http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com Green Blog, Green Issues, Green Environment Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:26:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 en http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/mann-bites-dog/ http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/mann-bites-dog/#comments Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:26:00 +0000 Discovery News - Earth News 871cc70a-c6d4-42a7-8629-6e3bd382cc88 http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/mann-bites-dog/feed/ http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/all-27-eu-countries-to-back-atlantic-bluefin-tuna-international-trade-ban/ http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/all-27-eu-countries-to-back-atlantic-bluefin-tuna-international-trade-ban/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:00:00 +0000 WWF - Environmental News tag:www.panda.org://517c7f71f93683262859a4bd877657ed Brussels, Belgium – WWF applauds the confirmation from European Union member states that they will vote for a ban on international commercial trade in Atlantic bluefin tuna during a meeting of the largest wildlife trade convention starting this week.

The 27 EU members said today they would vote to list Atlantic bluefin tuna on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), joining a growing list of supporting countries, including the United States of America.

“WWF welcomes the EU announcement, which will give this devastated species the possibility to recover,” said Dr Sergi Tudela, Head of Fisheries at WWF Mediterranean. “Other governments must back the ban when they meet for CITES later this week.”

“The EU is a major trade and development partner in many key regions of the world, and some countries may have been hanging back on Atlantic bluefin tuna to see what the Europeans would decide to do,” Tudela said.

“With the two largest holders of bluefin tuna fishing quota on either side of the Atlantic – the U.S. and EU – now supporting the trade ban, other countries should follow suit,” Dr Tudela said.

“Our only remaining concern is that we do not understand the continuing need on the part of the EU for conditions to be attached to the Appendix I listing. WWF believes this trade ban should be implemented immediately, without conditions or delay.

“The EU must now push for widespread support of this proposal during the CITES meeting.”

The proposal to list Atlantic bluefin tuna on CITES Appendix I was submitted by the Principality of Monaco in October. Atlantic bluefin tuna is at serious risk of commercial extinction because of decades of unsustainable and illegal fishing in the Mediterranean Sea, driven by demand from Japan’s luxury seafood markets.

The eligibility of Atlantic bluefin tuna for the CITES Appendix I listing proposal is backed by independent experts including a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization panel, and the scientific committee of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), the regional fisheries management organization in charge of this fishery.

The 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES CoP 15) will take place March 13-25 in Doha, Qatar. The Convention is an international agreement between governments that aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival in the wild.


]]> Brussels, Belgium – WWF applauds the confirmation from European Union member states that they will vote for a ban on international commercial trade in Atlantic bluefin tuna during a meeting of the largest wildlife trade convention starting this week.

The 27 EU members said today they would vote to list Atlantic bluefin tuna on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), joining a growing list of supporting countries, including the United States of America.

“WWF welcomes the EU announcement, which will give this devastated species the possibility to recover,” said Dr Sergi Tudela, Head of Fisheries at WWF Mediterranean. “Other governments must back the ban when they meet for CITES later this week.”

“The EU is a major trade and development partner in many key regions of the world, and some countries may have been hanging back on Atlantic bluefin tuna to see what the Europeans would decide to do,” Tudela said.

“With the two largest holders of bluefin tuna fishing quota on either side of the Atlantic – the U.S. and EU – now supporting the trade ban, other countries should follow suit,” Dr Tudela said.

“Our only remaining concern is that we do not understand the continuing need on the part of the EU for conditions to be attached to the Appendix I listing. WWF believes this trade ban should be implemented immediately, without conditions or delay.

“The EU must now push for widespread support of this proposal during the CITES meeting.”

The proposal to list Atlantic bluefin tuna on CITES Appendix I was submitted by the Principality of Monaco in October. Atlantic bluefin tuna is at serious risk of commercial extinction because of decades of unsustainable and illegal fishing in the Mediterranean Sea, driven by demand from Japan’s luxury seafood markets.

The eligibility of Atlantic bluefin tuna for the CITES Appendix I listing proposal is backed by independent experts including a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization panel, and the scientific committee of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), the regional fisheries management organization in charge of this fishery.

The 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES CoP 15) will take place March 13-25 in Doha, Qatar. The Convention is an international agreement between governments that aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival in the wild.


