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On the end ofJuly 4th, 2017 week, The Governor of California comes to convey to the leaders gathered in Hamburg – that an alternate U.S.A. will retain its leading position.
Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on July 8th, 2017
The Austrian daily Salzburger Nachrichten has today a cartoon showing the G20 roundtable
Governor Jerry Brown of California is ready to lead where an alternate leader is needed.
In a call to action, California Governor Jerry Brown told an international audience at a climate conference going on in Hamburg, Germany at the same time as the G-20 conference that "President Trump doesn't speak for the rest of us," as he announced plans for a global environmental summit next September in San Francisco.
Speaking via video to attendees at the Global Citizens Festival, Brown sent a strong signal that there are Americans ready to take a leadership role in combatting climate change despite the president.
"It's up to you and it's up to me and tens of millions of other people to get it together to roll back the forces of carbonization and join together to combat the existential threat of climate change," Brown said.
His next statement drew loud applause from the crowd: "Yes, I know President Trump is trying to get out of the Paris agreement, but he doesn't speak for the rest of America."
"We in California and in all states across America," continued Brown, "believe it's time to act, its time to join together and that's why at this climate action summit we're going to get it done."
Trump thumbed his nose at the climate change advocates by scheduling his first sit-down with Russian President VBladimir Putin at the same time the G20 countries were scheduled to discuss issues around climate change.
Trump was not invited to speak at the Global Citizens Festival, but attendees did hear from other world leaders including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg and Argentina's President Mauricio Marci.
There were also musical performances during the event by Coldplay, Shakira, Pharrell Williams and others.
Brown was introduced to the conference by Christiana Figueres, the former UN climate chief, who called the California Governor "a stubborn optimist from a surprising country."
Figueres said the message that the conference will send to the world is that Trump does not speak for all Americans, most of whom do believe that climate change is real and that it is a real danger to the entire planet.
Brown has been a leader on the need to address climate change for a long time, helping shape policies in California that emphasize renewal energy sources and a respect for the planet nad its people.
Last December, Brown said if Trump took away the satellites that monitor world climate change, California would put "it's own damn satellites" into the sky to do the job.
Shortly after that Brown took a trip to China where he met with President Xi Jinping to deliver his message that "disaster still looms," unless governments take action, says the Mercury News, while predicting Trump's withdrawal from the Paris agreement would only be a temporary setback. He said Europe, China, individual U.S. states, and cities, among others, would take over the leadership role that has been abandoned by Trump.
Brown told the Mercury News just before his China trip that if Trump stays on his current course, "California will just redouble its efforts and the people of the world will have to rise up and take action. And I think in a paradoxical way, that's exactly what Trump is stimulating – the very opposite of climate denial is climate activism."
"All over the world," Brown said in a statement, "momentum is building to deal seriously with climate change. Despite rejection in Washington, California is all in. We are fully committed to the Under2 Coalition and the Paris agreement."
Brown said the steps he is taking are designed to build a consensus and encourage negotiations at every level. He told the Los Angeles Times that given the scope of the challenges, finding solutions will not be "a walk in the park."
"Decarbonizing the world," added Brown, "it's like going from the Roman Empire to Christianity. It's a total paradigm shift."
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, current New York Mayor Bill DeBlasio, Governor Kate Brown of Oregon, and progressive leaders from more than 30 cities, three other governors, university presidents, business leaders and others across the country are joining with Brown.
They are determined to not let commercial interests with huge lobbying budgets who are in the pocket of corrupt Republicans pollute freely and destroy the world while they stand by.
Take that, Koch brothers.
In the twilight of his political career, Brown is taking action and inviting the whole world to join with him.
please see also:
Is Jerry Brown the 'President' of Anti-Trump America? He Shows Up in Germany for the G20
Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on May 13th, 2017
VEF 2017 is intended to contribute to the practicalities in successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Paris Agreement. Among other things, it discussed the importance of the linkages between climate and development, and examined the role of innovation in achieving SDG 7 – "ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all" and related SDGs.
The Forum featured side events held on the UN Grounds in Vienna, from 9-10 May – followed by plenary sessions from 11-12 May.
The side events covered such topics as achieving SDG 7, sustainable energy solutions in landlocked developing countries, innovative business models to attract sustainable energy investment for least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS), capacity building, clean energy for migrants and vulnerable groups, improving energy access, technology transfer, modern cooking energy, achieving a low-carbon society, regional incubation networks, micro-grids, smart city development, energy scenarios for sub-Saharan African cities, catalyzing action on energy efficiency, global research initiatives in support of the 2030 Development Agenda and the Paris Agreement, and promoting women to advance the global energy transition.
The follow up plenary sessions promoted then dialogue on the nexus between energy, climate, transport, food, water and health, linkages among the key SDGs and their contribution to the 2030 Development Agenda, and the role of innovation as a global driver for sustainable growth.
In this reporting by Irith Jawetz, she goes over a few highlights of the Conference she attended at the Austrian Hofburg – the Austria Presidential quarters in Vienna.
Also here there were many plenary panels and side events which will hopefully be posted on the website at a later date. www.viennaenergyforum.org/
Here is a short summary of the presentations:
Master of Ceremonies was Ms. Ralitsa Vassileva, the news Director Bulgarian International Television, who was previously anchorwoman on CNN.
She thanked the 1,500 delegates from 100 countries and the 50 speakers who have assembled to attend this important Conference, whose main goal is to fight poverty through Sustainable Development.
The first speaker was Mr. Michael Linhart, Secretary General of the Austrian Ministry for Integration & Foreign Affairs. He mentioned that this Conference has started in Vienna in 2009 and was the first Forum leading the need for access to Sustainable Development. The latest important events were the International Conference on Sustainable Development in New York, September 2016 and the COP 21 – UN Climate Change Conference in Paris, December 2016 where the important Paris Agreement was signed. Both events, together with the current conference in Vienna will decide whether we are on the right track.
The next speaker was Ms. Maria Vassilaku, Vice Mayor of Vienna, member of the Austrian Green Party, who welcomed everybody to Vienna, the most beautiful, sustainable and liberal city. She especially mentioned that we have to tackle the question of Climate Change for our children.
Achieving the goals of Sustainability will only be done by involving people, industry, Governments, and private sectors.
She was followed by Mr. Li Yong, Director General of UNIDO who insisted that we must make sure the Paris Agreement is implemented in full.
Then came up Ms. Rachel Kyte, Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, and CEO of Sustainable Energy for All, formerly with the World Bank in Washington DC. She was the most passionate of the speakers. She mentioned that 1 in 7 people on our planet do not have access to energy. This is unacceptable.
We have to give everybody a chance for access to energy. We need it for schools, clinics, food, shelter, and everybody must have the right to it. She pleaded that we have to move, and to move fast, promises made should be promises kept.
{Ms Kyte served until December 2015 as World Bank Group Vice President and Special Envoy for Climate Change, leading the Bank Group's efforts to campaign for an ambitious agreement at the 21st Convention of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP 21). She was previously World Bank Vice President for Sustainable Development, and was the International Finance Corporation Vice President for Business Advisory Services.]
Next came Prof. Pavel Kabat, Director General and Chief Executive Office at IIASA, International Institute for Applied Systems Analyses located in Laxenburg, Austria. He put the emphasis on research and vision. He said that one should not view Climate Change as a threat but as a new start, energy is a necessity and not a goal and sustainability will only be achieved when there is a partnership of private and public sector.
The Austrian Ambassador to the United Nations in Vienna, Ms. Chtistine Stix-Hackl read an official statement from the Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, who welcomed all participants to the Conference in Vienna, which has become a hub for Energy. The President stressed the importance of implementing the Paris Agreement and making sure that the goals set in that agreement will be met .
Andrä Ruprechter, Austrian Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment & Water Management also mentioned the two conferences in 2016 in New York and Paris and said that we can and will clear the pathway to a clean energy future for all. He was looking forward to the next Climate Change Conference in November 6-17, 2017, in Bonn, Germany. Climate Change is a Global problem and needs Global solutions. He vowed that Austria will stick with the Paris agreement.
Mr. Piyush Goyal, Minister of State with independent Charge for Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy and Mines in the Government of India was also very passionate in his speech. The world is changing since Thomas Edison discovered the light bulb and it is for us now, and not later, to do something in order to save the world. India is committed to the Paris Agreement even if other World leaders are not (this was the first time the audience clapped during a speech). Prime Minster Modi is a conservationist of Energy and under his leadership India has promoted energy efficiency for the last years and has reduced the use of electricity by a lot by using only energy saving light bulbs. He hopes that by 2019 every lights bulb will be replaced.
The second day started with the Ministerial segment moderated by Ms. Tania Rödiger-Vorwerk, Deputy Director General, Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation & Development (BMZ), Germany. Let us remember that upcoming COP 23 of the UNFCCC will be held in Bonn, Germany, this November 6-17.
The keynote speaker was the very passionate and eloquent Prime Minister of Tuvalu, H.E. Enele Sopoaga. Being the Head of one of the endangered islands, he stressed the importance of regarding Climate Change as a real danger. He expressed solidarity with the Paris Agreement and stressed the importance of action to combat Climate Change. Survival is at stake, Governments & Private sectors of all countries have to work together to make sure the use of Renewable sources is increased. Tuvalu has numerous programs in that direction and hopes to achieve 100% use of Renewable sources of energy by the year 2020. Tuvalu is fully committed to explore Renewable energy from oceans but needs help in technology. 10,000 people in very small islands which are part of Tuvalu have already 100% electricity, but a lot still has to be done. He called upon all countries not to listen to diversion from the problems of Climate Change but "keep everybody on the boat & canoe". Every country has to be on board and support the goals of developing Sustainable energy for all at all costs.
