight of merchants is, if anything, bleaker. Souvenir shops on the main street to Victoria Falls sometimes pass the entire day without ringing up a single sale, one vendor said. Some wholesalers and street vendors have given up and moved their operations to Zambia, prompting a government minister to denounce them as unpatriotic in a recent meeting with the town's beleaguered businessmen.
Things could change, of course: longtime residents remember that Vic Falls prospered most in the 1970's, when Zambia's economic policies drove that nation and its Livingstone tourism business close to ruin. In the meantime, merchants and hotel operators might take a tip from a tourism Web site and try to turn their bitter plight into tourism lemonade. Zimbabwe's national parks "are completely safe to visit, as they are far from the cities where the instability exists," the site says. "Game lodges are desperate for occupants, so prices are extremely competitive. And low lodge occupancy means you'll have thousands of hectares of pristine game country virtually all to yourself."
.::.
Vacationtechnician personalized luxury adventure travel transports you to the most exquisite wilderness and peaceful retreats on Earth. Conserving rare biodiversity through low volume tourism; our aim is your indulgence -at no one's expense. Plan now to be assured a rejuvenating escape at a restful pace -to an unspoiled gem in the purest sense.
.::. vacationtechnician.com = conserving the most enchanting wilderness chill out retreats on Earth .::.
Parts of Namibia's exotic Skeleton Coast could be submerged by the end of the century and its rich marine life badly hit by global warming, a report by the southern African country's environment and tourism ministry warns.
The 1,500-kilometre (937-mile) Namibian coastline -- which hosts tourist hotspots because of its unspoilt beauty and wildlife -- is dotted with ghostly shipwrecks, a testimony to the unforgiving Atlantic stretch that gives it its name.
A 130-page report, released last week for the UN's Framework Convention on Climatic Change, painted a bleak picture on the impact of global warming on the coastline and on the Benguela current running alongside.
"The cold Benguela current will experience temperature rises due to global warming, thus negatively impacting on the fisheries industry," it said.
"Over the last decade, a trend of warmer sea surface temperatures has been noted over the northern Benguela region," the report said, noting that temperatures could rise between two to six degrees Celsius (36 to 43 Fahrenheit) in Namibia by 2100.
"Marine biodiversity may also be impacted if there are shifts in the Benguela current system," it added.
Marine life off the coast rely heavily on the nutrient-rich upwellings of the cold Benguela current. "Any changes in the frequency, timing or distribution of upwelling would influence production", according to the report.
The sea level will have risen between 30 and 100 centimetres in 96 years from now, the report said "certainly inundating significant parts of Walvis Bay, Namibia's main port. The coastal towns of Swakopmnund and Henties Bay are also vulnerable".
According to marine scientist Jean-Paul Roux, the periodic warming of the Benguela System, called the Benguela Nino Events, has increased.
"During the 1995 Benguela Nino event, unusual mortalities of sardine, horse mackerel were noted ... the Namibian stock of Cape anchovy virtually disappeared while then sardine stock was reduced to its lowest level on record following this event", Roux wrote in a recent publication titled "Namibia's Marine Environment".
Fishing and fish processing are one of the former German colony's major export earners contributing to 10 percent of the gross domestic product.
Joe McGann, climate change coordinator in Namibia's environment and tourism ministry said that "even without the threat of climate change, Namibia faces absolute water scarcity by the year 2020."
"Namibia is highly dependent on its natural resources such as fish, minerals, agricultural land and wildlife", McGann added. "The variable rainfall, frequent droughts and reliance on subsistence agriculture combine to make Namibia highly vulnerable to climate change".
The Benguela current, which runs along the west coast of southern Africa, brings cold water from the South Pole. The current greatly reduces the amount of rainfall that falls along coastal areas, resulting in semi-arid and desert vegetation in the western coastal plains.
Significant resources are required to pre-empt or adapt to potential negative climatic effects, said Deputy Environment and Tourism Minister Petrus Ilonga Monday at the launch of the report.
"Climate change is not of our (Namibia's) making and we cannot be expected to bear the costs of this global problem alone."
.::.
Vacationtechnician personalized luxury adventure travel transports you to the most exquisite wilderness and peaceful retreats on Earth. Conserving rare biodiversity through low volume tourism; our aim is your indulgence -at no one's expense. Plan now to be assured a rejuvenating escape at a restful pace -to an unspoiled gem in the purest sense.
.::. vacationtechnician.com = conserving the most enchanting wilderness chill out retreats on Earth .::.
