Up to 1 million people are converging on Cape Canaveral to see the launch of the space shuttle Atlantis, surprising many with the level of interest in the 30-year-old space program. A 50-mile traffic jam from the Kennedy Space Center to Orlando is expected today, despite a 70% chance bad…
Continue reading …Faisal Abdu’Allah has worked with scientists, athletes and local residents to highlight the dangers of living and competing in the city One of Britain’s leading film artists has teamed up with scientists to show how polluted air in East London threatens athletes at next year’s Games and shortens the lives of people living near the Olympic park. Film and photography artist Faisal Abdu’Allah , who has exhibited at Tate Britain, the Serpentine and Stamford University in the United States, worked for more than one year with four of Britain’s leading air quality experts, including Frank Kelly, professor of environmental health at King’s College, London . The film, called Double Pendulum, features athletes including Jeanette Kwakye, footballer Anthony Grant and martial artist Ammar Duffus, and 11 to 14-year-olds living near the Olympic Park. “I was looking at how breathing is affected by pollution, how race impacts on how we breathe and how where we live geographically impacts on how we breathe,” he said. “A lot of athletes develop asthma after their sports career is over.” Where you live, says Abdu’Allah, determines not only the air you breathe but also the length of your life. Because poor people tend to live closer to busy roads and black and Asians live mostly in heavily polluted inner cities, life expectancy in East London, he said, is shorter than for richer communities in London suburbs. London is one of the most polluted cities in Europe, with more than 4,000 premature deaths attributed to air pollution at a cost of about £2bn a year. East London is one of the capital’s most air polluted districts with an expanding airport and some of the busiest roads in Britain. Levels of air pollution across London exceed EU limits and breach World Health Organisation guidelines. In 2006, Beijing was forced to take 50% of its 3.5m vehicles off the road before the Games to lower air pollution. According to the Olympic Delivery Authority’s strategic environmental assessment, the expected increases in traffic along the 600km of the Olympic route network will lead to further breaches of European legal limits in areas that already suffer from poor air quality. Last week, an alliance of environment and helath organisations said that air pollution in the UK is killing or shortening the lives of as many people today as the dense “pea souper” smogs of the 1950s . The Healthy Air Campaign is pressing government to meet its legal targets. Pollution Health Olympic Games 2012 London Installation Art guardian.co.uk
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Tensions mount as hundreds of thousands of activists expected in capital for Arab spring-style rally against ‘dirty politics’ Malaysia is bracing for an Arab spring-style stand-off on Saturday, when activists angry at “dirty politics” are expected to rally in Kuala Lumpur despite draconian government efforts to nip the movement in the bud. Tensions have mounted in this normally staid state, often called “Moderate Malaysia”, after a group of 62 non-governmental organisations known locally as Bersih 2.0 proposed a peaceful protest, dubbed the “Walk for Democracy”, against alleged vote-rigging and other electoral abuses in a recent state election. But the government last week declared Bersih – which means “clean” in Malay – illegal, and has warned that anyone wearing the yellow colours of protest will be detained. It has already arrested more than 200 supporters and organisers on charges ranging from the promotion of “illegal assembly” to “waging war against the king”. Some are being held for an indefinite period without trial. Although Malaysia’s next general election is not until 2013, polls could take place as soon as this year – with many speculating that the incumbent Barisan Nasional (National Front) may not fare so well. Headed by the prime minister, Najib Razak, Barisan Nasional has ruled Malaysia since 1955. It suffered a major setback in 2008 when it lost more than one-third of its parliamentary seats to Pakatan Rakyat (People’s Alliance), a coalition of opposition parties. Despite government accusations that they are actively threatening national security, Bersih’s leaders have been adamant that they are pushing solely for electoral changes. “We are calling for a government through free and fair elections, not street demonstrations” like in Egypt or Libya, said Bersih’s chairwoman, Ambiga Sreenevasan. After calling Bersih illegal, the government assented to a rally in a stadium. Opposition groups expect as many as 300,000 supporters to turn out. Police, however, have refused to grant Bersih a permit for the rally – a requirement for any gathering of five or more people – and have said they will work with the army to disperse Saturday’s crowds. Earlier this week police held a military exercise in which soldiers held up banners reading “Disperse or we will shoot”. Najib threw his endorsement behind local silat – or martial arts – groups, including one that has openly vowed to “wage war” against Bersih. “If there are evil enemies who want to attack the country from without and within,” Najib said this week, “you, my brothers, will rise to fight them”. Bersih organisers say they have received death, bomb and gang-rape threats in recent weeks, which they claim police have not investigated. “It has been challenging personally,” said Ambiga. Nonetheless, Bersih “understand our responsibility in holding the line on behalf of all of you who want nothing more than a clean electoral system and a better Malaysia.” While no one is entirely sure what to expect on