Dog Owners More Likely To Share Germs With Pets By Not Washing Hands Than By Sleeping With Dog

ScienceDaily (2009-01-30) -- "Dog owners who sleep with their pet or permit licks on the face are in good company. Surveys show that more than half of owners bond with their pets in these ways. Research done by a veterinarian found that these dog owners are no more likely to share the same strains of E. coli bacteria with their pets than are other dog owners."

The benefits of having a dog as a pet and companion far exceed any potential health hazards, and in any case these can be reduced and controlled by normal rules of hygiene.

Council to build houses of straw

The article that appears on the BBC website about a Council that is to build houses of straw is of great interest to me on several counts.

The Council involved is the North Kesteven District Council in Lincolnshire, and the villages where the proposed houses are to be built are close to the village my wife and I lived in before moving to Spain, and still have roots.

As an environmentalist the concept of the method of construction appeals to me because of the many all-round benefits to the environment.

The provision of economically viable social housing is essential. It is very important in rural areas where wage levels are well below the national average rate and affordable housing is in short supply.

Butterflies Across Europe Face Crisis As Climate Change Looms

ScienceDaily (2009-01-28) -- Climate change will cause Europe to lose much of its biodiversity as projected by a comprehensive study on future butterfly distribution. The Climatic Risk Atlas of European Butterflies predicts northward shifts in potential distribution area of many European butterfly species. As early warning indicators of environmental change, butterflies are a valuable tool to assess overall climate change impact and to provide some indication on the chances to come nearer to the target of halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 set by the EU Heads of State in 2001.

As early warning indicators of environmental change, butterflies are a valuable tool to assess overall climate change impact and to provide some indication on the chances to come nearer to the target of halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 set by the EU Heads of State in 2001.

Europe’s Aquatic Birds Will Seek New Nesting Sites In Face Of Global Warming

ScienceDaily (2009-01-24) -- Scientists have produced a break-down of 152 aquatic bird species with a similar level of distribution throughout continental Europe. The study shows that environmental energy, in other words temperature, is the driving factor behind birds’ mobility, above all in relation to global warming.

Madrid High-level Meeting on Food Security for All

The United Nations Secretary-General's High-Level Task Force on the Global Food Security Crisis held a meeting in Madrid on the 26th & 27th January 2009 to chart the action on the continuing global food crisis.

UN officials and representatives of international agencies met for two days of discussions. The opening part of the meeting was made up of technical discussions and these were followed by a ministerial session chaired by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Spain's Prime Minister Rodriguez Zapareto.

Prior to the Madrid meeting David Nabarro, coordinator of the Secretary-General’s task force on the global food security crisis said “The worldwide economic crash did not put an end to the food crisis; instead, it complicates and exacerbates the situation, price volatility and a global credit crunch are discouraging new plantings and new investment, while food prices in many poor countries remain at historically high levels”.

Those that attended came from more than 126 countries and included included 62 Ministers of national governments, civil society, trade unions, private sector, academia, donor agencies and multilateral organizations. They worked together to review progress achieved since the Rome High Level Conference (June 2008), to agree on ways to move forward, quickly, with short-, medium- and long-term actions, and to establish mechanisms for better coordination.

As a conclusion of the meeting a Joint Statement was made, the first two paragraphs being;

1.Participants reaffirmed the conclusions of the World Food Summit in 1996 and the objectives confirmed by the World Food Summit five years later, to achieve food security for all through an ongoing effort to eradicate hunger in all countries, with an immediate view to reducing by half the number of undernourished people by no later than 2015, as well as their commitment to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Participants also reaffirmed the Declaration of the High-Level Conference on World Food Security: the challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy convened in Rome in June 2008.

2.They reaffirmed that States have a primary responsibility to make their best efforts to respect, ensure, fulfil and promote the right to have regular and permanent access to adequate food, especially of children under-five years old, women and other vulnerable groups. In aiming to the right to food, the special problems faced by women, female small farmers need to be addressed effectively; States are encouraged to seek inspiration from the Voluntary Guidelines to Support the Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Food in the Context of National Food Security adopted by the FAO General Council in 2004.

Attendees were determined to ensure access to adequate food for all in a sustainable manner, to improve nutrition, to stimulate food production, to strengthen social protection systems, and to increase investment in all areas related to food security. They are committed to ensure that food security for all becomes a reality.

Mediterranean Diet Reduces Long-term Risk Of Subsequent Weight Gain And Obesity Among Adults

ScienceDaily (2009-01-23) -- A research group from Spain has studied the dietary patterns associated with a high intake of fruits and vegetables in Mediterranean populations. They have analyzed the associations between fruit and vegetable intake and weight gain over a 10-year period in an adult Mediterranean population. The researchers found that increased fruit and vegetable intake was associated with significantly lower risk of a medium weight gain (3,41 kg) over 10 years among adults.