Namibia's Skeleton Coast is one of our planet's most beautiful places and is now host to one of our finest safaris. Over much of the past decade, access to this private area within the National Park has been restricted.
However, in April 2000 we opened our 12-bedded, luxury tented camp and we can now offer superb 4 or 5 day fly-in safaris to this incredible area, with guaranteed departures every Wednesday and Saturday.
Close on 300,000 hectares (660,000 acres) of the National Park has been set aside as an exclusive safari experience for those who want to really get away! It is wild, desolate and uninhabited - and stunningly beautiful.
The Benguela Current brings cool, plankton and fish~rich waters all the way from Antarctica and moderates the temperatures in the region. Mean temperatures year round vary from a high of 28� C (82�F) to a low of 10�C (50�F). Summers are incredibly mild, even though we are in the desert!
The cool ocean air meets the warm desert air and nearly every morning mists cover the coastline, bringing life~sustaining moisture to the desert's fauna and flora.
This is a safari that will rival anything in Africa for those who enjoy the excitement of wild and remote places.
June 1, 2004
DeBeers Diamonds: Last Straw for Botswana Bushman?
The court case that could decide the future of the Gana and Gwi
Bushmen will be held in July this year. Two hundred and forty-eight
Bushmen and Bakgalagadi are taking Botswana to court over the
government's forced eviction of them and their families from their
ancestral land, in what could be a test case for Bushman rights
across southern Africa.
Sign the Petition to support the Bushmen.
The case will begin on 4 July with an 'inspection in loco' of the
resettlement centres, and of the Bushman communities in the Central
Kalahari Game Reserve to which nearly 200 Bushmen have returned
despite government opposition. Fearing that their voices will not be
heard, as has been the case in previous government-led tours, the
Bushmen are calling for observers from the local and international
media to observe the 'inspection'.
The Bushmen want the government to recognise their rights to return
to their land and live there without fear of further eviction, and to
hunt and gather freely. The original case was dismissed on a
technicality in April 2002. The Bushmen appealed, and won the right
to have the case re-heard on its merits.
Note: Wildlife department permits are required to enter the Central
Kalahari Game Reserve. Entry to the resettlement centres outside the
reserve is unrestricted.
Permits are also required for filming. In the past, film makers have
sometimes been prevented from filming by the police, even when they
had the required permit.
For further information, please contact Kali Mercier at +44 20 7687
8731 or email [email protected]
--
Survival International
6 Charterhouse Buildings
London EC1M 7ET
UK
Tel: (+44) (0)20 7687 8700
Fax: (+44) (0) 20 7687 8701
General enquiries: [email protected]
http://www.survival-international.org
.::.
Vacationtechnician personalized luxury adventure travel transports you to the most exquisite wilderness and chill out retreats on Earth. Conserving rare biodiversity through low volume tourism; our aim is your indulgence -at no one's expense. Plan now to be assured a rejuvenating escape at a restful pace -to an unspoiled gem in the purest sense...
The Weapon of Mass Destruction?
vacationtechnician conservation
vacationtechnician Paradise Paradigm
While the Okavango Delta in Botswana has being steadily filling up these past few weeks, the arrival of the second "spike" of new 2004 flood waters (caused by the rains that fall in Angola in Jan / Feb/ March) has not materialised as yet. This been great for vacationtechnician safari camp clients in the north of the Okavango and has given a reprieve; while the early flood waters have had a chance to spread out and disperse. The water levels at Duba Camp for instance have dropped by about 10cm these past weeks - but has just started rising fractionally again these past few days.
It appears as though the biggest effects of the first and early flood waters have been more felt in the west of the Delta and large areas around Mombo Camp are still largely dry. The main flood from that first and early pulse is now just past the "Buffalo fence" just outside of Maun and should be reaching Maun shortly. Some of the flood waters in the East of the Delta have already gone way down the Gomoti River and the floodplains are starting to fill up there - although Chitabe is still dry except for those lagoons that always carry water.
In the Linyanti, the Zibadianja Lagoon is reasonably full from the localised rainfall - but not from the flood waters from Angola. We are still waiting for the flood waters to get to the Linyanti area. The waters have pushed about 300 meters down the Savuti Channel but has stopped flowing and it has receded a bit..... till the arrival of the floods.
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Vacationtechnician personalized luxury adventure travel transports you to the most exquisite wilderness and chill out retreats on Earth. Conserving rare biodiversity through low volume tourism; our aim is your indulgence -at no one's expense. Plan now to be assured a rejuvenating escape at a restful pace -to an unspoiled gem in the purest sense.
