Author: Deslin

The Gauteng Declaration – #Inclusive #Cities

THE GAUTENG DECLARATION

 

DECLARE THAT:
We share the willingness to work towards metropolises for and by their citizens, where participatory and effective metropolitan governance fosters economic development, sustainability, social cohesion and justice, gender equality and good quality of life;

We are committed to fostering links and exchanges between political leaders, policy makers and practitioners worldwide; to advocating for metropolitan interests and improving the performance of metropolises in addressing local and global challenges;

We are dedicated to the transformation of our institutions and the strengthening of governance systems to respond to the aspirations of a rapidly urbanising population; addressing urban sustainability challenges related to housing, infrastructure, basic services, climate change, food security and migrations; and ending violations of human rights;

We recognize that metropolitan areas are expanding due to the galvanising power of proximity, agglomeration and innovation; that targeted transformation of cities and city regions, which are the cradle of our heritage, is critical to the vision of a brighter and more inclusive future; and that urbanisation is already bearing fruits by lowering overall poverty, raising household incomes, and creating new opportunities;

We acknowledge the impact of metropolitan areas on their surrounding territories, hinterland, peripheral cities and intermediary cities; and that metropolitan priorities and policies need to consider these effects on countries as a whole;

We celebrate that the Forum of African Metropolises is convened as an important mechanism to develop knowledge and know-how among peers in a rapidly urbanising continent;

We understand that the objectives set forth by the international community to meet global challenges cannot be fulfilled without the involvement and commitment of metropolises and all local governments.

WE CALL FOR:

More means to effectively localise the Sustainable Development Goals, the New Urban Agenda and Paris Agreement on Climate Change; and to address the environmental, economic, social and governance dimensions of exclusion in metropolitan areas;

Partners around the world to join us in advocating for metropolitan interests, as we address local and global challenges, thus enhancing our collaborations towards the ideal of inclusive metropolises for and by their citizens;

A seat at the global table, recognizing the role that metropolitan areas must play in the development of policies at national, regional and international level;

Support in research and innovation on metropolitan governance and needs;

Enhanced mechanisms to allow exchange between metropolitan areas, and specific programmes that can support renewal and policy innovation at all levels;

International acknowledgment of the existing mechanisms that promote dialogue between the international community and subnational governments of all sizes, the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments.

WE REAFFIRM OUR DETERMINATION TO:

Foster inclusive cities expand opportunities through inclusive settlements and mobility options, support asset-building for sustainable livelihoods, and tackle land-based exclusion;

Defy the trappings of social exclusion which occur in the form of inequality, discrimination, racism, patriarchy, sexism, hetero-sexism and intolerance;

Exercise leadership on the world stage to solve the local and global issues that affect the world population, as set forth in the Montréal Declaration proclaimed at the XII Metropolis World Congress held last year;

Harness the potential of technology to reduce costs and level the playing field for inclusive development, and foster just, inclusive, adaptive, responsive, transparent and accountable governments;

Work together with national and international institutions, and especially with peers from the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments, in advocacy mechanisms, such as the Urban 20 initiative, towards achieving the shared ambitious objectives of the global agenda, while enhancing the voice of metropolitan communities worldwide;

Call upon more partners around the world to join us advocating for diverse metropolitan perspectives, in our commitment to the ideal of inclusive metropolises for and by their citizens.

More so the Metropolis family will continue to draw inspiration from the life convictions of our global icon, Nelson Mandela.

 

Source: Metropolis Gauteng 2018

The draft National Planning Policy Framework #NPPF #NPPF2018

    If there was a #SDG18 it might well coalesce around the concept of #ResilienceforAll

     

    As it is, the concept of resilience is fundamental to achieving all of the SDGs, seeking as they do to strengthen people’s ability to survive, cope and thrive on this planet.

     

    Over the last couple of months, I have met and heard from politicians and civil society representatives from over 100 countries meeting in regional platforms for disaster risk reduction in the Americas, Europe and Asia.

     

    All take the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 as their manifesto, providing guidance and a gateway towards coping with a world where inclusion is under threat, disaster displacement is an everyday occurrence, urbanization is proceeding at breakneck speed and the earth’s resources are being used up at an alarming rate.

     

    Building ‘resilience for all’ seems to be the underlying theme, be it for the most vulnerable people, the displaced, or for those affected by rapid urbanization which ignores the principles of good land use and safe building codes.

     

    We have had wide-ranging discussions on subjects as diverse as resilient infrastructure, the role of eco-systems, the protection of livestock, accessibility to multi-hazard early warning systems, public-private cooperation and working with informal settlements.

     

    A key issue that surfaces time and again is concern over disaster displacement. This is now a chronic issue which needs to be addressed if we are to make progress on making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable as SDG 11 calls for.

     

    Just in the last week, my own country Japan has had to cope with the most extensive disaster event since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011. The floods and landslides have caused over 200 deaths or missing, great disruption to normal life and highlighted once more how even the best disaster-prepared countries in the world can be blind-sided by extreme weather events fueled by climate change.

     

    My heart it torn to see the tragic images that are emerging from Japan, and my thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones and are now living under extremely difficult conditions.

     

    Millions of people in Japan were ordered to vacate their homes earlier this month and forced displacement because of disaster events, usually a flood or a storm, is now a chronic problem in many parts of the world.

     

    Consistently over the last ten years, more people have been displaced by natural hazards than by conflict. According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, last year conflict and disasters displaced 30.6 million people within their own countries and this included 18.8 million people displaced by disasters in 135 countries.

     

    We note a number of things about how efforts to build societies resilient to disasters are falling short.

