Korean Job Discussion Forums

[julian_w]

Just discovered news about this being taken up by only the one city so far, back home.

http://www.earthhour.org

Thought it would make for a possibly interesting and topical point of conversation for teachers and students in class, let alone coworkers and friends elsewhere.

Some of us here do actually work with kids of, or friends or relatives of influential people in local city governments, so it's worth talking about this one little achievable step with whomsoever we can, and seeing what can be done.

[Ethan Allen Hawley]

Sounds interesting. Good to see something positive and useful for the world coming from Sydney.

I have to wonder if any Korean schools, let alone towns or cities, would ever get behind an initiative like this.

[kiwiduncan]

I just did a search and found mention of Earth Hour on one Korean website, but I can't find anything about definate plans by any Korean groups or localities to participate.

http://www.shinsi.com/board/skin/news/view.asp?id=shinsi_news2&no=47562

. 어스아우어가 뭐라구?
작년 호주 시드니의 '어스 아우어 Earth Hour'가 주도한 이벤트에는 호주 220만 명의 시민과 기업체가 동참했다. 오페라 하우스와 하버 브리지의 조명도 꺼졌다. 올해도 진행될 이벤트의 규칙은 간명하다. 2008년 3월 29일 오후 8시에 한 시간 동안 조명을 끄거나 어렵다면 낮추자는 것이다. 전력 생산은 불가피하게 지구 온난화를 일으킨다는 사실, 지구의 환경이 위기에 처하고 있다는 사실을 상기하자는 의미가 있다. 국제야생생물기금 (WWF)과 함께 하는 올해 이벤트는 국제적으로 큰 관심을 일으키고 있고, 동참 도시도 크게 늘었다고 어스 아우어는 설명했다. 코펜하겐 등 덴마크의 도시들, 피지의 작은 도시, 북 아메리카의 토론토와 시카고, 필리핀의 마닐라, 이스라엘의 텔아비브의 시민들이 행사 참여 의사를 밝혔다고 한다.

What is Earth Hour?

Last year 2.2 million Sydney residents and companies participated together in Sydney's "Earth Hour". Even the lighting on the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge were turned off. This year the event's form is to be simplified. At 8pm on the 29th of March, 2008 lights can be turned off or, if this is problematic, the lights can be dimmed.

There can be no denying the fact that the production of electricity contributes to global warming. Earth Hour reminds us of the fact that the Earth's environment is facing a crisis. This year's event, to be held in cooperation with the World Wide Fund for Nature, is gaining growing world wide attention. The number of participating cities has increased dramatically explained Earth Hour organizers. Citizens of Copenhagen and other Danish cities, small Fijian cities, North America's Toronto and Chicago, Manila in the Philipines and Israel's Tel Aviv have all spoken of their intention to participate in the event.

[julian_w]

Thanks for the info. Duncan. That could be useful for helping explain more ab out it to Korean friends/ coworkers.

I'm also thinking of having a go at explaining the concept of what in English we call 'grass roots' organisation,
because one thing I really like about the set up for this Earth Day thing is that any individual, and any organisation can sign up to it,
so, a single class could sign up, or a small school, or a group of friends or a family, and from their on upwards.

So even though of course it's the more the merrier, it still doesn't have to be a whole city or something. The power of one and all that.

[Ethan Allen Hawley]

From The Korea Times, online:

03-05-2008

Korea Will See More Ozone-Linked Deaths

By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter

By 2030, about 88 in a million people in urban areas of Korea may die from being exposed to excessive ozone in the air should the country not set proper measures against climate change now, the Organization for Economic Corporation and Development warned Wednesday.

According to the `OECD Environmental Outlook to 2030' report, Asian member countries ― Korea and Japan ― will see more than 88 premature deaths due toe ozone content, which is higher than any other member countries and several non-membership countries.

Shin Bu-nam, spokesman of the Ministry of Environment, said countries with aging populations are more vulnerable. Also, the increasing amount of fuel consumption through vehicles will exacerbate the problem, he added.

The report also warned that climate change is eminent and rapidly affecting the world. It said by 2030, global emissions of greenhouse gases are projected to grow by 36 percent. This could trigger an increase in global temperatures over pre-industrial levels in the range of 1.7-2.4 degrees Celsius by 2050, leading to increased heat waves, droughts, storms and floods, resulting in severe damage to key infrastructure and crops.

The report warned a considerable number of today's known animal and plant species are likely to go extinct due to expanding infrastructure and agriculture, as well as climate change. More than 3.9 billion people will suffer from a lack of water due to the warming effect, making the world more polarized between developed, developing and underdeveloped countries.

It suggested an Environmental Overlook policy package, a possible scenario a state could adopt. It is to cut down 50 percent of agricultural subsidies and tariffs worldwide and apply carbon tax starting at $25 per ton of carbon dioxide emitted. Also, regulations for ``maximum feasible reduction'' in the air should be adopted along with reductions in other pollutants, the report said.

However, the cost of all these ``rather inconvenient'' measures is quite cheap. The organization said should Korea adopt the whole package, economic erosion will be minimal.

This is the first time for the OECD to come up with such a long-term environmental report and suggest a specific scenario with numbers to slow down climate change.

[email protected]

[cbclark4]

I thought the Ozone had a hole in it?

Or is that out of fashion now?

[kiwiduncan]