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"Rights and responsibilities of the modern day electricity consumer" by Asoka Abeygunawardana

Submitted by administrator on Wed, 03/31/2010 - 12:59
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World Consumer Rights Day has been held annually on 15 March since 1983. The day was announced by Consumers International (CI), formally known as International Organization of Consumers Unions (IOCU) to honour former US President John F. Kennedy’s historic speech to the US Congress 20 years earlier.

"We are known for our low emission rates – Ranawaka" by Ifham Nizam

Submitted by administrator on Wed, 03/31/2010 - 11:40
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Earth Hour marked with success

On Saturday (27), the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources observed Earth Hour at 8.00 p.m. under the patronage of Environment and Natural Resources Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka.

The staff of the Ministry spent the day doing their bit to save the planet.

Ranawaka congratulated the World Wildlife Fund for initiating Earth Hour in 2007 with the participations of 2.2 million people based only in Sydney, Australia.

Today after three years, Earth Hour has become a world famous event where people around the world joined hands and got together against greenhouse gas emissions and against overuse of energy.

"Sri Lanka joins millions during Earth Hour" by Wasantha Ramanayake

Submitted by administrator on Wed, 03/31/2010 - 11:37
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"UN launches global greenhouse gas emissions calculator"

Submitted by administrator on Wed, 03/31/2010 - 11:34
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The UN on Tuesday the first gas emissions calculator able to calculate the amount of greenhouse gases produced in a given city, by specific sector or time, allowing cities to compare their performances and analyse differences.

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) UN Human Settlement Programme (UN-HABITAT) and the World Bank jointly launched the Global Greenhouse Gas Standard for cities at the World Urban Forum in Rio de Janeiro.

The Greenhouse Gas Standard calculates emission on a per capita basis. For example, greenhouse gas emissions are 4,20 tonnes of carbon dioxide per capita in Barcelona, Spain, 10.6 in Bangkok, Thailand and 17.8 in Calgary, Canada.

"Global warming and climate change" by Reuters

Submitted by administrator on Wed, 03/31/2010 - 11:32
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Global warming is the increase in average temperature of Earth's near-surface air and oceans since the mid-20th century and its projected continuation. Global surface temperature increased 0.74 - 0.18 C (1.33 - 0.32 F) between the start and the end of the 20th century.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes that most of the observed temperature increase since the middle of the 20th century was very likely caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases resulting from human activity such as fossil fuel burning and deforestation.

"Lanka has potential to earn US$ 74 mn per annum from carbon-free projects" by Ifham Nizam

Submitted by administrator on Wed, 03/31/2010 - 11:30
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The Carbon Development Mechanism Centre of the University of Peradeniya estimates that Sri Lanka has the potential for emission reductions of about 6,232,468 tonnes per year. Accordingly, total revenue of US$ 74,786,616 (US$ 74.7 million) could be expected per year.

World over, nearly 1,500 projects have been registered by the CDM Executive Board as CDM projects. These projects reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 220 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalents per year.

Some experts claim that 20 percent of global warming is caused by deforestation and if it could be arrested, one fifth of the problem could be resolved. While some believe that carbon emitted by burning of fossil fuel could be neutralized by planting trees.

"Rainwater Harvesting Policy in Sri Lanka" by Tanuja Ariyananda - Lanka Rainwater Harvesting Forum

Submitted by administrator on Wed, 03/31/2010 - 11:28
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"Changing Climate of Cartooning" by Malaka Rodrigo

Submitted by administrator on Wed, 03/31/2010 - 11:14
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The climate is changing and we don’t mean just the weather. The recently concluded cartoon competition on Climate Change organized by the British Council saw young women cartoonists claiming both first and third places in a field hitherto dominated by men.

"War on terror, climate science and racism; all on free-fall" by Renton de Alwis

Submitted by administrator on Fri, 03/19/2010 - 01:20
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Internal commissions and probes seem to be in vogue today. Our head of state announced appointing a commission of our own, to look into any atrocities committed during the war to end terrorism in Sri Lanka as claimed by some interested groups and lobbies. This indeed was the rightful response to UN Secretary General's recent comment that he intends to appoint a probe commission of his own, quite uncharacteristic of the world body's usual modus operandi.

"ADB hosts Climate Investment Forum"

Submitted by administrator on Fri, 03/19/2010 - 01:10
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Senior Government officials and climate change experts from around the world will gather in the Philippines this week to discuss financial measures to help developing countries mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change.

Hosted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the March 15-19 meetings are an opportunity to review the impact of Climate Investment Funds (CIF), and to strengthen developing country participation in CIF climate action schemes.

The CIF are implemented by the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) - the African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Inter-American Development Bank, and World Bank Group - to provide interim funding for priority climate change responses while the new global financial architecture is negotiated.

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