From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Fri Jun 2 17:57:45 2000 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric.britton@ecoplan.org) Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2000 10:57:45 +0200 Subject: [sustran] =?Windows-1252?Q?The_Stockholm_Challenge_Award=2C_the_Bogot=E1_Car_Free_D?= =?Windows-1252?Q?ay_and_RealMedia_broadcast_on_Monday?= Message-ID: As perhaps you know the Bogot? Car Free Day project with The Commons has been chosen as a finalist for this year's Stockholm Challenge Award. If you cannot make it to Stockholm though, you can join in through the Internet! The prize-giving ceremony will broadcast live from the Stockholm City Hall on Monday evening at 6.00 PM in co-operation with ONTV Webcasting and Telia Streaming Media. To get there go to http://www.ontv.se/time/. (Better check it out early and make sure that you have the latest version of RealPlayer to pick up the video transmission.) To quote the organizers (go to http://www.challenge.stockholm.se/ for details): "The prestigious prize-giving ceremony will take place in the City Hall of Stockholm on June 5. The winners in each category will be announced in the Blue Hall, the prestigious surroundings of the Nobel festivities. There will be project presentations, inspiring speeches and impressive entertainment!". And if you want to see the reasoning behind our being selected for the Prize, you can find this in the Stockholm Challenge site, by clicking first Finalists, then Environment, then us. With any luck you will see the faces of Mayor Enrique Pe?alosa and your servant grinning at you over the big glass sculpture (a rendering of no more, no less than the whole planet... in slightly reduced scale) that is awarded for the winner in the environment category. Eric Britton ecopl@n ___ technology, economy, society ___ Le Frene, 8/10 rue Joseph Bara, 75006 Paris, France Eric.Britton@ecoplan.org URL www.ecoplan.org Mobile: +336 80 96 78 79 Voice/Videoconference +331.4441.6340 (1-4) Voicemail/Fax hotline: Europe +331 5301 2896 Voicemail/Fax hotline: North America +1 888 522 6419 (toll free) From carbusters at ecn.cz Sat Jun 3 04:25:15 2000 From: carbusters at ecn.cz (Car Busters) Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2000 20:25:15 +0100 Subject: [sustran] Appeal for help in stopping road construction. Message-ID: <01bfccc8$47afeae0$0101a8c0@sunny> **sorry for cross posting, but as this is a generally sympathetic list I thought you may be able to assist. If you can, or think you know someone who can, please write to dave martin (dmartin@igc.org, other contact info at end of msg) Debbie Car Busters >> >>This is Dave Martin from PERC writing. >> >>PERC is looking for an American or Canadian to participate in an >>environmental review of a proposed road building project in Siberia. >>Officials there are looking to build a road from Southern Siberia to China. >>The proposed road will, among other things, go through a World Heritage Site >>that is sacred to a number of indigenous cultures there. The road would >>also be built on very rough terrain--altitudes of up to 2600 m, permafrost, >>highland marshes, etc. I will include more info on this at the end of the >>message. >> >>We are looking for someone with experience evaluating these sorts of >>projects. This includes experience with environmental reviews of road >>projects, familiarity with the many problems of road construction in >>roadless areas, engineering and economics issues, and especially experience >>with high altitude and other difficult construction. Of course, it is >>impossible to find someone that specializes in all that. but the broader >>the background, the better. >> >>PERC will cover all the costs of travel and lodging, and there will be >>people to translate. The review may happen as soon as this summer. Exact >>timing depends on when paperwork is filed by the people who want to build >>the road. >> >>Please let me know if you have any suggestions. >> >>Dave >> >>****************************** >>Global Response Action Alert #3/00 >>Protect Snow Leopard Habitat / Siberia >>May-June 2000 >>****************************** >> >>"Building a road and pipeline through the Ukok Plateau will drive a stake >>through the heart of an area that nature lovers, the Altai and other >>indigenous peoples hold sacred. It will be the end of the Ukok." >> --Mikhail Shishin, President, Fund for 21st Century Altai >>(Russia) >> >> Russian environmental organizations are calling for international >>support in their campaign to protect the Ukok Plateau in southern Siberia. >> This high plateau provides critical habitat for one of the least studied >>large predators in the world, the snow leopard, and many other endangered >>species including the argali mountain sheep, dzeren antelope, black stork >>and steppe eagle. Its remarkable biodiversity is due to its complete >>sequence of altitudinal vegetation zones from steppe, forest-steppe, mixed >>forest, sub-alpine vegetation to alpine vegetation. The plateau is the >>source of major rivers that flow into Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and >>China. Archaeological remains are of great scientific interest, especially >>since the discovery of a mummified Scythian "princess" in 1996. Much of >>the plateau is sacred to the indigenous Altai people. >> >> The Ukok Plateau's unique combination of biological diversity and >>cultural value gained world recognition in 1998 when UNESCO's World >>Heritage Commission included the plateau in the Golden Mountains of Altai >>World Heritage site. Within the Altai Republic (political division similar >>to a state in the USA), the Ukok Plateau is protected as a "Quiet Zone," >>where economic development is prohibited. >> >> These designations are being completely ignored by Siberian >>government officials. In March 2000, the "Siberian Accord," an association >>of Siberian government leaders, voted to approve road and gas pipeline >>construction through the World Heritage Site >>and across the pristine Ukok Plateau "Quiet Zone" into China. >> >> Russian scientists and environmental organizations were quick to >>protest this plan. In December 1999 they wrote a collective letter to the >>"Siberian Accord," pointing out that the road/pipeline would irreparably >>damage the unique ecosystems and cultural heritage of the Ukok Plateau. >> They also warned that the project would incur enormous costs in both >>construction and maintenance, since it would go through highland marshes, >>tundra, permafrost areas and mountain passes at 2600 meters elevation. >> >> The scientists and environmentalists recommend a much less >>destructive alternative route through Mongolia along existing roads. The >>"Siberian Accord" has given no response to this counter-proposal and has >>created no opportunity for public input concerning the road and pipeline >>projects. >> >>Requested Action: >> >> Russian environmental organizations are proposing stronger >>legislation to more effectively protect the Ukok Plateau. But first they >>need to avert the crisis posed by the "Siberian Accord" road and pipeline >>project. They ask Global Response members to raise an international outcry >>to prevent this project from destroying natural and cultural treasures of >>the Ukok Plateau. >> >>**************************** >>BACKGROUND INFORMATION: >> >>The Snow Leopard >> >>Hunted for their bones and fur and squeezed by intense human population >>growth, snow leopards are endangered throughout their entire range in the >>high mountains of Central Eurasia. Researchers estimate between 4,000 and >>7,000 snow leopards remain in the wild. Their habitat is so rugged that >>sightings are rare, contributing to the mystery of these beautiful animals. >> Only about 5% of snow leopards' geographic range is currently protected. >> >>With a thick coat to protect them from extreme cold and fur cushions on >>their feet to help them walk on snow and rocks, snow leopards are well >>adapted to their mountain environment. Adults weigh between 60 and 120 >>pounds. Their fur varies from white to cream to pale yellow or gray, >>sprinkled with bits of charcoal-gray or black. The thickly furred tail can >>be as long as the leopard's body; it provides balance as the leopard jumps >>and rushes after prey -- various kinds of sheep and goats, game birds, >>hares, pikas and marmots. >> >>Central Asian scientists regard the snow leopard as an "indicator species" >>-- one that indicates the general health of a particular environment. >> Since the snow leopard lives at the top of the food chain, if there are >>abundant and healthy snow leopards in an area, the entire local ecosystem >>is probably healthy, too. >> >>International campaigns to protect snow leopards and their habitat are >>coordinated by the