The bad blood between Ottawa and environmentalists was on display before the entire world Tuesday as negotiators from more than 100 countries signed a draft blueprint for sustainable development in Rio de Janeiro.
After months of trying to boil down proposals, environmental officials at the Rio+20 conference in Brazil this week finally compromised and delivered a 283-point "vision" for leaders and politicians to ratify later this week.
In the draft, the countries pledge to work with civil society to "renew our commitment to sustainable development, and to ensure the promotion of economically, socially and environmentally sustainable future for our planet and for present and future generations."
The plan would commit countries to fight climate change with "urgent and ambitious action," increase their aid for developing countries, and work out a global set of long-term sustainable development goals to alleviate poverty and prevent global warming.
Critics say the draft is weak on timelines and firm commitments, and lacks heft when it comes to overseeing the state of the world's oceans.
"The text is extremely weak, and as it stands represents a sellout of people and the planet," Cameron Fenton, director of the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition, said in an email from Rio.
"Canada's role has been at its best not engaging in the process, and at worst acting to weaken ambitious language and delete commitments."
Oxfam Canada's Mark Fried noted the official text did not contain any new commitments, and even modest proposals — such as improving smallholder farmers' access to resources — were dropped.
"The Rio+20 summit was never going to save the world," Fried said in an email from Rio. "But it should mark a decisive turning point in our ambition to do so."
'These are beginnings, not completions'
Environment Minister Peter Kent, who arrived in Rio late Tuesday afternoon, said the environmentalists' criticism was "unwarranted" and "trivializes" the enormity of the task before negotiators.
"The non-governmental organizations....they know better," Kent said in an interview with The Canadian Press. "Canada takes these things very seriously."
The Rio conference is meant to kickstart action and discussion down the road, not come up with "snap" agreements that are not properly thought out and could well have unintended consequences on sovereignty and domestic policy if adopted without proper scrutiny, Kent said.
"These are beginnings, not completions."
About 50,000 delegates and activists have descended on the Brazilian city for the week. Dozens of heads of state will meet Wednesday and Thursday, although many industrialized countries, like Canada, are sending ministers instead of leaders.
Kent was set to meet with provincial delegations Tuesday night. Premiers from Quebec and Manitoba are both in Rio, along with officials and ministers from some other provinces.
Agreement to talk more, decide later
Environmentalists blamed Canada, in part, for arguing against a new agreement that would better protect the biodiversity of the high seas, where no country has any firm control.
Europe and some developing countries, as well as many environmental groups, had hoped to see leaders commit to forging a new agreement that would protect marine habitat and keep an eye on deep-sea mining.
Instead, negotiators agreed to talk some more, and decide later.
"It's a big failure of Rio, especially since this was talked about as the 'summit of the seas,"' said Susanna Fuller, marine conservation co-ordinator for the Ecology Action Centre in Halifax who was in the negotiating room in Rio.
While regional agreements and fishing accords do control some aspects of biodiversity in some parts of the world's oceans, there are many gaps that beg a global agreement in order to prevent destruction of habitat and ocean pollution, she said.
Developing countries in particular had hoped to have a biodiversity pact so that any benefits derived from marine genetics are shared for the common good, added Greenpeace Canada's ocean campaigner, Charles Latimer.
But Fuller said Canada, the United States, Russia and Venezuela worked together to make sure there would be no new agreement.
That's because Canada is already part of a United Nations ad hoc process to protect the high seas, and creating another agreement would be "duplicative," a spokesman for Kent countered.
Kent said Ottawa is engaged in several different efforts to protect marine habitat, creating conservation areas in domestic waters and participating in global talks to protect international waters.
But critics say there is more to Canada's opposition than that. Canada's companies have an interest in deep-sea mining that might be fettered by a new high-seas biodiversity agreement, they say.
Ottawa has been in an escalating public-opinion battle with environmentalists for months to the point where there is virtually no common ground between the government and even moderate research-based environmental groups.
In the lead-up to the budget, Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver chastised environmentalists for taking foreign funding. Protests against federal policy have been growing louder and louder, targeting the budget and its emphasis on "responsible resource management", and most recently the omnibus budget bill that overhauls environmental assessment regimes and the Fisheries Act.
