Published Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 11:52
by
Ezmanovich
in Debate (1231 views and 5 comments)
Hello European comrades,
I would like to know your opinions about the "One Seat"-campaign for stopping moving and travelling the Parliament between Brussels and Strasbourg.
Don't we believe that the money used on moving the Parliament could be used better than that? Don't we think that the citizens in the union deserves better than wasting our money by moving the Parliament to Strasbourg and back to Brussels?
We can use those money better than that. We can build a New Social Europa with a flexible labour market, a social security for everyone, a new climate policy and a common responsibily of solving the big problems in the whole union.
I would like to hear some opinions from you, pals!
Young regards,
Jakob Esmann
- Leading Media Effort Coordination Assistant for Danish Prime
Candidate to the European Parliament MEP Dan Jørgensen
- Chairman, The Social Democratic Youth of Denmark (DSU) -
Kolding department
- Member of The Social Democrats of Denmark
jakob(AT)dsukolding.dk
read morePublished Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 10:22
by
elwira30
in Debate (1574 views and 1 comments)
Marek Siwiec, Vice-President of the European Parliament and
member of the Socialist Group in the EP has initiated an action
"Good Bag".
Throughout his constituency in the Wielkopolska region Marek
Siwiec's assistants and members of local bodies of Democratic
Left Alliance (SLD) have been distributing eco bags of the PSE
Group in the EP with attached letters of the MEP and leaflets
with environmental tips.
Also, the inhabitants could take part in a survey and find out
about their Carbon Footprint.
The action, very much liked by the inhabitants, will be conducted
in 30 districts.
read more
Published Thursday, July 17, 2008 at 15:53
by
Editor
in Debate (1741 views and 0 comments)
How best to “Save Our Planet”? What contribution can the EU make to this global challenge? In Vienna, PES activists from across Europe had their say on this crucial issue. Anton Muyldermans encouraged innovation in combining social and ecologic measures in efforts against climate change. Jan Hofste suggested the foundation of a European institute to coordinate these efforts and an innovative way to finance it.
Any suggestions on how to balance social and ecological policies? Would you like to see a new European institute to fight climate change?
read morePublished Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 12:04
by
Editor
in Debate (2889 views and 0 comments)
Didn't make it to Vienna Forum? Miss it already?
Relive the moment and check out comments and interviews from the Vienna Forum with PES activists from across Europe on our Youtube page and stay tuned to Yourspace for more forum videos on themes such as online campaigning, emocracy and diversity, Europe in the world and Saving our planet.
read morePublished Monday, July 14, 2008 at 16:28
by
Editor
in Debate (1810 views and 0 comments)
In the panel
on “Save our Planet”, keynote speaker Michael Mueller, State
Secretary in the German Environment Ministry, explained that a
social-environmental policy could potentially garner support of
55-58 percent of voters. When social democrats and greens in
Europe achieve less than this result, this is due to the
outdatedness of the majority of the programmes of the political
left. According to him, the current environmental challenges need
to be combined with the legacy of left-wing policies. We must
take the lead in designing new strategies, following long-term
tendencies.
The classical welfare state was linked to the national state and to an immense exploitation of nature. Now, we have to construct a new vision on how a better life is possible. The Greens are focusing on how to combine ecology and economy, but the real challenge is of a social nature. In an increasingly unequal world, the richest fifth of the population spends only 2.5% of their income on energy; the poorest fifth spends 9%. Given these facts, Europe should not orient itself towards an American or Asian model.
Louis Lemkow, director of the Institute for Environmental Science and Technology at...
read morePublished Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 23:23
by
Editor
in Debate (1779 views and 3 comments)
The issues raised by the speakers fuelled a very lively debate. Jeremy Rifkin, president of the Foundation on Economics trends and advisor of different European governments on environmental and economic issues, said that “we have to leave aside a burden sharing and benchmarks approaches and start to talk about commercial opportunities, otherwise in Copenhagen in 2009 we will fail”.
EU has the potential to lead the world into the transition to a third industrial revolution. The introduction of renewables, the functioning of buildings as power plants and the setting up of a smart transmission grid which will take up the internet technology, are the main pillars of the “third industrial revolution” strategy. There was consensus among the public on the importance of decentralising energy policies, creating the opportunity to collect and generate energy locally. In this respect, the building sector could play a major role. To put into...
read morePublished Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 09:36
by
Editor
in Save our planet (2187 views and 0 comments)
Last months, participants agreed on the need for a radical shift both on the production and the consumption side. The whole exploitation and processing of resources must be rethought.
Setting standards for measuring the risk of a pollutant manufacturing process or use of a product was proposed by several manifesto supporters. Another alternative is the use of a 'climate label’ for products which are, for example, produced in climate neutral and using energy efficient processes.