International Snow Leopard Trust >>(www.serv.net/islt/facts2.html), Sacred Earth Network (www.igc.org/sen/) >>and the German Society for Nature Conservation (NABU: >>www.nabu.de/index.htm) >> >> >> >>*********************************************** >>Dave Martin >>Siberian Wilderness Campaign >>Pacific Environment and Resources Center >>1440 Broadway, Ste. 306 >>Oakland, CA 94612 >>Tel: 510-251-8800 >>Fax: 510-251-8838 >>www.pacificenvironment.org >>********************************** > > From carbusters at ecn.cz Tue Jun 6 21:55:31 2000 From: carbusters at ecn.cz (Car Busters) Date: Tue, 6 Jun 2000 13:55:31 +0100 Subject: [sustran] "Autosaurus Awards" - Your Chance to Vote for the Biggest Culprits Message-ID: <01bfcfb6$7f0206e0$0101a8c0@sunny> Dear All We at Car Busters magazine think it is about time that The Autosaurus Awards were born. We want to name and shame the dinosaurs in our midst who refuse to admit that the end of the automobile age is coming. To present awards to those who go so far as to commit the worst abuses in support of forcing car culture on other nations, paving the planet, resource extraction in national parks or tribal homes, corruption to prop up car culture or industries, etc. In this we ask you to look at the following categories for the Awards Ceremony, and nominate your preference - politician, corporate leaders, the people in power. Please give us a paragraph explanation of why you have named the person/industry that you have, in order that we may chose the final winners. (All reasons for nomination should be related to cars/roadbuilding/oil extraction etc.. - the various aspects of car culture, even if the award title does not necessarily demand it.) The Award Categories are the following: * Most Unbelievable "And Still they Got Away With it" Corporate Act * Biggest Abuse of Public Trust - Government * Biggest Abuse of Public Trust - Industry * "I Love my Phallic Symbols" - Most Rampantly Pro-Car Magazine/TV Programme * "Sneaking Round the Corridors" - Most Dangerous Transport Lobbying Group * Most Convincing "Green" Politician to Betray the Environment. * Worst Government Sponsored Environmental Abuse * Most Disgustingly Pro-Car Celebrity * Lifetime Dis-Achiement for Car Related Destruction * The Special Dinosaurus Award - if there is a specific piece of political balderdash, corporate destruction or abuse, or anything else that you know of, which does not fit into any of these categories but which certainly deserves an Autosaurus Award, then tell us all about it and the worst of all wins! For each nominee, please can you include their contact information, which can be published next to their names should they win a prize. Should you know where me will be able to get hold of a photograph of the CEO or Politician in question, we would appreciate your including this information as well. If you cannot complete these questions but know someone who can, please forward them this e-mail. All responses should be returned to carbusters@ecn.cz, and we would appreciate your responses by Monday 12 June. Thank you Best Wishes Debbie, Kim, Ivana and Randy --------------------------------------------------------------------- CAR BUSTERS Magazine and Resource Centre Kr?tk? 26, 100 00 Praha 10, Czech Republic Tel: +(420) 2-781-08-49 ; Fax: +(420) 2-781-67-27 From sustran at po.jaring.my Tue Jun 6 18:42:45 2000 From: sustran at po.jaring.my (SUSTRAN Resource Centre) Date: Tue, 06 Jun 2000 17:42:45 +0800 Subject: [sustran] fwd - Fuel riots in Nigeria Message-ID: <3.0.6.32.20000606174245.008cc770@relay101.jaring.my> My comment on the news item below: I was in Jakarta last week for the Sustainable Transport and Clean Air Conference plus the SUSTRAN Network Assembly. Fuel subsidies are also crippling the budget of the Indonesian government. A thorny question: how to remove these subsidies without hurting the poor really hard and without sparking riots. It is tragic because a high percentage of the fuel subsidy usually ends in the pockets of the rich (who use more fuel than the poor). But the poor hate and fear inflation more than the rich - so any rise in prices creates a backlash. Phasing out the fuel subsidy seems to be especially difficult in cases like Indonesia and Nigeria where the public is understandably sceptical of government. Therefore few people believe that savings from reducing fuel subsidies will be used for the public good. Any suggestions? Paul SUSTRAN Resource Centre ------------------------ BBC Worldservice News http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/ Monday, 5 June, 2000, 15:43 GMT 16:43 UK Fuel riots in south-west Nigeria Lagos has been badly hit by recent fuel price hikes Riots have broken out across cities in south-western Nigeria over last Thursday's surprise 50% rise in fuel prices. Students chanting anti-government slogans burned tyres and blocked roads leading into the Yaba district of Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos. Students and workers also were reported to have gone on the rampage in the south-western cities of Abeokuta and Ibadan, about 55 km (35 miles) and 110 km (70 miles) north of Lagos. One eyewitness told Reuters news agency: "The police fired teargas to disperse the rioters". The price of petrol rose from 20 to 30 naira per litre ($0.20-$0.30). Kerosene and diesel prices have also risen by similar margins. The rioters called on the government to withdraw the increases and restore fuel subsidies. Strike call The Nigerian Labour Congress had called for a stay-at-home strike on Thursday to protest against what it said was an outrageous increase. Earlier this year, President Obasanjo suggested a rise in petrol prices. An official spokesman said the government could not continue heavily subsidising domestic fuel prices. Many Nigerians see fuel subsidies as one of the few benefits delivered by the government of Africa's biggest oil producer and said the price rise had pushed up prices of other goods and services. A journalist in Lagos, Oludare Mayowa, said: "Transport fares and prices of foodstuffs have risen since fuel prices went up last week. It is making life more difficult for the masses". Nigeria's fuel has been a source of conflict in the country's troubled history. There have been several riots in the Delta region over the unequal distribution of oil wealth amongst local communities. ------------------------- Distributed for the purpose of education and research. A. Rahman Paul BARTER SUSTRAN Resource Centre Information services for the Sustainable Transport Action Network for Asia and the Pacific (the SUSTRAN Network) sustran@po.jaring.my, http://www.malaysiakini.com/sustran From sustran at po.jaring.my Tue Jun 6 21:02:53 2000 From: sustran at po.jaring.my (SUSTRAN Resource Centre) Date: Tue, 06 Jun 2000 20:02:53 +0800 Subject: [sustran] fwd: Transitways and Busways Conference Message-ID: <3.0.6.32.20000606200253.008cce30@relay101.jaring.my> A conference that may be of interest to sustran-discussers, forwarded from the Transportation Communications Newsletter, Monday, June 5, 2000 -- ISSN: 1529-1057 For more information on the Transportation Communications newsletter see the bottom of this message. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 10) "Smart Urban Transport - Using Transitways and Busways" Conference to be held in Australia Use of ITS and passenger information part of meeting agenda. The need to dramatically revamp urban public transport in particular the image of buses is attracting considerable attention around the world including Australasia and the Pacific. Dedicated transitways or busways along with new, clean bus designs and use of intelligent transport systems (ITS) offer much potential as cost-effective mass rapid transit systems as part of a strategy to attract new ridership. Transitways/busways are under development in three Australian cities at present. Two other cities are planning for new busways. Adelaide, Australia, constructed a busway using O-Bahn technology in the early 1980s and this has operated successfully since that time. The new busways which are under development are planned as part of a wider network of busways, light rail systems and revamped public transport services. Transport Roundtable Australasia are organising a four day conference focussing on busway operations, management and associated technologies. The conference will be held in Brisbane, Australia between 17 and 20 October 2000. The first section of the new South East Busway will be in operation by the conference and a tour of it will be available for conference attendees. The conference objective is to provide a forum where the transport professionals, operators and contractors can learn of the latest international developments, share experiences and lessons learned and develop solutions. An invited group of international and Australasian experts will make presentations on the following topics: - Planning for better urban transport; - Global developments in transitways and busways; - Design of services to meet market needs; - Transitway station design, design and operations; - Track design for desired operations; - Intelligent busways and transitways; - Passenger information and ticketing; - Institutional issues; and - Evaluation and monitoring. The conference will be held the week following the UITP conference on light rail to be held in Melbourne, Australia. For details of the "Smart Urban Transport - Using Transitways and Busways" conference please contact: Ozaccom Conference Services PO Box 164, Fortitude Valley QLD Australia 4006 Tel: +617-38541611 Fax: +617-38541507 Email: ozaccom@ozaccom.com.au +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ... Questions, comments about the Transportation Communications Newsletter? Please write the editor, Bernie Wagenblast, at i95berniew@aol.com. ? 