Blog: environmental
The guardian of this blog.
Sunday 11th of November 2007
Environmental Update
Hello everyone,
Here are a few environmental events for this week. Also some information from James Miller about the Dafur Divestment Initiative, which is worth being aware of. Slightly outside of the usual topic, but still important.
Good luck to you all, as the term winds down and the deadlines converge! Also, if any of you are
interested in taking up the position of environmental representative, do let me know, and I will be
happy to nominate you.
Sincerely,
Alisa
1. Hosted by Oxford University United Nations Association
Date: Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Time: 8:00pm - 11:00pm
Location: St Catherine's college JCR theatre
Free showing of Al Gore's film, 'An Inconvenient Truth' for all those who
haven't seen it yet!
---------------------
2. CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
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Policy Analysts, "The G8+5 and Climate Change", G8 Research Group-Oxford.
Are you interested in trade, energy security or climate change? Do you have an
interest in analyzing and learning more about the climate policies of a
particular G8+5 country ? Do you want to join a growing international network
of scholars working in this field?
If yes, please read below!
The G8 Research Group is a global network of scholars, professionals in the
media, business, government and research communities, and students interested in
the ongoing initiatives of the G8 and related bodies such as the G20. Its
mission is to serve as the world's leading independent source of information,
analysis, and research on the institutions, issues, and members of the G8.
Every year, the Oxford branch of the G8 Research Group produces a compliance
report that methodologically assessed the extent to which the G8 Outreach Five
countries have abided by their climate and energy commitments they made in the
previous G8 summit, in areas such as promoting renewable energy and clean
technologies, promoting sustainable transport and obligations under the Kyoto
Protocol. Last year the compliance report was sent to over one hundred
governments and media outlets, and presented at various conferences and
seminars.
Last year a majority of analysts were masters- and phd students at Oxford
University. We are looking for students with strong analytical skills and an
interest in the climate policies of a G8+5 country. This is an exceptional
opportinuty to join an exciting network of academics and graduate students
interested in the role of the G8 in global governance.
For more information about the G8 Research Group, see,
http://www.g7.utoronto.ca/
For a job description of the analyst position, including responsibilities and
benefits, see,
http://www.g7.utoronto.ca/oxford/G8RG-Oxford-desc.pdf
For an application form, see
http://www.g7.utoronto.ca/oxford/g8rg-oxford-app08.doc
PLEASE SEND COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS TO:
christopher.wright@sum.uio.no
PLEASE WRITE 'G8RG Application' IN THE SUBJECT LINE. WE WILL ACCEPT
APPLICATIONS UNTIL ALL OUR COUNTRY TEAMS ARE FILLED.
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3. From James Miller Alas:
At the inaugural E&E Committee meeting this term, members decided we should set the
Darfur campaign as a priority for university-wide action.
I hear anecdotal reports that some colleges have already passed JCR motions
expressing condemnation of the situation Darfur... but alas, I don't have any
quantitative data. If this applies to your college, please tell me about your
success, so I can shower you with praise... and steal your ideas!
Anyhow, for those of you who don't know, the sequence of events, at present,
goes something like this.
A) Students pay colleges for the 'privelige' of being forced to do tute work.
B) Oxford colleges accrue silly-lots of money.
C) Stupidly, colleges give this money to suspicious folks called fund managers.
D) Fund managers take the money, and, after a while, give slightly MORE money
than they started with back to the colleges.
E) Oxford colleges think "Well, isn't that dandy". And stick their heads in
the sand, trying not to worry too much about what just happened.
F) What you don't see is that fund managers invest the money given to them in
rather dubious companies of lax ethical scruples. Like PetroChina. Which gives
the money to Khartoum in exchange for sweet, sweet oil, then sells it at a
whopping great profit, none of which is passed on to the Sudanese people.
G) Khartoum spends the money on helicopter gunships and AK47s for the
unpleasant janjaweed militia.
H) The militia shoot people.
I) Repeat.
And that's how we students finance genocide.
Which is not on.
The easiest link in this chain to break (without us all dropping out, or
instituting international socialism... both of which have a certain appeal)
seems to be C). And it is on this point that Sudan Divestment Oxford has been
campaigning tirelessly over the past year.
The OUSU E&E Committee intends to assist. In this vein, we would like to ask
you to enquire to your Bursar about college investments, and see if you can't
persuade them to write to their fund managers asking them to pull out of
companies that funnel money to the Sudanese government.