Global Warming Facts from the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation
May 12, 2004 New York Times
Global Warming Ignites Tempers, Even in a Movie
By SHARON WAXMAN
LOS ANGELES, May 11 � Any studio that makes a $125 million movie about global warming is courting controversy. But 20th Century Fox does not seem to have fully anticipated the political firestorm being whipped up by its film "The Day After Tomorrow."
Environmental advocates are using the film's release, scheduled for May 28, as an opening to slam the Bush administration, whose global warming policies they oppose. Industry groups in Washington are lobbying on Capitol Hill to make sure the film does not help passage of a bill limiting carbon-dioxide emissions, which many scientists say contribute to global warming.
Meanwhile on Tuesday Fox sparred with celebrity advocates who complained that they had been disinvited to the movie's premiere, only to be reinvited later in the day.
All this is occurring as the entertainment industry is on the defensive, with television networks acknowledging they are censoring themselves to avoid being accused of promoting indecency and the Walt Disney Company distancing itself from a film critical of the administration's foreign policy.
In a telephone news conference on Tuesday former Vice President Al Gore compared the exaggeration of the film's premise to the approach of the Bush administration to global warming.
"There are two sets of fiction to deal with," Mr. Gore said. "One is the movie, the other is the Bush administration's presentation of global warming." He accused the White House of "trying to convince people there's no real problem, no degree of certainty from scientists about the issue." The news conference was organized by moveon.org, an Internet-based liberal advocacy group.
Dana Perino, the spokeswoman for the Council on Environmental Quality, which coordinates environmental policy for the White House, said the administration's policies would reduce global warming threats without destroying jobs.
"While they're working on movies," she said, "we are advancing our scientific knowledge, developing transformational energy technologies and reducing the greenhouse-gas intensity of the American economy."
Early this week Laurie David and Robert Kennedy Jr., vocal anti-Bush environmentalists, said that Fox had withdrawn their invitation to the film's premiere in Manhattan but later called to reconfirm the invitation.
In between, a Fox spokesman said the studio had arranged a special screening for them and Mr. Gore a day before the premiere, and another screening for scientists.
Ultimately Fox chalked the invitation issue up to miscommunication.
Invited or not, Ms. David, a prominent member of the Natural Resources Defense Council, said Fox rejected an offer to have the premiere serve as a fund-raiser for any one of numerous environmental groups. (Studios often use premieres as charitable fund-raisers.)
Before learning from Jim Gianopulos, Fox Studio's chairman, that her invitation to the premiere had been reinstated, Ms. David said: "Fox is completely disinterested in raising any consciousness. In fact they're bending over backward to disassociate themselves from the environmental community."
She continued, "Any connections to anything political they're afraid will hurt the opening."
A Fox spokesman denied any attempt to play down the movie's environmental message or to distance the film from activists. "Clearly the movie is entertainment, but all of this activity creates additional interest, making it more topical," Jeffrey Godsick, the spokesman, said. "It's been wonderful."
Directed by Roland Emmerich, "The Day After Tomorrow" imagines a catastrophic climate change and the rapid arrival of a new ice age caused by global warming. Massive storms destroy Western Europe, Manhattan is covered in a sheet of ice, and tornadoes blast Los Angeles.
The film's trailer shows Dennis Quaid, who plays a paleoclimatologist, warning the vice president � played by an actor who closely resembles Vice President Dick Cheney � that "if we don't act now, it will be too late."
Fox, which financed the big-budget movie, is part of News Corporation, whose chairman and chief executive, Rupert Murdoch, is a strong supporter of Mr. Bush. Mr. Godsick said he did not know if Mr. Murdoch had seen the film.
Mr. Kennedy, an environmental lawyer, said on Tuesday that Fox's attitude toward environmentalists seemed comparable to other instances of self-censorship by media corporations in a politically charged climate.
"This is part of an unfortunate pattern that fits in with CBS canceling the Reagan mini-series and Disney refusing to distribute Michael Moore's film" "Fahrenheit 9/11," he said in an interview before his invitation to the premiere was reinstated. He was referring to recent controversies over political considerations affecting entertainment decisions.
"This is like back to the 1950's and 60's, where people in Hollywood were scared to death of Joe McCarthy, censoring artists, not distributing films, blackballing people," he said. "It's a classic thing that you're supposed to avoid in democracy, the merger of state and corporate power."
