The man sits down with a sigh. As he raises the glass of “purified” urine to his parched lips, he catches sight of his distorted reflection in the chrome sink. He pauses and then throws the glass into the sink, rushes out of the kitchen, up the stairs and into the bathroom. As he pulls frantically at the red and white tape stretched across the bathroom sink, he cries out desperately, “I can’t stand it any longer!” “I can’t stand it any longer!”

The man attaches one end of a flexible rubber pipe to the sink faucet, puts the other end in the bath, and turns on the water.

Meanwhile, next door the neighbor is standing in front of his bathroom mirror. In one hand he holds a teacup and in the other a facecloth which he uses to mop the perspiration from his chest and from under his arms. Suddenly, in the silence of the night, he hears the noise of running water. He leans forward, presses his ear against the wall and listens in horror.

While the man who could no longer down another glass of his own urine, glides slowly into a bath full of cool water, his neighbor makes a phone call. “Hello, police?”

Within no time three officers are knocking down the door. One of the officers cannot contain himself and begins beating the man who is still lying naked in his bath. The other two pull their colleague back. The man is hauled out of his bath and carried away immediately, with only a small towel to cover himself. As two officers drag the man onto the landing and down the stairs, the third officer knocks on the neighbor’s door and presents him with a shiny blue bottle of water. “Thank you sir,” she says giving him a meaningful look.

The neighbor watches from his window. In the street below the officers push the culprit along the street and into a waiting police van. After a moment he turns away and trudges into the kitchen, prize in hand. The neighbor opens the fridge door and places his prize on the shelf, adding one more to row upon row of identical shiny blue bottles of water.

The place, it would appear, is Paris. The year is 2039, and water, quite clearly, is scarce.

The story of the bath-taking criminal and his snitch of a neighbor is told in a short film entitled “Râ” written and directed by Frenchman Julien Sibre. “Râ” was screened at the “Festival International du Film d’Environnement”, the annual environment film festival in Paris, which is currently coming to a close after seven days. This year the festival celebrated its 25 th anniversary and showcased a diverse selection of documentaries, short films and features from around the world, films that treat a variety of the major environmental issues of our day such as pollution, sustainable development, the north-south divide, the fight against poverty and desertification, and of course climate change.

I saw a series of short films, all of them part of the official competition. Many of those films present an excruciatingly bleak picture, whether the focus is on the inexorable extinction of an animal species, or the irreversible destruction of nature, or again the unmitigated suffering of the victims of climate change. And so they should, for the devastation and despair, although part of a fiction in these films, cannot be categorized as science fiction or fantasy since they are based on palpable, inescapable realities.

Other films that I saw contain an element of humor. The gravity of any given theme or situation in those films is not necessarily diminished, and the humor provided me with relief from the gloom and despair. Sometimes I find the images of the rape of our planet overwhelming and difficult to relate to, even if I know they’re not lying. In contrast, I could relate more easily to the characters and emotions in a number of those short films that contained a dose of humor. Almost invariably I was engaged in the story being played out on the screen, lulled and destabilized by the comic relief, and then all the more touched by a poignant denouement.

“Râ” was one of the latter. Julien Sibre’s film is not so much about climate change, but about human reactions to the extreme situations we will find ourselves in because of climate change. Indeed, during the open discussion after the screenings, Sibre apologized to the audience, saying perhaps the environmental theme wasn’t strong enough in his film. Yet on the contrary, I thought his film most relevant to an environmental film festival, for it is through art that we can explore and reflect on the human response to the destruction and change around us.

Sibre explained that “Râ” was made for a film contest called “48 Chrono”. Contestants were asked to make a film – write, organize, film and edit – all in 48 hours. That’s quite a feat, don’t you agree?

http://www.festivalenvironnement.com/historique/index.html

http://www.festivalenvironnement.com/

http://www.eyeka.com/video/view/13995

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The stage was in the presidential palace in the heart of Paris. The speaker was the President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy. And he couldn’t have chosen more illustrious guests for the occasion: José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, Wangari Maathai, winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize and, the winner of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, Mr Al Gore himself. After Sarkozy outlined the results of four months of negotiations on the environment, Al Gore spoke. "I want to offer my congratulations to the French people. This is the beginning of an historic process," he said. "We need a ‘Grenelle mondial,’ a Worldwide Grenelle."

In May 1968, a time of great social upheaval in France, members of opposing camps met to discuss possible solutions to the crisis. Government representatives, employers and union leaders gathered to negotiate on labor terms and conditions. The agreements signed at the outcome were later called the "Grenelle accords" after the place where the meeting was held, in the Ministry of Labor building on Grenelle street in Paris. Sarkozy launched the environmental Grenelle last Spring, using the name of the labor agreements to emphasize the multilateral democratic nature of the process.

The Grenelle, or "environmental New Deal" as it has also been called, was organized in three phases. During the first phase, six heterogeneous working groups drafted plans of action to tackle major environmental issues, including climate change and energy needs, the loss of biodiversity, and unsustainable modes of production and consumption. During the second phase the general public was invited to join in by commenting on the groups’ reports either on an Internet forum hosted by the official site, or by attending regional meetings. I wrote about the Grenelle here on Green Options, once at the beginning of the process, and a second time at the opening of the public debate.

The phase of public debate came to an end on October 14, and last week at the presidential palace Sarkozy presented the synthesis of four months of talks. But what were the results of these "unprecedented negotiations?" There were irreconcilable differences on a number of issues, but happily, agreements were reached on others. About a dozen measures will be voted on by the French parliament in early 2008. It seems as though the greatest strides were made in two areas, transportation and building. These two areas are, needless to say, chief contributors to air pollution and climate change.

For example, Sarkozy announced that the construction of new highways in France will be slowed considerably, almost ceasing altogether, while in contrast the railway network will be expanded considerably. 2000 kilometers, or around 1250 miles, of tracks will be laid, benefiting both passenger and cargo trains, and thereby eliminating around 2 million trucks from French highways by 2020.

By 2012 all new constructions in France will conform to norms of "low consumption," and by 2020 all new buildings will be net producers of energy. Regarding household electrical equipment such as televisions, stereos and kitchen appliances, as soon as alternatives are made available, the old generation inefficient models will be banned. A deadline is already set for 2010 when incandescent light bulbs and single-paned windows will be prohibited.

Sarkozy also promised that the State will lead the way by greening public buildings and government transports. So, for example, starting in 2008, all public buildings will have to increase their energy efficiency by 20%, and by 2009 all vehicles used by the state will run on cleaner energy. Those two measures may not sound very impressive, but when placed in context, they take on greater significance. Indeed, mocked by the French themselves and scorned abroad, the French administration is infamous for its unwieldy size and relentless inefficiency. But, given such dimensions, just think of what a positive impact those otherwise modest goals for energy efficiency and clean vehicles will have by reducing CO2 emissions and air pollution. Why at this rate, Paris will be on its way to becoming the cleanest capital city in the world!

Certain issues discussed during the Grenelle talks were inevitably highly controversial and often the cause of tension between the various delegates. In my next post, I’ll be taking a look at some of those hot topics. So tune in to Green Options again early next week for Part 2 on the Sarko Eco-Show.

Official Grenelle Website

President Nicolas Sarkozy

Le Monde

It would appear that I am not alone in my passion for the heavenly food. Hundreds of people attended the Chocolate Show here in Paris this weekend. They went to watch the experts prepare chocolate delicacies, to hear lectures on the latest in chocolate-making machinery, or to see the latest chocolate-inspired fashion. But most of all they went to sample an astounding variety of the fine food. Although they did not steal the show, organic and Fair Trade chocolate featured prominently throughout the weekend.

I spoke to Emilie Guerin, a member of Ethiquable, a French Fair Trade company that has a partnership with a cooperative of cocoa producers in the Dominican Republic. Ethiquable, a combination of the words "éthique" and "équitable," French for ethical and fair, was founded in 2003. "Four years ago we started with 8 products," Emilie said. "Now we have 120." They began with coffee and now work with a range of products from orange juice to rice, and, of course, chocolate. But their goals remain the same from one foodstuff to the next: Ethiquable is dedicated to ensuring Fair Trade with farmers in the developing world and respect for the environment.

