Paris: Transportes públicos gratuitos por 3 dias devido à poluição

por Sofia Fonseca, in Diário de Notícias, 13.03.2014

"O ministro da Ecologia de França, Philippe Martin, anunciou hoje que entre sexta-feira e domingo os diferentes meios de transportes públicos serão gratuitos na região de Paris, para combater a poluição do ar.

Esta medida faz parte do "dispositivo de emergência" decretado pelo governo francês face à elevada taxa de poluição registada na região de Paris há sete dias, e que hoje superou os 100 microgramas de partículas finas por metro cúbicos.
Nos próximos três dias, outros serviços serão oferecidos gratuitamente, como o de bicicletas públicas.
As autoridades municipais de Paris decidiram também limitar a utilização de veículos oficiais ao mínimo imprescindível.
No sábado será analisada a evolução dos níveis de poluição e, no caso de não ter descido, serão tomadas novas medidas."

Fonte: http://www.dn.pt/inicio/globo/interior.aspx?content_id=3745601&seccao=Europa&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

Imagem: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111487751

Em Londres, quem andar a pé ou de bicicleta terá descontos em lojas e cinemas

"Que tal ser recompensado, financeiramente, por deixar o carro em casa e se locomover pelas ruas da cidade a pé ou de bicicleta? Essa é a mais nova medida londrina para estimular a mobilidade sustentável – e, consequentemente, reduzir os níveis de poluição e congestionamento na capital inglesa.

A bonificação funcionará com a ajuda de um aplicativo para smartphone, criado pela empresa Recyclebank, com o apoio da prefeitura de Londres. Ao ser instalado no celular, o app é capaz de mensurar e pontuar os deslocamentos feitos a pé ou de bicicleta pelo usuário do aparelho, que poderá converter os pontos em prêmios e descontos, nas lojas e cinemas que participam da ação.

A iniciativa foi anunciada nesta semana pelo governo londrino e será testada, por um grupo de pessoas, até o final do ano, para finalmente ser lançada no segundo semestre de 2012 – não por acaso, quando começarão os Jogos Olímpicos de 2012, na cidade.

O Brasil também será sede das Olimpíadas, em 2016. Você acha que a medida adotada pela prefeitura de Londres poderia ser copiada pelo Rio de Janeiro para incentivar a mobilidade sustentável na capital fluminense e reduzir o trânsito caótico que esse tipo de evento esportivo mundial costuma causar nas cidades que o sediam?

Imagem: Missionlessdays/Creative Commons"

Fonte e imagem:

http://super.abril.com.br/blogs/planeta/em-londres-quem-andar-a-pe-ou-de-bicicleta-tera-descontos-em-lojas-e-cinemas/#.T1ci4D9s9UE.facebook

Portugal no banco dos réus por não cumprir legislação europeia da qualidade do ar

in Jornal Público, 25.11.2010

Por Carlos Filipe
"Emissão excessiva de partículas inaláveis contraria valores-alvo fixados em 2005 pela Comissão Europeia

Portugal continua em incumprimento dos valores-limite fixados para algumas zonas em 2005 no que respeita a emissões de partículas inaláveis nocivas à saúde, o que levou a Comissão Europeia a anunciar, ontem, em Bruxelas, a abertura de acção judicial junto do Tribunal Europeu de Justiça contra Portugal e outros Estados-membros faltosos, casos de Chipre, Itália e Espanha.

Em nota à imprensa, o Ministério do Ambiente e do Ordenamento do Território salienta que "na qualidade do ar em Portugal, para muitos poluentes atmosféricos, verifica-se uma melhoria das suas emissões, designadamente as acidificantes", destacando igualmente que no Índice da Qualidade do Ar a classe predominante é "Bom", e remete para os dados que se encontram disponíveis no Relatório de Estado do Ambiente 2009.

Aquele relatório conclui que, a nível nacional, a média anual de emissão de PM10 (partículas em suspensão com origem no tráfego rodoviário, produção industrial, aquecimento doméstico ou fenómenos naturais) foi de 25 microgramas por metro cúbico, quando o actual valor-limite estabelece que não deverá ultrapassar os 40 microgramas de média anual, ou 50 microgramas de concentração diária. A legislação admite que a ultrapassagem daqueles valores só é tolerada em 35 dias por ano.

Cinco zonas críticas

Mas o mesmo relatório a que alude o Ministério do Ambiente regista que das 19 zonas monitorizadas durante 2009, cinco ultrapassaram o valor médio diário de PM10, com destaque para o aglomerado (zona com mais de 100 mil habitantes) do Porto Litoral, que excedeu em 86 dias aquele limite. As demais zonas em incumprimento foram a Área Metropolitana de Lisboa - Norte (55 excedências) e Sul (48); Aveiro (44) e Braga (42 dias acima dos valores-limite).

Na mesma nota ministerial lê-se que se assiste a uma "evolução positiva, com diminuição no número de estações em excedência [para aquelas partículas], o que se deve também às medidas que têm vindo a ser implementadas na melhoria de tecnologia dos veículos e de protecção ambiental e medidas de gestão concelhia".