His speech caused a round of applause from all participants.
The other Ministers on the Podium were H.E. Ms. Jabulile Mashwama, Minister of Natural Resources & Energy of Swaziland who also stressed that Renewable agenda comes at a high cost, it's coming slowly, but it has to happen.
H.E. Mr. Khaled Fahmy, Minister, Egypt Environmental affairs Agency, also supported in full the Paris Agreement, this is a Global agreement and all countries have to respect and adapt it. Egypt hopes to achieve 20% of renewable energy by 2020 which comes mainly from solar and wind. In order to implement this goal, the private sector must be involved, especially in order to bear the costs. This is a critical issue and the pace is too slow.
H.E. Mr. Aziz Rebbah, Minister of Energy, Mines & Sustainable Development from Morocco, home of the COP 22 of the UNFCCC in 2016, strives to achieve 52% of renewable energy by 2030 which will come mainly from solar power.
A very moving side event which Ms. Jawetz attended, and would like to share, was the "Networking Event: Women for Sustainable Energy". This networking event connects people and provides a platform for knowledge sharing and exchange. It raises awareness on the potential of sustainable energy for women's empowerment, and featured short presentations by women leaders in the energy sector. It provided insights into a broad range of career paths and initiatives that target women's empowerment in the clean energy sector. This event was meant to promote sustainable energy approaches that have strong impact on gender equality and highlighted the major role of women in making the energy sector more sustainable. The event was hosted by UNIDO and supported by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Center for Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), the Global Women's Network for Energy Transition (GWNET) and the International Network on Gender and Sustainable Energy (ENERGIA).
The closing remarks were carried out by Mr. Philippe Scholtes, Managing Director, Programme Development and Technical Cooperation Division (PTC), UNIDO.
He thanked all the organizers for the successful event and counted 10 key massages:
1) Role of Energy in 2030 – urgency agenda for sustainable development;
2) Urgency in developing energy for food, security, land, water & health nexus;
3) Developing sustainable cities and urban communities, the need for use of sustainable energy for infrastructure;
4) Need to adapt to Climate Change by using clean energy;
5) Pioneering role of innovative technologies are a central piece of sustainable energy;
6) Financing innovative business models. Sustainable solutions depend on innovative businesses;
7) Catalysts for innovation – Governments needs to stimulate innovation and develop energy system support research & development;
8)Innovation for Appropriate & Sustainable solutions, planning frugal, flexible & inclusive energy systems;
9) Energy is ca crucial component for implementing of the 2029 agenda;
10) Businesses & Private sector must be included in implementing the Paris agreement.
Liberal Billionaire George Soros paid for democratization in East Europe – now Hungary PM Victor Urban wants him out and this is viewed as a new Anti-Semitic Crusade and another right wing thorn in the back of the EU.
Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on May 6th, 2017
May 5, 2017 By JTA
(JTA) — A leading official in the European Commission — one of the European Union's governing bodies — implied that efforts by Hungary's prime minister to shut down a university founded by George Soros are anti-Semitic.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban has long harbored animosity toward Soros, a Hungarian-born Jewish financier who has donated millions of dollars to liberal causes. Orban is now defending controversial legislation that many see as an attempt to shut down Central European University, a highly respected university Soros founded in 1991.
Orban told the European Parliament on Wednesday that Soros is an "American financial speculator attacking Hungary" who has "destroyed the lives of millions of Europeans."
The following day, European Commission First Vice President Frans Timmerman, a center-left Dutch politician, agreed when asked if he thought Orban's comments sounded anti-Semitic.
"I understood that exactly the same way and was appalled," Timmerman said, according to Euractiv.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto called on Timmerman to resign for his assertion.
Hundreds of academics around the world have protested Orban's legislation, which are amendments to the Hungarian National Higher Education Act. The fight is seen as a battle between Orban's nationalist priorities and Soros' "open society" outlook.
Read more: forward.com/fast-forward/371121/e…
(JTA) — Four previous U.S. envoys to fight anti-Semitism and promote religious freedom called on President Donald Trump to fill the two positions, which are currently empty.
The letter, sent by the Lantos Foundation, noted "spreading anti-Semitism both at home and abroad" and persecution of religious minorities in the Middle East and Asia.
The signatories include two former envoys for international religious freedom, Robert Seiple and Rabbi David Saperstein, the former director of the Reform movement's Religious Action Center; the two previous envoys for combating anti-Semitism, Hannah Rosenthal and Ira Forman; and the president of the Lantos Foundation and former chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, Katrina Lantos Swett.
"The perilous state of religious freedom around the globe confirms the wisdom of America's leaders in creating a legal framework for addressing these abuses and ensuring that our foreign policy remains focused on protecting and advancing these fundamental rights," read the letter sent Tuesday by the human rights-focused nonprofit.
There have been conflicting reports as to whether Trump will fill the anti-Semitism envoy position, but in April, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement to JTA that the Trump administration would appoint someone to serve in the role.
Read more: forward.com/fast-forward/371119/f…
ESCAPING THE ESCAPE – discuss the new efforts by the Bertelsmann Foundation and the Austrian reality.
Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on April 22nd, 2017
Bertelsmann Stiftung at PRESSE CLUB CONCORDIA, Bankgasse 8, 1010 Vienna.
with Academics originally from Afghanistan, Bulgaria, Nigeria, Sudan.
In 2015 – one million refugees to europe; in 2016 – 300,000; in 2017 – what now?
TURKEY IS A SPECIAL CASE – Many of their Austrian Residents and Citizens are now lining up
'Escaping the escape – Europe and the refugee crisis'
Zweitpass zurück! Türken stürmen nun die Konsulate
Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on April 18th, 2017
China. Serve the People.
25.4.2017, 19 – 21 Uhr, Oesterreichische Kontrollbank (Reitersaal), Strauchgasse 3, 1010 Wien, Anmeldung bei: neuwirth at vidc.org oder bertrams at vidc.org
The economic rise of China was impressive. Within three decades, approximately 350 million people escaped from extreme poverty. Some commentators predicted China's rise to an economic and world power and hoped that this will bring less hierarchical global economic relationships, amongst other things due to China's importance as an emerging donor in international development cooperation. In 2013, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China decided to stimulate domestic demand and be less dependent on exports. On several occasions, the Central Committee announced its intention to promote a socially balanced economic development.
It appears that these expectations have not been met, at least for now. Economic growth has come down and domestic demand is still slow. Environmental problems and the inequality between regions and social groups have increased enormously. Poor working conditions for factory workers in the export processing zones and violations of basic rights dominate media reports on China.
Ho-fung Hung
is Associate Professor in Political Economy at the Sociology Department at Johns Hopkins University. His research interests lie in economic history and global political economic analyses, focusing on China's economic development. His analyses are published regularly in academic journals and are featured in the media. Selected publications: The China Boom: Why China Will Not Rule the World (2015) and Protest with Chinese Characteristics: Demonstrations, Riots, and Petitions in the Mid-Qing Dynasty (2011), both published by Columbia University Press.
Chun-Yi Lee
lectures at the School of Politics and International Relations (SPIR) at the University of Nottingham. Her research focuses on multinational investment strategies in China and Chinese investments abroad, labor rights and industrial relations. In her recent research project she investigated Chinese labor in the global economy and the influence of foreign direct investment on workers' rights. Her book, Taiwanese Businessmen or Chinese Security Asset was published by Routledge in 2011.
Karin Fischer
is the head of the Politics and Development Research Department at the Institute of Sociology at Linz University as well as a consultant to the VIDC. She is the chairwoman of the Mattersburg Circle for Development Studies at Austrian Universities.
Thursday April 20, 2017 – The Vienna Solar Table will host a discussion on Batteries for the "Turn of the Energy Systems" (ENERGIEWENDE}.
Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on April 11th, 2017
Sehr geehrte Solarstammtischbesucherinnen und Solarstammtischbesucher!
"Batterien für die Energiewende" lautet das Thema unseres Solarstammtisches von EUROSOLAR AUSTRIA am 20.04.2017 ab 18:30 Uhr.
Uhrzeit: ab 18:30 Uhr
Tagesthema: Batteriespeicher für die Energiewende
Referent: Simon Noringbauer, Technischer Berater im Außendienst für OÖ/NÖ/W und Bgl., Fronius International GmbH
Moderation: Solarstammtisch-Koordinator
Ort: A-1060 Wien, Wallgasse 32, Restaurant "Zum Hagenthaler"; www.hagenthaler.at
Erreichbarkeit: www.wienerlinien.at, Westbahnhof U-Bahn U3, U6, Straßenbahn 6, 18 (Station "Mariahilfer Gürtel" vis a vis Westbahnhof 5 Minuten zu Fuß vom Westbahnhof)
TITEL UND REFERENTENVORSCHLÄGE FÜR ZUKÜNFTIGE SOLARSTAMMTISCHE BITTE SENDEN AN: info at eurosolar.at
Verleihung der EUROPÄISCHEN SOLARPREISE findet in Wien statt. Einreichungen möglich unter: www.eurosolar.de/de/index.php/sol…
TERMINE UNTER bzw. EINGEBEN:
EUROSOLAR AUSTRIA auf Facebook: www.facebook.com/eurosolaraustri…
FALTER: Artikel über die OMV, sehr zu empfehlen
Sonnige Grüße und frohe Ostern wünscht
René Bolz
Solarstammtisch-Koordinator EUROSOLAR AUSTRIA
Einfach NEIN senden, wenn Sie keine Einladungen mehr wünschen.
