A Day at the Office

Henry George Hoodoo: Point/counterpoint

2007-01-15T15:59:00.000+01:00

Editor’s note: This splendid exchange on the Single Tax (Land Value Tax) proposal of Henry George took place more than one hundred years ago. It appears here thanks to the eagle eye of Mark Monson who spotted it in the annals of Project Gutenberg at http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext96/bti1010.txt. My only contrition to this chain has been to clean up the formatting and introduce paragraph

Letting go of left vs. right

2006-12-23T09:48:00.000+01:00

From: "Dan Sullivan" Date: Sat Dec 23, 2006 9:03 amTo: The Land Café (http://www.landcafe.org) Bernard's post was just fine until the final, gratuitous statement, "All stand in opposition, of course, to 'right-libertarianism', one of the most shallow political philosophies ever." I don't know what's worse -- lefties stereotyping righties out of ignorance or righties stereotyping lefties

User fees & paying for what you take

2006-12-18T09:52:00.000+01:00

On Behalf Of Sean BrooksSent: Monday, December 18, 2006 5:15 PM While economists may debate the existence of true public goods, there is no doubt that there are partial public goods. These goods have high capital and fixed costs in relation to their costs due to individual users. In fact most goods have at least a portion of goods that are

Sustainable Mobility: Seen to the Year 2030

2006-11-21T10:47:00.000+01:00

Editor’s note: As part of our strategy over at the Journal of World Transport Policy and Practice, we are placing this summary introduction to the latest number here for your information and comment. To access the full volume all you have to do is click the above title. Let us know what you think of this, as well as any other ideas you might have for importing the journal and its potential

Build, Build, Build

2006-09-30T10:38:00.000+02:00

Report by the Green Party...All 33 boroughs will be given targets for more affordable houses and Mayor Ken Livingstone will have the power to intervene if they turn down schemes in designated areas... "affordable housing" has fallen by 38,000 since Mr Livingstone became Mayor, say the Green Party.Mr Livingstone seems to be unaware of the fact that affordability declines because of property price

Ending our mediocrity - A planner's-eye view from Canada

2006-08-23T10:48:00.000+02:00

Note from the editor: From Canada here is a very thoughtful ‘planner’s eye view’ of what a good city is supposed to be all about. From our perspective here it is particular interesting, both for the quality of its ideas and for, it has to be said, the manner in which it all but totally skates over the ideas and issues that are at the heart of the New Mobility Agenda. Oops! In its four thousand

A Six Thousand Kilometer Non-CO2 Conference

2006-06-30T10:49:00.000+02:00

Videoconferencing debriefing notes of 30 June 2006 The following notes were written up to report informally on how we handled the distance participation at a two part conference between Easthampton Massachusetts and Paris France on global warming and climate modification. The first half consisted of an in-place presentation by John Maulbetsch which was sufficiently well informed, balanced

Is anybody willing to do something about climate change?

2006-06-19T10:50:00.000+02:00

Ramiro Ramirez Al-Hayat - 27/06/06// After nine long years of negotiations the world is no closer to finding ways in which to tackle a global problem of climate change. The Kyoto Protocol is the instrument by which the international community has sought to deal with the risk of seriously compromising our climate system through ever increasing emissions of greenhouse gases to the

Fair Transport –Jacobs’ Rules: A Tribute

2006-05-04T11:45:00.000+02:00

Fair Transport A New Mobility Agenda for a Changing World A tribute to Jane Jacobs, 1916-2006 Note to reader/friends: What follows here is intended to serve as a lasting tribute to honor the work and memory of our long time friend and colleague Mrs. Jane Jacobs from whom we have all learned so much. The day she left us, I picked up this work in progress and attacked it from a

A New Mobility Citizen Poll for Your City ???

2006-04-23T10:52:00.000+02:00

New Mobility Citizen Poll for Your City– A Proposal for Discussion When it comes to creating more viable and fairer transport systems, and behind that our real objective: more agreeable and more sustainable cities, we have one recurrent problem that we can perhaps deal with if we put our heads together. As is well known, whenever any given ‘soft transport’, “public space” or some type

Proposal for an e-platform to support the virtual discussion of gender and transport issues for the development sector

2005-12-01T14:19:00.000+01:00

Editor’s Note: It is not easy to get bright committed people who are working very hard on specific problems that are right before them, usually with neither time nor resources as needed to stretch beyond the challenges and priorities that are tying them up at any moment, to consider how they might somehow better “combine” – particularly if we are talking about something other than preparing an

Change comes to Israel from the "East"

2005-11-12T17:50:00.000+01:00

Editor’s note: I think that most of us here in France get the point of this from our own dramatic needs and perspectives. I very much hope.*********************************** Uri Avner, 12.11.05 A GREAT MIRACLE NORTH AFRICAN immigrants on the periphery of French cities are torching them. North African immigrants on the periphery of Israel this week carried out a democratic

Why is France Burning?

2005-11-08T12:44:00.000+01:00

Editor’s note: Having lived happily here in France for more than half of my life, and as someone whose role it is to keep my eyes open to social and economic anomalies and eventual time bombs, this festering problem has been high on my worries list for both the government and people of France since the late Sixties when French industry started to import large numbers of cheap and compliant

The Physics of Gridlock: What causes traffic jams?

