[Pil-pc-oceania] Carbon neutral City in the Desert..Masdar

[stevehart at maxnet.co.nz]

Carbon neutral City in the Desert..Masdar...Abu Dhabi..UAE
It is quite amazing to try and consider and visualise and then attempt to
try and evolve something like this in such a benign ecology....far easier
in a warm temperate or temperate anything for that matter  because of the
huge resource phenominas...But the Sheiks are doing it none the less and I
am searching for professional expertise to build the team if we win
it...So if any of you have an interest in being involved in any
way...including the simple matter of thorough research and analysis...we
will desperately need you...this will extend to ecological economics.
Biotecture will be a big one....I hope you are on this chat room Terry
White we need to hook up...and you too Jason Alexander.

Love the debate so far and a big thanks to you Russ for continuing the
stimulation, hope to catch ya at APC9....if I can get there...Best regards
 Steve Hart

I'm putting the final words to our bid to win the design contract to
design and build this city> Send Pil-pc-oceania mailing list submissions
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> Today's Topics:
>
>    1. More grist for the carbon mill (RussGrayson)
>    2. Zero carbon, zero waste,	car-free city in the desert (Gnoll 110)
>    3. More carbon news (RussGrayson)
>    4. Re: train from Melbourne to Sydney (Darren Doherty)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2008 11:23:29 +1100
> From: RussGrayson <info at pacific-edge.info>
> Subject: [Pil-pc-oceania] More grist for the carbon mill
> To: pil <pil-pc-oceania at lists.permacultureinternational.org>
> Message-ID: <C3D883B1.760F%info at pacific-edge.info>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="US-ASCII"
>
> SOURCE: Sydeny Morning Herald, this morning...
> http://blogs.smh.com.au/travel/archives/2008/02/does_green_travel_really_wor
> k.html
>
> Does green travel really work?
>
> Regardless of how hard we try, all travellers have to face the facts:
> we're
> eco-vandals.
>
> We're destroying the world for our own self-indulgent pleasures, and no
> amount of "carbon offsets" are going to change that.
>
> We fly in planes, we drive cars, we ride in buses, we trek through
> jungles,
> we climb sand dunes, we trample over coral reefs, we litter, we use too
> much
> water ...
>
> The old "take only photographs, leave only footprints" adage went out the
> window years ago. We're dedicated consumers.
>
> So the question now is, what can be done? Can you really travel "green"?
> Or
> should we just all stay at home?
>
> To be honest, I've never stopped to consider this too closely, probably
> because I won't like the answers I come up with. Sure, I'm concerned about
> the environment, but I love travelling, and I'm going to keep doing it.
> That
> might not be politically correct, but I just can't see myself calling off
> my
> next holiday because of my carbon emissions.
>
> And I'm not the only one. The International Ecotourism Society estimates
> that by 2020, there will be 1.56 billion people travelling internationally
> each year. That's a whole lot of flights, and a whole lot of carbon being
> blasted into the atmosphere. Not to mention what all those travellers will
> do when they arrive.
>
> So the trick is, how do you minimise your impact?
>
> A lot of airlines now offer carbon offsets for a small fee, but the jury
> is
> out on their effectiveness. According to The Guardian's George Monbiot,
> buying offsets is, "like pushing the food around on your plate to create
> the
> impression you have eaten it". I'm sure there is a benefit to carbon
> offsets, but I'm not convinced paying someone to allegedly plant a few
> trees
> allows you to jump on that 747 guilt-free.
>
> Of course one of the best ways to neutralise the effects of flying is not
> to
> fly at all. In Australia you don't have a lot of choice if you want to go
> overseas - unless you want to spend a few weeks on a boat - but in places
> like South East Asia and Europe, it's much better environmentally (and
> scenically) to take trains over some routes that you might normally fly.
>
> And then when you arrive, you just continue the destruction. One of the
> main
> ways travellers do this is by using transport on the ground - cars, buses,
> tuk-tuks etc. And like flying, the best thing to do is try not to use them
> at all. Walk where you can, or hire a push-bike to get around. Or at the
> very least, use public transport. Again, you'll see more this way, too.
>
> Even your choice of accomodation can help or harm the environment. How
> much
> water does your hotel or hostel use? Does it have a recycling program?
> Does
> it hire locals? For a list of eco-friendly accommodation around the world,
> try here.
