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November 2009

'Manning deflecting attention with pollution stance'

Posted Sun, 29/11/2009 - 12:42 by Monique

Phoolo Danny-Maharaj South Bureau
Saturday, November 28th 2009

Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s rejection of claims that Trinidad and Tobago is one of the world’s largest polluters on a per-capita basis is an attempt to deflect international attention and carry on with his plans to build even more polluting plants.

This is the view of University of the West Indies lecturers physicist Dr Peter Vine and environmental activist Dr Wayne Kublalsingh, who said Manning’s stance on the issue was personal and not shared by citizens.

The climate change enigma

Posted Sat, 28/11/2009 - 12:46 by Monique

Saturday, November 28th 2009

That the issue of climate change has upstaged about every other global issue is without doubt, as even now before the upcoming climate change meeting in Copenhagen, China-now the world’s No. 1 country in total emissions-has suggested that it might indeed take steps to reduce emissions. Now we hear that President Barack Obama will actually go to the climate summit in Copenhagen.

The presence of non-members of the Commonwealth at the current Port of Spain summit must surely also be a departure from the norm and a signal from the broader international community. The issue is therefore now centre stage.

UN leader optimistic about climate talks

Posted Sat, 28/11/2009 - 12:45 by Monique

Kristy Ramnarine kramnarine@trinidadexpress.com
Saturday, November 28th 2009

The climate change talks held at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Port of Spain has been described as ’encouraging’ by United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and Denmark Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen.

In a last minute attempt to gain support for the Copenhagen Agreement, the UN Head and the Danish leader addressed Commonwealth Heads of Government and State during a session yesterday.

Sarkozy: No global carbon risk from T&T

Posted Sat, 28/11/2009 - 12:44 by Monique

Juhel Browne jbrowne@trinidadexpress.com
Saturday, November 28th 2009

Trinidad and Tobago does not risk upsetting the world’s carbon emission balance despite its heavily industrialised economy, says French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

He made the comment in Port of Spain yesterday, just one day after Prime Minister Patrick Manning declared that this country, which earns most of its revenue from its bread and butter oil and natural gas sectors, is not one of the world’s largest polluters in the world on a per-capita basis.

French President: Aluminium plant in T&T not in conflict with fight against pollution

Posted Sat, 28/11/2009 - 12:41 by Monique

SMELTER SUPPORT
Juhel Browne jbrowne@trinidadexpress.com
Saturday, November 28th 2009

MAKING HIS POINT: French President Nicolas Sarkozy gesticulates during a media conference yesterday at the International Financial Centre. Sarkozy and other non-Commonwealth leaders made a special trip to CHOGM in a bid to salvage sputtering negotiations for a new global warming agreement in Copenhagen, Denmark. -Photo: DEXTER PHILIP

French President Nicolas Sarkozy says the establishment of an aluminium smelter, such as that now under construction in Trinidad and Tobago, and other forms of industrial development are not in conflict with the goal of combating climate change.

Planet depends on us

Posted Sat, 28/11/2009 - 12:39 by Monique

By CAROL MATROO Saturday, November 28 2009

French President Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday said if countries do not reach an agreement on climate change at the United Nations (UN) talks in Copenhagen in December, then the meeting would be an historic failure.

“Either we take all the decisions or we take none. Copenhagen is 20 days ahead of us and we can no longer afford to be unambitious. The planet depends on this,” Sarkozy said during a news conference at the International Financial Centre in Port-of-Spain yesterday.

Future of the planet at stake

Posted Fri, 27/11/2009 - 12:37 by Monique

Published: 27 Nov 2009

Dr Murray Simpson
Prior Beharry

Dr Murray Simpson, of Oxford University Centre for Environment, says climate change is even bigger than the HIV/Aids pandemic. “This is almost on a big scale as Aids, if not bigger...We are talking about the future of the planet here,” he said. “I don’t want to downgrade the HIV/Aids issue because that is a huge issue as well. But, this climate change affects every single person on the planet and it affects the planet we live in,” Simpson said in a recent interview at the Hyatt Hotel in Port-of-Spain.

PM: Climate agenda a must

Posted Fri, 27/11/2009 - 12:34 by Monique

Published: 27 Nov 2009
Kimberly Mackhan

Prime Minister Patrick Manning has said one of the top items on the agenda for the 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) was the creation of a political statement to “effect and influence” discussions at the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen next month. He said: “We cannot interject CHOGM into a negotiating process (such as that of the United Nations), that was not contemplated. What we can do is to raise our voices politically and, having regard to our own diversity here, a political statement out of CHOGM is not a statement one can take lightly.

Special climate session at CHOGM

Posted Fri, 27/11/2009 - 12:32 by Monique

Friday, November 27 2009

FOLLOWING the formal opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) today at 10 am, there will be “a special executive session on climate change” at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Conference Centre, Prime Minister Patrick Manning said yesterday.

Manning said this session is being held because of the high priority which climate change has on CHOGM’s agenda.

Green Queen

Posted Fri, 27/11/2009 - 12:30 by Monique

By SEAN DOUGLAS Friday, November 27 2009

HER Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is here.

Her British Airways Boeing 777 jet airliner touched down yesterday at Piarco International Airport at exactly 2.44 pm, after a four-hour flight from Bermuda. After a 15-minute wait at the end of the runway, in which time local dignitaries including President George Maxwell Richards and Prime Minister Patrick Manning took their positions on the tarmac, the plane taxied up to the red carpet. British High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago, Eric Jenkinson, and local Chief of Protocol, Reitha Toussaint, ascended the stairs and entered the craft. A senior British military officer descended to join the waiting party at the foot of the stairs.