[sustran] FW: CAR BUSTERS MONTHLY E-BULLETIN NO. 42

[Paul Barter]

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-sustran-discuss at jca.ax.apc.org [mailto:owner-sustran-discuss at jca.ax.apc.org] 
Sent: Friday, 17 January 2003 5:24 AM
To: sustran-discuss-approval at jca.apc.org
Subject: BOUNCE sustran-discuss at jca.ax.apc.org: global taboo header: /^precedence *: *(bulk|list)/i Non-member submission from: ["Car Busters - Editors" <info at carbusters.org>] 


From: "Car Busters - Editors" <info at carbusters.org>
To: englishbulletin-l at ecn.cz
Date: Thu, 16 Jan 2003 20:09:44 +0100
Subject: CAR BUSTERS MONTHLY E-BULLETIN NO. 42


No winter sales but still a pretty good bargain on car-free 
propaganda you simply must have at 
<http://www.carbusters.org/resources/>.

_________________________ 

     CAR BUSTERS BULLETIN >>> 
     _____________________________ 

Edition no. 42 - January 2003 - English version ...............................................


This bulletin was compiled by Ivana Jakubková. Thanks 
to everyone for their submissions and sorry if yours didn't 
make it in here: it's probably too good to be shared.

Contents:

World News
- JAPANESE GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR ASTHMA
- UK: CYCLING'S DEAD, LET'S BUILD MORE ROADS!
- "DEBUNKER" OF GLOBAL WARMING FOUND 
DISHONEST
- ALPS TUNNEL UPDATE

Announcements
- ROAD PROTEST IMAGE GALLERY
- STUDY OF CAR-FREE AND MOBILITY-MANAGED 
HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS
- (IF YOU MUST DRIVE) MAKE YOUR OWN 
BIODIESEL 
- WALK21 IV CONFERENCE: HEALTH, EQUITY & 
ENVIRONMENT 
- BIKE WISE WEEK 2003
- JOB OPPORTUNITY AT EYFA
- BUILDING A NEW CITY TOUR

Car Busters Announcements
- TOWARDS CAR-FREE CITIES III: REGISTER NOW!
- CAR BUSTERS MAGAZINE NO. 16 RELEASED
- IVAN ILLICH MEMORIAL MAGAZINE (NO. 17) - CALL 
FOR SUBMISSIONS

Things to Read
- HIGH AND MIGHTY

Disclaimer

   
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     WORLD NEWS >> 
     __________________ 


JAPANESE GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR ASTHMA
[from the latest Carfree Times at 
<http://www.carfree.com>]

A group of Japanese asthma sufferers has won 
US$638,000 in a suit against the Japanese government 
alleging that road-related air pollution in Tokyo either 
gave them asthma or exacerbated existing asthma. The 
plaintiffs live within 50 metres of major roads and 
highways in central Tokyo. 
   The court cited the failure of the national government, 
the Metropolitan Expressway Public Corp., and the 
Tokyo metropolitan government to properly build and 
manage Tokyo's roads. "The extent of the violation is 
very serious. The large volumes of exhaust that are 
continually released have caused and exacerbated 
bronchial asthma, which can endanger a person's life," 
the court said. 


UK: CYCLING'S DEAD, LET'S BUILD MORE ROADS!
[spotted by Peter Day on BBC News, Dec. 12 and Dave 
Morris in The Observer Dec. 22]

The biggest road-widening programme in 20 years has 
been outlined by the UK government as part of a plan to 
improve transport. Notorious bottlenecks on the M1 and 
M6 motorways are to get an extra lane, taking them to 
four lanes wide. The transport package is worth L5.5 
billion for England's roads, rail and bus infrastructure, but 
at about the same time the government admitted that 
road congestion could worsen by a fifth over the next 
decade.
   Unlike environmental and public transport groups, 
motoring groups welcomed the plan. The RAC (Royal 
Automobile Club) said it was "a realisation that an 
integrated transport policy includes road building."
   Shortly after this announcement, The Observer 
newspaper published an extensive article on the decline 
of cycling in the UK. Fewer people are using bikes to get 
to work or school than ever before: on rural roads and for 
primary school children the level is so low it has officially 
fallen to 'zero percent of trips' in national statistics. 
Overall, only two percent of trips are now taken by 
bicycle in the UK, compared with 85 percent by car. This 
represents a decline in cycling by 25 percent and in 
walking by almost 30 percent since 1990.
   The government has spectacularly failed with its goal 
of increasing cycling levels four-fold to reach eight 
percent of all trips by 2012, which would have matched 
the level Germany was at in 1996. Instead, it will now try 
to triple cycling by 2010, which still looks like wishful 
thinking, although the government is putting in record 
levels of funding. It has just begun a nationwide 
assessment of all councils' performance on cycling to 
find out why it is still declining. 
   One senior consultant to ministers said: "Some places 
are great. But the prevailing attitude in most authorities is 
that the car is king, money is for road building, bikes are 
at best an afterthought and at worst a threat to road 
safety and traffic flow. The government simply has not 
had the balls to get to grips with this because they are 
afraid of the motoring lobby and now they are off 
spending billions widening roads again."
Read the full version of the article at 
<http://www.observer.co.uk/politics/story/0,6903,864328,
00.html>.


