The Copenhagen Conference Issue

We can't escape it so thought we would go with the flow and seek out some of the more interesting aspects of the conference to date...

Person of the Week

Lumumba Di-Aping

The Sudanese chair of the G77 group of developing countries, has emerged as a key player at the Climate Change conference in Copenhagen and appears to be making quite an impact. In an emotional address at a meeting of around 100 African representatives, he said that the currently tabled maximum climate increase of 2 degrees C globally meant 3.5 degrees C for much of Africa. He called global warming of 2 degrees C "certain death for Africa" and stated that Africans "have been asked to sign a suicide pact."

Quote of the Week

"We don't want to get paid to do nothing. We want to live here, working at what we do. Why is it that rich countries are so interested in preserving the Amazon and they don't preserve their own forests? Tell me that."

Flavio Maginata, Illegal Logger, Amazon
Watch the Channel 4 update from Brazil here

Facts of the week

Confused by all the different players at the conference? This article focuses on the countries to watch, with a cynical take on each player, for example:

The US - influence rating 5/5
Least likely to say "Heck, we caused most of this mess – this round's on us."

China - Influence rating 5/5
Least likely to say "Look, we're No 1!"

European Union - Influence rating 4/5
Least likely to say "We agree with China, the US hasn't gone far enough."

Russia - Influence rating 3/5
Least likely to say "Of course we understand your domestic constraints, Mr Obama. Have some gas on us."

Australia - Influence rating 3/5
Least likely to say "Mate, did you know we chuck out more carbon per person than the US?"

UK - Influence rating 3/5
Least likely to say "The sums don't add up and it sets a shocking example, so let's can the new Heathrow runway."

Source: guardian.co.uk

Weird Fact of the Week

In the fight against climate change all you need is… A keychain that makes flushing toilet sounds...?

In a departure from the usual rhetoric about carbon footprints and resource saving technologies we found this bizarre report from Japan. A 'new improved flush simulator' to disguise unseemly noises from the toilets of the nation.

• Flush simulators have been around for some time in Japan and high end toilet manufacturers have included flush simulators on their cisterns to replace the habit of many Japanese people continually flushing the toilet to disguise their own sounds – a clear waste of precious water.
• Just in time for Copenhagen 2009, one company has begun advertising its "Eco Princess" keyrings: accessories that simulate the sound of a toilet being flushed.
• "Never before has the sound of six litres of water leaving a cistern been so realistically captured in digital form: yours to unleash at the push of a button and in an elegant rose-shaped casing"

Who would have thought?

Source: timesonline.co.uk

Article of the week

EP Condense is EP's weekly e-newsletter. But did you know that EP is also a bimonthly magazine available via subscription? Our Article of the Week provides a sample of what we have featured in past issue.

This week we feature a story from of EP archives. It is a business feature
entitled "Living History." Despite their slightly exclusive aura, private members clubs have been addressing the needs and ambitions of modernisation like any other organisation. However, it is not always an easy road and requires delicate leadership and a clear vision. EP met with the Commander Anthony Holt, Club Secretary and Chief Executive of The Army and Navy Club to discuss its ongoing evolution, which has been a careful balance of preserving history whilst developing the operation to meet modern demands.