Emilie explained how the Fair Trade labeling process works. "In conjunction with the FairTtrade Labeling Organization (FLO), Max Havelaar evaluates the costs of production for a given foodstuff," in this case cocoa beans, "and the cost of living for the producers." A minimum price for the beans is determined based on that evaluation. "We as an importer must respect that price at the very least," Emilie said, "but we are free to propose a higher price to the producer if we want." What is more, the minimum price does not vary with the often highly volatile market prices, and so Ethiquable guarantees fair and steady revenues to producers in exchange for their produce.

This system of Fair Trade functions thanks to the reduction of intermediaries and margins. "The price that we offer to the consumer is the same and sometimes less than that of other brands," Emilie said, "because we as importers have smaller margins, and in addition we limit the number of intermediaries." Whenever possible, the full production and packaging processes are completed within the country of origin. Ethiquable transports the finished product to France where it is directly distributed to supermarkets and shops throughout the country.

At Ethiquable, Fair Trade goes hand-in-hand with a deep respect for the environment. For example, in the Dominican Republic they work "with families that have maintained a strong tradition of agriculture, families that cultivate small plots of land." Indeed the cocoa from the cooperative is in the process of being certified as 100% organic. "We are not interested in an industrial model that is impersonal and ultimately unsustainable," said Emilie. "Ours is based on human contact and care for the environment."

With some 30 partnerships in 21 countries, Ethiquable is growing quickly. May they continue to expand, leading the way with other fairtrade groups, to a humane and sustainable system of world trade and consumption.

The Chocolate Show

Ethiquable

Adana is the nation’s fourth largest city and the centre for the Turkish cotton and textile industries. In this case the American cotton is sent to a factory where it is spun and used to make towels. Great attention is paid to ensure high quality, oh-so-soft and fluffy towels to attract the Turkish shopper… or rather, the American shopper. The towels are packaged and sent to the United States on another container ship. This is crazy!

There are of course the energy and CO2 emissions involved in this to and from tango across the ocean. But even if we put aside such issues in the name of international trade, it cannot be denied that the system is absurd, especially given the fact that Turkey is one of the top ten cotton producers in the world.

The story of the roving Georgian cotton was recently told on national French television, forming one chapter in the larger chronicle of one container ship’s circumnavigation of the globe. It reminded me of another story, that of the traveling tomatoes told in We Feed the World (2005), a film by Austrian director Erwin Wagenhofer. Spanish tomatoes, ripened under the warm southern sun, have long supplied northern European markets. I was an occasional consumer, preferring the Spanish variety to the other widely available option, the tasteless variety grown in rainy Holland. Note: I was, for as it turns out, those tomatoes are not at all sun-ripened.

As shown in Wagenhofer’s film, in southern Spain tomatoes and other vegetables are grown in greenhouses, greenhouses as far as the eye can see and beyond. And not a tree to be found. They are grown using an artificial (read inefficient), irrigation system manned by workers from North and West Africa. The men work long hours and live in makeshift shacks in between the greenhouses. A large percentage of the produce from southern Spain is transported by truck to northern Europe, and a certain percentage is sent to different countries in Africa. Even with the higher production costs in Europe plus the transportation costs, the Spanish tomatoes are sold in Africa at cheaper prices than locally grown tomatoes. Absurd.

Why such absurdities in world trade? Much of the answer lies in subsidies. The devastating effects of first-world subsidized agriculture on markets in the developing world are well known. Subsidized produce is artificially competitive, encourages an increase in production and pushes international market prices down. Local farmers in developing countries cannot compete, and are forced out of business and into poverty. Yet the developed world continues to subsidize its agriculture. Disagreements over reducing subsidies in general and export subsidies in particular, have threatened to jeopardize several rounds of international trade talks over the past years. Both the European Union and the United States remain reluctant to renounce their protectionist measures.

Of course not all subsidies should be abolished. As said a few months ago during a discussion here on Green Options about the US Farm Bill, subsidies should not be paid to the barons of unfair unsustainable trade, the mega agribusinesses, but should fund local organic outfits, thereby encouraging the shift to green sustainable agriculture.

We Feed the World

World Trade Organization

Oxfam on Cotton Subsidies

UN Food and Agriculture Organization

After a time of inquiry, now is the time for action, and France will be present at the forefront of the fight for human rights in the 21st century. The environmental new deal is an unprecedented democratic process. The role of the State is essentially to facilitate collective action. Its mission is to foster synergy between common and sometimes competing causes. After several weeks of debate one thing is clear: dialogue works and solutions exist.

Stirring indeed. But what makes this program so exceptional? The multilateral nature of the first phase, and the democratic or collective nature of the second, according to Borloo, adding that France can lead the way for the rest of the world by fashioning a sustainable society. "As both producers and consumers we will be subject to major changes, but those changes represent an opportunity for our economy, our health and our children." Sustainable living and economic growth are not incompatible. "By protecting the environment we prepare our companies for the economic competition of the future, we improve our quality of life, and we prevent illnesses caused by pollution."

More grand statements. There is a sense of deja vu. And I cannot help but ask, as I have been asking repeatedly over the last few weeks, is there any substance behind the hype?

Within a week of taking office last Spring, French President Nicolas Sarkozy called a meeting on sustainable development and the environment. The gathering marked the beginning of the larger program that constitutes the "New Deal." In the first phase of the program, members from different sectors of society were assembled in six working groups that convened over the summer, with each group focusing on a different environmental issue. Representatives of NGOs, companies, unions, local councils and government bodies joined scientists and other specialized experts to confer on the status quo and to draft a plan of action.

The novelty lies in the diversity of the participants. Individuals and interest groups who are normally at loggerheads with one another were brought to the same negotiating table. Each delegate was equal in status with the next, and could contribute fully to the proceedings.

For example, working group number one was focused on climate change and energy needs. Jean Jouzel and Nicholas Stern were co-presidents of the group. Jouzel is an eminent French geochemist and climatologist who has carried out extensive research on climate change in Antarctica and Greenland; Stern is a prominent British economist and author of the renowned "Stern Review," a report which presents the impact of climate change on the global economy.

The NGO camp for group one consisted of delegates from international alliances such as Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), as well as envoys from national environmental groups. The employee camp was composed of representatives from different labor unions, including engineers, railway workers, technicians, and white-collar workers. The employer camp was comprised of leaders from various business associations, both general confederations and industry-specific alliances such as the Union of Chemical Manufacturers, and the Federation of Road Transportation. Finally, the state camp consisted of directors of government bodies such as the National Forestry Office and the Energy and Environment Agency.

It is hardly surprising that the government website features interviews with delegates who are by and large satisfied with the process and the outcome of the working groups. They admit that the challenges were great, the stakes were high, and there was a considerable time constraint, but they also refer to lively debate, a genuine exchange, progress and consensus. Delegates’ observations and remarks featured on an NGO website are much more subdued.

Bernard Cressens, program director at WWF France, participated in the workshops devoted to the subject of greening French agriculture. No one boycotted the meeting, Cressens says. A coalition of NGOs was even able to distribute a list of suggestions for use during one of the sessions. But as soon as the group began to focus on the details of a particular matter, someone, often a representative from the French Ministry of Agriculture, always raised an objection. "So — reduce the use of pesticides, yes that’s a good idea but it’s impossible; increase the percentage of organic farming in France, yes but is there the market for it; defend domestic biodiversity yes, well maybe, but…"

Olivier Louchard, a member of Climate Action Network, attended several workshops dedicated to questions of transportation and methods of reducing CO2 emissions. While he feels that the discussions were "relatively constructive," and some promising proposals were made, he was troubled by the time constraints, calling them "completely unrealistic." "It’s not possible to establish a national climate plan in only two months and certainly not one that can be implemented by the current government over the next five years." So Louchard wonders whether the government might not have its own plan of action, one that will be followed irrespective of what emerges from the working groups and the public debate.

