[sustran] FW: CAR BUSTERS MONTHLY E-BULLETIN #41

[Paul Barter]

Dealing with a large backlog in my email inbox... Should have forwarded this a long time ago. But still worth sending on to the list I hope,
Paul

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-englishbulletin-l at ecn.cz [mailto:owner-englishbulletin-l at ecn.cz] On Behalf Of Car Busters - Editors
Sent: Friday, 6 December 2002 6:13 AM
To: 'englishbulletin-l at ecn.cz'
Subject: CAR BUSTERS MONTHLY E-BULLETIN #41


This Is Prague. The News from Car Busters follows a repeat of our 
usual pitiful plea for donations and memberships, in the spirit of 
Christmas charity. If that leaves you unmoved, how about Chanukah 
Charity? Yule Charity? Kwanzaa? Join us, donate to us or just tell us 
you love us. See <http://www.carbusters.org/join_us/> for details.

_________________________ 

     CAR BUSTERS BULLETIN >>> 
     _____________________________ 

Edition no. 41 - December 2002 - English version ...............................................


Thought for the month:

"With the power to cross any terrain comes the responsibility to 
protect that terrain and its potentially fragile ecosystems."
- from the brochure for the Hummer H2 SUV (4x4), the adapted military 
vehicle which sets a new standard in fuel inefficiency went on 
general sale earlier this year. <http://www.ariannaonline.com/columns/files/112502.html>

This bulletin was ordered by the trembling hand of Richard Lane, and 
was received by 1,015 of you lucky recipients. Well done, everyone.

Contents:

In Memory
- IVAN ILLICH DIES IN BREMEN AT 76

World News
- CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS LAWS UNDER ATTACK FROM BUSH
- ITALY COMMEMORATES THE ROAD DEAD
- TOTALFINAELF CAUGHT USING FORCED LABOUR IN BURMA?
- THE US VERSUS THE ROAD: BATTLES IN SEATTLE, MINNEAPOLIS AND UTAH
- BP CONQUERS GEORGIA
- SPANISH COASTLINE OIL DISASTER: WHO'S TO BLAME?

Announcements
- UK TRANSPORT PLANNERS CALL TO ARMS
- CALENDAR OFFER FROM RE~CYCLE IN THE UK
- RECYCLE CALENDAR OFFER FROM THE USA
- NO CALENDAR OFFER FROM RECYCLE IN YUGOSLAVIA
- ITDP INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON HUMAN MOBILITY IN BOGOTA

Car Busters Announcements
- A REMARKABLE NEW CARBUSTERS.ORG WEBSITE (AND E-MAIL)
- LAST-MINUTE CHRISTMAS OFFERS
- TOWARDS CAR-FREE CITIES III UPDATE

Things to Read
- MEAN STREETS 2002

Disclaimer

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     IN MEMORY >> 
     __________________ 


IVAN ILLICH DIES IN BREMEN AT 76
[submitted by Randy Ghent, Car Busters]

We at Car Busters are saddened to report that Ivan Illich - world- renowned writer, critical thinker, philosopher and honorary Car 
Buster - died this Monday, Dec. 2 in Bremen, Germany, at age 76. Ivan 
was known for the laser quality of his mind which allowed him to 
pierce through many of the opacities and cherished concepts of our 
times - development, design, health, transportation, needs, schooling 
- the list goes on and on. His many books and essays serve as 
intensely provocative invitations for critical thought and action. 
His classic "Energy and Equity" 
(<http://www.carbusters.org/freesources/EnergyandEquity.php>) is one 
of the most brilliant and thought-provoking pieces on transportation 
ever written. It remains as relevant today as in 1973, when it was 
first published in Le Monde.
   For several days in November last year, I had the pleasure of 
joining Ivan and his friends and colleagues for an unforgettable 
visit in Bremen at the home of historian Barbara Duden, where Ivan 
lived for many years while teaching at the university. This launched 
our continuing collaborative work on transportation and urban form 
with Illich's close colleagues from the "PUDEL" circle 
(<http://www.pudel.uni-bremen.de/>), which lives on after Ivan's 
death.
   The world has lost a great thinker. Ivan Illich's many friends and 
close colleagues around the world will miss him dearly. Let us honor 
his death by re-reading some of his important works and sharing in 
his spirit of radical thought and action.
   A bibliography of Illich's books can be found at 
<http://www.cogsci.ed.ac.uk/~ira/illich/bibliography.html>. For the 
Associated Press article on Illich's death, see 
<http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-obit-
illich1204dec04,0,245031.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines>.


