Apple has become the latest company to resign from the United States Chamber of Commerce over climate policy. "We strongly object to the chamber's recent comments opposing the E.P.A.'s effort to limit greenhouse gases," wrote Catherine A. Novelli, the vice president of worldwide government affairs at Apple, in a letter dated today and addressed to Thomas J. Donohue, president and chief executive of the chamber. Click here to read the letter. "Apple supports regulating greenhouse gas emissions, and it is frustrating to find the chamber at odds with us in this effort," Ms. Novelli continued. Apple's resignation was effective immediately, the letter said. The move comes a few weeks after Apple expanded the environmental disclosures on its products.
Apple has become the latest company to resign from the United States Chamber of Commerce over climate policy.
"We strongly object to the chamber's recent comments opposing the E.P.A.'s effort to limit greenhouse gases," wrote Catherine A. Novelli, the vice president of worldwide government affairs at Apple, in a letter dated today and addressed to Thomas J. Donohue, president and chief executive of the chamber. Click here to read the letter.
"Apple supports regulating greenhouse gas emissions, and it is frustrating to find the chamber at odds with us in this effort," Ms. Novelli continued.
Apple's resignation was effective immediately, the letter said. The move comes a few weeks after Apple expanded the environmental disclosures on its products.
In another sign of the widening divide in the business community over climate change action, Nike announced Wednesday that it would resign its position on the board of the United States Chamber of Commerce. Nike said, however, that it would maintain its membership in the chamber. Three large utilities -- Pacific Gas & Electric, PNM Resources and Exelon -- have announced their resignations from the chamber this month due to concerns about the chamber's position on climate. "We fundamentally disagree with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on the issue of climate change, and their recent action challenging the E.P.A. is inconsistent with our view that climate change is an issue in need of urgent action," Nike said in a statement that was posted today on the Web site of the Natural Resources Defense Council.
In another sign of the widening divide in the business community over climate change action, Nike announced Wednesday that it would resign its position on the board of the United States Chamber of Commerce.
Nike said, however, that it would maintain its membership in the chamber.
Three large utilities -- Pacific Gas & Electric, PNM Resources and Exelon -- have announced their resignations from the chamber this month due to concerns about the chamber's position on climate.
"We fundamentally disagree with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on the issue of climate change, and their recent action challenging the E.P.A. is inconsistent with our view that climate change is an issue in need of urgent action," Nike said in a statement that was posted today on the Web site of the Natural Resources Defense Council.
The global recession provides a window of opportunity to curb climate change and build a low-carbon future, says the International Energy Agency (IEA).It calculates that global greenhouse gas emissions will fall by 3% this year - an increase on previous estimates. If governments take this opportunity to invest in clean technology, the global temperature rise can be kept below the G8 goal of 2C (3.6F), the agency says. The findings were released at UN climate talks in Bangkok. "The message is simple and stark: if the world continues on the basis of today's energy and climate policies, the consequences of climate change will be severe," said IEA executive director Nobuo Tanaka.
The global recession provides a window of opportunity to curb climate change and build a low-carbon future, says the International Energy Agency (IEA).
It calculates that global greenhouse gas emissions will fall by 3% this year - an increase on previous estimates.
If governments take this opportunity to invest in clean technology, the global temperature rise can be kept below the G8 goal of 2C (3.6F), the agency says.
The findings were released at UN climate talks in Bangkok.
"The message is simple and stark: if the world continues on the basis of today's energy and climate policies, the consequences of climate change will be severe," said IEA executive director Nobuo Tanaka.
The British recently emerged as the second largest purchasers of diet products within Europe, behind the Dutch. In this edited version of an original Expatica article, Virginia Griffith explores why the Dutch are leaner than the British. The United Kingdom has now been cited as 'the fattest country in Europe' with over half of its population reported as overweight or obese, consequently ranking a mere one percent behind that of America. The future statistics do not bode well either with a prediction that in the next 10 years 78 percent of the British population will be overweight. The Netherlands has also witnessed an increase in the number of people pronounced as overweight or obese, around 30 percent, double that of 20 years ago. Nevertheless in recent years these figures have stayed constant with little or no influx. According to the official statistics agency Statistics Netherlands (CBS) the Dutch lead healthier lives, with declining numbers of smokers and heavy drinkers, together with being reported as taking more regular exercise. What is consistent, however, in both Britain and in Holland is the high percentage of overweight men compared to that of women - 40 percent to 30 percent. Why? So why are the Dutch so successful compared to the British when warding off the bulge? Why are the British consuming more calories then any other country in Europe? It could simply be as a direct result to the accessibility and wide variety of junk food available. Although of course most moderately large towns across Europe boast at least one major hamburger chain, the UK unlike Holland possesses a mammoth amount. High streets are inundated with eateries, the majority being American, all offering highly calorific food to go.
The British recently emerged as the second largest purchasers of diet products within Europe, behind the Dutch. In this edited version of an original Expatica article, Virginia Griffith explores why the Dutch are leaner than the British.