     

    First, it is the poor who are disproportionately affected by these events, often they are people forced to live on flood plains or in marginal areas which lack resilient infrastructure, access to water and sanitation, and other basic services.

     

    Second, we are becoming too reliant on evacuation as a solution to saving lives and minimizing the injuries and ill-health which can accompany an extreme weather event or an earthquake when what is required is that we become better at managing the risks which drive these events before disaster strikes.

     

    Third, it is time to act on the realization that we are living with unsustainably high levels of risk given what we know about the likely increase in intensity and frequency of extreme weather events linked to climate change, and population growth in hazard exposed areas.

     

    These are just some of the reasons why I have been emphasizing two issues in particular in my speaking engagements at these recent regional meetings: the need for inclusion, and the importance of local strategies for disaster risk reduction wherever there is a human settlement.

     

    If we do not include all sections of society in our planning for prevention and risk management, then we will see some groups suffer disproportionate loss of life not because they have been deliberately discriminated against but because their voices have not been heard and their needs have been overlooked.

     

    We are getting better at disseminating early warnings, organizing evacuations and providing emergency aid and shelter as part of efforts to build urban resilience but we need to make a much greater effort to prevent displacement and find long-term solutions which reduce the risk of it happening.

     

    Vital to this effort is ensuring an increase in the number of countries with national and local strategies for disaster risk reduction by 2020, a key target in the global plan for reducing disaster losses, the Sendai Framework.

     

    Disaster risk is best managed at the local level where the results will quickly show. One outward sign that this is increasingly entering the mainstream is the growing number of municipalities who are opting to join UNISDR’s 4,000-strong Making Cities Resilient Campaign.

     

    We need more countries to follow the examples of Mongolia and Bangladesh which have signed up all their cities and towns to the campaign.

     

    Resilience for all does not come without effort. The future is unfolding before our very eyes; we cannot afford a half-hearted response.

    Campaign group ‘Don’t Trash The Thames’ saves ancient riverside #UK #Mitigation

    Objectors raise concerns to unnecessary degrading development by our ‘public garden’ which is used for the purposes of public recreation, our public open riverside space.

    Wokingham Council planning committee turns down MRT bus lane bridge plan <3

    PLANS to concrete over land by the River Thames were turned down by the planning committee on Monday evening. Five members voted against and four in favour.

     

    The extraordinary meeting was held at Wokingham Borough Council’s Shute End offices on Monday evening and the decision was made just weeks after Reading Borough Council approved plans for its side of the scheme…

     

    https://www.wokinghampaper.com/wokingham-council-turns-down-mrt-bus-lane-bridge-plan

     

     

    Source: The Wokingham Paper

    Antarctica worlds first #haemorrhagingdisaster > SHOCK. Everything is dying…

    After a disastrous shock, what can we learn from isolated groups in historic disperse breakout patterns?

    Vegetarian diet a cure –  Scurvy

    Scurvy has followed in the wake of human-made disasters and war, where starvation, famine and rationing threatened both civilians and soldiers.
    It has appeared during the crusades and during poorly equipped travel expeditions. The best known, however, are the stories of all the seamen who became ill and died when long cruises between the continents became common centuries later. At that time, many thought that scurvy was due to poisoning.

     

    The initial stages of scurvy begin with fatigue, irritability, impaired workload and intellectual ability. Experiments made in England in the 1940’s have shown that after 17 weeks of vitamin C low-fat diet, symptoms begin to seriously occur with the destruction and congestion of the hair follicles, the skin forms small wounds that do not want to heal, blood vessels break, the gums begin to swell and bleed, one gets nasal blood, bowel ducts, internal organs and joints begin to bleed. Additionally, you get pain in your muscles and joints. Symptoms may vary depending on where the bleeding occurs. Death can come suddenly at scabbard, for example, bleeding from the heart muscle.

    Catastrophic numbers bleed to death – Pandemic

    A pandemic is a disease that rapidly and surprisingly spreads across large parts of the globe, and researchers assume that the next will be a flu. The virus is particularly dangerous when a variant from animals, such as birds or pigs, infects humans.

     

    If a bird and a human influenza attack the same cell, their DNA is copied simultaneously, thus combined into a new virus that exploits the most dangerous properties of both fluids.

     

    If a killer virus breaks out near you, make sure you cough and sneeze in a disposable tissue or in your sleeve – not in your hand. You should wash your hands frequently with warm water and soap or alcohol, and do not share personal belongings such as towels, sheets and toothbrushes.

     

    Clean surfaces like door handles, tables, toys, keyboards and toilets frequently. Avoid contact with infected people or stay away from others if you become ill.

    Trauma – Earthquakes

    Trauma is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in a number of different disastrous scenarios but it is the predominant mechanism of injury following earthquakes and constitutes the majority of earthquake‐related hospital admissions in the first 24h. The very young and the very old have the highest risk of mortality from an earthquake. Chest trauma is present in around 10% of earthquake casualties who present to hospital and management may be complicated by delays of several hours or even days in extricating some of those trapped under the rubble.Chest injury is often accompanied by injuries to other organ systems and multiple injuries are associated with increased mortality.

     

    Excluding superficial abrasions to the chest, the spectrum of injuries seen in those with chest trauma following earthquakes includes: rib fracture (17–50%), which may be complicated by flail chest, pneumothorax (6–52%), haemothorax/haemopneumothorax (11–19%), subcutaneous emphysema (10%), pulmonary contusion; rupture of cardiovascular system and diaphragmatic rupture. In addition, pulmonary embolism and pneumonia may complicate chest trauma, and ARDS and renal failure can develop in those with severe polytrauma or crush injuries.