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     WORLD NEWS >> 
     __________________ 


CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS LAWS UNDER ATTACK FROM BUSH
[submitted by Andy Singer]

True to everyone's predictions, as reported in the August 2002 
bulletin, California's new tough fuel efficiency standards are being 
challenged by an unholy alliance of car manufacturers and the Bush 
Administration itself. 
   Yes: Bush is using taxpayers' dollars to fight a popular 
environmental bill which was passed into state law. The laws don't 
come into effect into 2009 at the earliest, and the Alliance of Auto 
Manufacturers is confident it can see the bill rescinded before then. 
They say that they are committed to lower-emission vehicles, but 
don't want to be hurried. William Clay Ford Jr.: "People used to 
write songs about T-Birds and Corvettes. Now they write regulations." 
Funny man. 
   TAKE ACTION - write on-line to the car manufacturers involved: 
<http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/litigationbyautos>.


ITALY COMMEMORATES THE ROAD DEAD
[submitted by Nicholas Bawtree]

On Wednesday, November 13, the Italian Association for the Families 
of Road Victims organised a dramatic silent protest in piazza San 
Lorenzo in Lucina di Roma against the slaughter that happens every 
day on the roads (9,000 deaths, 24,000 disabled and 300,000 injured 
every year: official figures). Two hundred red-stained crosses with 
photos of victims simulated a cemetary. They asked citizens to sign a 
petition entitled "a bet on life" ("una scommessa per la vita"), and 
demanded more action from the government to reduce road deaths.
   More info in Italian on 
<http://www.vittimestrada.org/rassegna_croci.html>.


ELF LAUNCHES FULL FRONTAL ASSAULT ON SUVS
[submitted by someone in a black hoodie with an anonymous e-mail 
address]

More than 30 SUVs (sport-utility vehicles, aka 4x4s) in the vicinity 
of Richmond, Virginia, USA, have been attacked with chemicals and 
hatchets over the past few weeks and had their tyres slashed. The 
initials ELF (Earth Liberation Front) were found after some of the 
attacks - "legitimate claims of responsibility," according to the ELF 
website.
   See the ELF website: 
<http://www.earthliberationfront.com/news/2002/112702.shtml>.


TOTALFINAELF CAUGHT USING FORCED LABOUR IN BURMA?
[swiped from BBC News]

The French energy giant, TotalFinaElf, has denied claims that it used 
forced labour to build an oil and gas pipeline in Burma. "It is 
unimaginable that a company like ours could have used forced labour 
at any time," a TotalFinaElf spokesman said. "Neither we nor our 
service suppliers have used forced labour." 
   The giant is facing a legal inquiry into allegations of human 
rights abuses after French lawyers filed a complaint on behalf of two 
Burmese workers who took part in building the US$1.3 billion pipeline 
through Myanmar, known as Burma.
   In a legal filing with an investigating magistrate in Nanterre, 
west of Paris, the lawyers have accused the energy giant's chairman, 
Thierry Desmarest, of holding the workers against their will. The 
crime carries a 20-year sentence according to French law. 
   The lawyers' complaint was filed three months after TotalFinaElf 
was accused by refugees in Belgium of actively supporting Burma's 
military regime [since] TotalFinaElf built the pipeline together with 
Unocal of the US from an offshore Myanmar site to Thailand. 
   The story is on <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2224298.stm>.