Additional information can be found at the excellent
http://www.sudandivestmentoxford.org.uk/
As a gesture of solidarity with the campaign for peace in Darfur, we'd like to
see as many colleges as possible pass a JCR motion calling for divestment
(that havn't already!). Attached is a pre-made motion that it would be great
to see taken up by JCRs throughout Oxford, to make it clear that we don't want
to be bankrolling genocide.
Muchos gracias,
James Miller
OUSU E&E Committee Ethics Officer
Monday 29th of October 2007
Environmental Update, 4th Week
Hello everyone,
A few things to take a look at for those of you of the enviornmental bent.
1. Check out this news story: MPs calling for a powerful new climate change body
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7066735.stm
2. Check out COIN's climate change comic: 'Funny Weather we're having at the
moment isn't it dear' at http://cartoonkate.gn.apc.org/)
Happy Halloween!
Sincerely,
Alisa
Tuesday 23rd of October 2007
Enviromental update
Hello all,
Here are a few issues being discussed University-wide; take a look. I've
attached an email about fish stocks, and I will check with hall about this, as
I'm not sure what the Christ Church policy is. I wasn't entirely aware of this
one (I try not to order cod, but this goes farther than that), and it is
interesting. Some of the JCRs are having this as a motion (Worcester has
passed it already). Let me know what you think, and I will get back to you all
as well.
Finally at the bottom are a few links to articles. Enjoy, and remember to get
into contact with me if you have any problems or questions.
Sincerely,
Alisa
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Overfishing - The Facts
When the shores of Newfoundland were first discovered by European explorers,
it is said that if they were to dip a basket into the water it would come
back up filled with Atlantic cod. An enormous industry was built on the
back of this seemingly inexhaustible natural resource, and bigger boats with
bigger nets scraped the sea floor for every fish they could get. By 1992,
after years of ignoring scientific advice on how unsustainable these methods
were, the cod stocks collapsed, and 40,000 people lots their jobs in a
single year. Fifteen years later, the ban on fishing has been partially
lifted, but catches are at less than 1% of their 1977 levels, as the ecology
of the region has shifted, and fish have been unable to recover. The story
of the decline of the Atlantic cod and its subsequent affects on
Newfoundland is but one of a series of "fishy" horror stories around the
world. In fact, fishery records from 1950 to 2000 show the collapse of 366
out of the world's 1519 fisheries. The collapse of these fisheries has
shifted the pressure onto those remaining, so that the journal Science has
suggested that, if current trends continue, there will be a total marine
collapse (defined as loss of 90% of stocks of each species) by 2050.
• Up to 25% of all sea creatures caught in fisheries are discarded
(thrown back into the sea dead or dying) because they are not the
fishermen's intended target. In bottom trawling the proportion of bycatch
rises to 50%.
• Protected areas can be enormously beneficial economically because they
serve as "nurseries" where young fish grow to a large enough size.
• Scientists recommend that 20-30% of Britain's seas should be protected.
The figure is currently 0.002%.
However, the sea is a valuable natural resource that can provide some of our
dietary requirements if it is harvested in an appropriate way using modern
sustainable techniques. The over exploitation of our oceans by bottom
trawling, high levels of bycatch and over-fishing of threatened species will
mean that within our lifetimes the ecology of all seas will have shifted so
dramatically that no edible fish species will survive to be of use to humans
ever again. We have two options – we could "hurry while stocks last", and
eat all we can while there are any left, or choose the sustainable future,
and demand that kitchens in Oxford are not driving demand for unsustainably
caught fish, and send a clear message that we want sustainably harvested
fish, or no fish at all.
................................................................................
From OUEC:
CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
Some sad opinion from the BBC on climate change:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7041913.stm Interesting info to reflect on
any upcoming low-carbon travel campaign we're thinking of running
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7053903.stm And some uplifting news on fish
stocks! http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article2697587.ece
THE ALL IMPORTANT WEBSITES: Visit, explore, comment, get some interesting
facts
http://ousuenvironmentcommittee.googlepages.com/
http://ousuenvironment.blogspot.com/
Tuesday 2nd of October 2007
Environmental welcome
Just to say hello and say that I will carry on as the GCR environmental representative this term. Please let me know if you have any issues or ideas.
The general university environmental and ethics fair is going on this Wednesday through Friday, so keep your eyes peeled at the Examination Schools. They are also advertising a booth on Cornmarket, weather depending.
