The environment in the news thursday, 19 August, 2010
Renewable Energy Focus (UK): Oerlikon Solar sponsors electric car race
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- Travel Biz (India): 4th International Conference on Responsible Tourism to be held in Oman from October 10-12, 2010
- Minivan News (Maldives): Newsweek labels Nasheed ‘Green Guru’ for climate change work
Renewable Energy Focus (UK): Oerlikon Solar sponsors electric car race18 August 2010 Oerlikon Solar is the main sponsor of the Zerotracer solar electric vehicle participating in the Zero Emissions Race.The Oerlikon Solar Racing Team’s Zerotracker will participate in the race that goes around the globe in 80 days. Jürg Henz, CEO of Oerlikon Solar, says: "Run by Oerlikon Solar's innovative Swiss engineering thin-film silicon solar technology, the Zerotracer is a perfect example of how electric vehicles can be fun to drive, desirable in design and sporty in performance, all while fighting global warming." The carOerlikon Solar is responsible for generating the solar energy used to charge the car. The energy is produced on thin-film silicon modules. The Zerotracer will require around 2.4 MWh for the 30,000 km trip around the world. The Zerotracer is a combination of a car and a motorcycle, which is said to be able to accelerate faster than a Porsche 911 with an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds. It consumes 4 kW when travelling at an average speed of 80 km/h, giving it a range of 450 km. The body weighs less than 80 kg and is made from Kevlar composite, which is also used in Formula 1 automobile construction.
The Zero Emissions Race started on 16 August at the United Nations office in Geneva and will continue for 80 days, heading eastward through 16 countries and passing through more than 150 cities, including Berlin, Munich, Moscow, Shanghai, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Cancun (World Climate Conference), Lisbon and Madrid. It will conclude on 22 January, 2011 in Geneva. Back to Menu _________________________________________________________________ Travel Biz (India): 4th International Conference on Responsible Tourism to be held in Oman from October 10-12, 201018 August 2010 Dr Venu V, Principal Secretary (Tourism), Government of Kerala, is among a host of eminent speakers who will highlight important issues connected with Responsible Tourism at the fourth International Conference on Responsible Tourism (ICRT) to be held in Oman from October 10-12, 2010. Dr. Rajiha Abdul Amir Ali, Minister of Tourism, Oman will host the Conference along with Dr. Harold Godwin, Founder, International Centre for Responsible Tourism at Leeds Metropolitan University as the Co-Chairperson. The Ministry of Tourism, Sultanate of Oman in association with United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the International Center for Responsible Tourism, Leeds Metropolitan University is organising the Conference. The Conference, which will address inter-related topics like tourism, livelihoods, local economic development and Human Resources, will have participation of representatives of several international tourism organisations such as United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) etc. According to ICRT sources, the main objective of the Conference is to explore application of the principles of Responsible Tourism that originated in the UNWTO’s Global Code of Ethics and the 2002 Cape Town Declaration on Responsible Tourism in Destinations. It will serve as a good platform for government, private sector, academia, international organisations to share experiences in the principles, implementation and future trends in Responsible and Sustainable Tourism development. An exhibition showcasing various Responsible Tourism products will also be held on the sidelines of the Conference. Some of the themes which will be discussed at the Conference are: ‘Responsible Tourism in a World of Finite Resources,’ which will address major challenges for sustainable development of tourism such as climate change, water, conservation of biodiversity etc.; ‘The Responsible Tourist, Tangible and Intangible Heritage’ dealing with expectations of a Responsible Tourist in Oman and globally and contribution of tourism to the maintenance of tangible and intangible heritage; ‘Responsible Destinations and Marketing,’ wherein discussion will revolve on how a destination can attract the kind of tourists it needs to achieve its Responsible Tourism objectives?” According to sources, these themes have been selected to reflect priorities of Oman and for developing an agenda for Responsible Tourism movement internationally. Important speakers at the Conference include, Adama Bah, a leading international practitioner in Responsible Tourism, currently working at Gambia on various Responsible Tourism initiatives; Dr Susanne Becken - Associate Professor, Lincoln University, New Zealand and Director, Land Environment and People (LEaP) Research Centre; Dr Harold Goodwin – Professor, Responsible Tourism Management and Founder, International Centre for Responsible Tourism at Leeds Metropolitan University; Nombulelo Mfeka – Director, Department of Tourism, Cape Town City Council and Dr Dawid de Villiers, Chair, Global Ethics Committee, UNWTO. The second international conference on Responsible tourism was held at Kochi in Kerala.
18 August 2010 The second largest weekly magazine in the United States, ‘Newsweek’, has awarded President Mohamed Nasheed the title of ‘green guru’ and placed him second among nine other world leaders who have ‘’won serious respect’’ in different global fields. “As president of an island nation imperiled by rising sea levels, Mohamed Nasheed has become a hero among environmentalists,’’ said Newsweek. “In the run-up to last year’s United Nations climate-change meeting, Nasheed attracted global attention by hosting a cabinet meeting underwater.’’ The paper said that former Vice President of the US, Al Gore, who is also an environment activist, had taken to quoting President Nasheed on matters relating to the human cost of climate change. ‘’In April, the UN elected [Nasheed] one of six “2010 Champions of the Earth,’’ said the magazine. Achim Steiner, director of the UN Environment Program, praised Nasheed as a politician who is “showcasing to the rest of the world how a transition to climate neutrality can be achieved and how all nations, no matter how big or small, can contribute.” Britain’s new Prime Minister, David Cameron, tops the list of ‘best world leaders’ in the political magazine, which has a global circulation of 1.5 million. Newsweek also names President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India, President Lula da Silva of Brazil and President Lee of South Korea in its list of top world leaders.
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