Source: www.cbc.ca
England selection for Kent spinner - News Shopper
England selection for Kent spinner
1:31pm Wednesday 20th June 2012 in Sport By Jim Palmer
KENT spinner James Tredwell has been called up to the England squad.
With England 2-0 up in the three-match one-day series against the West Indies, the selectors have called up three new bowlers and are planning to rest Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan.
Tredwell, 30, who has played five one-day internationals, is joined by Surrey’s Stuart Meaker and Warwickshire’s Chris Woakes.
He was at his miserly best on Sunday in the victory over Surrey, squeezing the run-rate and conceding just 17 runs off his four overs.
National selector Geoff Miller said: “The fact that we have already won the NatWest series means we are able to take the opportunity to rest three players ahead of next week’s series against Australia and take a closer look at players who are likely to feature in our limited overs planning going forward.”
Follow us on Twitter @NewsShopperSprt
Source: www.newsshopper.co.uk
Win tickets to see Sussex Sharks v Essex Eagles - Chichester Observer
Sussex Sharks’ Friends Life t20 campaign is finally under way following an impressive 11-run victory over Middlesex Panthers at Lord’s on Sunday.
Overseas star Scott Styris announced himself in Sharks colours with a knock of 48 from 30 balls while Murray Goodwin made 43 from 38.
In a thrilling Middlesex run chase, it could have gone either way at the home of cricket but left-armer Chris Liddle ensured the points came back to Hove with devastating figures of five for 17.
The Panthers will look to exact revenge when they travel to The PROBIZ County Ground on Friday evening before Sussex host the Essex Eagles on Sunday afternoon.
We have two pairs of tickets for the Essex clash to give away.
To enter, just name three of the other counties in Sussex’s t20 south group this year. Email your answer, plus your name, address and telephone number, to sport@chiobserver.co.uk by the deadline of 10am Friday (June 22). The winners will be notified on Friday. Entrants’ details will be destroyed.
If you’re not lucky enough to get your hands on a pair in our competition, tickets are on sale now for both the Friday and Sunday matches priced at £20 each for adults and £10 for juniors (in advance).
Call 0844 264 0206 or book at www.sussexcricket.co.uk or why not enjoy a ‘fantastic family Sunday’ which includes a two-course Sunday lunch, a match ticket v Essex and dedicated seating in the BrightonandHoveJobs.com Boundary Rooms.
This costs £40 for adults, juniors £20, or a family ticket of two adults and two juniors is £100.
Call or book online.
Email to a friend
Print this pageSource: www.chichester.co.uk
A-level student predicted to achieve top grades is escorted from college by police after 'refusing to stop REVISING' - Daily Mail
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Barred: Jamie Gagliardi claims he had 'nowhere else to revise' and did not have a computer at home
An A-level student who was 'obsessed with revising' had to be escorted from school by police after ignoring a classroom ban.
Jamie Gagliardi, 18, had been told to stay home from Ifield Community College in Crawley, West Sussex, for one day after interrupting the headteacher during a meeting on Wednesday.
But he went to the college - whose students notched up a 100 per cent A-level pass rate last year - the following morning, claiming he had 'nowhere else to revise' for his psychology A-level on Monday and he did not have a computer at home.
He was asked to leave but began 'causing a nuisance and a disturbance'.
At 8.45am college officials decided that the only option was to call in the police after the teen refused to leave the premises.
The pupil, who is also taking A-level law, English and history, was escorted from the college and his mother was called to pick him up.
Police confirmed that the teenager would not be charged with any offence.
Speaking this week, Jamie said he was given a one-day ban from the college last Wednesday for interrupting the headteacher during a meeting, meaning he was not allowed in the school the following day.
He said: 'I have been punished for wanting to do well.
'I am a hard-working and dedicated student and this could have such an impact on my future.
'The college has overreacted in what is probably the most important week of my school life.
Ban: Staff at Ifield Community College (pictured) called police after Jamie Gagliardi refused to leave the premises
'I have told teachers many times that I do not have a computer at home so would not be able to work at home.'