Mr. Godsick said that Fox, which plans to spend about $50 million to market the film, was not keeping any interested party at arm's length. The marketing strategy had no connection to the other recent episodes in Hollywood, he said.
"Look, different groups have different agendas," Mr. Godsick said. "Some are to politicize things, some are to go beyond that. The real power of the movie is to raise consciousness on the issue. That's a win-win for everybody."
The studio's Web site promoting the film, thedayaftertomorrow.com, does not include the words "global warming" in its synopsis of the story. But the site does include a section labeled "What can you do?" with a link to Future Forests, a nonprofit British group that promotes limiting carbon-dioxide emissions.
Mr. Emmerich ensured that the movie production participated in CarbonNeutral, a program that involves buying credits to offset carbon-dioxide emissions created during the movie's filming, Mr. Godsick said.
Fox marketing executives have expressed concern that the movie not be perceived as a scientific "treatise," as one executive put it, emphasizing that its appeal is as an action-adventure, roller-coaster-style experience.
Moveon.org said it planned to have thousands of volunteers handing out leaflets about global warming outside theaters when the movie opens. Meanwhile in Washington a coalition of industry groups, including the National Association of Manufacturers, is working to make sure that the movie does not contribute to the passage of a bill limiting carbon-dioxide emissions.
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Vacationtechnician personalized luxury adventure travel transports you to the most exquisite wilderness and chill out retreats on Earth. Conserving rare biodiversity through low volume tourism; our aim is your indulgence -at no one's expense. Plan now to be assured a rejuvenating escape at a restful pace -to an unspoiled gem in the purest sense.
Global Warming and Climate Change is the biggest environmental threat humanity will face in the 21st century. Caused by an overabundance of the heat-trapping gas, carbon dioxide, in the earth's atmosphere, global warming has caused changes in climate worldwide as well as disruptions and dislocations in habitats and wildlife.
"To me the question of the environment is more ominous than that of peace and war. I'm more worried about global warming than I am of any major military conflict." - UN Weapons Inspector Hans Blix, March 14, 2003
"Our house is burning down and we are blind to it.The earth and humankind are in danger and we are all responsible. It is time to open our eyes. Alarms are sounding across all continents. We cannot say we did not know! Climate warming is still reversible. Heavy would be the responsibility of those who refuse to fight it."
- French President Jacques Chirac, World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, August, 2002
::
Pre-empt Global Warming
by Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev, the last president of the Soviet Union, now heads Green Cross International. He sat down with NPQ editor Nathan Gardels on Oct. 7 in New York to discuss Russia's position on the Kyoto Protocol and US President George W. Bush's renewed push for nuclear non-proliferation.
NPQ | In his speech to the opening session of the United Nations General Assembly, United States President George Bush called for a renewed emphasis on stopping nuclear proliferation -- especially in North Korea and Iran -- to ensure the bomb doesn't fall into the hands of terrorists.
Yet, the US is planning a new generation of small, "more usable" nuclear weapons. And in its agreement with Russia to reduce warhead stockpiles, it has agreed only to "decommission" its weapons, not "demilitarize" them -- in other words, store them, not destroy them.
Doesn't this US posture undermine the credibility of the non-proliferation agenda?
Mikhail GORBACHEV | Much progress has been made between the US and Russia in reducing our nuclear arsenals. But, yes, this US posture is troubling. Since the US has refused to ratify the treaty to prohibit nuclear testing, it is clear it intends to go on perfecting its nuclear weapons. It is clear it is not thinking of abolishing nuclear weapons over the longer term. On the contrary, there is a new concept of American doctrine, as you mention, that foresees the "battlefield use" of nuclear weapons. This does away with the idea that the only purpose of nuclear weapons is as a deterrent.
It prompts other nations to ask, "Why must we abide by the non-proliferation treaty when the No. 1 member of the nuclear club continues to perfect and develop its own weapons?" That is a double standard.
If the US only thinks about its interests instead of the global good, other nations are asking why they, too, shouldn't be putting their own interests first as well?
These questions cannot be wished away. And they are not just being asked by authoritarian or terrorist states. Challenging this double standard is precisely what democratic India had in mind with its nuclear tests.
For now, the US doctrine has sown mistrust and suspicion among the world community.
NPQ | In the absence of a superpower competitor, what can be the aim of America trying to perfect a new generation of nuclear weapons?