     

    Management of the trauma patient should follow in accordance with the advanced trauma life support (ATLS) guidelines and is beyond the scope of this review. In addition to immediate airway management and cardiovascular support, tube thoracostomy is one of the most important thoracic interventions in the acute setting. Tube thoracostomy was the second most common procedure (behind fasciotomy) performed in one hospital following the 1999 earthquake in Turkey, occurring in 34/263 (13%) of patients.

    How will we respond to fast approaching haemorrhaging disasters?

    It is not rocket science to recognise that melting from all white, sea- and land ices and glaciers will cause unprecedented need for global disaster risk resilience (#SDG18). Global warming year 2070, after this tipping point will it ever snow on Earth again?

     

     

    ‘Utterly Terrifying Haemorrhaging Feedback Loops’ – What’s next, when the oceans turns acidic how will this affect ecosystem’s oxygen cycles? Ecological apocalypse, what new mono-cultures will spread in vegetated habitats? Will regions loose control to prevent invasive spices from taking over? Will only underground life thrive in the new natural environment?

     

    What will the damaging effect be with the extinction of all winter mammals and fish dependent of cold temperatures? What human consequences will occur as a result of biggest planetary biomass mass death event in modern time?

     

    We must predict and calculate unpredictable threats attacking the humanity via land, sea, air and geospace. Super-powered global practises are needed to slow down this dyer warming process caused by humans everlasting desire to grow more and stronger prosperity. Could the answer lay right within our collective communities state of commodity dependence?, to put a halt on all new development for the next fifty years? Would you adapt!? The increasing risks of climate disaster are haemorrhaging, so maybe…

     

    Can advances in artificial intelligence rise be a prominent driver in to help tackle disastrous temperature rise?

     

    In the XXIst century you can no longer work isolated in your corner. Coalitions rule!

     

     

     Jun 16

    Antarctica worlds first . Everything is dying… w/ –> SLOW

     

     

    Sources:

     

    Respirology

    https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1440-1843.2011.01923.x

    Baylor University Medical Center

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1291330

    Education.com

    https://gb.education.com/science-fair/article/acid-rain-oxygen-concentration

    University of Huddersfield Repository

    http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/id/eprint/33429/1/4%20%20FINAL%20Global%20Report%20final%20%28PR%29-updated-refs.pdf

     

     

    SAFETY PLANING INTERVENTION – OPEN LETTER – READING NEW LOCAL PLAN CONSULTATION

    Lead Councillor Tony Page, the Strategic Environment, Planning & Transport Committee (SEPT) and the New Local Plan responses to public concerns – Turning bad practice into good

     

    Optimistic view of town planning services!

     

    SUMMARY – The Local Plan is the document that contains the policies and sites for how Reading will develop up to 2036. It identifies the amount of development that will take place, the areas and sites where development is expected to be accommodated, and where it will be restricted, and sets out policies for how planning applications will be decided. *

     

    WHY – The Reading New Local Plan (NLP) 2018-2036 and its consultation is flawed and is proof of local governance denial and complete ignorance. It’s a world class example of bad governance and performance. It’s appalling and very dangerous. It is also a good example of how shady town leadership is coping out and leaving behind the people of its constituency.

     

    The Reading NLP does not comply with enough guidance or recommendations set by the government.

     

    The current National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) contains ambitious policies on climate change but on-the-ground local authority delivery remains slow, largely because of a lack of taking on-board practical advice and support on how to secure a radical reduction in carbon emissions.

     

    Extremely weak urban emergency planning causes harm, this requires immediate climate action to overcome the barriers faced by Reading council; such as strong leadership, collaborative ways of working, leaving corporate affiliations behind, honesty and transparency, good communication, and strong individual moral commitment.

     

    Open local government includes the different departments of the city council and all the municipal agencies. It is considered as the institutional level closest to citizens, turning citizens into city-makers. It provides a strategic planning vision to better prepare the city to respond to disaster risks and improves people’s health, well-being and education. Furthermore, local government is responsible for ensuring the continuity of some services in the city which may include highways, energy, water and telecoms infrastructure. The Reading local government has a Duty-to-Protect all Readinger’s lives and assets, RBC Not up-to-date urban Emergency Plan and Services demands PLANNING INTERVENTION!

     

    The Reading Borough Council (RBC) Leadership and the Strategic Environment, Planning & Transport Committee (SEPT) responsible for town housing/planning development (built environment) are required to ambitiously exceed minimum expectations, minimum regulations, especially when we are under health threat from climate change and global warming.

     

    The Local Plan missing a Model Risk-Impact Evaluation Plan, therefore is not legally compliant.

     

    We are not aware of a legal requirement for a ‘Model Risk-Impact Evaluation Plan’, nor are we sure what that would entail. The Local Plan has complied with its actual legal requirements.

    – I’m not impressed.

     

    “Ultimately, the Local Plan needs to work within the framework of existing national legislation and policy to set expectations for Reading. The Local Plan seeks to mitigate and adapt to climate change within the context of those expectations. However, these must be balanced against the presumption in favour of sustainable development in the NPPF and the expectation that development needs are met insofar as it possible.”

    Planning Section | Directorate of Environment and Neighbourhood Services

     

    – Who decides what is possible? This response is non-sense and refers falsely to NPPF’s framework most of to which Reading’s NLP planning documentation Not is synced with, as further below. This is directly misleading and under false interpretation.The Reading Borough Council is in breach as it is not up-to-date with the reviewed National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), changes that will come into force 2019 and the globally binding agreement the New Urban Agenda.

