[News] from [guardian.co.uk]
[Environment > Activism]
Denmark approves new police powers ahead of Copenhagen
Controversial legislation gives police sweeping powers of 'pre-emptive' arrest and extends custodial sentences for acts of civil disobedience
Felicity Carus
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 26 November 2009 18.14 GMT Article history
The Danish parliament today passed legislation which will give police sweeping powers of "pre-emptive" arrest and extend custodial sentences for acts of civil disobedience. The "deeply worrying" law comes ahead of the UN climate talks which start on 7 December and are expected to attract thousands of activists from next week.
Under the new powers, Danish police will be able to detain people for up to 12 hours whom they suspect might break the law in the near future. Protesters could also be jailed for 40 days under the hurriedly drafted legislation dubbed by activists as the "turmoil and riot" law. The law was first announced on 18 October.
The Danish ministry of justice said that the new powers of "pre-emptive" detention would increase from 6 to 12 hours and apply to international activists. If protesters are charged with hindering the police, the penalty will increase from a fine to 40 days in prison. Protesters can also be fined an increased amount of 5,000 krona (671 Euros) for breach of the peace, disorderly behaviour and remaining after the police have broken up a demonstration.
The Danish police also separately issued a statement in August (pdf) applying new rules and regulations for protests at the climate conference, warning that "gatherings that may disturb the public order must not take place".
Earlier this month, the Guardian published a letter by environmental activists that described the new law as "deeply worrying" and called for the Danish government to uphold their right to legitimate protest.
Tannie Nyboe, a spokewoman from campaigning group Climate Justice Action in Denmark, said the new law was designed to control civil disobedience during the summit. "These laws are a big restraint in people's freedom of speech and it will increase the police repression for anyone coming to Copenhagen to protest. Denmark normally boasts of how open and democratic a country we are. With this law we can't boast about this anymore.
"It will increase the repression of any protester or activist coming to Copenhagen. This law creates an image of anyone concerned about climate change being a criminal, which will of course also influence the general treatment of any activist who comes into contact with the police or other authorities."
A Danish justice ministry confirmed that the laws had been passed today and would come into effect before the climate conference starts on 7 December.
[News > World news > Australia]
Thirsty camels face bullet after terrorising Australian town
Northern Territory officials plan mass cull after 6,000 wild camels run amok in Docker River in search of water
Associated Press
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 26 November 2009 12.03 GMT Article history
Australian authorities plan to round up about 6,000 wild camels with helicopters and shoot them after they overran an outback town in search of water, trampling fences, smashing tanks and contaminating supplies.
The Northern Territory government announced its plan yesterday for Docker River, a town of 350 residents where thirsty camels have been arriving every day for weeks because of drought conditions.
"The community of Docker River is under siege by 6,000 marauding, wild camels," the local government minister, Rob Knight, said in Alice Springs, 310 miles (500km) north-east of Docker. "This is a very critical situation out there, it's very unusual and it needs urgent action."
The camels, which are not native to Australia but were introduced in the 1840s, have butted water tanks, approached houses to try to take water from air conditioning units and knocked down fencing at the small airport runway, Knight said.
The carcasses of camels killed in stampedes at water storage areas were contaminating the water supply, he said.
The government plans to use helicopters next week to herd the camels about nine miles outside the town and shoot them, leaving their carcasses to rot in the desert. A grant of A$49,000 (£27,000) will be provided for the cull and to repair damaged infrastructure.
"We don't have the luxury of time because the herd is getting bigger," Knight said.
It is common to see some camels in the remote community, but the continuing drought and an early heatwave have dried up other water sources and forced more of them into the town. Much of Australia is gripped by some of the worst drought conditions on record.
In August, the federal government set aside A$19m for a programme to slash the wild camel population, including a possible mass slaughter.
Glenys Oogjes, executive director of the national advocacy group Animals Australia, said the plan to kill camels by helicopter was barbaric, and that the community could instead set up barriers to keep out the camels.