We need to change our consumer habits. According to Carlo Petrini, President of Slow Food, agricultural products should be produced and consumed locally in order to respect the needs of the farmers and the environment.
read morePublished Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 14:40
by
Editor
in Save our planet (2326 views and 2 comments)
MEP Linda McAvan presents EU initiatives to tackle Climate Change and put forward the priorities for the manifesto2009.
Do you agree with Linda when she says this can be a unique opportunity to reach a new international agreement on climate change? Leave us your comments!
read morePublished Monday, June 9, 2008 at 16:50
by
SARNOUX
in Save our planet (1690 views and 0 comments)
Notre avenir, notre unité, notre marché commun sont en danger du fait de la crise énergétique qui, si nous ne faisons rien, si nous ne proposons rien, détruira notre espace commun social et humaniste. Tout ce qui a été crée ou pensé volera en éclat et nous irons vers la guerre de l'énergie, la guerre de la faim et la guerre de civilisation par l'émergence des nationalismes renforcés.
Notre devoir est de proposer une Politique Energétique Commune pour donner, de nouveau, un visage, une âme et une vision pragmatique de l'Europe à nos concitoyens. L'Europe du concret et de la preuve doit être notre credo !
C’est pourquoi je propose de créer une Politique Energétique Commune afin de créer des solidarités solides et concrètes pour limiter l'impact du prix de l'énergie sur nos coûts de production ou d'exploitation afin de proposer des bases saines de concurrence avec des règles précises.
Cette politique doit permettre de sectoriser les...
read morePublished Friday, May 30, 2008 at 16:09
by
Editor
in Save our planet (2754 views and 1 comments)
Claudio Martini,
member of the PES Group in the CoR (Committee of the Regions) and
President of the Tuscany Region in Italy, put forward his
priorities for the PES manifesto! For him climate change is the
most challenging topic to be addressed.
Which of the sessions of the PES Group meeting are you looking most forward to?
Claudio Martini (CM): In my opinion climate change is the biggest challenge for government right now and that’s why I am particularly interested in the debate on Save our planet. There is no doubt that we will face very serious problems in the future. I think it is highly important that we not only focus on the environmental problems caused by climate change, but also on the social, economic and geopolitical issues which will follow. Often environmental questions are seen as separate from other political areas, when they are really not. For every policy we need an environmental dimension.
What is the most important thing local government can do to improve the environment?
CM: Local and regional governments play an important role when it comes to solving environmental problems. The socialist political tradition is...
read morePublished Friday, May 23, 2008 at 11:23
by
Zita_Gurmai
in Save our planet (1858 views and 0 comments)
I represent the
Hungarian Socialist
Party (MSZP) in the European Parliament. MSZP took the PES
manifesto consultation very seriously. We have had a series of
debates in the country-side of Hungary and invited our activists
for an online consultation in their own language, thanks to
Edit Herczog, a colleague of mine in the European Parliament who
took the leading in the MSZP presidium. I think the Internet is a
very important means for reaching our grassroots. MSZP has also
sent representatives to Brussels to meet and discuss with PES
President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen.
In the Hungarian debate one very important topic turned out to
the environment: how can we ensure more commitment in Europe to
make sure that our grandchildren will grow up in a clean and
healthy environment? My colleague in the European Parliament,
Gyula Hegyi, successfully took the lead on the debate on ‘Save
our planet’.
The MSZP also have a number of other recommendations for the PES
manifesto:
Published Friday, May 23, 2008 at 08:05
by
Editor
in Save our planet (3961 views and 0 comments)
Today from 9:30 you
are invited when politicians, experts and PES activists will
meet in
Stockholm to debate the Save our
planet theme of the PES manifesto consultation! If you're
living outside Sweden you can follow the debate via web streaming
from the website of the Swedish Social Democratic
Party. A completely free and eco-friendly way to participate
in the PES manifesto consultation!
Among the speakers are:
Published Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 10:35
by
Editor
in Save our planet (1850 views and 0 comments)
After having held a
conference on New Social Europe on April 8, the
PES Group in the Committee of the Regions met up again
to discuss the three remaining topics of the PES manifesto
consultation: Save our planet, European democracy and diversity and EU in the world.
The extraordinary meeting was held on 15-16 May in Turin,
Italy, at the invitation of Mercedes Bresso, President of the
Piedmont Region and President of the PES Group in the Committee of
the Regions.Published Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 17:59
by
Editor
in Save our planet (1875 views and 1 comments)
At the end of the day
eco-friendliness is all about improving our living conditions.