"DEBUNKER" OF GLOBAL WARMING FOUND 
DISHONEST
[spotted by Jason Kirkpatrick in the Guardian, January 9]

Bjorn Lomborg - the director of Denmark's Environmental 
Assessment Institute and a leading would-be debunker 
of mainstream scientific opinion on issues like global 
warming and overuse of natural resources - has been 
found guilty by a Danish government committee of 
"scientific dishonesty" after a year-long investigation. 
   The committee was appointed to look at four 
complaints against Lomborg's book "The Skeptical 
Environmentalist," which argues that life for humankind 
had never been better, pollution levels were falling, and 
there were enough resources for current levels of 
prosperity to continue. It also claims that the "colossal 
sums it is planned to deploy on reducing global warming 
will be money ill spent." 
   Professor Lomborg's contrarian views made him a 
favourite of the rightwing establishment after the book's 
publication. On its election in March last year, Denmark's 
rightwing government made him the director of its 
Environmental Assessment Institute.
   "This is the very message of the book: children born 
today - in both the industrialised world and developing 
countries - will live longer and be healthier," the book 
concludes. "They will get more food, a better education, 
a higher standard of living, more leisure time and far 
more possibilities - without the global environment being 
destroyed. And that is a beautiful world."
   The complaints: "Lomborg is accused of fabricating 
data, selectively and surreptitiously discarding unwanted 
results, of the deliberately misleading use of statistical 
methods, consciously distorted interpretation of the 
conclusions, plagiarising of others' results or 
publications, and deliberate misrepresentation of others' 
results."
   However, the committee is not quite so harsh in its own 
conclusions, accusing Professor Lomborg of not 
comprehending the science rather than intending to 
mislead or being grossly negligent.


ALPS TUNNEL NEWS
[submitted by Anne Lassman of Initiative Transport 
Europe <www.ite-euro.com>]

Since the reopening of the Mont Blanc Tunnel on June 
25, 2002, in an alternating system for vehicles over 3.5 
tonnes (one hour in one direction, then one hour in the 
opposite direction) a lot of things have happened and 
demonstrations have taken place. Here's a brief outline 
of important events both past and future:

* October 2002: Michel Charlet, Mayor of Chamonix, was 
charged in connection with the tunnel fire in 1999. He 
has always been outspoken about road transport and the 
threat posed by the tunnel and his investigation is viewed 
in Chamonix as a punishment for his non-compliance 
with orders and pressures from the French authorities. 
This tactic was used on Charlet in 2001, when he was 
charged for an avalanche tragedy (the first time a mayor 
will be tried in France for a natural disaster!).

* December 14, 2002: A big demonstration in Chamonix 
protested against the likely removal of the alternate traffic 
system. Protesters were removed from the road by 
police.

* January 3: A demonstration was held in Courmayeur 
for the same reason. A large turnout surprised the police 
and showed signs of Italians' growing committment in the 
fight against road freight. The new president of the Aoste 
Region is campaigning alongside environmental 
organisations to keep truck traffic down and to retain the 
alternate system, which has kept the traffic well below 
the pre-closure average. Despite that, legal pollution 
levels in the very narrow Chamonix Valley are already 
being reached. Any increase in traffic will push many 
pollutants above accepted thresholds.

* January 17: The Somport Tunnel opens in the 
Pyrenees. A sad day for mountain lovers all around 
Europe. Another success for the road and the oil lobbies. 
A demonstration is planned that day at Bedous, from 
12:00 onwards.

* January 20: Bruno Rebelle, President of Greenpeace 
France, and Eric Lanoë, President of Réagir (Maurienne 
Valley, Fréjus Tunnel) are on trial in Albertville following 
the October 2001 occupation of the motorway leading to 
the Fréjus tunnel, by 1,000 demonstrators and 20 
environmental organisations. Protesters are faxing letters 
to the courthouse and a demonstration will take place in 
Albertville on the day to support Rebelle and Lanoë.