Click here to Reply, Reply to all, or Forward
Perryman Thermal Battery—with a Molten Nickle/Iron Core. Presentation Friday April 14, 2017 – New York City.
Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on April 8th, 2017
from Gelvin Stevenson
Thermal Energy Storage gets not the respect it deserves. But thermal storage has been used for over a century and works extremely well. It has the lowest cost per kilowatt, the smallest volume per kilowatt—or, conversely, the highest energy density—of any energy storage technology.
Chemical Engineer Virgil Perryman has spent over six years developing and testing his technology. He has been granted two patents and applied for another one. The British Ministry of Defense tried considered his technology in its early years to be used by the British forces in Afghanistan, including a half scaled 13-ton unit that can powered command control for a forward base, a front line surgical unit and radar. They tested it for several years using heat generated by both solar thermal arrays as well as charging from AC or DC sources. The storage unit was then used to generate both heat and electricity as needed.
The company plans to start installing its thermal batteries later this year. Mr. Perryman has developed one model about the size of a large home hot water unit; another is about half that size and is targeted for homes in the United Kingdom. The first commercial installation is set for a new green residential development England where construction is about to start.
It's no surprise that the technology works; it is, after all, based on a technology that's been around way longer than humans. The battery stores energy the same way the Earth stores energy—making it rather like your ultimate bio-mimicry technology. The earth has a molten metal core that's over 10,800 degrees Fahrenheit. That's about as hot as the sun! But the surface of the earth is about 60 degrees F. Why? Because of the multiple layers of refractory material between the core and the surface.
The company uses off-the-shelf magnetic induction to melt the nickel-iron core, which is surrounded by a special shield, which is surrounded by an alumina layer and layer of material very similar to the tiles used on the Space Shuttle tiles, a very efficient ceramic refractory which literally holds the heat in. Then there are more layers of ceramics of different density, all designed to trap the thermal energy, and finally a layer similar to the insulation you would find on your kitchen oven. The outside enclosure can be customized to various applications and for inside or outdoor use. Finally, the unit's outside layer is warm to the touch (about 90 degrees F) but not hot; rather like the cooling fins on the back of a refrigerator. It is controlled by a touch pad with a remote-control option.
It is a global battery, with the core from Austria, thermal transfer system from Germany, the controls from several suppliers including the USA, UK and Japan, and, finally, the closed loop steam generator from suppliers worldwide to allow local servicing and maintenance since it's the only component with moving parts. While the supply chain may be complicated, the technology is simple.
Register at the GIF Eventbrite page: Greentech Investors Forum
Perryman Energy Storage Batteries compare very favorably with other battery technologies. They store roughly 10 times as much energy as Elon Musk's Powerwall lithium-ion batteries (that have roughly a 10kWh storage capacity) and will cost half as much. Moreover, Perryman will offer a 10 year warranty. The company believes, however, that the battery will run 100 years and the steam turbines will last 30 years or more with proper maintenance. The company claims that the core, which is "solid state", won't run out; only the control system may need updating with the will the thermostat may have to be replaced periodically. The steam turbine—depending on the brand selected from country to country—can last a half of century without replacement.
In addition, the Perryman Battery bests Lithium Ion batteries because they last longer, are not poisonous, do not start fires and do not pollute.
The original cost will be about $13,500 each. They expect that to fall to about $6,000 each when they get to an annual production level of 10,000 units per year. This cost is way lower than competitors. Perryman Batteries cost $80/kW compared to $600/kW for molten salt, $250/kW for lithium ion, $320/kW for lead acid batteries and $500/kW for flow batteries.
The company is currently working on a plan to offer the DC Metro (the Capitol's subway system which consumer a huge amount of electricity) a solution that may reduce operating cost to a sustainable level. They are proposing to store cheap electricity during the off-peak periods and resupply during peak periods as well as provide thermal energy for Winter's heating and drive absorption chiller for air conditioning in the Summers, all while cutting costs by 60%.
Agenda: 8:00 to 8:30 – Networking & light breakfast
Security: Security is tight, so please register early. If there is a problem at the Security Desk, please contact Gelvin Stevenson at 917-599-6089.
Fees: $50, payable ahead of time or at the door. Cash or checks and credit cards accepted.
$25 for call-in. Registered call-ins will be emailed the call-in numbers and, if available, the slides to be presented.
To register, visit Greentech Investors Forum, the Eventbrite site above, or send your contact information to Gelvin Stevenson at gelvin.stevenson at gmail.com or 917-599-6089. Please contact Gelvin If you have questions or need more information.
Virgil Perryman is the founder and inventor of Perryman Technologies. Virgil has had an extensive career that has culminated in the development of key patents in the areas of collection, storage, and application of thermal energy. These patents protect the technology used in the Perryman Troughs, Dishes, Perryman Micro Panels, Perryman Battery™, Non-Combustion Gas Turbines and the many globally important applications of these technologies.
Virgil's technical specialty is the science of how elements behave and interact at very high temperatures. This has led to the ultimate energy storage system; the Perryman Battery™, which uses metal with high heat capacity in its molten state and can store in the larger batteries billions of joules of energy. Further, it can store this energy for months if not years until required. Virgil has also developed a reflective film that captures energy from both visible light and thermal from the infrared spectrum that can heat the metal in the battery to around 1650oC. Virgil's full spectrum collectors can operate economically in nearly all locations globally, and certainly in many areas of the planet where conventional solar thermal and PV just does not work. This technology can be used to provide clean, renewable, low-cost energy for electricity, heating, cooling, water management, transportation, food and material production and many other applications which will have a positive impact on nearly every aspect of human life.
Sector Expert Larry Austin has an extensive history of corporate financings as well as merger and acquisition activity, both in the US and abroad. He has worked extensively in China, and has conducted due diligence on dozens of portfolios of distressed bank loans and other assets in China, Hong Kong, Korea, and Indonesia.
He has been instrumental in the development of several new financing structures, from credit enhancement work in the New York capital markets, to zero-coupon loan facilities in London and New York. He has worked extensively as a corporate lawyer, consultant and lecturer in the fields of technology start-ups (robotics, telecommunications, materials applications and AI) and commercialization of low-earth orbit activities, and served on the Commercial Advisory Subcommittees for NASA.
One of the most experienced lawyers in the field of Section 17 Corporate charters issued by the US Government to Native American Tribal Governments which enable such bodies to engage in commercial activities worldwide in a non-taxable vehicle, Mr. Austin also has experience in trademarks and copyright protection disputes. In this regard, he represented US based group of International Association of Motion Pictures Exporters, Porsche and other companies.
Larry Austin received his Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School.
US-Europe relations being discussed at the Vienna Burgtheater – March 5th 2017 and April 2nd 2017. What Changes with the US Trump Presidency.
Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on March 23rd, 2017
‹Europa im Diskurs – Debating Europe›
Der neue US-Präsident Donald Trump wird eine andere Außenpolitik vertreten als Barack Obama. Es ist zu erwarten, dass die USA ihre bisherige Rolle als "Weltpolizei" nicht mehr in dem Maße wie bisher ausüben wollen. Das hat Auswirkungen auf die Bündnispartner, nicht nur in der Nato. Was haben die Europäer von Trump zu erwarten?
That was the Monthly Meeting at the Venerable Vienna Burgtheater for the Month of March 2017 (March 5th).
It will have a sequel on April 2nd, 2017 WHEN POPULISM IN GENERAL WILL BE DISCUSSED..
It was interesting, although no major surprises. They all agreed that Trump will represent a different foreign policy that Barack Obama or any US President who preceded him. Is it to be expected that the US will no longer want to exercise their role as world police to the extent they have done in the past? This has an impact on the alliance partners, not only in NATO. Trump's turn to Russia presents the EU with challenges to which they must respond.
Under the leadership and Moderation of Alexandra Foederl-Schmid, the Speakers were:
Judy Dempsey, Senior Fellow, Carnegie Europe; Alison Smale, head of the Berlin New York Times office; Robert Dornhelm, Film Director and Movie Script-Writer; Former US Republican Congressman; and Ivan Krastev, Political Science Professor, Bulgaria and Permanent Fellow of the Institute for Human Sciences (Instituts fuer Wissenschaften vom Menschen – IWM) Vienna.
THAT WAS THE BURGTHEATER PROGRAM FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 5, 2017. EUROPE BEING DISCUSSED (Europa Im Diskurs) -EUROPE-USA: WHAT WILL CHANGE UNDER TRUMP?
ON SUNDAY, APRIL 2, 2017 11:00, there will be a sequel –
Burgtheater | Europa im Diskurs – Debating Europe
"DO WE LIVE IN A TIME OF POPULISM?" – this is like seeing if what happened in te USA will
On March 5, 2017 – Most speakers were not Trump supporters (except Irish lady Dempsey who did not really support him but said one must give him a chance). Nevertheless – all of them view him with caution, to say the least.
The two surprising participants for me were Jim Kolbe, Former Republican Congressman from Arizona (1985 till 2007) who is now Board member of IRI (International Republican Institute).
He started by stating that he will definitely not get a phone call from the Trump Administration to join their cabinet. He did not support Trump from the start, and still does not support him. In his closing remarks, Congressman Kolb said that some Republicans are starting to doubt Trump's ability to be President. He mentioned his fellow Arizonian John McCain and Lindsey Graham in particular. He criticized Trump's Administration by saying that very often he says one thing and his Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense say something different – and who is to believe? Is Steve Bannon running the show?