2000 ----------------------- Distributed for the purpose of education and research. A. Rahman Paul BARTER SUSTRAN Resource Centre Information services for the Sustainable Transport Action Network for Asia and the Pacific (the SUSTRAN Network) sustran@po.jaring.my, http://www.malaysiakini.com/sustran From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Wed Jun 7 20:44:45 2000 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric.britton@ecoplan.org) Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2000 13:44:45 +0200 Subject: [sustran] The many winners of The Stockholm Challenge Award 2000 Message-ID: Paris, 6 June 2000 Dear Colleagues, It is with immense pride, and with if anything even greater emotion, that I am pleased to report to you that last evening in Stockholm, The Commons and the City of Bogot? were awarded the Stockholm Challenge Award in Environment for our collaboration on the Bogot? Car Free Day. TO START WITH THE FACTS: In the prestigious Blue Hall, site of the Nobel Prize awards, and before a crowd of several hundred representatives of the ninety four outstanding projects that had been named finalists from the 612 nominated projects coming from more than eighty countries around the world, Enrique Pe?alosa, Mayor of Bogot?, and I were honored to receive the Stockholm Challenge Award Trophy, no less important, the long applause of that splendid crowd of dedicated innovators as well as the distinguished invited guests. You can if you wish (and if your equipment permits) view a video of the entire Prize ceremony, which is available at http://www.challenge.stockholm.se. To do that, you will need to be able to run the latest version of RealMedia, all of which is of course carefully documented on the site. To demonstrate that our concept and accomplishment was perhaps not entirely understood by all members of the working press, here is the lead line from one release that we saw this morning: "In the Environment category the project Bogot? Car Free Day located in Paris, France but active in Bogot? as well as in other countries around the world, received the trophy. On March 24 they made 24,800,000 cars stay at home." What can I say to this? Well, we are, as you know, extremely ambitious in these projects... but I had not realized that we were quite that effective. (Happily, the information that appears in the site itself under the categories "Finalists" and "Winners" is accurate and quite comprehensive. Of course for the full picture, you will need to turn to @World Car Free Day at http://ecoplan.org/carfreeday/.) The Prize was of course neither a personal award for Mayor Pe?alosa, nor for myself. It was, I firmly believe, for three things. THE CONCEPT: First, and at the core of the achievements for which we were cited, the Award is for a powerful concept which has now proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that it can indeed serve as an instrument of increasing the awareness for important and much needed changes for many of the felt needs, and of the unasked questions, that are posed by the problems of transport and life quality in cities. This is important because the car free day concept had not before been pushed nearly as far nor obtained anywhere near the results that have been obtained in Bogot?, and which are now actively helping that city in its challenging hands-on conversion to if not a car-free city, at least a car-tamed city with a transportation system that is being fast refitted in order to offer not only greater economic viability and life quality, but also social justice, including to the least favored of those living in that great and growing city. Bogot?, on February 24th, 2000, effectively went to work and proved the concept. And from the next day on, whenever anyone anywhere in the world wants to talk about organizing a car free day in their city, Bogot? suddenly became their first point of reference. THE PEOPLE OF BOGOT?: If the mayor and his team took the original Thursday car free day concept, and worked with hundreds of people in his administration and other services of the city in an effort that ultimately involved more than ten thousand hours of hard and smart work, it was the seven million people of Bogot? who ultimately made it work. And it is of course they who not only are the rightful beneficiaries of the Stockholm Challenge Prize but, even more important, it is they who are the recipients of the considerable fruits of their own work and, as it happens, close to endless discussions. Because talk they did, quite literally every day in the month leading up to the great event: among themselves, in letters and manifestation of support, inquietude and protest to the administration, to and through the print media, on radio and television talk shows, in their homes, schools and places of work across the city, and out on the streets. The Bogot? Car Free Day worked because in the final analysis everyone who lived there got into the act. Not because they were always pleased with the concept, but because they understood they were going to be impacted by it and they wanted to figure out the best ways to deal with the challenges of getting around on that one day with no cars in the city. Believe me, there was not a single person of the seven million who did not ask themselves and those around them many times over what was going to be the best way to organize the Day. As a result of these nonstop discussions and debates, the city listened and tired where they could to deal with these fears and reactions. As a result, something not so strange happened. When the plans for the day were originally announced, barely half of all those polled thought it might be a reasonable idea. But by the time that Car Free Bogot? was in progress, the balance had shifted radically, with at the end of the day more than 87% of the public saying it was the right thing to do. And more than half of them, asked that the experience be repeated on a regular basis. THE COMMONS AND THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY: And here it is where many of you can be justifiably proud of yourselves. When we first announced the Bogot? Day on the web site of The Commons and via a number of our cooperating discussion groups and program on January 25th, we immediately began to be inundated with expressions of encouragement and support from people around the world, who asked us to communicate their wishes and backing to the organizers in Bogot?. In all more than two hundred such expressions of support were received and posted on the @World Car Free Day site at http://ecoplan.org/carfreeday. These letters and wishes for success from leading thinkers and practitioners working at the field, from ministers and administrators, students and activists, and people writing as parents, teachers and citizens, proved to be a powerful vehicle of support for the Bogot? team. We were thus able to use the Internet as a vehicle of international collaboration and support, creating a situation in which the local team, up to their necks in work and criticism from many sides, were able to say to the media and the people of Bogot?: "We are not alone. We are doing the right thing. It's not only that we here in city Hall think so, but listen to what all these other distinguished people and groups around the world have to say about what we are doing". And that was how we helped. (With any luck at all, by early 2001 the new sustainable transportation system of Bogot? will begin to be recognizable as a model for cities, not only in the South but also in the North. And to make sure that you know it and can form your own views on it, we shall continue to provide in-depth coverage and leads to local sites and sources where you see it for yourself.) THE EMOTION: This last bit is