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World Carfree Bulletin #3 - December 2003

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Edition no. 3 - December 2003 - English version
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Contents:

IN BRIEF

WORLD NEWS
- WORLD BANK APPROVES FUNDING FOR CONTROVERSIAL PIPELINE
- APOLOGY OVER US ANTI-CYCLING CAMPAIGN

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
- PROTEST BAKU-CEYHAN PIPELINE IN LONDON, NOV. 11
- COP-9 CLIMATE CONFERENCE IN MILAN, DEC. 1-12
- CITIES FOR PEOPLE CONFERENCE IN COPENHAGEN, JUNE 2004

WORLD CARFREE NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS
- CAR BUSTERS MAGAZINE #18 OUT SOON
- INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE
- EXPERIENCED FUNDRAISER SOUGHT

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IN BRIEF >>
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- The small Tuscan town of Scandicci is a bicycle taxi called 'Tasso' (Taxi+velo). The idea is modeled after similar projects in Berlin and Munich, where 3-wheeled bicycle taxis supplement automobile taxis, although Tasso actually functions more like a bus, with a fixed route and specific stops. So far, three stops and 31 stops have been implemented.

- Cars for Lungs? In a case of perhaps unintended irony, the American Lung Association of Minnesota is accepting donations of cars to raise money for its programmes. The programme's symbol is a blue ribbon intended to symbolise the "breath of life."

- On November 5, the MDI company presented the first ¨live¨ presentation of the
MDI Air Car to investors and the media. The car runs only on compressed air and achieves a top speed of 110 kmh.

- An opinion poll carried out during the UK In Town Without My Car! event found that 92% of people say the carfree day is a good idea, 69% say it should be repeated at least quarterly, 63% say the carfree zone should be bigger and 85% want car use limited in their towns. Full results are at .

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WORLD NEWS >>
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WORLD BANK APPROVES FUNDING FOR CONTROVERSIAL PIPELINE

WASHINGTON (AP) - The World Bank agreed November 4 to provide $250 million in financing for a $3.6 billion pipeline that would bring oil from the Caspian Sea region through Turkey to Western markets.
While the loan is only a small fraction of the cost of the planned Baku-Ceyhan pipeline, the financing has been viewed as crucial for the project to attract private financial support.
The executive board of the International Finance Corp., the World Bank's private investment arm, approved the financing despite requests by some environmentalists and human rights groups that a decision be postponed until some issues, including the pipeline route, can be further examined.
The pipeline and a separate deep-water oil field project off Azerbaijan in the Caspian Sea, which also was approved, "are sound projects" that have extensive environmental and social safeguards and community involvement, said Rashad Kaldany, director of the World Bank's oil, gas, mining and chemical department.
Environmentalists and human rights groups have urged that decisions to be delayed, contending that the pipeline endangers villages and wildlife in its path, and could spark conflict in a region already known for its ethnic strife.
The London-based Baku Ceyhan Campaign, an umbrella group for pipeline critics, contends that BP has misled the IFC's executive board about the project's impact on the environment and human rights, and has overstated the degree of consultation with local communities.

APOLOGY OVER US ANTI-CYCLING CAMPAIGN

LOS ANGELES (Reuters, Nov. 7) - Clear Channel Communications, America's largest radio group, has apologised to bicyclists to end a controversy caused by disc jockeys at three of its stations who urged listeners to run cyclists off the road and throw bottles at them.
The apology came in a letter from Clear Channel Radio Chief Executive Hohn Hogan to Elissa Margolin, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists that was released by the organisation on November 6.
In his letter, Hogan said that disciplinary action was taken at all three stations involved in the controversy and that one staff member had been fired. He also said Clear Channel would launch a campaign to promote road safety.
The broadcasts included suggestions that listeners slam on their brakes in front of cyclists and then open the passenger door or throw soft drink bottles at riders, according to listeners who complained.
The League of American Bicyclists told the Federal Communications Commission at a meeting in October that the comments broadcast by the radio stations amounted to inciting listeners to commit felonious assault.

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GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS >>
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COP-9 CLIMATE CONFERENCE IN MILAN, DEC. 1-12

Milan will host the next round of Kyoto climate negotiations. In order to help the official delegates to do a good job, a Supreme Welcome Committee has been established in Milan.
The committee will give its brainstorming contribution to the conference by producing all sorts of anti-CO2 urban actions, such as asphalt gardening, mass cycling and street reclaiming. The top of the climax will be reached on Saturday, December 6. You're invited to join in. For info: . A nice PDF flyer can be found here: .

CITIES FOR PEOPLE CONFERENCE IN COPENHAGEN, JUNE 2004

Within the overall framework of the Walk21 conference series, the fifth Walk21 conference Cities for People will focus on research, case studies and experiences which takes integration of walking policies into a wider context. Specifically the conference will focus on the day-to-day quality of life of citizens in the public spaces of cities and communities of all sizes. Cities for People will bring together policy-makers, practitioners, decision-makers, NGO activists and academics from the fields of architecture, public health, transport and community planning. For further information about participation please see . The deadline for submitting abstracts is December 8.
The conference is being organised by the Centre for Public Space Research and Walk21.
- Jan Gehl, Conference Coordinator

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WORLD CARFREE NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS >>
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CAR BUSTERS MAGAZINE #18 OUT SOON

We are currently wrapping up work on Car Busters #18. Story ideas, news items, and announcements for #19 (and for this bulletin) can be sent to info@carbusters.org.

INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE

Are you under 26 and from an EU country? We at World Carfree Network are looking for two inspired individuals to join our team in Prague for one year from April 2004, funded by the European Voluntary Service Programme. If you have a good number (but of course not necessarily all) of the following attributes, then you could be among the finalists: strong English writing and editing skills; a sense of humour; publication layout skills; web design ability; an activist perspective; translation skills; campaigning experience; attention to detail; extensive knowledge of transport(ation) issues; fundraising experience; and a desire to pull these all together to stir things up at the international level. Please contact us and we'll send more info.

EXPERIENCED FUNDRAISER SOUGHT

World Carfree Network is seeking an experienced fundraiser with a proven track record to join our Prague-based team full- or half-time as soon as possible, for a year or more. Should be familiar with the funding programmes of the European Commission, Council of Europe and private foundations in Europe and abroad. Commission-based wage (10-15% of funds raised, based on experience), plus start-up wage negotiable. Flexible hours and six weeks holiday. Applicants should send a CV (resume) and letter of motivation/experience to info@carbusters.org.

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This page was last updated 29 November 2004