    The Reading Borough Council is in breach as it is not up-to-date with the reviewed National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), changes that will come into force 2019 and the globally binding agreement the New Urban Agenda.

    Whatever responses or remarks the SEPT will come back with, the Reading New Local Plan is Not in sync with the NPPF. The Strategic Environment, Planning & Transport Committee are aware about this shameful dilemma but choose to ignore this and the whole New Local Plan Consultation is in breach of delivering a sustainable development plan for Reading and its residents. Don’t be deceived by a local leadership that do everything in their powers to ratify an incomprehensive town plan for the next 20 years, just before the changes in the NPPF will come in place! **

     

    E.g. Plan-making

    Paragraph 23 reflects changes to the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 which come into force on 6 April 2018, requiring local planning authorities to review their local plans every five years from adoption. Under the Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017, local planning authorities must consider whether to revise the document following such a review and publish their reasons if they decide not to do so. The revised text also proposes these policy changes: Paragraph 21 expects strategic policies to be distinguished clearly in plans, to allow clear scope for local policies to be formulated.

     

    E.g. Meeting the challenge of climate change, flooding and heat waves and rivers change

     

    Housing White Paper proposals

     

    Paragraph 148 refer to the risk of overheating from rising temperatures and makes clear that planning policies should support measures to ensure the future resilience of communities and infrastructure to climate change.

    Paragraph 153 and its accompanying footnote incorporate the Written Ministerial Statement of 18 June 2015 on wind energy development.

    Paragraph 155 clarify that plans should have regard to the cumulative impacts of flood risk, rather than just to or from individual development sites.

    Paragraphs 158-162 clarify policy on the exception test that may need to be applied when considering development in locations at risk of flooding.

    Paragraph 149b reflects that local planning authorities are tied to national technical standards, and there is limited scope to extend local ambition.

     

    The Clean Growth Strategy sets out the Government’s plans for consulting on energy performance standards in Building Regulations later this year 2018. Local authorities can be an important role in improving the energy performance of buildings, in line with the ambitions of the Clean Growth Strategy, and this will be considered further as the Government develops its consultation proposals.

     

    A new paragraph (163) has been added to incorporate the Written Ministerial Statement of 18 December 2014 on sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) in major developments.

    Again, this is something Tony Page, the RBC and the SEPT very well are aware of all coming changes but choose not to act on

    As the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) regulations now being checked, are we up-to-date? Again, The Reading Council is aware, even on local level with the only purpose to keep standards and legislation up-to-date with regards to all NLP planning documentation, appraisals and sub-documentation for sustainable development in our environment.

     

    Instead of engaging, below a typical response to submissions on the consultation:

     

    “It would be really helpful if you could let me know please in the sections of the plan where change is proposed by others, responses or changes go some way to resolving concerns.

    If you do not feel that the responses or changes are helpful or appropriate, there is no need to respond to this e-mail as your existing Local Plan comments will continue to stand. Please note that we are also not seeking additional comments on the Local Plan at this time.

    Please let me know if you have any queries or would like to discuss further. I will be on leave until 19th June.”

    – Sent Friday the 1st June at 4pm

     

    Added in all cases; These are minor wording changes that do not alter the policy direction.

     

    The choice of not to take responsibility and are purposely wrong doing which is a crime carried out by climate villain.

     

    Local government for the town of Reading is principally provided by Reading Borough Council, a single level unitary authority without civil parishes. However, some of the town’s outer suburbs are in West Berkshire and Wokingham unitary authorities. These outer suburbs belong to civil parishes, in some cases with their own town status. Since the 2010 general election, Reading and its surrounding area has been divided between the parliamentary constituencies of Reading East and Reading West. The whole of the town is within the multi-member South East England European constituency.

    Why should anyone who reads this care? Because it’s in everyone’s interest this SAFETY PLANNING INTERVENTIONgenerate appropriate plans to shelter, protect and safeguard all inhabitants of our community in the best possible way.

    Everything is interlinked, the sooner we realise this connection, the lesser the risk. We must rely on our local government to make the correct and bold medium-term decision for future generations. For the local authorities to carry out and deliver on – Duty-to-Protect.

    Climate Change Centre Reading has over the years participated and been representing in several consultations and offered professional advice. 2015 was a turning point when the global community finally realised the dangers and threats that are upon our people’s health and wellbeing. Since 2015, ambition and inclusive are the keyword top down to local level. Why has it not happened in RBC? The conclusion is that these powers need to be investigated and dealt with. As per para 1-7;

     

    Climate Change – Paris Agreement – SDGs in relation with regards to Reading’s future

     

    1.      I’m afraid the in the Public Consultation does Not have a risk-impact assessment in place, this park & ride scheme will affect all Readinger’s work/life balance for the next 18 years… Protection of People and Assets in Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire etc…

    2.      Prosperity for a healthy Economy. Looking at this globally, you might save £££ in any other cases, the point really is that investing in resilience always pays, a genuine risk assessment will half the costs instead of doing it after planning approval.

    3.      Why has RBC Not carried out a Model Risk-Impact Evaluation Plan? How does the NLP align with gov’s new 25-year environment plan? Additional policy on strengthening existing networks of habitats, taking air quality fully into account. Development within National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty should be limited. Implications for policy on areas defined as Heritage Coast. Protection for ancient woodland and other irreplaceable habitats, by making clear that development resulting in their loss or deterioration should be wholly exceptional and maintains a high level of protection for individual aged or veteran trees found outside these areas. Balance between protecting these important natural assets, while allowing development to proceed in the very limited circumstances where it would have significant public benefits…

    4.      In Reading we all know that Reading’s external Reading’s Climate Change Strategy(RCCP) is a joke to be honest, since 2013 only given RBC to plan freely with no climate action ambition.