Last week each working group drew up a report, outlining the conclusions of their discussions and providing suggestions for immediate, mid-term and long-term actions. The reports were presented at the conference on Thursday, and the second phase of the "new deal" was launched: the public debate. Anyone can participate in the debate, either by attending one of the regional meetings scheduled across the country from October 5 to 19, or by visiting the government website set up specifically for the occasion. The website is hosting a forum where the French people can leave comments on any of the reports, which are available in full and condensed versions. They can also take the opportunity to engage in a dialogue with one another.

Borloo concluded the conference by saying it has not yet been proven that another type of economic growth is possible. "But if all parts of society work together, if each day every one of us makes the right choices, if at every moment and in every aspect of our lives we vote for sustainable alternatives, then it is my conviction," he said, "that it is possible." Thus France can provide a model both in Europe and around the world, of a healthy growing and sustainable economy.

Yes, sounds great. And no, I’m not being sarcastic, or at least not regarding the general idea of the whole thing. The very fact that the working groups convened, engaged in dialogue and presented their reports, is an accomplishment in itself. The forum for public debate represents a unique opportunity for French citizens to participate and thereby hopefully become more engaged in the transformation toward sustainable living.

But, Borloo and company have cried green, twice in one month. There was the promise of the first eco-friendly Rugby World Cup. Then there was the promise of the ultra-cool green techno parade. In both cases, the government ministry and the organizing committees vowed to take actions that were entirely within the realm of the possible. So, if a promise to install proper recycling facilities at a sports stadium or along the route of a music parade cannot be kept, how can the pledge to revolutionize an entire society be taken seriously?

Image source: UMBC edu

Environmental "New Deal" French Government Website

Alliance for the Planet

Towns and cities signed up to participate in the annual car-free day held last Saturday. Since 2000 the World Carfree Network, an international association dedicated to advancing alternatives to automobile dependence, has called for the celebration of cities and public life "free from the noise, the stress and the pollution of cars," on the same day each year, September 22. The association urged individuals and local organizers to make this year’s celebration more than a one-day affair.

Let World Carfree Day be a showcase for just how our cities might look like, feel like, and sound like without cars…365 days a year. As the climate heats up, World Carfree Day is the perfect time to take the heat off the planet, and put it on city planners and politicians to give priority to cycling, walking and public transport, instead of to the automobile.

The car-free day coincided, as it does every year, with European Mobility Week. Events were organized in over 1000 cities and towns in Europe, and culminated in the car-free day on Saturday. The week is sponsored by the European Commission in partnership with three European-wide organizations that work on urban environmental issues: Eurocities, Energie-Cités and Climate Alliance. Local authorities, leisure clubs, community groups and other spontaneous gatherings of determined individuals, coordinate an array of activities to promote sustainable means of transport.

Each year there is an overarching theme for Mobility Week. "Streets for People" was the theme for this the sixth edition of the week, calling for "local authorities to reallocate some road space to non-motorized traffic," and drawing attention to the pressing need to improve air quality on the local level. Many cities closed their main streets to automobile traffic, arranged mass bicycle outings and held street parties. Some town authorities took the opportunity to showcase permanent measures taken in recent years to increase the road space dedicated to sustainable mobility.

Reports on Mobility Week and World Carfree Day are still coming out.

One dispatch already released came from China. Officials had announced that Beijing would hold its first car-free day last Saturday. James Reynolds, reporting from Beijing on Saturday for the BBC, said, "the ruling communist party has encouraged people to leave their cars at home to improve the air for next year’s Olympic Games, but no one has taken any notice." The main thoroughfares of the Chinese capital looked, by and large, the way they do on normal car days, Reynolds said. Private cars were blocked from using some back streets but apparently, "nobody uses them much anyway… People here are not willing to give up their cars in exchange for better air." Overall, Reynolds concluded, "no car day appears to have had absolutely no impact whatsoever."

Image: World Carfree Network

BBC Beijing No Car Day

European Mobility Week

Eurocities

Energie Cités

Climate Alliance

Here in France a number of recent events have been placed under a green banner. The 2007 Rugby World Cup, still in progress, and the 2007 Techno Parade, held in Paris on Saturday, were advertised as the first ecological events of their kind in the world. In each case the organizers vowed to take concrete actions to reduce the impact of the given event on the environment. The French Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development, headed by the Minister Jean Louis Borloo, is a chief sponsor and co-organizer, and therefore features prominently in the publicity campaigns for these happenings. There is, however, a growing discrepancy between the organizers’ words and their actions, a seemingly cavernous rift between declaration and implementation.

Technopol, the organizing committee of the Paris Techno Parade, appears to be more consistent. Last year’s parade was dedicated to the fight against hunger. With a deft publicity campaign, the organizers were able to raise awareness about the cause and collect funds for NGOs engaged in the battle to reduce hunger around the world. This year, the parade was pitched as "a celebration of the planet." Technopol announced their commitment to protect the environment and, addressing all clubbers and techno lovers, stated that the success of the event "also depends on you and your cooperation." They put together a guide for the eco-conscious partygoer.

The leaflet entitled "The Clubber’s Guide to Eco-Cool" provides 10 steps the clubber can take to "help save our planet." They are not revolutionary steps, but they are feasible and they are geared toward the clubber. So for example, the first step concerns hygiene: "if you want to smell good out there on the dance floor, before going out take a shower and not a bath. You’ll save water, and time. And don’t forget to turn the tap off while you’re brushing your teeth." To demonstrate the value of these acts the leaflet includes figures: 30 to 80 liters of water consumed during a five-minute shower versus 150 to 200 liters for a full bath. Another step touches on fashion: "did you know that fair-trade organic fashion is hip/trendy? Clothes and accessories made with organic cotton and bamboo are now the staple of every self-respecting clubber’s wardrobe." A third step encourages the clubber who wants to be at the vanguard of cool to consider recycling the old cell phone when purchasing the latest model.

The ten suggested gestures cover the partygoer’s entire night out, from water and energy saving tips before leaving home, advice about how to keep emissions at a minimum when traveling to and from the club, through ideas about reducing waste at the club, to the breakfast of local seasonal fruit back at home in the morning.

After carefully following the instructions in the guide, the eco-cool clubber and green techno lover may legitimately ask what the organizers of the parade have done to fulfill their eco-mission. What about the event itself?

Technopol lists the five actions that were planned to make this years Techno Parade greener than last year’s: the purchase of emission offsets, coordination with a major French NGO, production of environmentally-friendly pamphlets, a reduction in sound pollution and sustainable waste management. In collaboration with a carbon offset company called "Action Carbone," Technopol calculated the CO2 emissions generated by both the parade and the normal running of the organization. To offset those emissions the sum of 1000 euros will be donated to a biogas project in India.

There is no reason to doubt that actions will follow close upon the organizers’ words. Nor is there any cause to believe that the parade program and leaflet were printed on anything other than recycled paper using chemical-free inks. Then again, it is difficult for us – the eco-cool clubber, the environmental onlooker and the green techno lover – to know for sure. On the other hand, we were able to check out the sound control and waste management vaunted by Technopol.

When the first float in the parade rolled slowly by, the techno beat seemed to be at a reasonable eco-friendly volume. But then, the sound blasting from the third and fourth trucks pounded the air, battering the thoracic cages and engulfing the gentle heartbeats of we who were standing at a considerable distance from the floats. If that was the reduced volume, what was the regular volume? Enough to shake the foundations of those noble Parisian abodes and to inflict lasting damage on our eco-sensitive eardrums.

As for the waste management, we could see that the organizers had good intentions. They meant well. There were several recycling stations, placed strategically along the parade route. At each station, a brigade of volunteers dressed in bright yellow T-shirts was present to direct us to the proper bin, depending on the type of waste we were carrying. The system appeared to be so carefully planned. It was bound to be a success.

