China to ban use of Tibetan sky burial for tourism. (Some travel agents have shown disrespect to the tradition)

China has set out to make a new law to regulate the traditional Tibetan practice of sky burial, which involves feeding bodies of the dead to birds. Official sources in Tibet have indicated that the use of sky burial sites as tourist attraction may be banned.
"It will be the first time for Tibet to regulate sky burials using legislation, which shows respect and offers protection to the millennium-old tradition," the official media quoted Samdrup, an official with the standing committee of the regional People's Congress.

The Regional People's Congress of Tibet, the local legislature, recently passed a bill to better regulate sky burials, covering issues like management of the site, environmental protection and qualification of ritual hosts. The purpose is to "better protect sky burials".

Chinese government has stopped the use of burial sites for tourism on several occasions in the past three decades, but the local officials have allowed it from time to time for developing tourism, sources said.

State media said that the traditional ritual has become controversial after tourists guides began leading tour groups to view the ceremony. There have been complaints that some travel agents have shown disrespect to the tradition. Tibetans and Mongolians cut bodies of the dead, and feed them to vultures and other predatory birds. It is regarded an act of generosity and a ritual that allows the soul to ascend to heaven.

The Tibetan government issued a provisional rule in 2005 that banned sightseeing, photographing and video recording at such burial sites, or publishing reports and pictures describing the rituals.

The law has been violated extensively as thousands of tourists crowd around the burial sites to watch the traditional practice. Even some monks are known to be involved in guiding tourists to the burial sites for collecting donations for their shrines. 
   http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/china/China-to-ban-use-of-Tibetan-sky-burial-for-tourism/articleshow/46004209.cms
   24/1/15---
Related:

• China accelerates tourism development in Tibet

• Tibetans enjoy splashing fun on bathing festival

• Double threat for Tibet (Climate change and human development are jeopardizing the plateau’s fragile environment.)

• Tibet's intangible heritage well-protected, says official

Tibet's intangible heritage well-protected, says official

LHASA, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government's efforts to preserve intangible heritage in Tibet and other ethnic regions have proven effective, said sources at the first Tibet development forum Wednesday.

"Of the 386 million yuan (62.7 million U.S. dollars) for cultural heritage preservation allocated by the central treasury between 2002 and 2009, about a quarter was spent in ethnic regions including Tibet," said Li Jianhui, a culture promotion official with the State Ethnic Affairs Commission.


Over the past eight years , the central treasury allocated a total of 97.2 million yuan to intangible heritage in Tibet Autonomous Region, said Li.

The plateau region is home to more than 1,000 intangible heritage items, including the famous Tibetan opera and the Epic of King Gesar, which have been listed as World Intangible Cultural Heritage items by UNESCO.

Preservation of cultural essence is aimed at passing on the heritage to future generations, said Li.

"A total of 4 million copies of the Tibetan language edition of King Gesar have been published, averaging one copy for each Tibetan adult," he said.

Other forms of intangible cultural heritage in Tibet include traditional music, dancing, craftsmanship and traditional herbal medicine and folkways.

More than 100,000 articles, nearly 2,000 audio and video clips and 45,000 pictures have been collected since Tibet started a census on intangible cultural heritage in 2006, according to figures provided by Tibet's regional government.
http://english.cntv.cn/2014/08/14/ARTI1407974763302590.shtml
14/8/14
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Related:

• China to upgrade transport infrastructures in Tibet (will also build more airports in Tibet)

  • UN expresses concern of China’s detention of Tibetan singers and musicians

"One planet, one ocean – together, we must protect them", urges UN on World Oceans Day

UN,  8 June 2014 – To commemorate World Oceans Day, the United Nations family is encouraging the international community to reflect on the multiple benefits of oceans and commit to keeping them healthy and productive for current and future generations.

“We have to ensure that oceans continue to meet our needs without compromising those of future generations,” stressed Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a message marking the Day, adding “their depths hold current and future solutions to humanity's energy needs.”

Oceans regulate the planet's climate while providing a significant source of nutrition and essential passage for global trade. World Oceans Day is an opportunity to celebrate the importance of the oceans for life on earth and to stand up for their protection.

Oceans generate most of the oxygen we breathe, absorb a large share of carbon dioxide emissions, and are important economically for countries that rely on tourism, fishing and other marine resources for income, and serve as the backbone of international trade.

