Sarbatori ECO-fericite!

Bucuresti, 6 decembrie 2007, Comunicat WWF – Semnificatia religioasa deosebita, frenezia cadourilor, momentele petrecute cu cei dragi, bucatele traditionale si datinile stravechi fac din sarbatorile de iarna un prilej de bucurie pentru fiecare dintre noi. Acestea presupun insa si o crestere impresionanta a consumului, intr-o mica masura corelat cu nevoile reale si cu spiritul sarbatorilor. Rezultatele? Tone de deseuri, milioane de brazi taiati si o mare risipa de energie.

La nivel mondial, raportul dintre consumul de resurse si cantitatea de deseuri generate, pe de o parte, si capacitatea de regenerare a mediului, pe de alta parte, este ingrijorator: consumam resursele a 1.2 planete. Stilul de viata de pe continentul Nord-American duce la un consum echivalent cu resursele a 5 planete, iar cel din Europa de Vest la un consum echivalent cu resursele a 3 planete. In Romania, consumam resursele a 1.5 planete, iar tendinta este in crestere.

In conditiile unui consum din ce in ce mai ridicat, corelat cu reducerea dramatica a resurselor naturale, este important ca fiecare dintre noi sa constientizeze ca activitatea cotidiana, stilul de viata si chiar modul in care alegem sa ne petrecem sarbatorile de iarna contureaza viitorul planetei noastre. Continue reading

Women Climate Activists Blockade the Department for Trasport (UK)

PRESS RELEASE
Dec 7 8am

Women have this morning blockaded the Department for Transport preventing staff from getting to work and carrying out their policies which are catapulting us towards dangerous run-away climate change. This action comes in response to the Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly confirming the government’s intentions to build a third runway and a sixth terminal at Heathrow and co-incides with the opening of their first ‘consultation’ exhibition.

This protest is part of a growing direct action movement against climate change inspired by the Camp for Climate Action (1). On Wednesday over 30 climate activists including the columnist George Monbiot invaded and occupied Britain’s biggest ever open-cast coal mine at Ffos-y-fran in South Wales. On 28th November, protesters from climate action group Plane Stupid disrupted the proceedings of the Transport Select Committee who were hearing evidence from BAA boss, Steven Nelson and Aviation Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick in protest at the Heathrow expansion plans. This weekend thousands of people will march on the streets of London to protest about climate change. This protest is a call to all to stand up and take action against the governments and corporations who are fueling climate chaos.

Why the DfT?

Transport is the fastest growing source of climate change gases in the UK, now accounting for 26% of emissions (2). In a time when we desperately need to reduce emissions, the DfT plans to build more roads and more airports encouraging us to drive and fly more. The DfT was targetted during the Camp for Climate Action in August, and women have returned today to re-emphasise the role of our government in dangerous transport expansion plans. Groups will continue to return to the DfT until the government reviews its policies.

Why women?

Women have acted today in solidarity with the residents of Sipson, especially the women who continue to campaign to protect their homes, despite bullying and pressure from BAA, and the women all over the world who fight everyday to survive in the face of increasing climate chaos. …
[the full press release]

The Camp for Climate Action

eu-wide study on domestic duties and jobs

Childcare locks women into lower-paid jobs

· Europe-wide study reveals entrenched lifestyle divide
· Domestic duties prevent females pursuing top jobs

December 6, 2007
The Guardian

British women are working in lower paid and lower status jobs than their male counterparts because they still shoulder the responsibility for housework and childcare, a Cambridge University study reveals today.

A “lifestyle divide”, in which women take on the burden of domestic duties, creates a vicious circle as they are then less able to work the long hours needed to win top jobs. They then earn less and are reinforced as responsible for household tasks, says the Europe-wide research.

The divide also leaves women with a longer working day, despite earning less, according to the study. The average working week for a woman in Europe is 68 hours, including paid and domestic work – longer than the average of 55 hours for a man in full-time employment.

The study, the first of its kind since EU members joined from the former eastern bloc, suggests efforts to reduce the workplace gender gap in the UK and the rest of Europe have made little progress since the early 1990s. It reinforces the warnings of several British studies that part-time working, now more accessible in the UK thanks to a right to ask to work flexibly, can lock women into low-paid jobs. more

About the study – University of Cambridge