>
> Water is another tough one. Last week's blog brought up a good point from
> a
> few readers - drinking water from plastic bottles. It might seem handy
> (I've
> been doing it for years), but you never really think about what happens to
> those unbiodegradable bottles once you turf them when they're empty. I
> guess
> taking your own sturdy bottle and water purifier is a more environmentally
> sound option.
>
> And when you're travelling, try to limit your water use in things like
> showers and washing clothes (never been an issue for me...). You're
> essentially using other people's water resources when you travel, so go
> easy.
>
> (Special note for golfers: apparently, the average 18-hole course soaks up
> about the same amount of water per day as 100 Malaysian farmers would need
> to irrigate their crops. Something to think about on your next South East
> Asia golf trip.)
>
> Another way to lower your impact on the environment is to travel
> independently, rather than on package tours. The IES found that 80 per
> cent
> of money for all-inclusive package tours goes to airlines, hotels and
> other
> international companies. That doesn't leave much for the people you're
> actually visiting.
>
> Organise everything yourself, and far more of your money will go straight
> to
> the people you meet, get served by and interact with on your holiday. And
> of
> course, try to buy local products when you're overseas. Not only will it
> help that nation's economy, but it also means the product hasn't been
> shipped in or flown in from elsewhere.
>
> However, at historic and other popular tourist sites, use a local guide
> rather than go it alone. Not only will they help keep you on the beaten
> path
> and lessen your impact on the area, but you'll also learn a few things,
> and
> help keep your guide in employment.
>
> And finally, there's the idea of voluntourism - actively "giving back"
> while
> you're away, by doing things like planting trees, helping out at local
> hospitals, building shelters, digging wells, and so on. While a lot of
> this
> sometimes reeks to me of a slightly smug way of assuaging middle class
> guilt, I'm sure it must help in some respect.
>
> Okay, there are my tips. But there's one small problem: I hardly ever do
> any
> of it. I should, and I wish I did, but I don't. Doing all the right things
> is usually a bit harder, usually a bit more time consuming, and usually a
> bit more expensive. But if we don't start changing soon, there's not going
> to be much left to go and visit.
>
> So at the very least, I'm going to start trying.
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2008 11:52:05 +1100 (EST)
> From: Gnoll 110 <gnoll110 at yahoo.com.au>
> Subject: [Pil-pc-oceania] Zero carbon, zero waste,	car-free city in
> 	the desert
> To: pil-pc-oceania at lists.permacultureinternational.org
> Message-ID: <540858.25378.qm at web38513.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
>
>>It's a con. Hydrogen is not not not zero-carbon. It is a very
>>inefficient storage device for electricity. CO2 will have been made
>>during generating the electricity, and during using it to electrolyse
>>water to form the hydrogen. Then there will be losses during
>>transport and storage. H2 is such a small molecule that it can make
>>its way through many apparently solid walls, never mind joints.
>> The fuel cell itself is efficient enough, but as with electric
>>power, the losses are before the consumer gets the energy.
>>:(
>>Bob
>
>
> Partly right.
>
> Both electricity and hydrogen are energy distribution/storage methods.
> Neither are 'generations' methods like solar, wind, fossil fuels etc.
>
> Being very meta here, solar, wind fossil fuels are ultimately only
> distribution/storage methods for nuclear fusion in the sun at some past
> time. Ultimately E=mc^2 is true ;)
>
> All systems leak energy or matter (see the 3 laws of thermodynamics). Is
> an energy leak bad? Isn't just a by-product that we could use for some
> localize benefit. Isn't permaculture about  putting a 'centres' that use
> heat next to 'centres' that leaks heat? I use 'centre' here as Christopher
> Alexander uses the term in his 'The Nature of Order' texts.
>
>
> Gnoll110
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Get the name you always wanted with the new y7mail email address.
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2008 11:54:07 +1100
> From: RussGrayson <info at pacific-edge.info>
> Subject: [Pil-pc-oceania] More carbon news
> To: pil <pil-pc-oceania at lists.permacultureinternational.org>
> Message-ID: <C3D88ADF.7614%info at pacific-edge.info>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="EUC-KR"
>
> SOURCE: The Guardian, today's edition...
> http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/feb/13/climatechange.pollution
>
> True scale of C02 emissions from shipping revealed
>
> Leaked UN report says pollution three times higher than previously thought
> John Vidal, environment editor
> The Guardian, Wednesday February 13 2008
>
> The true scale of climate change emissions from shipping is almost three
> times higher than previously believed, according to a leaked UN study seen
> by the Guardian.