    “Since the original action plans were drawn up, the Council’s overall budget has reduced significantly and consequently the resource available to deliver the action plans has also reduced. We have therefore had to make difficult decisions about priorities and the result is that some actions have been delayed” after five years, please explain, the society deserve a deep and thorough understanding of this “relation” 2013-18.

    5.      What is interesting, with his knowledge there seem to be no interest to repair for damage done and trying to catch up for 5 years of lost time with climate damage control measures that has yet Not been implemented in the RBC local planning policy.

    6.      In the New Local Plan consultation, the usage of references in public responses and remarks to the NPPF framework is false and directly deceiving by Lead Councillor Tony Page, the SEPT and Planning Section | Directorate of Environment and Neighbourhood Services as the whole New Local Plan documentation is based on old planning policies, plans and strategies, documentation, sub-documentation and sustainability appraisals with references to sustainability appraisal scoping report and duty to co-operate scoping strategy *** Not up-to-date.

    “It is not considered that there is any reason to make amendments to the Sustainability Appraisal Framework for the purposes of undertaking this appraisal. The Framework was produced recently, in 2014, and is therefore reasonably up-to-date. The Local Plan is concerned with strategic issues and does not have a limited scope that might necessitate amending the Framework. Whilst there may be plans and documents to consider that were published more recently than the Framework, or new information that has become available, these will be highlighted where relevant.”

    7.      The NLP consultation claim it is an open and transparent urban planning process. When it comes to decision making, for many of the Reading residents and for a clear majority of objectors it is certainly Not open and transparent. As an increase of planning objections resulting in no changes proofing the case. Reading is Not disclosing its greenhouse gas emissions data, managing climate risk and cutting emissions. Again, instead of engaging with all non-state stakeholders and together plan for a smooth urban transition the council’s inaction will lead to an increase in residents impacted by planning fraud causing harm.

     

    As a citizen and local resident, I’m going to report you, the SEPT Reading Borough Council somewhere I don’t know exactly where, but I will find the appropriate instance to bring the common citizens objection case due to five years of climate action ignorance and denial being calculated and carried out by the Lead Councillor Tony Page and the SEPT.

     

    The whole preparations and launch of the consultation of the New Local Plan is highly inappropriate and purpose only seek to get away with town planning approval without having to fulfil standards.

     

    Trying to get away with an 18 years plan with the lowest or non-safeguards is beyond foolish and should wake up voices and call for change, we do live in an enlightened and well-informed world.

     

    The last to see and make this shift happen is not the fault our elected politicians but their instruments, especially those local authorities run by those who oppose change to powers.

     

    These local authorities’ individuals play an important role in improving the local governance performance of Greater Reading and beyond, in line with the ambitions of the reviewed National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), this will be considered further as the Government develop its consultation on policy change proposals.

     

    Instead of the SEPT coming with remarks to the Reading resident’s representations and objections in the NLP consultation, why don’t you invite all non-state actors to truly inclusive integrated group discussions so that we can consult and move forward with fit solutions on track to the future with a holistic overview? SOLUTION – To engage and get involved with non-state actors and local communities and expertise in an inclusive urban planning, design and decision process of town development is vital and has been avoided. The consequences will follow; the whole Reading’s New Local Plan will need to be revised with new and updated sub-documentation and sustainable appraisals and most important with a risk-impact assessment in place. Yes, this will delay the NLP planning approval for by one year but it’s worth it and will save many lives and assets doing so.

    RBC IS AWARE IT NEEDS TO BE FULLY IN LINE WITH THE NATIONAL PLANNING POLICY FRAMEWORK.

    Despite the outcome and go ahead for Reading’s NLP, there is so little time to repair and get this right. Government guidance has also been weak on adapting to climate change, particularly in relation to addressing issues such as heat waves and increased weather changes. PART SOLUTION – The new guide, ‘Planning for Climate Change – a Guide for Local Authorities’, was launched on Wednesday 16th May 2018. It provides an overview of policy and legislation which should be used to address climate change at a local level ****

     

    Finally let me point out that the UK has agreed and signed the globally binding agreement – the New Urban Agenda (NUA) being revised to also be synchronised with the Global Goals, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) *****. There is Not one single reference to the New Urban Agenda in Reading’s NLP planning documentation! The Reading Council is also here aware that even on local level with the only purpose to keep standards and legislation up-to-date with regards to all NLP planning documentation, appraisals and sub-documentation for sustainable development in our environment. I suggest all planners and local leaders to have a deep look.

    Net Zero Carbon Buildings Commitment as a catalyst towards rapidly greening our homes and the places where we work and play ****

    All council’s public bodies/institutions should also divest, it is an offensive and damaging act Not to!

     

    RESULT – The purpose with the NLP objection is via Safety Planning Intervention, policy innovation and risk/protection impact evaluation, to improve Reading’s local urban development practices, planning and design to support the British realm and ambition to become a great global leader in the fight against global warming. Also, that the whole RBC get involved with all documentation from the Ninth session of the World Urban Forum ****** that took place from 7 to 13 February 2018 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center – the best way to safeguard and secure Reading’s New Local Plan.