According to Michael Cohen, Mayor of Kalkara, Malta, this is easily
forgotten in everyday talk about bans and restrictions which will
help us save our planet – but at the same time force us to
fundamentally change our way of living.Published Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 10:36
by
Editor
in New Social Europe (1529 views and 1 comments)
Last Wednesday
evening around 18h30. In the renovated Brigittines chapel in
Brussels Sp.a co-workers are getting nervous. This
evening we present our input for the PES manifesto. We have
worked hard to provide for an interesting program (attached), but
can it compete with the beautiful spring evening?
At 7 o’clock our fears prove to be unfounded. Sp.a International
Secretary Saïd
El Khadraoui can introduce the evening before approximately
80 people. We kick off with a debate about New Social
Europe. Europe has done pioneering work on certain domains,
but it turns out that a lot more can be gained at European level.
For example, the health services directive that we are still
waiting for. There is no discussion about the need for a more
social approach of the Lisbon objectives. But ambitious and
enforceable European objectives concerning social themes are a
logical next step. The conclusions run parallel: Europe has a lot
of instruments at his disposal, but lacks ambition and
decisiveness when it comes to social themes. Political action
pays off, that becomes clear in dossiers such as the adjusted
Bolkenstein directive. As...
Tags: democracy, energy, environment, health, political parties, transparency, treaty, welfare
File:
manifesto_spa_FR.pdf,
flyer_spa.pdf
Published Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 09:42
by
Duncan Anderson
in EU in the world (2037 views and 0 comments)
I don't want to suggest that PES/EU can solve this problem within one term of office. But I do think that the EU should start talking to other countries and organisations about dealing with the consequences of over population.
Over population or having more people on the planet that it can sustain was a topic of discussion during the 1970s and China responded. I'm not saying that we or other countries should follow China's route.
But over population is at the core of many global problems. We need to use artificial fertilisers and G.M. products to feed the world and even then a lot of people starve. There is insufficient water to both grow food for people and for them to drink. We can't provide enough energy for everybody without damaging the planet.
Question, how do we address the twin problems of having a sustainable level of population on this planet? Answer, I don't know, but I'm interested in listening to there people's views.
If it is decided to reduce the population we have to consider the demographics of having more older people who are above a working age - but still need food, water and energy - than younger people who would be generating income and therefore taxes to pay for the water, food and energy of the older people.
But until we start discussing these concepts, both amongst ourselves and with other countries we're not going to fully understand the problems and therefore we won't find the correct answers.
read morePublished Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 12:07
by
asa.westlund
in Save our planet (2062 views and 3 comments)
Almost
daily we hear alarming news about one of the biggest challenges
of our time – the one about the global warming. As citizens and
consumers we have a responsibility to act. A responsibility not
always easy to handle. Scientific reports from governments,
companies and others are sometimes contradictory, and it’s easy
to lose hope and feel powerless. This is where the EU, as a big
actor on the world wide market has an important role to play. It
is here we see the necessity of political action rather than just
letting the free market decide.
But it is not enough- It must also be easier for all European
citizens to make environment friendly decisions and thereby
taking their own responsibility! The environmental crisis is to
enormous and complex to be solved on just one political level.
Its first when we act both individually, locally, in larger
regions and globally that we can make a change. It does not mean
that we can wait for someone else to take responsibility, rather
that we all must take action now. We have to act as a united
front. Many citizens are trying to take action. With everyday
actions, like leaving the car at home and travel by bus, or
buying locally produced and bio grown products, everyone can make
a difference.
At the same time it has to be easy to make the right choice,...
Published Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 11:23
by
Editor
in Save our planet (1819 views and 0 comments)
Socialists are pushing for
more action on climate change, since it is necessary to act now,
leaving aside the disastrous “business as usual approach”.
Socialist MEP Linda McAvan (Labour UK) hosted the WWF debate “EU
Climate action : Do 30% NOW!” on 6 May 2008. Here are a few
conclusions from the meeting:Published Monday, May 5, 2008 at 12:22
by
asa.westlund
in Save our planet (2130 views and 4 comments)
Sometimes I wonder if
we only can discuss one environmental topic at the time.Published Monday, May 5, 2008 at 11:55
by
FrancoisC
in Save our planet (1985 views and 2 comments)
Tags: climate change, CO2, environment, oil
File:
Il faut en finir avec les énergies fossiles (PSE).rtf
Published Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 09:22
by
eromerof
in Save our planet (1923 views and 0 comments)
Willy Brandt: “Democratic socialism has the ability to make new beginnings possible”.
Democratic socialism has been able to respond to new challenges and to a new a state of affairs through equality and social justice. Just as pacifism or feminism were integrated as new elements in the cluster of socialist values, the time has now come to include sustainable development as a central element of our socialist thinking and political practice.
