Press release
Forty of the world’s leading climate scientists have signed an open letter demanding global leaders take bolder action against climate change (see full list below)
The joint statement – initiated by WWF and endorsed by recognised climate luminaries such as Sir John Houghton, former chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – calls for industrialised countries to make a commitment, at the UN Climate summit in Copenhagen , to cut carbon emissions by at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2020.
Saleemul Huq, one of the signatories, IPCC author and Senior Fellow in the Climate Change Group at the International Institute for Environment and Development, said: “The scientific evidence now indicates that even a rise in temperature of 2°C will entail considerable hardships for poor and vulnerable people around the world, especially those living on low-lying islands and coasts.
“So a 40% reduction in emissions is the very least required to provide a better chance of avoiding devastation for these countries and communities.”
WWF’s Head of Climate Change, Keith Allott, says: “As the UK government rallies the EU to step up to the mark ahead of Copenhagen, it’s time for Gordon Brown and other world leaders to turn words into action.”
Dr Dave Reay, another of the signatories, IPCC contributor and Senior Lecturer in Carbon Management, Edinburgh University , said: "The scientific evidence of climate change from around the world is providing a clear and urgent call for action.
“If we are to be successful in preventing the worst impacts of climate change then world leaders from the industrialised nations must commit to reducing emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020. The meeting in Copenhagen later this year is hugely important in putting the world on a path that leads us away from dangerous climate change."
The WWF say key meetings that will shape the global climate deal take place in coming weeks, including the UN General Assembly in New York and the G20 Heads of State meeting in Pittsburgh .
Campaigners say it is vital that the politicians attending take note of such timely advice from the world’s scientific community.
The scientists’ statement on 40% emissions reduction target for developed countries follows…
Copenhagen climate targets must be more ambitious
At the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen this December, world leaders have the opportunity to agree a historic global climate deal. To avoid dangerous climate change, the deal must be based on the most up-to-date scientific understanding of the emissions reductions required, with obligations divided equitably between developed and developing countries. This means that developed countries must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2020.
Copenhagen represents our best chance to avert the worst impacts of climate change on people, species and ecosystems. More than 120 countries, including the members of the G8, the EU, and key emerging economies such as China , South Africa and Mexico , agree that the rise in global temperature must stay well below 2°C. Beyond this point climate impacts will be more severe, with the risk of crossing ‘tipping points’ with dangerous and irreversible effects.
To stand a good chance of achieving this goal, the last Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report (2007) recommended that developed countries should reduce emissions by 25-40% on 1990 levels by 2020. Yet more recent evidence shows that only reductions at the top end of this range will be sufficient to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
Developed countries have so far committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by only 10-16% by 2020, a level dangerously inconsistent with their commitment to the 2°C target. The latest scientific evidence clearly shows that these countries must increase their ambition and reduce emissions by 40% by 2020 to maintain a credible ambition of avoiding dangerous climate change.
Thursday 17 September 2009
Rather too late
The release of my colleagues Pap Saine, Sam Sarr, Ebrima Sawaneh, Pa Modou Faal, Emil Touray and Sarata Jabbi-Dibba from the notorious Mile Two Prison is indeed good news. But it came rather too late and cannot be seriously seen as a Ramadan gesture.
Ramadan started ages ago and if the release of these journalists was indeed because of the spirit of Ramadan, then they should have been released ages ago. And if Jammeh is indeed serious in being merciful, he should extend it to the GPU president, Ndey Tapha Sosseh and other journalists currently languishing in foreign countries.
These journalists are currently away from their homes and loved ones not because they committed any capital offence, but simply because of their work as the eyes and mouth piece of the Gambian people.
Until then, I will always see the release of the journalists as another PR attempt by Jammeh to rebuild his battered and bruised image. From the arrest to the conviction of these journalists, the whole civilised world was outraged. Press organisations and governments around the world expressed their disgust at Justice Emmanuel Fagbenle's verdict which they see as a persecution rather than prosecution and another step by the government to keep the Gambian people in a perpetual state of darkness and passive subjugation.
The pressure was mounting everyday and it went to a point where it was nearly choking Jammeh and he could do nothing but to release the journalists.
Releasing the journalists is a welcome development but it cannot repair the damage their arrest and prosecution has done on the personal image of Jammeh and the Gambia. The image of the Gambia which was previously called a beacon of peace and hope is badly tainted. The Gambia is now seen as a country where fear rules.
Secondly, if Jammeh wants us to take him seriously, then he have to do more. For the past many years, Jammeh has shown to the Gambian people that he is a leader who cannot to be trusted. He keeps approbating and reprobating at the same time. And like the HULK, the slightest criticism makes him raise the ceiling. He gets so pumped up anger that the first orders he gives to the NIA or State Guards is arrest him, kill him, let him never see the sun again etc.
Therefore, the release of these journalists will be meaningless if they are going to be arrested, tortured, killed or charged for sedition tomorrow or the day after for publishing a story or article which upsets Jammeh.