     

    REFERENCES

     

    * Reading New Local Plan

    http://www.reading.gov.uk/newlocalplan

     

    ** NPPF Consultation

    https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/685288/NPPF_Consultation.pdf

     

    *** Local Plan documents and old other planning policy documents, other old plans and strategies

    http://www.reading.gov.uk/localplanexamination

    http://www.reading.gov.uk/media/6245/RBC-Emergency-Plan-Policy/pdf/RBC_Emergency_Plan_Section_2_-_Policy_V5.1.pdf

    http://www.reading.gov.uk/media/3798/Community-emergency-plan/pdf/Community-Emergency-Plan.pdf

     

    **** The new guide, ‘Planning for Climate Change and Net Zero Carbon Buildings

    https://www.tcpa.org.uk/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=0acefe4f-9712-4b37-b2a1-06cd0f8b0293

    http://www.worldgbc.org/news-media/world-green-building-council-calls-companies-across-world-make-their-buildings-net-zero

     

    ***** Links to the New Urban Agenda, SDGs (SDG11) in partnership with World Health Organization

    http://nua.unhabitat.org

    http://habitat3.org/the-new-urban-agenda

    http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/blog/2018/cities-2030–implementing-the-new-urban-agenda.html

    https://unhabitat.org/books/international-guidelines-on-urban-and-territorial-planning

    https://unhabitat.org/winners-of-the-11th-cycle-of-the-dubai-international-award-for-best-practices-to-improve-the-living-environment

    https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300

     

    ****** Ninth session of the World Urban Forum – Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Cities 2030

    http://wuf9.org

    http://wuf9.org/kuala-lumpur-declaration

     

    KEYWORDS

    #Cities2030 #Citiesforall #NUA2030 #SDGs #WomensAssemblyWUF9 #COP24 #AAAA

    #wuf9 #wuf9kl #forumbandarsedunia9 #MarrakeshPartnership #UCEEP #Bonn #Fiji #Talanoa #Talanoa4Ambition

    #ConservationAction #LandStewardship #TalanoaDialogue #GCAS2018 #COP24 #FutureofPlaces #Greenbelt #DRR

    #Placemaking #COP21 #COP22 #COP23 #UrbanAction #Habitat3 #NewUrbanAgenda #PublicSpace

    #WUC #TheFutureWeWant #TheCityWeNeed #UrbanSDG #UrbanAction #UrbanThinkers #NetZero

    #Youngplacemakers #Roadmap2030 #ClimateAction #Vulnerability #Planetary #SDG11 #Listen2Cities

    #NoCountryAlone #NewUrbanGovernance #NAZCAportal #UNEA2 #Cities4Climate #G7EMM

    #Listen2Cities #SB48Bonn #SB44 #APA1 #Bonn #Pre2020Action #C40Award #AOSIS #GUANXI

     

    Kindly support our way to future proof urban development in the UK.

     

    Your sincerely,

    /Carl, Climate Change Centre Reading

    We have to prepare for our death #alreadydead

    Read

    The belief in new technology allows us to avoid the insight that this civilisation has no future.

    –

    Last year, Therese Uddenfeldt visited an exhibition at Bonniers Art Hall; I’m not an art critic so I’m going to leave my views on the exhibition there, but in passing, I can mention that it was awful.

    –

    The work originated from the opera “Aniara”, that is, the music of Harry Martinson space epics. You know, the earth has been wrecked by environmental degradation, and humanity’s last hope is to set the course toward Mars.

    –

    The artist Susan Philipsz had picked out the leading part tune and let a violinist record the ballot, tone by tone. Accordingly first C. Then C#, then D and so on. Afterwards, the tones had been placed in the correct order but in different channels, after which in the art gallery were played in twelve different speakers hanging here and there. Twice I went there; both times it was grassy.

    –

    Then I realised the genius. Philipsz had in a screwed way illustrated how we approached the “environmental issue”. Just like “Aniara” had shrunk from a powerful harmony to scattered tones, we have long ago ceased to see the biosphere as a living space. In many ways, it is a rational strategy, because it allows us to believe that now, now we are overtaking it. The death of our civilisation.

    –

    Does it seem far-fetched?

    –

    Let me share a text with you. Some time ago, I came across a chapter by the sociologist Zygmunt Bauman. One of his basic ideas is that modernity, what we live and breathe – so to speak, since the Enlightenment is characterised by the belief that everything is going to be fixed. For man there is no obstacle too big to overcome.

    –

    But there is a small problem. Death. And not just a small problem, but the ultimate mockery. In fact, death can not be defeated and therefore it threatens our entire world image. Death must be handled in some way.

    –

    One way, according to Bauman, has been to stop talking about death instead of talking about health. So much more reassuring, right? Another approach has been to divide the death of a lot of isolated areas dealing with their own speciality. In these boxes we plow down the capital and cutting-edge research and every medical progress, preferably as expensive and technically advanced as possible, dampens our concerns. Soon, we will even abolish death!

    –

    During the reading of Bauman, I thought about how we just have dealt with “the environment”.  At the furious and accelerating pace, the core of Western life is transforming high-quality natural resources into debris (products on the shelves). It is a process that on the road generates extinction of species, overfishing, deforestation, plastic islands in the Pacific, toxic chemicals and so on. In short, there is a constant degradation of the biological system. Thus, if we continue as now, our civilisation is sentenced.

    –

    But instead of realising it, we choose to discuss sustainability. That sounds nicer? In the same way as death, no sorry health, has been divided into separate, highly specialised expert areas, “Sustainability” has been sliced into manageable pieces of the cake with their own brand new technological achievements. Solar cells glued to skyscrapers! Car batteries being charged when we burn on the highway! Artificial photosynthesis! Sure it feels like everything is going right? Because we will come up with new solutions. That is how the modern man works. But as much as a vaccine against Alzheimer’s makes us immortal, cheap solar cells will make a growth society sustainable.