As for Trump's relationship with Russia, Europe should worry – said Congressman Kolb.
The second surprise was Robert Dornheim, a Film Director and Screenwriter, who was born in Romania but has dual citizenship Austrian and US and lives now mainly in Los Angeles.
As a staunch Bernie Sanders supporter he is is completely against Trump. Dornheim was also angry at the media, that fell for Trump's ability at showmanship during the whole campaign and gave him about 10 hours of coverage to 10 minutes of coverage to Sanders. As a result many Sanders supporters voted for Trump and he personally has lost many friends that way. He urged Jim Kolbe to use his influence on his fellow Republicans to do something! He even went as far as to suggest that all debates about a Trump Presidency should not be taken so seriously – since he is not worth it. One should not even discuss him. This brought a mixed reaction from the panel and audience and was not taken too seriously.
The other panel members were Judy Dempsey, Senior Fellow, Carnegie Foundation, an Irish journalist, who was the most lenient towards Trump and said, among other things that we cannot forget that he was elected with the support of millions of people, and he is now the President and must be given a chance.
Ivan Krastev, Political Scientist analyzed Trump at length, mentioned his obsession with Radical Islam which dates back to many years before, obsessed with the Trade deficit and the idea that deficit is always bad (although it has existed in the US for many years already), and his idea of "Make American great again" is his main goal.
As for Trump's latest accusation of President Obama wiretapping his phones at Trump Tower, all agreed that this is absurd, there is no evidence to it. Jim Kolbe explained that in the US you need a court order to do that, and it was definitely not asked for or given to President Obama.
Ivan Krastev said that this is Trump's tactic. He rules by distraction. When an important issues come up (right now Sessions reclusing himself from the Russia investigation) Trump comes up with some sensational Tweet to distract. This is his governing tactics.
All panel members agreed that Europe has to stay united and become stronger together.
Burgtheater | April 2, 2017 – 11.00 o'clock |
Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on February 27th, 2017
Once a month, on Sunday 11am, the Burgtheater main hall is taken over by Ms. Alexandra Foederl-Schmidtdt, the editor of "Der Standard" who chairs a podium-discussion loaded with local and foreign intellectual lights.
Look at the ways the USA and the EU Member States are evolving these days, I would like to p0int out the last podium discussion – that of February 19, 2017 titled: "Do We Live In Revolutionary Times? and my intent is also to announce next meeting – it will be held March 5, 2017. The title of the next meeting will be
The panel for the upcoming March discussion, under Ms. Foederl-Schmidt leadership, will include Ivan Krastev of IWM, Judy Dempsey, Senior Fellow Carnegie Europe, Allison Smale, Chief Correspondent of the New York Times in Berlin, Robert Dornhelm, Writer and Film Director, and Jim Kolbe, a former Republican member of US Congress.
Now regarding the February meeting of this EUROPE IN DISCOURSE SERIES:
Among the many points presented in the discussion I will try to mention those that seemed to me as having made most impact.
Prof. Heller wants to start with defining democracy – what does it mean today? States like Iraq, Turkey, or Russia have democracy but these are not the same. We want a Liberal Democracy in the West. But look at Greece, Portugal, or Spain – there is no unity at the EU on their meaning.
The crises, yes – there is something positive in them. People start to see that there is something to lose.
Prof. Blom says that we are not living in a Weimar Republic. We are too rich and have a civil Society. Next revolution will not be in uniform but rather it will come as a normalization process.
The National Socialism was no Socialism, and the Italian Fascism was no Nazism. In 1945 the World was as exhausted as Europe after the Napoleon Wars. The revolution came only in 1956 and he sees today a similarity to 1968. "WE WILL NOT GET FASCISM BUT SOME NEW STUPIDITY!"
Stroebele says that the real question remains the lack of distribution of wealth. The problem is with migrants from a country like Iraq that saw no part in the wealth.
She added that historians and philosopher do not deal with hope but with facts.
Prof. Heller returned to the subject by saying revolution is a European concept. In the 20's there was a belief in independence and freedom. This was a political revolution. Today people do not trust this. Also – too few children in Europe. Change is not in the cards.
Stroebele: the French revolution was a revolution of poverty. Now you can build walls but the Africans will come nevertheless.
Heller: you are right – the problem is not European but Global.
Schwarzenberg: We must bring the jobs to Africa.
He also said that there will be migration from Mexico, and Trump reheats ideas from 100 years ago under belief that humans are not equal. He may even conclude that Humans are not the most clever apes.
Schwarzenberg's conclusion was that in Gatopardo: We must change everything in order to remain where we are.
Other events at the IWM building at are:
March 2nd, 6:00 pm — lecture by Rainer Bauboeck
March 9th, 6:00 pm — book presentation by Luuk van Middelaar
In spite of the US "Trumpization" and the fact it metastasizes in Europe, young and middle-age Europeans remain optimistic.
Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on February 26th, 2017
Having reported on the situation in the USA, and not seeing there hope before the more solid Republicans start impeachment procedures on the base of Trump's instability, we see no reason
Our attention will now switch to resiliency in Europe – much of what we neglected so far.
First let us congratulate Austria for the recent election of an excellent Presidential choice.
In both countries historically there was a two party system – two parties that nourished from the same establishment – and in both countries people had enough of the frozen establishment
We know the US had a frozen Democratic Party that its leadership did not realize that times were changing. The Republicans were more fortunate in the sense that the Conservative Action wing established by President Reagan and nourished by Patrick Buchanan, then reinvigorated
In Austria it was just as clear, but there was a different result. Simply, perhaps it is true,
So, what happened there? "The Reds" or the Austrian Socialist Party, and "The Blacks" or
This needs further explanation. The Austrian President is elected in direct elections but has really no powers except on one topic – and on this later. The full powers to run the State
The Editor of the "Wiener Zeitung", Reinhard Goewell pointed out February 2nd, 2017, that in totality, the EU of 28 has an economy much better and more robust then commonly accepted – this because figures are per member state; he points out the count of Olympic medals. If aded up – tey are the winners by far. He also said that Europe's citizens are not presented these total numbers and just do not realize their united strength. If President Trump directed by his chief ideologue Steven Bannon want to distance themselves from the 1776 formulation of a global world of Human Rights based on Life, Freedom, and striving for happiness, Europe must take over the leadership. This must be a united Europe. Thinking of the Islamic Berbers and the Ottomans – their relations to Spain and the Balkan, Europe must find its own way as the Trump/Bannon team is strange to Europe despite the present problems with Islamists.
Even though population-wise, the pert of the "old continent" is sinking, remembering it still is the strongest economic power has to light its way.
At this month's summit EU meeting in Valetta, the present EU leadership by tiny Malta, has started a process to reform the EU Charter with further ideas to be presented by Mr. Donald Tusk of Poland, the EU Council Chair. A more powerful central leadership is being called for,
EU Commission Chief Jean-Claude Juncker of Luxembourg sees the need to divide the EU
The European Central Bank (ECB) governing council member for Austria, the honorable Ewald Nowotny, said already November 9th 2016 that Donald Trump's shock election win in the United States "is not a good day for the world economy" and "Close observation is certainly necessary right now." Nowotny, is on the ECB's governing council that makes monetary policy decisions as he is head of Austria's Central Bank the National Bank of Austria. Today, despite the seemingly positive moves of economy and banking globally – Nowotny is not impressed and advocates the European decoupling from the American financial system – as inevitable downs are bound to come. So, a Europe United but moving at different speeds – internally and externally is in the making.
Above leads us to efforts, by young and old, to help insulate the European Union from the vagaries of a changing America. Also, seeing no future in American leadership, the EU, fending for itself will also continue to pursue global goals as formulated under the accepted US leadership of President Obama days. From our point of view the themes of the Global environment and the halting of Climate change to an acceptable minimum will now be pursued by the Europeans as if the US were no partners or residents of this planet. As long as Trump still resides at the White House – it will be impossible to hold him responsible for these prior agreements. As above, our main reporting will deal with Vienna – as in Austria and as at the UN Vienna Center.
As part of this series of reports we look at IAAI and ACUNS meetings in Vienna – The "International Association for the Advancement of Innovative Approaches to Global Challenges" and the "Academic Council on the United Nations System,"
IAAI is an Austrian NGO run out of Klagenfurt, Carinthia, Austria and Ljublijana, Slovenia.
RAUN – created with the help of Sweden's Jan Eliasson, UN Deputy Secretary General, as an Austrian organization belongs to the larger ACUNS and the IAAI Workshop was in conjunction to the bi-yearly meeting of ACUNS. That followed then January 17 – 20, 2017.
At this year's meetings, RAUN was represented by Lisa Mokra and IAAI by its head – Miroslav Polzer and ACUNS by Alistair Edgar, the head of te organization who is from Waterloo, Canada.
The gist of above meetings was to continue, Austria based the work of UN New York.
At the Vienna Business University ("Wirtschaftsuniversitaet") February 9-11, 2017 there was a conference titled "The 2nd Congress for a GOOD LIFE FOR ALL." A good life is not consumerism!
In his Keynote speech, Prof. Andreas Novy said "Change comes in Chaos." He defined the GOOD LIFE as the life of those that do not live on account of others. This is a direct continuation of the French Revolution and the Austrian Revolution of 1918 that led to the First Austrian Republic. He sounded like Senator Bernie Sanders of the US.
Freedom for all needs borders that are set democratically – sustainability is a basis to this.
On the second day there was a guest from Ecuador – an embattled State that saw some of its worst allowing oil and mining companies rip up the land and make its inhabitants destitute.