THE US VERSUS THE ROAD: BATTLES IN SEATTLE, MINNEAPOLIS AND UTAH [submitted by Jim Delacour, Ken Avidor and Jason Bultman]

The battle against roadbuilding is back on in the US too. In 
Minneapolis, Minnesota, a $150 million road-enlargement project is 
underway on Interstate 35. This far-sighted community project will 
involve demolition of dozens of homes in a low-income neighbourhood 
and the probable widening of a main street into eight lanes for 
access. The locals are mobilising to stop this sorry (but familiar) 
story of vested corporate interests and disregard for community. A 
funding vote is coming up soon, and they need people to contact the 
Hennepin County Board. Please drop in on <http://www.stride-mn.org> 
for more information.
   Better news from Utah, where a coalition of environmentalists, 
"sensible-growth advocates" and Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, 
has succeeded in a lawsuit against the Legacy Highway project, a new 
120-mile road through wetlands and farmland from Nephi to Brigham 
City. The federal appeals court called the permitting process 
"inadequate... arbitrary and capricious," finding that the 
environmental impact study did not adequately look at alternatives.
   Meanwhile in Seatttle, through Referendum 51 residents have turned 
down a huge roadbuilding scheme despite enormous transportation 
problems and gridlock looming in the area. The result was probably 
mainly due to the taxes which would have to be levied to pay for the 
scheme, but the vote has leant authority to the environmental 
organisations calling for public transportation concepts absent in 
the referendum.
   "The hope is that these organisations and their adherents will now 
limit freeway and road expansion plans and bring forth a referendum 
that delivers a range of mass transit options, such as monorail, 
commuter rail, light rail, buses and more," says Seattle commuter Jim 
Delacour.


BP CONQUERS GEORGIA
[submitted by CEE Bankwatch Network and Green Alternative]

Water sanctuary zones and forests in the Borjomi Gorge, one of 
Georgia's most scenic and dramatic areas - abundant in wildlife 
including Caucasian deer and brown bear - has been protected in a 
nature reserve since 1929. So what happens when the Georgian 
International Oil Company (GIOC) wants to lay an oil pipeline through 
it? The government granted permission for construction of the Baku- Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline project from November 30. The government said 
the decision was made in order to meet the timetable of British 
Petroleum, which is leading the project.
   No alternative routing was considered in the Environmental and 
Social Impact Assessment, BP having made it clear to the government 
that no alternative would be considered. A GIOC spokesman shrugged 
off environmental concerns, saying that due to the pipeline 
operator's high professionalism the risk would be "zero minus one."
   NGOs and political parties have protested, holding a demonstration 
outside the GIOC offices on November 27. "Public input was carried 
out like a game 'Thanks for your comment, but you're wrong,'" says 
Manana Kochladze from CEE Bankwatch Network. "The public was provided 
insufficient information and major affected groups such as mineral 
water producers or National Park administration were not invited. 
Considering BP's record around the world, however, I'm not 
surprised."
   More information at <http://www.greenalt.wanex.net>, and you can 
read about the Borjomi Reserve at 
<http://www.parliament.ge/SOEGEO/english/biodiv/reserves/borjomi.htm>.
   By the way, adds Car Busters, this article is about Georgia the 
country, not Georgia the US state. Shame on you if you were 
provincial enough to think otherwise.


SPANISH COASTLINE OIL DISASTER: WHO'S TO BLAME?
[from a Friends of the Earth briefing, submitted by Shiela Freeman]

A Liberian-listed Greek company managed the Japanese-constructed and 
Bahamian-registered Prestige.  It was chartered by a Russian-owned 
Swiss company with British directors and carrying Russian oil from 
Latvia to Singapore.  The ship was recently inspected and surveyed in 
St. Petersburg (Russia), Dubai and Guangzhou (China), where repairs 
were made to the part of the ship that subsequently broke. So who is 
liable for the environmental disaster that has unfolded on the 
Galacian coast in northwest Spain?
   The 1969 Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage 
makes the ship owner responsible for damage caused by oil spills up 
to US$80 million. It explicitly exempts from liability the oil 
company that chartered the ship. So the shippers are bankrupt, but 
the oil still flows. Thank heavens.