The Gambian media does not need favours, cosmetic mercy, gifts or call it whatever from Jammeh or anyone. What we need from Jammeh is for him to use his influence and ask the National Assembly to repeal all those draconian legislations that are seriously inhibiting the work of local journalists. We also want him as president to repeal the various military decrees such as Decree 70/71 which he passed during the transition period.
Jammeh have to tell the NIA to stop focusing their work on the activities of journalists. We are not dissidents or a threat to the peace and tranquility of the Gambia. The NIA should instead see the media as allies in national development. The NIA have more to gain by working closely with the media.
Again if Jammeh wants us to take him seriously as a merciful and compassionate man, he have to order the immediate and unconditional release of Journalist Chief Ebrima Manneh, if he is indeed alive, and compensate him fully for the untold sufferings he is currently going through. Chief Manneh have not committed any crime. He is an innocent bloke who cannot even hurt a fly.
Chief Manneh's father is crying himself everyday to sleep… The last time he saw his son was in the morning of July 11, 2006 when he left for work. In this blessed and holy month of Ramadan, while parents rejoice and break their fast with their children, Chief Manneh's seventy something year-old father is left with a broken heart wondering whether his son is alive or death.
Further, if Jammeh wants us to believe that he is a merciful person, let him and his government do more to find the killers of Deyda Hydara. As a loving husband and father, Deyda's wife and kids are missing him everyday and would like to know who actually pulled the trigger on him and why.
If the Gambian security officers are indeed unable to find the killers of Deyda, then Jammeh should heed calls from the Gambia Press Union and other organisations for international investigators to help. We are sure that with the help of institutions like the Scotland Yard, and with the help of modern scientific equipment, Deyda's murderers will be behind bars very soon or at least the question we have been asking since 16 December, 2004 will be answered.
For comments, write to papak196@yahoo.co.uk
Ramadan started ages ago and if the release of these journalists was indeed because of the spirit of Ramadan, then they should have been released ages ago. And if Jammeh is indeed serious in being merciful, he should extend it to the GPU president, Ndey Tapha Sosseh and other journalists currently languishing in foreign countries.
These journalists are currently away from their homes and loved ones not because they committed any capital offence, but simply because of their work as the eyes and mouth piece of the Gambian people.
Until then, I will always see the release of the journalists as another PR attempt by Jammeh to rebuild his battered and bruised image. From the arrest to the conviction of these journalists, the whole civilised world was outraged. Press organisations and governments around the world expressed their disgust at Justice Emmanuel Fagbenle's verdict which they see as a persecution rather than prosecution and another step by the government to keep the Gambian people in a perpetual state of darkness and passive subjugation.
The pressure was mounting everyday and it went to a point where it was nearly choking Jammeh and he could do nothing but to release the journalists.
Releasing the journalists is a welcome development but it cannot repair the damage their arrest and prosecution has done on the personal image of Jammeh and the Gambia. The image of the Gambia which was previously called a beacon of peace and hope is badly tainted. The Gambia is now seen as a country where fear rules.
Secondly, if Jammeh wants us to take him seriously, then he have to do more. For the past many years, Jammeh has shown to the Gambian people that he is a leader who cannot to be trusted. He keeps approbating and reprobating at the same time. And like the HULK, the slightest criticism makes him raise the ceiling. He gets so pumped up anger that the first orders he gives to the NIA or State Guards is arrest him, kill him, let him never see the sun again etc.
Therefore, the release of these journalists will be meaningless if they are going to be arrested, tortured, killed or charged for sedition tomorrow or the day after for publishing a story or article which upsets Jammeh.
The Gambian media does not need favours, cosmetic mercy, gifts or call it whatever from Jammeh or anyone. What we need from Jammeh is for him to use his influence and ask the National Assembly to repeal all those draconian legislations that are seriously inhibiting the work of local journalists. We also want him as president to repeal the various military decrees such as Decree 70/71 which he passed during the transition period.
Jammeh have to tell the NIA to stop focusing their work on the activities of journalists. We are not dissidents or a threat to the peace and tranquility of the Gambia. The NIA should instead see the media as allies in national development. The NIA have more to gain by working closely with the media.
Again if Jammeh wants us to take him seriously as a merciful and compassionate man, he have to order the immediate and unconditional release of Journalist Chief Ebrima Manneh, if he is indeed alive, and compensate him fully for the untold sufferings he is currently going through. Chief Manneh have not committed any crime. He is an innocent bloke who cannot even hurt a fly.
Chief Manneh's father is crying himself everyday to sleep… The last time he saw his son was in the morning of July 11, 2006 when he left for work. In this blessed and holy month of Ramadan, while parents rejoice and break their fast with their children, Chief Manneh's seventy something year-old father is left with a broken heart wondering whether his son is alive or death.
Further, if Jammeh wants us to believe that he is a merciful person, let him and his government do more to find the killers of Deyda Hydara. As a loving husband and father, Deyda's wife and kids are missing him everyday and would like to know who actually pulled the trigger on him and why.
If the Gambian security officers are indeed unable to find the killers of Deyda, then Jammeh should heed calls from the Gambia Press Union and other organisations for international investigators to help. We are sure that with the help of institutions like the Scotland Yard, and with the help of modern scientific equipment, Deyda's murderers will be behind bars very soon or at least the question we have been asking since 16 December, 2004 will be answered.