]]> http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/all-27-eu-countries-to-back-atlantic-bluefin-tuna-international-trade-ban/feed/ http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/carbon-cap-and-trade-at-risk-as-japan-considers-climate-bill/ http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/carbon-cap-and-trade-at-risk-as-japan-considers-climate-bill/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:00:00 +0000 WWF - Environmental News tag:www.panda.org://eeeb378112e96f6db5cda694d5a972ef Tokyo, Japan: Japan is at risk of undermining its own recent commitments on carbon emissions reductions during a confused – and confusing – debate on forthcoming climate legislation, WWF said today.

WWF is calling on a high-level Cabinet Member Committee meeting regarding climate change on Thursday to stick with the already outlined absolute emissions reductions of 25 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020 agreed under the Copenhagen Accord framework, and with the ‘cap and trade’ scheme outlined as a key mechanism for achieving the target.

The climate bill, to be presented to the full cabinet including Prime Minister Hatoyama on Friday, is being criticized by heavy industry labour unions for possible job loss while some government ministries are promoting a carbon intensity framework for emissions reductions.

Intensity-based emissions trading schemes however seriously undermines the environmental integrity of the bill - absolute emissions would increase with production even if intensity-based targets are achieved.

“If the bill includes "intensity-based" emissions trading schemes then it does not consider the emissions cap that the Japanese government has promised to the Japanese people during the elections and to the world following the Copenhagen Accord,” said Naoyuki Yamagishi, WWF-Japan's Head of Climate Change.

“It should have “absolute-based" emissions trading, which is crucial for the scheme to be called “cap and trade” scheme.”

Japanese civil groups are also calling on the government to drop the conditionality clauses in the new bill that threaten to tie Japanese action on climate change to a successful international agreement which includes all the major economies.

“Japan should not send wrong signals by making its action absolutely conditional to an international agreement,” said Yamagishi. “It will not only jeopardize the credibility of the Japanese target internationally but will also slow down domestic actions.”

“The current language in the bill could be interpreted as Japan doing nothing to reduce emissions if there is no comprehensive international agreement.”

Japan's pledge to cut greenhouse-gas emissions to 25 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020 is one of the most ambitious in the world.

Japanese civil society groups are also not wishing to see the climate bill being used as a vehicle for an expansion of nuclear power plants.

They would also like to see feed-tariffs for renewable energy that require power companies to buy all the energy produced from all kinds of sustainable renewable energies and not, as proposed, just surplus power from domestic solar installations.



www.panda.org/media for latest news and media resources

www.wwf.or.jp/activity/climate


]]> Tokyo, Japan: Japan is at risk of undermining its own recent commitments on carbon emissions reductions during a confused – and confusing – debate on forthcoming climate legislation, WWF said today.

WWF is calling on a high-level Cabinet Member Committee meeting regarding climate change on Thursday to stick with the already outlined absolute emissions reductions of 25 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020 agreed under the Copenhagen Accord framework, and with the ‘cap and trade’ scheme outlined as a key mechanism for achieving the target.

The climate bill, to be presented to the full cabinet including Prime Minister Hatoyama on Friday, is being criticized by heavy industry labour unions for possible job loss while some government ministries are promoting a carbon intensity framework for emissions reductions.

Intensity-based emissions trading schemes however seriously undermines the environmental integrity of the bill - absolute emissions would increase with production even if intensity-based targets are achieved.

“If the bill includes "intensity-based" emissions trading schemes then it does not consider the emissions cap that the Japanese government has promised to the Japanese people during the elections and to the world following the Copenhagen Accord,” said Naoyuki Yamagishi, WWF-Japan's Head of Climate Change.

“It should have “absolute-based" emissions trading, which is crucial for the scheme to be called “cap and trade” scheme.”

Japanese civil groups are also calling on the government to drop the conditionality clauses in the new bill that threaten to tie Japanese action on climate change to a successful international agreement which includes all the major economies.

“Japan should not send wrong signals by making its action absolutely conditional to an international agreement,” said Yamagishi. “It will not only jeopardize the credibility of the Japanese target internationally but will also slow down domestic actions.”

“The current language in the bill could be interpreted as Japan doing nothing to reduce emissions if there is no comprehensive international agreement.”

Japan's pledge to cut greenhouse-gas emissions to 25 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020 is one of the most ambitious in the world.