entirely personal, but I am sure than many of you, had you been there with us last night, would have experienced much the same thing. As we heard from and learned about all those other projects that had been selected as finalists and winners in other categories, I began to have my doubts. I have always been convinced that the car free day approach was a truly terrific instrument for increasing social perception and building consensus for change, and I am proud of the daring and the accomplishments of the people of Bogot? all the way down to my bones. But as I listened and learned about all those other projects I had to wonder in my heart of hearts if the judges had made the right choice. There were so many that had such striking and strong claims to international recognition at the highest level. Let me share with you short notes on a couple of these by way of ever so quick example so that you can perhaps understand my dilemma. For example there was . . . Mindmouse from Gothenburg Sweden: "We have a girl in Slottsbergsgymnasiet who can't talk. We have created a brand new system where she can control the computer with her thoughts (EEG). We have worked together with the inventor in USA and now the system works great. For the first time she can communicate. We are among the first in the world managing to do this." (More at www.slottsberg.educ.goteborg.se/data/mindmoe.htm ) Manguzi Wireless Internet in South Africa: "Our project provides Internet access, e-mail and learning resources to schools in a very remote area of South Africa's KwaZulu Natal province where no telecommunications infrastructure exists utilising a unique combination of radio and satellite broadcasting technologies." (www.csir.co.za ) Hyperstories for Blind Children, Santiago, Chile: " The project consists of exposing poor blind children to a methodology that uses an interactive software based on 3D sound to help them to construct cognitive structures that allow them to represent the space through sound." (For more: www.c5.cl/hh ) And that is only three taken from a single category of the competition involving children. Three among six hundred and twelve projects, most being carried out under great difficulty, with little backing, and all trying to do something different and important. I can tell you that as the evening passed I was troubled deeply about whether or not the right choices had been made -- until the organizers of the event showed us how deeply they understood and appreciated who these splendid people are and all that they are working so hard to achieve. Shortly after the formal presentations, several hundred of us adjourned for a festive dinner in the city's famous Golden Hall and were enjoying ourselves with spirited conversation and fine food, when something strange happened. Slowly the lights dimmed, so slowly that really none of us had recognized it, and a deep rhythmic, throbbing sound was heard. And quite suddenly we realized that there were a hundred young people who had silently slipped in and taken their places among us, and who then began to sing and their voices wafted like sweet rolling waves through the great and solemn hall. Something quite wonderful was going on. Minutes later we were made to understand. In a quiet voice, Alfonso Molina, chairman of the awards committee stood up to explain to us that the real Stockholm Prize was for every person in that hall, all of those who had come so far to be in Stockholm and who were there as a result of their concerns, energy and achievements. At which point, ninety four trophies were brought in and triumphally awarded to every fine project and noble team who had come all the way to Sweden for the Stockholm Challenge Prize in the midnight sun of that memorable night on June 5th 2000. And the young people began to sing again and we all finally understood why we were there. From debi.beag at softhome.net Fri Jun 9 11:34:21 2000 From: debi.beag at softhome.net (Debi Goenka) Date: Fri, 09 Jun 2000 08:04:21 +0530 Subject: [sustran] Re: fwd - Fuel riots in Nigeria References: <3.0.6.32.20000606174245.008cc770@relay101.jaring.my> Message-ID: <394057AD.D2D3BD24@softhome.net> The issue of fuel subsidies is indeed difficult. In India, we have a differential pricing mechanism (prices in brackets in Indian Rupees per litre) for different petroleum products such as petrol (29), diesel (17), kerosene (6), naphtha(11), etc. Kerosene is subsidised on the ground that it is a poor man's fuel - however, a significant amount of kerosene is sold illegally for industrial/commercial use or used for adulteration of petrol/diesel. However, at long last, the Government of India seems to be moving towards rationalising all the petroleum prices and bringing them on par to international levels. This will however be done gradually in phases rather than any drastic increase or decrease. The bottom line is that any subsidy or excessive taxation of a product leads to problems. The differential between diesel and petrol prices has, for example, led to an artificial demand for private diesel vehicles over petrol equivalents. Cheers Debi Goenka From sustran at po.jaring.my Fri Jun 9 16:38:51 2000 From: sustran at po.jaring.my (SUSTRAN Resource Centre) Date: Fri, 09 Jun 2000 15:38:51 +0800 Subject: [sustran] fwd: Delhi's risky rickshaws Message-ID: <3.0.6.32.20000609153851.00820b40@relay101.jaring.my> An article with a disturbing tendency to blame the victim. Interesting nevertheless. ------------------------- BBC World Service News Thursday, 8 June, 2000, 12:14 GMT 13:14 UK Delhi's risky rickshaws By Mike Wooldridge in Delhi In a congested Delhi street, cycle rickshaws have to do battle with traffic of all kinds. The cycle rickshaw may be master of the narrower alleyways of old Delhi. But elsewhere, it's not transport for the faint hearted. I get tired and it gets harder. Especially in my legs And with the constant stopping and starting - the evasive action as buses, trucks and cars bear down upon often heavily-laden cycle rickshaws - the men who pull them say it's by no means an easy way to earn a living. "It's difficult after four or five hours of riding. I get tired and it gets harder. Especially in my legs," says one rickshaw puller. Sometimes even evasive action doesn't work. In areas around some of Delhi's most famous monuments and buildings, such as the Red Fort, the rickshaw pullers compete for the potentially lucrative tourist trade. One couple got more than they bargained for. "Well we just got hit by a car... but it's all right. The guy's a good driver. They drive very precise," they said. Taking its toll Even if you are sharing in the risks as you take a ride on a cycle rickshaw, as the rickshaw puller rises out of the saddle and strains to haul you along, are you helping to perpetuate a demeaning form of transport? The argument is a long-running one. But some have a clear conscience. "It's the cycle which is rolling. It's not the man who's doing the job. So I don't feel that bad about it," says one woman passenger. A tea stall near Old Delhi's railway station is home to many rickshaw pullers. One of them, Ramu, has made his living this way for 40 years. He says his marriage broke up because of the hardships he has faced. "Many people come to me and I tell them don't even think of pulling a rickshaw. "I've wasted my life doing this. Don't spoil yours. Some listen - others don't," he says. He also says more rickshaws being allowed on to the roads of Delhi by the authorities doesn't help him - there's not enough business to go round as it is. Traffic hazard The Delhi authorities say they are not just issuing more licences. They are also trying to control the number of unlicensed rickshaws. The police have been sceptical, though, about whether issuing more licences will help regulate matters. They have expressed concern that in the end it will simply mean more cycle rickshaws on the capital's roads. And, however "green" a vehicle they may be, in a still rapidly motorising city that poses problems. "Anything which proliferates unchecked, it does result other issues.... The rickshaw is one of the most unsafe things on the road," says Kanwaljit Deol, the traffic commissioner of the Delhi Police. One cycle rickshaw puller pays a penalty just in time and extracts his machine to ride away for another day's hard-won earnings. He is as likely to be called upon to carry children to and from school as a tall stack of goods from one business to another. Now, it's not just his cycle rickshaw that has a new lease of life. copyright BBC News Online ------------------------------------- Distributed for the purpose of education and research. A. Rahman Paul BARTER SUSTRAN Resource Centre Information services for the Sustainable Transport Action Network for Asia and the Pacific (the SUSTRAN Network) sustran@po.jaring.my, http://www.malaysiakini.com/sustran From doriano.angotzi at uitp.com Wed Jun 14 19:12:55 2000 From: doriano.angotzi at uitp.com (ANGOTZI Doriano) Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 12:12:55 +0200 Subject: [sustran] UITP Conference proceedings (Now available on cd-rom and as hard- copy) Message-ID: <616BF05F8E11D211AE190008C76C72052D0957@UITPMAIL> Dear Sir, or Madam, Our conference proceedings are now available on both cd-rom and hard-copy. The cd-roms have full text serach and link to the documents presented. - Automatic Fare Collection (Bologna, Feb. 2000) - Organisation of Transport and Quality of Service (Florence, Sept. 1999) - Urban Public Transport Funding (Paris, Oct. 1999) - Urban Structure and Modal Split (Wien, . 