News Archives » Ecology
Companies Respond to Consumer Demands on Environment July 1st, 2010
Activist campaigns targeting corporations have been surprisingly successful in changing corporate behavior and “greening” supply chains, particularly with regard to timber and beef products. For continued success though, consumers need to signal a clear preference for sustainably produced goods.
A Yale Environment 360 article details one campaign’s success:
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G8 and G20 Summits in Canada June 27th, 2010
The Group of Eight (G8) and Group of Twenty (G20) summits were held in Ontario, Canada this weekend – June 25th through 27th. The G8 leaders met from Jun 25 through the 26th in Huntsville, Ontario. The G20 summit follows in Toronto, Jun 26-27.The gathering in Canada was to provide an opportunity to world leaders to show their resolve in keeping their promises on global poverty, climate change and deal with financial crisis.
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World Youth Parliament June 23rd, 2010
WYP 2010: Towards a Magna Carta of Values for a New Civilization will be held in New York City, August 9-16, 2010. This is a forum where young people (ages 17-30) will commit themselves to explore the foundations of a new society. Participants will propose guidelines which, with effort and some sacrifice, will signal serious change and a way of life leading to a more just society. Accommodations will be at St. John’s University dormitories. For more information go to: WYP.IDENTEYOUTH.US
To give a flavor of the event, these questions were asked on the website:
- Did you ever wanted to change the world but never knew how?
- Everyone speaks of freedom, but is freedom simply to do what one wants?
- Most young people are pursing academic degrees but did you ever ask yourself what is the purpose of education?
- Did you ever ask what is justice or why do we punish people?
- With the current economic crises in mind, did you ever reflect on our society’s ideas and views on work, economy, wealth, etc.?
- And, most importantly, did you ever ask, “Who am I as a person and a human being? What is the foundation of my dignity, rights, and duties?”
If you have ever reflected on these question or would like to do so, then the WYP is for YOU!
Daniel LeBlanc, OMI Gives Briefing on Climate Change Conference at UN June 4th, 2010
Daniel LeBlanc, OMI gave a June 3rd briefing at the International Catholic Organizations Network (ICON) on the people’s climate change conference held last month in Bolivia . Titled the “World’s People Conference on Climate Change and The Rights of Mother Earth,” the gathering of some 35,000 civil society representatives was designed to send a strong message to governments that action is needed now to prevent a global climate disaster.
Later the same day he gave a report on the conference to the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development, of which he is an active member.
Daniel LeBlanc, OMI was representing VIVAT International at the conference. He is a newly elected Board Member of ICON.
Zimbabwe Transition to Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2010 Introduced in the US Senate May 14th, 2010
The Zimbabwe Transition to Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2010 (S.3297) has been introduced in the US Senate by a bi-partisan group: Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), and John Kerry (D-MA). The bill seeks to create new United States policy towards Zimbabwe.
Current U.S. policy towards Zimbabwe is characterized by the Zimbabwe Economic and Democracy Recovery Act of 2001 (ZEDERA) and an Executive Order declared by President Bush in 2003. Extended by President Obama until March 2011, this lists more than 200 individuals and business entities subject to a travel ban and whose assets have been frozen.
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