For almost a week, poor Rip had to wear one of those cones of silliness to keep him from gnawing at the burn-like sores, but the cone actually came in handy as his tail episode coincided with his neutering. Nothing like a two-for-one use out of that cone! Of course, he didn’t like it much. The first few days he wasn’t sure how to hold his head up, so he couldn’t manuever through doorways or up stairs. If he wasn’t so pathetic, he would’ve been very funny. But he handled that challenge the way he responds to absolutely everything, including our cat: good naturedly. My husband and I keep saying, "Oh, when he gets over this, we’ll see his personality” but we’ve already seen enough to know we are very lucky. He is a sweet, well-behaved, obedient dog who lets us know every day how happy he is to have a home. And we’re just as happy to have him, challenges and all.

French ornithologists have now charted a steep decline in Paris and other French cities. There has been an even sharper fall in urban populations in Germany, the Czech Republic, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Finland.

As in Britain, where sparrow numbers are believed to have fallen by 90 per cent in the past 15 years, continental ornithologists can find no coherent explanation for the sudden decline.

The mystery is especially deep in Paris, which is believed to have lost 200,000 sparrows – maybe one in 10 of the population – in the past 17 years. At the same time, the presence of somewhat more exotic "country" birds in the capital – from blackbirds to jays, kestrels and swifts – has increased.

The city’s Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle is so concerned that it has launched a campaign to capture, examine and ring Parisian sparrows to investigate possible causes for their falling numbers.

"Is it a question of some form of disease or diseases? Or are their habitats being eroded? We hope to try to answer these questions," said Frédéric Baroteaux of the museum’s research centre on bird populations.

The flocks of moineaux or "piafs" which flutter over all public spaces in Paris are part of the identity of the city. The diminutive singer Edith Piaf, who started as a street performer singing for "crumbs", took her stage name from the colloquial Parisian word for sparrow. Unlike in London, they remain familiar in Paris, but they are far less numerous than before.

Possible explanations have been offered by ornithologists. The rise in numbers and variety of other birds may have reduced their nesting places and feeding opportunities. And tightened building regulations, along with better maintenance, may have closed up the cracks in which they used to nest.

The number of Parisian cats is also booming, so they may be preying more on the birds. Some blame radio waves from mobile telephones or pollution from cars; but why should that affect sparrows and not other birds?

A similar pattern is reported across Europe. Hamburg estimates it has lost 50 per cent of its house sparrows in the past 30 years. In Prague the comparable loss is 60 per cent.

Alain Bougrain-Dubourg, president of the French equivalent of the RSPB, the Ligue de Protection des Oiseaux (LPO), says he fears the moineau may be on the same, steep downward flight path as the British sparrow. "All the signals are on red," he said. "The house sparrow is a highly symbolic bird, which has co-habited closely with man for 10,000 years. It may be less attractive than a blue tit but it has the right to survive, for the sake of biodiversity if nothing else."

The natural history museum has set up 10 sparrow ringing centres in the French capital and its suburbs. Birds are trapped in nets. Samples of blood and feathers are taken and examine? for signs of disease or pollution. The sparrows are released with colour-coded rings on their legs.

The rings are needed because sparrows are wily birds. Once trapped in a net, they can not easily be caught a second time. The coded rings enable ornithologists to identify individual birds, and monitor their progress.

The bird protection league is also appealing to Parisians to place a sparrow nesting-box on their balconies amid their geraniums – and to keep their cats indoors.

The mystery still stands

Six years ago, The Independent began highlighting the decline of our most familiar bird. The campaign put the disappearance of the house sparrow on the national agenda. Abundant until the early 1990s, Passer domesticus has now gone from central London, apart from isolated pockets, and declined in other large urban centres, such as Glasgow. The cause is unknown. Our £5,000 prize for the first convincing scientific explanation stands, although many theories have been put forward, including magpies, cats, pesticides, peanuts, climate change and home improvements. Research by Dr Kate Vincent of De Montfort University suggests a decline in insects is leading to sparrow chicks starving. The effect is seen in Paris and across Europe.

The Independent’s £5,000 prize is for a paper in a scientific journal. It is judged by our referees (the RSPB, the British Trust for Ornithology and Dr Denis Summers-Smith)

The sparrow, once the exemplar of a commonplace bird, is becoming increasingly rare in France and other European countries.

The fall of the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) has already been well documented in Britain, partly thanks to a campaign by The Independent.

French ornithologists have now charted a steep decline in Paris and other French cities. There has been an even sharper fall in urban populations in Germany, the Czech Republic, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Finland.

As in Britain, where sparrow numbers are believed to have fallen by 90 per cent in the past 15 years, continental ornithologists can find no coherent explanation for the sudden decline.

The mystery is especially deep in Paris, which is believed to have lost 200,000 sparrows – maybe one in 10 of the population – in the past 17 years. At the same time, the presence of somewhat more exotic "country" birds in the capital – from blackbirds to jays, kestrels and swifts – has increased.