1998) To see the contents just click on the link below and go to CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS http://www.uitp.com/pubs/pubslist.htm. ALSO AVAILABLE - The challenge of Urban Mobility Debate on planning and urban transport policies and present the solutions provided by public transport to the problem of urban mobility from the economic, social and environmental perspectives. - To see the list of the papers that were presented during this conference (click on the link mentioned above and go to OTHER PUBLICATIONS Do not hesitate to contact me for further details Best regards Doriano ANGOTZI Sales of Publications & Advertising Officer International Association of Public Transport - UITP avenue Herrmann-Debroux 17 B-1160 Bruxelles (Belgium) tel. ++ 32 02 663 66 46 fax ++ 32 02 660 10 72 e-mail : publications@uitp.com website : http://www.uitp.com (see publications) From sustran at po.jaring.my Wed Jun 14 17:06:18 2000 From: sustran at po.jaring.my (SUSTRAN Resource Centre) Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 16:06:18 +0800 Subject: [sustran] fwd: call for papers on barrier free transportation Message-ID: <3.0.6.32.20000614160618.00939330@relay101.jaring.my> ANNOUNCEMENT Calling for the Submission of Papers on Special Feature of IATSS RESEARCH Vol.25, No.1 (Spring 2001) Transportation for Handicapped People: Barrier-Free It has become one of the focuses of our society to establish the barrier-free surroundings, which will enable everybody, including handicapped people, to enjoy a safe and fulfilling life. To realize a barrier-free society, it is crucial to incorporate the barrier-free concept in the planning and design of public spaces. Especially, a barrier-free transportation system becomes more important for the disabled to participate in solving the problems regarding their needs, since the aged and infirm are often restricted in their mobility by physical considerations. This IATSS Research feature focuses on a barrier-free in the traffic environment from various traffic aspect, such as public transport facilities, mobility support systems, transport policies, etc, which will enable all people to move safely and comfortably. Masafumi YANO Chairman The Editorial Board Prospective authors should submit an abstract (approximately 300 words) and the title of paper by August 31, 2000 to the contact address listed below, including the author's name, affiliation, full mailing address, fax number, telephone number and e-mail address. Authors of accepted abstracts will be informed by September 30, 2000 and asked to submit a paper by December 15, 2000 that should be no longer than 6 pages in the journal (approximately 20 pages of double-spaced A4 paper) including figures and tables. Completed papers will be reviewed by at least two referees in accordance with the Editorial Board policy. Authors will be advised of referees' comments and suggested revision of papers where necessary. CONTACT Please address responses to the call for papers or inquiries for additional information to: IATSS Research Editorial and Advisory Board International Association of Traffic and Safety Sciences 6-20, 2-chome, Yaesu, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0028 JAPAN Fax: +81-3-3272-7054 E-mail: iatss@db3.so-net.ne.jp From sustran at po.jaring.my Wed Jun 14 17:11:37 2000 From: sustran at po.jaring.my (SUSTRAN Resource Centre) Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 16:11:37 +0800 Subject: [sustran] SUSTRAN News Flash #38: Transport in the 'South' Message-ID: <3.0.6.32.20000614161137.00939720@relay101.jaring.my> SUSTRAN NEWS FLASH #38 14 June 2000 News update on people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on countries in the global 'South'. Produced for the Sustainable Transport Action Network for Asia and the Pacific (the SUSTRAN Network) by the SUSTRAN Resource Centre, P.O. Box 11501, 50748 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. E-mail: sustran@po.jaring.my, URL: http://www.malaysiakini.com/sustran/ CONTENTS 1. Transport at CSD 2. ANNOUNCEMENT: New SUSTRAN Network Secretariat from October 3. Car Free Asian Cities on Earth Day 4. Hanoi Public Transport Plan Stalls 5. Fuel Price Woes in Nigeria and Indonesia 6. More Worry over "Ho Chi Minh Highway" 7. Japanese Victory for Accessible Transport 8. Bogot? and Ecoplan Win Stockholm Environment Prize 9. Delhi CHAOS over Ban of Old Buses 10. Australian "Safety" Plan to Discourage Cycling and Walking 11. Cycling Promotion Fund from Bicycle Industry 12. USEFUL RESOURCES AND LINKS 13. EVENTS, MEETINGS, CONFERENCES 14. Quick Quote Please recommend sustran news flashes to a friend or colleague. Did you get this News Flash from someone else? Contact sustran@po.jaring.my to make sure you don't miss future editions. Do you have your copy of "TAKING STEPS: A COMMUNITY ACTION GUIDE TO PEOPLE-CENTRED, EQUITABLE AND SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT"? See our web site (http://www.malaysiakini.com/sustran) for information on how to order or to download sample pages. The book is free for relevant non-profit organisations in the South. But numbers are limited. 1. TRANSPORT AT CSD Transport is to be a key focus of the 9th Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) in April 2001. Transport is considered in Agenda 21 in the context of several chapters, including, among others, Chapter 9 on Atmosphere and Chapter 7 on Human Settlements. Over the next twenty years, transportation is expected to be the major driving force behind growing world demand for energy. It is the largest end-user of energy in developed countries and the fastest growing one in most developing countries. (http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/transp.htm and http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd9/csd9_2001.htm). 2. ANNOUNCEMENT: NEW SUSTRAN NETWORK SECRETARIAT FROM OCTOBER Starting on 1 October 2000 the Sustainable Transport Action Network for Asia and the Pacific (the SUSTRAN Network) will have a new host for its Secretariat. This decision was one of the highlights of the successful SUSTRAN Network Assembly meeting in Jakarta on 1 June. Pelangi Indonesia will be taking over from the SUSTRAN Resource Centre in Kuala Lumpur. Dr Bambang Susantono, Pelangi's chief transport person, will be coordinating the new secretariat on behalf of the new Indonesian Forum on Transportation (Infortrans), a coalition of Indonesian NGOs and CBOs. Congratulations to Pelangi, to Infortrans and to Bambang. The SUSTRAN Resource Centre will continue to contribute to the network by focusing on research and information services (such as these News Flashes). (Contact: Dr Bambang Susantono, Pelangi Indonesia, Jl. Danau Tondano no. A-4, Jakarta 10210, Indonesia. Fax: +62 21 573-2503, Email: bsantono@pelangi.or.id , Web: http://www.pelangi.or.id) MANY THANKS to all who made the effort to help organise and to attend the SUSTRAN Network Assembly meeting, to Pelangi Indonesia for hosting the meeting, to the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) (http://www.itdp.org) for sponsoring several participants. Thanks also to the organising committee of the excellent and inspiring International Conference on Sustainable Transport and Clean Air for sponsoring several SUSTRAN Network members to attend the conference, which then also allowed them to be able to attend the SUSTRAN meeting. 3. CAR FREE ASIAN CITIES ON EARTH DAY Sixteen cities in South Korea went "car-free" on April 23rd to celebrate Earth Day. In Seoul a major thoroughfare, Sejong Street, and the surrounding area was filled with an environmental fair, including a bicycle parade and environmental art exhibit, to draw attention to air pollution problems. Japan, Indonesia and Nepal also participated in car-free days as part of an Asian focus on air pollution. See http://www.gnet.org/Coldfusion/News_Page2.cfm?NewsID=10000 4. HANOI PUBLIC TRANSPORT PLAN STALLS An ambitious plan for buses to meet one-third of Hanoi's public transport needs by the end of this year has stalled due to lack of funds. Currently only 300 buses run in Hanoi and (partly due to fare leakage) all three-bus companies rely on sideline businesses such as children's toys, garaging cars and operating maintenance workshops to help run their services. (see April 19 message on the sustran-discuss list at http://www.malaysiakini.com/sustran/discussion.htm). 