2005-11-06T16:59:00.000+01:00

Editor’s note: Today five year’s later Stephen Budiansky still looks right on target. So unless we forget*****************************************.The Physics of GridlockWhat causes traffic jams? The depressing answer may be nothing at allby Stephen Budiansky, Atlantic Monthly D e c e m b e r 2000BERTRAND Russell once observed that animal behaviorists studying the problem-solving abilities of

"Climate Technology" -- Or how you drown a Fish

2005-11-03T10:23:00.000+01:00

Editor’s note: Though I for one have never greatly loved the Kyoto Treaty, not least because it always struck me as desperately unstrategic and hence likely to, forgive the awfulness, generate more heat than light. And indeed it has. That said, I can hardly great the kind of news that follows here with joy and anticipation of a better world. Of course as you can see here that even as they step

1.11.05. On Truthfulness and Kyoto

2005-11-01T10:27:00.000+01:00

Editor’s note: The source of this piece, RedState.org, defines itself as follows: “RedState.org is focused on politics, and seeks the construction of a Republican majority in the United States. We hope to unite serious, innovative, and accomplished voices from government, politics, activism, civil society, and journalism to participate in this work”. Still it is our policy here to listen to

Asia's Cities Face Gridlock

2005-10-30T19:32:00.000+01:00

Editor’s note: This is to my mind a pretty solid vision of the policy and technical challenges, but then again the people and groups involved in this case are among our leading international colleagues in all our work in this area. You might want to give a listen to the Real Player report, as a reminder that we need to put all our tools to work in this tough up-hill struggle.*********************

Carsharing and Sustainable Transportation: 2005-2007

2005-10-29T13:15:00.000+02:00

Note: The following builds on an oral presentation made as part of the final wrap-up that I was asked to present to a conference that took place in Brussels on 27/28 January 2005 under the title 'Keys to Car-Sharing: moving the city of tomorrow'. I was recently asked to go back to my notes and take a stab at putting in writing the main points made in that closing presentation. Which is what

28.10.05. Climate: Italians want to mend ways

2005-10-28T11:51:00.000+02:00

Editor’s Note: This is really quite a neat picture of both problem and if not exactly solution, at least the beginning, the first vague outlines of what has to be the solution path. There is no doubt in my mind that without such strong public support and “understanding” (a hard word in this case and not only in Italy) the sustainability agenda will continue to stall. Let me point up what I regard

17.10.05. One language for Europe: Not everyone agrees

2005-10-17T10:48:00.000+02:00

Editor’s note: After a somewhat spirited reaction to my piece here on President Chirac and his Three Bitter Pills to Save Europe for France, I had several friends get on to me about the President's proposal to wipe out the language mess in the institutions of the EU and save a billion euros each year by making English the only working language of the Union. Martin Strid of Sweden (his English is

12.10.05. How France Saved Europe for Civilization – Part II

2005-10-12T10:20:00.000+02:00

How France Saved Europe for Civilization – Part II Or the three bitter pills that it took Eric Britton, The Commons, Paris, Tuesday, October 18, 2005 Brrng. Brrrng. O dear, that phone again. Hello. Monsieur Britton. Un instant, s’il vous plait. Le Président de la République

10.10.05. Half the World:: Women and environment (Letter from Yeman)

2005-10-10T10:01:00.000+02:00

Editor’s Note: We draw this article to your attention both for the important topic in its own right, but also because of the work in progress to try to crate the base for a continuing program in Gender/Mobility issues, including with special reference to situations in which women find themselves in real difficulty in their day to day lives because of our asymmetrical understanding of the issues

08.10.05. Transport of Delight: The Mythical Conception of Rail Transit in Los

2005-10-08T18:22:00.000+02:00

Transport of Delight: The Mythical Conception of Rail Transit in Los Angeles By Jonathan Richmond. Akron, Ohio: The following review by James Smart appears in Technology and culture, July 2005. "This book is a study about the failure of thought and its causes," writes Jonathan Richmond in his introduction to Transport of Delight. "It starts with a bizarre decision: to construct

1/10/05. MIT unveils wind-up $100 laptop

2005-10-01T17:36:00.000+02:00

MIT unveils wind-up $100 laptop Friday, September 30, 2005 Posted: 1156 GMT (1956 HKT) CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts (AP) -- Experts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are designing a durable laptop computer that will cost about $100. MIT Media Lab leader Nicholas Negroponte hopes to give the machines, which would be durable, flexible and self-reliant, to needy

30.09.05. "Flexcar One," - Do You Need A Ride Mr. Bush?