Japanese civil society groups are also not wishing to see the climate bill being used as a vehicle for an expansion of nuclear power plants.

They would also like to see feed-tariffs for renewable energy that require power companies to buy all the energy produced from all kinds of sustainable renewable energies and not, as proposed, just surplus power from domestic solar installations.



www.panda.org/media for latest news and media resources

www.wwf.or.jp/activity/climate


]]> http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/carbon-cap-and-trade-at-risk-as-japan-considers-climate-bill/feed/ http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/supermarket-lights-supercharge-vegetables-nutrition-value/ http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/supermarket-lights-supercharge-vegetables-nutrition-value/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +0000 Emily Sohn 5aad53b7-ebd0-4ed7-9b0b-af5e1d337770 http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/supermarket-lights-supercharge-vegetables-nutrition-value/feed/ http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/a-sweet-deal-soured/ http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/a-sweet-deal-soured/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:12:24 +0000 Michael Reilly 7e0a8d72-ea6f-4e8d-803a-580d6272e668 http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/a-sweet-deal-soured/feed/ http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/shark-zone-a-refuge-where-predators-and-tourists-mix/ http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/shark-zone-a-refuge-where-predators-and-tourists-mix/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:20:00 +0000 Discovery News - Earth News ca93ea34-8816-4204-b7cc-87d1be9237fd http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/shark-zone-a-refuge-where-predators-and-tourists-mix/feed/ http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/climate-tiff-in-s-dakota-reveals-gap-between-scientists-public/ http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/climate-tiff-in-s-dakota-reveals-gap-between-scientists-public/#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:28:00 +0000 Larry O'Hanlon b8288293-1f51-4076-b1e2-62c41e8051dd http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/climate-tiff-in-s-dakota-reveals-gap-between-scientists-public/feed/ http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/tobacco-plants-tapped-to-suck-up-pond-scum/ http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/tobacco-plants-tapped-to-suck-up-pond-scum/#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:47:00 +0000 Emily Sohn 16323526-6960-4f70-b82a-7fe4c7065390 http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/tobacco-plants-tapped-to-suck-up-pond-scum/feed/ http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/south-american-cities-moved-in-chile-quake/ http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/south-american-cities-moved-in-chile-quake/#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:24:29 +0000 Lauren Effron e9594e46-e1d6-42e7-af66-e752e8ab72a3 http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/south-american-cities-moved-in-chile-quake/feed/ http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/cites-can-help-save-bluefin-tuna-stem-wildlife-poaching-crisis/ http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/cites-can-help-save-bluefin-tuna-stem-wildlife-poaching-crisis/#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:00:00 +0000 WWF - Environmental News tag:www.panda.org://3da1f56c4a6a2f4597e0ebb7ca122cd7 Gland, Switzerland: Governments meeting March 13 for the largest wildlife trade convention will have a unique opportunity to help preserve the world’s oceans and simultaneously stem a worldwide poaching crisis.

The 15th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES CoP 15) will consider an unprecedented six proposals to better protect marine species – including a crucial ban on the international commercial trade of Atlantic bluefin tuna.

Currently, the Atlantic bluefin tuna is on the brink of extinction because of overfishing and illegal fishing to feed a rapidly expanding market in recent years for sushi and sashimi, mainly in Japan, but also increasingly in the United States and Europe. Overall, Atlantic bluefin tuna stocks have declined by over 85 per cent compared to maximum historical stock levels

“This is the meeting where governments must take a stand to save the Atlantic bluefin tuna and no longer stoop to the short-term interests of a bloated hi-tech fishing industry,” said Sergi Tudela, WWF’s tuna expert. “Otherwise, this important species and a centuries-old fishing tradition could disappear forever.”

The governments will consider putting Atlantic bluefin tuna on Appendix I of the Convention – the highest level of protection under its appendix system, which would ban all international commercial trade.

Other marine species up for increased protection under CITES include red and pink coral – being harvested out of existence to make jewelry and decorative items – and four shark species.

Proposals to put these four shark species on CITES Appendix II, which would ensure stricter trade controls, will be considered at the meeting. These sharks currently are overfished because of demand for their fins and meat.

In addition, government delegations also will consider steps they can take to help stem a worldwide poaching crisis destroying tiger, rhino and elephant populations in Asia and Africa.