    –

    Just as a vaccine against Alzheimer’s makes us immortal, cheap solar cells will make a growth society sustainable.

    –

    Although I suspect that it is contrary to the theory of paradigm shifts (It is not so that only afterwards can put into words what happened?), I think we find ourselves in such a moment, and that the break point is the view of solar cells (PV). For those who belong to modernity, green technology is the solution. To me, and some other foil hats, they only make the situation worse.

    –

    It is not the first time in history that humanity has lived in parallel realities, side by side, with such a diametrical view of something so trivial. A fine example is in Yuval Noah Hararis “Sapiens”, in a passage about Christoper Columbus. As a Christian, Columbus collected his worldview from the Bible and there are only three continents mentioned: Europe, Africa and Asia. A fourth continent was therefore unthinkable.

    –

    But while the bubbling of ideas in 14th century Italy. Out of curiosity, and a pure desire to understand the world as a whole. The Renaissance challenged the biblical world order and laid the foundations for a scientific, empirical approach. Suddenly there was room for a new continent: America.

    –

    One might say that America was both there and did not exist during this period: some acknowledged the continent and others did not. The Renaissance and the Middle Ages lived side by side. As for Columbus, he held fast to that he had cast anchor on the coast of Asia. He was into the last a medieval man, Harari states.

    –

    The new America of our time, I would like to say, is the solar cells (PV). Those who believe in “Green Tech” are still in a paradigm where the idea is, we always find a solution. This is predominant or prevalent. Which could thus make large parts of the environmental movement into: Columbus.

    –

    So who is the new Renaissance manor woman of our time, today’s Leonardo, if anyone? I have a suggestion.

    –

    Writer Roy Scranton. Our crisis can not be tackled by electric cars or agreements at all, he claims. “Our greatest challenge is of philosophical nature: to understand that this civilisation is already dead.”

    –

    Scranton’s personal background plays a certain role. He is also the war veteran. After surviving 14 months at the Iraqi front, he came home to the United States and hoped for a comfortable middle class life as a poetry teacher. But when the World Bank and the IPCC gave its gloomy future scenarios, it struck him that these institutions are not a flutter from the left but, on the contrary, deeply invested in global capitalism, so … it kind of blew my mind. I had this moment: this is for real. Scranton needed to process his insight in any way and resulted in an essay: “Learning to die in the Anthropocene”. 

    –

    Scranton is accustomed to giving his experience of Iraq a particular mystery; You do not have to be a soldier to experience constant terror. But he admits that, as a veteran, he had an advantage when he began to twist and turn the “Anthropocene” because he had done something strange to many environmentalists: confronted his own death.

    –

    Learning to die is hard, he writes. It requires daily exercise. And every morning, after taking care of his Humvee, Scranton trained. He saw in front of him how he was blown, shot, raised, crossed, torn by dogs, captured and throat. Then, before rolling over the barbed wire, he thought he did not have to worry about it anymore because he was already dead.

    –

    As said, he does not want to give war experiences a special aura. But he believes that, thanks to the daily interaction with the idea of ​​his own wreck, he could more easily see what our supremacy about new technology really is about. Namely fear of death. The belief in new technology allows us to avoid the realisation that this civilisation is already dead.

    –

    Many fade from such a pessimism and question how it can help us. I myself feel that someone has released fresh air in an unhealthy environmental debate that revolves around the fact that the price of solar cells only drops a bit so … 

    –

    Yes what? Well, then we can continue to convert high-grade natural resources to junk. Cheap Renewable Technology – Thumbs Up. The downside – more exploitation, deforestation, plastic islands in the Pacific, toxic chemicals, extinction of species – are topics for other conferences, other studies, other protocols. Because the modern approach can not handle the holistic manner, but only narrow slices of the cake.

    –

    The First Violin, the the leading part tune finely-divided into twelve different speakers instead of an entire orchestra.

    –

    We compartmentalise, with a long word. Chops and pour the biosphere in the various vessels that do not communicate with each other. This is why we can sign the #ParisAgreement, and at the same time believe that it is possible to maintain a high standard of living.

    Has it been caught better than by the poet Jonas Gren?

    –

    “The car sales record and the 2-degree goal, aimed at 1.5

    Royal Dutch Shell and the 2-degree goal, aimed at 1.5

    Statoil and the 2-degree goal, aiming at 1.5

    TTIP and 2-degree goal, aiming at 1.5

    –

    Tokyo Stock Exchange the 2-degree goal, aiming at 1.5″

    –

    Paris calling. Did you know that we Swedes must reduce our emissions to one tenth per person per year to live up to the 1.5-degree goal? In my instinct, I thought that I would be bombarded by a newly established authority on how to make a lighter burden for the earth. That the Bulletin Board would resurface to spread good advice to the entire Swedish people. But I have not heard a sound, because there are no brochures. There is no new authority. There are no political suggestions about how to reduce my consumption.

    –

    The hope is that our shopping pleasure will increase, while new technology will miraculously tear away the traces of the biological system.

    –

    It’s because nobody wants us to do it. On the contrary, hope is that our shopping pleasure will increase, while new technology will miraculously tear away the traces of the biological system.

    –

    Because it leaves its mark. The resources to be converted into products on the shelf are taken from – the natural environment. The waste that this activity generates is dumped in – the natural environment. Economic growth at our level breaks down the ecological system. There is no way around it.

    –

    The absence of this thermodynamic reality in the debate makes me from confused to desperate, hit straight in the heart :. But I’m not alone.