2005-09-30T17:22:00.000+02:00

Editor’s note: This is an important piece in the sustainability toolkit: communications excellence. Much needed to spice up the general dourness, wordiness and moral exhortation which are the general fare in the dimly lit world sustainability café. Let’s keep going.********************************************* Do You Need A Ride Mr. Bush? WASHINGTON--Sept. 30, 2005--In an effort to help

19.09.05. Doors of Perception Report - Quick Scan of Design and Innovation

2005-09-19T16:05:00.000+02:00

Editor's note: John Thakara and Doors of Perception. The latest to stretch your mind.********************************Doors of Perception Report Quick Scan of Design and Innovation By John Thackara September 11, 2005 ON TIME When we first began to organise the Doors of Perception conference every two years, instead of annually, few among our community seemed to notice. Nobody, at least,

15.09.05. Sierra Club announces "Healthy Growth Calculator"

2005-09-15T18:02:00.000+02:00

Editor’s note: This is the latest addition to our list of good sustainability calculators (See links Personal Responsibility on any of our sites.) Healthy Growth Calculator (Density saves resources & reduces pollution) The Sierra Club's Building Healthy Communities Campaign announces its new Healthy Growth Calculator, which shows how density

13.09.05. You can never tell where the next good idea is going to come from (Skype, EBay and sustainable development)

2005-09-13T09:29:00.000+02:00

Editor’s note: I want to bring this article from today’s New York Times to your attention with the thought that it shows how technology and society rarely advance in straight lines. And how innovation more often than not comes from off the wings, rather than from the center. As many of you know we here at EcoPlan and The Commons have been using Voice Over IP for several years (the early ones

09.09.05. Re-Thinking the Mediterranean

2005-09-10T10:10:00.000+02:00

Editor’s note: We better find a place in our thinking for ideas and approaches like this. Otherwise, dear friends, we are dead in the water.************************** Re-Thinking the Mediterranean An Alternative Bridging Project by Omar Barghouti and Adrian Grima September 09, 2005 In a world where the “clash of civilizations” is unfolding as a self-fulfilling prophecy

08.09.05. Women left behind by transport system designed for men

2005-09-08T15:47:00.000+02:00

Editor's note: This is one of the consistent themes of all our work in this sector, and picks up as well some of the threads you will see in the gender/transport/ICT discussions, which you can find by clicking the lower left menu of The Commons at http://ecoplan.org. The full report is available at http://www.eoc.org.uk/cseng/research/wp_34_gender_equality_in_transport.pdf.**********************

20.08.05. This Was The Day, by Uri Avnery

2005-08-20T15:56:00.000+02:00

Editor’s note: As anyone who reads around in here will (or at least should) soon be aware, we/I are not great protagonists of the established political parties, or at least the ways in which they appear to operating these days in our largely hapless democracies. But here you have an example of political realism and maturity which has implications far beyond those which are spelled out in this

19.08.05. Living Large, by Design, in the Middle of Nowhere

2005-08-19T16:22:00.000+02:00

Note and commentary from Lee Shipper of the World Resources Institute Embarq program:Eric: This is what so many of the "good guys" ignore about urban form and sprawl. People who want space need to move to the edge of town to get more space for the price. People without much $$ need to move to the edge of town to find less expensive homes of a given size. Transport costs are low, even with today's

18.08.05. UK Govt Sustainable Development - Supporting Indicators

2005-08-18T18:04:00.000+02:00

Editor’s note: I would like to draw your attention to this presentation of a collection of “indicators of sustainability performance” over time in the UK, as prepared by the Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) of their Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The presentation is in two parts: Table 1: UK Government Sustainable Development Framework indicators - offers a summary of

15.08.05. A Sketch for a New World Food Order, H. Pietila

2005-08-15T12:47:00.000+02:00

HilkkaPietilä, M.Sc. Finland Contact: hilkka.pietila@pp.inet.fi A Sketch for a New World Food Order The Future of Nordic Agriculture in Global Perspective?*) Summary The cultivation economy, utilizing the growth potential of living nature in various ways, is the foundation for everything else in human economy. Due to huge differences in regional and local climatic conditions

12.08.05. When Mobile Podcasting Leads to Mobcasting

2005-08-12T16:06:00.000+02:00

Editor’s note: We have been knocking at this door (hand held telecoms for brining people together, including as aubiquitous transportation interface) for some time, and if you share an interest in seeing what they come up with, you might want to check out their work space at http://www.digitaldivide.net/community/mobcasting. ********************************* When Mobile Podcasting Leads to

05.08.05. New Mobility Communications for The Commons (A working note)

2005-08-05T16:22:00.000+02:00

Editor's note: Our current status report that sums up latest developments and offering in our IP communications toolkit. With some introductory words on the reasons why we need to put it to work without further delay in the interests of sustainable development and social justice. You'll see.************************************************* IP: New Mobility Communications for The Commons

25.07.05. Seoul's mayor shows his green streak

2005-07-25T09:33:00.000+02:00

Editor’s note: One week to the day after we nominated Seoul’s mayor for this year’s prestigious World Technology Award for Environment, this article appeared today in a series of the International Herald Tribune on the trials, tribulations, and accomplishments of a selection of “World Mayors - at http://www.iht.com/indexes/special/mayors/index.html As you will note if you have the time to work

22.07.22. 7/7: What kills you matters - not numbers

2005-07-22T10:36:00.000+02:00

Editor’s note: Professor John Adams contributed this note yesterday to the Social Affairs Unit, a UK charity that “addresses social, economic and cultural issues with an emphasis on the value of personal responsibility”. We are pleased to share it with you as food for thought about the importance of the issues which concern us all here.**************************************** 7/7: What kills you

21.07.05. Cities in Asia pioneer new solutions for transportation bottlenecks

2005-07-21T08:27:00.000+02:00

Editor’s note: This piece on city transportation advances in Asia by John Ernst, the Asia Regional Director of ITDP - The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy – provides an excellent overview of what is going on in some of the leading edge cities in Asia in the face of an enormous explosion of the numbers of cars on the streets. For years Asian cities have copied the long trusted

