The Woohoo! Report

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by WIND DAILY

In the wake of the Earth Day action by President Barack Obama and Interior Department Secretary Ken Salazar on new guidelines clearing the way for major offshore wind projects, the following statement was issued by Clean Power Now and TheClean.org.

The nonprofit and nonpartisan Civil Society Institute think tank is a convener of TheClean.org.

The statement issued by Civil Society Institute President and Founder Pam Solo and Clean Power Now Executive Director Barbara J. Hill reads as follows:

“The step announced by President Obama and Secretary Salazar represents the biggest federal step forward to date for clean energy in the United States. The Administration deserves a great deal of credit for moving ahead to deliver sustainable offshore wind energy for America.

The action sets out a clear process for moving ahead with major offshore wind projects up and down the East Coast. This decision paves the way for a new offshore wind energy industry that will transform the discussion about tapping the abundant offshore clean energy.

The Department of Interior and its Minerals Management Service did an exemplary job conducting the regulatory review process that issued the Final Environmental Impact Statement on Cape Wind.

Now, it’s time for the Obama Administration to take the next step and issue a Record of Decision on Cape Wind as soon as possible so we can begin to move aggressively to exploit the abundant offshore wind energy potential with a shovel ready project.

With support from more than 86 percent of Massachusetts residents and two out of three people living on the Cape and Islands, Cape Wind is indisputably the offshore wind power
project that is ready to move forward now. It is time for Cape Wind to be approved so that we can create jobs, increase energy independence, and demonstrate Massachusetts leadership on climate change.”

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Children in the Marshlands to receive improved access to clean water and education.

BAGHDAD, 4 May 2009 -  Iraq’s Ministry of State for Marshlands has committed $30 million for projects to assist children in rural areas of the Marshlands region in 2009.  The allocation marks the first government investment focused exclusively on improving the lives of Iraqi children.

“This is a major achievement by the government as it’s the first-of-its-kind investment targeting children not only in Iraq but also globally,” stated Sikander Khan, UNICEF Iraq Representative.  “This sets the standard and will be the beginning of a series of child-friendly investments that will help realize the long-deprived rights of all Iraqi children, specifically improving their prospects for survival and to fully develop their capacities.”

The Marshlands has some of the worst development indicators in Iraq. Some 34 per cent of women in the Marshlands are illiterate, compared with 24 per cent at the national level, and school enrollment in rural areas of the region is at least 30 per cent lower than in urban areas. Around 81 per cent of households are not connected to the general water network, compared with 26 per cent at the national level with, in some villages, up to 99 per cent of people relying on drinking water to be delivered by truck.

“The current situation of children in the Marshlands is unacceptable,” said Minister of State for Marshlands Affairs Hassan Al-Sari.  “With this investment we will start improving the welfare of children in the area so that many more are able to go to school and thousands of people will have access to clean water”.

Part of the Marshland’s Children’s Initiative, this new government investment will support projects in the most impoverished rural areas of the Marshlands where children are most vulnerable. In rural areas of the Marshlands districts in the Basra, Misan and Thiqar governorates, 70 water stations will be rehabilitated to provide clean drinking water to around 250,000 people, including around 125,000 children who are particularly vulnerable to water-borne diseases.

In addition, 48 schools will be built to provide access to education for around 12,000 children.

UNICEF will support the Government of Iraq in developing and implementing the projects to ensure they are of the highest standard and will have the greatest impact for children.  The projects are expected to start in the coming months.

About UNICEF in Iraq
UNICEF has been on the ground in Iraq since 1983 working to ensure Iraqi children survive and realize their full potential.  UNICEF is supporting the Government of Iraq to develop child-friendly policies, build the capacity of institutions, and mobilize resources to realize the full rights of Iraqi children.  Via a network of staff and partners, UNICEF’s programmes continue to improve basic health services, safeguard quality education, rebuild water and sanitation systems, protect children from abuse, violence and exploitation, and meet the needs of the most vulnerable in crisis situations.

About UNICEF
UNICEF is present in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence.  The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS.  UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

For further information please contact:
Jaya Murthy, UNICEF Iraq, +962 79 692 6190, jmurthy@unicef.org

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