Unfortunately, there were a few unanticipated glitches that undermined the whole endeavor. One recycling station was at the foot of a monument to the French Republic. A contingent of friendly riot police stood guard to prevent any wayward eco-cool clubber, environmental onlooker or green techno-lover from climbing up onto the monument. Fair enough. The only problem was that the policemen stood in front of the recycling bins. Volunteers were supposed to collect our waste and place the various items into the appropriate containers, separating glass, paper, plastic and food. Somehow it was difficult to attract their attention, and as a result waste ended up everywhere but the recycling bins.

The recycling station in Bastille circle, which was both the starting and finishing point of the parade, was directly accessible. We were able to inspect the bins. Empty. There were enough volunteers milling around. A few of them said things were looking much tidier than last year. Indeed a quick stroll down the first leg of the parade route an hour after the procession had moved through, was enough to confirm that the Parisian sanitation engineers had done an excellent job in cleaning up clean. But what was the final destination of those tons of garbage? Not the recycling plant.

Overall, without being too harsh, we decided that the organizers did not fulfill their promises to reduce sound pollution and manage the waste produced by the parade. Not all was lost however, for the publicity campaign must have raised some awareness about what each of us can do to help save our planet. Let’s hope. The danger is that we, the clubbers, onlookers and techno lovers, or for that matter the rugby fans, rock n roll aficionados and fashion buffs, have faith in event organizers and in the Ministry of Ecology, and that we do not recognize the publicity stunts for what they are: all hype and very little action.

Paris Techno Parade

A wind of change is blowing through the world of rugby. A green wind.

The 2007 Rugby World Cup, the 3rd largest sports event in the world with an estimated 2.5 million spectators from around the world, is being held in France from September 7 to October 20. The organizers, including a special rugby committee, a government agency and the French Rugby Federation, have vowed to make the event tangibly eco-friendly, and number of the players on the French team have given their names to the cause.

The French Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development issued a detailed press release at the end of August, outlining the three major axes of the Rugby World Cup environmental program: emissions calculations, concrete actions, and a publicity campaign. After calculating the impact that the six weeks of matches and festivities will have on the environment, including 570,000 tons of CO2 emissions, the government agency identified three spheres of action: public transport, renewable energies and waste management. Those actions, and other environmental issues, feature in the plan to raise awareness among the publics involved in the World Cup ― fans, employees, volunteers and television spectators ― with ecologically-oriented posters, leaflets and commercials.

The potential was great. The expectations were high. "This is it," I thought: the green movement is finally emerging from those polluted backwaters and, blown by the green wind, it is at long last moving into the mainstream. Even though I was not the proud holder of a ticket, I wanted to enjoy the atmosphere of fair play and bonhomie that characterizes rugby, witness the incredible growth of green, and relish the feeling of being one of the crowd, no more the eccentric tree-hugging freak of yore. What follows is an account of my experience last Friday at the "Stade de France," the Stadium of France, during the few hours preceding the opening ceremony and first match of the tournament, which pitted the French against the Argentineans.

The first sphere of action in the environmental program consists of the promotion and facilitation of public transport to and from the stadiums, and between the ten World Cup venues scattered across the country. The mythical Stade de France is located in the working-class suburb of Saint Denis, just a few miles north of the French capital. I took the D-line train from the centre of Paris out to Saint Denis without any trouble at all. It must be said, however, that my rapid journey cannot be attributed to the efficiency of the World Cup program since the D-line is part of the normal metropolitan subway and train system. No doubt the action in this sphere is going full guns, full eco-guns that is, at the other nine stadiums.

At the D-line station in Saint Denis, I joined the crowds for the 10 to 15 minute walk over to the Stade de France. Along the way, street vendors were selling flags, T-shirts and hats emblazoned with the French colors. One or two even dared to tout Argentinean merchandise. Others were selling hot dogs and drinks. I could not help but notice the trashcans along the way. They were already overflowing, glass plastic and paper all mixed together. Not to worry, I told myself, this sidewalk is not officially part of the stadium and therefore cannot possibly fall under the jurisdiction of the eco-friendly Rugby World Cup.

We continued on and down through a passage under the highway. Walking up the ramp on the other side, I tried to ignore more plastic cups strewn about. Then, there it was: the soaring stadium with a seating capacity of 80,000 that has hosted concerts by legends such as U2 and the Rolling Stones. The atmosphere was charged with a good-natured energy. Fans from across the globe were united by a common love of the game. Immediate bonds were being formed over sizeable jugs of beer.

A great green tent, with green flags flying, beckoned. Deep dark pine green. That must be the hub for the environmental publicity campaign, I thought. What a momentous occasion! The victory of the green revolution was upon us. The tears welled up in my eyes and a lump rose in my throat… but wait. What were those happy rugby revelers holding? Plastic cups. And what did those letters on the green tent spell? H-e-i-n-e-k-e-n. The great green tent, with green flags flying, beckoned. Deep dark bottle green.

Well, they weren’t biodegradable but at least those plastic goblets would be recycled, I consoled myself as I recalled that waste management is the third sphere of eco-action at the 2007 Rugby World Cup. I looked around for the closest recycling bin. There weren’t any close at hand, so I strolled round to the south side of the stadium. I strode to the north, then over to the east, and back to the west. I marched right around the colossal thing. Not a recycling bin in sight. All the green action must be inside the stadium, I concluded. But wasn’t that where all the rugby action was taking place? Besides, food and drink are forbidden inside the stadium, so all of the waste action was happening outside and none of it was being recycled.

What a disappointment. I was about to head back to Paris when I remembered that final axis of the environmental program, the publicity campaign. At the very least those jolly fans would be conscious of the contributions they can make to help save our planet, those small gestures in everyday life. That is, if they were not performing those green deeds already. Indeed, according to the press release those who had ordered their tickets by mail also received a leaflet containing practical information and a "clear message" about cooperating to achieve an eco-friendly World Cup with a "limited impact climate change."

I asked a few chaps from Paris if they had seen the message. They didn’t know what in the world I was talking about. When I mentioned the environmental program, one guy wondered if I was referring to the giant screens that are supposed to relay the games live for those who cannot afford to buy tickets.

Sharon and Paul were more willing to chat. They have come all the way from Tasmania, and will be attending 14 games. When I marveled at the distance they had traveled, Paul said, "Yeah, we walked. It took us three years." They bought their tickets eighteen months ago. "We bought tickets for Paris and tickets for Nantes," Sharon said. "We’re going to all the games in those two venues." When asked what came with the tickets, Sharon said "There was like a poster with maps of all the stadiums and lots of information about the center of the union, and things like that." There was one other thing. "When we bought the tickets, we had to sponsor a local rugby team somewhere in France," the couple said. Anything else, anything about the environment? Nope.

As I said goodbye to Paul and Sharon and wished them a happy World Cup, it became clear that the wind of change was nothing more than a lot of hot air, and that’s the last thing we need more of.

It was time to go home. Perhaps I would watch the weather lady on national French television. According to the press release, she will be "coaching" 10 million television spectators on the eco-friendly behavior they should adopt during the World Cup, "and after!" Then again, maybe I wouldn’t.

The green revolution lives! Long live the green revolution!

Image Source: blogrugby2007

French Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development

2000 participants are expected in Madrid for the eighth international conference of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), which runs from September 3 - 14. Ecologists, representatives from 800 NGOs, and envoys from the 191 countries that ratified the Convention will meet to report on recent developments in the battle against one of the most critical environmental problems of our day.

The UNCCD defines "desertification" as the "degradation of land in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors including climatic variations and human activities." In other words, the term does not refer to the expansion of existing deserts, but to the reduction or loss of productivity of previously fertile lands. The topsoil on those lands gradually loses its nutrients and the crop yield diminishes, sometimes to the point of being completely barren and unproductive. Deforestation, overgrazing, overcultivation and faulty irrigation are some of the major causes of land degradation, while growing populations put further pressure on land and water resources.

The consequences of desertification are devastating and far-reaching. The drop in biological productivity leads to a decline in economic productivity, forcing farmers, and often entire communities, into poverty and compelling many to migrate. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), land degradation causes "an estimated loss of $42 billion a year in agricultural production." It is believed that almost one-third of "the world’s cropland has been abandoned over the past 40 years because erosion has made it unproductive." Eroded lands become more susceptible to flooding which can in turn affect water quality, while during periods of drought people suffer from health problems caused by wind-blown dust.