Spain & Portugal to set up renewable energy research centre

Spain and Portugal Prime Ministers, Jose Zapatero and Jose Sacrates announced the joint setting up of a Iberian Renewable Energy Centre in the southern Spanish city of Badajoz near the Portuguese border. The two countries consider this is important in the aim to reduce their dependance on oil to produce power.

Portugal's Antonio Sa da Costa, the current vice president of the European Renewable Energy Federation will be responsible for the centre.

Spain aims to triple the amount of energy it derives from renewable sources by 2020. It is already among the three biggest producers of wind power in the European Union along with Germany and Denmark. Portugal, which is almost entirely dependent on imported energy, aims to collect 45 percent of its total power consumption fron renewable sources like solar and wind power by 2010.

Alcadesa Lorente can learn from President Obama

On the 20th January 2009 we witnessed the swearing in of Barack Obama as the 44th President of America.

The following are extracts from his inauguration speech in which he proclaimed change was coming and new future for America, and consequently for the World.

If we are to have change and new future for the Orihuela Municipality we can only wish that our Alcadesa, Monica Lorente, and her colleagues in the ruling PP, will read President Obama's speech and change from her current dogmatic adherence to her damaging policies which are adversely affecting the lives of the citizens of Orihuela.

As ever the optimist – I will live in hope!

President Obama said:

“On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.”

“For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth.”

“The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.”

“Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. .....What is demanded then is a return to these truths.”

Scientists Agree Human-induced Global Warming Is Real, Survey Says

ScienceDaily (Jan. 19, 2009) — While the harsh winter pounding many areas of North America and Europe seemingly contradicts the fact that global warming continues unabated, a new survey finds consensus among scientists about the reality of climate change and its likely cause.

Peter Doran, University of Illinois at Chicago associate professor of earth and environmental sciences, along with former graduate student Maggie Kendall Zimmerman, conducted the survey late last year.

Doran and Kendall Zimmerman conclude that "the debate on the authenticity of global warming and the role played by human activity is largely nonexistent among those who understand the nuances and scientific basis of long-term climate processes." The challenge now, they write, is how to effectively communicate this to policy makers and to a public that continues to mistakenly perceive debate among scientists.

Heathrow decision puts UK in breach of EU air quality guidelines

The UK Green Party said that the decision to allow Heathrow to build a third runway was indefensible and immediately put Britain in breach of European air quality guidelines.

Green Party leader Dr Caroline Lucas MEP said the announcement was "irresponsible, deceptive and environmentally disastrous."

Dr Lucas warned that the Transport Secretary's proposals for Heathrow would condemn the UK to an unsustainable future of significantly higher noise and air pollution - and to accelerating climate change. "Any government which, on the one hand pledges to make a significant reduction in greenhouse gases by 2020, and on the other gives the green light to the greatest expansion of aviation in a generation, is guilty of either the most shameless hypocrisy, or the most unforgivable ignorance and stupidity," she said.

Russia has Power by controlling Power!

European Green Party Co-Spokesperson Philippe Lamberts in a press release today stated "In terms of the current dispute between Russia and Ukraine, it is unacceptable in the 21st century for countries to use resources to reach political aims".

When will the EU leaders wake up to the need of the urgency to change to renewable sources of power generation to remove the dependancy on supplies from Russia, so as to both protect the environment and the citizens of the EU from the control by Russia of an important resource to attain it's political and economic aims of domination of Europe!

Europe begins to freeze as gas taps are turned off in energy war. is the headline in the Timesonline today!

European Parliament rejects emergency debate about Gaza

MEPs from the Green Party and other parties have demanded an emergency debate in the European Parliament on the Gaza crisis - and have been rebuffed.

Jean Lambert, London's Green Euro-MP, issued the following statement today:

"An immediate ceasefire is vital to prevent the further loss of innocent lives. Israel cannot justify this continued assault and the devastation it is bringing to the people of Gaza. The Greens called for an exceptional statement from the Council and Commission and an urgent debate on the crisis in the Parliament this week. It has been confirmed that the plenary debate will not take place, but an exceptional meeting of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee will be held tomorrow.

"Certainly this is not the time for the EU to be upgrading relations with Israel, indeed there is a case for examining the existing agreements. The EU needs a strong voice on this conflict, calling for a sustained ceasefire on both sides, since Hamas, too, bears responsibility for the deaths of civilians."

Jean, who was named Justice and Human Rights MEP of the year in 2005, added,

"Being in Gaza almost a year ago I witnessed the severe suffering of Palestinians as a result of the siege, and a lack of medical equipment and other essential supplies. The situation now must be unbearable, with many hundreds dead and thousands injured as a result of the air strikes and ground offensive.

"It is imperative that the provision of humanitarian aid takes into account the deficit of goods and services which existed prior to these latest attacks. As well as the emergency response, extensive supplies of health, housing and education resources will be needed to rebuild the lives and communities of those affected."