Leaders of G8 nations are to set a target to cut greenhouse gases by 80% by 2050.

They will also call for any human-induced temperature rise to be held below 2 degrees Celsius.

News of the G8 plans came as ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair urged rich nations to hit short-term climate targets by ramping up existing clean technologies.

They should also paying poor countries to protect their forests, Mr Blair said.

Dear Mary,

Indeed, if we were to print all that is being written now, I am sure , more than 50 Earth would be required with trees. I do however, like to read some of things that I need to attend. On many occassions, your long posts led me to go for a printed copy. Reading from the Holy Qur'an for me is best sitting quietly at home. Having said this and with expression of so much concern for eco-safety, I would rather go for more online reading and that also in New Delhi not in my village, where many children do not have money to pay for the notebooks.Recalling my childhood, we used slate for improving handwriting and doing mathamatics till class IV.

Dr.Muhammad Mukhtar Alam
58-C,DDA Flats, Ashok Vihar-III,Delhi-110052
Tel:9968345380

Dear Mukhtar,

Thanks for your response here. Electronic book publishing certainly has advantages as one can provide links within the page which connect the reader directly to references while also providing for a handy glossary for any particular page.

It has always been my intent to publish “The Sacred Quest” in an electric format so that diagrams of human consciousness may be displayed in such a way as to give further lucidity to the text. What we know today is that the written word is not easily assimilated as it engages mainly the left brain whereas graphic presentations engage both hemispheres of the brain.

Combining graphics and text are the best ways of conveying information and if we are paying attention to the message You Tube is sending out, more and more people are turning to this means of disseminating information.

Somehow, we need to get very creative here, and the economic/ecological crisis is certainly working to aid in the facilitation of change at this time as it pushes us, as the human family, to consider more “earth-friendly” ways. One of the things we continually fail to do is to look for the “good” in what we generally consider to be “bad” or “negative.” and in so-doing we miss much of the whole dynamic of situations.

One dimension of the problem may be to look more to hemp and other fast- growing materials as a means of creating products formerly based on cutting trees. Not only can hemp be used to manufacture paper, but it can also be used to make plastics which then end up in products like Kindle, DVDs. cell phones, etc., all of which would be “biodegradable” and solve much of the waste problem associated with disposal.

Looking at all of the benefits to hemp, shouldn’t we be prioritizing hemp production as a way of fulfilling needs in a life-enhancing manner?

There are no real shortages. Abundance means utilizing our resources more appropriately, along with incorporating “appropriate” technology into the process.

Another word to add to our list of “words to live by” today: 1) cooperation, 2) integration, 3) flexibility, and 4) appropriate

The UN's top health official has opened a forum in Mexico on combating swine flu by saying that the spread of the virus worldwide is now unstoppable.

World Health Organization head Margaret Chan added that the holding of the meeting in Cancun showed confidence in Mexico, which has been hard hit.

The WHO says most H1N1 cases are mild, with many people recovering unaided.

As the summit opened, the UK alone was projecting more than 100,000 new cases of H1N1 a day by the end of the summer.

As the peak of the flu season approaches in South America, some areas have declared a public health emergency.

El Salvador reported its first death from swine flu, a day after Paraguay reported its first fatality.

Every year the Dominica Olympic Committee joins the rest of the international community in celebrating the olympic spirit through the Olympic Day Run. This is in honour of the foundation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on 23rd June 1894 in Paris, France. This year marked the second time that I have participated although this year it crept up on me like a thief in the night. Let me explain:

Newtown aka Harlem may be the mecca of football in Dominica but for sure Bath Estate is the future. And every year, we prove again and again why that is so with a crop of young talent that bag trophy after trophy in all leagues, be it the national or off season football leagues. If only we could be Cesseme Street this year, then all would be good.

Flowers got to me this week, so i'm posting shots of anthuriums as the pics of the week. A few years ago the Anthurium Late Blight demolished the local anthurium production, leaving all farmers/growers with nothing but empty shadehouses and farm lands. Anthuriums in Dominica are usually grown under shade netting or in forested areas where the plants can recieve shade during its growth period.