For several decades the United Nations has been battling to reverse what is one of gravest environmental problems of our day. Starting in the mid-1970s, there were a number of international efforts, but by the early 1990s, various studies showed that, apart from a few localised improvements, overall land degradation had increased. There was a call for a change in tactics. The Convention to Combat Desertification was one of three major conventions elaborated during the Rio Earth Summit in 1992. It is designed to promote action through locally-run National Action Programmes (NAP) funded by local, national and international organisations. The UNCCD website provides a summary of this new approach:

"Drawing on past lessons, the Convention states that these programmes must adopt a democratic, bottom-up approach. They should emphasize popular participation and the creation of an ‘enabling environment’ designed to enable local people to reverse land degradation through self-help. Of course, governments remain responsible for creating this enabling environment. They must make politically sensitive changes, such as decentralizing authority, improving land tenure and systems, and empowering women, farmers and pastoralists."

Although it is easier to prevent desertification than to reverse it, the UNCCD encourages members to develop offensive stategems as well as defensive manoeuvres. The programmes implemented under the aegis of the Convention include reforestation projects, managed grazing methods, sustainable farming techniques, such as crop rotation, and efficient irrigation schemes. And the fight goes on.

UNCCD

Also at GO:

Solar Ovens Provide Alternative to Cooking with Wood in Rural China

This Desert Flower: Israel’s Negev Desert

The Great Aletsch is the largest and longest glacier in Europe, and forms part of a region in southwestern Switzerland that was named a United Nations Natural World Heritage Site in 2001. The site, which was enlarged this year, is situated in the Bernese Alps and consists of mountainous terrains that harbor a variety of ecosystems and a precious diversity of plant and animal species. The area as a whole, and the Aletsch Glacier in particular, is highly threatened by climate change.

According to Pro Natura, the conservation non-profit organization that runs the Aletsch Ecological Center, since the last ice age some 11,000 years ago, the glacier has been slowly retreating. But, there have also been times when it advanced. For example, in 1860 the glacier was 1.8 miles longer than it is now and about 650 feet higher. Today, due to the clearly visible effects of climate change, the Aletsch glacier is retreating at an alarming rate, losing 50 meters or around 165 feet a year. At that rate, not only the Aletsch but also most of the world’s glaciers are predicted to disappear by 2080.

By photographing the large assembly of naked people on the Alestch, Tunick said he aimed to draw a link between the human body and the glacier, and to highlight the vulnerability of both in the face of climate change. Members of Greenpeace organized the event: they recruited the six hundred participants as volunteers through their website, negotiated with local authorities, and managed the logistics of the photo shoot. The volunteers came mainly from across Switzerland, but some traveled from neighboring countries to take part in the mass installation art.

Vincent Donzé, a journalist for the Swiss newspaper Le Matin, described his experience as a volunteer. Tunick and his team of six assistants, the organizers from Greenpeace and the six hundred volunteers hiked up for several hours to reach the Aletsch. At an altitude of around 7545 feet, the volunteers stripped and, at Tunick’s command, took up different poses: standing by the edge of the glacier, standing spread out across the ice, or lying down and huddled together. They made use of slippers and pillows provided by Greenpeace to guard against the cold as they walked or lay on the glacier, and the air temperature hovered at around 10° Celsius or 50° Fahrenheit.

Another journalist for Le Matin reported that Greenpeace paid Tunick more than 20,000 Swiss francs, about $16,600, a sum that covers fees for the artist and his six assistants, and buys half of the rights for the photographs, which will be used for a Greenpeace publicity campaign in the near future. The artist will also sell his pictures to art dealers for thousands or possibly tens of thousands of dollars.

Reflecting on the costs of mounting such an eco-artistic project - the time, effort and money involved - raises the question: how effective was it? You might argue that the aim of raising awareness about climate change was reached, because the story of the six hundred naked people on a melting glacier made international news, featuring, for example, on the BBC and in major American and European newspapers. Or you might wonder what percentage of those who saw or read reports on the event had previously been unaware of climate change.

In other words, what kinds of response did the reports and the accompanying media photos incite? One reader, Jean-Pierre, wrote to a Swiss newspaper asking whether the impact of the project was significant enough to justify the energy consumed and the emissions produced, before, during and after the photo shoot. He doubted that Tunick and the volunteers had paused to consider the energy and the CO2 expended in the process.

These arguments and others lead us to ponder the more general issue of the role art plays in the green movement. I believe art can play a powerful role in furthering awareness and encouraging action on the various environmental challenges we are faced with. The story of 600 naked people on a Swiss glacier has caused a stir in the media, and it doesn’t end there. The resulting nude photos will drive the Greenpeace publicity campaign, and will be featured in galleries and museums, thereby reaching a wide audience.

We need not seek to quantify the contribution of a particular work of art, for we would be missing the point entirely. Eco-art and art for the environment should be vigorously but judiciously promoted. So, while we cultivate the development of green art, we must also be wary of vacuous gimmicks and inane publicity stunts that masquerade as creativity with conscience.

Image source: 24 Heures

Greenpeace

BBC

Le Matin

The British government has vowed to reduce green house gas emissions, but at the same time it supports plans to expand the country’s 21 airports. Heathrow already sports four terminals and two runways. A fifth terminal is scheduled to open in March 2008, and there is talk of adding a third runway in the near future.

According to the BBC, the traffic through Heathrow reaches around 470,000 flights carrying 67.7 million passengers a year. Although aviation currently accounts for only 7% of the UK’s carbon emissions, that figure is due to rise as Heathrow and other airports are enlarged.

Protestors congregated at the Camp for Climate Action, an eco-village which, starting today, will host a series of lectures and workshops throughout the week. The program includes sessions entitled "Zero Carbon Britain," "Faith and the Environment - an Islamic Perspective," and "Compositing Capitalism," as well as what sound like practical inductions, such as "Energy Recovery in Buildings", "Climate Change Speaker Training" and "Building an Effective Campaign".

There will be a build-up of activism leading to Sunday’s 24 hours of civil disobedience and "mass action against corporate climate criminals," as the Camp for Climate Action website puts it. However, a spokeswoman for the Camp ensured the BBC that airline passengers would not be the focus of the demonstrations. About 1,800 police officers have been called in to monitor the event.

During this week, which is one of the busiest of the year, some 1.5 million travelers are expected at Heathrow.

BBC News
Camp for Climate Action
Euronews

After a life-changing visit to India, Sophie Dupuy, 30, was determined to establish lasting ties with the country. She joined forces with Camille Dupuy, 28, and Élodie Lederf, 25, and together they launched the “Les Fées de Bengale” brand on May 30th, 2006.

Now manager and marketing director, Ms Dupuy described the genesis, ethos and structure of the organisation in a telephone interview on Tuesday evening.

Ms Dupuy travelled to India in September 2005. She visited Mumbai and the southern states. “I immediately fell in love with India," she said. “I was fascinated by the country and the people I met there, and at the same time I was deeply troubled and upset by the inequalities in Indian society.” Shocked and moved by what she saw, Ms Dupuy felt compelled to take action. From the start she was determined to get involved only in a sustainable project that was respectful of the environment and the local communities.

Back in France, Ms Dupuy discussed her ideas with her sister Camille, a graphic artist, and their friend Élodie, a stylist. They agreed to create a designer brand and fashion house that would sell women’s collections in Europe. The clothes would be made from organic cotton, and spun, woven, cut and embroidered in India. All employees would be paid fair wages and under no circumstances would they make use of child labour, which, Ms Dupuy said, is unfortunately still relatively common in India.

Carrying the blueprint for their green fair-trade fashion enterprise, the three French fairies returned to India in search of partners who shared their social and environmental values. They found an organic cotton farm in the central state of Maharastra and two socially oriented cooperatives, one in the southern state of Kerala and another in Mumbai. It proved more difficult to secure the necessary financial loans and backing.

