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Last issue (Feb
2004 EcoNews) we looked at evidence that linked global warming to a possible
Ice Age, a sharp increase in weather-related disasters and the possible
extinction of one third of all species by 2050! This
month, we are sorry to say, we have more bad news on the Climate Change front.
Insurance-based Economic Catastrophe -
The world's second-largest reinsurer, Swiss Re, warned on Wednesday that the
costs of natural disasters, aggravated by global warming, threatened to spiral
out of control, forcing the human race into a catastrophe of its own making - an
economic catastrophe.
The report reveals how climate change is rising
on the corporate agenda. Swiss Re said the economic costs of such disasters
threatened to double to $150 billion (82 billion pounds) a year in 10 years,
hitting insurers with $30-40 billion in claims, or the equivalent of one World
Trade Centre attack annually.
"There is a danger that human
intervention will accelerate and intensify natural climate changes to such a
point that it will become impossible to adapt our socio-economic systems in
time," Swiss Re said in the report.
"The human race can lead itself into
this climatic catastrophe -- or it can avert it."
The report comes as a growing number of policy
experts warn that the environment is emerging as the security threat of the 21st
century, eclipsing terrorism.
Scientists expect global warming to trigger
increasingly frequent and violent storms, heat waves, flooding, tornadoes, and
cyclones while other areas slip into cold or drought.
Even the Pentagon is Ringing
the Alarm Bells
A secret report, suppressed by US defence
chiefs and obtained by The Observer, warns that major European cities will be
sunk beneath rising seas as Britain is plunged into a 'Siberian' climate by
2020. Nuclear conflict, mega-droughts, famine and widespread rioting will erupt
across the world.
The document predicts that abrupt climate
change could bring the planet to the edge of anarchy as countries develop a
nuclear threat to defend and secure dwindling food, water and energy supplies.
The threat to global stability vastly eclipses that of terrorism, say the few
experts privy to its contents.
'Disruption and conflict will be endemic
features of life,' concludes the Pentagon analysis. 'Once again, warfare
would define human life.'
The findings will prove humiliating to the Bush
administration, which has repeatedly denied that climate change even exists.
Experts said that they will also make unsettling reading for a President who has
insisted national defence is a priority.
What
do the leaders of USA and Australia
have to say on the subject of climate change?
Firstly,
Mr Bush - In his recent State of the Union speech Mr Bush focused almost
entirely on Foreign policy (Iraq and the 'War on Terror'), dominating the first
half of the speech.
The
latter half of his speech, which focused on domestic policy, was bereft of new
proposals and lacked any mention of clean air, clean water, threatened species,
or public lands.
He
managed, however, to make time to discuss the evils of steroid use among
athletes - an issue entirely outside the purview of the federal US government.
President
Bush did not mention the environment, or the environmental challenges facing the
country, a single time in his speech!!
More
recently, he has hinted at plans to spend billions of dollars on building a
space station on the moon, sending manned missions to Mars and reviving the
discredited Star Wars scheme touted by Ronald Reagan nearly 20 years ago (now
dubbed Son of Star Wars).
Click
here for Bush's state of the union address
And
what of Mr. Howard? His government continues to reject the Kyoto Protocol –
the only truly global attempt to deal with climate change and a vital first step
in reducing greenhouse pollution. At the time Kyoto was negotiated, he claimed
it as a win for Australia.
He has recently torpedoed efforts to establish
a national carbon emissions trading scheme and has moved public servants working
on an international emissions trading scheme to other projects.
Mr Howard favours voluntary programs,
encouraging business to reduce greenhouse pollution without any binding targets.
These programs are failing - last year more than 75 companies left the voluntary
Greenhouse Challenge program.
Now he has committed Australian
funds to George Bush’s missile defence shield (Son of Star Wars) with little
evidence that Australia is under threat, strong doubts about the shield’s
effectiveness and concerns that it could lead to a new arms race.
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to pioneering work done by a company based in Munich Germany, FaserMix, you can
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Most
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a vast array of contaminants, petro-chemicals, chlorine, caustics, animal
ingredients, sodium lauryl sulfate or other harmful chemicals.
A great
day out 