Further on – February 15-17, 2017 the large Conference at the Technical University of Vienna – "Climate Goals for 2050 – Chance for a Paradigm Change?"
Then, not to forget a truly High-Tech event February 14-15, 2017 at the Austrian Presidential Hofburg. Title: "Global Summit on Blockchain Technology in the Energy Sector."
Are we starting to see the Trumpization of Europe or indeed the two phenomena regarding immigrants are different. There is no comfort for Israel in these developments.
Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on February 24th, 2017
This is the first posting on SustainabiliTank that will be followed by another posting based on an event at the CLUB OF LOGICAL THINKERS, Vienna – February 8, 2017.
By ESZTER ZALAN, February 9, 2017, The EUObserver from Brussels.
The majority of Europeans, according to a poll of more than 10,000 people in 10 EU countries, would support a Trump-style ban on migration from mainly Muslim countries.
An average of 55 percent of those surveyed agreed, 25 percent neither agreed nor disagreed and 20 percent disagreed, the poll, published on Tuesday, (7 February) said.
According to the survey, 71 percent of people in Poland, 65 percent Austria, 64 percent in Hungary and Belgium, and 61 percent in France agreed.
Support was also high in Greece (58%), Germany (53%), Italy (51%), the UK (47%) and Spain (41%).
Chatham House called the findings "striking and sobering".
Support for the ban was stronger among older populations, with only 44 percent of people aged 18-29 being in favour, while 63 percent of those older than 60 said they agreed with a ban.
The notion of a ban was more popular with men and those living in rural areas. Urban dwellers and female respondents were less likely to support the move.
Education was also a dividing factor: of those with secondary level qualifications 59 percent opposed further Muslim immigration, while less than half of all degree holders supported further migration curbs.
European leaders have slammed Trump's immigration ban from seven mainly Muslim countries, while leaders of Europe's populist right-wing parties have praised the move.
Lack of faith
The worldwide survey conducted online by Ipsos targeted adults under 65 in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Britain, Germany, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Poland, Serbia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and the United States.
The results, published in late January, showed that people say they were more likely to support a party or political leader who promised radical change.
European respondents participating in the survey generally lacked trust in international institutions.
After the eurozone turmoil and bank bailouts, people also lacked faith in banks, with Spain and Italy leading the way, on 92 and 80 percent, respectively, followed by Germany on 75 percent.
People tended to distrust the justice system as well, although to a lesser degree, with Spain, Hungary, Italy, and Poland being the most sceptical among the surveyed European nations.
Lack of confidence in the media was also well above 50 percent in the European countries participating in the poll.
In Hungary, where prime minister Viktor Orban's ruling Fidesz has dominated the media landscape, respondents distrusted the media the most, with 87 percent saying they lack confidence.
Seventy five percent of British respondents also said they do not trust their media.
Most respondents had no confidence in their government either, with Spain distrusting their political leadership with 89 percent. Polish and Hungarian respondents also said ( 82 percent) that they do not trust their governments.
In all European countries participating in the survey, over 70 percent of the respondents said they did not trust political parties.
Outspoken leaders
With the presidential election campaign heating up in France, where far-right leader Marine Le Pen is a front-runner, 80 percent of French respondents said they want a "strong leader who breaks the rules".
Around half of the people in Hungary, Belgium, and Italy thought that their country would be stronger if immigration was stopped, a curious result in Hungary where there is virtually no immigration, as last year it granted asylum protection to just 432 people, according to official figures.
By ANDREW RETTMAN
BRUSSELS, February 9, 2017
Jewish settlers create illegal outposts under the protection of Israeli soldiers (Photo: Rosie Gabrielle)
It said that those people in Germany who felt friendly toward Israel had been "disappointed" and urged it to restore its "credibility" by restating its promise to establish a future Palestinian state alongside Israel and to "underpin this with practical steps".
It added that such a promise was also needed because members of the right-wing Israeli coalition had "openly called for the annexation of parts of the West Bank and are preparing bills to this end."
The French foreign minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, and its ambassador to Israel, Helene Le Gal, also spoke out.
Le Gal said: "The international community is wondering if they should trust Israel when Israel is saying that [it] is ready for discussion with … the Palestinians, and to reach an agreement on the two-state solution."
She said the fact that Israel planned to financially compensate the Palestinian landowners did not make it any better.
"If there is an agreement, of course, that these settlement blocs are within Israel, then of course there is no problem. But there is no discussion. It's only Israel who decides," she said.
Outposts, unlike settlements, are private initiatives by Jewish settler groups who pitch camp on Palestinian land protected by Israeli soldiers and claim it for their own on Biblical grounds.
In January, Israel also announced plans to build 6,000 new official settler homes in East Jerusalem and the West Bank in a decision that also flouted international law and drew foreign rebukes.
France is an outspoken critic of Israel and has even warned that it would unilaterally recognise Palestine if it lost faith in the peace process.
The strong statement by Germany, which has in the past shied away from criticising Israel due to Germany's Holocaust-era crimes, was a new development, however.
The UK, which has been trying to curry favour with the Trump, and the Czech Republic, formerly a staunch Israeli ally, also attacked the outpost law.
The legalisation "damages Israel's standing with its international partners", Tobias Ellwood, British minister for the Middle East said.
The EU foreign service was the first to react, already on Tuesday, saying that the outpost law "entrenched … a one-state reality".
Speaking to EUobserver in an interview over the weekend, Saeb Erekat, the secretary general of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, said the EU's verbal rebukes had little meaning unless they were backed up by sanctions, such as banning exports of settler products.
"Lack of accountability, impunity, is what provides the Israeli government with enough confidence to move ahead with its plan to bury the prospects of the two-state solution," he said. "The Netanyahu administration knows that no action will be taken," he said.
March 3, 2017, at the U. of Vienna, The 4th Humanitarian Congress about Global Consequences of Failed Policy Making Resulting in Humanity on the Run.
Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on February 2nd, 2017
The Humanitarian Congress gives you the chance to benefit from the unique insights of the experts as for example Mr. Volker Türk, Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, UNHCR or Kate Gilmore, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations discussing the following themes:
Why are People Forced to Flee?
Refugee Health – Time for Change
The Erosion of International Law – Who Cares?
Civil Society and Refugees: Lessons Learned
Leaving No One Behind – A Mission Impossible?
For more information please visit www.humanitariancongress.at and the attached Newsletter.
With kind regards,
Mag.a Annelies Vilim
Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Entwicklung und Humanitäre Hilfe
Apollogasse 4/9, 1070 Wien
Tel.: (+43 1) 522 44 22
office at globaleverantwortung.at
www.humanitaerer-kongress.at / info at humanitaerer-kongress.at
From IIASA – Emissions of methane and ethane from oil production have been substantially higher than previously estimated.
Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on February 1st, 2017
Oil production releases more methane than previously thought.
Laxenburg, Austria, 1 February 2017: Global methane and ethane emissions from oil production from 1980 to 2012 were far higher than previous estimates show, according to a new study which for the first time takes into account different production management systems and geological conditions around the world.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, which scientists rank as the second-most important contributor to climate change after carbon dioxide. Yet while methane concentrations in the atmosphere can be easily measured, it is difficult to determine the contribution of different sources, whether human or natural. This is necessary information for reducing emissions.
"In an oil reservoir, there is a layer of gas above the oil which has a methane content of 50 to 85 percent. When you pump the oil to the surface this associated gas will also escape," explains IIASA researcher Lena Höglund-Isaksson, who led the study. In oil production facilities in North America, almost all of this gas is recovered and what is not recovered will for the most part be flared to prevent leakage (and potential explosions), while a very small fraction is simply vented. In other parts of the world, where recovery rates are lower, much larger quantities of this gas are released into the atmosphere.
"Existing global bottom-up emission inventories of methane used rather simplistic approaches for estimating methane from oil production, merely taking the few direct measurements that exist from North American oil fields and scaling them with oil production worldwide," says Höglund-Isaksson. This approach left a large room for error, so Höglund Isaksson decided to develop a new method that could better account for the many variations in oil production around the world.
In the new paper, published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, Höglund-Isaksson estimated global methane emissions from oil and gas systems in over 100 countries over a 32-year period, using a variety of country-specific data ranging from reported volumes of associated gas to satellite imagery that can show flaring, as well as atmospheric measurements of ethane, a gas which is released along with methane and easier to link more directly to oil and gas activities.
She found that in particular in the 1980s, global methane emissions were as much as double previous estimates. The study also found that the Russian oil industry contributes a large amount to global methane emissions. A decline in the Russian oil industry in the 1990s contributed to a global decline in methane emissions which continued until the early 2000's. At the same time, Höglund-Isaksson found, methane recovery systems were becoming more common and helping to reduce emissions. Yet since 2005, emissions from oil and gas systems have remained fairly constant, which Höglund-Isaksson says is likely linked to increasing shale gas production which largely offsets emission reductions from increased gas recovery.
Höglund-Isaksson points out that her estimates are only as good as the data allow and that there is still uncertainty in the numbers. She says, "To improve the data, a close collaboration between the scientific measurement community and the oil and gas industry would be needed to make more direct measurements available from different parts of the world."
Has the ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson accepted the less paying job of US Secretary of State in order to fight countries that still keep Exxon (under the ESSO name) and Mobil as separate companies?
Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on December 27th, 2016
We just returned from a cruise of ports in the Western Mediterranean and observed that in all those countries there is no unification of Exxon (or Esso) and Mobil. We got the hinch that Mr. Tillerson wants the less interesting job of Secretary of State for good company reasons. He will be now in a position to wrestle those stubborn states that do not see good reason to allow a monopoly of the petroleum, or what he better describes as energy management.