Finally, I will print out a copy of the Christ Church Environmental Handbook for the Green folder in the GCR. If any of you would prefer and electronic copy, please let me know, and I will send one along. It is not a huge file, but I know that many of you (especially freshers) are probably experiencing mass-email overload at the moment, so I don't want to put you off.
Looking forward to seeing and/or meeting you all this week.
Alisa
Monday 4th of June 2007
World Environmental Day, etc.
Hello everyone,
Just a few things to let you know about for "World Environmental Day". In
advance, I hope that the new bins are more convenient, and are getting used in
St. Aldates, the GCR and the computer room. Make sure to recycle glass
bottles and paper in the last weeks as everyone drinks more pimms...
Just to let you know as well, I met with the Steward, and some upcoming plans
for the college to become more eco-friendly include recycling everything,
including plastics, via a private firm and thus in advance of the council. I
have also passed on concerns about the heating system at St. Aldates, which
was met with concern; I will let you know when I hear more. Also, the college
is in the process of replacing all lightbulbs with energy efficient ones, so
that is positive.
Finally, I am off to a conference in the US, and will not be around for
elections. However, I urge any of you who are particularly interested in
environmental issues to let me or any of the committee know. I think that it
is important to keep the position going, and new initiatives from a new
representative would be great.
Happy end of term!
Sincerely,
Alisa
***WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY***
IF YOU DO ONE THING THIS YEAR TO BE PART OF THE GLOBAL EFFORT TO COMBAT
CLIMATE CHANGE, DO IT TOMORROW.
Tomorrow is WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY.
Come to Cornmarket between 12pm and 3pm, pledge to cut your carbon
footprint, and pick up a Low Carbon Passport to help you on your way.
If you want to do more, visit the Town Hall for an all-day event with
speakers including the President of the Royal Society, films, discussion
panels and exhibitions. For more information see:
http://www.oxfordismyworld.org/wed.php
It's all happening tomorrow. Make sure you're part of it.
===
If you can't make it along tomorrow, be sure to get your Low Carbon Passport
online at http://ousuenvironmentcommittee.googlepages.com/PassportFinal.pdf
Tuesday 22nd of May 2007
Week 5 Environmental Update
Hello everyone,
Sorry, I meant to get this out earlier, but I was out of town.
1. Green bins in GCR, GCR Computer Room and St. Aldates
2. Trout Walk-this Sunday, 2pm, Tom Tower
3. Blurb about Biofuels
1. The green bins are finally here. I will be putting them, along with instructions, in the GCR and the GCR computer room, as well as at the foot of each of the St. Aldates staircases on Wednesday. Please do make use of them. Seperate glass and paper into one bin in your rooms, then put the paper and glass in the green bins. They will be emptied by the college. Your scout may be doing this for you. I've asked the House Manager to remind them, but do monitor this yourselves and let me know.
I'll keep the pressure up for plastics recycling, which the Council keeps promising.
2. The Trout walk to clean up the river is this Sunday beginning at 2pm. Gloves, cookies and pints at the Trout included.
3. HOW GREEN ARE BIOFUELS?
This week saw the publication of a UN report on Wednesday, and another today
summing up the Environmental Impacts of Biofuels. The conclusions are a
resounding "be careful", as both say that though biofuels have great potential
in providing clean energy as well as employment and income to the poorer areas
of the world, the impacts so far have been limited to increasing the rate of
forest clearance in south east asia, and driving up the price of food around the
world. This is a stark warning, and backs many of George Monbiot's outspoken
views on biofuels, which i commented about on the blog last month.
(http://ousuenvironment.blogspot.com)
The EU has recently mandated a 5.75 per cent blend of bio-ethanol and bio-diesel
into all pump fuels by 2012, but this comes with no safeguard to ensure that
this does not simply speed up deforestation .There is clearly an enormous and
incredibly important debate to be had here, but it seems that if there are
incentives offered to promote biofuels then they need to come with caveats to
prevent the worst environmental and social problems that could follow. The
government is currently proposing to make all fuel companies increase the amount
of biofuel they supply as part of its Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, and
we are currently in the consultation period. Greenpeace have organised a
petition to make sure that "biofuels really are green fuels". Click here to
visit the Greenpeace petition
(http://www.email.greenpeace.org/wppfgeq_cnnilunb.html), or here for the
consultation on the Department for transport website
(http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/draftrtfo/).