5. FUEL PRICE WOES IN NIGERIA AND INDONESIA A 50% rise in fuel prices in NIGERIA in early June sparked riots and a general strike across the south-western part of Nigeria. Today the Government has relented and will now impose a much smaller price rise. Indonesia is also struggling again with the thorny issue of its huge subsidy on fuels. It is an enormous drain on Government resources at a time of continuing economic crisis. And most of the benefits of the subsidy seem to go to the wealthier parts of the population. Yet no-one seems to have an answer on how to phase out the subsidy without hurting the poor and without endangering the fragile political stability. (See messages on 3 and 14 April, 6 and 9 June 2000 on sustran-discuss at http://www.malaysiakini.com/sustran/discussion.htm). 6. MORE WORRY OVER "HO CHI MINH HIGHWAY" Fears over this road project and its potential impacts on Cuc Phuong National Park (NP) were the focus of a dialogue on 17 May at the National Environment Agency organised by the Vietnam Forum of Environmental Journalists (VFEJ). Local environmentalists and international organisations expressed concern over the planned project. (Source: Nguyen Diep Hoa, Forum of Environmental Journalists (VFEJ) and distributed by the Asia Pacific Forum of Environmental Journalists (AFEJ) HQ. Fax:(+94-1) 826607, Email: sobacine@sri.lanka.net, http://www.oneworld.org/slejf also see message on May 19, 2000 on sustran-discuss at http://www.malaysiakini.com/sustran/discussion.htm) 7. JAPANESE VICTORY FOR ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORT The campaign to win accessible transport for people with disabilities scored a success in JAPAN this year. After a 12-year struggle a "Barrier-free Transportation Act" (albeit still with defects) will be passed in this Diet session in Japan. More information is at http://member.nifty.ne.jp/shojin/ (this was passed on by Topong Kulkhanchit, Access Officer, DPI-Thailand. Email: handipro@loxinfo.co.th) 8. BOGOT? AND ECOPLAN WIN STOCKHOLM ENVIRONMENT PRIZE The Commons (an initiative of Ecoplan) and the City of Bogot? were awarded the Stockholm Challenge Award in Environment for their collaboration on the successful Bogot? Car Free Day which took place on Thursday, 24 February 2000 see News Flash #37 (http://www.malaysiakini.com/sustran/newsflash/2000.htm). They were competing with 94 finalists chosen from 612 nominated projects. Enrique Pe?alosa, Mayor of Bogot?, and Eric Britton of Ecoplan were in Stockholm to receive the award. For more information go to "@World Car Free Day" at http://ecoplan.org/carfreeday/. 9. DELHI CHAOS OVER BAN OF OLD BUSES New Delhi public transport was severely disrupted in early April when a Supreme Court Order forced the withdrawal of 1,750 Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses (the State-owned operator) and 2,100 contract buses (mostly school buses). The court order banned all buses over 8 years old from operating in the city unless they were converted to compressed natural gas (CNG). DTC pressed its entire fleet of 750 inter-state buses onto city routes but this was still grossly inadequate. Many people were stranded during the first few days. Environmentalists and others criticised the Delhi State Government for not taking action in the 22 months between the court order and its enforcement. Public transport operators and unions faulted the government for not arguing its case for an alternative plan or postponement well enough in court. DCT had opposed the blanket ruling, proposing instead that Euro II emissions standards be adopted - allowing older diesel engines to remain on the road if they could meet the standards. It failed in a last minute attempt to have the court postpone the order. In fact, the court has also ordered that ALL buses in Delhi must run on CNG by April 1, 2001. The Delhi Government in turn blamed the Central government for failing to provide enough infrastructure for CNG refuelling in the city. The influential environment group, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) supports the Court's CNG ruling, saying that DCT was simply stalling,. CSE says the Euro II standards are too lax and points to the extreme particulate pollution problem with winter PM10 levels reaching as incredibly high as 800 microgrammes per cubic meter (?g/cum). However, most economists would point out in this situation that it is not efficient to require specific technologies. They would argue that policy-makers should set emissions standards and allow manufacturers and operators to find ways to meet the target with whatever technology can do the job. But the court has already spoken. (For more on this see messages in early April on sustran-discuss at http://www.malaysiakini.com/sustran/discussion.htm). 10. AUSTRALIAN "SAFETY" PLAN TO DISCOURAGE CYCLING AND WALKING In February 1999 the Australian Minister for Transport and Regional Development launched a national cycling strategy which promised to promote cycling in all spheres of government and improve cyclist safety. A year later the same minister's department prepared a national road safety strategy that identifies cycling as less safe than motorised transport AND that transport and land use planning should discourage less-safe transport modes. Submissions from cyclists all over Australia were ignored by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB). Around the world a new approach to road safety is gaining ground. This "Road Danger Reduction" approach urges that vulnerable road users be both protected AND encouraged. Instead this new draft road safety strategy puts most priority on car occupants and explicitly aims to discourage vulnerable road users, such as cyclists. A senior member of the ATSB even said that promoting cycling and walking might be "health" and "environment" policy but it is not transport policy. Fortunately, State transport ministers in Australia declined to endorse the strategy at the last minute (although for other reasons). So a high level task force has been established to review the NRSS. Australian cycling and pedestrian advocates are pushing for the environment and health effects of transport to be given appropriate weight in the revised document. (Source: based on information from Dr Harry Owen, Bicycle Federation of Australia, Email: Harry.Owen@flinders.edu.au, Web: http://www.bfa.asn.au/). 11. CYCLING PROMOTION FUND FROM BICYCLE INDUSTRY A Cycling Promotion Fund has been set up by the Australian bicycle industry to assist Australian voluntary organisations and individuals with projects aimed at increasing bicycle use. Such initiatives seem to be a growing (and welcome) trend, even if it has often taken a very long time for cycling advocates to persuade their business friends. Similar things have begun to happen in Taiwan and the United States. (Contact: Michael Oxer, Cycling Promotion Fund Secretariat, c/- PO Box 5085 Alphington, Vic 3078, Australia. Fax +60 3 9499 2552, Email: oxerm@bikeoz.com, http://www.cycling-australia.com). 12. USEFUL RESOURCES AND LINKS The JOURNAL OF WORLD TRANSPORT POLICY & PRACTICE is now available free of charge under The Commons web site. World Transport Policy and Practice provides a high-quality medium for original and creative ideas in world transport. Volume 6, Number 1 is now available at http://ecoplan.org/wtpp/ "ONLINE TDM ENCYCLOPEDIA" (draft version) by the Victoria Transport Policy Institute is now posted at http://www.vtpi.org/tdm. This is a unique and comprehensive resource for Transportation Demand Management planning and analysis. Sustainable Urban Transport Project (SUTP) in Surabaya (being conducted by GTZ) http://www.sutp.org/ NEW BOOK: "Carfree Cities" by J.H. Crawford (2000) - a "groundbreaking new book" 324 pages, 60 drawings, 170 photos. (for more information see http://www.carfree.com). "RURAL ACCESSIBILITY PLANNING TOOL" - an 8-step tool to help communities and local organisations identify their access problems and propose solutions (Contact: Dr Fatemeh Ali-Nejadfard, Senior Technical Advisor, Access and Rural Employment, ILO/ASIST, PO Box 210, Harare, Zimbabwe. Fax: +263 4 759427, email: asist@ilo.org). The Animal Traction Network for Eastern and Southern Africa (ATNESA) is developing a website at URL http://www.atnesa.org Article on gender and urban transport issues with a focus on Bangkok, "Faring Badly: The Gender Aspects of Travelling", by Teena Gill of PANOS news service