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     ANNOUNCEMENTS >> 
     _____________________________


ROAD PROTEST IMAGE GALLERY
[submitted by Road Alert]

Just thought you would like to know we have uploaded 
some of our picture archive online. If you visit 
<http://www.roadalert.org.uk> and click on the gallery link 
you can view 93 pictures from M11 Leytonstone and A46 
Batheaston protests. If you require any of the images for 
publishing, send an e-mail to <info at roadalert.org.uk> 
with the image number and we will send you the full size 
version.


STUDY OF CAR-FREE AND MOBILITY-MANAGED 
HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS
[submitted by Dr Jan Scheurer, formerly of Institute for 
Sustainability and Technology Policy, Australia]

A full illustrated version of my PhD thesis, titled 'Urban 
Ecology, Innovations in Housing Policy and the Future of 
Cities: Towards Sustainability in Neighbourhood 
Communities' is now available online at 
<http://www.istp.murdoch.edu.au/publications/projects/ja
n>. The dissertation contains the first international
empirical comparison study of carfree and mobility-
managed housing developments, discussed in a broad 
policy context.


(IF YOU MUST DRIVE) MAKE YOUR OWN BIODIESEL 
[submitted by Low-Impact Living Initiative]

On February 7-9 Low-Impact Living Initiative (LILI) is 
organising a course on "How to Make Biodiesel" in 
Redfield Community, Buckinghamshire, UK. Cost: L150 
waged, L100 unwaged. Discounts for 'Friends of LILI'. All 
meals and accommodation included.
   This A-Z course covers everything from what biodesel 
and its environmental benefits are, its cheap and safe 
production, including practical sessions: plant design and 
construction using readily-available materials; making 
biodiesel
For more details contact LILI at tel/fax: (01296) 714184 
or check out their website <web: www.lowimpact.org>.


WALK21 IV: HEALTH, EQUITY & ENVIRONMENT
[submitted by Ellen Vanderslice]

The 4th International Conference on Walking in the 21st 
Century (May 1-3, Portland, Oregon, USA) will bring 
together activists, practitioners, decision makers and 
academics in public health, transportation, and 
community planning. Together we will explore how 
walking is integrated into our infrastructure, our 
institutions, and our daily lives.  We will rethink the 
context for walking and refine the tools we use in our 
work. Please join us in Portland, May 1-3, 2003! 
Registration for "Walk21 IV: Health, Equity & 
Environment" is now open. Best rates are before 
February 1.
   Register at <http://americawalks.org/walk21/> or check 
out <http:// www.walk21.com>.


BIKE WISE WEEK 2003
[submitted by Robert Ibell of Cycling Advocates Network 
of NZ Inc.]

February 15-23; New Zealand
National Bike Wise Week aims to lift the profile of cycling 
and encourage more people to take up the activity as an 
integral part of an active lifestyle. The aim is to see an 
increase in the number of cyclists and increasing 
numbers of New Zealanders enjoying healthy lifestyles. 
At <http://www.bikewise.co.nz> you will find resources to 
help you organise events to celebrate cycling, e.g. How 
to Run a Bike Day, Planning a Bike to Work Day, Being a 
Cycle Friendly Employer, The Commuter Challenge and 
Planning a Bike to School Day.
   You'll also find details of the nationwide Bike Wise 
Business Battle. It aims to encourage employers and 
employees to use their bike as a means of transport. 
National trophies will be awarded by business sector and 
there are plenty of other prizes, awarded on the basis of 
number of participants and distance travelled.


JOB OPPORTUNITY AT EYFA
[submitted by Eyfa]

Eyfa, a European-wide network of individuals and 
grassroots groups active on social and environmental 
issues, is looking for a creative, inspired and energetic 
person to come in January 2003 to join the core team in 
the Amsterdam office. They need a new person that will  
manage the European Voluntary Service project, work on 
networking and approaching new groups and persons, 
and take part  in general administration of grants, 
reports, our network committee, organising meetings, 
developing our web page etc. 
   For more information, please send an email with 
subject heading: "eyfa core-team job application" to 
EYFA as soon as possible at < eyfa at eyfa.org> or 
phone: +31.20.6657743. 