GORBACHEV | That is a question, it seems to me, that the American democracy with its open debate about everything else ought to be discussing. It is, after all, a far more significant issue than Monica Lewinsky. Democracy doesn't seem to be working on this particular issue.
It is very important for America to understand how the only remaining superpower can act responsibly in the world. Why isn't it taking the lead, for example, on ratifying the Kyoto Protocol instead of withdrawing from it and trying to kill it?
NPQ | Well, the US doesn't seem to be the only power that doesn't like the Kyoto Protocol. When the US withdrew from the process, it was denounced as unilateralist. Now, Russia -- the critical industrial power whose ratification will make or break the treaty -- is balking. (Russian President Vladimir) Putin says he questions it. And his economic advisor said: "The Kyoto treaty will doom Russia to poverty, weakness and backwardness. If the US and Australia can't afford it, how can Russia?''
GORBACHEV | There is no doubt that reducing greenhouse gases will have costs -- it will take spending money, products may be more expensive, and it will affect competition. That can't be denied. But what is the alternative? Climate change is real, and its costs for the whole planet will be very real. These problems can be solved, especially as we modernize industry with environmental concerns in mind.
Leadership is about making hard choices, taking into account the long view. Let's hope that Russia does not stand on the sidelines on this issue of global warming. Let's hope it doesn't let the international community down. Whenever we have talked about this, President Putin said he will ratify the Kyoto Protocol in the end. I trust him on this, but as President (Ronald) Reagan used to say, "Trust, but verify."
NPQ | What do you think of the American doctrine of preemption?
GORBACHEV | Those who talk about leadership of the world all the time ought to exercise it. Rather than develop strategic doctrines of military preemption -- as we've seen in Iraq, where no weapons of mass destruction have yet been found -- let's act where the intelligence is clear: on climate change and other issues such as water, where today 2 billion people in the world don't have access to clean water. Let's talk instead about preempting global warming and the looming water crisis.
NPQ | In your time in power in the Soviet Union, we used to talk about the dictatorship of the proletariat. Now, more than a decade after the Cold War, we have something new -- a dictatorship of the consumer.
The mass market and political system give them what they want, when they want it, which is now. But the consumer calculus is self-interest; his horizon is short term. In the consumer societies, there is thus no constituency for the future -- for the long-term issues we've been discussing, from climate change to water.
How can a constituency for the future be built?
GORBACHEV | All of us, but particularly in America, consume too much for the planet's well being. Americans are less than 5 percent of the world population, but use 30 percent of all the energy. Gradually, we need to abandon the model of consumer society. If we continue with this model, we will surely undermine nature. And that, in turn, will undermine the stability of our societies.
Building a constituency for the future is, as I said, a task for political leadership. But it also requires an active civil society because, as we know and as you suggest, political leaders in today's more democratic world look most often to the next election, not the next generation.
To add to this problem, the great gap between rich and poor that has grown with globalization is already undoing the accomplishments of the democratic wave of the early 1990s. More and more, there is a trend toward authoritarianism as a way to cope with the dislocations of globalization.
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Vacationtechnician personalized luxury adventure travel transports you to the most exquisite wilderness and chill out retreats on Earth. Conserving rare biodiversity through low volume tourism; our aim is your indulgence -at no one's expense. Plan now to be assured a rejuvenating escape at a restful pace -to an unspoiled gem in the purest sense.
World Watch Advisory
vacationtechnician.com
04/12/04 22:45 GMT
Heavy flooding leaves at least 10 dead in Nairobi and in other Kenya provinces. Additional rains expected. Defer travel to affected areas if possible.
A week of heavy rains in Kenya's Nairobi, Nyanza, Central Rift Valley and Western Provinces has left at least 10 people dead as of April 12 and caused significant flooding rendering many rural roads impassable. Kenyan authorities advised Kenyans nationwide April 12 to expect heavier than usual rainfall during this year's rainy season (April-May). Flash floods in the town of Narok on April 10 cut off sections of Narok/Mai Mahiu road leading to the Masaai Mara Game Reserve leaving motorists stranded for several hours.
Areas that are susceptible to heavy rains, flooding and landslides include:
Central Province: The town of Murang'a could experience landslides.
Nairobi: Flooding is heaviest in areas with poor drainage systems, primarily in Nairobi's shantytowns.
Nyanza: The capital city of Kisumu, Kano plains, and in the districts of Homa Bay, Nyando are all experiencing heavy rains and flooding.
Rift Valley: Nandi district is experiencing heavy rains and flooding.