Bosses at the 1,090-pupil college - rated good by Ofsted in February this year - said the teen is ‘obsessed’ with after-school tuition and the police were called because he was ‘causing a nuisance’ by refusing to leave the premises.
Marilyn Evans, the school’s director of administration, said Jamie was a 'very bright boy', but added: 'He became vociferous and irritated that he couldn't have after-school revision.
'The teacher has already given up her time to give extra revision in half term and during the school day, when she was meant to have free time.
'On Thursday, he was causing a nuisance and a disturbance on the premises.
'He is obsessed with doing after-school revision.'
She added: 'He probably feels that without those extra sessions he won't get the grade he wants, but he will. He is a top student.'
A spokeswoman for Sussex Police confirmed today that officers were called at 8.45am on June 14 to remove a 'disruptive' pupil who was refusing to leave the premises.
Splash: How the Crawley News reported on Jamie Gagliardi's removal from the school by police
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Essex closing on Harbhajan - ESPN.co.uk
Harbhajan Singh is close to agreeing a deal with Essex to play the latter part of the English county season, ESPNcricinfo understands. The move will not include the Friends Life t20 due to contractual issues with the BCCI, but he is set to be available once the County Championship resumes.
If the deal is completed Essex will be Harbhajan's second county, after previous spells with Surrey, where he collected 57 first-class wickets at 21.10 across two separate stints in 2005 and 2007. Harbhajan has been out of favour with the India selectors since being injured on last year's tour to England and has been replaced in the spin department by R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha.
Essex have had a difficult time trying to retain overseas signings and recently lost the services of Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladesh captain, who had been due to be available for all formats including the FLt20 before the Bangladesh Cricket Board declined to give him a No Objection Certificate. Peter Siddle, the Australia fast bowler, had also been due to play for them, but that fell through after he returned home from the West Indies injured.
Essex are currently seventh in Division Two of the County Championship and Harbhajan would bolster a spin attack that is currently in the hands of Tim Phillips, a left-armer, 22-year-old legspinner Tom Craddock and offspin from Greg Smith.
© ESPN EMEA Ltd
Source: www.espn.co.uk
Doctors solve mystery of a man who 'died from laughter' while watching The Goodies after his granddaughter nearly dies from same rare heart condition - Daily Mail
- Mother-of-two diagnosed with Long QT Syndrome following cardiac arrest
- Syndrome is a genetic condition that causes an abnormal heart rhythm probably inherited from grandfather
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Doctors have solved the mystery of a man who famously 'died from laughter' while watching The Goodies, after his granddaughter's heart stopped for 55minutes.
Mother-of-two Lisa Corke, 23, suffered a near fatal cardiac arrest and was clinically dead for nearly an hour when she collapsed in her home on May 4.
But the young mother from Minster, in Kent, was saved by her 'heroic' quick thinking husband who administered CPR for 15 minutes before the ambulance arrived.
Lisa Corke is recuperating (left) after she suffered a near fatal heart attack. Doctors believe it was caused by Long QT syndrome - a condition they believe killed her grandfather (right) in 1975
Lisa was rushed to hospital, put into an induced coma for 36 hours and diagnosed with the rare Long QT syndrome.
Amazingly, doctors looked into Lisa's medical history and discovered her paternal granddad was Alex Mitchell who famously died laughing while watching an episode of The Goodies in 1975.
Mr Mitchell, a brick layer from Kings Lynn, Norfolk, was watching the episode "Kung Fu Kapers" when he had a laughing fit and collapsed in front of his distraught wife.
During the episode Tim Brooke-Taylor uses a set of bagpipes to defend himself against Bill Oddie who is hurling black puddings.
It had always been a mystery why Mr Mitchell died but doctors quickly realised he too must have had LQT syndrome, which is hereditary.
Kung Fu Caper: During the episode Tim Brooke-Taylor uses a set of bagpipes to defend himself against Bill Oddie who is hurling black puddings
Lisa, who is currently living with her parents as she makes a full recovery, said: 'My granddad died from one of the most famous strange deaths.
THE BATTLE OF ECKY THUMP
In this 1975 episode of The Goodies called Kung Fu Kapers, Bill Oddie demonstrates the made-up Scottish martial art of 'Hoots-Toot-Ochaye.'