The city’s Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle is so concerned that it has launched a campaign to capture, examine and ring Parisian sparrows to investigate possible causes for their falling numbers.

"Is it a question of some form of disease or diseases? Or are their habitats being eroded? We hope to try to answer these questions," said Frédéric Baroteaux of the museum’s research centre on bird populations.

The flocks of moineaux or "piafs" which flutter over all public spaces in Paris are part of the identity of the city. The diminutive singer Edith Piaf, who started as a street performer singing for "crumbs", took her stage name from the colloquial Parisian word for sparrow. Unlike in London, they remain familiar in Paris, but they are far less numerous than before.

Possible explanations have been offered by ornithologists. The rise in numbers and variety of other birds may have reduced their nesting places and feeding opportunities. And tightened building regulations, along with better maintenance, may have closed up the cracks in which they used to nest.

The number of Parisian cats is also booming, so they may be preying more on the birds. Some blame radio waves from mobile telephones or pollution from cars; but why should that affect sparrows and not other birds?
A similar pattern is reported across Europe. Hamburg estimates it has lost 50 per cent of its house sparrows in the past 30 years. In Prague the comparable loss is 60 per cent.

Alain Bougrain-Dubourg, president of the French equivalent of the RSPB, the Ligue de Protection d?s Oiseaux (LPO), says he fears the moineau may be on the same, steep downward flight path as the British sparrow. "All the signals are on red," he said. "The house sparrow is a highly symbolic bird, which has co-habited closely with man for 10,000 years. It may be less attractive than a blue tit but it has the right to survive, for the sake of biodiversity if nothing else."

The natural history museum has set up 10 sparrow ringing centres in the French capital and its suburbs. Birds are trapped in nets. Samples of blood and feathers are taken and examined for signs of disease or pollution. The sparrows are released with colour-coded rings on their legs.

The rings are needed because sparrows are wily birds. Once trapped in a net, they can not easily be caught a second time. The coded rings enable ornithologists to identify individual birds, and monitor their progress.

The bird protection league is also appealing to Parisians to place a sparrow nesting-box on their balconies amid their geraniums – and to keep their cats indoors.

The mystery still stands

Six years ago, The Independent began highlighting the decline of our most familiar bird. The campaign put the disappearance of the house sparrow on the national agenda. Abundant until the early 1990s, Passer domesticus has now gone from central London, apart from isolated pockets, and declined in other large urban centres, such as Glasgow. The cause is unknown. Our £5,000 prize for the first convincing scientific explanation stands, although many theories have been put forward, including magpies, cats, pesticides, peanuts, climate change and home improvements. Research by Dr Kate Vincent of De Montfort University suggests a decline in insects is leading to sparrow chicks starving. The effect is seen in Paris and across Europe.

The Independent’s £5,000 prize is for a paper in a scientific journal. It is judged by our referees (the RSPB, the British Trust for Ornithology and Dr Denis Summers-Smith)

Not surprisingly, the numbers vary according to party affiliation. A much lower 33 percent of Republicans think the government is doing a poor job to protect the environment, but that number grows to 67 percent among Independents and tops out at 78 percent among the Democrats.

The environment always seems to get the back seat, doesn’t it? There’s the Kyoto Protocol, ideas about oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and the worst energy crunch since the ’70s.

Sure, government can do more, but as Earth Day approaches, it’s time we ask ourselves the same question: Are Americans doing too little to support the environment?

We’re still driving gas-guzzling SUVs, idling in drive-through lanes, and blasting the AC in our cars, homes and offices. Recycling has plateaued as we toss our PET water bottles into the trash, and we’re over-watering our lawns while many parts of the country are experiencing the worst drought in decades.

Perhaps Gallup should do a follow-up survey asking Americans what they’re doing to support the environment. Are we being efficient with our limited water supplies, protecting air quality, and curbing the garbage we generate and energy we consume?

Not nearly enough of us are even aware of how our everyday activities can worsen environmental problems. Did you know transportation accounts for two-thirds of U.S. oil use?

The good news is that there are some incredibly simple and sensible ways we can all help improve the global environmental picture. So, for Earth Day 2006, why not embrace the "Top Five Ways for Americans to Support the Environment"? They’re so easy, even a Republican, Independent or Democrat can do them.

1. Drive efficiently. Even if you drive an SUV, be sure the tires are properly inflated and aligned, and that the air filters are clean.
Avoid drive-throughs, don’t top off your tank, and, as ozone season approaches, be sure to fill up only in the morning or evening.

2. Garden efficiently. Don’t over-water your lawn. The healthiest lawns are watered just about an inch once a week. If you have a
sprinkler system, set it manually and fix broken sprinkler heads.

3. Live efficiently. Remember, water and energy consumption are linked — it takes electricity to pump and heat water. Set your
thermostat at a comfortable but reasonable level. Save water indoors by installing low-flow showerhe?ds. Fix all leaks. That
goes for plumbing and insulation. Read your utility bills and try to reduce your household’s consumption.