“Support for these proposals to help stop poaching and save the Atlantic bluefin tuna is also a way for governments to publicly show their disapproval of the corruption and organized crime that helps feed the illegal international trade in endangered species,” said Amanda Nickson, Species Programme, WWF International.

Rhino poaching worldwide is at a 15-year high and exacerbated by increasingly sophisticated poachers, who now are using veterinary drugs, poison, cross bows and high-calibre weapons to kill rhinos. There is also a marked increase in demand in Asia, particularly in Vietnam, fueled by claims that rhino horn cures cancer.

“Not only has rhino poaching in southern Africa increased but elephant poaching in central Africa and tiger poaching in Asia has risen as well and is seriously threatening these species,” said Steve Broad, Executive Director of TRAFFIC International. “At the CITES CoP, governments will have a chance to take a collective, big-picture look at what is driving poaching and illegal trade and seek common solutions.”

Tigers in particular are in the spotlight during this Year of the Tiger in the Chinese lunar calendar. All 13 tiger range states are signatories to the CITES convention.

At the CoP countries will be voting on measures that, if properly enforced, can end all illegal tiger trade for good. This is a critical measure as there are only an estimated 3,200 wild tigers left and poaching and illegal trade are the biggest threat to their survival in the wild.


]]> Gland, Switzerland: Governments meeting March 13 for the largest wildlife trade convention will have a unique opportunity to help preserve the world’s oceans and simultaneously stem a worldwide poaching crisis.

The 15th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES CoP 15) will consider an unprecedented six proposals to better protect marine species – including a crucial ban on the international commercial trade of Atlantic bluefin tuna.

Currently, the Atlantic bluefin tuna is on the brink of extinction because of overfishing and illegal fishing to feed a rapidly expanding market in recent years for sushi and sashimi, mainly in Japan, but also increasingly in the United States and Europe. Overall, Atlantic bluefin tuna stocks have declined by over 85 per cent compared to maximum historical stock levels

“This is the meeting where governments must take a stand to save the Atlantic bluefin tuna and no longer stoop to the short-term interests of a bloated hi-tech fishing industry,” said Sergi Tudela, WWF’s tuna expert. “Otherwise, this important species and a centuries-old fishing tradition could disappear forever.”

The governments will consider putting Atlantic bluefin tuna on Appendix I of the Convention – the highest level of protection under its appendix system, which would ban all international commercial trade.

Other marine species up for increased protection under CITES include red and pink coral – being harvested out of existence to make jewelry and decorative items – and four shark species.

Proposals to put these four shark species on CITES Appendix II, which would ensure stricter trade controls, will be considered at the meeting. These sharks currently are overfished because of demand for their fins and meat.

In addition, government delegations also will consider steps they can take to help stem a worldwide poaching crisis destroying tiger, rhino and elephant populations in Asia and Africa.

“Support for these proposals to help stop poaching and save the Atlantic bluefin tuna is also a way for governments to publicly show their disapproval of the corruption and organized crime that helps feed the illegal international trade in endangered species,” said Amanda Nickson, Species Programme, WWF International.

Rhino poaching worldwide is at a 15-year high and exacerbated by increasingly sophisticated poachers, who now are using veterinary drugs, poison, cross bows and high-calibre weapons to kill rhinos. There is also a marked increase in demand in Asia, particularly in Vietnam, fueled by claims that rhino horn cures cancer.

“Not only has rhino poaching in southern Africa increased but elephant poaching in central Africa and tiger poaching in Asia has risen as well and is seriously threatening these species,” said Steve Broad, Executive Director of TRAFFIC International. “At the CITES CoP, governments will have a chance to take a collective, big-picture look at what is driving poaching and illegal trade and seek common solutions.”

Tigers in particular are in the spotlight during this Year of the Tiger in the Chinese lunar calendar. All 13 tiger range states are signatories to the CITES convention.

At the CoP countries will be voting on measures that, if properly enforced, can end all illegal tiger trade for good. This is a critical measure as there are only an estimated 3,200 wild tigers left and poaching and illegal trade are the biggest threat to their survival in the wild.


]]> http://green-blog.cyber-footprint.com/green-issues/cites-can-help-save-bluefin-tuna-stem-wildlife-poaching-crisis/feed/