Pacific islands drop diesel for 100 percent solar power - AlertNet

Pacific islands drop diesel for 100 percent solar power - AlertNet: "
The island nation of Tokelau switched on the third and final installment of its new solar energy grid last week, earning praise around the world as the first country to become entirely solar-powered—except it’s not a country.

...Though its economy runs almost entirely on the sale of fishing licenses and Internet domain names and the atolls boast “at most” five motor vehicles, Tokelau still imported over 2,000 barrels of diesel per year at a cost of $1 million New Zealand dollars ($825,000)  to provide electricity to its approximately 1,400 people."

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Taiwan can jump ahead with free transit

The automobile is dragging down economies all over the world. The traffic jams, wasted space, noise, and collisions are just part of this tremendously wasteful method of moving people.

Taiwan should make public transit fare free. Start with city buses. Then gradually start banning cars from some streets. Eventually the cities can be car-free.

The elimination of this waste will mean cleaner air, lower carbon emissions, and much less money exported for oil. This will leapfrog the Taiwan economy and create a quieter, more beautiful island.

Don't like noise? Make buses fare-free, reduce traffic

BBC News - Taiwan's noise pollution dilemma: "Some of the noise is typical of any developed country - jackhammers, drills and car alarms. But some are telling of Taiwan's lifestyle: herds of scooters - they're cheaper than cars and easier to park, but louder."

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The U.S. created the car-culture, now Asia is paying the price

Torrential rains batter Taiwan, 14 dead in Philippines | CP24: "Packing sustained winds of 118 kilometres (74 miles) per hour and gusts of 155 kph (97 mph), Saola's slow speed -- only 12 kph (7 mph) -- made it a virtual certainty that the heavy rains inundating northern Taiwan for the past 48 hours would continue through the weekend. That raised the prospect of potentially devastating flooding in areas that have already absorbed more than 1,000 millimeters (39 inches) of rain since Tuesday.

Authorities ordered offices and businesses closed throughout northern Taiwan, including in Taipei. Normally busy streets in the capital were deserted during the morning rush hour, as cleanup crews laboured to clear them of hundreds of trees and branches felled during the night by Saola's ferocious approach."

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Rain falls at 3.5 inches per hour. This is #climatechange.

Waterfall-like rain eases in southwest Japan, but 27 dead, thousands of homes damaged - The Washington Post: "The rain was concentrated in certain spots in a sprawling region of southern Japan, extending as far north as the ancient capital of Kyoto, where rainfall exceeded 90 millimeters (3.5 inches) per hour — a condition in which rain cascades down in such torrents that seeing ahead becomes impossible."

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Labornet Japan: Deregulation is the cause of the Kan-etsu Highway Accident Hold the Ministry of Transport responsible for the accident!

Labornet Japan: Deregulation is the cause of the Kan-etsu Highway Accident Hold the Ministry of Transport responsible for the accident!: "


April 29 dawn, a midnight long-distance bus crushed onto the guardrail of the Kan-etsu Highway, killing 7 passengers. Safety Research Issue Group holds the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism responsible for the accident. It goes without saying that the cause for the incident is the deregulation of transport in 2000. It allowed anyone to enter the passenger bus business, easing the requirements to possession of more than 5 buses and a rest station for drivers. As a result, many small passenger bus companies sprung up, compelling the business to further cost cutting competition. The tragic outcome of the race was the Azumino Tourism Bus Accident in February 2007, causing deaths and injuries of 27 ski tourists. (KOKUTETSU Ko, Safety Research Issue Group)  "

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Kaohsiung to offer free public transport with home purchase

Taiwan Today: "Kaohsiung is set to become the first municipality in Taiwan to offer residents free public transport for up to 25 years if they purchase property in approved developments.

The initiative, which is being undertaken by Kaohsiung City Government, Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp. and selected real estate developers, aims to spur housing sales in areas near KRTC lines and bolster the southern port city’s low carbon credentials.

Hwang Wang-hsiang, deputy minister of the Council for Economic Planning and Development, said March 19 that the program combines the best elements of urban planning and public transportation planning to deliver sustainable development."

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Climate disruption is real, costs real money

Photograph: Apichart Weerawong/AP

Thailand flooding costs Lloyd's of London $2.2bn | Business | guardian.co.uk: "Lloyd's of London has estimated that it is liable for $2.22bn (£1.4bn) of net claims from the flooding that devastated Thailand last year."

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New Year Gridlock: 7 hours to drive from Kaohsiung to Taipei

Gov't agencies warn traffic jams to peak during CNY on Jan. 25 - The China Post: "The Taiwan Area National Freeway Bureau is warning to expect traffic jams during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday. Bureau officials expect traffic to be at its highest on Jan. 25, the 3rd day of the lunar year, with up to 3 million vehicles on the road. The bureau made the warning yesterday, saying that in order to avoid being caught up in a traffic jam, commuters should not take national freeways on Jan. 25, while noting that it might take up to 7 hours to drive from Kaohsiung to Taipei."

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