4. Shop efficiently. Choose products with less packaging and recycle whenever you can at home and at work. If you drink bottled water, try using some of the trendy reusable Nalgene containers.

5. For goodness’ sake, vote. Kiss apathy goodbye. Take control of your own personal environment, and when it comes to the government, take a few minutes to understand the issues and voice your opinion in the ballot booth in every election.

As well as continuing TV, radio, web and cinema advertising across member states, the campaign will also involve more than 100 national events for Europeans to be tested for carbon monoxide in an awareness-raising drive. It is expected that more than 50,000 tests will take place up until November.

High levels of carbon monoxide can attribute to serious heart problems, blood clots and disrupted development of unborn babies in pregnant women.

?I quit smoking over fifteen years ago, and luckily the carbon monoxide levels in my breath are back down to normal levels. But many young people are starting the habit every day, and this campaign is designed to raise awareness of the health risks linked to the carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke,? said Commissioner Kyprianou.

?Health-care costs caused by smoking top ?100 billion per year in Europe and smoking has become the main preventable killer of our time. The HELP campaign has been very successful so far in getting the message across that smokers can get help to quit, and warning young people of the risks of passive smoking and addiction. With this carbon monoxide campaign, the ?HELP? campaign is stepping up a gear to promote a life without tobacco.?

A Greenpeace report, published to coincide with a U.N. meeting in Brazil on biodiversity, said that 40 percent of the world’s oceans should be placed in nature reserves.

Just 0.6 percent of the oceans are protected reserves at present, compared with 12 percent of the world’s land, according to U.N. data.

While that protection is put in place, trawling along the ocean bottom should be banned, Greenpeace said.

"An immediate U.N. moratorium on high seas bottom ?rawling is essential to stop the destruction of deep-sea life whilst a global network of marine reserves is established," professor Callum Roberts of York University said in a Greenpeace statement.

The U.N. meeting in Curitiba, Brazil, which lasts until the end of March, will discuss ways to expand protection both on land and at sea to slow the accelerating rate of extinction of animals and plants caused by human activities.

The meeting will discuss the principle of extending marine protection, but will not reach a formal agreement.

The United States is not a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity, an international conservation agreement signed by the 188 countries which are meeting in Brazil.

Greenpeace also urged better protection of forests, saying its satellite maps showed that intact forests covered less than 10 percent of the world’s land area, threatening thousands of species of animals and plants.

"The biggest indicator of change that is already happening is usage of the Thames Barrier," King told the conference late on Monday.

"The Thames Barrier was designed to be used once every two or three years and in that period after it was built in 1980 it was indeed used once every two or three times a year. We’re now using it six times a year."

The direct cost of a breach in the flood defences would exceed 30 billion pounds ($52.70 billion) directly, King added, not including the "indirect" damage to people’s lives.

Scientists predict that heat-trapping carbon dioxide (CO2), produced by burning fossil fuels, can raise the temperature of the Earth, melt ice caps and cause flooding.

The most recent time that CO2 levels were higher than now was 55 million years ago, when CO2 was more than double current levels and the sea about 100 meters higher, King said.

King saw climate change posing the biggest threat to Britain from changes to rainfall patterns and storm damage to coastlines.

1. ENVIRONMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS
In response to last week’s special alert, you sent more than 9,300 messages
urging your representatives to approve several pro-environment amendments to
the FY05 Interior Appropriations bill (thank you!). Although the results are
mixed, your messages helped produce one significant victory, as the House voted
222-205 to restrict roadbuilding for commercial logging in the Tongass National
Forest. Continue reading →

The award of the National and European Solar Prizes in 2004 – as in the years before – has the purpose, to widely spread the subject of Renewable Energies. Outstanding innovative projects and initiatives as to the use of Renewable Energies are awarded in different categories.  The call for tenders for the European Solar Prizes by the respective national EUROSOLAR-sections is running simultaneously in several European countries and the prizes are awarded by EUROSOLAR in cooperation with the KfW. The winners of the European Solar Prizes will be chosen among the applicants for the respective national Solar-Prizes. Continue reading →

Romanian and Bulgarian premiers, Adrian Nastase and Simeon Saxa-Coburg Gotha, have attended on Sunday a ceremony marking 50 years since the opening the existing bridge linking Giurgiu and Ruse.

The bridge was inaugurated on June 20 1954, after two years and three months of works and at that time it was one of the longest bridges in Europe, with a total length of 2.2 kilometers.

Adrian Nastase and Simeon Saxa-Coburg Gotha have symbolically met in the middle of the bridge and have attended ceremonies organized on both banks of the river.

This RFP is sponsored by the International Utility Efficiency Partnerships, Inc. (IUEP). The IUEP has been a leader among the industry groups that have supported voluntary initiatives to address global climate change. The IUEP maintains its leadership by supporting international GHG reduction projects under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Initi?tive on Joint Implementation (USIJI), and by partnering with U.S. and international organizations. Continue reading →