Regarding our oceans, a good overview of current challenges we are facing is provided by Greenpeace here.

Being at the very origin of European Union with the European Coal and Steel Community – ECSC Treaty – in 1951 and the European Atomic Energy Community – Euratom Treaty – in 1957, Energy is now back in the heart of EU action with major risks due to the dependence on third countries (50% of our consumption) and global warming related to carbone dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Energy also affects sectors such as environment, public health, consumer protection and transport as well as foreign affairs and international security and shall therefore be considered constantly in European policy making process.

To address those various issues the E.U. has now to foccuss on energy efficiency, with new solutions to control and reduce everyone's consumption such as labelling, and renewable energies development, ie. wind, solar (thermal and photovoltaic), hydropower, tidal, geothermal and biomass energies, through financial tools (taxes and subventions) and unbundling between the supply of electricity and gas from their production, which stimulates competition and therefore the development of new solutions.

Also on the agenda : the creation of a southern gas corridor of pipeline networks that will bring gas from the Caspian Sea region via Turkey - being understood strategic oil stocks are kept in Europe in case of major crise.

Most programs (though not Paris's and Lyon's) exclude tourists and day-trippers. The new systems are successful in part because they blanket cities with huge numbers of available bikes, but the real linchpin is technology. Aided by electronic smart cards and computerized bike stands, riders can pick up and drop off bicycles in seconds at hundreds of locations, their payments deducted from bank accounts.

Germany and Austria tend to work on a different system: members receive cell-phone text messages providing codes to unlock the bikes. For mayors looking to ease congestion and prove their environmental bona fides, bike-sharing has provided a simple solution: For the price of a bus, they get a fleet of bicycles, and they can avoid years of construction and the approvals required for a subway.

For riders, joining means cut-rate transportation - as well as a chance to contribute to the planet's well-being. The new systems are successful in part because they blanket cities with huge numbers of available bikes, but the real linchpin is technology. Aided by electronic smart cards and computerized bike stands, riders can pick up and drop off bicycles in seconds at hundreds of locations, their payments deducted from bank accounts.

Mayors in Europe already have a bicycle-sharing program in place or are searching to begin one. ‘Spinning Wheels of the Gray Are Now Spinning Gold for JCDecaux’ operators of the wildly successful bike-sharing program. The new contract gives a larger financial return to JCDecaux: ”Since the program began, there have been more than 61 million bike rentals. In the original contract, 12% of the subscription and rental income went to JCDecaux, while Paris reaped hefty benefits. Now when the rental income goes beyond €14 million, JCDecaux gets 35% of the amount above that level. When the rental income reaches €17 million, they receive 50% of the income above that level. This new financial incentive will give JCDecaux more reasons to maintain the bikes, give better service, and increase the number of customers. They also must decrease the customer service response time to no more than two minutes by phone, plus share location status and maintenance statistics with Paris in real time. In addition, if more than 4% of the bikes suffer irreparable damage, Paris will pay a replacement cost of €400 each up to a maximum of 25% of the fleet. In return, JCDecaux must give detailed reports on the damage to bikes.’ (JCDecaux as reviewed by Russel Meddin of Philadelphia bike-sharing)

Cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam have long been home to devoted bicycling commuters. But the new programs have created the greatest transportation revolution in central and southern Europe, where warmer climates allow riders to move about comfortably year-round. The shared bicycles in Barcelona, Lyon and Paris are heavily used - logging about 10 rides a day, according to officials in those cities. In North America, issues like insurance liability, a stronger car culture, longer commutes and a preference for wearing helmets have slowed adoption of bicycle-sharing programs.

None of the European programs mandate helmets. Still, Washington and Montreal are experimenting with small projects, and Chicago, Boston and New York are studying options. City officials seem a bit overwhelmed. Recent increase in bicycling fatalities doesn’t seem to frighten commuters, but opens more room for questioning and development in safety.

Education of both bicyclists and others on the roads including pedestrians about the rules is necessary. Official with Bicing, Barcelona,Ramón Ferreiro said it will not continue to expand In Shanghai where previously bicycles were removed from roads to make way for cars are building new bicycle paths similar to the system in Holland.

On this occasion, around 700 academics and development practitioners from both the North and the South will gather to exchange views on these critical issues. The conference is aimed at promoting a constructive dialogue between academic research and operational expertise in order to explore lessons and perspectives for ODA policies.

Registration & Program : http://www.afd.fr/jahia/Jahia/lang/en/home/EUDN2009

The December 1st forum will bring together high-level representatives from the EU institutions and about 200 participants representing organic farming associations, the organic processing and retailing business and other interested people and organisations from the EU Member States and beyond. On-line registration is open since 1st of October.

The Congress' draft program is already available on the website: http://www.organic-congress-ifoameu.org/

Location : La Maison des Associations Internationales (MAI)
The International Association Centre
Salle MAGISTRAT Room
40 rue de Washington
1050 Bruxelles

Registration :
The participants are kindly requested to subscribe by using the registration form available on the website of the Network http://www.ulb.ac.be/assoc/odysseus/registrationERF.html

The registration fee for the congress is €75. This covers the participation, the documentation pack, coffee breaks and lunch on Thursday noon. The fees must be paid for 15 November.

CONTACT :
Université Libre de Bruxelles
Réseau ODYSSEUS Network
39, Roosevelt Avenue - C.P. 172
B -1050 Brussels - Belgium
Tél.: 00 32 (0)2 650 49 96 (afternoon/ après-midi) - Fax: 00 32 (0)2 650 25 11
Email : eb.ca.blu|suessydo#eb.ca.blu|suessydo
Website: http://www.ulb.ac.be/assoc/odysseus