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     ANNOUNCEMENTS >> 
     _____________________________


UK TRASNPORT PLANNERS CALL TO ARMS
[submitted by Catherine Elliot]

As a so-called "transport planner" in an English city council, I 
would like to coordinate some professional opposition to the UK 
Government's massive expansion plans for the country's airports. The 
intention is a tripling of airport capacity within 25 years, 
equivalent to the building of a new Stansted airport every year 
during that period.
   I know Car Busters sympathisers will share my concern - after all, 
the doctrine of "predict and provide" is partially responsible for 
the huge number of cars on the road today: the traffic simply 
expanded to fill the available space. The lesson has begun to be 
learnt, and thousands of "transport planners" and promoters of 
sustainable alternatives have been employed in recent decades to try 
and put sticking plasters [band-aids] on the wound. Unfortunately 
this wisdom (surprise, surprise!) hasn't filtered through to aviation 
policy, and the government wants to create all these problems again 
for our children to sort out.
   If anyone has any contacts in transport sections of local councils 
in the UK, please can you give them my e-mail address, or give me 
theirs. I want a long list of transport planning signatories to a 
strong statement.  
   Thanks, Catherine Elliott, <catherine.elliott at york.gov.uk>, 9 St. 
Leonard's Place, City of York Council, York, UK.


CALENDAR OFFER FROM RE~CYCLE IN THE UK
[submitted by Merlin, <info at re-cycle.org>]

Many bikes are thrown away or left to rust in the UK while people in 
Less Developed Countries (LDCs) are without transport. Re~Cycle's 
mission is to rectify this imbalance by collecting and shipping 
second-hand bikes and parts to LDCs, mostly to Africa. We set up 
workshops with local charities to refurbish and maintain them, and 
turn some into work bikes.
   One of our volunteers in South Africa, Helen, has published a 
lovely calendar, great X-mas prezzy material! To order your copy of 
Helen Dodge's 2003 wall calendar, call Merlin on +(44)1206-38-2207 
(work/home) or +(44)797-073-1530 (mobile) or e-mail <info at re- cycle.org>. Cost: £5.00 each plus postage and packing from South 
Africa @ £1.60 surface mail (21-35 days) or £3.20 air mail (3-10 
days).
   Currently Re~Cycle is collecting in Essex and are working on 
getting collection points sorted in Greenwich and Bristol. Please 
contact us if you're interested in helping in any way, at <info at re- cycle.org>, or check our website for volunteering opportunities and 
on-line donations: <http://www.re-cycle.org>.


RECYCLE CALENDAR OFFER FROM THE US
[submitted by Cycle and Recycle <cyclerecycle at hotmail.com>]

The "Cycle & Recycle" 2003 calendar has been put together by 16 
organisations in North America, and features remarkable pictures 
celebrating bicycles and bike culture taken all over the world, with 
text in English, Spanish and French. And since the years 2003 and 
1997 started on the same day, you can order copies of the 1997 
calendar for less money. US$11-9 (CAN$12-10) depending on quantity. 
Contact The Bicycle Network, PO Box 8194, PA 19101, USA, or e-mail 
<cyclerecycle at hotmail.com>.


NO CALENDAR OFFER FROM RECYCLE IN YUGOSLAVIA

Just to let you know that the eco-activist youth group, reCYCLE, 
which is just getting off the ground in Novi Sad, Yugoslavia, has no 
plans to release a wall calendar for 2003. But watch this space 
(until your eyes fall out).


ITDP INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON HUMAN MOBILITY IN BOGOTA [submitted by Tim Beeney]

As long-term Car Busters followers will no doubt be aware, the city 
of Bogota, Colombia, has made some remarkable achievements in putting 
people before the needs of private transport. Among its credentials 
are Latin America's largest network of cycle lanes, rapid bus 
transit, the world's longest pedestrian corridor, and the planet's 
biggest car-free day. The International Seminar on Human Mobility, 
February 6-9, 2003, is your opportunity to exchange knowledge and 
experiences with the people who have led this remarkable 
transformation. And all proceeds from the seminar will be donated to 
projects benefiting improved mobility for children and disadvantaged 
groups in Bogota.
   Early registration is $60; please see the website 
<http://www.itdp.org/ISBH> for details.


