Attention, collectors! Hot off the cyber-press, this is the FIRST edition
of...World Carfree News! Do not fret, it will contain the same wonderful
bits of information, news and announcements as the=20
former Car Busters Monthly E-Bulletin.
_________________________=20
WORLD CARFREE NEWS >>>=20
____________________________________=20
Edition no. 1 - October 2003 - English version
.............................................................
Contents:
IN BRIEF
WORLD NEWS
- SCHWARZENEGGER REVEALS AMBITIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL=20
PLAN
- FRANCE MULLS CONGESTION CHARGE FOR PARIS
- GAMBLING WITH OUR HEALTH IN POLLUTED VALLEYS
- SUSTAINABILITY DISMMISSED IN COMMISSION PLANS FPR=20
TENs EXPANSION
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
- DECEMBER KYOTO NEGOTIATIONS IN MILAN
- OIL, WAR AND CLIMATE CHANGE SEMINAR IN LONDON=20
TOMORROW
- BOSTON VOLUNTEERS NEEDED SUNDAY TO SEND BIKES TO=20
GHANA
CAR BUSTERS ANNOUNCEMENTS
- WORLD CARFREE DAY: FINAL CALL FOR REPORTS
- MAGAZINE #18 SUBMISSION DEADLINE: OCTOBER 17
- INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE
- EXPERIENCED FUNDRAISER SOUGHT
DISCLAIMER
__________________=20
IN BRIEF >>=20
__________________________=20
- Twenty people died in car crashes this past weekend in the Czech=20
Republic, a new record. In one case, a man was driving through a=20
village at 150 km/h and hit a car, killing the three policemen inside.=20
Ironically enough, the weekend was also designated as one where=20
police set up checkpoints througout the country to catch bad drivers. =20
=20
- Official figures show that in London, England, two-and-a-half times=20
as many men as women cycle every day, and nearly twice as many=20
men than women cycle regularly or infrequently.
- The San Francisco Chronicle (
www.sfgate.com) reports that=20
transport officials in the city are considering allowing drivers to pay=20
extra to buy their way into some carpool lanes -- even if they're not=20
carrying passengers. "Hot lanes," as they are called throughout the=20
US, essentially allow drivers to buy their way out of gridlock by paying=20
a toll to use the carpool lanes.
- In their annual report, the Texas Transportation Institute found that=20
the average rush-hour driver in the US spent about 26 hours sitting in=20
traffic in 2001.
_______________=20
WORLD NEWS >>=20
__________________=20
SCHWARZENEGGER REVEALS AMBITIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL=20
PLAN
Even if he did grope women and then deny their accusations, or play=20
Nazi marching tunes and pretend to be an SS officer, Arnold=20
Schwarzenegger will be the next governor of California, so we have=20
to take him seriously. His approach to environmental problems is=20
typified by the following: Schwarzenegger has a personal fleet of five=20
of the most destructive commerically available sport-utility vehicle --=20
the Hummer. However, he will mitigate the damage by converting=20
one of his Hummers to run on hydrogen, at a cost of US$21,000. He=20
said he would sign an executive order to create a network of=20
hydrogen fueling stations by 2010. (No hydrogen vehicle is scheduled=20
to hit the market until 2006; it is unknown whether the hydrogen will=20
be produced from fossil fuels, nuclear energy, or "alternative"=20
sources.)
He cited the California Environmental Protection Agency as one of=20
those =93overlapping agencies=94 that could be eliminated because =93we=20
have to strip that down and get rid of some of those agencies.=94But at=20
the same time, he said he would would prevent coastal oil drilling,=20
seek to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent within two years=20
and protect parks and open spaces.
When Schwarzenegger unveiled his environmental policy, he was=20
interrupted at times by a few protestors, one using a megaphone to=20
shout, =93A Hummer isn=92t clean and Arnold isn=92t green.=94=20
Schwarzenegger arrived at the press conference in a GMC sport-
utility vehicle.=20
=20
FRANCE MULLS CONGESTION CHARGE FOR POLLUTED PARIS
[from Reuters]=20
=20
France is considering a London-style vehicle congestion charge for=20
Paris in an effort to reduce choking pollution which has pushed the=20
capital close to emergency traffic restrictions, a government minister=20
said. "An urban toll is one solution," said Ecology Minister Roselyne=20
Bachelot. Pollution levels in Paris saw police impose speed=20
restrictions three days in a row in mid-September. The authorities, if=20
they deem it necessary, can order every other car off the road in an=20
attempt to limit pollution levels. Alternate car travel -- under which=20
vehicles are only allowed on the road every other day, depending on=20
whether their registration plates end in an odd or even number -- has=20
been imposed only once before in Paris, in October 1997. The=20
measure cut traffic by 20 percent.
