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Environmental compensation or opportunity cost payment

Posted on Apr 28th, 2007 by livingplanet : livingplanet livingplanet
The Environmental News Service and Mother Jones' blogger April Rabkin report that Ecuador is seeking a compensation of US$350 million a year NOT to develop a major oilfield in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

I've heard of this argument from the developing world as far back as 10 years ago. I think it's a provacative proposal and is a subliminal indictment of the developed world's appetite for cheap oil and the transfer of the conservation burden to the developing world.

It's about opportunity cost and the trend of some in using neoliberalism in turning, as they say, the tortilla over. In this case, using capitalism against the capitalist...Intriguing..
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$2, 500 car

Posted on Apr 28th, 2007 by livingplanet : livingplanet livingplanet

TreeHugger and PFAdvice quote BusinessWeek's report that Renault-Nissan is working on building a $2,500 car. A new generation of the Ford Model Ts with hopefully the requisite safety and fuel/mileage efficient techology is in the offing. How will this all pan out?

Technology is neutral. The people behind ar it aren't.

It's exciting news. But, what gets me more excited is how the 'greenies' will adapt the knowledge behind the technology for sustainable development. I'd like to see hundreds of groups, companies, cooperatives, individuals offering different and AFFORDABLE green cars or mass transport, or single transporter (bikes, cycles...)

Technology for the people!

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Tagged with: car, technology, green

Global warming and potential flooding maps

Posted on Apr 28th, 2007 by livingplanet : livingplanet livingplanet
It seems like we're getting a steady stream of scientific reports on global warming (NOTE the term climate change masks the reality that the world is becoming warmer) and its potential impacts on human settlements. The list below from Grist.org and elsewhere shows what areas in the world will be adversely affected should the poles and ice caps melt due to global warming. Asia may be hit hard.

Some of these maps were made by enthusiasts so the accuracy has some issues. Nevertheless, nice to know and ponder on.

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