The Climate Change and non-petroleum energy issues ExxonMobil learned to handle to its advantage from the old Mobil. We saw tat in the way Mobil Oil brought about the unneeded "Gas-to-Gas" project in New Zealand where the locals lost their chance to become independent of Petroleum and the Whangarei refinery by going for a CNG transportation system in the North Island and a methanol from Natural gas in the South Island.
The Union of Concerned Scientists has stories to tell about that company's dealings in the USA and in the UK. Now Tillerson surely hopes to be able to manage the World at large.
UCS writes – ExxonMobil is attacking UCS because they are a real threat. They know UCS does not take government or corporate funding so they're more independent and less susceptible to intimidation. They know wUCS is bipartisan and can mobilize people across the political spectrum. They're hoping the prospect of an expensive legal fight will convince UCS to drop the role as a defender of science.
Take palm oil, one of the biggest agricultural commodities on the planet. Over the last 10 years, booming demand led to massive tropical deforestation—and colossal carbon emissions. So we worked with investors, targeted huge brands like General Mills and Procter & Gamble, and collaborated with other organizations—securing sustainability policy changes at 24 major global brands in just the last few years. And as of this year, most globally traded palm oil is covered by solid commitments to zero deforestation, saving millions of acres of forest and keeping tons of carbon out of the air.¹
By coincidence, today the "WIENER ZEITUNG" had a large article by Petra Tempfer based on studies at the local IIASA – a scientific think-tank – on the true economy of palm oil.
Or take our progress in the last year, even with a hostile Congress: We helped pass best-in-class clean energy laws in California, Oregon, Illinois, and Massachusetts and won strong national fuel efficiency standards for heavy duty trucks (which will prevent 1.1 billion tons of carbon pollution).
We won these victories after years of smart campaigning—often under political climates that were discouraging.
Help UCS show opponents that they can't bully it into silence. Make a tax-deductible donation to the Union of Concerned Scientists.
We've already organized thousands of scientists to pressure the incoming Trump administration—getting media attention in The Washington Post, NBC News, and The Scientist magazine—and we will continue to make our voice impossible to ignore.
Their strategy: tie up the people and organizations who exposed their efforts to deceive the public, cost them time and money, and scare nonprofits off from future accountability efforts.
Biofuels Policy was always a football in a game between Energy-Environmentalists and the Agro-Corporate World that Benefits from Government Hand-Outs.
Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on March 19th, 2016
IIASA study assesses land use impacts of EU biofuel policy
Laxenburg Austria, 16 March 2016 – The indirect impacts of biofuel production on land use change and greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union vary widely depending on the type of biofuel, according to a study published last week.
IIASA researcher Hugo Valin led the modeling for the study. He says, "First generation biofuels have been criticized in the past due to their indirect land use change impact, which our study confirms. But by looking at a much broader range of biofuel options, we clearly show that not all biofuels are equal."
Valin says, "It's impossible to remove all uncertainties in such an analysis, but the real value of this study is that it helps decision makers to better anticipate the potential implications of the option they choose. Models help to develop a common understanding of what the problems at stake are and how to mitigate them. In the context of biofuel policies this is especially true, as modeling illustrates the trade-offs between greenhouse gas emissions, food consumption, land occupation, agricultural income, and other issues."
More information
We, at SustainabiliTank, find some problems with above study based on our own experience.
Years ago – end of seventies-beginning of eighties – we published via US Congressional hearings about land use and industrial liquid biofuels production. Our argument was that agriculture in industrialized countries is managed by government policy. This was clearly true in the US, and I was approached by the newly formed Brussels based EU Agriculture Commissioner who was interested in that analysis of policy for the EU States as well.
The argument was that the various Departments of Agriculture support the price of food commodities by limiting their production or simply put – by paying farmers NOT TO PRODUCE or keep land out of production. My argument was to use that land – the so called SET-ASIDES – for the new industry of liquid biofuels and stop non-production-subsidies. I went so far as to calculate that for the US I could PRODUCE ETHANOL FROM CORN THAT WAS NOT GROWN AND PAY FOR IT WITH MONEY THAT WAS NOT SPENT. That testimony caused – because of request from Members of Congress – to my being hired as a consultant by the Office of the Comptroller General Of the United States – the US GAO – the General Accounting Office – in order to have them check out those arguments. Surely they found that there was a base for my arguments. They also found that the reduction of the quantities of agricultural commodity produced was much smaller then expected because, naturally, the farmer kept out of production the worst parts of their land. The funniest part was that agricultural corporations would switch the non-production claims from one commodity o another contingent on which 'asides" provided higher subsidies that year – one year it could have been historic corn, but another year it could have been a claim of not growing wheat.
Whatever, at least for the EU and the US – the "set aside" policy is just public money dished out to the large farming industry for no good purpose and the concept of "hunger in China" just did not hold water. Environmentalists in this context did rather play up to the big oil and farming interests rather then my perception of reduction of dependence on petroleum. Surely, this is different when replacing natural forests in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil with oil- producing palm trees in the tropics. In those cases the damage to the environment is real. But not when we talk about the vast already deforested agricultural expances of Europe and America. Further, it is clear to us that in a globalized world – producing those commodities in smaller farms overseas, and subsistence farming, would save CO2 emissions that occur in the transport of those commodities originating in highly agriculture-industrialized economies – albeit this means lower take in the industrialized countries, lower need for food production by industrialized countries, and a parallel gain in employment by therural sector in non-industrialized countries we usually define as Developing Countries.
Vienna crowned again by Mercer's "Quality of Living City Rankings" and we think it is the natural hub for the post-Paris2015 mechanism that will look at the implemetation of the Single-Country Committments.
Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on March 10th, 2016
After having decided that global agreements chased by the UN Headquarters in New York are just pipe dreams. All we can hope for is this network of individual country promises that in their sum-total can answer needs like a decrease in CO2 presence in the atmosphere while not forgetting goals of poverty reduction, energy, climate, security, or equity. We were grateful to President Obama when we realized that this was his thinking as well, and the Paris2015 Outcome – that some insist on calling the Paris Agreement – does in effect constitute the answer to our needs – but only if a "verification of progress" system is put in place.
We looked around and realized that most energy related UN affiliates are headquartered, or at least have a foot, here in Vienna. So I started this series of articles. The more I looked at this – the harder it became writing it – this because of the richness of material – literally daily I am involved in activities, or at least get material that all relate to these topics.
In this last posting I take the advantage of an exceptional boon – the fact that again Vienna was declared the most livable city in the World. This can clearly help. Would you not rather want to live in the best city in the World?
Besides the city of Vienna, among the first 31 out of the 230 cities with ranking by Mercer, we find a total of 8 cities from German speaking Europe; further 8 assorted cities from other Western Europe (Copenhagen, Geneva, Amsterdam, Luxembourg, Stockholm, Brussels, Helsinki, Oslo); New Zealand/Australia account for 9 cities, Canada for 4 cities, Singapore that this year dropped to only 26th place, and highest ranked US city – San Francisco – at 28th place.
Paris is at 37th place, London at 39, New York and Tokyo are at 44-45.
Dubai is at 75th place, Abu Dhabi at 81, Taipei at 84.
First Developing Country city is Durban, South Africa, 86th place.
Buenos Aires, first Spanish speaking South American city is at 93rd place.
Tel Aviv is at 104th place, Brasilia at 106, Muscat, at 107, Tunis at 113.
Beijing, first city in China, is at 118th place. Istanbul at 122.
Mexico City is at 127th place, Riyadh at 164, Moscow at 167, Tehran at 203, Damascus at 224, and at bottom 230 Baghdad.
What are your conclusions from looking at the above?
Is it not so that you would rather like to live in Western Europe – in Vienna and surrounding countries? In Australia, New Zealand and Canada? Would you contemplate on reasons why some of the richest countries' capital-cities are low on the list?
I will proceed now to review some of the most resent activities that occurred in the city of Vienna that were rooted with the city itself and not with organizations from afar planted here or organizations formed here in response to needs afar.
In our series we posted so far about: The IAEA Headquarters, The SE4All Headquarters The Outer-Space UN affiliates, The Laxenburg Palace based IIASA, and the Kommunalkredit Public Consulting Group that works with the Austrian Foreign Aid office connected to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Let us look now first at cultural life – and I will go after two amazing shows that just opened:
DER KONGRESS TANZT – "The Congress Dances" – an amazing Operetta that opened at the VOLKSOPER on the Guertel.
The Historical facts are that the Congress of Vienna (German: Wiener Kongress) was a conference of ambassadors of European states chaired by Austrian statesman Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, and held in Vienna from September 1814 to June 1815.
The Congress was intended to organize the post-Napoleon Europe and through that – the World. In many ways this was an attempt to create an overarching EU. All came except Napoleon who was left behind on his exile-island.
It was said that instead of being in session this Congress danced. The Congress of Vienna was the first of a series of international meetings that came to be known as the Concert of Europe, which was an attempt to forge a peaceful balance of power in Europe. It served as a model for later organizations such as the League of Nations in 1919 and the United Nations in 1945.
Covering the lighter side of this Congress Erik Charell used some of the songs from a Con ference-time operetta and produced a film that was released in 1931. Recently, Richard Heymann extracted some of the music from the film, added some of his own, and with the help of conductor and arranger Christian Kolonowiits recreated the operetta that was released now in 2016. This because Vienna celebrated in 2015 the 200th anniversary of the Vienna Congress. This operetta, a parody of the Congress, approached gingerly by the Volksoper, is now the newest "must see" in Vienna.
