December 2010

Friday 31 December 2010

First Freemasons welcomed the new year 2011


Brethrens of American Samoa have entered the new year 2011. In American Samoa there are two Masonic Lodges under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand: Calliope No. 252 Lodge and Benjamin Kneubuhl No. 441 Lodge (founded in August 1974). Brethrens of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand also welcomed the 2011 new year.


Friday 24 December 2010

Tuesday 21 December 2010

Wednesday 15 December 2010

Freemason Dumitru Prunariu receives the "Ten for Romania" Prize


Brethren Dumitru Dorin Prunariu (Dr. Ing. and Major General), Romania's first and only cosmonaut received the "Ten for Romania" Prize. Brethren Prunariu said:, when receiveg the prize that: "I dedicate this trophy to all who supported me."



Brethren Prunariu (born on September 27th, 1952, in Brasov Valley) is President of the UN Committee on Peaceful Use of Outer Space (COPUOS), former Romanian Ambassador to Moscow and one of the prominent international figures of the second half of the 20th century of Romania. In his honor, the Republic of Moldova issued a stamp with his name and photograph.



Brethren Dumitru Prunariu is Freemason, Knight Templar and member of York Rite and the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.


Monday 6 December 2010

Secret agreement in Cancun (COP16)?


If you had to define the meeting in Cancun in a word, it would be: distrust. Many fear a secret deal that could alter or replace the Kyoto Protocol. Japan is viewed with wariness by many participating countries. G77 and China have adopted a common position at the meeting. Columbia requires transparency, and Venezuela ask for a more action from the United Nations.

Yemen and Egypt have demanded guarantees that they will not carry out secret negotiations and agreements. Australia, the Philippines, Nigeria, Bolivia, Afghanistan and Congo required the same transparency. The European Union representative, Connie Hedegaard said that the EU is concerned that the texts available on the desktop are not ready for signing.

On Friday, November 3rd, ALBA, backed by Arab, African countries and the G77 and China have confirmed that a group of developed countries do not want to sign a second compromise period of the Kyoto Protocol.


Source: APMR - COP16


Thursday 2 December 2010

The Masonic Press Agency of Romania participates actively in the COP16's side events


Courtesy of APMR Chancellery on Foreign Affairs

Monday, at the presentation of the U.S. - India Joint International Program "Energy Efficiency" in Cancun, Mexico, event was held in the U.S. Center 2010 Cancun, the Masonic Press Agency of Romania asked the speakers: India has a big marine and oceanic coast line. Also it has, in the north, its mountains. Why is not implementing projects for the use of wind and water energy? There are examples in Holland, in Spain etc. And India is a bigger economy then these two countries.

Dr. Santhaye answered the question after which he was completed by Ajay Mathur (Director General of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency of the Government of India). The answer of both was that India is one of the largest wind energy producers and consumers. Also, there is a problem that the wind of India, and China is much stronger than in other parts of the world. And therefore manufacturers of wind turbines are left to solve this problem.

Also on Monday, asked by APMR (Masonic Press Agency Romania) on weather anomalies and their effects in the economic (In Romania we see more and more often tornadoes (most of them in the South, South-West and South-Est regions of the country). Can we expect that due to Climate Change to see more and more tornadoes? And how this will affect the agricultural life of a economy, especially and a economy generally talking? Can we use them to produce energy?), Tom KNUTSON from NOAA - U.S. Government Agency (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) said that it is hard to say if you do not have more data.

Tom Knutson said that he believes that we need more data and further analysis to see if the increase of the number of tornadoes is at a national level or on isolated issues. Mr. Knutson of NOAA has returned at end the conference with more information on tornadoes, giving graphic examples in this regard.

On Tuesday, at the second and last conference of the day (Adaptation and Sustainable Management for U.S. Forests), presented by Dave Cleaves (U.S. Forest Service), APMR inquired Mr. Cleaves about the policy of the Republic of Gabon regarding forests (Gabon covers a total area of 268,000 square kilometers. Forests cover an estimated 220,000 square kilometers. Gabon’s population of 1.2 million is mainly urban (73%). Until 1970s, Gabon’s economy was largely dependent on its forests, which contributed 75% of its export earnings. Our question is how can a country such Gabon have a better policy regarding forests then other more developed countries or multinational political entities such as European Union? And when talking about Gabon we do not talk necessary about national education, but governmental national policies. Will be such countries affected more by climate change then others in the future?).

Dave Cleaves said that everything depends on a balance, the ratio of urban population to rural population, etc.
There are issues in the short and long term. Everything depends on the various reports.