16.07.05. Can Soaring Land Values Serve as Riga's tax base?

2005-07-16T08:24:00.000+02:00

Editor’s note: This contribution came in to the Land Café of The Commons today, and was posted by the authors who are identified at the conclusion of this piece.****************************** Can Soaring Land Values Serve as Riga's tax base? Prof. Michael Hudson and Prof. Jeff Sommers For the past five years, the city of Riga has been experiencing a real estate boom that has multiplied

12.07.05. China's Car Culture shows the way

2005-07-12T15:55:00.000+02:00

Editor's note: And now for our surprise free scenario:****************************************** A City's Traffic Plans Are Snarled by China's Car Culture SHANGHAI, July 9 - When officials drew up the blueprints for the redesign of this city in the early 1980's, nary a skyscraper punctuated the low-slung horizon, whose buildings mostly dated from the decades of Western control early in the last

29.06.06. Greenhouse Hypocrisy (Try this one for size)

2005-06-29T12:13:00.000+02:00

Editor’s note: Robert Samuelson is a respected economic commentator (that phrase is by the way sheer code), and here we have his views on matters which concern us greatly. My reaction? Well, objectionable as it may be to some, these are voices that we need to listen to and somehow integrate into our understanding of both the problematique, and of the way out. I have once again highlighted what

28.06.05. 12 Prescriptions for a European Sustainable Mobility Policy. Eh?

2005-06-27T08:57:00.000+02:00

Editor’s Note: I am likely to be considered either churlish or difficult, or possibly negative and unrealistic in the comments that I would like both to make and invite on this, the first of two strategy papers by the European Policy Centre which appears in today’s EurActiv.com, self-described as “the independent media portal fully dedicated to EU affairs. EurActiv has an original business model

17.06.05. Mexico City's Metrobus Set to Open in June

2005-06-17T17:41:00.000+02:00

Editor's note: I post this today with several thoughts in mind: The first is the relevance and interest of the topic itself: BRT in general as part of the Sustainable Mobility solution (but only one part) and a new high profile for BRT in Mexico City. Good stuff. Second, because this piece is evidence of the fact that our sprawling network does in fact work. Here we have a project which is

11.06.05. The Commons Man (Q&A with environmental foot soldiers)

2005-06-11T09:12:00.000+02:00

Editor’s note: I hesitate before posting this e-interview to “A day at the office” and do so only with some real trepidation, not least because I do not like to have too much personal visibility and in a world of pushing egos I really don’t want to be counted among them. But we need all the visibility we can get to rally support for the good causes of The Commons and our terrific web of group

10.06.05. Green anger at plan to tax journeys, not gas-guzzlers

2005-06-10T14:25:00.001+02:00

Editor’s note: We are definitely going to be hearing a lot about this proposal of the Blair government. I for one simply cannot imagine why they would chose to push such an idea. Talk about more heat than light. Well, let’s hear what the vigilant Stephen Joseph, director of Transport 2000, has to say about this.************************************ Green anger at plan to tax journeys, not

09.06.05. Car-share company in Stock Exchange drive

2005-06-09T12:34:00.000+02:00

Editor's note: A clear indication that carsharing is starting to enter the mainstream.****************************** Source: The Huddersfield Daily Examine, 8 June 2005 Car-share company in Stock Exchange drive A CAR-SHARING scheme based in Huddersfield plans to float on the stock market. CityCarClub aims to raise at least £1m by issuing shares on Ofex, the market for small and

08.06.05. Mayors in summit agree to greener, cleaner cities

2005-06-08T12:17:00.000+02:00

Editor’s note: Here we are back to these important cooperative city environment programs which are or at least should be our natural partners. We have yet to make these links but I am confident that as we continue to develop the content and support of this collaborative sustainability effort, we are going to achieve just that. And as a reminder of our fox and hedgehog strategy, I append the

08.06.05. Dutch Awards for entrepreneurs combating poverty

2005-06-08T10:33:00.000+02:00

Editor’s note: Why is it so important to try to give widest recognition to outstanding successes in the area of sustainable development and social justice? Well, first because it is such a hard uphill struggle, and any good news at all is going to be much appreciated. And secondly because emulation is such a strong device for learning and leading change. "I see, I understand, and why not? I may

03.06.05. The $20,000,000,000,000 question

2005-06-03T10:05:00.000+02:00

Editor’s note: “Sustainable and Responsible Investment”? Is this some kind of weak pandering joke? Smokescreen? Greenwash operation? Before we make up our mind, let’s have a closer look. The following article appeared today as part of openDemocracy‘s online debate on the politics of climate change. This is the first of what I hope will be a useful cycle of background pieces which are intended to

01.06.05. How in 2005 the French Saved Europe for Civilization

2005-06-01T13:45:00.000+02:00

Editor's note: One nanometer behind the push to sustainable development and social justice lies that thing called politics, the art or science of government. It’s a never ending process of learning, communicating and adapting. As this Op-Ed piece written in the immediate wake of the French referendum rejecting the proposed European constitution. ************************ Fifteen Million