"It's a terrible thing that people react to these events by shooting," she said. "The real concern is the terrible distress and wounding when shot by helicopter ... There will be terrible suffering."
Explorers brought camels to Australia to help them travel in the desert, and now an estimated 1 million roam wild across the country. They compete with sheep and cattle for food, trample vegetation and invade remote settlements in search of water, scaring residents as they tear apart bathrooms and rip up water pipes.
Docker River residents were not especially concerned when about 30 camels came into the town looking for water a few weeks ago, said Graham Taylor, head of the local council. But fears grew as more animals arrived every day.
He said many people were too frightened to leave their homes because of the animals, which can grow up to 2.1 metres (7 ft) tall and weigh 900kg (2,000lb).
"We need to get the risk and that threat away from the people," he said.
[Environment > Copenhagen climate change congerence 2009]
PM proposes global fund to kick-start Copenhagen climate change process
Prime minister says he expects £10bn plan to be backed by Commonwealth leaders and guest Nicolas Sarkozy
Press Association
guardian.co.uk, Friday 27 November 2009 12.28 GMT Article history
Gordon Brown proposed a new global fund today to "kick-start" the Copenhagen climate change process and encourage poorer countries to start cutting greenhouse gas emissions immediately.
Just days ahead of the vital UN-sponsored climate change conference in the Danish capital, Brown proposed a £10bn rich-world fund – to which Britain would contribute £800m – to give incentives to developing countries to halt deforestation, develop low-carbon energy sources and prepare for the effects of a warmer climate.
The "Copenhagen launch fund" would cover the years 2010-12 and deliver funds to poorer states on a "payment by results" system, under which those which showed they were taking action to halt climate change would receive more cash.
Brown said he expected the proposal to be welcomed at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (CHOGM), which he is attending in Trinidad today.
And he said he expected it to be backed by Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, who is attending CHOGM to discuss Europe's response to global warming, and by the United States.
[Environment > Activism]
Denmark approves new police powers ahead of Copenhagen
Controversial legislation gives police sweeping powers of 'pre-emptive' arrest and extends custodial sentences for acts of civil disobedience
Felicity Carus
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 26 November 2009 18.14 GMT Article history
The Danish parliament today passed legislation which will give police sweeping powers of "pre-emptive" arrest and extend custodial sentences for acts of civil disobedience. The "deeply worrying" law comes ahead of the UN climate talks which start on 7 December and are expected to attract thousands of activists from next week.
Under the new powers, Danish police will be able to detain people for up to 12 hours whom they suspect might break the law in the near future. Protesters could also be jailed for 40 days under the hurriedly drafted legislation dubbed by activists as the "turmoil and riot" law. The law was first announced on 18 October.
The Danish ministry of justice said that the new powers of "pre-emptive" detention would increase from 6 to 12 hours and apply to international activists. If protesters are charged with hindering the police, the penalty will increase from a fine to 40 days in prison. Protesters can also be fined an increased amount of 5,000 krona (671 Euros) for breach of the peace, disorderly behaviour and remaining after the police have broken up a demonstration.
The Danish police also separately issued a statement in August (pdf) applying new rules and regulations for protests at the climate conference, warning that "gatherings that may disturb the public order must not take place".
Earlier this month, the Guardian published a letter by environmental activists that described the new law as "deeply worrying" and called for the Danish government to uphold their right to legitimate protest.
Tannie Nyboe, a spokewoman from campaigning group Climate Justice Action in Denmark, said the new law was designed to control civil disobedience during the summit. "These laws are a big restraint in people's freedom of speech and it will increase the police repression for anyone coming to Copenhagen to protest. Denmark normally boasts of how open and democratic a country we are. With this law we can't boast about this anymore.
"It will increase the repression of any protester or activist coming to Copenhagen. This law creates an image of anyone concerned about climate change being a criminal, which will of course also influence the general treatment of any activist who comes into contact with the police or other authorities."