Western: Heavy rains in Mt. Elgon and in Cherangani hills will likely cause additional flooding in the towns of Budalangi, and Busia.
Postpone travel to rural areas if possible. If travel is unavoidable, carry plenty of bottled food and water, and a radio with spare batteries. A GPS is also recommended.
Expect road closures and detours; allow additional time to reach destinations. Avoid driving through water on roadways, as it could cause the vehicle's engine to stall. Do not attempt to move a stalled vehicle; abandon it and immediately move to higher ground. Do not try to cross where water is over the road; the road could be washed away. As little as 30 cm (12 inches) of running water can wash away most vehicles.
If in the area, monitor media reports for local impact and follow the guidance of local authorities. Flooding may cause unreliable telecommunications, electrical power and transportation disruptions.
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World Watch Advisory
vacationtechnician.com
04/05/04 05:00 GMT
Locations affected by this alert: Namibia
Serious flooding in Caprivi Strip, northern Namibia closes lodges and disrupts transport. Water levels may continue to rise.
Red Cross officials April 3 reiterated earlier warnings that the current floods in the Caprivi Strip in northern Namibia will likely exceed those of 2003 - which officials described as a major disaster. Anticipate significant disruptions in this region - including road closures - in the coming weeks.
Officials have been reporting rising river levels in the Zambezi and Kavango rivers since mid-January. The water level in the Zambezi River has already exceeded 2003 flood levels. The floods have already affected more than 15,000 people - compared to 12,000 last year. The flooding has also forced some tourist lodges in the region to close. Confirm reservations and availability prior to traveling to the region. Significant flooding may also affect the major east-west road running through the Strip connecting Namibia with Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Expect disruptions in road travel and public services, including power outages. Allow additional time to reach destinations. Consider postponing road travel to and through affected areas. If travel is unavoidable, carry plenty of food and water, and a radio with spare batteries. A personal satellite locator is also recommended. Avoid driving through water on roadways, as it could cause the vehicle's engine to stall. Do not attempt to move a stalled vehicle; abandon it and immediately move to higher ground.
As always in Namibia, drink bottled water only and use bottled water when brushing your teeth. Flooded conditions may lead to health risks and diseases such as malaria. Monitor media reports for local impact and follow the guidance of local authorities.
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^^^World Watch Advisory� serves vacationtechnician.com clients while home
via email and while abroad via email, sms, and GSM/Satellite phone by
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Travel alerts are issued at three levels of importance:
Critical -- Will Impact Travel
Warning -- May Impact Travel
Informational -- Monitoring Situation
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World Watch Advisory 03/17/04 04:54 GMT
Authorities warn March 16 2004 that serious floods are likely in northern Namibia in the coming weeks. Namibian Department of Water Affairs officials March 16 warned that impending floods in the Caprivi Strip in northern Namibia are likely going to exceed those seen in 2003 - which was described as a major disaster. Anticipate significant disruptions including road closures in this region in the coming weeks.
Officials have been reporting rising river levels in the Zambezi and Kavango rivers since mid-January. The water level in the Zambezi River March 14 was measured to be at least 1.6 meters higher than last year's level taken at the same time. Authorities estimate that additional rains in southern Angola are likely to push the levels well beyond those experienced in 2003 when floods submerged large parts of the Caprivi Strip and caused serious population displacements. Fears are even expressed that Katima Mulilo - a major town in the Caprivi Strip - may be flooded. Lake Liambezi in southern Caprivi has already begun flooding. Significant flooding may impact the major east-west road running through the Strip connecting Namibia with Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Expect disruptions in road travel and public services, including power outages; allow additional time to reach destinations. Consider postponing road travel to and through affected areas. If travel is unavoidable, carry plenty of food and water, and a radio with spare batteries. A personal satellite locator is also recommended. Avoid driving through water on roadways, as it could cause the vehicle's engine to stall. Do not attempt to move a stalled vehicle; abandon it and immediately move to higher ground.
As always in Namibia, drink bottled water only and use bottled water when brushing your teeth. Flooded conditions may lead to health risks and diseases such as malaria. Monitor media reports for local impact and follow the guidance of local authorities.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
^^^World Watch Advisory� serves vacationtechnician.com clients while home
via email and while abroad via email, sms, and GSM/Satellite phone by
specific request.
Travel alerts are issued at three levels of importance:
Critical -- Will Impact Travel
Warning -- May Impact Travel
Informational -- Monitoring Situation