“We were told we would never succeed,” said Ms Dupuy. “Banks usually don’t finance nascent fashion ventures, and we were told we would never find funding.” But the three women refused to concede defeat. They persisted and, with the guidance of a regional French government scheme devoted to helping small businesses get started, they procured finances from a bank and inaugurated their fashion house, with its headquarters in the Parisian suburb of “Suresnes”, in May 2006.

Ms Dupuy explained the production processes behind the fairy fashion.

The organic cotton cultivated in Maharastra is sent to the first cooperative in Kerala where it is spun into thread and then woven into fabric. The spinners and weavers are women from the area, as are the staff and managers, all of who receive fair remuneration for their work. In addition, the cooperative promotes women’s rights through education initiatives, and sponsors projects aimed at improving the plight of women in the region. One of the projects raises funds for a local hospital that specialises in cancer treatment, which is sorely needed given the high incidence of the disease in the a due to the intensive use of pesticides on farmlands.

The cotton fabric is dispatched to the second cooperative, located in the northern slums of Mumbai and run by the NGO “Creative Handicrafts." Destitute women are employed, giving them a livelihood and a sense of responsibility. They work to cut, sew, assemble and embroider the clothes designed by Ms Lederf. They also have access to the various programmes offered by the cooperative, which are designed to encourage self-empowerment and independence, and they can make use of the health and nursery school services on site.

Every six months, Ms Lederf travels to Mumbai to advise the seamstresses on the latest collection. “In September we will be presenting our winter collection in Paris to the industry professionals,” said Ms Dupuy. “That will be our fourth collection.” As it gains exposure, "Les Fées de Bengale" is expanding. Individual items are sold in a number of boutiques in Paris, in other French cities, and now in Belgium, Switzerland, Greece and Canada. The full collection is available for purchase from the online boutique.

“80% of our production is sold to boutiques and only 20% to specialised fair-trade shops,” Ms Dupuy was keen to emphasize. "We reach a clientele that is not necessarily sensitized to or even aware of fair-trade fashion. We want to dispel the myth that only casual alternative clothing issues from fair trade."

May the French and Indian fairies spin their magic to help bring organic fair-trade chic to the height of fashion.

Les Fées de Bengale

Since they were developed in the 1930s, modern pesticides have been used extensively in viticulture around the world. “Pesticide” is the generic term used to denote a wide range of both synthetic and biological insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and bactericides. Pesticides pollute the earth, underground water tables as well as rivers and lakes, and even the air. They disrupt food chains by poisoning species and are a major threat to biodiversity across the globe. Numerous scientific studies have demonstrated that pesticides have harmful effects on humans, causing damage to the endocrine system and increasing the risk of cancer in farmers and winegrowers.

For example, in his research on newborn babies, Professor Charles Sultan of Montpellier in southern France discovered that the toxins in pesticides are transmitted from parent to child with alarming ease. He found considerably higher instances of malformations and cancers in farmers’ children than in the general population.

According to the French Wikipedia article on the subject (here’s the article in the English version of Wikipedia), in 2006 France was still the second largest consumer of pesticides in the world after the United States. Yet, despite the bleak statistics, organic agriculture and viticulture are gaining ground in France. As with organic food, wine that meets the standards carries one of the two nationally certified labels, “AB” or “EcoCert”. The labels are awarded largely for adherence to green practices in winegrowing and not necessarily in winemaking, that is out in the vineyards and not necessarily inside the winery.

But what exactly does organic winegrowing entail? What do winegrowers who have eschewed pesticides do to combat weeds, diseases and mildew?

As a young man working in his father’s vineyards in the Champagne region of northern France, Jacques Beaufort scoffed at organic viticulture. But in 1969 an acute allergic reaction, which erupted after he had sprayed chemicals on the vines, caused Mr. Beaufort to reconsider. Since 1971, the Beaufort estate has been green. Today ecological methods are used in both the winegrowing and winemaking processes, giving rise to award-winning bubbly wines.

Although greening a vineyard is not a simple task, there is a pesticide-free solution to every viticultural problem. On the Beaufort estate, shallow tilling prevents the growth of weeds but without damaging the vine roots. Chemical fertilizers have been replaced by vegetable compost, which retains moisture even during periods of dryness. The soil is enriched by nutrients from the decomposition activities of microorganisms, and aerated by earthworms and other insects. The aerated soil is more permeable, and while rainwater filters through to replenish underground water tables, erosion of the Beaufort lands has ceased.

Traditionally sulfur has served as a fungicide in winegrowing but, with a certain degree of toxicity, it upsets the surrounding ecosystem. As an alternative, Mr. Beaufort has been experimenting with essential oils since 1974, and since 1980 he has been working on homeopathic remedies against spoilage. Inside the winery efforts are made to add as little sulfur dioxide as possible during the fermentation process. Instead bacteria transform malic acid into lactic acid through a natural series of changes.

While the first years of organic winegrowing saw a substantial decrease in yield from the Beaufort vineyards, today the return is healthy even if still subject to the vagaries of the weather. More importantly, the wines produced are scooping up silver and gold medals at a number of national wine fairs, in competition with vintages from the most established estates and wineries. So if you are visiting Reims, the town famous for hosting the coronation of French kings throughout the centuries, make sure you swing by the Beaufort estate near the village of Ambonnay for some bubbles tasting.

If you do not have the opportunity to visit Champagne or any of the other winegrowing regions of France, your best bets for finding organic wines are in the supermarkets and online. Purchasing Bacchus’ brew from a supermarket shelf or a website may detract from the glamour and mystique of wine drinking but until “vins bios”, organic wines, are accepted by the major wine brotherhoods and federations, and become part of the mainstream, they will make but few appearances in specialized shops and wine cellars.

Champagne Andre & Jacques Beaufort

A variety of organic restaurants have mushroomed throughout England. London is home to a host of green eateries including Manna, apparently the oldest vegetarian establishment in the country, and Acorn House, a leader in the eco-friendly restaurant trade. Located in the exclusive neighbourhood of Primrose Hill, Manna Vegetarian Restaurant was established in 1967 and now offers fully organic vegetarian cuisine. Acorn House is a newcomer to the London restaurant scene and a pioneer in environmental dining.

Acorn House serves organic seasonal food bought from local, environmentally conscious farmers. Everything about the restaurant is designed to encourage sustainability and ensure the smallest impact. The walls of the restaurant are painted with low-chemical paint, and the shelves are made of ah, isn’t it good, sustainable Norwegian wood. The peels, rinds, shells and other food waste from the kitchen are composted on the flat roof of a neighboring office block, and the oil from the deep-fry pan is converted into bio-diesel. Added together these measures guarantee that the restaurant generates but half a bag of old-fashioned unsustainable “rubbish” a day!

You made small talk about the weather (I say. A rather rainy Wimbledon this year, wasn’t it?), and sipped your fair trade organic tea at Buckingham. Now, down at the Dover dock, your eye turns southward. What’s the dining scene like on the other side, you wonder? You shiver with delight in anticipation of the gargantuan green feasts you will be served, there in one of the great culinary capitals of the world.

It might not seem so at first glance, but the organic movement is relatively strong across France. Both regional and national organisations maintain standards, certify produce and promote research. “La Fédération Nationale d’Agriculture Biologique”, the National Federation of Organic Agriculture, was established in 1978, and the state logo for organic products, “AB – Agriculture Biologique”, was introduced in 1985. With the high profile state logo, organic farming quickly caught on and soon 40% of European organic land was located in France. Since then the market for organic food has grown and continues expanding each year.

And yet, for the consumer on holiday in France, finding organic eateries is not so straightforward. While a Google search on “organic restaurants in New York”, in San Francisco or in London, yields a number of sites in each case, each with a healthy list of established green spots, the same search on Paris renders disappointing results. There are surprisingly few “restaurants bios” in the culinary capital, but that appears to be mainly due to a marketing lacuna. From your modest corner bistro to you Michelin-starred hall of epicurean ecstasy, and everything in between, many restaurants serve largely, if not 100%, organic dishes. But they are not on any of the official lists.