Sincerely,
Alisa
Monday 7th of May 2007
Environmental Weekly
Hello,
Here are the headings for this week's report. The first two are fairly firm
dates, but a disclaimer that they may change based on weather and for the
later, GCR availability. All of these based on GCR members suggestions; well
done, thanks, and please continue to pass them along.
1)River-walk clean-up/pints at the Trout
2)"An Inconvenient Truth" screening
3)Composting ideas
4)Interview on recycling on recycling in Oxford
1) The plan is to start at the top of the meadow and walk along the Isis to
the Trout, with cookie breaks, picking up the masses of garbage that get
deposited along the way. Volunteers will receive a free pint as reward
(possibly two, depending on how the money stretches.
Date: 27 May (Sunday, 5th week)
Time: 2pm
Meet at Tom gate for now; this is all weather permitting. I will let you know
if anything changes in the future.
2)"An Inconvenient Truth"
For those of you who have yet to see the film, would like to see it again, or
just want to come along and discuss, the above will be shown as a joint
GCR/JCR event on 15 May (Tuesday, 4th week), from 8pm. I will try and sort
out some snacks; I may copy Hunter with the popcorn, but don't hold me to
that, as I'm better with the sweets.
3)Composting
I'm looking into suggesting this to Hall, but on a smaller scale those of you
with gardens, and an interest in making them even more beautiful at this time
of year, here are a few websights with introductions as to how to get
started. And little did I know, it is also "composting awareness week". If
anyone actually takes me up on this and grows lavendar (two conditionals, I
know), I'll use it to make a wicked creme brulee for you!
http://www.wasteonline.org.uk/resources/InformationSheets/Compost.htm
http://www.compost.org.uk/
4) Recycling interviews
From Tigress Productions:
We're currently doing a short piece for a BBC1 series on the bi-weekly
rubbish collections in Oxford and the issues this poses to the
city. We are keen to look at how this affects multiple occupancy houses and
flats as typically occupied by students. If you or anyone you know is
affected by or struggling with the new collection scheme we'd like to hear from
you. This might be from a public health point of view or simply not being able to cram two weeks of waste into your wheelie-bin. Please contact James Martin via jamesmartin@tigressproductions.co.uk to discuss this further,
or call 0117 933 5691.
Monday 30th of April 2007
Update, 2nd Week, Trinity
It has been a rather light week for literature (ie I haven't read very much, thus it must not exist...).
However, a few quick bits of information. Before I get started, I have gotten a few more containers to collect batteries. Let me know if your staircase does not have one. I will bring them along to the general meeting on Thursday. Also, we can talk about a petition for revamping the heating system at St. Aldates. It may be impossible in the short-term, but boiling in the summer while wasting energy in order to heat the water seems ilogical.
1)River clean-up
2)Lightbulbs
3)College carbon footprint
4)Vanity Fair
1) I've had a suggestion, and I think that it is a good one, that I should organise a day when we gather along the river near Christ Church, and follow it along up until the Trout. While strolling is welcome, and alchoholic rewards (along with cookies, whenever) promised, the point would be to clean-up rubbish along the way. It can get rather ugly along there, and this would be a way for Christ Church to give back not just to making the college more beautiful, but to helping the wider community.
I was thinking a weekend, either Saturday or Sunday, between now and 7th week. If you are interested, let me know and we'll see how many people can get out for it.
2) If you are interested in recycling lightbulbs, you can drop them off at the Redbridge Recycling Centre on the Abingdon Road. Perhaps in the future I will arange a collection point in the GCR. Unfortunately lightbulbs cannot be placed in the green boxes when they arrive (Friday, so I am told).
3) As was suggested to me by a member, I was going to find out about having something like this "carbon assessment", which looks at how to improve energy consumption in particular, done for the college. However, it turns out that they already had one. Who knew? I'm trying to get a copy released; interesting facts, for instance, the boilers (20, I believe) are not insulated. This is a siimple process, and would save the college, and member, money as well as helping out the environment. I will let you know when I have it, and place it in the green folder, front and centre. On a positive note, the college is becomming more aware; they commissioned it in advance of demand or example, so that is something.
4) I've got a copy of the Vanity Fair "Green Issue" that I will place in the GCR when I am done with it, but if any of you see it around, it is worth a look; good articles on the current state of the rain forest, China and its access to water, drilling in Ecudor, and a good guide entitled "An Eco-System of One's Own". Also if any of you like Knut (very sweet polar bear cub from Berlin), he's on the cover, digitally brushed-in alongside Leonardo DiCaprio. So something for everyone? (VF claims it is the first "carbon neutral" issue ever. All very trendy, but in a good cause, so I can't complain.)
