ENVIRONMENT AND JUSTICE ACTION NEWS FROM THE FOUR DIRECTIONS
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IN THIS ISSUE
The Preston Papers - From Re:Source Editor
World EcoNews
EU Leads Sustainable Change
Wind Power Gains
GREEN BUSINESS NEWS
Big Biz Weighs In On Global Warming
HOME NEWS
Community TV In Peril!
IMF Critisizes US Lack of Universal Healthcare
TIGER PRESERVATION PROJECT
GO ZERO CARBON!
THE BEAUTY SPOT
Help Stop Militarism In Our Schools
OXFAM AFRICA RELIEF
The Preston Papers - From Re:Source Editor
Preston Sommes, Jr.

World EcoNews

EU LEADS IN CLIMATE CHANGE HELP

The European Union's executive arm unveiled on 1/23/2008 details on how to slash greenhouse gas emissions by a fifth in 2020, including mandatory targets to produce renewable energy and curb industrial emissions. The European Commission said member states unable to meet mandatory renewables targets at home could pay other EU countries to install the likes of wind and solar power on their behalf. In a planned overhaul from 2013 of the EU's emissions trading scheme, covering high carbon-emitting industry, the Commission proposed to cut by 2020 the supply of emissions permits by 21 percent versus 2005 emissions. The Commission estimated revenue for member states from selling permits at 50 billion euros ($73 billion) a year by 2020 and urged them to use it to support clean technologies in Europe and developing countries.

WIND POWER GROWS IN 2007

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) reported last week record growth in wind power generation with 5,244 megawatts of capacity installed in 2007 - a 45% increase reflecting $9 billion in investment and 30% of all new power generating capacity in 2007. 2008, however, will likely show growing pains as there is a current shortage of wind turbines, a situation that the AWEA sees as a big opportunity for manufacturers and entrepreneurs wishing to get in on a growing market. There's always a better mouse trap - wind energy technology is ripe for imaginative innovators to not only fill the current need for parts, but to continually make those parts better. It is also time for government to step up to the plate and push forward in support of alternative energy in a big way. Congress is debating this week the future of alternative energy tax credits set to expire this year with no current provision for renewal. While the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 recently signed in Congress does provide $2 billion dollars in research for alternative energy, it still pales in comparison to subsidies given the fossil fuel industry.

GREEN BUSINESS NEWS

HYDROGEN-BURNING AIRPLANE GOES GREEN

The proposed future of air travel is quite a marvel. Seems unfathomable compared to the pollutant, oil-guzzling airliners of today. With the endless and testing delays, the awkward security, and greenhouse gas-emitting beasts, it's a wonder why solutions have not yet come to fruition.It just so turns out, it is all happening rather quickly behind the scenes. One proposed aircraft that seems wildly impossible is actually on the slate for possible funding for testing. The concept hypersonic jet has been developed by Reaction Engine and it is aptly called the A2. It is a Mach-5 (3,400 mph) wicked aircraft capable of holding 300 passengers and produces, get this, ZERO emissions!

HP INNOVATES CLOSED LOOP INKJET CARTRIDGE RECYCLING PROGRAM, GIVES PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES SECOND LIFE

In an industry first, HP today announced it has developed an engineering breakthrough that enables the use of post-consumer recycled plastics in the production of new Original HP inkjet print cartridges. More than 200 million cartridges have been manufactured using the process thus far. HP used more than 5 million pounds of recycled plastic in its inkjet cartridges last year, and the company is committed to using twice as much in 2008. The company's innovative recycling process facilitates the combination of multiple sources and grades of recycled plastics from everyday water bottles to highly technical HP inkjet cartridges. In addition to closing the design loop, using recycled content saves energy and keeps plastic out of landfills . Since piloting the process, HP has used enough recycled plastic to fill more than 200 tractor trailers.

GOOGLE HELPS BOOST GREEN TECHNOLOGIES

Google Inc is prepared to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in big commercial alternative-energy projects that traditionally have had trouble getting financing, the executive in charge of its green-energy push said on Wednesday. The Internet search giant, which has said it will invest in researching green technologies and renewable-energy companies, is eager to help promising technologies amass scale to help drive the cost of alternative energy below the cost of coal.