is at: http://www.oneworld.org/panos/news/35nov99.htm TOUR OF THE FIREFLIES (Metro Manila's annual mass bike ride against pollution) http://www.fireflybrigade.org/ "Forum News" from the International Forum for Rural Transport and Development (IFRTD). A must read newsletter for anyone with an interest in addressing rural poverty and rural transport. (PLEASE TAKE NOTE: IFRTD has moved premises!! Their new contact details are: Priyanthi Fernando and Mike Noyes, IFRTD Secretariat, 2 Spitfire Studios, 63-71 Collier Street, London N1 9BE, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 20 7713 6699, Fax: +44 20 7713 8290, Email: ifrtd@gn.apc.org, Web: http://www.gn.apc.org/ifrtd) "Urban Transport in the Asian and Pacific Region" theme of Transport and Communications Bulletin for Asia and the Pacific No. 68 and "Participatory Approach to Transport Infrastructure Development" theme of Transport and Communications Bulletin for Asia and the Pacific No. 69 - both now available from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP). UN publicaton sales numbers E.00.II.F.22, E.00.II.F.23. **CALL FOR PAPERS: The Transport and Communications Bulletin for Asia and the Pacific is now calling for papers for the next two Issues: No. 70 on "Logistics for the improvement of transport efficiency of domestic goods traffic" and No. 71 on "Governance for sustainable development in the transport sector" (Contact: Director, TCTIDD, UN ESCAP, Fax: +662-280 6042, E-mail: moon.unescap@un.org, http://www.unescap.org/tctd/index.htm). "Public Transport International" is the official publication of UITP (International Union of Public Transport). Bimonthly, 48 pages published in English, French, German and Russian and with a shortened version in Japanese and Chinese. (Contact: Doriano ANGOTZI, Sales, International Association of Public Transport - UITP, avenue Herrmann-Debroux 17, B-1160 Bruxelles Belgium. Fax: +32 2 660 1072, E-mail: publications@uitp.com, doriano.angotzi@uitp.com, Web: http://www.uitp.com/). 13. COMING EVENTS, MEETINGS, CONFERENCES "VELO MONDIALE 2000 World Bicycle Conference", June 18-22, 2000, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. (Contact: Congress Organisation Services, PO Box 1558, 6501 BN Nijmegen, The Netherlands, Fax: +31 24 360 1159, http://www.velomondial2000.nl/). "Reinventing Mobility - Challenge of the 21st Century", June 24 - 27, 2000, Bremen, Germany. Organised by Bremen initiative, the global campaign for business-municipality partnership towards a sustainable future for cities. (For further information: Ecolo-Ecology and Communication, Leher Heerstr. 102, D-28359 Bremen - Germany. Tel: +49-421-2300110; Fax:+49-421-23001118; E-mail: conference2000@bremen-initiative.de, Visit http://www.bremen-initiative.de) American Urban Mass Transportation Trade Mission to Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia. July 19-28, 2000 jointly developed by the Federal Transit Administration, The American Public Transportation Association and the US Department of Commerce. [Contact: Mark C. O'Grady, USDOC Liaison Officer, International Mass Transportation Partnership, Federal Transit Administration, USDOT, Office of Research, Demonstration & Innovation, 400 Seventh St., SW; Room 9401, Washington, DC 20590. Fax: +1 202.366.3765, Email: mark.ogrady@fta.dot.gov, Web: http://www.usatrade.gov/imtp) "6th International Conference on Urban Transport and the Environment for the 21st Century", July 26-28, 2000, Cambridge, UK. (Contact: Sally Walsh, Conference Secretariat, UT 2000, Wessex Institute of Technology, Ashurst Lodge, Ashurst, Southampton, SO40 7AA, United Kingdom. Fax: +44 238 029 2853, Email: slwalsh@wessex.ac.uk) "Traffic Safety on Three Continents", September 20-22, 2000, CSIR Conference Centre, Pretoria, South Africa. (Contact: Dr Richard Pain, Transportation Research Board, 2101 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington DC, 204 18 USA. Fax: +1 202 334 2003, Email: rpain@nas.edu). "UITP Melbourne 2000 Public Transport Conference Event", 8 - 13 October 2000, includes the UITP Light Rail Conference and the Asia/Pacific Congress and City Transport Exhibition. (See http://www.lightrail2000.vic.gov.au or http://www.uitp.com). "Smart Urban Transport - Using Transitways and Busways" conference, 17-20 October 2000, Brisbane, Australia (Contact: Ozaccom Conference Services, PO Box 164, Fortitude Valley QLD, Australia 4006. Tel: +617-38541611 Fax: +617-38541507, Email: ozaccom@ozaccom.com.au). "XI Panamerican Conference in Traffic and Transportation Engineering" , 19-23 November, 2000, Gramado, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. [Contact: Dr. Luis Antonio Lindau, President of the Organising Committee, Escola de Engenharia/UFRGS, Pra?a Argentina n.9 Sala 408, 90040-020 Porto Alegre, Brasil. Tel: +55 51 316 3596, Fax : +55 51 316 4007, email: panam@orion.ufrgs.br, http://www.ufrgs.br/panam/eng/index.htm). "4th International Workshop on Transportation Planning & Implementation Methodologies for Developing Countries: Transport Infrastructure (Contact: Prof. S. L. Dhingra / Dr K. V. Krishna Rao, Co-ordinators, TPMDC-2000, Transportation Systems Engineering Group, Civil Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai - 400 076, India. Fax: +91 22 5767302/5783480, Email: tpmdc2k@civil.iitb.ernet.in). "Australia: Walking the 21st Century - An International Walking Conference", 20-22 February 2001. Perth, Western Australia. (Contact: John Seaton - Manager, Pedestrian Strategy, Metropolitan Division, Department of Transport, PO Box 7272 Cloisters Square, Perth 6850, Western Australia, Australia. Tel: +61 8 9313 8680, Fax: +61 8 9320 9497, e-mail: jseaton@transport.wa.gov.au). 54th UITP International Congress to be held in London, 20-25 May 2001. International Exhibition of Public Transport - City Transport 2001. London, England, 21-24 May 2001. In conjunction with the 54th UITP International Congress. (International Association of Public Transport (UITP), Avenue Herrmann-Debroux 17, B-1160 Brussels, Belgium, Tel:+32 2 673 6100, Fax: +32 2 660 1072, E-mail: administration@uitp.com, URL: http://www.uitp.com). "Transed 2001: Towards Safety, Independence and Security. 9th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled People." Warsaw, Poland, 2-5 July 2001. ABSTRACTS DEADLINE 20 June 2000. (Contact: TRANSED, 02-783 Warsaw 59, PO Box 10, Poland. Fax: +48 22 8316526, Email: transed2001@idn.org.pl). "9th World Conference on Transport Research (WCTR)" to be held at ASEM International Convention Center, Seoul, July 22-27, 2001. Co-organisers: Korean Society of Transportation & The Korea Transport Institute. Deadline for submission of abstracts April 15, 2000. (For further information, contact: Secretariat of 9th WCTR Conference, The Korea Transport Institute, 2311 Daehwa-Dong, Ilsan-Gu, Koyang-city, Kyonggi-Do, 411-410, KOREA. Tel : +82-344-910-3100, Fax: +82-344-910-3200, Email: wctr@cis.koti.re.kr, Web: http://www.koti.re.kr/~wctr). "Fourth Conference of the Eastern Asian Society for Transportation Studies (EASTS)", Hanoi, Vietnam, 24-26 October 2001 hosted by the Transportation Science Society of Vietnam (TSSV) [Contact: Office of the EASTS Secretary General, c/o Association for Planning and Transportation Studies, K-Wing 6F, 5-2-1 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan. Tel: +81 3 32651774, Fax: +81 3 32215489, Email: easts@sa2.so-net.ne.jp, http://ichini.cv.titech.ac.jp/~easts/) 14. QUICK QUOTE Dato' Seri Samy Vellu, Malaysian Minister for Public Works, responded as follows to attacks from civic groups over Government plans to go ahead with a massive new bridge-tunnel between Penang Island and the mainland: "This is not a privatised project. This is a government project and there is no need for public opinion ". He went on to say that there would be no proper roads in the country if public opinion was needed for construction of roads. He said the Government was borrowing money from overseas to undertake the project and not utilising public funds. (for more details on the Penang "Third Link" controversy see several messages in late March on the Malaysia Transport list http://www.egroups.com/messages/malaysia-transport). ----------------------------------------------------- Written and compiled by A. Rahman Paul Barter We rely on you for our news. Please keep the contributions coming. We welcome brief news and announcements from all over the world. The Sustainable Transport Action Network for Asia & the Pacific (the SUSTRAN Network) promotes and popularises people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on Asia and the Pacific. From sustran at po.jaring.my Fri Jun 16 10:18:31 2000 From: sustran at po.jaring.my (SUSTRAN Resource Centre) Date: Fri, 16 Jun 2000 09:18:31 +0800 Subject: [sustran] fwd: Naga City (Philippines) promotes NMT Message-ID: <3.0.6.32.20000616091831.00961830@relay101.jaring.my> Forwarded from Pam Gallares-Oppus of ICLEI's Philippine Climate Action Project in the Philippines. Date: Thursday, June 15, 2000 1:46 PM Subject: Fun-Walk and Bicycle Padyak Environ-Run Naga Enjoins Padyak Drivers as Partners for Access and Clean Air Naga City embarks on clean air and climate action initiatives with nonmotorized transport at the helm. Entitled "Fun Walk and Bicycle Padyak Environ-Run", the City Government of Naga will lead 2000 hikers, cyclists, cops on bikes and "padyaks" (foot-pedalled sidecars) around the Central Business District of Naga on June 27 to July 2 in commemoration of Environment Week. Naga City realized that recognizing and promoting nonmotorized transport (NMT) would reduce the demand and use of motorized vehicles, avoid congestion, and subsequently reduce emissions. The use of NMTs would therefore contribute to clean air and abate global warming. More importantly, engaging the NMT actors would heighten their awareness on their contribution to the community and global environment. The Environ-Run would start off with a Foot Parade by participants from the 27 barangays. Bikers will be led by the Cops on Bikes, barangay captains, cycling enthusiasts, along with no less than the City Mayor and Councilors. The Padyaks numbering to about 900 would be arranged according to their Padyak Associations. These padyaks will be carrying billboards with appropriate slogans on transport and environment. Organizations involved are the City Environment Office, Ladies in Green Foundation, Padyak Drivers and Operators Associations, Association of Barangay Captains, Lingkod Barangay Office, and Federation of Women's Organizations. Viva Naga-An Maogmaong Lugar! by: Pamela Gallares-Oppus Philippine Climate Action Project Philippines From sustran at po.jaring.my Tue Jun 20 15:41:27 2000 From: sustran at po.jaring.my (SUSTRAN Resource Centre) Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2000 14:41:27 +0800 Subject: [sustran] fwd: MTC buses a major city pollutant Message-ID: <3.0.6.32.20000620144127.00826d80@relay101.jaring.my> This bounced last week because it came from an address not on the list. ============================================================= This article is emailed to you by Akila Dinakar ( akiladinakar@hotmail.com ) ============================================================= Source: The Hindu (http://www.the-hindu.com) MTC buses, a major city pollutant By Akila Dinakar CHENNAI, JUNE 11. Many of MTC's operational fleet of 2800 buses could be polluting the city heavily which is in addition to the emissions spewed out by an rising number of private vehicles. Handling 80 per cent of the trips made by city residents, the MTC buses run 40,000 trips in a day, catering to 40 lakh passenger trips. Yet, MTC buses are being blamed for pollution, as many of them leave a trail of thick smoke. The smoke adds significantly to the Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM), which is the highest among the pollutants contained in automobile emissions. It is common for a motorist trailing behind an MTC bus to be spewed on the face with black smoke. Sometime ago, the pollution caused by poorly maintained MTC buses was raised by the Union Environment Minister Mr. T.R. Baalu at a meeting on pollution. Referring to a bus that entered Tiruvottiyur High Road from Ennore emitting noxious fumes, he asked why the MTC was not looking into its emissions. MTC consumes around 1.6 lakh litres of diesel per day. As the monopoly bus operator, it has a major share in the 1,425 tonnes of pollutants pumped by city's automobiles. The emissions have particulate matter, Carbon Monoxide, Hydrocarbons, Oxides of Nitrogen and Sulphur. Though in real terms, the number of buses on city roads has been almost stagnant, the ageing fleet has been a cause for concern from the pollution standpoint. While MTC field staff say that 250 buses were getting fitness certificates from Motor Vehicle Inspectors each month, three reasons are cited for the black smoke spewed by MTC buses - improper calibration of the fuel pump and atomiser causing incomplete combustion from excess fuel delivery into the combustion chamber, or an unclean exhaust pipe, bad vehicle maintenance and adulterated petrol. Indian Oil Corporation, one of the main diesel suppliers to the 18 MTC depots says that it supplies extra low sulphur diesel, conforming to refinery standards. But a gas chromatograph test conducted in 20 depots by Consumer Education Research, Teaching, Training and Testing (CONCERT), an NGO last year, revealed the presence of foreign bodies like kerosene, a major additive used to cut down diesel cost. The Motor Vehicles Act calls for a check on automobile emissions, but the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) officials say the Board has no role to play in levying penalty on offenders. It only assists the Transport Department in conducting pollution checks. A former MTC official says that finance has a major role to play in the inability for preventive maintenance of vehicles. The MTC has to inevitably confine itself to breakdown maintenance. Though the age for vehicles is fixed at eight years, the fleet is not young. With the World Bank opting out of the funding arrangement for new vehicles, lack of funds accounts for the delay in changing worn-out parts. ``Either the Government has to fund adequately or increase the fare. The latter is near-impossible with elections round the corner'', the official says. In Chennai, where 80 per cent of trips are made through on buses and 20 per cent by rail, unlike in Mumbai where the ratio is reversed, there is a need for more effective pollution checks by outside agencies rather than individual testing done in depots, passengers say. MTC's poor maintenance invites criticism of bus operations. Withdrawing such buses then poses problems for those who depend on them for mobility, says an analyst. Copyrights: 2000 The Hindu & Tribeca Internet Initiatives Inc. ======================================== Distributed for the purpose of education and research. A. Rahman Paul BARTER SUSTRAN Resource Centre Information services for the Sustainable Transport Action Network for Asia and the Pacific (the SUSTRAN Network) sustran@po.jaring.my, http://www.malaysiakini.com/sustran From sustran at po.jaring.my Thu Jun 29 18:11:01 2000 From: sustran at po.jaring.my (SUSTRAN Resource Centre) Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2000 17:11:01 +0800 Subject: [sustran] fwd: Developments in Shanghai Message-ID: <3.0.6.32.20000629171101.00813d80@relay101.jaring.my> Gleaned this from the June 2000 Newsletter of the Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney. -------------------- Developments in Shanghai My third trip to China and first to Shanghai really brought home to me the huge environmental impact China will have on Planet Earth. Shanghai is truly one of the great cities of the world. Both sustainable and unsustainable developments coexist. The city has incredibly rapid and impressive constructions in its new zone, Pudong, while it maintains much of the history, culture and architectural diversity of the old city, Puxi. Joining the two zones is a new east-west Metro (subway) line, supplementing the existing north-south line. Soon the new line will link the city's two international airports. But, as in Australia, the silly aspects of competition rule. The two Metro lines have different ticketing systems and, where they intersect under Peoples' Park in the city centre, essentially separate stations. At the very impressive Urban Planning Exhibition, which is currently open to the public in Shanghai, it is announced that Shanghai is planning to expand the number of its Metro lines to 12, plus several light rail lines. However, the proposed time scale and methods of financing these developments are unclear. Cleaning up the city's air and water is also mentioned in several displays. ( Mark Diesendorf ) If you would like to see a complete copy of our June Newsletter - with information concerning Recent Events, Overseas Trips, Recent new Staff appointments, Recent Staff Departures, New PhD students and Visitors to ISF (and some pretty pictures) please see the ISF website - http://www.isf.uts.edu.au - in about a week's time! Thank you. Val Carey, Institute for Sustainable Futures, UTS, PO Box 123, Broadway NSW 2007, Tel: 61 2 9209 4355, Fax: 61 2 9209 4351, E-mail: isf@uts.edu.au -------------------- Distributed for the purpose of education and research. A. Rahman Paul BARTER SUSTRAN Resource Centre Information services for the Sustainable Transport Action Network for Asia and the Pacific (the SUSTRAN Network) sustran@po.jaring.my, http://www.malaysiakini.com/sustran