Saturday, the lead-up has already caused mayhem. Extensive roadblocks have caused near standstills in Kuala Lumpur and many businesses will be closing. Widespread mobile phone and internet disruption is expected. Despite it being a supposedly peaceful protest, many are expecting violence. “This is the formula now, all around the world – in Libya, Egypt, it’s all the same – there will be violence,” said Mohamed Rayak, 32, a hotel manager. “But no one knows if it will be coming from the government or the opposition. If it’s from the government, then they can say it all got out of hand, and [the rally] has to be stopped.” Thousands of supporters have aired their views on Facebook and Twitter, with many of them, such as Thomas Chai, tweeting directly to the prime minister. “Beneath this YELLOW there is an idea, Mr Najib, and ideas are bulletproof,” he wrote. Bersih supporters in other parts of the world are expected to hold similar rallies on Saturday in Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, France, Switzerland, the US, Canada and the UK. Malaysia Protest guardian.co.uk
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William Hague announces travel restrictions on people involved with Iran’s nuclear programme or human rights violations Britain, the US and Canada have approved a new round of travel restrictions targeting the Iranian regime, including members of the judiciary and prison officials. The British foreign secretary, William Hague, said on Friday that the punitive measures were aimed at individuals associated with Iran’s nuclear programme as well as those involved in the violation of human rights in the country. “The UK is working closely with its partners to prevent a wide range of individuals connected with Iran’s nuclear enrichment and weaponisation programmes from entering our countries. These include scientists, engineers and those procuring components,” Hague said in a statement. “We are also taking action against more Iranians who have committed serious human rights abuses, including government ministers, members of the judiciary, prison officials and others associated with the Iranian government’s brutal crackdown on its people since the disputed elections of 2009.” Britain has not released the names of the 50 individuals on the blacklist but it is believed that judges and prison officials who participated in the detention of human rights activists, including those involved in the sentencing of prominent lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh to 11 years in jail, are affected by the travel ban. The EU has already imposed travel bans on 32 Iranian commanders, judges and prison officials who have committed human rights abuses but the Foreign Office said the new move was aimed at extending the previous list by adding 50 new individuals from various governmental bodies including Iran’s ministry of science, research and technology, the ministry of intelligence, the ministry of justice and the ministry of the interior. Prosecutors, prison staff and members of the security forces, including the powerful Revolutionary Guard and the police, are also believed to have been hit by the new travel curbs. Hague insisted Iran “continues to seek equipment and components from around the world for its illicit nuclear programme” and said: “The message to the Iranian government from the UK and its partners is clear: it needs to change its behaviour before it will be treated as a normal member of the international community.” The Foreign Office believes the Iranian government has supported the repression of pro-democracy protesters in Syria and said some of those from Iran’s ministry of intelligence who were banned from travelling to the UK had played a role in the suppression of Syrian demonstrations. Iran’s foreign minister, Ali Akbar Salehi, was among those banned from entering the EU but his travel restriction was lifted after an intervention by the European Union in the hope of a nuclear agreement with Iran. Critics of the EU’s move say Salehi’s travel ban was lifted because Germany wanted to secure the release of two German journalists imprisoned in Iran. In reaction to the co-ordinated action of the UK, the US and Canada, Potkin Azarmehr, an Iranian blogger based in London, said: “Travel ban on Islamic Republic officials was thought to be one of the effective sanctions which did not harm the people in Iran. If those listed are still able to travel [a reference to Salehi] and receive exclusion because of their positions it will make a whole mockery of the travel ban sanction. The way to get round this sanction for the Islamic Republic will simply be to promote those on the travel ban.” Azarmehr said he was worried that the travel ban imposed on Fereydoon Abbasi-Davani, who has been recently appointed as the head of Iran’s atomic energy agency, might be lifted because of his job promotion. Esmail Ahmadi-Moqaddam, the chief of Iran’s national police, Ghorban-Ali Nadjafabadi, former prosecutor general of Iran, Hassan Haddad, a judge in Tehran’s revolutionary court, Abbas Jafari-Dolatabadi, prosecutor general of Tehran, Gholamhossein Mohsen-Ejei, prosecutor general of Iran, and Saeed Mortazavi, a former Tehran prosecutor, are among the 32 blacklisted Iranians whose names have already been released by the EU. Iran William Hague United States Canada Nuclear weapons Middle East Human rights Foreign policy US foreign policy Saeed Kamali Dehghan guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …William Hague announces travel restrictions on people involved with Iran’s nuclear programme or human rights violations Britain, the US and Canada have approved a new round of travel restrictions targeting the Iranian regime, including members of the judiciary and prison officials. The British foreign secretary, William Hague, said on Friday that the punitive measures were aimed at individuals