Monday 23rd of April 2007
Environmental update
Hello everyone,
So happy Trinity Term, a few things to call your attention to on the
environmental front.
1) Battery and revised paper/glass recycling plan
2) Plastics recycling
3) Articles
4) University-wide events
5) Propesed college-wide events
1) I've placed battery recycling containers with label as to where you can drop
off the batteries, including a larger container in the GCR if you would prefer
not to take them to Dixons, Curry's, etc... yourselves. If any of you living
out would like me to pick you up a container, let me know, or if you want
information as to where to recycle batteries, also drop me a line. I will get
a few more for St. Aldates as well, so that everyone can have them either in
their staircases or kitchens, the latter preferably.
More recycling bins for glass and paper have been ordered from the council. The
new plan is to use one of your bins to recycle paper and glass, and one for
rubbish, and for GCR members to place the recyling in the green bins that will
be located on each staircase at St. Aldates. Some of you may be able to
negotiate for your scouts to collect recycling from your rooms for the green
bins, or they may just do it; this I cannot guarentee, and the House Manager
has stressed the need for GCR members to play an active role in this.
Hopefully this will lead to more people recycling. I will be putting up signs
explaining the new practice when the bins arrive, hopefully this week. Let me
know if you have any problems.
For those of you living in Steward's or Treasury housing, or on Iffley, let me
know if you need any more bins, or are having any problems.
2) As to recycling plastic bottles and containers, the council is currently
working to implement this in college, but as yet we cannot have this as the
universal college standard. I am going to designate one of the recycling bins
that will shortly arrive in the GCR for plastics, so if anyone wants to save
plastic bottles on an ad hoc basis and bring them to the GCR, I will take them
to Tesco periodically for recycling. Hopefully this will become more
widespread soon.
3) Just to call your attention to some interesting articles drawn to my
attention by William (many thanks!) and another that I read in the New York
Times Magazine. Again, apologies if the latter is US-centric, but it is an
interesting marriage of real-politik and idealism that seems pertinent to
international policies as well. Anyway, I hope that you have a chance to take
a look. Let me know if there are any problems accessing them. I have printed
out the latter for the GCR folder as well.
http://comment.independent.co.uk/commentators/article2359057.ece
http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/climate_change/article2355956.ece
http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F60F11FE3E5B0C768DDDAD0894DF404482
4) Please see below for information about the University wide environmental
panal event this Tuesday. It is at a rather unfortunate time, but if you have
a chance to make it, it sounds quite interesting.
5) Upcoming on the agenda for the term include: a petition to ask the college to
deal with the outdated heating systems in college housing (that many of us
have had fun with; 30 degrees with the heaters on being a favorite of mine); a
college carbon footprinting event, which I am working on with the JCR rep;
discussions with college to switch to energy-saving lightbulbs and recycled
paper; a day (sunny, clear, and pleasant) event during which we start at
Christ Church and clean-up bottles, etc. (gloves provided) along the river up
to the Trout, wherein we reward ourselves with drink (cookies provided along
the way). More on that soon.
Thanks, and sorry that this is such a long email. Not to be naggy, but please
do turn off lights/ computers in the GCR area if you are the last one out.
Sincerely,
Alisa
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5) INCONVENIENT TRUTH SCREENING & DISCUSSION SESSION
Date: Tuesday 1st Week (24 April 2007)
Time: 13:30 for 14:00 and last about 2 hours.
Refreshments will be served from 13:30.
Location: Wolfson Room, Chemistry Research Lab, South Parks Road
The University's Environment Panel are putting on a screening of An
Inconvenient Truth, followed by a group discussion on how the Environment
Panel, the University and students can work together to tackle the issues
involved - specifically, how the University can reduce its carbon emissions.
The E&E Committee co-chairs and other students involved in environmental
campaigning will be going along, and it'd be great to have as many students
attending as possible, as the chance to discuss with the University
Environment Panel will be really valuable.
Monday 9th of April 2007
Environmental Bicycle Ride
If any of you are avid bicycle riders (and I know that many of you are; I've witnesses the high street fleet), you may be interested in registering for this.
www.freecharity.org.uk/~cycleforchange
Shannon Brescher over at Linacre is putting it on, and is looking for as many participants and volunteers as possible. Hopefully some of you will be inspired by the lovely weather and a good cause to raise some money and participate.
Please contact me if you are interested and want to speak to Shannon directly.