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     CAR BUSTERS ANNOUNCEMENTS >> 
     __________________________________ 


A REMARKABLE NEW CARBUSTERS.ORG WEBSITE (AND E-MAIL)

We're sure many of you were deeply fond of our old website, with its 
bizarrely changing background colours and random typefaces, but 
hopefully you'll join us in a toast to a new website, which has edged 
its sleek and sexy way onto the World Wide Web over the course of ten 
minutes today. Go have a look: it's at the same place 
<http://www.carbusters.org>. Let us know what you think, and any 
problems you find with it. Despite the remarkable intelligence of our 
computer monkeys (who earnt a raise of three peanuts and a banana for 
this work), there are bound to be some problems, aren't there?
   And along with the sparkley new website comes a new e-mail 
address: we'd now like you to address us as <info at carbusters.org>. 
The old one works fine, though, so don't nobody panic.


LAST-MINUTE CHRISTMAS OFFERS

Since the two books published by Car Busters Press make, in our 
estimations, perfect Christmas gifts, we're offering them at discount 
rates until Christmas to let you give them to all your most dearly 
loved ones. Choose whatever combination of CARtoons and Roadkill Bill 
books you want and get five books for 35 EUR, 40 USD, 22 GBP, 70 AUD 
or 62 CND (shipping included), or ten books for 60 EUR, 70 USD, 38 
GBP, 125 AUD or 110 CND (shipping still included). Go see 
<http://www.carbusters.org/press/> for how to order by mail or credit 
card.
   Alternatively, for those of you who are motorists with less money 
and more humility, we are offering car stickers for anyone who 
subscribes to our magazine before Christmas. Two car stickers if you 
tell us "I am a sorry petrolhead; in the christmas spirit of 
forgiveness please send me some car stickers" or something along like 
this when subscribing, either by post or in the "comments" field on 
the on-line order form. The latest stickers are courtesy of the 
Switch-Off campaign in Bristol, UK, which has been urging drivers to 
switch off their engines when idling: more than ten seconds and 
you're saving fuel and emissions. Thanks to Pete Taylor for this.


TOWARDS CAR-FREE CITIES III UPDATE
[submitted by Randy Ghent, interim conference coordinator]

This March conference, hosted by Car Busters in Prague, is shaping up 
to be very productive, stimulating and fun. Some 75 participants from 
across Europe and beyond will join us for the week of discussions, 
strategy sessions, presentations and walking and biking tours. It is 
especially intended for those already working on transport(ation) 
issues and seeking to share ideas and experience and collaborate with 
others at the international level. We will especially be focused on 
practical strategy for car-free days and getting car-free cities 
actually built. Confirmed presenters include Joel Crawford (author of 
"Carfree Cities," editor of Carfree.com), John Whitelegg (editor of 
World Transport Policy & Practice), and Lars Gemzoe (co-author of 
"New City Spaces" and "Public Spaces - Public Life").
   Now is the best time to register to attend. See 
<http://www.carbusters.org/conference> for more information. That 
site will be continually updated in the coming months.


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     THINGS TO READ >> 
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MEAN STREETS 2002
[submitted by Steven Waters]

The Surface Transportation Policy Project's "Mean Streets 2002" study 
examines conditions for pedestrians across the USA and reports on 
states' 
spending and provision policies. This is the first study to draw up 
"league 
tables" of pedestrian safety by metropolitan area: <http://www.transact.org/report.asp?id=202>.


___________________ 

     DISCLAIMER >> 
     __________________ 


We would like to warn you not to expect your January bulletin to be 
so 
cheerily punctual. We at Car Busters are firm believers in the true 
meaning of 
mid-winter festivities: having a good time. We very much hope you 
will do so 
too. And remember, glass-etching cream is available at most good 
craft stores (priced around $8-13 in the US). So be careful that you 
don't leave any festive messages on SUVs like the ELF did - or give 
any as a present to anyone who 
might.____________________________________________

CAR BUSTERS
Kratka 26, 100 00 Praha 10, Czech Republic
tel: +(420) 274-810-849 - fax: +(420) 274-816-727 <info at carbusters.org> - <http://www.carbusters.org>