BUILDING A NEW CITY TOUR
[submitted by Paul White of ITDP <www.itdp.org>]

Within three years, Enrique Penalosa, former mayor of 
Bogotá, Columbia, transformed his city from a congested 
and dangerous mess, where many citizens did not have 
access to transport, into the world's leading model for 
sustainable urban design.
Now, on the Building a New City tour, Penalosa will share 
this inspirational story and describe how Africa's leaders 
can follow "The Bogotá Model" for livable cities.
   The two-week tour, organised by the Institute for 
Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), begins 
January 15 and will bring Penalosa to four of Africa's 
leading cities: Dakar, Senegal; Cape Town 
and Pretoria, South Africa; and Accra, Ghana. Traffic 
congestion, inadequate public transport, poverty and 
poor access to jobs and services are increasingly 
problematic in each city and local leaders have asked for 
help in replicating Bogotá's success.
   Under Penalosa's leadership from 1998-2000, 
innovative transport strategies such as a successful 
busway, bicycle paths and restrictions on private car use 
were used to equalise all citizens' access to mobility and 
began to relieve the traffic congestion and air pollution 
that was choking Bogotá. His administration also built 
parks, planted trees and promoted the use of public 
space.


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     CAR BUSTERS ANNOUNCEMENTS >> 
     __________________________________ 


TOWARDS CAR-FREE CITIES III: REGISTER NOW!
[Hosted by Car Busters, March 17-22, Prague, Czech 
Republic]

You've heard all about this conference in past bulletins; if 
not, see the link below. Officially the registration deadline 
for participants is January 31. Please register as soon as 
possible to ensure there's space for you: 
<http://www.carbusters.org/conference>.
   

CAR BUSTERS MAGAZINE NO. 16 RELEASED

"We shape our tools and they in turn shape us" - and 
some of the shapes people are now becoming look 
decidedly unwieldy. Issue 16 of Car Busters Magazine 
looks at a phenomenon that Ken Avidor (artist, author of 
"RoadKill Bill") calls "Automorphism," and sees how our 
minds, bodies and culture have been affected by 
decades of growing car dependence.
   The issue also includes all the usual lively, hard-hitting 
sections you've come to expect - Industry Watch, World 
News, Car Cult Review, Book Reviews and more - albeit 
with a much later release date than normal.
   To get a copy, see 
<http://www.carbusters.org/resources/magazine.php>, or 
to subscribe, see <http://www.carbusters.org/join_us>. 
The submissions deadline for issue 17 is February 31.


IVAN ILLICH MEMORIAL MAGAZINE (NO. 17) - CALL 
FOR SUBMISSIONS

Following on the December 2 death of radical 
philosopher Ivan Illich (author of "Energy and Equity" 
among many others), we at Car Busters have decided to 
devote part of issue 17 of our magazine to his life and his 
thoughts on transport(ation). Therefore we'd now like to 
send out a call for letter-to-the-editors-length personal 
accounts of how his ideas have influenced our readers. 
Please send them as soon as possible, and by February 
31 at the latest.


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     THINGS TO READ >> 
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HIGH AND MIGHTY
[submitted by Daniel Swartz]

High and Mighty - SUVs: The World's Most Dangerous 
Vehicles and How They Got That Way; by Keith 
Bradsher; 468 pages; ISBN 1586481231

Bradsher, a correspondent for the New Your Times, 
investigates the politics behind the rise of SUVs and 
provides a lot of well-researched data on how dangerous 
they are. You probably already know that SUVs (or 4x4s) 
are classified as light trucks so that they don't need to 
comply with the 1990 Clean Air Act's rather stringent 
standards, and that's why their mileage is so appalling. 
But did you know that Ford Explorer's pricier cousin, the 
Lincoln Navigator, is considered a truck for the purposes 
of calculating the 10 percent luxury tax the 1990 
Congress slapped on cars with price tags of $30,000 or 
more? That law, like many others, exempted "light 
trucks", in this case those with a gross weight over 6,000 
pounds. The Navigator grew to that size as Ford added 
luxury features but included in the price no luxury tax 
because it's not a car, stupid, it's a kind of luxury truck. 


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     DISCLAIMER >> 
     __________________ 


Grrr, Bradsher has stolen from us a brilliant title of Car 
Busters' next publication! Unfortunately we hadn't 
trademarked it in advance so now we'll have think of 
another name for our thrilling bestseller-to-be about the 
excitements of our e-mail bulletin production. Oh, yes, 
the influx of your submissions gets us high and the 
selecting and editing process gives us a sense of might. 
We are all addicts and regularly have fierce fights over 
this task so you'd better keep filling us in or we'll all die of 
withdrawal. The next bulletin is coming soon 'cos we 
want to get back to the first-week-in-a-month scheme 
and we hope you won't let us down. ____________________________________________

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> ____________________________________________


Car Busters Worldwide Contact Directory
Register your group on-line now: <http://www.carbusters.org/directory>

Towards Car-Free Cities III Conference
Hosted by Car Busters, March 17-22, 2003, Prague <http://www.carbusters.org/conference>