A Danish justice ministry confirmed that the laws had been passed today and would come into effect before the climate conference starts on 7 December.
[News > World news > Australia]
Thirsty camels face bullet after terrorising Australian town
Northern Territory officials plan mass cull after 6,000 wild camels run amok in Docker River in search of water
Associated Press
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 26 November 2009 12.03 GMT Article history
Australian authorities plan to round up about 6,000 wild camels with helicopters and shoot them after they overran an outback town in search of water, trampling fences, smashing tanks and contaminating supplies.
The Northern Territory government announced its plan yesterday for Docker River, a town of 350 residents where thirsty camels have been arriving every day for weeks because of drought conditions.
"The community of Docker River is under siege by 6,000 marauding, wild camels," the local government minister, Rob Knight, said in Alice Springs, 310 miles (500km) north-east of Docker. "This is a very critical situation out there, it's very unusual and it needs urgent action."
The camels, which are not native to Australia but were introduced in the 1840s, have butted water tanks, approached houses to try to take water from air conditioning units and knocked down fencing at the small airport runway, Knight said.
The carcasses of camels killed in stampedes at water storage areas were contaminating the water supply, he said.
The government plans to use helicopters next week to herd the camels about nine miles outside the town and shoot them, leaving their carcasses to rot in the desert. A grant of A$49,000 (£27,000) will be provided for the cull and to repair damaged infrastructure.
"We don't have the luxury of time because the herd is getting bigger," Knight said.
It is common to see some camels in the remote community, but the continuing drought and an early heatwave have dried up other water sources and forced more of them into the town. Much of Australia is gripped by some of the worst drought conditions on record.
In August, the federal government set aside A$19m for a programme to slash the wild camel population, including a possible mass slaughter.
Glenys Oogjes, executive director of the national advocacy group Animals Australia, said the plan to kill camels by helicopter was barbaric, and that the community could instead set up barriers to keep out the camels.
"It's a terrible thing that people react to these events by shooting," she said. "The real concern is the terrible distress and wounding when shot by helicopter ... There will be terrible suffering."
Explorers brought camels to Australia to help them travel in the desert, and now an estimated 1 million roam wild across the country. They compete with sheep and cattle for food, trample vegetation and invade remote settlements in search of water, scaring residents as they tear apart bathrooms and rip up water pipes.
Docker River residents were not especially concerned when about 30 camels came into the town looking for water a few weeks ago, said Graham Taylor, head of the local council. But fears grew as more animals arrived every day.
He said many people were too frightened to leave their homes because of the animals, which can grow up to 2.1 metres (7 ft) tall and weigh 900kg (2,000lb).
"We need to get the risk and that threat away from the people," he said.
[Environment > Copenhagen climate change congerence 2009]
PM proposes global fund to kick-start Copenhagen climate change process
Prime minister says he expects £10bn plan to be backed by Commonwealth leaders and guest Nicolas Sarkozy
Press Association
guardian.co.uk, Friday 27 November 2009 12.28 GMT Article history
Gordon Brown proposed a new global fund today to "kick-start" the Copenhagen climate change process and encourage poorer countries to start cutting greenhouse gas emissions immediately.
Just days ahead of the vital UN-sponsored climate change conference in the Danish capital, Brown proposed a £10bn rich-world fund – to which Britain would contribute £800m – to give incentives to developing countries to halt deforestation, develop low-carbon energy sources and prepare for the effects of a warmer climate.
The "Copenhagen launch fund" would cover the years 2010-12 and deliver funds to poorer states on a "payment by results" system, under which those which showed they were taking action to halt climate change would receive more cash.
Brown said he expected the proposal to be welcomed at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (CHOGM), which he is attending in Trinidad today.
And he said he expected it to be backed by Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, who is attending CHOGM to discuss Europe's response to global warming, and by the United States.
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