World Summit Generates Tons of Trash - "Clearly a lot more education needs to be done"

yahoo.com ^ | Aug 30, 2002 - 4:35 PM ET | MIKE COHEN, AP

[Cincinatus' Wife]

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) - While delegates attending the World Summit wrangled over how best to save the planet's rapidly dwindling resources, they gave scant indication of leading by example.

The 10-day summit, billed as the largest U.N. conference ever held, is expected to generate between 300 and 400 tons of trash, and so far, just 20 percent of it is being recycled.

"We never had any illusions this would be a green summit," Mary Metcalfe, the environment minister of the Gauteng province, which includes Johannesburg, told reporters Friday. "At one stage we were hoping to achieve 90 percent diversion (of waste) from landfill sites."

Together with the U.N. Development Program, Metcalfe's office is leading a project - known as the Johannesburg Climate Legacy - to monitor and minimize the summit's environmental impact. It's the first time that it's been attempted at any U.N. conference.

Toilets have been fitted with flushing systems to minimize water usage, while two venues hosting summit fringe events are being run with renewable energy sources. Recycling bins have been put in conference halls, but they've ended up as replacements for garbage cans, filled with all sorts of non-recyclable waste.

Consumption barometers were erected in the summit venues, too, graphically illustrating the extent to which resources are being consumed and recycled.

Nonetheless, trash compactors erected at the back of the main conference center have been working overtime, and municipal workers have made several trips daily to empty overflowing trash containers.

The move to make the summit as environmentally friendly as possible was gaining momentum daily, said Nikhil Sekhran of the UNDP's Global Environmental Fund.

"The system is completely new," he said. "Clearly a lot more education needs to be done."

Hundreds of organizations have collectively produced mountains of pamphlets, press statements and brochures, hoping to draw attention to their multitude of causes during the summit.

Organizers estimate 5 million sheets of paper will be consumed during the gathering.

The conference's 45,000 delegates are also plowing through other resources. On average each of them is using 53 gallons of water a day, and the city's electricity consumption has soared.

The legacy project also estimated that flying delegates to Johannesburg and transporting them around the city will generate nearly 300,000 tons of carbon dioxide.

The Johannesburg Climate Legacy project hopes to offset this by raising nearly $3 million from participating countries, corporations and individuals, and using it to implement 16 projects to reduce carbon emissions.

Only $300,000 has been raised, and only seven of the 192 countries at the summit have pledged donations.

[SheLion]

And unfiltered at that...

Unfiltered in this case, would be much better. Easier to field strip and there is no filter to worry about shredding.

[tet68]

WARNING! Warning!
100,000 trees were killed in the production of this environ-mental summit.
Have a nice day.

[logic101.net]

It must be understood about the eco-wackos that the rules they propose are for us to follow. They are exempt. In fact, the real idea is to make everyone poor so that there isn't so much competition for the lobsters and such. To get us out of our SUV's and cars so that the roads are clear for them to drive on. After all, thier concerns are important while we are all on our silly little errands like supporting our families.

MARK A SITY
http://www.logic101.net/

[madfly]

Johannesburg Trash ping

[madfly]

Anyone wanting ON or OFF my ping list, please freepmail me!

[Great Dane]

Looks like the world is not well served by these conferences.

[buffyt]

300 and 400 tons of trash, and so far, just 20 percent of it is being recycled. "We never had any illusions this would be a green summit," Mary Metcalfe, the environment minister of the Gauteng province....

Now wait just a dadgummed minute here, this is supposed to be a Summit FOR enviromental concerns as well as poverty concerns. What am I missing here???? THEY don't have to follow by the same rules they are trying to force down our throats??? They think we are all DEEP THROAT (from the porn movie) and they are just going to stuff it down OUR throats!!!! SHEESH!!!!

[buffyt]

King John of the Magna Carta is an ancestor of mine. His motto was always IT IS GOOD TO BE KING. Don't ask me if I am kin to Prince Charles, I will not admit to that! He musta been adopted. ha ha ha

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

The U.N. says: "Do as I say, not as I do!"

[Grampa Dave]

Just another look at the reality of the Fascist Elitists of the UN Enviral Nazis.

Champagne, caviar, lobster and wanton waste of precious resources are their legacy.

Reminds me of the Goron when he flew in Air Force One to illegally sign the Kyoto Treaty, the ulitimate $crew America, concept. His trip to repay his Green Masters consumed a whole lot of jet fuel on that round trip. There was probably more pollution than the all the SUVs in America for a month from his trip.

These are the New Nazis. Instead of admitting that they are Fasctists like their role models, they lie and say that they are for the environment.

Their personal actions getting to this massive Orgy and Gang banging of America shows their reality. They conserve nothing and live the life of royalty.

Thank goodness for the internet so that we can see their wretched reality versus their eco pr images.

[JohnHuang2]

hehehe

[mewzilla]

Next time around they can call this the "Do As We Say, Not As We Do Summit".

[JohnHuang2]

=^)

[missycocopuffs]

Yes! Running water, toilets, electricity--Good for me, but not for thee (official Tm of the World Summit)

On a related note, here's an article from another thread that touches on the same arrogance:

Enviromental Group Pollutes River!!
Virginian- Pilot (Norfolk, VA) ^ | 8/30/02 | Scott Harper


Posted on 08/31/2002 5:40 PM Eastern by Don@VB


The state Department of Juvenile Justice shut down a ship-based environmental program for young criminal offenders Thursday after determining that supervisors ordered the teenagers to dump human feces and sewage overboard into the Elizabeth River.The Tidewater Environmental Program was centered on a donated Navy ship docked behind Nauticus on the downtown waterfront. Juveniles lived aboard the vessel and learned about seamanship, responsibility and environmental stewardship while completing their sentences.

(full article available at pilotonline.com look in the archives section)

[Mark Bahner]

"The United States..., along with officials of the European Union, has refused demands to specify reductions in agricultural subsidies."

Shame, shame! The only decent number for the subsidy reductions is 100%.

[Mark Bahner]

"There is no reason that the poor of the world should be poor for ever," he said in a speech at a stadium in the squalid Alexandra township."

Yes, the only reason the poor are poor is because of idiots like Robert Mugabe. Do you have the courage to say that, Mr. Mbeki?

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[WaterDragon]

These are the ultimate "do as I say not as I do" gang.

[WaterDragon]

What a bunch of hypocrits!

[WaterDragon]

Reminds me of Al Gore's SUV, which he quickly garaged when the newsies finally noticed it.