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atomic power, climate change, Cricket Diane C Phillips, Cricket House Studios, cricketdiane, Economics, G8, G8 summit L'Aquila Italy July 8 - 10, Global Warming, International Concerns, international trade agreements, Inventing Solutions For America, macro-economics, nuclear power, nuclear power plants, Solutions, UN reforms, united nations, US and Global economic crisis, US citizens, World Citizenship, World Leaders Decision-Makers
Report: China quake destroys 10,000 homes
- Story Highlights
- Quake hit Yunnan province in southwest China Thursday evening
- Xinhua reported quake as having a 6.0-magnitude; USGS gave a figure of 5.7
- Xinhua: More than 10,000 homes destroyed, 300 people injured
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/07/09/china.quake/index.html
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Reform Under Ban Ki-moon:
A Stronger United Nations
for a Better World
“Every day we are reminded of the need for a strengthened United Nations, as we face a growing array of new challenges, including humanitarian crises, human rights violations, armed conflicts and important health and environmental concerns. Seldom has the United Nations been called upon to do so much for so many. I am determined to breathe new life and inject renewed confidence into a strengthened United Nations firmly anchored in the twenty-first century, and which is effective, efficient, coherent and accountable.”
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
REFORM A TOP PRIORITY
Reform of the United Nations – enhancing its relevance and effectiveness for the world’s people in the 21st Century – is a priority concern of the Member States. At the 2005 World Summit world leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a strengthened United Nations with enhanced authority and capacity to effectively and rapidly respond to the full range of global challenges of our time. With the Organization engaged with a range of pressing global issues in every part of the world, a renewed, revitalized and more responsive United Nations is needed more than ever.
In January 2008, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon outlined the broad fronts on which the United Nations needs to advance if it is to meet the challenges facing the Member States and their peoples in the 21st Century. In areas like the environment, public health and human security, the world is facing threats and challenges that respect no boundaries. But by their nature, these challenges also expand the possibilities for collective action by States and other entities and actors, such as civil society and the private sector, enabling the UN to be the focus for concerted action to advance the common good. The UN is only meaningful to people if it is effective and relevant. Therefore, working to deliver concrete results in making people’s lives safer, healthier, more prosperous and free from fear and injustice must be a priority. Finally, progress on these fronts can only be assured through the full accountability of all parties to each other. Strengthening the Organization requires joint action by Member States, the UN’s senior officials and staff, and others. Member States are discussing a number of issues that fall within the remit of the respective Charter organs. Side-by-side, the Secretary-General, in consultation with Member States, is also moving forward to ensure that an efficient, relevant and accountable UN is working to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. These efforts are outlined below, with links to further information.
Contents
- MOVING FORWARD ON DEVELOPMENTAL CHALLENGES
- STRENGTHENING UN EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN PEACE AND SECURITY
- BRINGING HUMAN RIGHTS TO ALL PEOPLE OF THE WORLD
- STRENGTHENING HUMANITARIAN ACTION
- REFORMING MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS PRACTICES
- Improving accountability and oversight
- Setting the highest ethical standards
- Providing an efficient, transparent and service-oriented Secretariat
- Establishing a mobile, multi-skilled and motivated staff with access to internal justice
- Championing a more integrated UN family approach to achieve common goals
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CLOONEY ALL’AQUILA: GIRERO’ UN FILM QUI 
Il ciak da settembre. Accolto da fotografi e giornalisti, l’attore era accompagnato da Veltroni e dall’altro attore Bill Murray. Il fascinoso George ha poi inaugurato un cinema in una tendopoli
 |
| Foto di gruppo al G8 dell’Aquila |
| Al G8 dell’Aquila accordo su agenda globale e per chiusura del Doha Round entro il 2010. Impegno futuro sul clima, manca accordo di Pechino. Fissato il limite di due gradi per l’innalzamento della temperatura. L’Onu critica: “Insufficiente”. Obama: “Costruiamo il nostro futuro o lo faranno gli eventi”. Il G14 appuntamento stabile |
| Napolitano, crisi occasione riforma regole globali |
| Gheddafi scende dall’auto e passeggia su autostrada |
| Africa; fame, Aids, guerre, i numeri dell’emergenza |
| Photostory: sicurezza, partita l’operazione Giotto |
| Cina vuole riforma graduale sistema valute |
| Videostory: la lente sul 35/o summit |
| Il programma del summit |
| G8, approvata l’agenda globale |
| G8, dalle tendopoli dell’Aquila a Budapest |
| La diretta video dal sito del G8 |
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ay Two of the L’Aquila G8 Summit: the Press Conference
Amid optimism over the results achieved on the measures to be adopted to counter global warming and the shared desire to continue talks on world issues with the G5’s major emerging economies, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has given his summing up at the end of day two of the L’Aquila G8 Summit.