The BURGTHEATER on the Ring, premiered this week Peter Handke's – DIE UNSCHULDIGEN, ICH UND DIE UNBEKANTE AM RAND DER LANDSTRASSE (Those Without Guilt, I and the unknown on the edge of the country road) – a masterpiece of modern theater in the celebrated hall of classicism.
Handke (born in 1942 – the war years – his mother resettled in the village Griffin in 1948 after leaving the DDR) was a young Austrian writer (novelist, playwright and political activist) who believed that at the beginning there was the word. Handke's first play was PUBLIKUMSBESCHIMPFUNG (Talking Rough to the Public) that automatically made him a sensation in Germany – Austria was too small for him those days. Back those years we saw his work and works by the German Hans Magnus Enzensberger at the Brooklyn Academy of Music – the old Brooklyn Opera House. Handke's luck was that He was recognized by the German Director Claus Peyman who staged that first play and since then another 10 plays by Handke. Handke gained international attention after an appearance at a meeting of avant-garde artists belonging to the Gruppe 47 in Princeton, New Jersey, USA.
Landstrasse, stage work by Karl-Ernst Hermann, has a vague autobiographical content and ia all played out on the county road that connects his village Griffin with a neighboring village and in itself becomes a stage for the locals and the World at large. It reminds one of Martin Luther who already then saw the importance of taking reality to the streets – this for him a direct connection between humans and God. For Handke, this is not God but human truth. The simple staging – a broad white ellipse winding to a distant corner – is the path where the action walks by and we peep in on it. This is modern poetic theater at its best – a good place to relax when trying to deal with the World's woes.
The action is not specific but rather full of hints and you get out really what you want to see. The hints include totaliarism – quite clearly a reminder of the villages Nazi past, butb then there are aspects of budding love and perhapse unanswered love and bitterness – but also hope for a better world.
I started with Vienna's high locally centered life – but then there are musical events, not just Staatsoper and the Philharmonic, but locally produced musical events where Austrians play foreign folks to perfection. We just enjoyed evenings sponsored by the Austro-American Society with Irish and Mexican music. The Irish evening was held in a typical Austrian pub, and the Mexican and American event was at the organization's Club rooms where the manager, an Austrian, is loved by all – an ideal American host.
But, the purpose of our Vienna series is not just to say that Vienna is the most livable city in the World – but that I contend that work with global scope can be performed right here – so let us look also at local organizations that can be enrolled in support of global activities – and the first to be mentioned is "the Austrian Federal Ministry for Europe Integration and Foreign Affairs (BMEIA)." You will find there a department that deals with all global topics you may be interested to work on. Also, the city hosts many NGOs and great Think Tanks to work as local NGOs – sometimes connected to one of the many active Universities.
One such institution is "the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM)." I will mention the Presentation of last night by Professor Dr. Shalini Randeria, the IWM Rector, titled "Precarious livelihoods, disposable lives, and struggles for citizenship rights." Dr. Randeria, from India, holds chairs at Budapest, Berlin, Zurich, and Vienna Universities. She has published widely on the anthropology of globalization, law, the state and social movements. Her presentation last night was the Keynote address at a IIASA and Forum Alpbach meeting at the Austrian Academy of Sciences on the occasion of the IIASA meeting called to formulate a "World in 2050" Programme.
The Academy of Sciences public event – "Human Capital, Geopolitical Complexities, and Our Sustainable Future" had two panels (I) The release of a book by Professor Wolfgang Lutz – "Who Survives? Education Decides the Future of Humanity.
Panel II – Chaired by Professor Pavel Kabat, Director General of IIASA – had:
While the first panel dealt with education as an imperative if one wants to take advantage of the SDGs and in effect achieve the wished-for results, he second panel touched upon the topics that are the framework for the program-in-construction for the year 2050 and on tis we will deal separately.
"Governance of Innovation and Innovations in Governance" – The Precautionary Principle – a Summer Course in Budapest, June 26 – July 2nd, 2016.
Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on March 5th, 2016
from: Anton Shkaruba
Dear Colleagues,
Applications are now open for the 2016 Summer School: "The Precautionary Principle: Governance of innovation and innovations in governance". It will be held in Budapest (Hungary) from June 26 to July 2, 2016.
The course is co-organised by Central European University (CEU), Median S.C.P., and the European Environment Agency (EEA) as the first event of its EEAcademy.
The purpose of the School is to explore challenges and possible ways forward for the effective and appropriate application of the precautionary principle in sustainability governance, in particular in such an uncertainty-prone area as climate change. It will bring together a solid and diverse group of scholars and practitioners with expertise on the precautionary principle, risk assessment, vulnerability and adaptation management, health research, science and technology studies, the governance of innovation, environmental governance, and long term transitions to sustainability.
The School is designed as a strategic knowledge and experience sharing course at the intersection between a research-oriented course and a professional development course, dedicated to collaborative exploration and learning. It will provide intensive research training, but also allow for policy discussions in a variety of sector and contexts and, through a knowledge co-creation approach, help to identify and find solutions to course-related issues in the participants' research, policy, and business application fields.
We aim to achieve a mix of participants and faculty from a variety of backgrounds (including both researchers and practitioners from public bodies, NGOs and business) and research interests related to the Course.
Participants from public institutions, business, public institutions and research are encouraged to apply.
Application deadline is April 1, 2016. For more information on the Summer School, including a detailed course description and application instructions please visit: www.summer.ceu.hu/precautionary-2…
For the organising team,
SE4All (SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOR AL.L) is the Vienna based organization with highest potential for acting in the post-Paris 2015 Era. One not well publicized event took place this week.
Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on February 26th, 2016
Theme of a meeting sponsored this week by the Hungarian Mission to Austria and to the UN offices in Vienna.
10:00 –10:05 Welcome remarks: H.E. Ambassador Karoly Dan
10:05– 0:45 Setting the Scene
14:00 –15:30 Session II: Discussion Session on identifying emerging opportunities
15:45-17:45 Session III: Synthesis of Sessions I & II – Developing key elements for action
17:45–18:00 Closing remarks – Ms. Rachel Kyte, SRSG & CEO, SE4All
Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on January 30th, 2016
Above the entrance to 21 Zerubabel Street in the Yemenite Quarter in Tel Aviv – next door to the Rabbi Shabzi Synagogue and the warning – a dog in the courtyard – it says – in Hebrew:Sun light is very bleak to someone who does not find sense in his life. Next tomit in English is written: "There is no Fear in Love."
The Israeli papers that are still not owned by an Israeli government related American individual – The HAARETZ and the Yedioth Aharonot – are now full with hints at internal culture wars started by an uneducated Culture Minister – Ms. Miri Regev who contended that even uneducated people can be educated. That is not my topic here – for those interested please read The New York Times article of today – "Israel, Mired in Ideological Battles, Fights on Cultural Fronts" – By STEVEN ERLANGER January 29, 2016. We are here rather interested in what the rather officialpro-government papers say – The MAARIV and The ISRAEL HAYOM say.
A main report comes from the meeting in Nicosia, Cyprus between Israel's Prime Minister Mr. Netanyahu and His counterparts from Greece and Cyprus titled as the "Mediterranean Alliance." As I just arrived here from Vienna I am quite familiar with the Merkel & Faymann problems with Greece and Turkey and the simple facts that the EU in ordr to survive tends now to shed Greece and trade it for higher reliance on Turkey. What I sense thus is the contemplation of the Israeli government to look as well for new allies in its troubled corner of thev World.
Then, no misunderstanding here – President Obama just declared for all to hear that Putin is corrupt and Mr. Putin reacted by asking for evidence. No problem on this front – the UK obliged and declared Putin involved in the execution of a financial competitor – mafia style. This sort of language was not heard even in the days of President Regan's attacks on the Soviet "Evil Empire."
Obama looks at the mess in Western Asia he inherited from G.W. Bush who really turned all local devils there lose by taking off the lids that kept a modicum of order as left by the British and French colonial powers. G.W. continued the reliance on the Saudis that came down from Democrat President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and thus became partial to an evolving Sunni Shia rift with an ever increasing Iranian threat to the US oil supplies from the Middle East. Obviously, US interests did not match in all of this the European effort to build their own power bloc and the difficulties the EU put before Turkey's attemp to join in the Union. Russia had its own problems with the EU and when life for the US and the EU became difficultbin the Arab region – they jumped in and used the occasion to move on the Ukraine as well.
So what now?
My suggestion based on an acknowledged very superficial reading of the real news – is: By necessity there are now two new potential NEUTRAL Centers in a renewed COLD WAR scenario.
Oman is the Neutral space between the Saudis and Iran – to be cherished by the US.
The small group of Greece, Cyprus, and Israel – a new buffer zone between the EU & Turkey alliance and the Sunni Arab Golf and the US – with Syria and Iraq the actual battle-field that will churn the Arab World until it reorganizes the remaining waste-lands. Russia has gained a footing via the Shiia Muslims and the US will see to limit this by making it more profitable to Iran to play the US in exchange for diminished role to the Saudis. It is all in the new world cards.
And what about the Arab North African States? Will they fall into the hands of extreme Sunnis as preached by Saudi Wahhabism – the source of what has moved to the creation of the new Islamic powder keg? I do not think this is possible in North Africa – simply because there are no Shiia elements there that justify to the Sunnis such an effort. Will there be another neutral zone in the North African region in the Cold War arena? This makes sense eventually.
Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on January 24th, 2016
This present posting was conceived as a sequel to our posting that pointed out the Vienna Burgtheater as a provider of "Theatre for Ideas" events. That posting was titled:
The TTIP is flushed out – January 17, 2016 – in a great panel at the Burgtheater, Vienna. It seems that the present differences between US and EU make a legislature-overriding agreement impossible.
Posted on Sustainabilitank.info on January 19th, 2016
January 24, 2016 I had the opportunity to listen in on the interview of theater director Andrea Berth by Ms. Haide Tenner of the Burgtheater. The event took place in the smaller hall – the Casinotheater on Schwarzenberg Platz. The title was: "What is Theater?" and the pre-event publicity was saying it was about language. So I got interested.
Andrea Breth is a large-size woman – a chain-smoker that gives the impression of a Midwest cowboy. But inside this large body it was clear that resides a sensitive and self deprecating woman. Her breakthrough in the theater came in 1983 with the Freiburg City Theater where she staged Federico García Lorca's "The House of Bernarda Alba." This staging brought her an invitation to the Berlin Theater Conference and the Theater Magazine "Theater" nominated her as best Theater Director of the Year. Many rewards followed. This year she got the German Republic Cross of Merritt and the Schiller prize of the City of Marbach (Schiller's birthplace). Since 1999 she is also home-director for the Vienna Burgtheater and did stagings for the Salzburg Festival.
Indeed she says theater is about language but she enlarges o the meaning of language. What is important is for te actors to relate to te text. A movement of the foot becomes language. The actor has to develop by himself his method – there is not one for all she said. Nevertheless, a text by Tennessee Williams can not be worked out in a different way from how it was intended. She does not want to bend her actors – she want them rather to be themselves and brought in the example of Michael Kramer who she knew his father was a large orchestra conductor – so she had Michael work with big groups.
Her direction is not for the public but for te piece – the original work. I am retelling it and ten comes the public.
The interviewer proposes that a person changes according to whom they speak with. The director answers there must be something above this which she demonstrates with a large movement of her whole arm.
The interviewer insists – one more topic – language: There always is less information available.
This is next topic at the "DEBATING EUROPE" Theatre for Ideas exercise and thresh-out.
This time under the moderation of Der Standard Editor Alexandra Foederl-Schmid personally – the panel will include:
Kinga Goencz – a former Foreign Minister of Hungary;
Rebecca Harms – Fraction Chair of the Greens in the European Parliament;
Giorgos Chondros – Member of the Central Committee of the Greek Governing Syriza Party;
Peter Keller – Swiss Journalist and Politician with the Swiss Peoples' Party;
Adam Krzeminski – Polish Journalist and Publicist.
This will be a debate about the Democratic model of Government at a time that in Europe new authoritarian structures are being created, and protest movements like Syriza, Podemos, Pegida are taking roots as well. It seems as if we are entering a POST-DEMOCRACY age. Politologues point out that he participation at elections is in retreat.


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(hī′drŏ-jĕn )
[hydro- + -gen]
SYMB: H A colorless, odorless, tasteless, gaseous chemical element, possessing one valence electron, atomic weight (mass) 1.0079, specific gravity 0.069, atomic number 1. A liter of the gas at sea level and at 0°C weighs 0.08988 g. There are three isotopes of hydrogen (protium, deuterium, and tritium), having atomic weights of approx. 1, 2, and 3, respectively.
Hydrogen is present in the sun and stars. Even though it is the most abundant element in the known universe, its concentration in the earth's atmosphere is only 0.00005%. Hydrogen occurs in its free state (in natural gases and volcanic eruptions) only in minute quantities. It occurs principally on the earth as water (hydrogen oxide, H2O) and is a constituent of all hydrocarbons. Hydrogen is present in all acids and in ionic form is responsible for the properties characteristic of acids. Hydrogen is present in nearly all organic compounds and is a component of all carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
It is highly flammable and used in the oxyhydrogen flame in welding, in hydrogenation of oils for solidifying purposes, as a reducing agent, and in many syntheses.
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Late 1700s London is a complex mix of social classes. Mrs. Hancock's story swings from the gritty dockyards to bawdy brothels to manicured mansion gardens. Angelica Neal, an expensive escort, finds herself in dire straits after her wealthy patron dies. She carelessly promises herself to a common merchant if he can bring her a mermaid. He entreaties his ship's captain to search for a mermaid to seal the deal. The imagery is descriptive and well-written and the story is a very enjoyable read. — Shirley Cagle
"This book was a pure delight from beginning to end. High-class escorts, nouveau riche merchants, madams, back-stabbings, broken hearts, mended hearts, parties, an angry mob, pining, mermaids: what more could you ask from a historical novel taking place in the late 18th century? The characters are so well-rounded I found myself cringing for them in their embarrassment and cheering for them in their triumph. The writing is so atmospheric it feels absolutely authentic. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed reading a book as much as I enjoyed reading this one. The only way to describe this book is as an absolute romp."
— Chelsea Bauer, Union Avenue Books, Knoxville, TN
Shortlisted for the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction • A Refinery 29 Favorite Book of the Year • A Booklist Top 10 First Novels of the Year • A People Best Book of the Fall
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In 1780s London, a prosperous merchant finds his quiet life upended when he unexpectedly receives a most unusual creature—and meets a most extraordinary woman—in this much-lauded, atmospheric debut that examines our capacity for wonder, obsession, and desire with all the magnetism, originality, and literary magic of The Essex Serpent.
One September evening in 1785, Jonah Hancock hears an urgent knocking on his front door near the docks of London. The captain of one of Jonah's trading vessels is waiting eagerly on the front step, bearing shocking news. On a voyage to the Far East, he sold the Jonah's ship for something rare and far more precious: a mermaid. Jonah is stunned—the object the captain presents him is brown and wizened, as small as an infant, with vicious teeth and claws, and a torso that ends in the tail of a fish. It is also dead.
As gossip spreads through the docks, coffee shops, parlors and brothels, all of London is curious to see this marvel in Jonah Hancock's possession. Thrust from his ordinary existence, somber Jonah finds himself moving from the city's seedy underbelly to the finest drawing rooms of high society. At an opulent party, he makes the acquaintance of the coquettish Angelica Neal, the most desirable woman he has ever laid eyes on—and a shrewd courtesan of great accomplishment. This meeting sparks a perilous liaison that steers both their lives onto a dangerous new course as they come to realize that priceless things often come at the greatest cost.
Imogen Hermes Gowar, Britain's most-heralded new literary talent, makes her debut with this spellbinding novel of a merchant, a mermaid, and a madam—an unforgettable confection that explores obsession, wonder, and the deepest desires of the heart with bawdy wit, intrigue, and a touch of magic.
Imogen Hermes Gowar studied Archaeology, Anthropology and Art History at UEA's Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts before going on to work in museums. She began to write small pieces of fiction inspired by the artefacts she worked with and around, and in 2013 won the Malcolm Bradbury Memorial Scholarship to study for an MA in Creative Writing at UEA.
She won the Curtis Brown Prize for her dissertation, which grew into a novel titled The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock. An early draft was a finalist in the MsLexia First Novel Competition 2015, and it was also one of three entries shortlisted for the inaugural Deborah Rogers Foundation Writers' Award.
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Bethany is a full time student double majoring in Photography and Psychology, her dream is go on to grad school to become a certified art therapist. Bethany's ideal way to spend a free evening is listening to a good audio book while working on a knitting project and drinking a Mountain Dew. She also loves art journaling, reading, and singing in the shower. Bethany is the Founder and President of The Recovery Buddie Project. She loves having a chance to impact people where they are, and show them a little of how loved they are
Debbie - Buddie Biographer
Debbie was born in the Netherlands, raised in South Africa, and now lives once again in the Netherlands. She's married to a tall, dark, handsome man, and works in childcare. She loves reading and writing, doing puzzles and sewing, but most of all she loves spending time cuddling and playing with her 6 gorgeous pet rats! She also runs her own business selling natural, additive-free rat food. Her rats love the fact that she sells food and treats - they really enjoy being used as test subjects! She signed up to be a Buddie Biographer because her Buddie, Ethan, means the world to her, and his biography made him so much more real at a time when Debbie really needed a friend to hug. She hopes to be able to give others the same wonderful experience, and to give them some hope along the road to recovery
Fernanda - Buddie Biographer
Fernanda is an Industrial Designer on the make and an avid tea drinker, currently living in Mexico City, a dream of hers is to own a toy shop sometime soon, and yep, write stories for them as well. She loves music, Sherlock Holmes and drawing. She writes for a music and arts blog. Fernanda signed up to be a biographer because she thinks that making people know how loved and cared for can make a difference in their lives and can help them carry on by the hand of a very soft and warm Recovery Buddie
Megan - Buddie Biographer
Jordan - Buddie Biographer
Megan - Buddie Biographer
Megan is 19 years old and lives in Canada. No she doesn't live in a igloo, as some people may believe. She want to be an educational assistant so she can help other kids get through the things she had to go through. Although she has never received a recovery buddy, her sister did and she has seen the remarkable changes that a buddy could give. She has made a buddy for herself to help her get though anxiety attacks and just to have someone who would listen. She is very excited to be part of the recovery and change is someones life, by writing the stories behind what is the recovery buddy
Jordan - Buddie Biographer
Jordan is currently a graduate with her Masters Degree in Psychology. Her dream one day is to open up her own office but in the mean time is working in the school system. She love's reading, outdoors, and journaling. If it is bright and full of color you can bet she love's it. I wanted to be a Buddy Biographer because my own buddy has helped me so much. I want to be able to give that gift to someone else