This consisted of fights with various assailants played by the other two Goodies, including two boxers, a French stick fighter and an Australian with a boomerang. He wins by cunningly hitting them over the head with a black pudding.
He meets his match when Tim Brooke-Taylor takes him on armed with the bagpipes. However, Tim loses after he is hit over the head by the returning boomerang thrown earlier by the Australian. Oddie celebrates his victory after it's announced by the umpire.
'I think at the time they probably thought he suffered a heart attack caused by the laughter but doctors realised he died from a cardiac arrest caused by LQT syndrome after examining me.
'His death has been talked about for years and made all the papers at the time - I never knew him but it is strange to think we both had this life threatening condition.
'It's amazing really, I never knew I had LQT and we did not know it was in the family. It apparently runs on my father's side.
'But luckily for me my husband was there who amazingly administered CPR and saved my life. He really is my hero.'
Lisa had just put her children to bed and was settling down on the sofa with Mick, 33, when her words began to slur and she suddenly slumped forward.
Mick quickly sprang into action, laid his wife on the floor and phoned 999.
Taking it easy: Lisa Corke with her husband Mick and her children Ellie (right) and Amelie. She can no longer do any strenuous exercise
He was told to put her into the recovery position, but when the operator listened to her breathing, he was told to start CPR immediately.
Mick did this until the ambulance arrived and they were working to try and stabilise Lisa at her home and all the way to Medway Maritime Hospital, Kent.
LONG QT SYNDROME - A DISORDER THAT STRIKES WITHOUT WARNING
Long QT syndrome is an inherited disorder of the heart's electrical rhythm that affects around one in 10,000 people.
Usually symptoms appear in the teenage years but it may not be picked up till later in life.
A sufferer can experience short episodes of having a fast, abnormal heart rhythm which can lead to other symptoms such as fainting.
These episodes can be triggered by intense exercise, emotional excitement or fear.
There is often no warning before an episode but most people 'come round' again after two minutes as the heart rhythm returns to normal.
However, very occasionally the disruption can be life-threatening.
Medication can control the symptoms, although some patients need a pacemaker to regulate the heart.
If you have experienced fainting associated with exercise or strong emotions, and especially if there is a history in your family of the same problem, it's important to discuss it with your GP. Source: gosh.nhs.uk
For more information visit www.c-r-y.org.uk
When she arrived in A&E, Lisa was put into a medically-induced coma to try to reduce the risk of brain damage.
Lisa, who lives in the Isle of Sheppey, Kent, was in the coma for 36 hours and had her heart stopped again two days later, but medics were able to bring it under control.
She has since been fitted with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator and has to take medication everyday for the rest of her life.
Lisa, who also has a seven month old daughter called Amelie, added: 'My whole life has changed and it's really hard not being able to pick the girls up or bath them.
'It's very unusual to survive an out of hospital cardiac arrest so it makes me feel very lucky.
'The doctors said Mick saved my life - it's incredible to think how lucky I have been that he was there and didn't go to pieces. Someone must be looking over us.
'I would like to thank everybody - the paramedics for not giving up - it's a long time for someone to be down. Everyone was fantastic.
'But I have to get my daughters checked for the gene to see if they too have a risk of developing LQT syndrome.'
Mr Mitchell, who was originally from Edinburgh died in front of his wife Nessie, who is now 86 and daughter Xia Mitchell, who is now 57.
He had two other children Liz Mitchell, 62 and Lisa's father Alex, 54. Alex senior is survived by eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Lisa's father Alex, who works as a mortgage consultant said his father was a 'laid back' and 'cheerful man'.
'It was hard for us to deal with at the time but we took comfort in the fact he passed away laughing.
'It is amazing that after all these years we have finally found out what caused his death.'
The family are planning to raise money for the charity CRY and will all be taking a two-hour CPR course through the British Heart Foundation.
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Essex Captain Relieved After Collision - Military.com
SAN DIEGO -- The Navy relieved the commanding officer of the USS Essex of his position, saying Tuesday that officials lost confidence in his abilities after his ship collided with a tanker at sea.