The Left should take into account the consequences of environmental degradation for our planet and introduce solidarity as a fundamental principle in the implementation of a model of sustainable development that is fairer and more responsible. The challenge for the 21st century no longer is to achieve a better redistribution of wealth and fight for equal opportunities but also to respond to the more complex challenge of making the environment healthier both at local and global level. Ecosocialism should therefore be understood as a question of solidarity between and among generations, both in time and space.
A NEW MODEL OF DEVELOPMENT
Europe has paved the way for environmental policies aiming at
‘cleaning up’ the environment. However setting limits to
polluting emissions or working on water and waste management...
Published Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 11:30
by
Editor
in Save our planet (1714 views and 1 comments)
Sometimes it takes old
technologies to solve the problems of modern life! This is the case
in the Greater Manchester Region, United Kingdom, where good
old-fashioned rail helped the regions out of its problems with
traffic congestion and pollution.Published Friday, April 11, 2008 at 10:31
by
noelhatch
in New Social Europe (1543 views and 0 comments)
However, the economic layers of governance have been eroded by
globalisation. There is an increased pressure on costs. If we
debate the reform of the European social model, we need to debate
the reform of globalisation. Economic globalisation increases
within and between countries.
How can we develop a politics of international
redistribution?
Henning proposed that we needed a politics of national and
international redistribution - we need to explore a global social
politics. This includes:
Published Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at 10:25
by
martina
in Save our planet (3245 views and 2 comments)
Climate neutrality, or, in scientific terms 'CO2 neutrality',
describes processes by which the global CO2 balance remains
constant (source: Wikipedia).
In my opinion this CO2 balance no longer exists – we need to
bring back this balance before we can actually maintain it. In a
time of increased environmental awareness, this worthy goal can
nevertheless produce unusual ideas.
Our lifestyles are often careless: jetting off to remote
countries, taking the car to go to the bakery around the corner,
using the tumble dryer and all the other small things which makes
life easy. These actions need no longer give us a guilty
conscience. By spending a bit of money you can compensate for
your polluting sins. For example, take a look at Atmosfair,
Greenmiles, The Climate Company or My Climate. There are probably
more such projects, especially outside Germany. Yet a study from
Tufts
University in Boston revealed that only three of thirteen
such ‘compensation agencies’, including Atmosfair and My Climate,
are actually recommended service providers.
When travelling by plane, Atmosfair can help you obtain a cleaner conscience.
You can pay when you book, but also calculate and compensate for
your CO2 emissions later. When typing...
Tags: blogger of the week, climate change, CO2, electricity, energy, environment
File:
IT_climate_DE.pdf
Published Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at 15:12
by
Wind Energy
in Save our planet (2255 views and 0 comments)
The world is facing
an energy and climate crisis. Globally, the energy sector emits 26
billion tonnes of CO2 each year and electricity production alone
accounts for 41% of emissions. The International Energy Agency
expects CO2 emissions in 2030 to have increased by 55% to reach
more than 40 billion tonnes of CO2. The share of emissions coming
from electricity production will increase to 44% in 2030, reaching
18 billion tonnes of CO2. Europe is going to be importing a growing
share of its energy at unpredictable but most likely higher prices,
from unstable regions, in ever-fiercer competition with the rest of
the world and at staggering environmental cost. Spare electricity
generating capacity is at a historic low. Europe has to invest in
new capacity to replace ageing plants and meet future demand. In
the period 2005-2030, the EU needs to install 862 GW of new
electricity generating capacity. 427 GW of generating capacity will
be retired in the EU and an additional 435 GW will be needed to
satisfy the growing demand for power. The required capacity exceeds
the total capacity operating in Europe (723 GW). Satisfying our
energy needs over the coming decades will be a big challenge. For a
region that currently imports 56% of its energy – and is on track
to reach 70% in the next 20 to 30 years – the challenge is big. Our
own...
read more
Published Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at 12:00
by
noelhatch
in New Social Europe (1557 views and 0 comments)
Published Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 10:16
by
cafeneaua.politica
in Save our planet (2461 views and 2 comments)
The most important matter of sustainable development doesn’t support the quantity of economic growth but the quality of an environmental, economic, social, and cultural development.A sustainable community effort consists of a long-term and integrated systems approach to developing and achieving a healthy community by balanced environmental, economic, social, and cultural issues. The Romanian (European) Social Democrats advocates a sustainable development of our planet and not the destruction of the environment and our resources.
It is necesary that the price of the different resources must cover all calculatable external costs. The government has to add the calculated charges so the different resources get the same conditions on the market. If the charges are creating an income, this income is to restitute to the inhabitants and to the companies (the same restitution per inhabitants or worker).
