Filed under: maps, Uncategorized | Tags: energy, New Zealand, oil spill, petroleum, Rena, tanker, transport
“The wreck of the Greek-owned Rena was described as New Zealand’s worst maritime environmental disaster even before the rear section of the ship, lashed by pounding seas, broke away yesterday. The ship has already spilled heavy fuel oil that fouled pristine North Island beaches and killed up to 20,000 seabirds, and despite salvage efforts nearly 400 tonnes of oil remain onboard.”
via New Zealand braces for oil spill as Rena splits on reef | The Australian
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: bike lanes, infrastructure, Israel, Shai Agassi, Tel Aviv
Municipal Director General Menahem Leibe stresses that the city’s investment in bike paths is part of a clearly defined policy of putting bicyclists and pedestrians first. “It can come at the expense of private cars. There’s no such thing as a free lunch,” Leibe said, although he adds that the ultimate goal is striking the right balance among pedestrians, bicycles and cars.
On Bloch Street, one end of which faces the municipality, dozens of parking spaces are being sacrificed for bike lanes, to the outrage of people who live or work in the area. “It’s insignificant,” Leibe said, promising to build more parking lots. He said it’s all part of the worldview of the municipality and the man who heads it.
“Our idea is for vehicles to park underground and for pedestrians and bicyclists to be on the ground. It’s the right thing, especially in a city as densely populated as Tel Aviv,” Leibe said.
via Coming to Tel Aviv? Better bring your bicycle – Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News.
Two years ago everybody was talking about Shai Agassi’s idea for electric car charging stations and battery exchange in Israel. Haven’t heard much about that lately.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: China, Chindia, India, Iran, Iran sanctions, who buys Iran's oil, workaround
India is exploring all options to find a way out to make oil payments to Iran as there are chances that Turkey, through which it is making payment, may come under pressure after a fresh round of U.S. sanctions imposed on Iran.
India currently pays Iran about $1 billion every month through Turkey for the 370,000 barrels a day of crude oil it buys from the world’s fourth-largest oil producer.
According to sources, India is holding talks with Russia for routing payments to Iran. Discussions with United States are also going on for a possible relaxation or waiver in the sanctions.
via India exploring ways of making oil payments to Iran | Calcutta News.Net
Iran sanctions lead U.S. allies in Asia to seek special arrangements in order to continue, perhaps increase, imports from Iran. This is an interesting way for the US to increase leverage against any country that imports a lot of oil from Iran, including China. Anything about these workarounds in the US press?
Industrialized Cyclist Notepad 