Explore Our Planet

The international exhibition planned from 05 April 2007 to 09 April 2007 in Locarno, Switzerland, was canceled due to concerns regarding the quality of the event. Most camellias around Lago Maggiore are already bloomy and there is only little chance having an exhibtion with these flowers in a decent state.

Generally, camellias grow best in the temperate regions of both south and north hemispheres. Some species grow in more tropic regions at higher altitudes. The genus Camellia comprises more than 250 species. Economically, the genus is important because of Camellia sinensis (Black and green tea).

news.ch: Zu warm: Kamelienfest muss abgesagt werden
ticino.ch: 11ème Exposition internationale de Camélias renvoyée au printemps 2008
Camellias FAQ

On February 6, 2007, Terra satellite shot this impressive picture showing cloud streets caused by strong wind over the Sea of Okhotsk. During the winter this part of Siberia is frozen and large chunks of sea ice float on the water.

More at Earth Observatory: Sea of Okhotsk or at Modis Web

According to current issue of Financial Times London a series of concerts is planned in July this year.

The event, scheduled for July 7, will feature co-ordinated film, music and television events in seven cities including London, Washington DC, Shanghai, Rio de Janeiro, Cape Town and Kyoto, with major broadcasters and media owners aiming to extend the reach of public awareness of global warming.

There is a whisper telling Al Gore will announe these events tommorow.

More: Climate change concerts ‘to dwarf Live Aid’
Via: Climate Change Action

Update: The concerts are still not confirmed. Instead in an interview with CBS News Early Show Al Gore announced new ‘Virgin Earth Challenge’. The price is funded by tycoon Sir Richard Branson, chairman of Virgin Group. For the most innovative way of sucking harmful greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere you’ll get $25 million.

cbsnews.com: Gore, Branson Announce Climate Prize

Speech was held 31.01.2007 at European Parliament in Brussels:

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Climate change is a reality. Scientists have been issuing warnings for a long time. And anyone who reads the newspapers attentively will have noticed that these warnings have become more and more radical. Alarming incidents are occurring with increasing frequency and intensity: floods, droughts, the dramatically accelerating melting of icecaps, disappearing species. (more…)

The death toll from flood-related incidents in the archipelagonow stands at 46 according to officials and media reports. About 340,000 are displaced, many of them were staying with friends or family or at mosques and government buildings.

Some places are flooded up to five meters and freshwater situation is still scary. Health ministry fears that diarrhea and dysentery may break out, as well as illnesses spread by rats or cockroaches. Jakarta Post reports soaring absence of antibiotics in the city.

Jakarta is regularly struck with floods, though not on the scale as in recent days. Officials blame either poor urban planning or deforestation in Puncak or tropical storms.

The Indonesian minister, Rachmat Witoelar, predicted that some 2,000 of Indonesia’s estimated 18,000 islands would be swallowed by the sea within three decades because of man-made climate change according to latest IPCC SPM report.

More:
WHO: Emergency Report, flood map (5 Feb), Marek Bialoglowy’s Blog

Picture credit: Marek Bialoglowy

Under present climate conditions, 609 out of the 666 (or 91%) Alpine ski areas in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland can be considered as naturally snow-reliable.

The remaining 9% are already operating under marginal conditions. The number of naturally snow-reliable areas would drop to 500 under 1

Indonesia is very vulnerable to climate change. The country is tropical, poor, crowded and archipelago. It’s capital Jakarta counts nearly 10 million inhabitants, has 12 rivers, is located directly to the coast and some 40 percent of the city’s land area is below sea level. In 2100, Indonesia’s population is projected to grow to 389 millions.

Today officials report current flooding has killed at least five people and left more than 100,000 others homeless. The last days of heavy rain inundated 20,000 homes, government buildings and businesses. Authorities cut electricity and water supplies in strucked areas. Flood victims also badly need clean water for their daily usage as tap water was cut off in the flood affected areas.

The meteorological office projects more rain in next 2 weeks.

More:
MPI: The impact of international climate policy on Indonesia

Picture credit: Marek Bialoglowy

Update: Jakarta satellite picture from Modis Realtime - 2007-02-04 06:20 UTC

Stephen Harper, Canada’s 22nd Prime Minister, leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and payed once by the petroleum industry made the flip-flop:

And, more than anything else, Canadians want us to continue moving forward on practical, realistic and achievable strategies for protecting the environment.

Last week’s rollout of our ecoEnergy Initiatives demonstrated our unequivocal commitment to improving air quality, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and living better by consuming smarter.

Prime Minister marks the one-year anniversary of the election - 23 January 2007

Policy should be based on sound science; results of science should not be diluted or . . . adjusted to justify policy.

This particular Administration has gone beyond reasonable boundaries, on this issue.

To be in denial on climate change is a crime against the Nation.

A scientist at the USDA

According to a report of Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and Government Accountability Project (GAP) it looks like the current administration of the US acted as a censor on scientific results. To restore scientific integrity the union demands “a right of last review on agency communications”, “the free exchange of scientific information in all venues” and “whistleblower protection”.

Press release, executive summary, full report.

Update - even more:
NYTimes: 2007-01-31, Scientists Criticize White House Stance on Climate Change Findings