The United Kingdom has now been cited as 'the fattest country in Europe' with over half of its population reported as overweight or obese, consequently ranking a mere one percent behind that of America. The future statistics do not bode well either with a prediction that in the next 10 years 78 percent of the British population will be overweight.
The Netherlands has also witnessed an increase in the number of people pronounced as overweight or obese, around 30 percent, double that of 20 years ago. Nevertheless in recent years these figures have stayed constant with little or no influx. According to the official statistics agency Statistics Netherlands (CBS) the Dutch lead healthier lives, with declining numbers of smokers and heavy drinkers, together with being reported as taking more regular exercise. What is consistent, however, in both Britain and in Holland is the high percentage of overweight men compared to that of women - 40 percent to 30 percent.
Why? So why are the Dutch so successful compared to the British when warding off the bulge? Why are the British consuming more calories then any other country in Europe? It could simply be as a direct result to the accessibility and wide variety of junk food available. Although of course most moderately large towns across Europe boast at least one major hamburger chain, the UK unlike Holland possesses a mammoth amount. High streets are inundated with eateries, the majority being American, all offering highly calorific food to go.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Food companies making bogus claims about the effects of products such as "probiotic" yoghurts or taurine-based energy drinks will need to rethink their marketing campaigns, the EU's food safety agency chief, Catherine Geslain-Laneelle, has told this website. The Parma-based European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) recently issued scientific opinions rejecting claims that so-called probiotic yoghurt drinks with "good bacteria" improve the consumers' health and immunity systems. Some yoghurt companies sell their products based on false claims. Although companies Danone and Yakult did not take part in this round of evaluation, the ruling may impact marketing campaigns for their probiotic best-sellers such as Activia, Actimel and Yakult. EFSA also found that the so-called taurine ingredient found in energy drinks such as Red Bull does not stimulate the "mind and body" to the extent that companies claim it does.
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Food companies making bogus claims about the effects of products such as "probiotic" yoghurts or taurine-based energy drinks will need to rethink their marketing campaigns, the EU's food safety agency chief, Catherine Geslain-Laneelle, has told this website.
The Parma-based European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) recently issued scientific opinions rejecting claims that so-called probiotic yoghurt drinks with "good bacteria" improve the consumers' health and immunity systems.
Some yoghurt companies sell their products based on false claims.
Although companies Danone and Yakult did not take part in this round of evaluation, the ruling may impact marketing campaigns for their probiotic best-sellers such as Activia, Actimel and Yakult.
EFSA also found that the so-called taurine ingredient found in energy drinks such as Red Bull does not stimulate the "mind and body" to the extent that companies claim it does.
Russia has never made energy conservation much of a priority. But President Dmitry Medvedev would like that to change. He wants to see consumption drop by 40 percent in the next decade -- but without the technological know-how, it could be difficult. Sometimes, Dmitry Medvedev has to be brusque. Last Wednesday, the Russian president found it necessary to reprimand his audience in front of national television cameras for talking during his speech. "Whoever's chatting can go somewhere else. And that includes the bosses," he said. Medvedev is not accustomed to being ignored. The problem may have been his choice of subject. The normally stoic Kremlin boss had been giving a speech on his new favorite subject: energy efficiency. It is not a topic that generally receives much attention in Russia.
Russia has never made energy conservation much of a priority. But President Dmitry Medvedev would like that to change. He wants to see consumption drop by 40 percent in the next decade -- but without the technological know-how, it could be difficult.
Sometimes, Dmitry Medvedev has to be brusque. Last Wednesday, the Russian president found it necessary to reprimand his audience in front of national television cameras for talking during his speech. "Whoever's chatting can go somewhere else. And that includes the bosses," he said. Medvedev is not accustomed to being ignored.
The problem may have been his choice of subject. The normally stoic Kremlin boss had been giving a speech on his new favorite subject: energy efficiency. It is not a topic that generally receives much attention in Russia.
3,000 Protest Outside Climate Talks in Bangkok In Bangkok, some 3,000 protesters demonstrated on Monday, calling on world leaders to take immediate and tougher action to fight global warming. Bangkok is hosting the last major negotiating round before the UN's climate summit in Copenhagen in December. Protesters called on the United States and other developed nations to make steep cuts in emissions. Jacques-chai Chomthongdi, Focus on the Global South: "The most important thing is that developed countries need to quickly cut emissions by 2020, by at least 40 percent of the level that they negotiated. If they don't cut that down, everyone will be impacted. We need rich countries to cut emissions, and poor countries need a proper plan to encourage their people to adjust to live with that."
In Bangkok, some 3,000 protesters demonstrated on Monday, calling on world leaders to take immediate and tougher action to fight global warming. Bangkok is hosting the last major negotiating round before the UN's climate summit in Copenhagen in December. Protesters called on the United States and other developed nations to make steep cuts in emissions.
Jacques-chai Chomthongdi, Focus on the Global South: "The most important thing is that developed countries need to quickly cut emissions by 2020, by at least 40 percent of the level that they negotiated. If they don't cut that down, everyone will be impacted. We need rich countries to cut emissions, and poor countries need a proper plan to encourage their people to adjust to live with that."