Statement by the G8, G5 and Egypt on Promoting the Global Agenda
09/07/2009 In their joint statement on “Promoting the Global Agenda,” the G8 and G5 Countries and Egypt have approved the more economics-specific section of the 8 July G8 statement: joint rules on international finance, boosting trade and getting the Doha negotiations back off the ground, social inclusion policies, resumption of the granting of credit and a drive for development in the poor countries.
G8TV
Secondo giorno di G8, che potrebbe essere vicino, diventando un G14, ad aprirsi anche ad altri PaesiIl Summit lancia l’Istituto globale per la cattura e il sequestro di carbone [in translation]
09/07/2009 Nasce all’Aquila l’Istituto globale per la cattura e il sequestro di carbone. A presentarlo al termine della riunione conclusiva del MEF, il Presidente del Consiglio Silvio Berlusconi, il Presidente Usa Barack Obama e Kevin Rudd, Premier dell’Australia, Paese che ospiterà l’Istituto.
http://www.g8italia2009.it/G8/Home/G8-G8_Layout_locale-1199882116809_News.htm
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Political Declaration Approved at G8 Working Dinner
08/07/2009
The first day of the G8 Summit in L’Aquila ended with a working dinner devoted to international political problems. The eight leaders’ debate focused on the problems of non-proliferation, the resolution of regional crises, the struggle against terrorism and the most important issues of global interest. At the end of the session the G8 leaders approved a declaration on political issues.
The matter of Iran, the need for a comprehensive, all-embracing approach to the peace process and transnational organized crime are the first points in the document, which goes on to analyze problems connected with piracy and security at sea, with North Korea’s missile and nuclear tests, with the Middle East and with Afghanistan.
http://www.g8italia2009.it/G8/Home/News/G8-G8_Layout_locale-1199882116809_1246708059488.htm
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Documents of the G8 Summit 2009
This page includes all published documents during the G8 Summit of L’Aquila.
The texts are available in .PDF format.
8 July
Declarations:
- G8 Leaders Declaration: Responsible Leadership for a Sustainable Future
- Annex: “G8 Preliminary Accountability Report”
- Political Issues
- L’Aquila Statement on Non-Proliferation
- G8 Declaration on Counter-Terrorism
9 July:
Declarations:
- Joint Declaration: Promoting the Global Agenda
- ANNEX 1: HDP Concluding Report
- ANNEX 2: The Agenda of Heiligendamm – L’Aquila Process (HAP)
- Declaration of the Leaders the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate
Expert Groups Reports:
- 09/07/2009 – G8 Intellectual Property Experts Group Meeting
- 09/07/2009 – G8 Report on Peacekeeping/Peacebuilding
- 09/07/2009 – Progress Report on the implementation of the G8 Water Action Plan
- 09/07/2009 – G8 Education Experts Report 2009
- 09/07/2009 – Report on the G8 Global Partnership
- 09/07/2009 – ANNEX A: GPWG Annual Report 2009, Consolidated Report Data
- 09/07/2009 – ANNEX B: Recommendations for a coordinated approach in the field of Global Weapons of Mass Destruction knowledge proliferation and scientist engagement
- 09/07/2009 – G8 Health Experts Report and Accountability
- 09/07/2009 – G8 Efforts towards Global Food Security
http://www.g8italia2009.it/G8/Home/Summit/G8-G8_Layout_locale-1199882116809_Atti.htm
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Proposed climate change measures insufficient, Ban tells major economies
9 July 2009 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today that the cuts in greenhouse gas emissions proposed by the world’s largest economies are not deep enough, and warned that much more effort is needed if governments are to reach a meaningful agreement on climate change by the end of the year.Speaking in L’Aquila, Italy, where the annual summit of the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized nations is taking place, Mr. Ban said the climate change commitments made by the leaders of those countries and other participants in this week’s Major Economies Forum (MEF) meeting, “while welcome, are not sufficient.”