Capt. Chuck Litchfield had only been the commanding officer of the amphibious assault ship for a few weeks when the crash occurred about 120 miles off the coast of Southern California on May 16. There were no injuries or fuel spills.
The Essex was approaching the oiler USNS Yukon to be refueled as part of a routine operation when they ran into each other. Both ships were damaged but were able to continue on their way to San Diego.
Navy spokeswoman, Cmdr. Tamsen Reese, said the steering failed on the Essex, which caused the two ships to move closely together.
But the crew was able to regain control of the rudder before the collision.
The investigation determined that there were break downs in the command and control of the Essex, and in the communication between the two ships, Reese said.
Authorities also found there was a loss of situational awareness on the bridge.
All those factors, Reese said, led to the collision.
Essex was carrying 982 crew members on its way to San Diego for scheduled maintenance. It had spent the past 12 years based in Sasebo, Japan, as command ship for the Navy's Expeditionary Strike Group 7.
Litchfield was relieved Monday of his position and has been administratively reassigned to the staff of Commander, Naval Air Force of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
He could not be reached for comment.
Litchfield graduated with merit from the Naval Academy in 1988 and has been recognized for his achievements as a naval aviator. He was selected for major sea command in 2009.
Capt. Jonathan Harnden has temporarily assumed command of the Essex until a permanent replacement is assigned. Harnden previously commanded the USS Bonhomme Richard, which Litchfield had taken command of Feb. 3 before switching over to the Essex on April 23.
Officials said the Essex will depart Wednesday as scheduled to participate in the Rim of the Pacific exercise this summer in Hawaii.
Source: www.military.com
Essex: Springwatch star Michaela Strachan to open new visitor centre at Abberton Reservoir near Colchester - East Anglian Daily Times
Michaela Strachan is to open a new visitor centre at Abberton Reservoir near Colchester
By Chris Harris
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
7:48 AM
TELEVISION presenter Michaela Strachan will officially unveil a new wildlife visitor centre and nature reserve in Essex.
Ms Strachan, who has just finished filming Springwatch for the BBC, will open the Essex Wildlife Trust building at Abberton Reservoir near Colchester.
The 15-sided visitor complex has been built as part of a £150million project to increase the reservoir’s capacity by 15billion litres.
John Hall, chief executive of Essex Wildlife Trust, said: “We are delighted to welcome a wildlife champion like Michaela Strachan to Abberton Reservoir to carry out the official opening duties of our new visitor centre and reserve.
“We look forward to welcoming guests and the public to what should be a memorable day. Abberton is already a hugely significant site for wildlife and our new reserve will help make it even more crucial over the coming years.
“Our fabulous new visitor centre brings people closer to that wildlife. The trust’s vision is of a ‘Living Landscape’ where wildlife and people co-exist side by side, to mutual benefit, and Abberton is a fine example of that ideal.
“Together with Essex & Suffolk Water we are making Abberton Reservoir better for wildlife, better for people – and better for future generations.”
Strachan will officially open the centre on Saturday and will be joined by the Mayor of Colchester and representatives from Layer-de-la-Haye Parish Council, Essex Birdwatching Society, Natural England, Abberton Management Committee and TJ Evers, who built the visitor centre.The opening ceremony will coincide with a special fair, which will include a birds of prey display, charity and trade stands, refreshments and a beer tent.
John Devall, operations director of Essex & Suffolk Water, said: “Abberton Reservoir is one of the most important sites in Europe for its wildlife and is also an essential part of the county’s infrastructure helping us supply water to more than a million people in Essex.
“The official opening of the visitor centre is a chance to celebrate this fantastic new facility, which provides a gateway to access this very special site.
“The relocation and enhancement of the visitor centre is part of the Abberton Scheme, which includes the expansion of the reservoir’s capacity by 58%.
“Guests at the opening event will also have the opportunity to learn more about this essential and major Scheme from the project team.”
The old visitor centre, opened in 1990, has been dismantled on low-lying land that will be flooded. The new visitor centre is on adjacent higher land, at the heart of an 80-acre nature reserve.
Source: www.eadt.co.uk
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