O Estado português já tinha sido advertido mais que uma vez nesta matéria, e logo de início por tardar em transpor para a legislação nacional a Directiva europeia sobre a avaliação e gestão da qualidade do ar ambiente. Mais recentemente foi-lhe negada uma derrogação do cumprimento dos valores-limite de PM10 até Junho de 2011, por ter considerado a Comissão que não foram executadas medidas de mitigação relativamente a diversas zonas em que as normas de qualidade do ar não foram cumpridas."

Fonte e imagem:

http://jornal.publico.pt/noticia/25-11-2010/portugal-no-banco-dos-reus-por-nao-cumprir-legislacao-europeia-da-qualidade-do-ar-20691009.htm

On your bike

"While we discussed the Tour de France, it dawned on us. One of the best ways to explore the outdoors, and get a bit of exercise in, is by getting on your bike and cycling. There are many good reasons to get on your bike and we have a little cycling advice to peddle to you…

1. Cycling is one of the most accessible ways to exercise
You can ride a bicycle almost anywhere, at any time of the year, and without spending a fortune. Many people are put off doing certain sports because of the high level of skill that seems to be required, or perhaps because they can’t commit to a team sport due to time pressures. Most of us know how to cycle and once you have learned you don’t forget. All you need is a bike, a half an hour here or there when it suits, and a bit of confidence.

2. Safe for joints
Since it is low impact, cycling is suitable for all age groups from 6-60. Many people cannot do certain sports because of the pressure it puts on their joints (like running or aerobics), particularly older individuals. The bicycle takes the weight off the body so you put much less pressure on the joints whilst cycling.

3. It helps promote weight loss
Steady cycling burns approximately 300 calories per hour. If you cycle for 30 minutes every day you would burn 11 pounds of fat in a year. Since it helps build muscle, cycling will also boost your metabolic rate long after you’ve hopped off the saddle.

4. Increases muscle tone
Cycling improves general muscle function gradually, with little risk of over exercise or strain. Regular cycling strengthens leg muscles and is great for the mobility of hip and knee joints. You will gradually begin to see an improvement in the muscle tone of your legs, thighs, bum and hips.

5. It improves cardiovascular fitness
Cycling is a fantastic aerobic exercise to improve fitness. Studies have shown that cycling to work will increase cardiovascular fitness by 3-7%. Cycling uses the largest muscle groups (i.e. the legs), raising heart rate to benefit stamina and fitness.

6. It improves heart health
According to the British Medical Association, cycling just 20 miles a week can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by 50%. A major study of 10,000 civil servants suggested that those who cycled 20 miles over the period of a week were half as likely to suffer heart disease as their non-cycling colleagues. This finding was independent of other factors such as smoking, obesity, high blood cholesterol and blood pressure.

7. You can fit it into a busy lifestyle
Little or no time has to be lost, as bike travel can be integrated into your daily routine to travel to work, to perform errands, or to simply get outside for some fresh air and exercise. Approximately half of all journeys to work are less than two miles in length. It will only take the average unfit person around 15 minutes to cycle that distance.

8. Can help reduce stress
Any regular exercise can reduce stress and depression and improve well being and self esteem; cycling can add the benefit of beautiful surroundings.

9. Cycling reduces pollution
Commuting by bike reduces pollution that causes asthma and bronchitis. Cycling instead of driving will reduce the 38 million tonnes of carbon produced each year by British motorists and improve the quality of your air. Surprisingly, a cyclist is also less exposed to air pollution than a commuting motorist.

10. Improves lung function
Regular cycling improves lung function, which is extremely beneficial to anyone suffering from bronchitis or asthma.
If there were a disadvantage of cycling, it would have to be the risk sharing roads occupied by motorized vehicles. However, the British Medical Association has estimated that the health benefits of cycling outweigh the risks by twenty to one.
Meanwhile, there are a few safety measures you should definitely take before taking to your saddle.
· The usual health warning applies: if you haven’t been active for some time, consult with your doctor before you start cycling.
· Always wear a well-fitting cycle helmet, off road as well as on road.
· Wear bright colours and use lights after dark.
· Always follow the Highway Code.
· To ride safely the bike must be well maintained. You should learn to carry out simple repairs and always carry a basic toolkit and a spare inner tube.

After a few months of cycling regularly, it may be the only spare tyre you carry…"

Fonte:

http://www.guardianeatright.co.uk/news/article.cfm?code=27101&article_id=1369

Imagem:

http://rlv.zcache.com/bike_bicycle_green_sticker-p217328378820429046tdcj_210.jpg

The Politics of Happiness, por Susan Ives

Enrique Penalosa, mayor of
Bogota, Colombia, 1995-1998.
Photo by Susan Ives

"The name Bogota conjures images of kidnapping, murder, and drug wars. But today's Bogota is safer than Washington, D.C., or Baltimore. A visionary mayor discovered the secret to making his city safe. Enrique Penalosa tells Susan Ives the story.

