East China Sea Island dispute is all about oil

peakoil.com

National Geographic (October 2012) : "In Asia, and especially in China, demand for power and fuel is fast outstripping supply. (Related: "Pictures: A Rare Look Inside China's Energy Machine") Meanwhile, advances in deepwater drilling technology have put offshore oil and gas resources within reach for the first time. The result of all this, says Stephanie Kleine-Ahlbrandt, Northeast Asia director of the International Crisis Group, which studies conflict hot spots, is a "race to assert control over energy resources in disputed territories before they are developed by a rival."

Last spring China began drilling in deep water in the South China Sea—rattling Vietnam, the Philippines, and other nations that have competing territorial claims."

The people of China need to stop and think. Should China go the way of the U.S. -- dependent on cars, and constantly at war over resources?

Could cities of the future have free public transport?

CNBC: : "Anyone living in a large, bustling city will have experienced the manic crush of rush hour and the overwhelming congestion it can bring to a city's roads. Attempts to reduce gridlock have included everything from congestion charges, such as in London, to public bike schemes, as seen in Buenos Aires, Paris and Hangzhou, China.
This January, Tallinn, Estonia, took a radical step in its efforts to reduce traffic jams, and became the first capital in the European Union to offer its residents free public transport."

'via Blog this'

Desperate measures by Guangzhou as cars choke city

Next City: "At 9 p.m. on June 30 last year, the city of Guangzhou caught car sellers and buyers by surprise. The municipal government hastily called a press conference and announced, without warning, that starting the following day only 10,000 cars could be sold per month. The move would be an effort to unclog the city’s roads and clear up its skies, both of which were being choked by a boom in vehicle sales."

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World demand for oil and gas driving corruption in Burma

Can Burma go out of Resource Curse? – Arakan Oil Watch: "According to a report by the Arakan Oil Watch, billions of dollars in revenues from the sale of natural gas have gone unrecorded in the country’s public accounts and been siphoned off by corrupt military rulers, leaving the nation with some of the worst social indicators in the world and embroiled in conflicts over natural resources."

China police budget larger than military -- due in part to #climatechange

Thousands Protest in Flood-Hit Chinese City - ABC News: "The threat of violence has prompted massive outlays for the police and other internal security measures, spending on which now exceeds the defense budget, the world's second largest after that of the U.S.

Photos from Yuyao posted to various Chinese websites showed protesters smashing vehicles and attacking city offices. Some were bleeding from the head after apparently being clubbed by riot police who were shown massed in their hundreds in front of city hall."

'via Blog this'

South Korean city of Suwon goes car free for thirty days

(Source: ICLEI Korea)

RTCC: "As part of the EcoMobility World Festival, the residents of the Haenggung-dong neighbourhood in Suwon decided to adopt a car-free lifestyle for thirty days. During this period, roads were cordoned off, and the only vehicles allowed were those which did not consume fossil fuels."

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Beijing particulate matter stops traffic