Unfortunately, human pressures, including overexploitation, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, destructive fishing, as well as unsustainable aquaculture practices, marine pollution, habitat destruction, alien species, climate change and ocean acidification are taking a significant toll on the world's oceans and seas.

In her message, Irina Bokova, Director-General of the UN Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO), emphasized that “at a time of rising threats, 'business as usual' is no longer acceptable – we must change how we understand, manage and use ocean resources and coastal areas. For this, we need to know more about the ocean and draw on stronger science to craft sustainable, ecosystem-based policies for the ocean and coasts.”

The UN General Assembly has recognized oceans and seas as an important part of sustainable development – as envisioned by the Millennium Declaration and it landmark anti-poverty Goals (MDGs). Looking now to craft a successor post-2015 sustainable development agenda, Member States have identified protecting oceans as one of the keys to creating a better, cleaner future for the planet.

“Billions of humans, plants and animals depend on our oceans each and every day,” said General Assembly President John W. Ashe in his message. “I call on Member States and other stakeholders to continue to take action to protect our oceans by reducing pollution, and protecting marine life for present and future generations.” he added.

Since 2009, the UN family has come together each year, urging communities to ensure that our oceans remain clean and healthy. This year's theme “Together we have the power to protect the ocean!” underscores the power of collaboration.

This year, the observance coincides with the 20th anniversary of the entry-into-force of the landmark UN Convention on the Law of the Sea – known as “Constitution for the Oceans” – that provides a comprehensive legal regime for all ocean activities. It is also the International Year of Small Island Developing States.

The ocean is essential to our well-being and the future of our planet. World Oceans Day is an occasion for all Governments and societies to join forces in ensuring its protection.

“One planet, one ocean – together, we have the power to protect them both,” exhorted Ms. Bokova.
[un.org]
8/6/14
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• “GOING GLOBAL” TO SAFEGUARD OUR OCEANS

ICRI 2014 – A conference with a view to the future...

The 2^nd International Conference on Research Infrastructures (ICRI 2014) is taking place at the Megaron Athens International Conference Centre on 2-4 April 2014, in the framework of the Greek Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The conference is organised by the European Commission and the Greek General Secretariat of Research & Technology (Ministry of Education & Religious Affairs) with the organisational support of the “Athena” Research and Innovation Center.
The strategic aim of ICRI 2014 is to highlight how global Research Infrastructures may respond to the local and global challenges the world is facing today (environment, poverty, sustainability, security), what lessons have been learnt from the past and what the priorities and directions for the future should be.
Over three days, 600 participants and 90 speakers will discuss and debate a plethora of subjects, from international research infrastructure management (i.e. laser, telescopes, accelerators, aircraft or deep sea crafts, for atmosphere or sea bottom observation, as well as electronic infrastructures, data networks, computer arrays and data bases), to food safety and marine research.

The plenary sessions of the Conference will address topics such as “Research Infrastructures for Global Challenges”, “Governance of Research Infrastructures”, “and Innovation Potential of Research Infrastructures” and “Big Data management”, while a panel of distinguished scientists will debate “The Way forward”. ICRI 2014 will be accompanied by a poster and video gallery of international research infrastructure projects, set up at the Nikolaos Skalkotas foyer. A series of parallel thematic sessions will deal with the Environment (special focus on Marine Research Infrastructure and the Arctic), Palaeoanthropology and Cultural Heritage, Food Safety and e-Infrastructure.

Greek minister of Education & Religious Affairs, Prof. Konstantinos Arvanitopoulos will deliver the welcoming speech, while Commissioner for Research, Innovation & Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, Italy’s minister of Education, Universities & Research, Stefania Giannini, and Greek General Secretary for Research & Technology, Dr Christos Vasilakos will also address the conference, along with scores of high-ranking officials and a strong delegation from South Africa, which will host of the next ICRI, two years from now.
In addition, an exhibition of 53 works of art, selected after an international competition on the theme “Research & Art” theme, will be on display at a specially designated area of the Conference Centre.
More information here
[http://gr2014.eu]
1/4/14

Negotiators told ‘the world is ready’ for climate change deal, as UN conference opens in Warsaw

11 November 2013 – The United Nations Climate Change Conference opened today in Warsaw, Poland, with a call to reach a new agreement to cut climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions during what is seen as a pivotal point in the negotiating process, made all the more urgent by the devastation in Philippines from Typhoon Haiyan.
“We must win the Warsaw opportunity,” Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), told participants at this 19th session.
She noted that “the world is ready” and there is a groundswell of climate action, not only for the environment, but also for security, energy, economic and governance reasons.