29.05.05. Mexico City Retrofit Pilot Reduces PM 90%

2005-05-28T08:58:00.000+02:00

May 26, 2005 Mexico City Retrofit Pilot Reduces PM 90%; Full Implementation Delayed by Lack of ULSD A year-long joint US-Mexico demonstration project is reducing PM emissions in a test fleet of 20 Mexico City buses by 90% and NOx emissions by 10%. More widespread implementation of the technology may be hampered by a lack of Ultra Low-Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) fuel, however. The Mexico City

20.05.05. Urban car drivers get more subsidy than public transport users

2005-05-20T09:23:00.000+02:00

Editor's note: I can't figure out if this is the good news or the bad news. Perhaps you can tell me.************************** Local authorities across Europe are subsidising private car use by up to €250 per citizen every year, a new study has found. Source: Environmental Data Interactive Net, By David Hopkins, 20-May-2005

19.05.05. Kyoto - amazing opportunity or political football?

2005-05-18T09:49:00.000+02:00

Editor's Note: David Suzuki, Amherst '58, is Chair of the David Suzuki Foundation and an award-winning scientist, environmentalist and broadcaster. On 22 April he posted this commentary which got considerable play in the Canadian and international press in Science Matters. Kyoto - amazing opportunity or political football? From: Science Matters by David Suzuki Looking at the media

16.05.05. US mayors pledge action against global warming

2005-05-16T12:22:00.000+02:00

In today’s Kyoto Blog we are pleased to report the latest news on the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement that was formally kicked off on 30 March, in the form of an article appearing in today’s New Zealand Herald (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=2&ObjectID=10125765). To round this out we add three background pieces on the Agreement itself, in the form of a short introduction, the

12.05.05. Car industry lies to Canadians

2005-05-12T11:24:00.000+02:00

Editor's note: More from David Suzuki, Amherst '58, award-winning scientist, environmentalist and broadcaster and Chair of the David Suzuki Foundation in Canada. For a bit of context in this disputatious world, a quick tour of Google informs us on the one hand that David is "an insufferable scaremonger masquerading as a scientist", or this time from the CBC: "For over three decades, David Suzuki

01.05.05. Riders' Angles - Citizens assessing government

2005-05-01T09:49:00.000+02:00

Editor's note: Let's see. Transit in Chicago? Website in Vilnius? What kind of world are we living in? Seems to me that change is in story from directions that perhaps not everyone is anticipating.*******************************Riders' Angles Citizens assessing government: Evaluating Chicago Transit Authority performance and standards. A proposal to the The Campaign for Better Transit from the

30.04.05. The United States and global warming: a tale of two countries

2005-04-30T12:55:00.000+02:00

Editor’s note: More in this excellent series, The politics of climate change, published by openDemocracy Ltd developed in partnership with the British Council as part of their ZeroCarbonCity initiative. For the full series go to http://www.opendemocracy.net/climate_change/index.jsp******************************************. The United States and global warming: a tale of two countries

28.04.05. Cities and towns need sustainable development (Dhaka)

2005-04-28T12:24:00.000+02:00

Editor’s note: Where can we look for lessons and guides in the struggle to sustainable cities? What about the following commentary coming in today from Dhaka, a city of 10, 11, 12 million people half of whom living in slums and shanties, most of whom living “off the economy” and with average income on the order of a dollar a day. To get around in their city most people today simply walk or take

27.04.05. The global transport challenge.John Whitelegg

2005-04-27T09:45:00.000+02:00

Editor’s note: Our old friend and long time defender of sustainable transport and social justice, John Whitelegg, also a member of our International Advisory Council and Founder and Editor of the important independent Journal of World Transport Policy and Practice, has for some years been busy mining the interface between the more technical aspects of our subject, and the politics of change. This

25.04.05. Climate of Denial, Bill McKibben

2005-04-25T10:13:00.000+02:00

Editor's Note: In the spirit of equal time, we hand the podium to Bill McKibben.************************************************* Climate of Denial By Bill McKibben, Mon, 18 Apr 2005 22:55:14 -0500 Republished from Mother Jones One morning in Kyoto, we won a round in the battle against global warming. Then special interests snatched the truth away. It was around eight in the

24.04.05. Market forces could prove the environment's best friend

2005-04-24T12:27:00.000+02:00

Editor’s note: Here we are again. This time from The Economist. And who indeed can argue with their basic thesis, other than to suggest that while this is very much part of the solution and a necessary step in the right direction, it ain’t the whole story. What seems to be lacking from their analysis is the necessary sense of urgency. And if in life we may here and there be satisfied to sit back

23.04.05. "Death of Environmentalism", Commentary by Nicholas Kristof

2005-04-23T12:29:00.000+02:00

Editor's note: Nicholas Kristof is giving us part of our problematique for Kyoto Cities. This is what we have to work with, for better or worse. And this is, I would propose, a pretty strong argument for the kinds of more ambitious, results-oriented, non-research (in the old sense), non hand-wringing approaches which we are trying to advance with all our cooperative efforts here. Click the title

20.04.05. Sue for Sustainability (It clears the air.)

2005-04-20T12:30:00.000+02:00

Editor's note: Excellent! Indeed one of the tools which we are hoping to mobilize in the context of the Kyoto Initiative are precisely the courts: Sue for Sustainability. It clears the air.Berlin Faces Lawsuit Demanding Cleaner Air Germans want to breathe less car exhaustThe EU’s new clean air laws are not being upheld in major German cities. Citizens have now taken legal action against Berlin

19/03/05. The Kyoto World Cities Challenge: What sets this effort apart?