associated with Iran’s nuclear programme as well as those involved in the violation of human rights in the country. “The UK is working closely with its partners to prevent a wide range of individuals connected with Iran’s nuclear enrichment and weaponisation programmes from entering our countries. These include scientists, engineers and those procuring components,” Hague said in a statement. “We are also taking action against more Iranians who have committed serious human rights abuses, including government ministers, members of the judiciary, prison officials and others associated with the Iranian government’s brutal crackdown on its people since the disputed elections of 2009.” Britain has not released the names of the 50 individuals on the blacklist but it is believed that judges and prison officials who participated in the detention of human rights activists, including those involved in the sentencing of prominent lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh to 11 years in jail, are affected by the travel ban. The EU has already imposed travel bans on 32 Iranian commanders, judges and prison officials who have committed human rights abuses but the Foreign Office said the new move was aimed at extending the previous list by adding 50 new individuals from various governmental bodies including Iran’s ministry of science, research and technology, the ministry of intelligence, the ministry of justice and the ministry of the interior. Prosecutors, prison staff and members of the security forces, including the powerful Revolutionary Guard and the police, are also believed to have been hit by the new travel curbs. Hague insisted Iran “continues to seek equipment and components from around the world for its illicit nuclear programme” and said: “The message to the Iranian government from the UK and its partners is clear: it needs to change its behaviour before it will be treated as a normal member of the international community.” The Foreign Office believes the Iranian government has supported the repression of pro-democracy protesters in Syria and said some of those from Iran’s ministry of intelligence who were banned from travelling to the UK had played a role in the suppression of Syrian demonstrations. Iran’s foreign minister, Ali Akbar Salehi, was among those banned from entering the EU but his travel restriction was lifted after an intervention by the European Union in the hope of a nuclear agreement with Iran. Critics of the EU’s move say Salehi’s travel ban was lifted because Germany wanted to secure the release of two German journalists imprisoned in Iran. In reaction to the co-ordinated action of the UK, the US and Canada, Potkin Azarmehr, an Iranian blogger based in London, said: “Travel ban on Islamic Republic officials was thought to be one of the effective sanctions which did not harm the people in Iran. If those listed are still able to travel [a reference to Salehi] and receive exclusion because of their positions it will make a whole mockery of the travel ban sanction. The way to get round this sanction for the Islamic Republic will simply be to promote those on the travel ban.” Azarmehr said he was worried that the travel ban imposed on Fereydoon Abbasi-Davani, who has been recently appointed as the head of Iran’s atomic energy agency, might be lifted because of his job promotion. Esmail Ahmadi-Moqaddam, the chief of Iran’s national police, Ghorban-Ali Nadjafabadi, former prosecutor general of Iran, Hassan Haddad, a judge in Tehran’s revolutionary court, Abbas Jafari-Dolatabadi, prosecutor general of Tehran, Gholamhossein Mohsen-Ejei, prosecutor general of Iran, and Saeed Mortazavi, a former Tehran prosecutor, are among the 32 blacklisted Iranians whose names have already been released by the EU. Iran William Hague United States Canada Nuclear weapons Middle East Human rights Foreign policy US foreign policy Saeed Kamali Dehghan guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …South Sudan independence: ‘If I die on Sunday, it will be in a free country’
July 8, 2011 No Comment
Former rebels prepare to fly the flag of independence from Khartoum as South Sudan becomes world’s newest nation The freedom suit is tan, single-breasted and has three buttons. It hangs in Charles Mamur’s tent, covered by a black bag to protect it from the dust that blows in from the dirt streets of South Sudan’s capital, Juba. Mamur bought the suit two years ago for about £50 but he has never worn it. He was keeping it for a special occasion, a time that he had dreamed of since the day nearly 50 years ago when, as a 10-year-old boy, he took up arms against the Arab government in Khartoum in the north. “I never believed that the moment of freedom would come,” Mamur, 58, said this week, unzipping the bag to show off his suit, as well as the yellow tie and black shoes he picked to go with it. “But I wanted to be well dressed if it did.” The moment has now arrived. At around noon on Saturday in the swelter of Juba, a besuited Mamur will be among tens of thousands of South Sudanese and foreign dignitaries, including the British foreign secretary, William Hague, and the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, who will watch as the flag of Sudan is lowered. Then, a giant South Sudan flag, six metres by four metres, will be raised on a 32-metre electronically operated flagpole that was installed this week by Chinese contractors who claim it is the tallest on the continent. Six years after the end of Africa’s longest-running civil war – and one of its deadliest – its largest country will be officially split in two. The Arab-dominated north under President Omar al-Bashir will remain Sudan, only with much less territory and oil. The ethnically African, non-Muslim south, governed by former rebel Salva Kiir, will become the 193rd country to join the United Nations – the Republic of South Sudan. The excitement and anticipation here in the buildup to independence is hard to overstate, eclipsing even the joy that accompanied the January referendum that saw 99% of voters choose secession over unity. Every South Sudanese knows that the new state, among the least developed countries on earth, faces immense challenges. But those are challenges for tomorrow, and thereafter. For now, for a people who have suffered so much, for so long, it’s a time of celebration. “This is the day we have all been waiting for,” said Luka Loro, a 35-year-old sanitary officer. “Our forefathers fought for