“A new universal climate agreement is within our reach,” said Ms. Figueres, noting that agencies, development banks, investors and subnational governments are on board.
“Parties can lead the momentum for change and move together towards success in 2015,” she said.
The UNFCCC is an international treaty which considers what can be done to reduce global warming and to cope with whatever temperature increases are inevitable.
The two-week conference, being held through next Friday at the National Stadium in the Polish capital, brings together the 195 Parties to the UNFCCC, the parent treaty of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.
Over the course of the next two weeks, delegates will attempt to hammer out a universal UN-backed treaty on climate change by 2015 which would enter force by 2020.
In her speech, Ms. Figueres highlighted the key areas in which the Conference of the Parties (COP-19) can make progress.
“We must clarify finance that enables the entire world to move towards low-carbon development,” she said. “We must launch the construction of a mechanism that helps vulnerable populations to respond to the unanticipated effects of climate change.”
Also addressing today’s open, the newly elected President of COP-19, Polish Environment Minister Marcin Korolec, noted that climate is a global issue, global problem and global opportunity at the same time.
“It becomes opportunity where we can act together. One country or even a group cannot make a difference. But acting together, united as we are here, we can do it,” he said.
The conference takes place against a backdrop of devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan where the UN World Food Programme (WFP) fears that 10,000 people have perished.
The Philippines’ lead negotiator, Yeb Sano, called the climate crisis “madness” and urged the international community to act.
“We can stop this madness. Right here in Warsaw,” Mr. Sano said. “Typhoons such as Haiyan and its impacts represent a sobering reminder to the international community that we cannot afford to procrastinate on climate action.”
He also decried the concept of a “natural disaster” stating in a news release from the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) that “it is not natural when people continue to struggle to eradicate poverty and pursue development and get battered by the onslaught of a monster storm.”
Ms. Figueres, Mr. Korolec and other participants have extended their thoughts and prayers to the people in South-East Asia affected by the typhoon, particularly those in the Philippines and Viet Nam.
The UNFCCC Executive Secretary also highlighted that “we are the first human beings to ever breathe air with 400 parts per million CO₂,” a reminder that the air has reached the highest level of carbon dioxide in at least three million years.
 un.org
11/11/13
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Related:

• Climate Talks Open in Warsaw. -"We are loosing this unequal struggle of men and nature".

• Διάσκεψη για το Κλίμα/11 - 22 Νοεμβρίου στη Βαρσοβία: Ένα θετικό αποτέλεσμα "δύσκολο, αλλά να τα καταφέρουμε". 

• Vers des cyclones plus violents et pluvieux .

• VIDEO. Philippines : Haiyan, "le typhon le plus puissant jamais connu"./Officials say death toll in Leyte province expected to be as high as 10,000

• Naturkatastrophe....Supertaifun Haiyan ist erst der Anfang...

Climate Talks Open in Warsaw. -"We are loosing this unequal struggle of men and nature".

"Only two days ago a powerful typhoon swept through the Philippines claiming thousands of lives and leaving hundreds of thousands of people displaced from their homes. A great human tragedy. Unforgettable, painful, awakening. I said awakening because it's another proof that we are loosing this unequal struggle of men and nature that beset us yet again and will continue in the future if we do not close ranks and act together to strike back."

U.N. climate chief Christiana Figueres also referenced the "devastating impact'' of the typhoon in her opening speech. She urged delegates to guarantee greater climate security for the generations to come.

• Διάσκεψη για το Κλίμα/11 - 22 Νοεμβρίου στη Βαρσοβία: Ένα θετικό αποτέλεσμα "δύσκολο, αλλά να τα καταφέρουμε". 

• Vers des cyclones plus violents et pluvieux .

• VIDEO. Philippines : Haiyan, "le typhon le plus puissant jamais connu"./Officials say death toll in Leyte province expected to be as high as 10,000

• Naturkatastrophe....Supertaifun Haiyan ist erst der Anfang...

"There is no doubt that climate change has created an unlevel playing field for future generations. Previous generations, unknowingly, had an advantage. And now we know that the next generations face a monumental uphill struggle. We must urgently level the playing field."

No major breakthroughs are expected at the talks, but the level of progress could be seen an indicator of the chances of reaching a new global warming treaty in 2015. 
voanews.com
11/11/13