“The time for delays and half-measures is over,” he said. “The personal leadership of every head of State or government is needed to seize this moment to protect people and the planet from one of the most serious challenges ever to confront humanity.”
G8 leaders agreed this week to a long-term goal of reducing emissions by 2050, but Mr. Ban said that this target was not credible without “ambitious mid-term targets, and baselines.
“In order to achieve such a global goal, developed countries must lead by example in making firm commitments to reduce their emissions by 2020 on the order of the 25 to 40 per cent below 1990 levels that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) tells us is required. It is disappointing to note that thus far, the mid-term emissions targets announced by developed countries in the MEF are not in this range.”
The Secretary-General noted that the countries represented in L’Aquila are responsible for more than 80 per cent of global emissions, “and that is why they bear special responsibility for finding a solution to the political impasse. If they fail to act this year, they will have squandered a unique historical opportunity that may not come again… We stand at a historical crossroads. Business as usual is no longer viable.”
Mr. Ban is convening a global summit on climate change in New York in September, when world leaders converge for the annual opening of the General Assembly, in a bid to build momentum ahead of talks in Copenhagen in December that are supposed to result in a far-reaching new pact on greenhouse gas emissions.
He stressed that every country must play its part, “based on the principle of equity.” Affluent countries can provide funding and technological assistance to poorer States so they can reduce or mitigate the impact of emissions, while those developing countries can step up their own efforts to reduce emissions.
Mr. Ban also urged world leaders to work harder to deal with other pressing global challenges, especially food insecurity and the (A)H1N1 influenza pandemic.
He welcomed the G8’s pledge to spend $15 billion over the next three years to tackle food insecurity and improve agriculture, but noted that “now we need to deliver on that pledge, and work together to boost national action plans, in an integrated manner.”
Turning to influenza, the Secretary-General said the pandemic was “starting to accelerate in a disturbing way” and G8 members therefore should commit to at least $1 billion in additional spending to assist struggling countries with overloaded health-care systems.
“We have a small window of opportunity to help poor countries access what they need to get ready for the virus,” he said.
News Tracker: past stories on this issue
Secretary-General en route to Italy to meet with G8 leaders
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=31421&Cr=climate+change&Cr1=
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17 June 2009
Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York
press conference on launch of advisory group on energy and climate change
Strategies to promote clean, renewable energy, especially in the developing world, where poor communities remained heavily reliant on wood and charcoal for most of their fuel, must be included in the global climate change deal expected to be reached in Copenhagen in December, Kandeh Yumkella, Chairman of the Secretary-General’s newly-launched Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change, said at Headquarters today.
Speaking at a press conference following the Advisory Group’s first meeting, he said the body would consider ways to comprehensively address climate change and boost energy efficiency and clean production, all with an eye on the developing world. Mr. Yumkella is also Chairman of UN-Energy, an inter-agency mechanism, and Director-General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
He said the Advisory Group was unique because its members were from both the public and private sectors and included top executives from Tata ( India), Suntech Holdings ( China), Edison International ( United States), the New Energy and Technology Development Organization ( Japan), and ESKOM Holdings ( South Africa). It also featured renowned political figures, including Jose Figueres, former President of Costa Rica, as well as officials from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The participants were involved in or concerned with aspects of renewable energy development and clean energy production, energy research, and environmental sustainability, he said. They had been chosen because it had become clear that a significant amount of climate change discussion must centre on energy, not only in terms of new technology, but also energy security and protecting developing countries from future spikes in the prices of fuels and commodities similar to those that had caused such turmoil a year ago.
Targeting developing countries was critical, he said, because although they certainly required help in tackling climate change, they also needed access to options for promoting better, cleaner consumption patterns. Indeed, many parts of the developing world, especially urban areas, experienced the burning of charcoal, fuelwood and other biomass, which caused ecological damage and was now seen as a prime driver of pulmonary diseases and other respiratory-health complications, particularly among women and children.