GAMBLING WITH OUR HEALTH IN POLLUTED VALLEYS
[submitted by Initiative Transport Europe (ITE)]
On October 4, ITE coordinated a day of International Action for a new=20
transport policy. Actions against road transport through Europe took=20
place in the Pyrenees, the Vosges, the Jura and the whole of the=20
Alps, from France to Austria. Alpine populations seek a reduction in=20
air and noise pollution (a truck is three to five times more polluting in=20
mountain valleys than on flat land). This can be accomplished=20
through a truck tax on all roads, according to weights and distances=20
(as is done in Switzerland and shortly in Germany), based on the=20
polluter-pays principle. Furthermore, they say that a ban on night time=20
trucks will lead to improvements in the health of local populations, as=20
truck pollution in the mountains is six times higher at night than in the=20
day.
SUSTAINABILITY DISMMISSED IN COMMISSION PLANS FOR=20
TENs EXPANSION=20
[from the The European Federation for Transport and Environment:=20
http://www.t-e.nu/docs/Press/2003/newTENproposal.htm]
BRUSSELS, Belgium - NGO fears were justified that =80200 billion in=20
new Trans-European Network for Transport (TENs-T) construction=20
would get a political green light. On October 1, the European=20
Commission unveiled a proposal to extend the TENs-T to the new=20
EU member states.=20
The Commission proposal, detailing plans to update regulations=20
governing the TENs-T, provides for road and rail infrastructure=20
projects totalling about =80220 billion to be given the go-ahead without=20
thorough scrutiny from an environmental, social and economic=20
perspective, as enshrined in the laws governing EU funding. Instead,=20
the projects will be given a =93European interest=94 seal of approval and=20
simply have to undergo a single trans-national assessment.
=93These proposals mean that even if a significant number of=20
stakeholders in one country oppose a project for environmental=20
reasons, their opinion can simply be disregarded due to the=20
=91European interest of the project=92,=94 explained T&E Project Officer=20
Nicoleta Ion. =93Basically a project can get the green light despite a=20
possible negative recommendation from an assessment at a lower=20
level. This is an unacceptable violation of EU rules and a total=20
disregard for the EU citizens=92 will.=94=20
=93Without a serious assessment that takes into account economic,=20
social, and environmental costs and benefits, we risk repeating errors=20
of the past in relation to infrastructure investment -- not only wasting=20
money, but also incurring heavy ecological and social costs that will=20
lead to greater economic burden for future generations," said=20
Andreas Beckmann of WWF. =20
The Trans-European Network for Transport projects consist largely=20
of proposed cross-border major European rail and road routes.=20
Earlier this year a report by former Commissioner Karel Van Miert=20
proposed that the TENs list be expanded to include 22 new trans-
European infrastructure projects, which will cost more than =80250=20
billion.
___________________=20
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS >>=20
__________________________________=20
DECEMBER KYOTO NEGOTIATIONS IN MILAN
[submitted by Giovanni Pesce]
Milan is going to host the next round of Kyoto negotiations (COP9),=20
taking place in the industrial capital of Italy on December 1-2. Over=20
10,000 people are expected to arrive in Milan -- government=20
representatives, lobbists, delegates from nonprofit organisations, and=20
environmentalists.
A large mobilization is planned for December 6, calling for a STOP=20
IN GLOBAL WAR(M). A considerable number of Critical Mass=20
activists will arrive in Milan by bicycle, for an act of massive oil=20
desertion. The idea is to let government representatives know they=20
should forget about moving by car in those days and choose light=20
transport instead. We will facilitate their decision by simply creating a=20
massive a colourful traffic jam. Everybody is invited to join in. There=20
will be large accommodation facilites. If you wish us to keep you =20
informed about proceedings of the mobilisation, please let us know=20
by sending an e-mail to lacop9seitu@???.
More info on:
www.cop9italia.org (the COP9 website of the=20
environmental associations -- unfortunately only in Italian for the=20
moment). Also see
http://italy.indymedia.org and=20
www.inventati.org/criticalmass.