Since the founding of TakingITGlobal in 1999, I have been incredibly inspired by my interactions with thousands of young change makers from all around the world. Through my Masters Research on youth-led action in an international context along with exposure to other studies and international conferences examining the role of today's generation of youth as change agents, I have gained an important observation. My observation is that I have seen the emergence of Six Archetypes of Youth Change Makers, which provide a glance at the roles young people are taking on in the process of creating change.


The Dreamer

The Dreamer is the driver behind new ideas. Dreamers are often the first to articulate a long-term vision for the future and think big. It is the sense of aspiration, optimism and imagination of dreamers that drive progress, innovation and change.

The Megaphone

The Megaphone is a vocal advocate for change. Megaphones are very focused on delivering the message and will campaign tirelessly and work hard to lobby for a message to be heard. They inspire action through their words and help to shift priorities on the agenda.

The Spark Plug

The Spark Plug is a catalyst and has a gift for networking and connecting people. The Spark Plug is able to foster collaborations and bring many different organizations and individuals together in dialogue, convincing diverse interest groups to come together for a common goal.

The Task Master

The Task Master is often behind the scenes making things happen and is sometimes the under-rated player within a group or organization. Often, it is the Task Master who literally keeps things together by turning ideas into manageable tasks with actionable timelines. Task Masters are practical, objective-oriented individuals.

The Sherpa

The Sherpa serves as a guide who provides mentorship, insight and training through peer education. Sherpas are natural educators with a strong interest in learning and sharing knowledge. Sherpas value hands on experiences and are able to draw upon the expertise and resources of those they encounter.

The Storyteller

The Storyteller is often the documenter of an organization and its projects, preparing short stories, interviews, blogs, webcasts newsletters and more. Storytellers become a vehicle for spreading inspiration and sharing of best practices through identifying patterns and strengthening movements through recognizing exceptional individuals.

Syria has scrapped a law limiting the length of sentences handed down to men convicted of killing female relatives they suspect of having illicit sex.

Women's groups had long demanded that Article 548 be scrapped, arguing it decriminalised "honour" killings.

Activists say some 200 women are killed each year in honour cases by men who expect lenient treatment under the law.

The new law replaces the existing maximum sentence of one year in jail with a minimum jail term of two years.

Justice Minister Ahmad Hamoud Younis said the change was made by the decree of President Bashar al-Assad, following a recent increase in "wife-killings... on the pretext of adultery".

The new law says a man can still benefit from attenuating circumstances in crimes of passion or honour "provided he serves a prison term of no less than two years in the case of killing".

The legislation covers any man who "unintentionally" kills his wife, sister, daughter or mother after catching her committing adultery or having unlawful sex. It also covers cases where the woman's lover is killed.

A court in the Indian capital, Delhi, has ruled that homosexual intercourse between consenting adults is not a criminal act.

The ruling overturns a 148-year-old colonial law which describes a same-sex relationship as an "unnatural offence".

Homosexual acts were punishable by a 10-year prison sentence.

Many people in India regard same-sex relationships as illegitimate. Rights groups have long argued that the law contravened human rights.

The court said that a statute in Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which defines homosexual acts as "carnal intercourse against the order of nature" and made them illegal, was an "antithesis of the right to equality".

Dozens of baby girls in southern China have reportedly been taken from parents who broke family-planning laws, and then sold for adoption overseas.

An investigation by the state-owned Southern Metropolis News found that about 80 girls in one county had been sold for $3,000 (£1,800) to foreigners.

The babies were taken when the parents could not pay the steep fines imposed for having too many children.

I wish every Canadian (Happy CANADA Day) July 1st.
hope you all enjoy today and we need to keep in mind those needy people who is looking for one time food, water & shelter. so keep doing the good work & help every human being.
Thanks
Idrees Khan