As basic measures we can talk about sustainable development when total production of the region is sufficient to provide for the inhabitant’s needs without requiring more resources than the area can regenerate (energies,...
read morePublished Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 09:40
by
Editor
in In the spotlight (1924 views and 1 comments)
A group of German PES activists are the first to send in a paper
with ideas for the PES manifesto. Read the German contribution in the documents section of
Yourspace.
The EU working group from the SPD in Berlin proposes eight 'building
blocks' for the PES manifesto:
Published Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at 16:50
by
Poul_Nyrup_Rasmussen
in Save our planet (1533 views and 5 comments)
The suggestion to
focus more on environmental issues is certainly a good one. I
usually refer to it as a new strategy for ‘smart green growth’, but
‘New Sustainable Europe’ and ‘New Social Europe is also Green’ are
also catchy headlines. Thanks to our PES activist for his
ideas!Published Monday, March 17, 2008 at 10:15
by
Editor
in Save our planet (1710 views and 0 comments)
Published Friday, March 14, 2008 at 14:56
by
heisbo
in Save our planet (2244 views and 4 comments)
Even though discussion
paper 'Save our
planet' concentrates mostly on energy policy, I would like
discuss also about the influence of the traffic emissions.Published Friday, March 14, 2008 at 11:52
by
AnneSofie
in EU in the world (1906 views and 0 comments)
The manifesto theme
'EU in the
world' was also on the agenda when PES activists from Denmark, Sweden and Norway met in
Jørlunde, Denmark on March 1st and 2nd. Here are a few
conclusions from this dedicated discussion group:
Published Friday, March 14, 2008 at 11:48
by
AnneSofie
in Save our planet (1680 views and 1 comments)
Scandinavian
PES
activists met in the village of Jørlunde, located on the
island of Zealand, Denmark on March 1st and 2nd 2008 to discuss
European democracy, politics and the PES manifesto.
Over sometimes heated discussions, the 80 participants agreed on
a number is issues, which we feel must be included in the PES
manifesto. Here is our suggestions for the theme 'Save our
planet':
Published Monday, March 10, 2008 at 10:12
by
frederic.vareillas
in Save our planet (1801 views and 3 comments)
Published Saturday, March 1, 2008 at 18:32
by
rikkeindenmark
in New Social Europe (1990 views and 0 comments)
The afternoon of the Danish conference on the PES manifesto ended with a plenary where the four work groups presented a ‘top 3’ of priorities for their manifesto theme. Here are, from my view, some of the most interesting ideas brought forward:
Published Friday, February 29, 2008 at 15:44
by
frederic.vareillas
in Save our planet (2052 views and 4 comments)
All right, my friend,
You are concerned about the waste. So, all I can tell you is: What do you suggest we do?
We have two years left before oil and gas cost ten times more
than today; solar energy and wind turbines can supply maximum 7
percent of our total consumption of energy; oceans are littered
with plastic bags, wrappings, and are 80 percent DEAD; the sun is
getting hotter; we are killing the great forests to get wood to
burn (and transform into paper); Earth's temperature is rising 2
degrees Celsius (which is huge) due to CO2 and methane.
What would you say if we could recycle and reutilize nuke waste
and nuke plants?
Think again: We have two years in front of us before the great
depression.
What do you suggest we do?
Friendly,
Fred
Published Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 17:20
by
Gwendoline
in Save our planet (1548 views and 4 comments)
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault has been officially inaugurated on 26 February. A big vault has been hollowed in the Spitzberg (Norway): 4,000,000 seeds are now stored by -18°C! Researchers of all over the world have been working hard on this huge project. The aim is to “provide and ultimate safety net to conserve a capacity to feed the planet in the event of a disaster”. This safe deposit system has a refrigerating device to lower the temperature of the mountain that sometimes reaches -3ºC (in case the global warming were to reach peaks). The plant databank is made of edible seeds that would enable humanity to survive and recover from a global catastrophy.
See a video on the project:
This type of projects makes one believes in humankind. Of course
the very reason why we are building such a place is rather sad!
Are we going to witness a Noah's ark for animals? For human
beings? At the end of the day, every so-called superior species
has vanished from the surface of the Earth. So should we really
try to save...
Published Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 12:26
by
Editor
in Save our planet (2020 views and 1 comments)
Published Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 10:16
by
frederic.vareillas
in Save our planet (1760 views and 2 comments)
Dear friends,
I would like to share two other readings with you so as we're
able to think Europe's near future through:
First: There's a very interesting issue of "L'Ecologiste" #24;
Oct-Dec 2007 (French version of the original "The Ecologist",
London, UK) about the biofuel hoax and slowing our cars' speed.