>
> It calculates that annual emissions from the world's merchant fleet have
> already reached 1.12bn tonnes of CO?, or nearly 4.5% of all global
> emissions
> of the main greenhouse gas.
>
> The report suggests that shipping emissions - which are not taken into
> account by European targets for cutting global warming - will become one
> of
> the largest single sources of manmade CO? after cars, housing, agriculture
> and industry. By comparison, the aviation industry, which has been under
> heavy pressure to clean up, is responsible for about 650m tonnes of CO?
> emissions a year, just over half that from shipping.
>
> Until now, the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has
> estimated
> shipping emissions to be a maximum 400m tonnes, but the new draft report
> by
> a group of international scientists is a more sophisticated measure, using
> data collected from the oil and shipping industries for the International
> Maritime Organisation, the UN agency tasked with monitoring pollution from
> ships. It not only shows emissions are much worse than feared, but warns
> CO?
> emissions are set to rise by a further 30% by 2020.
>
> Contacted about the contents of the report, Dr Rajendra Pachauri, chair of
> the IPCC, said: "This is a clear failure of the system. The shipping
> industry has so far escaped publicity. It has been left out of the climate
> change discussion. I hope [shipping emissions] will be included in the
> next
> UN agreement. It would be a cop-out if it was not. It tells me that we
> have
> been ineffective at tackling climate change so far."
>
> The figure is highly embarrassing for the four governments, including
> Britain, that paid for the report. Governments and the EU have
> consistently
> played down the climate impact of shipping, saying it is less than 2% of
> global emissions and failing to include shipping emissions in their
> national
> estimates for CO? emissions.
>
> Pressure is now expected to increase on shipowners to switch to better
> fuels
> and on the EU to include shipping in its emission trading scheme. Last
> month
> aviation was provisionally included following intense pressure - but
> shipping escaped.
>
> Previous attempts by the industry to calculate levels of carbon emissions
> were largely based on the quantity of low grade fuel bought by shipowners.
> The latest UN figures are considered more accurate because they are based
> on
> the known engine size of the world's ships, as well as the time they spend
> at sea and the amount of low grade fuel sold to shipowners.
>
> The UN report also reveals that other pollutants from shipping are rising
> even faster than CO? emissions. Sulphur and soot emissions, which give
> rise
> to lung cancers, acid rain and respiratory problems are expected to rise
> more than 30% over the next 12 years.
> .............
>
> http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/feb/12/greenpolitics.health
> 1.45am GMT update
>
> Climate change soon could kill thousands in UK, says report
> Andrew Sparrow, senior political correspondent
> Tuesday February 12 2008. This article was first published on
> guardian.co.uk
> on Tuesday February 12 2008. It was last updated at 16:35 on February 12
> 2008.
>
> Climate change could lead to a heatwave in the south-east of England
> killing
> 3,000 people within the next decade, a Department of Health report said
> today.
>
> It put the chances of a heatwave of that severity happening by 2017 at
> 25%.
>
> Without preventative action, the report said that a nine-day heatwave,
> with
> temperatures averaging at least 27 degrees over 24 hours, would cause
> 3,000
> immediate deaths, with another 3,350 people dying from heat-related
> conditions during the summer.
>
> It predicted that there would be an increase in skin cancers due to
> increased exposure to sunlight and that, over the next half century, air
> pollution could lead to an extra 1,500 deaths and hospital admissions a
> year.
>
> While malaria outbreaks were likely to remain rare, the report ? Health
> Effects of Climate Change in the UK 2008 ? said health authorities would
> need to be alert to the dangers posed by possible larger outbreaks of
> malaria in continental Europe.
>
> The report, a follow-up to a study first published in 2002, said the
> latest
> modelling now suggested that temperatures would rise by between 2.5C and
> 3C
> over the next century. Periods of very cold weather would become less
> common, but heatwaves would become more common.
>
> It pointed out that the heatwave in France in 2003, which contributed to
> more than 14,000 premature deaths, had been attributed by climatologists,
> in
> part, to the influence of human behaviour on the climate.
>
> ................
>
> http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/feb/12/carbonemissions.congestion
> charging
>
> 5.15pm GMT update
> London mayor slaps ?25 charge on gas guzzlers
>
> About this article: This article was first published on guardian.co.uk on
> Tuesday February 12 2008. It was last updated at 17:23 on February 12
> 2008.