My personal experience confirms that if you adhere rigidly to the measly lists of organic restaurants, you will be missing out on some extremely fine healthy green dining. What is worse, you may happen upon a chef who has made the gross error of equating organic with boiled and bland.

One tip, which probably applies not just in France and Europe but around the world, is to avoid eating in the touristy areas. Organic food is not fashionable enough – yet – to find pride of place in the eateries centered around the visitor’s hotspots. As soon as you step off the heavily beaten track, you will have more luck. A strong dose of instinct mixed with a pinch of serendipity can procure you an unforgettable gastronomic experience. Often chefs are proud of their natural ingredients and of the special relationships that they have nurtured with local farmers, and so will include a description of their green principles with the menu.

If in doubt you can always ask a restaurateur where her produce comes from. Gesticulating enthusiastically at the menu you ask: “C’est bio?” Pronounced “say bee-o?” that’s French for “is it organic?” Of course, there is no guarantee that she will not reply “Wee! Wee!” when the reality is “No! No!”. Then again, as any self-respecting chef knows, natural untreated produce can provide the vital edge of quality in an ever more competitive milieu.

Sources:

Acorn House
The Guardian on Acorn House
The London Organic Directory
Agence Bio

To save you the time and research into the topic, over the next few weeks I will provide tips on how to maintain your green ways on the other side of the pond. The focus will be largely on options available in Paris and in France as a whole, but whenever possible, I will include relevant information on other European countries.

This first article is devoted to transport within the French capital. The network of public transport, which includes the metro, buses and trains, is efficient, comprehensive and user-friendly. But this summer, leg-powered two-wheelers are all the rage. Starting from July 15 over 10,000 bicycles will be available for hire from self-service rental stands throughout Paris. The project, called Vélib (an amalgam of the French words for bicycle and freedom: “vélo” and “liberté”), was planned and sponsored by the Mayor’s office. Thanks to a fully computerized system, the bikes are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All of the stands are equipped with the system that allows you to log in, rent a bike, and consult a user’s manual and a map.

The Vélib’ bicycle is designed to ensure maximum comfort and security, with an adjustable seat, a basket, front and back lights, and reflectors on the wheels. 370 kilometers or around 230 miles of bike lanes across the city are reserved for cyclists. Using a credit card, you must subscribe to either a short-term or a long-term Vélib’ license. As a precaution in case of damage and to prevent the fleet of bikes from being stolen, the system also requires you to authorize a potential 150-euro debit from your credit card.

Whichever Vélib’ license you choose, the first half an hour of rental is free of charge, and since you can drop your two-wheeler off at any stand, there is much potential for a free ride, say to the Louvre or up to Montmartre. Indeed, a press release from the Mayor’s office specifies that Vélib’ was conceived above all as a means of transport for short trips from one point to another in town. If you are keen to explore the city by bike for a whole day, it would be better to stop by one of the professional rental agencies.

Vélib’ is modeled on the system called Vélo’v in Lyon, which has been in place for two years. Similar projects are in progress or already functioning in cities across the country, in Marseille for example and in Aix-en-Provence. But the French are not the leaders in promoting leg-powered two-wheelers. Bicycles have long been the transport of choice for the Dutch. In Amsterdam there are currently about 600,000 bikes for 735,000 inhabitants, and cycling accounts for more than 40% of travel within the city center. As a result, there is less traffic, less emission pollution and noticeably less road stress.

Many Amsterdamers consider their bicycles as an extension of self. They bike to work, to the market and to theatre, often preferring cycling to walking even for short distances. The same cannot be said of the Parisians, but the fashion is catching on. So if, when in Paris you want to do as the Parisians do, you will have to put your legs in gear for some two-wheelin' à la française.

Image source: 20Minutes.fr

Referring to the wayward Embassy during a radio talk show last Thursday, he said: “If it was up to me, I would’ve seized their cars and crushed them, but it’s not legal for me to do that. I would've been quite happy to crush the car with the American ambassador in it, quite frankly.”

Washington argues that the congestion charge is a tax. Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, adopted under the auspices of the United Nations in 1961, embassies and diplomats are exempt from paying national taxes. So, if the charge is a tax, diplomats are not obliged to pay it. But, Mayor Livingstone replies, the congestion charge is not a tax. It is more like a toll, the charge payable to use a bridge or road, a fee that everyone, without exception, must pay.

The congestion charge was first introduced in February 2003, and at the time it met with great opposition both in the media and from Londoners. But when, not long after implementation, the positive effects of the toll became noticeable, it was hailed as a success. Within a year there was a palpable decline in traffic throughout the central zone and figures confirmed a substantial increase in the use of public transportation throughout the city. In July 2005 the charge was raised from £5 to £8. Since then the American Embassy, headed by Ambassador Robert Tuttle, has refused to pay and has thereby incurred a sizeable debt.

How much does the American Embassy owe to London? Different figures are floating around on different websites. In October 2006 the BBC cited 1 million pounds in unpaid charges and penalties. A press release from the mayor’s office lists the sum of £891,000, about $1.6 million, owed in September 2006. At the end of the press release there is a note to editors: “The Mayor has demanded that the Embassy pay outstanding fines as the congestion charge is not a tax but a charge for a service – reduced congestion – from which US diplomats benefit.”

The charge system was altered again in February 2007, not with a rise in fee this time but with an extension of the zone to West London. According to the BBC, “residents staged a peaceful demonstration against the new charge”, saying it would “damage business and cost residents hundreds of pounds a year”. The toll zone is now about double the area of the original zone and includes other embassies, a number of which have stopped paying the charge. As Allen Cowell of The International Herald Tribune wrote, “the American envoy won support from an unlikely quarter” notably from the French Embassy, which is now also incurring debt.

Mayor Livingstone is infuriated by the diplomats’ repudiation of British regulations. At the C40 Large Cities Climate Summit held in New York last month, he chronicled the evolution of the congestion toll. According to a press release from the summit he “described how the initial proposal for a congestion charge came from a consortium of London business interests that calculated the cost of congestion in terms of London’s productivity and competitiveness at two billion pounds”, around 4 billion dollars, annually. “In one year,” he said, “the congestion charge has brought about a 38% drop in private cars entering London – twice the anticipated figure.” With the massive increase in cyclists and bus passengers, from four to six million, there has been “a 20% reduction in carbon emissions”.

From the green perspective, the American, French and other embassies should pay the congestion charge even if the sole benefit were the reduction in carbon emissions, but other benefits provide an even more powerful argument in favor of the toll. Other positive effects appeal to a wider audience, including skeptics of the green movement. The obvious example is the benefit of greater productivity. While the ol’ saying “time is money” may be trite, it is ringing true as businesses and individuals save time thanks to the decline in traffic. But, in order for the system to work, everyone needs to pay up.

There was talk at the Large Cities Summit of introducing a congestion charge, based on the London model, in New York. Yes, I say, and everyone must pay. Even the British Embassy.

Image Credit: Jennifer Carlile / MSNBC.com

www.london.gov.uk/mayor/congest/, news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6368957.stm, www.iht.com/articles/2007/06/21/news/london.php, www.nycclimatesummit.com/pressReleases/pr_2007_0515.html

Related info from GO:

www.greenoptions.com/2007/05/22/world_s_mayors_take_on_global_warming
www.greenoptions.com/news/hybrid_sales_boosted_emission_cut_by_london_congestion_charge

The European Union is celebrating its fiftieth birthday and Green Week 2007 was one of the parties held to mark the occasion. For a number of years the European Commission has hosted a series of conferences and forums, during one week in June, focused on a different environmental concern each time. This year’s Green Week, held in Brussels from June 12 -15, centred on “Past Lessons and Future challenges” of European environmental policy. Leading representatives from governments, businesses and NGOs convened to discuss the victories already won and deliberate on the trials that lie ahead.