Also look at the present issue of "The Ecologist": "The end
of food as we know it" (London, 2008). You should also have
a look at the website: www.theecologist.org – it’s interesting
(English and French versions available).
Second: A French essay by Eric Orsenna and Le Cercle des
Economistes: "Un monde de ressources rares" (2008,
paperback, French only). They offer some economical and political
ways to deal with scarcity.
Your friend,
Frederic (Paris)
Published Monday, February 25, 2008 at 17:22
by
frederic.vareillas
in Save our planet (1884 views and 2 comments)
Dear friends,
I have read your remarks about my
post.
True. Nuclear power is not 100 percent safe but which energy is?
Coalmines ? Gas? Forget it: To many deaths. And oil is the
poison, our lethal addiction. I remember Chernobyl but, compared
to a French reactor, Chernobyl 3 was a poor piece of junk. Risk
zero doesn't exist.
Do we really have a choice? For the generation to come (25
years), nuclear power is the only possible choice unless we want
to be in a new dark age (back to middle ages). Do you want this
regression? Again, do we have a choice? We should have changed
and adapted 25 years ago when the oil prices quadrupled. We
didn't. Europe needs power - Europe needs electricity to avoid
wars and to keep civilized.
As to the disposal of nuclear WASTE I recommend again you read
Sir Jim Lovelock's book "Revenge of Gaia". This book is
a project to save civilization from the dark age. While you're at
it, you should also read "Vers un monde de ressources
rares" by Eric Orsenna and Le Cercle des Economistes" (2007,
paperback).
Then you'll understand the urgency of the present Europe's (and
Earth's) situation. Good luck, keep it up!
Your friend,
Frederic (Paris)
Published Monday, February 25, 2008 at 09:20
by
frederic.vareillas
in Save our planet (1781 views and 6 comments)
Hi,
I strongly advise all PES activists to read sir James Lovelock's "The
revenge of Gaia" (2008, paperback). We absolutely need to
take his views into account.
Lovelock is 89 years old: He has nothing to lose and he tells us
everything we need to know.
Please read his book and think twice before you get your act
together.
Yours faithfully,
Frederic (Paris, France)
Published Friday, February 15, 2008 at 10:50
by
carl0s
in Save our planet (1644 views and 3 comments)
Many of our European
cities are blessed with a ring of surrounding countryside, such as
forests and other protected places. These act as a city's lungs and
provide an escape from the urban pace of life. In health terms, I
have never seen an adequate cost-benefit analysis of what this
means for the public.Published Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 15:55
by
Eric
in Save our planet (2337 views and 3 comments)
Hey!
It’s my third day as your guest blogger, and today I would like
to present some specific policy proposals. And I will start with
a political issue very close to my heart: the environment.
None of my parents (Bo and
Gunnel) were members of a political party when I
grew up. However, my dad Bo was very interested in politics in
general, and environmental issues in particular. He started
working with green issues already in the early 1960s, when
Rachel Carson’s book ”Silent Spring” served as one
of the first alarm bells. At the time, my dad did some research
into why some birds’ eggs were too shallow and broke before the
new little bird was born. The reason was that the birds were fed
with foodstuffs containing mercury.
Ever since 1960s, we have gradually become better at ensuring
that growth must be ecologically and socially sustainable. If
growth means that birds are fed mercury, our society will not be
sustainable in the long run. The EU has been good at slowly
transforming societies in the right direction in this way, and
Mark Leonard wrote a fantastic little book about
how the EU's ”soft power” is so much more efficient than the...
Published Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 11:42
by
Editor
in Save our planet (3073 views and 2 comments)
When speaking to Ilmar
Reepalu, Mayor of Malmö, Sweden, and member of the PES Group in the Committee of the Regions, you realize
that mentality is really the key to change when it comes to
combating climate change. Since the mid-nineties Reepalu has been
working to change Malmö from an industrial town to a modern, green
capital of the region. And with great success – Malmö has received
numerous prizes for its green projects, most recently the
prestigious ‘LivCom’ award in London. Published Friday, January 25, 2008 at 09:57
by
Editor
in Save our planet (2136 views and 1 comments)
This week Barroso
presented one of his most ambitious proposals to date; a climate and energy package that outlines how Europe
can lead in climate protection. But is it really ambitious enough?
Here are a few of the package’s key ingredients:
Reactions are mixed. Ministers and energy companies are
complaining that they find the targets way too...