> A 4x4 vehicle or 'Chelsea tractor'
>
> A 4x4 vehicle or 'Chelsea tractor' will now have to pay ?25 to enter the
> congestion zone.
>
> Drivers of high-powered sports cars and 4x4s will be hit by a new ?25
> charge
> every time they enter central London under plans to reduce congestion and
> cut pollution across the capital.
>
> London mayor Ken Livingstone said today that around 30,000 of the
> worst-polluting vehicles would face a threefold price rise from October,
> while the most environmentally-friendly cars would be able enter the
> congestion charging zone free of charge.
>
> "The CO2 charge will encourage people to switch to cleaner vehicles or
> public transport and ensure that those who choose to carry on driving the
> most polluting vehicles help pay for the environmental damage they cause,"
> Livingstone said.
>
> "This is the polluter pays principle. At the same time, the 100% discount
> for the lowest CO2 emitting vehicles will give drivers an incentive to use
> the least polluting cars available."
>
> Livingstone said the new charge was part of a package of measures,
> including
> the introduction of a clean air zone and a ?500m investment in walking and
> cycling, that would help London reduce its CO2 emissions by 60% by 2025.
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:32:44 +0100
> From: "Darren Doherty" <permaculture.biz at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Pil-pc-oceania] train from Melbourne to Sydney
> To: "permacultue discussion list"
> 	<pil-pc-oceania at lists.permacultureinternational.org>
> Message-ID:
> 	<cef38c330802112132s43b42e05ifb9ffbc4aa48ac8 at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> G'day,
>
> Bloody Jeff.....my goodness what a chap.....its crazy when I catch the
> train
> to go to Melbourne that the line is in eye shot of Tullamarine. I have
> tried
> getting off the Bendigo/Melbourne train at Sunbury and catching a taxi to
> Tullamarine...it is more economical to go to Southern Cross and then catch
> the airport bus to Tullamarine.
>
> I use the airport bus regularly both between Tullamarine & Bendigo ($36)
> and
> Tullamarine & Southern Cross ($15), the latter running every half hour I
> think...Its a pretty easy and cruisy option in the absence of Jeff Kennett
> et al's contractual irresponsibility....
>
> Darren Doherty
>
> On 12/02/2008, petra.kahle at haztech.com.au <petra.kahle at haztech.com.au>
> wrote:
>>
>> unfortunately, the connection between Melbourne airport and Southern
>> cross
>> station (ex Spencer street station), is not great,
>> (unlike Sydney I heard)
>> and the other 2 airports around Melbourne aren't any better.
>> If someone needs to know exactly, I have to ask.
>> petra.
>>
>>
>> > Hi Petra
>> >
>> > I can only wish I were an apc9 train traveller from Vic but I think
>> > this is an excellent idea to link up during the trip and would be
>> > great fun too.  There are a few delegates coming over from Tas who
>> > may also be interested and I will let them know.  Is it convenient
>> > for them to get on a train at Melbourne airport?
>> >
>> > When you arrive at Central Station in Sydney, get on a train to
>> > either Turramurra or Hornsby stations where shuttle buses to the apc9
>> > site will be departing every hour.
>> >
>> > Only 36 more sleeps to go, can't wait!
>> >
>> > Robyn
>> >
>> > CONTACT DETAILS:
>> >
>> > Robyn Williamson
>> > APC9 Secretariat
>> > info at apc9.org.au
>> > Ph/Fx:  (02) 9629 3560
>> > Mobile:  0409 151 435
>> > http://apc9.org.au
>> >
>> > On 11/02/2008, at 6:10 PM, petra.kahle at haztech.com.au wrote:
>> >
>> >> I am considering to use day trains to Sydney and back for APC9
>> >> going countrylink on Wednesday the 19th and coming back on
>> >> Wednesday the
>> >> 26th.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Rather than going thru the bureaucratic nightmare of booking a train
>> >> together I suggest to just book in ourselves and wear a badge saying
>> >> "Australian Permaculture convergence9"
>> >>
>> >> what does any other apc9 train traveller from Vic think?
>> >>
>> >> cheers, Petra.
>> >>
>> >> _______________________________________________
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>> >>
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
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>> >
>>
>>
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>
>
>
> --
> Hooroo,
> Darren J. Doherty
> www.permaculture.biz
>
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