We really have to admit that over the past 100 years we have been building cities much more for mobility than for people's well-being. Every year thousands of children are killed by cars. Isn't it time we build cities that are more child-friendly? Over the last 30 years, we've been able to magnify environmental consciousness all over the world. As a result, we know a lot about the ideal environment for a happy whale or a happy mountain gorilla. We're far less clear about what constitutes an ideal environment for a happy human being. One common measure of how clean a mountain stream is is to look for trout. If you find the trout, the habitat is healthy. It's the same way with children in a city. Children are a kind of indicator species. If we can build a successful city for children, we will have a successful city for all people.

When I was elected mayor of Bogotá and got to city hall, I was handed a transportation study that said the most important thing the city could do was to build an elevated highway at a cost of $600 million. Instead, we installed a bus system that carries 700,000 people a day at a cost of $300 million. We created hundreds of pedestrian-only streets, parks, plazas, and bike paths, planted trees, and got rid of cluttering commercial signs. We constructed the longest pedestrian-only street in the world. It may seem crazy, because this street goes through some of the poorest neighborhoods in Bogotá, and many of the surrounding streets aren't even paved. But we chose not to improve the streets for the sake of cars, but instead to have wonderful spaces for pedestrians. All this pedestrian infrastructure shows respect for human dignity. We're telling people, “You are important—not because you're rich or because you have a Ph.D., but because you are human.” If people are treated as special, as sacred even, they behave that way. This creates a different kind of society.

We began to experiment by instituting a car-free day on a weekday. In a city of about 7 million people, just about everybody managed to get to work by walking, bicycling, bus, even on horseback—and everybody was better off. There was less air pollution, less time sitting in traffic, more time for people to be productive and enjoy themselves. Every Sunday we close 120 kilometers of roads to motor vehicles for seven hours. A million and a half people of all ages and incomes come out to ride bicycles, jog, and simply gather with others in community.

We took a vote, and 83 percent of the public told us they wanted to have car-free days more often. Getting people out of their cars is a means of social integration. You have the upper-income person sitting next to the cleaning lady on the bus.

Parks for urban peace

Parks have a very powerful role to play as equalizers of society. We almost always meet under conditions of social hierarchy. At work, some people are bosses and others are employees; at restaurants, some people are serving and others are being served. Parks are the gathering place for community. They create a sense of belonging. Everybody is welcome regardless of age, background, income, or disabilities. This creates a different type of society.

Today we see images of the beautiful Earth taken from a spaceship, and we think of it as our planet. But in fact, there are very few places on the planet to which the public has access. Most of the land is privatized, and public spaces are very, very scarce. The fact is, upper-income people have always had access to nature and recreation. They go to country houses, golf clubs, restaurants, hunting preserves. What do the poor, especially in the Third World, have as an alternative to television? All poor people have are public spaces, so this is not a luxury. They are the minimum a democratic society can provide to begin to compensate for the inequalities that exist in society.

Since we took these steps, we've seen a reduction in crime and a change in attitude toward the city. In the worst recession we've ever had, people were asked to pay a 10 percent voluntary tax to support various city services, including parks. More than 40,000 people did so, which I think speaks to the greater sense of community people feel.

If we in the Third World measure our success or failure as a society in terms of income, we would have to classify ourselves as losers until the end of time. Given our limited resources, we have to invent other ways to measure success, and that could be in terms of happiness. It may be in how much time children spend with their grandparents, or the ways in which we are able to enjoy our friendships, or how many times people smile during the week. A city is successful not when it's rich but when its people are happy. Public space is one way to lead us to a society that is not only more equal but also much happier.

Perhaps the biggest challenge to world security is environmental and social sustainability in the world's fastest-growing cities. The population of cities in the Third World is growing by more than 80 million inhabitants per year, which means there will be some 2 billion people living in these cities within the next 25 to 30 years. In dense cities such as Bogotá, São Paolo, Jakarta, and Mexico City, there have been practically no places where people can come into contact with nature, safely play outside, or meet others in society as equals. And we have seen firsthand how living in poor conditions can lead to social problems, including extremism and even terrorism. We need food and housing for survival, but there are even higher types of needs—needs related to happiness. If you look at it that way, parks become as necessary to a city's health—physical and spiritual—as the water supply.

Susan Ives is a communications consultant (www.susanivescommunications.com) to organizations and businesses in the service of a natural, healthy and just world. This article was reprinted from Land & People, spring 2002, with permission from Trust for Public Land. For more information about Trust for Public Land, visit www.tpl.org. Since leaving office, Enrique Peñalosa has been a visiting scholar at New York University and speaking at conferences about his work."

Fonte e imagem: http://yesmagazine.org/issues/finding-courage/the-politics-of-happiness

Versão em português, traduzida por Jandira Feijó (muito obrigada):

http://jandirafeijo.blogspot.com/2009/11/politica-da-felicidade.html