2005-03-19T12:31:00.000+01:00

Editors note: As we push hard in our world wide outreach program to do what we can to make the Kyoto project better known and in the search for people, groups and cities with whom we might be able to work in order to advance the sustainability agenda and specifically in the areas that we have chose to bite off here, we often run into steely eyes that tell us or imply that our presence is not

10.03.05. Des mémoires pour «Kyauto», from Communauto, Montréal

2005-03-10T12:33:00.000+01:00

Editor's note: Carsharing at the leading edge is emerging as one of the important on-street forces driving toward broader concepts of mobility management and service provision in cities. CommunAuto in Montréal - http:// www.communauto.com -- has been one of the more aggressive and successful of these operations. (To rough translate this article into "English", please click here and scroll down to

04.03.05. Exhausting the Options (in Italy)

2005-03-04T14:44:00.000+01:00

Editor's note: We like this one because the author challenges received wisdom in some sustainability circles which all too often jerk to "public transit" solutions to challenges that require a lot more. But when it comes to long run solutions to urgent problems of public health, which we believe to be the situation here, it is helpful to keep in mind Maynard Keynes cogent reminder that "in the

03.03.05. ZeroCarbonCity program anounced in Britain

2005-03-03T14:58:00.000+01:00

Editor's note: One more of the programs that are coming on lineaddressing these challenges, each in their own way and with theirown ambitious mandate. This is clearly a program from which wecan all ceratinly learn a great deal as it moves ahead. It is clear thatthe British Council have quite some resources at their disposal.Perhaps we should all be thinking about how to get togetheron

27.02.05. "Vision Zero" plan in Sweden

2005-02-27T15:18:00.000+01:00

Editor's note: This short background piece on the Swedish Vision Zero program helps us with many interesting lessons and parallels with all that we are hoping to accomplish/support here. Clearly we should be seeking creative links.***********************************************************Sweden: A Road Safety Model with Global PotentialRoad safety does not need to be expensive. In some regions,

25.02.05. EU ETS quota significantly excludes transport

2005-02-25T15:19:00.000+01:00

Editor's note: There is a big hole, and it is not only in the ozone layer.Sanjay brings yet one more to our attention. Climate Change: Emissions Trading Up In Smoke - By Sanjay Suri , Reprinted from IPS-Inter Press Service, JohannesburgNote: The EU ETS quota significantly excludes transport, the fastest growing pollutantLONDON, Feb 25 (IPS) - The EU emissions trading scheme is off to a

22/02/05. Edinburgh throws out congestion charge

2005-02-22T17:24:00.000+01:00

Program: New Mobility AgendaNote: It is easy to assume that this means (a) that road pricing is out for Edinburgh and, to some at least, (b) that the whole idea is a non-starter. Our view? To the contrary, hand on: we will see congestion charging in city after city and yes!, one day in Edinburgh.Edinburgh throws out the congestion charge By Jenny Booth, Times Online, February 22, 2005 Source:

21/02/05. Empty Chair in Kyoto

2005-02-21T17:32:00.000+01:00

Media Release. Paris, 21 February 2005Empty Chair in Kyoto Open Society Peer Program to Help World Cities Become "Kyoto Compliant”Source: The New Mobility Agenda at http://newmobility.org, Paris, FranceKyoto Treaty Needs Help in CitiesAfter years of hard work on many sides, the Kyoto Protocols finally entered into effect on 16th February. And with it the obligation of 140 nations to do something

18.02.02. Seattle Mayor urging U.S. cities to enact Kyoto Protocol

2005-02-18T14:50:00.000+01:00

Editor's note: We see this as a potentially very important effort and have already been in contact with the organizers in Seattle to see how we here can support and interact with them to extend the international reach and impact of their program in parallel with the Kyoto Cities Challenge.*********************************************************************** Seattle dreams of 'green'

17.02.05. Activist touts local initiative to cut pollution

2005-02-17T15:26:00.000+01:00

Activist touts local initiative to cut pollutionBy Bob Young, Seattle Times staff reporter, February 17, 2005Will other cities follow Seattle's lead in reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, which have been blamed for global warming? Earth Day founder Denis Hayes thinks so.That's why Hayes was at City Hall yesterday to tout an initiative by Mayor Greg Nickels that commits the Emerald City to meeting

15/02/05. Partnership call to help create an emergency program to show World Cities how to become "Kyoto Compliant"

2005-02-15T17:58:00.000+01:00

Program: New Mobility AgendaNote: Click here to go directly to the 20/20 program site at http://www.newmobilitypartners.org, where you will find full details. As you will note, we invite your comments, suggestoins, and indications of your support, either via email at postmaster@newmobility.org. Or better yet as a Comment to this entry here (click Comment in the small line above, and if you will

02.02.05. World Bank: Post Kyoto Uncertainty Threatens Emerging Carbon Emmissions Martket

2005-02-14T15:22:00.000+01:00

Editor’s Note: What I find quite disturbing in this piece (and the broadly shared attitude behind it) is the untenable combination of (a) a sense of urgency on the one hand, but (b) on the other a sigh and resigned statement that this is going to take a lot longer than 2012 to get right. Which to my mind, points up the importance of what we are trying to achieve here.*****************************