For comments, write to papak196@yahoo.co.uk
Gambia's consumer price drops
Latest Figures released by the Gambia Bureau of Statistics point to a contraction in prices of domestic food and services as depicted by the national consumer price basket.
Consumer Price Inflation for the month of August 2009 contracted by 110 basis points from 4.1 per cent at the end of July 2009 to 3 per cent at the end of August.
The national price pointer peaked at the end of December 2008 and began the year at 7per cent. The index then took a nose dive; dropping to 6.3 per cent at the end of April 2009 and dropping further to 5.9 per cent at the end of May 2009 to close June 2009 at 5.4 per cent.
Incidentally, the decline was spurred by massive drops in the food components of the basket. Food prices dropped from 6.89 per cent at the end of August 2008 to 2.79 per cent at the end of August 2009.
On a month-on-month (m/m) basis, food prices shrank from 1.84 per cent at the end of July 2009 to 0.34 per cent at the end of August 2009. Nonfood prices increased in a y/y basis but reduced on a m/m basis.
The Non-food component of the basket was up by 3.18 per cent at the end of August 2009; comparing unfavourably with an increase of 2.62 per cent at the end of August last year. On a m/m basis, non-food prices scaled down by 0.7 per cent at the end of August 2009 which compares well with a rather high increase of 0.075 per cent at the end of July 2009.
The Gambia’s economy boasts of one of the lowest inflation rates in Anglophone West Africa. The current rate of 3 per cent compares favourably with a rate of 5 per cent in Liberia and 4.5 per cent in Sierra Leone; with CPI’s for Ghana and Nigeria at 11.1per cent and 19.65 per cent respectively.
OUTLOOK: CPI to Rise…
So far, the declines in domestic prices has been largely attributable to the pass through effect a gradual declines in commodity prices on the international stage, coupled with good fiscal discipline by the central bank of the Gambia.However, we do not see the national price pointer pointing southwards in the coming months.
The commencement of the planting season in September 2009 will lead to scanty shortages in locally cultivated foodstuffs and trigger increases in food prices. The season is also likely to see a surge in imports of food stuffs and a growth in the import bill. Also, the start of the tourist season would also contribute significantly to CPI’s inability to remain pointed downwards in the coming months.
The tourist season will spur a demand for goods and services and impact negatively on both the food and non food components of the basket; particularly, the hotels and restaurants item which has taken a downturn since April 2009. We also expect the CPI to be affected by remittances as consumption expenditure inflates during the
festive seasons. We remain bearish about September’s CPI and expect it to inch upwards; paving the way for a gradual ascendancy of the national price pointer in the coming months.
Consumer Price Inflation for the month of August 2009 contracted by 110 basis points from 4.1 per cent at the end of July 2009 to 3 per cent at the end of August.
The national price pointer peaked at the end of December 2008 and began the year at 7per cent. The index then took a nose dive; dropping to 6.3 per cent at the end of April 2009 and dropping further to 5.9 per cent at the end of May 2009 to close June 2009 at 5.4 per cent.
Incidentally, the decline was spurred by massive drops in the food components of the basket. Food prices dropped from 6.89 per cent at the end of August 2008 to 2.79 per cent at the end of August 2009.
On a month-on-month (m/m) basis, food prices shrank from 1.84 per cent at the end of July 2009 to 0.34 per cent at the end of August 2009. Nonfood prices increased in a y/y basis but reduced on a m/m basis.
The Non-food component of the basket was up by 3.18 per cent at the end of August 2009; comparing unfavourably with an increase of 2.62 per cent at the end of August last year. On a m/m basis, non-food prices scaled down by 0.7 per cent at the end of August 2009 which compares well with a rather high increase of 0.075 per cent at the end of July 2009.
The Gambia’s economy boasts of one of the lowest inflation rates in Anglophone West Africa. The current rate of 3 per cent compares favourably with a rate of 5 per cent in Liberia and 4.5 per cent in Sierra Leone; with CPI’s for Ghana and Nigeria at 11.1per cent and 19.65 per cent respectively.
OUTLOOK: CPI to Rise…
So far, the declines in domestic prices has been largely attributable to the pass through effect a gradual declines in commodity prices on the international stage, coupled with good fiscal discipline by the central bank of the Gambia.However, we do not see the national price pointer pointing southwards in the coming months.
The commencement of the planting season in September 2009 will lead to scanty shortages in locally cultivated foodstuffs and trigger increases in food prices. The season is also likely to see a surge in imports of food stuffs and a growth in the import bill. Also, the start of the tourist season would also contribute significantly to CPI’s inability to remain pointed downwards in the coming months.
The tourist season will spur a demand for goods and services and impact negatively on both the food and non food components of the basket; particularly, the hotels and restaurants item which has taken a downturn since April 2009. We also expect the CPI to be affected by remittances as consumption expenditure inflates during the
festive seasons. We remain bearish about September’s CPI and expect it to inch upwards; paving the way for a gradual ascendancy of the national price pointer in the coming months.
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