Never had the chance to meet your Club of Pioneers buddies yet? For some of them this wish came true. Last week in Munich at the occasion of a presentation of the Hydrogen 7 Club of Pioneers invited eight "locals" of them to join the party.The Pioneers are: Thomas Heinrich, Denis Witham, Heidi Eireiner, Corinna Thiel, Alex Goerlach, Leonore Heßler und Christian Mangold. Missing in the picture are Marc Girard and Sebastian Schultze who were still working when the party started
In the pouring rain however we had a hydrogen feeling of a special kind. During the event I had the occasion to do an interview with former environmental minister and executive director of the United Nations environmental program, Professor Klaus Töpfer and the German actress Christiane Paul. Once the film material is send to me from Munich to Berlin (this happens if you send that stuff offline...) I will post the clips of the event.

Klaus Töpfer and myself in the interviewWe Pioneers all had a hell of a party and learned a lot about the Hydrogen 7 and I look forward to repeat such a meeting - we will be during a similar event in October in Berlin so we will meet a few of the Pioneers living in Berlin then in person.You guys take care, let's pioneer!Alex

The German Greens opened a theme box last week: with the claim ”ecological justice” they organized a conference in the Reichstag, German parliament. One of the goals was to connect the ecological questions with those concerning justice, even on the international level. Our pioneer Verena went to see what it is all about:

Verena's blog:The background:

 

The rich industrial nations use the majority of energy resources of our planet and are together responsible for approximately 80 percent of the greenhouse gases produced so far. Less strongly, but still very clear in their impact are the rising developing countries India and China, which made themselves (with reproduction) follow the bad example of the industrialized countries. In sharp contrast: wide parts of the southern hemisphere remain in deep darkness. In Africa, Latin America and Eastern Asia, where the majority of the 1.1 billion humans live (who must getting along with less than an euro per day) prevails poverty also at energy.

 

The conference:

 

Opening note was held by Susan George, vice-president of the transnational institute and co-foundress as well as ex- member of the board of „Attac“. First she defined the term “ecology” and “justice” in the context of the globalization debate. Then brought up a general critic of quantitative growth in capitalism, which is in conflict with ecology and sustainability. She also drew the attention to the fact that today's kind of food production not only damages the local agriculture, but also is responsible for 1/3 of greenhouse gases and 25% of CO2 emissions.

 

Afterwards Bärbel Höhn, former green minister of consumer safety, called to build a new green citizen movement. This citizen movement might not only be limited to political demands. Key is a life-style change. Each individual person can do something, f.e. ecological electricity and healthy food.
The question remains: is this enough for a citizen movement?! Especially since we know that even in the green roam it, again and again, costs conviction work to convince people of something as simple as switching to ecological electricity.

 

Another panel followed discussing “Ecological justice now! - Requirements of the German G8-Presidentship“. The discussion group consisted of the chairman of the German Green Party Claudia Roth; Professor Walden Bello (focus on global south); Jennifer Morgan (E3G-Third generation Environmentalism) and Olaf Tschimpke (NABU). The overall topic: the planned G8 conclusion document and its consequences.

 

Above all Jennifer Morgan spoke of the congruence of two models: Bush model versus European model. One disagreement was based on the question of the relationship between ecology and economics and the meaning of technical innovations for climatic protection.

 

I personally think that it must be both: on the one hand innovations, on the other hand in addition, renouncement and reduction of consumption. It was positively mentioned that George Bush does not stand for all Americans and that in America exists a civilian-social Initiative for more climate protection. Reinhard Bütikofer, leader of the German Greens, even spoke of an isolated president

 

 

The discussion in the afternoon between the former German secretary of the environment Klaus Töpfer and Reinhard Bütikofer generally ran very harmoniously. Contradictions were recognizable only about the question: can we supply our energy need in the future completely without coal power stations?

 

Töpfer spoke up for more pollution free power stations. He also pushes an „international contract for nature protection“ similar to the German „Vetragsnaturschutz“. Töpfer also made clear that town development policy would have to be an important component of international climate protection politics because over 70% of the emissions is made in urban environments (cities).

 

Claudia Roth, chairman of the German green partyAt the end of the day a nice quotation of Bärbel Höhn: Young Ladies go only out with young boys, who are coming with ecological cars
About Verena:Verena is a trained speech pathologist but also studied psychology and catholic theology. She took part in a working group for a "sustainable Germany" and was also member of two district parliaments for four years. 2002 she run for candidacy for the German federal parliament.

Tongji University, one of the most prestigious universities in China, celebrated its 100th anniversary on May 20th, 2007. Chinese President Hu Jingtao sent a congratulation letter on the Centenary. And meanwhile other leaders, including Premier Wen Jiabao and top legislator Wu Bangguo, expressed their congratulations as well. Li Tieyin and Gu Xiulian, vice chairmen of the National People's Congress attended the centenary ceremony. State Councilor Chen Zhili, Minister of Education Zhou Ji, and Sectary of CPC Shanghai Committee Xi Jinping delivered their speeches of congratulations. Wan Gang, president of Tongji University, made the presentation: “A Century Tongji Promises to Society”.

After that, Professor Kurt Kutzler, president of TU Berlin expressed congratulations on behalf of presidents from other Chinese and foreign universities. Wu Mengchao, academician of Chinese Academy of Science and Professor Sun Lijun also delivered their speeches on behalf of the alumni and on the behalf of the faculty and students. The celebration ceremony had attracted the attendance of over 10,000 people from all over the world.
Tongji University has developed rapidly in recent years, especially in the research of clean energy automobile. President Wan Gang, nominated as the chief scientist of Fuel Cell Vehicle Research Project in the State “863” Program since his returning from abroad, led the team of College of Automotive Engineering to win remarkable and widely acknowledged achievements in fuel cell development.Since both Tongji and BMW are together concerning about the development of new energy vehicles, making achievements in alternative energy and joining good cooperative relationship, on the occasion of Tongji Centenary Celebration BMW Group provided 33 VIP shuttle cars for the anniversary, including 10 units 7 series, 20 units 5 series and 3 units Hydrogen7, among which the BMW H7 had become a shining star during the celebration. Many famous scientists showed their great interest because of its excellent quality and advanced technology.
During the International Forum of Innovation and Sustainable Development from May 18 to 20, H7 were used as VIP shuttle cars, which perfectly matched with the concept and made contribution to the forum’s social influence. On May 20, the appearance of the 3 BMW H7 in Si Ping campus created a great sensation among the guests. As a matter of fact, BMW H7 has acquired widely acknowledges from the society of its leading technologies during the whole course of the celebration