Do we fit on the planet?

The world population is the total number of living humans on the planet Earth, currently estimated to be 6.96 billion by the United States Census Bureau as of July 1, 2011.

Today humanity uses the equivalent of 1.5 planets to provide the resources we use and absorb our waste. This means it now takes the Earth one year and six months to regenerate what we use in a year. Moderate UN scenarios suggest that if current population and consumption trends continue, by the 2030s, we will need the equivalent of two Earths to support us. (www.footprintnetwork.org)

The Ecological Footprint has emerged as the world’s premier measure of humanity’s demand on nature. It measures how much land and water area a human population requires to produce the resource it consumes and to absorb its carbon dioxide emissions, using prevailing technology.

Each country has its own ecological risk profile: Many are running ecological deficits, with Footprints larger than their own biological capacity. Others depend heavily on resources from elsewhere, which are under increasing pressure. (Check the trends of your country)

How much land area does it take to support your lifestyle? Calculate your footprint and follow the tips how to reduce it!

There are 23 questions in 4 categories : food, travel, home and stuff.  I thought my lifestyle is not wasteful but the results are thought-provoking…I’m living as if we had almost 3 planets to support us.

European Mobility Week

From 16 to 22 September 2011 the Mobility Week is the opportunity for European cities and towns to participate to the most widespread event on sustainable mobility.

The overall aim of the European Mobility Week campaign is to encourage public awareness of the need to act against pollution caused by the increase in motorised traffic in the urban environment.

Each European Mobility Week focuses on a particular topic relating to sustainable mobility, the so-called focal theme. In 2011 the theme is Alternative Mobility. In this year more than 2000 cities and towns from 41 countries are participating in the initiative.

For this year, Budapest is promoting the advantages, the benefits and the beauty of sustainable mobility, alternative transportation, reducing eco-footprint and improving life quality. (Detailed programme)

The closing event will be the European Car-free Day on September 22nd. On the same day a large scale Critical Mass ride will take place on Budapest’s Big Ring Road.

Nomination for the 10 Outstanding Young Persons of the World for 2011

The TOYP program of Junior Chamber International serves to recognize up to ten individuals between the ages of 18 and 39 who exemplify the best attributes of the world’s young people.

CI will honor The Outstanding Young Persons of the World of 2011 at an Awards Ceremony the week of October 31-November 5, 2012 during the 67^th JCI World Congress in Taipei, Taiwan.

The ceremony will highlight each winner’s career in narrative form and provide a stage from which the honorees can challenge and inspire young people from around the world.  For each honoree, there will be a video presentation profiling his/her accomplishments, followed by the trophy presentation, and an acceptance speech.

Nominations are received in each of the seven categories listed below. Up to seven honorees will be selected from all nominations received, regardless of category entered.

CATEGORIES:

1. Business, Economic and/or Entrepreneurial accomplishment

2. Political, Legal, Governmental Affairs and/or Human Rights

3. Personal improvement and/or Academic accomplishment

4. Cultural and Artistic achievement

5. Contribution to Children’s welfare, World Peace, Humanitarian and/or Voluntary missions,  Moral and/or environmental leadership

6. Medical innovation, Scientific and/or Technological development

7. Contribution to the European Year of Volunteerism

For more information, rules and regulation visit here.

€ 4,3 million to support new EU entrepreneurs

 
Are you a new entrepreneur or a start-up SME?

The European Commission has recently launched a call for proposals to support new EU entrepreneurs and micro and small enterprises in the EU. The Commission will award grants to promote the mobility of new entrepreneurs, thereby helping them enrich their experience, deepen their knowledge and expand their network by spending periods in enterprises run by experienced entrepreneurs in other EU Member States. The ultimate goal is to enhance entrepreneurship, develop the international outlook and competitiveness of European SMEs and foster potential start-up entrepreneurs and newly-established micro and small enterprises in the EU.  An estimated number of 25-40 successful projects will be awarded funding. Read more here to learn about the rules of the ERASMUS for Young Entrepreneurs programme and how to apply:

http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/newsroom/cf/_getdocument.cfm?doc_id=6800

Note that the deadline for the submission of project proposals is 17 October 2011!