Monday, December 12, 2011

American #transit riders envious of Taipei MRT

Transit notes from Taipei | The Source: "I now work at Metro and live in downtown Los Angeles — and still find myself nostalgic at times for certain aspects of Taipei’s MRT."

'via Blog this'

Monday, December 5, 2011

It is time to end the stupid auto culture

TOKYO — An outing of luxury sportscar enthusiasts in Japan ended in an expensive freeway pileup — smashing a stunning eight Ferraris, a Lamborghini and two Mercedes likely worth more than $1 million together.

Photo and story at http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/8-ferraris-lamborghini-smashed-in-pricey-japan-freeway-pileup/2011/12/05/gIQAhNQ1UO_story.html?

Monday, October 31, 2011

Oil Emirate pushing #transit with free rides

gulfnews : Public transport users to enjoy free rides Tuesday: "Dubai: Leave your cars behind for a day and use public transport free of cost as the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) celebrates Public Transport Day on November 1.
"On November 1, give your car a break. Ride all public transport — the Metro, public buses and water buses — absolutely free using your Nol card," said the RTA official. A similar message was also sent out to all Nol card users by the RTA as transport is free only for Nol card-holders.
By celebrating Public Transport Day, the RTA aims to activate a synchronised public transport network, in addition to encouraging the use of public transport and increasing the number of users by informing them about its distinct features, said a senior official."

'via Blog this'

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Stop using cars, or it is the end of humans

Tokyo has unveiled a loan programme to aid flood-hit firms (AFP/File, Pornchai Kittiwongsakul)
AFP: Japan to support firms hit by Thai floods: "TOKYO — Japan Tuesday announced provisions to help its companies hit by Thailand's worst flooding in decades, as supply disruptions force firms to shutter plants and production is hit at home."

'via Blog this'

Friday, October 7, 2011

Hike in public transport use sought - Taipei Times

Hike in public transport use sought - Taipei Times: "Minister of Transportation and Communications Mao Chi-kuo (毛治國) yesterday said the ministry aims to increase the public transport usage rate from about 14 percent to 30 percent, with a goal of a 5 percent increase annually.
Mao made the statement at a transportation service seminar held by the ministry, where he delivered a speech titled “Vision of a Low Carbon Emission, Sustainable Transport Development.”"

'via Blog this'

Thursday, September 22, 2011

1.2 million flee as Typhoon Roke hits Japan

Damage from Typhoon Roke is evident in Kasugai, central Japan, as the 130 mph storm swept across the country, halting business, causing mass evacuations and leaving 13 dead or missing.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/21/MN8O1L7ODG.DTL#ixzz1YfmslggQ
A powerful typhoon cut a path through Japan's main island on Wednesday, forcing the evacuation of more than 1.2 million from the area and causing the deaths or disappearance of at least 13 people.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/21/MN8O1L7ODG.DTL#ixzz1Yfmjyn6v

Sunday, September 18, 2011

New Taipei City promotes tourism with Car-Free Day - The China Post

New Taipei City promotes tourism with Car-Free Day - The China Post: "The China Post news staff--New Taipei City blocked vehicles from the streets of riverside Danshui's favorite tourist spots as it marked Car-Free Day yesterday.

The areas around Danshui's old street were closed to traffic starting 10 a.m., giving pedestrians a car-free environment to enjoy its famous foods and river scenes. They were also entertained by street performers.

Mayor Eric Chu urged tourists to take the MRT and other public transportation to Danshui.

Chu boarded a ferry at the nearby Kuandu pier for a ride down the river to Danshui. He then took a walk in the car-free zone, greeting and chatting with tourists before leaving by MRT."

'via Blog this'

Friday, August 5, 2011

How Biofuels Are Destroying Indigenous Communities in Malaysia - James Whitlow Delano - International - The Atlantic

How Biofuels Are Destroying Indigenous Communities in Malaysia - James Whitlow Delano - International - The Atlantic: "Bio-fuel is not always 'green' or sustainable as an alternative energy. Logging and then palm oil plantations have cost two indigenous Malaysian 'little peoples' -- the Batek and the Penan, so-called in reference to both physical stature and political clout -- much of their rainforest homelands. Malaysia is now the world's second largest producer of palm oil after its larger neighbor, Indonesia, while logging companies in the country have grown into multi-national corporations, increasing the wealth of their foreign owners at the expense of the forest peoples whose homes they destroy."

Friday, June 24, 2011

Congested Jakarta Must Embrace Public Transportation: Fauzi | The Jakarta Globe

Congested Jakarta Must Embrace Public Transportation: Fauzi | The Jakarta Globe: "As the Indonesian capital enters the ripe old age of 484 years, its governor stated the obvious on Tuesday: Jakarta has an acute shortage of public transport.

Governor Fauzi Bowo said there were 7.34 million vehicles in the city, but public transport only accounted for just 2 percent of them."

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Free public transport, please - The Malaysian Insider

Free public transport, please - The Malaysian Insider: "We need to think outside the box. Give a great public transport system for free within the urban areas and you don’t have to subsidise the fuel price. You don’t have to build an MRT system for RM40 billion. You don’t have to burden any income group in the city. Transport costs are zero if they take public transport."

Monday, May 2, 2011

Thousands rally for labor rights march in Taipei

China Post Online - Taiwan, News, Breaking News, World News, and News from Taiwan │英文報紙│英文時事│英文新聞-英文中國郵報: "Taiwan's laborers yesterday took to the streets, along with women's rights activists, environmentalists, youths, and people representing other social welfare groups, to call for better rights in a May Day parade that saw at least 5,000 participants."

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Singapore MP advocates free public transport

More carrots needed to go green: "Dr Teo also had a radical idea: providing free public transport to wean Singaporeans off car use. He suggested, for example, that free bus services linking town centres, schools or shopping malls in housing estates could be provided by the state.

'This will encourage more people to use public transport... thus reducing our carbon footprints,' he said, adding that such options are used in major cities to reduce traffic congestion and pollution."

Monday, January 31, 2011

Chinese philanthropist offers to build cross-strait undersea tunnel - CNA ENGLISH NEWS

Chinese philanthropist offers to build cross-strait undersea tunnel - CNA ENGLISH NEWS: "Taipei, Jan. 30 (CNA) China's best-known philanthropist said in Taoyuan Sunday he would be willing to spend his entire fortune to build an undersea tunnel and high-speed railw"

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

BBC News - World food prices at fresh high, says UN

BBC News - World food prices at fresh high, says UN: "The recent floods in Australia, which also accounts for 11% of global exports, has compounded the problem, he said.

The price of corn has also risen, because of greater support for biofuels in the US and the increased price of oil, which makes biofuels more attractive.

Droughts in Argentina, the world's second biggest exporter of corn behind the US, have also pushed the price up, Mr Torero said.

'The situation is very tight. If we have more natural disasters, we could have a problem,' he said."

Monday, January 3, 2011

Scientists fear mass extinction as oceans choke - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Low oxygen levels, which have been found along south-eastern
 Australia, are known to increase stress on fish. (Reuters: Ho New)
Scientists fear mass extinction as oceans choke - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): "Australian scientists fear the planet is on the brink of another mass extinction as ocean dead zones continue to grow in size and number.

More than 400 ocean dead zones - areas so low in oxygen that sea life cannot survive - have been reported by oceanographers around the world between 2000 and 2008.

That is compared with 300 in the 1990s and 120 in the 1980s."