To be more accurate, it is not the Union itself but the Treaty of Rome that is being commemorated this year, a treaty signed on March 25 1957 by France, West Germany, Italy and the Benelux countries, establishing the European Economic Community. Environmental policy did not feature in the Treaty of Rome, but members of the Community were soon compelled to take notice of the brutal impact unmonitored economic development was having on nature. A video clip on the Commission’s website chronicles the dreadful state of the environment in the early 1970s, the growing sense of disquiet and urgency amongst European citizens, and the implementation of numerous green projects in different areas of the environment, throughout the Union.

Many environmental problems call for not just trans-European but trans-Atlantic and international cooperation. The most urgent concern, the burning reality of climate change, is pressing for a massive global response. So it was more than apt that the United States was represented at the debate on carbon emissions held during Green Week.

The debate was entitled “Green Talk: Challenges of a Carbon Economy” and the panel included representatives from the aviation industry and from the electricity sector. But the two major players in the jousting match were M.C. Boyden, United States Ambassador to the European Union and Stephan Singer, Head of the Climate and Energy Policy Unit at the World Wildlife Fund. Mr Tim King, the editor of The European Voice, was the moderator, the wise jester who intervened subtly when the match got out of hand.

The discussion got off to a slow start. The Ambassador was caught in Brussels traffic but when he arrived, Mr Boyden joined in to the talk on air pollution. After referring to statistics on the number of deaths per year from respiratory, pollution-caused illnesses, he made a first stinging comment. “I would say it’s much safer to live in an American city than in a European city,” he said.

Each player threw in his statistics and boasted about being at the vanguard of environmentally friendly technology and of the carbon trading system. As the discussion turned to focus on the challenge of reducing carbon emissions without thwarting economic growth, each man grew defensive and repeatedly promoted his vested interests. Mr Boyden was particularly anxious and seemed to be responding to attacks made outside the arena of Green Week.

Mr Singer spoke of the 1986 Montreal Protocol, the international agreement on phasing out the manufacture of ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). At the time, he said, many companies, “cried wolf about going bankrupt”. If they were forced to cut their production of CFCs they would go bust. With the implementation of the protocol, those companies were obliged to phase out CFCs, but they did not go bankrupt. On the contrary, Mr Singer insisted, they hardly suffered any losses. Indeed the protocol has been hailed as a great feat of negotiation and a victory for the environment. Former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan called it “perhaps the single most successful international agreement to date”.

There is no reason that the success of the Montreal Protocol not be repeated in other realms, and therefore, Mr Singer felt, both businesses and policy makers have no excuse for failing to introduce more stringent rules on carbon emissions.

On the defensive again, Mr Boyden responded: “It was under big bad Ronald Regan that we achieved the treaty on CFCs, and then under big bad Bush father. There was no media hype around it, but we got it through, and that was under the Republicans.” On the subject of carbon emissions he said: “The United States wants to isolate those who are really contributing to emissions, pull ‘em into a room and beat ‘em over the head. We need to get the big guys. We need to get the big guys who are really contributing… including us, including us… including us.”

Mr Singer was adamant. “We have wasted 6 years because the Bush administration has held the world hostage,” he said. “We see grass roots initiatives in individual states in America but not on a national level.” He was convinced: “Once the Bush administration is gone, we will see big changes.”

“I don’t like to be attacked on our carbon trading system,” Mr Boyden countered. “It’s more aggressive than yours.”

The jousting match reached its climax when the ambassador said of carbon trading: “We’ve paved the way on how to do this. But the press won’t report this.” To which Mr Singer replied: “The US advising the EU about a carbon trading system is like the Pope advising people on extra-marital sex.”

The two men had to back down when Mr King interceded to ask the audience for their reactions. The first person to comment expressed his utter despair over climate change. Listening to the panel members he felt there was no hope. The dire state of the environment would have required a discussion on an entirely different plane.

Perhaps it is the mark of foolish optimism, but I believe there is hope to be found in such debate. There is hope in the competition between the movers and shakers of the developed world to produce the most advanced and efficient technologies for sustainable development. There is even hope in the defensiveness of the players, because it demonstrates the desire to project an image that is not too hostile towards environmental concerns. As long as the competition remains constructive, technological advances are shared, and the concern about image does not incite fraud, there is hope. Even when the players engage in schoolyard style one-uppmanship, if they use names and not sticks and stones, there is little risk of broken bones.

Image Credit: Deutsche Welle

European Commission: Green Week
United Nations Environment Programme: Ozone Secretariat
The Ozone Hole: The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer

Only left-wing anti-growth idealists believe that, because of human activity, our environment is in disastrous, ever-worsening condition. Such statements are a thing of the past, you might think, vestiges of an ignorant age before the advent of An Inconvenient Truth. But, despite a growing number of bipartisan and non-partisan activist groups, many environmental initiatives across the developed democratic world are still hampered by their partisan affiliations, promoted by the left and pooh-poohed by right.

If the ‘inconvenient truth’ about our environment rings true on just one side of the political spectrum, then yet another country will be putting climate change on the back burner, taking notice only when it blazes uncontrollably in the front yard of people’s lives. Just over a month ago voters elected Nicholas Sarkozy, former leader of the moderate right-wing party the Union for a Popular Movement, to the chief executive office of France. Now with his party’s clear victory in the first round of legislative elections, Sarkozy’s mandate has received further endorsement, leaving the trail open for blazing with a full agenda of promised reforms.

Former president Jacques Chirac established the Union for a Popular Movement when he was running for re-election in 2002. Since we can expect a certain degree of continuity amongst party members, Chirac’s environmental report card provides an idea of what to expect during Sarkozy’s term.

The former president earned a high grade for efforts made during his second term, from 2002-2007, to raise awareness about issues such as global warming and sustainable development. To that end, he made a number of evocative speeches, such as the one at the World Summit on Sustainable Development of 2002 in Johannesburg, which began: “Our house is burning and we’re blind to it. Nature, mutilated and overexploited, can no longer regenerate and we refuse to admit it. Humanity is suffering. It is suffering from poor development, in both the North and the South, and we stand indifferent. The earth and humankind are in danger and we are all responsible.”

The question is, what actions followed upon these poignant, some said ‘melodramatic’, words? A satisfactory answer can be given only after a comprehensive review of data on Chirac’s green or not-so-green exploits, and a comparison with environmental happenings throughout the European Union. But we are not concerned with history here. Rather, we are anxious to see what lies ahead, to ascertain the nature of Sarkozy’s environmental policy, which will play a leading role in shaping European-wide developments.

After signing an environmental pact, apparently committing themselves to action, the 12 candidates for the French presidency all spoke in abstract platitudes on the subject of the environment. Well, not all 12. One presidential hopeful put the environment at the core of her campaign; she was after all the candidate for Les Verts, the French Green Party. During the campaign for the second round of elections, which pitted Sarkozy against left-wing contender Ségolène Royal of the Socialist Party, both candidates repeated their truisms, leading green activists to believe their cause was lost no matter who would win the election.

So it came as somewhat of a surprise when, within a week of taking office, Sarkozy hosted a meeting focused on sustainable development and the environment, a gathering attended by members of his team, including his appointed minister of the environment Alain Juppé, by scientific experts and by representatives of a number of high profile NGOs.

There was a positive consensus about the meeting. Leading French environmental activist, Nicholas Hulot, was pleased that the partisan passions heating the debate in the past had been cooled, allowing the group to set tangible goals with a first step scheduled for implementation next October. But will Sarkozy stick to those goals?

Greens wonder whether the new president will be another talker, an orator and raconteur in the tradition of his predecessor, declaiming his lines from a podium, for audiences of esteemed delegates and world media, but refusing to face reality and act. Despite his vows to take action, on the environment and on all fronts, journalists and bloggers are skeptical of a highly theatrical presidency. Just last week the world witnessed his most recent performance: on the stage of the G8 summit in Germany he could hardly contain his excitement about joining the troupe of leading global actors.

On the other hand, Sarkozy has already taken action in other domains with two bills ready to be presented at the National Assembly this summer. Only time can tell whether he will keep his promises about the environment. Rendezvous next October for the performance and the action.

EuroNews
The French Embassy in the UK
Le Monde