11.02.05. Climate Change: Period of Uncertainty Has Ended

2005-02-11T15:24:00.000+01:00

Programs: The Commons and the New Mobility AgendaNote: Here at The Commons we are trying very hard indeed to create a broad based international collaborative effort which will address specifically and in very practical terms the shortcomings of transport in cities, from specifically a Kyoto Perspective. The program, the New Mobility 20/20 Emergency Initiative, is outlined in some detail under the

11/02/05. Climate Change: 'A Period of Uncertainty Has Ended'

2005-02-11T10:51:00.000+01:00

10/02/05. America’s streets are growing meaner for pedestrians

2005-02-10T13:12:00.000+01:00

Program: The New Mobility Agenda Note: In our push to more sustainable and fairer transportation arrangements, we need to look for examples and lessons, good and bad. Walking in most US cities is, sadly, among the latter. But we have a chance to learn from these mistakes, if we chose to. This latest annual survey from our colleagues at the excellent Surface Transportation Policy Project in

09.02.05. Parking, paying for it - A key to the city

2005-02-09T15:27:00.000+01:00

Editor's note: This note by Ed Dodson from our ever challenging Land Café forum points up once again how fortunate we are to have a number of overlapping discussions and exchanges here under The Commons. This reminder of the fine, persistent decades-long campaign by Institute of Transportation Studies Los Angeles researcher and Urban Planning Department Chair Donald Shoup to eliminate hidden

09/02/05. Parking, paying for it - A key to the New Mobility Agenda

2005-02-09T10:50:00.000+01:00

Program: New Mobility Agenda and Land Café Note: This note by Ed Dodson from our ever challenging Land Café forum points up once again how lucky we are to have a number of overlapping discussions and exchanges here under The Commons. This reminder of the fine, persistent decades-long campaign by Institute of Transportation Studies Los Angeles researcher and Urban Planning Department Chair

08/02/05. Review of "The Possibility of Progress", by James Robertson

2005-02-08T15:03:00.000+01:00

Program: The Commons Note: This review is by our respected friend and colleague James Robertson whose extensive work and conditions in the area of sustainable development and social justice can be accessed via the website "Working for a Sane Alternative" at http://www.jamesrobertson.com/ **************************************************The Possibility of Progress: by Mark

05/02/05. Welcome to Automobiles & the American Dream Coalition

2005-02-05T13:50:00.000+01:00

Program: New Mobility Agenda Notes: We all have our dreams. And for those of us who enjoy hearing the other guy’s point of view we would like to draw your attention to the very outstanding “American Dream Coalition” who are holding a conference to defend their values on June 17-19 in Bloomington, Minnesota. The Coalition is sponsored by IndividualLiberty.org, Special Properties, Inc. (

30/01/05. The Corruption Of Economics (excerpts)

2005-01-30T19:02:00.000+01:00

The Corruption Of Economics by M. Mason Gaffney (Univ. of Calif. - Riverside) excerpts Source: http://www.henrygeorge.org/science/gaffney.htm Bibliography - "Neo-classical Economics as a Stratagem against Henry George" http://homepage.ntlworld.com/janusg/coe/cofe10.htm Text on Ezra Cornell/Alvin S. Johnson: To understand Johnson, it helps first to understand his matrix, Cornell University.

22/01/05. Road design? He calls it a revolution - Hans Monderman, The Netherlands

2005-01-22T11:47:00.000+01:00

Program: New Mobility Agenda NOTE: I could not be more pleased than to post this terrific piece to A Day, since it is right in the middle of our 20/20 strategy. Read on. Then if you will, think about it. And share your ideas with us all.************************************************************** Road design? He calls it a revolution Article by Sarah Lyall The New York Times, Saturday, January

21/01/05. Beyond the Home Zone: Towards the Legible Street

2005-01-21T13:25:00.000+01:00

Program: New Mobility Agenda Note: There is a long background of deep interest here at EcoPlan, The Commons and the New Mobility Agenda on matters involving new and better ways of using our built transportation infrastructure. If you click the word “Woonerf” for example in any of the Search boxes, you will come up with references as early as 1968. We are convinced that these approaches are

18/01/05. Plain-speaking on carsharing strategies and support in Brussels next week

2005-01-18T16:20:00.000+01:00

The need for innovation is not being met by the top-down, highly bureaucratic and geopolitical funding offered by the EU. As we prepare to join next week’s “Keys to Carsharing: Moving the City of Tomorrow” meeting of the European Commission’s moses program in Brussels (see yesterday’s mail on this subject and http://213.170.188.3/moses/index.asp?page=96 for meeting details), we have an

16/01/05. Keynes, Laffer and taxes...