Published Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 14:59
by
Editor
in Save our planet (1885 views and 2 comments)
Breaking Europe’s
dependence on oil should be the focus of an ‘Oil Forum’ bringing
together politicians, industry, scientists and EU institutions say
PES President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen and Swedish Social Democratic
Party Leader Mona Sahlin.Published Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 10:00
by
taipale
in Save our planet (1903 views and 5 comments)
Best regards from
Bali. I was there last week to organize and speak in
two side events on behalf of the Ministry of the Environment of
Finland. The topic in both of the events was to highlight the
energy and emission savings potential of buildings and
construction. Big.Published Tuesday, December 4, 2007 at 16:27
by
Editor
in Save our planet (2359 views and 4 comments)
A roundtable debate
on the ‘Save
our planet’ manifesto theme concluded the first day of PES
Council. Here are a few opinions and impressions from the
debate:Published Friday, November 23, 2007 at 09:25
by
Editor
in Save our planet (2080 views and 0 comments)
After yesterday's plenary on combating climate
change we asked a couple of delegates what they think should be
the most important priority for the PES manifesto:
Robert
Goebbels, Member of the Euopean Parliament, Luxembourg:
"Humanity will always need energy and there is no silver
bullet to resolve the problem. I think the PES manifesto should
suggest investments in research into all kinds of energy."
Petroula Nteledimou, Vice-President, ECOSY:
"I think it is very important that the PES manifesto presents an integrated and whole strategy to environmental issues. These problems are not isolated from other issues such as social problems and foreign and security policy."
read morePublished Thursday, November 22, 2007 at 18:00
by
Editor
in Save our planet (1964 views and 0 comments)
Who should lead the fight against climate change, if not Europe’s socialists and social democrats?
This question, posed by Stephan Singer, of WWF European Climate and Energy Policy Unit, was answered by speakers and delegates at the PES Council today. They want to turn the planetary emergency into a global opportunity. The PES adopted a resolution which offers a roadmap for combating global warming.
Speakers in the debate underlined that we know enough about the threat, and we already have many of the solutions. “It’s time to act”, said Linda McAvan, Vice-President of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament. To keep the rise in average global temperatures below 2°C, the PES calls for binding targets for the reduction of green house gas emissions in all industrialised countries and for the limitation of CO2 emission increases in emerging economies. The aim for 2050 is a reduction of global CO2 emissions by at least 50%. This is only possible with effective global, regional and national policies and an effective system international emissions trading system.
New, sustainable energy resources are the key for a low carbon economy. This requires massive investment in research, development and innovation, not least in Europe, as well as a global partnership to help developing economies get eh latest green technology to fight climate change and to cope with climate changes. Without our solidarity poorer countries cannot...
read morePublished Wednesday, November 7, 2007 at 15:50
by
anqa
in New Social Europe (1781 views and 0 comments)
Vice-President of the European Parliament Marek Siwiec and President of PES Women Zita Gurmai are in Madrid and speak about the preparation of the PES Manifesto, the different issues to be discussed in it and the upcoming European elections in 2009.
read more
Published Wednesday, November 7, 2007 at 14:35
by
Editor
in Save our planet (2375 views and 1 comments)
Earlier this month more than 150 PES activists gave input to the PES manifesto at a big activist gathering in Brussels. We asked a few of them what they think the priorities should be for the theme Save our planet:
Friedhelm
Krawelitzki, Germany, teacher
“One important thing would be to stop gene technology. In the hands of capitalists gene technology is a dangerous instrument. I am concerned that it will create more poverty and does not contribute to the general development. In Germany there has already been an action against gene technology and I think it should be taken up at the European level as well.”
Aleksander Glogowski, France, communication officer
“In my opinion the PES manifesto should mention research in technologies that can supply energy in a new and more environmentally friendly ways. National governments and the Commission’s research funds should focus a lot more on this type of...
read morePublished Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 11:51
by
Editor
in Save our planet (2419 views and 0 comments)
What will the PES do to encourage a low carbon consumption
style in Europe?
How will Europe’s socialists and social democrats address the
challenge of climate change?
Where does the PES stand on nuclear energy?
These were some of the questions we received when we encouraged
Yourspace users to ask questions to Mona Sahlin, leader of the
Social Democratic Party of Sweden and responsible for the
manifesto theme Save our planet. Check out her answers in the video
below.
read more
Published Monday, October 22, 2007 at 17:50
by
Editor
in Save our planet (2347 views and 2 comments)
Mona Sahlin, leader of the Social Democratic Party of Sweden, has agreed to take part in the first PES Yourspace manifesto2009 YouTube debate, which will take place on Wednesday 24 October at 6pm!
How does it work? You submit your question to Mona Sahlin either in video on our Yourspace YouTube channel or as written question by e-mail. She will give her answers on Wednesday afternoon and we will put the videos online by Thursday.