OIL, WAR AND CLIMATE CHANGE: DISMANTLING THE OIL=20
ECONOMY
LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS. SATURDAY OCTOBER 11
[submitted by London Rising Tide]
Following the invasion of Iraq and an unprecedented heat wave in=20
Europe, this gathering will expose the connections between oil, war,=20
and climate change. It brings together experienced campaigners=20
from across the environmental, peace and social justice movements=20
to share strategies and develop proposals for new campaigns. The=20
day will combine presentations, workshops, slides, slides and=20
specially commissioned video. Call the Rising Tide Oxford office at=20
01865 241 097.=20
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO SEND BIKES TO GHANA
[submitted by Bikes Not Bombs]
BOSTON, USA - Bikes Not Bombs needs lots of volunteers this=20
Sunday, October 12, to help sort bikes and parts, flatten more bikes,=20
and load up the container. No experience necessary! We'll provide=20
breakfast and lunch for all volunteers. We'll start at 10 am and should=20
be finished by 4pm. Come for whatever part of this time works for=20
you. We'd love to know beforehand who is planning to come and=20
when, so reply if you can.
Ghana's government has recognized the potential of bikes to meet=20
transport needs and several years ago removed tariffs on imported=20
bicycles. Bike usage has increased significantly, however, high prices=20
keep bikes out of reach of many people. Also there is a serious=20
shortage of spare parts, aggravated by a lack of tools and skilled=20
mechanics. Hundreds of people have gone into business as bike=20
mechanics and parts dealers without any training, guided by common=20
sense, resourcefulness, and hope. Village Bicycle Project builds on=20
those qualities, with bikes, tools, and training.
For more information and photos from the VBP, see=20
http://www.ibike.org/vbp.
________________________=20
WORLD CARFREE NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS >>=20
__________________________________________=20
WORLD CARFREE DAY: FINAL CALL FOR REPORTS
After our pre-bulletin announcement, the responses began flowing in=20
from Turku, Finland to Sao Paolo, Brazil. Many of you report positive=20
responses to your actions, with, of course, the inevitable grumbling=20
from local businesses about lost profit. We are putting together all=20
your reports for the next magazine, but the more, the better! So if you=20
still haven't written in with your World Carfree Day report, send it now=20
before its too late. Send to info@???.
MAGAZINE #18 SUBMISSION DEADLINE: OCTOBER 17
>From now until October 17 is your last chance to send in articles,=20
letters to the editor, announcements, graphics or anything for the=20
upcoming magazine Car Busters #18. Send to info@???.
INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE
Are you under 26 and from an EU country? We at World Carfree=20
Network are looking for two inspired individuals to join our team in=20
Prague for one year from April 2004, funded by the European=20
Voluntary Service Programme. If you have a good number (but of=20
course not necessarily all) of the following attributes, then you could=20
be among the finalists: strong English writing and editing skills; a=20
sense of humour; publication layout skills; web design ability; an=20
activist perspective; translation skills; campaigning experience;=20
attention to detail; extensive knowledge of transport(ation) issues;=20
fundraising experience; and a desire to pull these all together to stir=20
things up at the international level. Please contact us and we=92ll send=20
more info.
EXPERIENCED FUNDRAISER SOUGHT
World Carfree Network is seeking an experienced fundraiser with a=20
proven track record to join our Prague-based team full- or half-time=20
as soon as possible, for a year or more. Should be familiar with the=20
funding programmes of the European Commission, Council of=20
Europe and private foundations in Europe and abroad. Commission-
based wage (10-15% of funds raised, based on experience), plus=20
start-up wage negotiable. Flexible hours and six weeks holiday.=20
Applicants should send a CV (resume) and letter of=20
motivation/experience to info@???.
_____________________
DISCLAIMER >>=20
_____________________________
We apologise if the the frequent references to Arnold=20
Schwarzenegger in the last few bulletins have bothered you. Sadly,=20
people like him are aspiring to the highest political positions=20
throughout the world, not only the US. It then falls on us to ridicule,=20
expose and, ultimately, burst the egotistical bubble of such=20
personalities.
[end]
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http://www.carbusters.org/bulletin>.
________________________________________________
WORLD CARFREE NETWORK
Kratka 26, 100 00 Prague 10, Czech Republic
tel: +(420) 274-810-849 - fax: +(420) 274-816-727
<info@???> - <
http://www.worldcarfree.net>
________________________________________________
"La bicicletta =E8 il veicolo pi=F9 rapido nella via della delinquenza;=
perch=E8
la passione del pedale trascina al furto, alla truffa, alla grassazione!"
-Cesare Lombroso-