2005-01-16T16:16:00.000+01:00

Program: Land Cafe -----Original Message----- From: Ed Dodson [mailto:ejdodson@c...] Sent: Monday, January 17, 2005 11:14 AM John Maynard Keynes was right about much, but he was wrong in one critically important area. He thought that the expansion of industrial production and the service sector meant that the central importance Adam Smith, David Ricardo and even John Stuart Mill had given to "

8/1/05. From New Regionalism to New Urbanism: Changing the Paradigm of Growth

2005-01-08T08:38:00.000+01:00

Program: New Mobility Agenda This article by Peter Calthorpe is the base of a presentation he is to make to "a Smart Growth" conference to take place in Riverside CA on 21 January. We propose this for consideration by and comment to our New Moblity community, with the thought that creative interaction between ourselves and the New Urbanism group and proponents might yield some useful results at

7/1/05. Carsharing in Austin, Texas? (advice for graduate student)

2005-01-07T13:22:00.000+01:00

Program: World Carshare Consortium We have for many years (since 1973 to be exact) been interested both in monitoring and supporting developments in the area of new (and better) ways of using cars, of which toward the top of the agenda is the concept of people sharing cars in various ways. About a decade ago we set up the World Carshare Consortium at http://worldcarshare.com, which has since

6/1/05. James Robertson,Working for a Sane Alternative: News

2005-01-06T13:13:00.000+01:00

Program: The CommonsJames Robertson, an old friend, sometimes collaborator and respected colleague, has, together with his partner and wife Alison Pritchard, been hammering away at the economic/financial side of the sustainable development and social justice challenge for more years that he would care to remember. He is an original thinkers and important agent of change in these areas. Here you

1/1/2005: Before the Next Catastrophe, Uri Anverny, Gush Shalom

2005-01-01T14:23:00.000+01:00

Program: The Commons: Open Society Sustainability Initiative Saturday, January 1, 2005, Paris, France, Europe (safe and sound) Short introductory note for context: Well, I might as well admit it. I am and have for years been a strong proponent of Palestinian/Israeli peace movement and do my best to follow the intense dialogue that unfolds daily on both sides. In the Stockholm Partnerships for

31/12. Post-Tsunami rebuilding - Commentaries

2004-12-31T08:47:00.000+01:00

Project: New Mobility Agenda - Post-Tsunami rebuilding Thought-provoking responses from colleagues in Scotland, Australia, and Florida help to our call of 29 December (see below) provide further insight into problems, choices (seen and unseen) and eventual solutions in the face of this natural catastrophe. **************************************************************** Original Message 1: From

30/12. Hamid Sardar writes in support of Loeb program application

2004-12-30T17:52:00.000+01:00

Program: The Commons I received today the following fascinating letter with supporting background that I had requested from one Hamid Sardar, whom I have recently nominated for a Loeb Fellowship (see entry of Dec. 15, 2004), which I share with you with pleasure. Hamid Sardar Axis-Mundi Foundation 2 rue Jargonnant 1211 Geneva 6, Switzerland Eric Britton EcoPlan International 8/10 rue Joseph Bara

29/12. HIGHEST PRIORITY: Post-Tsunami rebuilding - the role of sustainable mobility proponents

2004-12-29T14:36:00.000+01:00

Program: New Mobility Agenda Note: click title above for support document Dear World Wide Friends and Colleagues, In the wake of the current tragic events in the regions affected by Tsunami, and once the terrible immediate health and basic needs of these areas and their people have started to be met, it is going to be time to take a number of decisions about rebuilding in all those impacted

28/12. The Future Isn't What It Used To Be: Changing Trends And Their Implications For Transport Planning

2004-12-28T08:17:00.000+01:00

Source/Program: New Mobility Agenda Dear Colleagues, I'm writing to let you know about our latest draft publication, "The Future Isn't What It Used To Be: Changing Trends And Their Implications For Transport Planning" (http://www.vtpi.org/future.pdf This paper examines various demographic, economic and market trends that affect travel demand, and their implications for transport planning

27/12. Transportation? Qualities for the future

2004-12-26T14:17:00.000+01:00

Source/Program: New Mobility Agenda Many of you know Peter Wiederkehr, the man who for years has been the principal force behind the ETS (Environmentally Sustainable Transportation) project of the OECD Environment Directorate, an approach which he is now hoping to extend to the developing countries as well. Two days ago he was kind enough to come over to have lunch and share his views on our

25/12. Principal Voices sustainability initiative - Interim report and invitation for comment

2004-12-25T17:09:00.000+01:00

Source/Program: New Mobility Agenda Dear Brendan, Carlos, Craig, Dave, Eric, Kirk, Mikel, Peter, Preston, Sujit, Todd, Vittal and others of you who were so kind as to get in touch with your ideas and reactions: Thanks for those excellent words and suggestions of yours. They have struck home and have my full attention (as I hope you will see here). In the meantime, here is my next-stage though

24.12.04. Don Corleone wants into carsharing: The Mafia & Sustainability

2004-12-24T09:48:00.000+01:00

Editor's note:This one comes from a series that I scribbled on the occasion of the first World CarFree Day in 2001, published in the Grist magazine of the Earth Day Network. If it interests you enough, you can at the bottom of the article scroll to the other six in that week-long series. Don Corleone wants into carsharing: The Mafia & Sustainability Eric Britton is an international

20/12. "Principal Voices": Making OUR voices heard

2004-12-20T08:20:00.000+01:00

Monday, December 20, 2004, Paris, France, Europe Source/Program: The New Mobility Agenda -----Original Message-----From: EcoPlan, Paris [mailto:eric.britton@ecoplan.org] Sent: Monday, December 20, 2004 8:22 AM To: 'New Mobility Cafe [NMC]' Subject: Principal Voices: Making OUR voices heard About Principal Voices: Principal Voices is an international project aimed at provoking discussion on some