Responding to questions, Mr. Yumkella said the Advisory Group would produce policy briefs which would be transmitted to the Secretary-General and his climate change team “to synthesize and see what is useful heading into Copenhagen”, where global stakeholders are set to meet in December to agree on a successor pact to the Kyoto Protocol, the first commitment period of which expires in 2012. Those policy options would focus on integrating energy capacity, renewable energy and energy-efficiency applications in whatever deal emerged from Copenhagen.
He went on to say that the Advisory Group believed the talks on climate change and energy security were not moving fast enough, and that innovative ideas and initiatives generated by the private sector would be important in helping the Secretary-General use his “bully pulpit” to mobilize more –- and faster — action.
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For information media • not an official record
http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs/2009/090617_Yumkella.doc.htm
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| » 2009-07-09 20:32 |
| SVILUPPO: DDL E’ LEGGE, TORNA IL NUCLEARE |
 ROMA – Il ritorno del nucleare in Italia, l’arrivo della Class Action, la liberalizzazione delle Ferrovie: sono questi i punti qualificanti del disegno di legge sullo sviluppo, uno dei collegati alla finanziaria, che è stato definitivamente approvato dal Senato con 154 voti a favore, un solo voto contrario e un solo astenuto. Ha votato a favore anche l’Udc mentre Pd e Idv hanno annunciato il no, scegliendo però di abbandonare l’Aula al momento del voto nel tentativo di far mancare il numero legale viste le assenze nei banchi della maggioranza. Ecco le misure principali di un ddl che ha avuto un iter tormentato: approvato dalla Camera il 4 novembre 2008, modificato dal Senato il 14 maggio, nuovamente modificato dalla Camera il primo luglio e ora approvato senza modifiche dal Senato.
NUCLEARE – Il governo potrà pilotare l’Italia nel ritorno al nucleare. Avrà sei mesi di tempo per localizzare i siti degli impianti, potrà definire i criteri per lo stoccaggio dei rifiuti radioattivi, dovrà individuare le misure compensative per le popolazioni che saranno interessate dalle nuove strutture. Per la costruzione di centrali, è noto, saranno necessari anni, ma l’iter sarà velocizzato. Viene poi creata una agenzia per la sicurezza del nucleare. CLASS ACTION – E’ stata modificata la normativa sulla class action che però esclude la possibilità di avviare cause collettive da parte dei cittadini coinvolti nei crac finanziari del passato. L’entrata in vigore della class action, anche se in questo provvedimento è prevista al primo luglio, è stata posticipata, con l’ultimo decreto ‘anti-crisi’, al primo gennaio 2010. |
Google Translation of Nuclear Information –
NUCLEAR – The government will pilot the return in Italy to nuclear power. Will have six months to locate the sites of the plant, will define the criteria for the storage of radioactive waste, will identify measures for the populations that will be affected by new structures. For the construction of power plants, is known, will take years, but the process will be speeded up. Is then set up an agency for the safety of nuclear power.
http://www.ansa.it/opencms/export/site/visualizza_fdg.html_1616684751.html
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Ansalive – Primo Piano
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[And – ]
Il terremoto in Abruzzo, lo speciale
[from – ]
http://www.ansa.it/site/index.html
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My Note –
CNNI just reported on their news broadcast at just before midnite thirty – 12.14 EDT – that AIG is about to give 40 top executives bonuses of $2.4 million each –
I could not have heard that right . . .
– cricketdiane, 07-10-09
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Publications/Surveys Free for Download
Prime Minister Berlusconi has summed up the first day’s proceedings at the Abruzzo Summit, stressing the agreement reached on fighting climate change, which is to be submitted to the G5 countries during the forthcoming sessions. The other topics on the agenda included the economic crisis and the need for new rules, development and food security.
08/07/2009 A new page entitled “Summit Documents” is now available online in the “Summit” section of the website. This new item on the menu, the first item in the “Summit” section, will contain all of the Declaration and documents from the L’Aquila Summit in Pdf format ready for downloading and printing.
Many of the guests who will be coming to Italy during this year of the Italian G8 duty Presidency are already familiar with the country and its landscapes, its artistic heritage and the wide variety of cultures, dialects and aspects of the various italian regions. Many of them are admirers of the goods produced by italian creativity in sectors ranging from fashion to design and from machinery to traditional agricultural produce and leading-edge technologies. Connoisseurs of italian wine and cuisine, with their extraordinary variety of flavours and aromas, are also legion worldwide.