    –

    Yes, I may be a little crazy. In here, in my bubble, in our shared solutions bubble there are also a lot of disjointed tones from a lonely violin solo, and they drive me to insanity.

    –

    Imagine – if we had to listen to the opera in its entirety. What would be possible then?

     

    –

     

    Source: elbilsnytt.se

    All local governments need to draft Urban Conservation Emergency Evacuation Plan (#UCEEP)

    All local governments need to draft Urban Conservation Emergency Evacuation Plan (#UCEEP) (.pdf-document for download here)

    Dealing with a climate crisis has now gone #planetary — planners and policy makers alert the importance for vulnerable citizens of having an Urban Conservation Emergency Evacuation Plan policy in place for the outcome of the New Urban Agenda, proven realistic in an actual emergency. Environment havocs in the footsteps of climate change require for the first time to mainstream conservation disaster relief planning.

    #ConservationAction #LandStewardship #TalanoaDialogue #GCAS2018 #COP24 #FutureofPlaces #Greenbelt #DRR
    #Placemaking #COP21 #COP22 #COP23 #UrbanAction #Habitat3 #NewUrbanAgenda #PublicSpace
    #WUC #TheFutureWeWant #TheCityWeNeed #UrbanSDG #UrbanAction #UrbanThinkers #NetZero
    #Youngplacemakers #Roadmap2030 #ClimateAction #Vulnerability #Planetary #SDG11 #Listen2Cities
    #NoCountryAlone #NewUrbanGovernance #NAZCAportal #UNEA2 #Cities4Climate #G7EMM
    #Listen2Cities #SB48Bonn #SB44 #APA1 #Bonn #Pre2020Action #C40Award #AOSIS #GUANXI

    Restoring Hope: Rethink & Re-imagine Our #Cities – Adopt #SDGDRR – #SDG18

    World Urban Forum Bulletin: RESTORING HOPE: BUILDING BACK CITIES AND COMMUNITIES TOGETHER AFTER DISASTER:

    David Evans, UN-Habitat, opened the session. Explaining that, ‘our actions should build on the resilience of people,’ he warned that excluding those affected by disasters during rebuilding will cause unintended harm. In his keynote address, Robert Glasser, UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, noted that lack of knowledge and financial capacity leads to disaster vulnerability – gaps that can be filled through implementing the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction. Moderator Sri Husnaini Sofjan, Huairou Commission, invited panellists from Haiti, Iran, Mexico, Mozambique, Nepal and the Philippines to share their experiences of how they responded to disasters in their country. Panellists highlighted the importance of conducting training schemes for masons and engineers, and enabling affected populations to actively participate in rebuilding their communities following a disaster. Many underscored the importance of disaster preparedness.
     
    Hans Guttman, Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre, moderated a second panel in the session. Panellists from the European Commission, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the UN Development Programme, and the World Bank called for increased engagement with those affected by disasters and recognition of their agency, emphasising the need for accountability, coordination and across all sectors and levels. Several added that time-sensitive preparedness plans are crucial, and the European Commission questioned how to ‘build back’ not just from natural disasters but from man-made disasters caused by civil war.
     
    Audience members called for the inclusion of grassroots leaders, and particularly women, in disaster recovery, emphasising their roles as agents of change #SDGDRR – #SDG18

    The conclusion of the 9th World Urban Forum, #KualaLumpurDeclaration towards 2036 #SDGDRR – #SDG18

     

    This is an emergency action opportunity to promote #SDG18 DISASTER RISK RESILIENCE for global disaster security with reference to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Response (#DRR). #SDGDRR #Resilience

     

    Local government leaders must prioritise climate change action (#CCA) to mitigate and prepare for urban disaster risk reduction (#DRR). #ParisAgreement (#PA). Just half of the elected representatives or city officials arrive in office with a deep understanding of disaster risk-impact and climate change.

     

    Non-avoidable risk-impact assessment in urban planning and design
    Local implementation calls for the recognition and strengthening of local actors as agents for sustainable urban development and the promotion of decentralised government systems.

     

    Every council’s planning committees casting plans way ahead of the next World Habitat Conference 2036.

     

    Change proposed

     

    By adopting SDG18 DISASTER RISK RESILIENCE will provide insightful examples for cities not only on the planning and implementing of the risk-sensitive plans but also on engaging multi-sectoral dialogue in resilience building processes; Risk-Informed Subnational Development Planning at all levels to put in place strong governance foundations so that risk-informed development can be sustained in near future planning and budgeting processes, tools, plans and policies, which in turn contributes directly to the implementation of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (#Switch2Sendai), the New Urban Agenda (#NUA) and the Sustainable Development Goals (#SDGs).

     

    The SDG18 would deliver risk-informed development through a comprehensive range of services, e.g. strengthen financial and institutional capacity within the Global Goals.

     

    Outcome document-UN_Habitat_Urban Climatic Disaster Response – Adopt SDG18 – https://tvb-climatechallenge.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/ClimateChangeCentreReading-UN_Habitat_Urban-Climatic-Disaster-Response-Adopt-SDG18.pdf

     

    Thank you for taking your time and interest in also local urban resilient development. “Bigger picture thinkers make better humans”

     

    #forumbandarsedunia9

     

    #Cities2030 #Citiesforall #NUA2030 #SDGs #WomensAssemblyWUF9 #COP24 #AAAA #wuf9kl2018 #wuf9 #wuf9kl #MarrakeshPartnership #UCEEP #Bonn #Fiji #Talanoa4Ambition #CitiesIPCC #Local4action #Mayors4Climate #Urbanlaw #Urbanyouth #Listen2Cities