HOME NEWS

Community TV In Peril In California
Currently a bill to do the same thing in California is moving rapidly through out State legislature. It is important that we contact our State legislators NOW! to make sure that public access TV is a requirement of ANY who provide cable television access in our cities. This vital communication chennel brings us news about our government and grassroots programming that is the voice and the vision of our city.
What Can You Do? Long Beach Support Production of Community TV!
The Legislation that will allow many companies to provide cable TV, Internet and telephone service has been passed by the California Legislature. Now it is up to cities to make provisions for community program production and to coordinate broadcasts.
Help Save Community Television
Contact you Long Beach City Council representative and Mayor Foster and let them know you want production of Community TV supported by funds the city earns from boradcast networks. Call now and ask what is being done to make sure Community TV continues in Long Beach!
IMF Criticizes US Health Care
Researched by Sandra Karnes
The U.S. government issued a barbed riposte after the IMF suggested that Washington institute health insurance for all Americans and balance its budget faster than planned. Speaking at the launch of the Outlook report, IMF chief economist Raghuram Rajan said that the United States was not always the poster child for the policies long advocated by the Fund.
"In a globally competitive economy, it is very important you insure the individual, you have a safety net for the individual, because they're at serious risk of losing their job and so on," Mr. Rajan said, "Which means you have to have some form of universal health care. It is very, very hard, in this competitive economy, for 40- million-plus Americans to be uninsured, of which eight million are children."
U.S. Tells IMF to Butt Out of Health Care Issue - Jitendra Joshi, Agence France Presse, 4/21/2006
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0421-11.htm
TIGER PRESERVATION PROJECT
Go Zero Carbon!
Only the industry-funded propagandists are still challenging the existence of human-caused climate change. The science is settled. The evidence is even more frightening. For example, 2005 was the hottest year on record. Greenland's glaciers are melting 2.5 times faster than a decade ago. Hurricanes are becoming more severe due to higher water temperatures. And, the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is at a 650,000-year high.
On January 18th, all six former and current EPA chiefs, Republicans and Democrats, agreed that 1) climate change is happening and 2) humans are responsible.
What can you do?
The good news: You can make a difference. Working Assets has joined with the nonprofit Carbonfund.org to help you take immediate and effective action to slow global warming. The answer is simple and affordable. Support Carbonfund.org with a tax-deductible donation today and reduce your climate footprint by supporting wind energy, energy efficiency and reforestation projects.
For less than $5 a month the average person can offset their direct climate impact -- 10 tons of carbon dioxide per year -- from their home, car and air travel.
Toward Zero CO2
As U.S. citizens, we have a special responsibility. Though we make up just 5 percent of the world's population, we produce 25 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions. Just over a year ago, the Kyoto Protocol on climate change took force. Yet, the United States still hasn't joined on.
What can you do? You can carpool. You can turn off the light when you leave a room. You can demand that politicians improve fuel efficiency standards.
for more information go to Carbonfund.org
THE BEAUTY SPOT
Help Stop Militarism In Our Schools
The Army Recruiting Handbook for High Schools (available on the No Draft, No Way <http://www.nodraftnoway.org> website) says that the Army's goal is "school ownership." Our goal is to deny them that ownership. The schools belong to the people, not to the Pentagon.
Join the national movement against military recruiting. No Draft No Way is calling on parents, students, and local activists to work with your PTA, union, school board, city council, or student government to pass a resolution barring recruiters from your local schools. We are currently compiling a list of all such local initiatives -- if you are organizing a local initiative, you can list it here
<http://nodraftnoway.org/organizer.shtml>. Or contact
<http://nodraftnoway.org/ndnwcomments.shtml> for information and help to organize a local campaign.
Please join us in this national campaign by helping to organize, do outreach, distribute educational materials, and donate to help with all aspects of organizing, especially the immediate publication of this book, which will be an invaluable resource for young people all over the country who want to oppose the very real dangers of militarization and war.
*Donate <http://nodraftnoway.org/donate-new.shtml> to help build a
national movement against military recruiting and the draft.
Organize <http://nodraftnoway.org/organizer.shtml> a local No Draft No
Way chapter.
Sign up <http://nodraftnoway.org/signup.shtml> for Updates.
OXFAM ACTION UPDATES
Millions of East Africans Need Food and Water - Donate Now
http://ga0.org/ct/c7qqd3s1UzpB/
East Africa is facing one of the worst droughts in memory. Yet the international response has fallen short of what is
desperately needed by the affected regions in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania, where the lives and livelihoods of millions of people are threatened. Help Oxfam step up its relief efforts in East Africa - click here to make a secure online donation now. http://ga0.org/ct/c7qqd3s1UzpB/
Oxfam is already responding by delivering water, food, and other vital supplies to more than 500,000 people, but millions more need help. With your financial support, Oxfam can scale up its response to save many more lives in the region. This is a food crisis that cannot be ignored - please donate today.