Mona Sahlin is leading the discussion in the PES on the ‘Save our Planet’ manifesto theme. So she is looking for questions and comments on climate change, environmental protection, renewable energy, how to achieve a fossil-fuel free society and any other issue which you believe is important for her to take into account.
read morePublished Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 11:01
by
Editor
in Save our planet (2197 views and 2 comments)
Al Gore and the
United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have
been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize by the Norwegian Nobel
Committee "for their efforts to build up and disseminate
greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the
foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such
change."
According to the Committee Chairman, "a peace price is a positive message and support to all fighting for peace in the world." The award highlights the potential of climate change to cause conflict between nations - and the potentially transforming impact of the co-operation needed between nations to tackle this challenge. Is encouraging international collaboration to fight climate change the EU's next big task?
read morePublished Friday, October 12, 2007 at 10:55
by
Editor
in Save our planet (1951 views and 3 comments)
The EU has
agreed to a very ambitious, binding EU-wide target of 20 percent
of their energy needs from renewable sources, for example wind
and solar power, by 2020. Now Member States are confronted with
the issue of setting national targets to achieve the EU goals.
In December the European Commission will make new proposals for better coordinate the efforts of Member States to introduce renewable energy. Burden sharing seems to be the keyword in current approaches where countries such as Denmark, which already meet a 9 percent figure, will contribute more while others with little potential like the Czech Republic will contribute less. Differing climatic and geographical conditions across the EU mean that some states will have difficulties meeting the targets. The different national situations will be taken into account in future decisions.
The EU is already behind and will probably not meet the 2010 target of 12 percent. Italy has recently stated that it will be unable to produce more than 15 procent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. Other countries push for more flexible ways of reaching the targets, including the use of nuclear power.
Being ambitious is often essential for success, but has the EU gone too far this time? It is expensive for industries and national economies to...
read morePublished Thursday, October 4, 2007 at 11:45
by
Editor
in Save our planet (2908 views and 10 comments)
A much
favored cure for global warming might be worse than the disease.
According to a new report the use hydrogen and other biofuels
will make energy prices more changeable, increase food prices and
even result in a higher emission of greenhouse gases.
The Round Table on Sustainable Development of the OECD has recently published a study (PDF) on the consequences of a massive increase of the use of biofuels. It argues that EU governments’ support for biofuels will cause food shortages and lead to the destruction of natural habitats - while making little impact on climate change. The OECD suggests that the EU plans to obtain 10 percent of its transport fuel from plants by 2020 will have little or no effect on climate change.
The OECD expresses doubts that the technical means exist to produce biofuels in ways that enable the world to meet demand for transportation energy in more secure and less harmful ways without compromising the ability to feed a growing population. This runs counter to studies like the one published by the
read morePublished Tuesday, October 2, 2007 at 10:51
by
Editor
in Save our planet (2361 views and 6 comments)
Sometimes solving one problem brings about another. A recent study by the European Trade Union Confederation looks into the relationship between climate change and employment. One of the conclusions of the report is that prevention of climate change bears the risk of increased unemployment: If economic activities are slowed down in order to reduce energy consumption many jobs will be lost. Especially the energy, construction and transport sectors are in risk of unemployment, if CO2 emissions are cut in a way that might benefit the environment, but not the job market.
The study underlines the need for a European strategy for smart, green growth. We need to consider how to reduce CO2 without loosing jobs. Here the report is optimistic and concludes that with the right political initiatives lowering our energy consumption can even create new jobs. The transport sector is highlighted as an example, where jobs in public transport and rail are expected to increase.
How do you think we can balance fighting climate change with economic growth and high employment?
read morePublished Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at 12:08
by rikke in Save our planet ( comments)
Times Online has a theme section about environment - learn about climate change and find tips to a greener lifestyle.
Published Thursday, February 7, 2008 at 11:17
by Asynjen in EU in the world ( comments)
How many people have been born this year? How many cars have been produced? How much CO2 has polluted the atmosphere? How many people have died due to lack of safe water? Find statistics and both good and bad news here!
Published Sunday, February 10, 2008 at 16:34
by noelhatch in Save our planet ( comments)
Before our debate on Save our Planet, start submitting your ideas here and we will feature a selection on the night!
http://compassyouth.blogspot.com/200...reen-how-we-can-save-our-planet.html
Published Friday, May 30, 2008 at 15:21
by bernaft in Save our planet ( comments)
Scientific research has become so important in various aspects of our lives: environment, health, technology, social issues but also in the economy, as Europe is becoming a "Knowledge Based Economy". It is thus important that young European citizens chose scientific careers and ensure that all these challenges are dealt with.
The European Commission is promoting scientific research careers through the Marie Curie Actions, which are a kind of Erasmus programme for scientists.
They came up with a new promotional video which is quite amazing!
Enjoy
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