But I can't find a story. Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.
An "exceptional" collection of the biggest dinosaur footprints ever recorded has been found by two amateur enthusiasts on an expedition near France's Jura mountains, palaeontologists said today. Imprints measuring up to 2 metres (6ft 6in) in diameter and stretching over a vast area of land have been uncovered near the village of Plagne, 30 miles west of Geneva, according to the National Centre of Scientific Research. In a statement, the centre said the significance of the prints could not be overestimated. "According to the researchers' initial work, these tracks are the biggest ever seen," it said. Pierre Hantzpergue, a palaeontologist at the University of Lyon who verified the prints with a colleague at the research centre, said the perfectly preserved tracks could make Plagne one of the most significant dinosaur locations in the world. "What is remarkable about this site ... is firstly the sheer size of the footprints. They are really enormous," he said. "This is new. Some very big footprints have been found in the US but I don't think they are as big as these."
Imprints measuring up to 2 metres (6ft 6in) in diameter and stretching over a vast area of land have been uncovered near the village of Plagne, 30 miles west of Geneva, according to the National Centre of Scientific Research.
In a statement, the centre said the significance of the prints could not be overestimated. "According to the researchers' initial work, these tracks are the biggest ever seen," it said.
Pierre Hantzpergue, a palaeontologist at the University of Lyon who verified the prints with a colleague at the research centre, said the perfectly preserved tracks could make Plagne one of the most significant dinosaur locations in the world.
"What is remarkable about this site ... is firstly the sheer size of the footprints. They are really enormous," he said. "This is new. Some very big footprints have been found in the US but I don't think they are as big as these."
Some very big footprints have been found in the US but I don't think they are as big as these."
We're number one! We're number one!
Oh, by the way, it's very close to Lyon. Do you think they are still around? "Dieu se rit des hommes qui se plaignent des conséquences alors qu'ils en chérissent les causes" Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet
Do you think they are still around?
Well I'm guessing so unless some paleontologist or vandal removed them with dynomite. Here's the picture that ran with the story.
Marié-Hèlene Marcaud and Patrice Landry next to a sauropoda dinosaur footprint discovered in Pagne, north of Lyon, France. Photograph: Hubert Raguet/CNRS
I would have hiked right over these and 'hey big sauropod footprints!' would not have crossed my mind.
Patrice Landry (R) and Marie-Helene Marcaud, discoverers and members of an amateur science society specialising in geology and paleontology, pose next to well-preserved footprints, between 1.5 and two metres in diameter, in Plagne eastern France October 6, 2009.
Still, these were found by skilled amateurs and not some random person walking around. I think they well deserve the attention they're getting.
Is that whole area they're standing in a footprint?
Geology ain´t hard. :)
However, the thing that really and finally and definitely determined Noah to stop with enough species for purely business purposes and let the rest become extinct, was an incident of the last days: an excited stranger arrived with some most alarming news. He said he had been camping among some mountains and valleys about six hundred miles away, and he had seen a wonderful thing there: he stood upon a precipice overlooking a wide valley, and up the valley he was a billowy black sea of strange animal life coming. Presently the creatures passed by, struggling, fighting, scrambling, screeching, snorting -- horrible vast masses of tumultuous flesh! Sloths as big as an elephant; frogs as big as a cow; a megatherium and his harem huge beyond belief; saurians and saurians and saurians, group after group, family after family, species after species -- a hundred feet long, thirty feet high, and twice as quarrelsome; one of them hit a perfectly blameless Durham bull a thump with its tail and sent it whizzing three hundred feet into the air and it fell at the man's feet with a sigh and was no more. The man said that these prodigious animals had heard about the Ark and were coming. Coming to get saved from the flood. And not coming in pairs, they were all coming: they did not know the passengers were restricted to pairs, the man said, and wouldn't care a rap for the regulations, anyway -- they would sail in that Ark or know the reason why. The man said the Ark would not hold the half of them; and moreover they were coming hungry, and would eat up everything there was, including the menagerie and the family. All these facts were suppressed, in the Biblical account. You find not a hint of them there. The whole thing is hushed up. Not even the names of those vast creatures are mentioned. It shows you that when people have left a reproachful vacancy in a contract they can be as shady about it in Bibles as elsewhere. Those powerful animals would be of inestimable value to man now, when transportation is so hard pressed and expensive, but they are all lost to him. All lost, and by Noah's fault. They all got drowned. Some of them as much as eight million years ago.
All these facts were suppressed, in the Biblical account. You find not a hint of them there. The whole thing is hushed up. Not even the names of those vast creatures are mentioned. It shows you that when people have left a reproachful vacancy in a contract they can be as shady about it in Bibles as elsewhere. Those powerful animals would be of inestimable value to man now, when transportation is so hard pressed and expensive, but they are all lost to him. All lost, and by Noah's fault. They all got drowned. Some of them as much as eight million years ago.