Continue reading …South Sudan independence: ‘If I die on Sunday, it will be in a free country’
July 8, 2011 No CommentFormer rebels prepare to fly the flag of independence from Khartoum as South Sudan becomes world’s newest nation The freedom suit is tan, single-breasted and has three buttons. It hangs in Charles Mamur’s tent, covered by a black bag to protect it from the dust that blows in from the dirt streets of South Sudan’s capital, Juba. Mamur bought the suit two years ago for about £50 but he has never worn it. He was keeping it for a special occasion, a time that he had dreamed of since the day nearly 50 years ago when, as a 10-year-old boy, he took up arms against the Arab government in Khartoum in the north. “I never believed that the moment of freedom would come,” Mamur, 58, said this week, unzipping the bag to show off his suit, as well as the yellow tie and black shoes he picked to go with it. “But I wanted to be well dressed if it did.” The moment has now arrived. At around noon on Saturday in the swelter of Juba, a besuited Mamur will be among tens of thousands of South Sudanese and foreign dignitaries, including the British foreign secretary, William Hague, and the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, who will watch as the flag of Sudan is lowered. Then, a giant South Sudan flag, six metres by four metres, will be raised on a 32-metre electronically operated flagpole that was installed this week by Chinese contractors who claim it is the tallest on the continent. Six years after the end of Africa’s longest-running civil war – and one of its deadliest – its largest country will be officially split in two. The Arab-dominated north under President Omar al-Bashir will remain Sudan, only with much less territory and oil. The ethnically African, non-Muslim south, governed by former rebel Salva Kiir, will become the 193rd country to join the United Nations – the Republic of South Sudan. The excitement and anticipation here in the buildup to independence is hard to overstate, eclipsing even the joy that accompanied the January referendum that saw 99% of voters choose secession over unity. Every South Sudanese knows that the new state, among the least developed countries on earth, faces immense challenges. But those are challenges for tomorrow, and thereafter. For now, for a people who have suffered so much, for so long, it’s a time of celebration. “This is the day we have all been waiting for,” said Luka Loro, a 35-year-old sanitary officer. “Our forefathers fought for
Continue reading …Former Baltimore Colt John Mackey, one of football’s great tight ends and one of the fiercest advocates for the rights of NFL players, has died from dementia at the age of 69. Mackey, who revolutionized his position during his playing days, won better pensions and benefits for players as head…
Continue reading …Lufthansa to become first airline to start regular biofuel flightsLufthansa to become first airline to run regular biofuel flights
July 8, 2011 No Comment
Daily Hamburg to Frankfurt flight will be the first passenger service to run on a blend of biofuel and conventional fuel Lufthansa will next Friday become the first airline to run regular commercial flights powered partially with biofuel . Airlines have flown many demonstration biofuel flights, but Lufthansa’s LH013 11:15am Hamburg to Frankfurt flight will be the first passenger service to run on a blend of biofuel and conventional fuel. The company will use the novel fuel mix for six months on eight of its 28 daily 50-minute flights between the two German cities – a distance of 244 miles each way. The German airline says the 1,200 flights will save 1,500 tonnes of CO 2 . Biofuels could help airlines reduce carbon emissions. However critics say that biofuels take up land for growing food and raise prices. Worse, if they promote deforestation, they can actually raise emissions . “Our interest is to have sustainable resources in the future, to have an alternative to offer flights at affordable prices to everyone,” Aage Dünhaupt said. One engine of the 200-seater Airbus A321 will be fed with a 50-50 mix of biofuel and conventional kerosene-based fuel, the other engine will run on kerosene alone. That will allow Lufthansa to compare the engines’ performances under exactly the same conditions. It was not necessary to modify either engine. The trial will be expensive. Dünhaupt said Lufthansa paid “more than double” the price of kerosene and is spending €6.6m on the flights, a “large percentage” of which is fuel. The flights follow last Friday’s approval of jet biofuels by ASTM , a standards body. ASTM limits the biofuel component in the fuel mix to 50%. One reason for this is that biofuels lack chemicals that prevent leaks. Biofuels also have a lower density than ASTM’s minimum. Biofuels Travel and transport Airline industry Air transport Germany Europe Flights guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Up to 7,000 UN peacekeeping forces will be sent to South Sudan to help with the birth of the world’s newest country, which officially separates from Sudan at midday tomorrow, reports the Telegraph . The Christian-majority south has been fighting with the Muslim-majority north for 38 of the 54 years…
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