[sustran] Re: SLoCaT Status Report on Rio+20 Sustainable Transport Voluntary Commitments

[ashok datar]

comments by Morten Lange are very appropriate and it is important that we
must always consider right and just place for active transportation ( a
much better word) together with TDM ,
 It is not possible to allow the active trans to achieve its natural place
in different cities and countries unless it is accompanied with appropriate
doses of TDM . It is the carrot and stick approach that can work. Every
country or city can apply the appropriate combination of measures from both
sides
for e.g. we can provide free bike parking and bike lanes together with
buses/trains alongwith restricted and expensive parking , bus lanes, and
transfer of funds from the users of cars to the users of sustainable modes
thru fees, taxes which reflect the cost of pollution, congestion and
capital cost for car sustaining infra structure
somehow I notice that TDM is never getting place alongwith and as an
essential part of sustainable mobility.
if it means ( and it certainly) that there should be a significant
reduction in production of cars all over, it is not only to be tolerated
but also encouraged and think what else can take place in its place  so
that we dont lament the loss of jobs and revenue from this major industrial
and economic machine - the manufacture and use of cars .
I guess there is a fear that it will lead to the reduction of car manuf and
doesnt it provide jobs - directly and indirectly thru the manufacture of
parts etc - to several thousands of people. It is time to think that this
broader restructuring of economy is much desirable and not just tolerable
ashok datar


On Sun, Jun 23, 2013 at 11:15 AM, Sujit Patwardhan <
patwardhan.sujit at gmail.com> wrote:

> Very well put.
> I agree with the points Morten makes, particularly about the "opposing
> agendas" and the "wooly text"
> It's time to stop mincing words and trying to carry everyone along and blur
> the focus.
> --
> Sujit
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> On Sun, Jun 23, 2013 at 8:41 AM, Morten Lange <morten7an at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > Hello Cornie Huizenga
> >
> > Thanks for your work and for telling us about it.
> >
> > Below are my gut reactions. They might reveal that I lack insight into
> > complex international affairs, and might seem rude, but are meant to try
> to
> > address an important issue in a clear manner, not to discuss or criticize
> > persons or organisations.
> >
> >
> > I had a look at the press release and a couple of the 17 original
> > documents.
> >
> > What I read from it was this : Many big important groups, partially with
> > opposing agendas ( FIA springst to mind )  are going to spend quite a lot
> > of money on staring at the problems and discussing them and hopefully
> > develop some pilot projects.  I might have missed some important points
> > that would alter this description, but I frankly lost patience with all
> the
> > "wooly" text.
> >
> > I miss an identification of where the tough challenges lie. I miss
> > examples of  some measures that could lead us down a better path,
> possibly
> > in the form of "best practices" / success stories.    I  miss seeing the
> > large win-win options being spelt out clearly.
> > I particularly miss mentioning of the big unjustice, including health
> loss
> > and death that todays users of "soft" / active modes are experiencing,
> > because of "brute force" motorisation.
> >
> > I am trying to find the story to convey tro others like you ask us to do.
> >  But I am  having problems.  Perhaps it is necessarry to be this formal
> and
> > diplomatic and general, but I suspect more people than me get frustrated
> by
> > looking for the nedle in the haystack - the concrete things being
> > envisioned seem to be missing.  The FIA quote comes closest, to being
> > soundbyte.  But it says A, and does not go on to say B.  B would to my
> mind
> > be e.g.
> >
> > * We need to make the buyers of cars acknowledge full-cost procing is not
> > occurring for users of private cars, and develop steps to rectify that.
> > * It is time to mandate "stickers" on car adverts smilar to those seen on
> > tobacco packaging.  And why not also on the dashboard, and under the side
> > mirrors
> > * "Free" or lowcost parking is a subsidy with many bad side-effects
> > * Transport Demand management that rectifies some of the inequities
> > between active transportation and private cars should be pushed by big
> > international bodies or at least not be obstructed by them. A list of
> such
> > bodies off the top of my head comprises : ILO, WTO, IMF, UNEP, ECE, EU,
> > IATA, IEA, WHO. TDM involving both benefits and information and training
> >  could be encouraged in the form of tax incentives to workplaces and / or
> > employees.  Put your money where you mouth is. ( I believe there is such
> an
> > expression)
> > * It is time to have a very critical look on victim-blaming practices
> seen
> > when those utilising active transport modes are improportionallly held
> > responsible for injuries sustained in collisions with cars and other
> > vehicles.
> >
> >
> > I would furthermore think that a common, short manifesto on problems and
> > possible solutions (possibly using some of the above),  should be drafted
> > very soon.  If e.g. the FIA would refrain from underwriting some parts,
> so
> > be it. Work out a near-consensus, or 75% consensus, and make the possible
> > difference of opinion come out in daylight, but decide to continue
> working
> > together, and discuss the differences in opinion now and then.
> >
> >
> > Again I apologise for the bluntness, and that I should speak out in spite
> > of my lack of familiarity with the diplomatic and high level
> deliberations.
> >
> >
> > Best Regards,
> > Morten Lange
> >
> > --
> > Morten Lange, Reykjavík
> >
> > --------------------------------------------
> > On Thu, 20/6/13, Cornie Huizenga <cornie.huizenga at slocatpartnership.org>
> > wrote:
> >
> >  Subject: [sustran] SLoCaT Status Report on Rio+20 Sustainable Transport
> > Voluntary Commitments
> >  To: "Global 'South' Sustainable Transport" <
> > sustran-discuss at list.jca.apc.org>
> >  Date: Thursday, 20 June, 2013, 11:44
> >
> >  Dear All,
> >
> >  We are happy to announce the first update report on the
> >  Rio+20 Voluntary
> >  Commitments on Sustainable Transport.
> >
> >
> >  We have created a special section for the report on the
> >  SLoCaT website, *
> >  www.slocat.net/Rio20-VC. *If you tweet about the report
> >  please use
> >   #Rio20transport in our tweets.
> >
> >
> >  On the website we have also a press release in English,
> >  Chinese, German,
> >  Spanish and Portugese (
> >
> http://slocat.net/press-release-rio20-sustainable-transport-status-report
> > )
> >
> >
> >  We would greatly appreciate your help in the wide
> >  distribution of the
> >  report and the press release.
> >
> >
> >  Thanks a lot.
> >
> >
> >  Cornie
> >
> >  --
> >  Cornie Huizenga
> >  Joint Convener, SLoCaT Partnership
> >  317 Xianxia Road, B 1811
> >  200051 Shanghai, China
> >
> >  www.slocat.net
> >  @SLOCATcornie
> >  +8613901949332
> >  --------------------------------------------------------
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> >  http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss
> >
> >  ================================================================
> >  SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of
> >  people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a
> >  focus on developing countries (the 'Global South').
> >
> > --------------------------------------------------------
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> >
> > ================================================================
> > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred,
> > equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries
> > (the 'Global South').
> >
>
>
>
> --
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *It's no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick
> society.
> *
>
> - J. Krishnamurti
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Sujit Patwardhan
> patwardhan.sujit at gmail.com
> sujit at parisar.org <sujitjp at gmail.com>
>
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> SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred,
> equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries
> (the 'Global South').
>



-- 
Ashok R. Datar
Mumbai Environmental Social Network (MESN) &
 Mumbai Transport Forum (MTF)
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