InfoUpdate
An Information Service supplied by the KwaZulu-Natal Law Society

11 December 2009

This professional service draws attention to current and important items of news
 and members are directed to the hosts' websites

InfoUpdate 26 of 2009
Useful Links
and Items of Interest 

Click on the underlined hyperlink where relevant

International

Cyberlaw

Computer hacker Gary McKinnon 'is facing a US trial' - 26 November
Computer hacker Gary McKinnon faces being tried in the US after requests to block his extradition were refused, the Home Office has confirmed. Home Secretary Alan Johnson told Mr McKinnon's family he could not block the move on medical grounds. Glasgow-born Mr McKinnon, 43, who has Asperger's syndrome, is accused of breaking into US military computers. He says he was seeking UFO evidence. - BBC News website

Hacker Gary McKinnon to appeal after extradition blow - 27 November
The "devastated" lawyers for computer hacker Gary McKinnon are to challenge the home secretary's decision not to block his extradition to the US. They said they would make a last-ditch attempt after Alan Johnson said medical grounds could not prevent it. - BBC News website

Hacker Gary McKinnon to appeal against US extradition - 10 December
Computer hacker Gary McKinnon is mounting a fresh High Court challenge to stop his extradition to the US. Solicitor Karen Todner said papers were lodged with the High Court seeking a judicial review of the home secretary's decision not to block his transfer. The home secretary has 14 days to respond before a judge considers it. - BBC News website

Environment

United Nations Climate Change Conference. 7-18 December 2009
http://en.cop15.dk/

7 December 2009
DK : Rasmussen : Address by the Danish Prime Minister, to the World Business Summit on Climate Change, Copenhagen
Polity
website

Copenhagen climate change conference : 'Fourteen days to seal history's judgment on this generation' - 7 December
This editorial calling for action from world leaders on climate change is published today by 56 newspapers around the world in 20 languages. - Guardian website

SA floats emissions deal in exchange for aid - 7 December
South Africa offered on Sunday to slow the growth of its greenhouse gas emissions by 34 percent by 2020, conditional on a broader international agreement and financial aid. Africa's biggest economy made the offer on the eve of international climate talks in Copenhagen, which it said President Jacob Zuma would attend. - IOL website

The time to act is now" . . . or later : The rapid talking down of expectations for Copenhagen signals a lack of commitment on the part of industrialised countries - 8 December
Polity website

Draft Copenhagen climate change agreement : the 'Danish text' - 8 December
Guardian website

Developing nations furious over climate text - 9 December
Three hours after the "Danish text" had been leaked to the Guardian, Lumumba Di-Aping, the Sudanese chairman of the group of 132 developing countries known as G77 plus China, spelt out exactly why the poor countries he represents were so incensed. "The text robs developing countries of their just and equitable and fair share of the atmospheric space. It tries to treat rich and poor countries as equal," said the diplomat. - Mail & Guardian website

Draft text divides climate summit - 8 December
Documents leaked at the UN climate summit reveal divisions between industrialised and developing countries over the shape of a possible new deal. Campaigners say a draft text proposed by the Danish host government would disadvantage poorer nations. - BBC News website

Legal expert says draft climate proposal not unusual as 'leaked text' sparks anger - 9 December
Various news reports from the second day of the 192-nation climate change conference of the parties (COP) taking place in Copenhagen were focused on the "leaked Danish texts", which were made public by the UK's Guardian website on Tuesday. - Polity website

Climate summit veers towards emerging economies - 9 December
After a day of turmoil and a night of fence-building, the majority of 192 countries attending the Dec 7-18 climate summit Wednesday started to discuss an agreement drafted by India and other emerging economies to save the world from the worst effects of climate change. The so-called BASIC draft - because it was drafted by Brazil, South Africa, India and China - became the main topic of conversation among the 3,500-odd negotiators and over 12,000 NGOs after a draft penned by host country Denmark was pilloried by developing countries. - Thaindian News website

A rough guide to Who's Who at Copenhagen : and what do they really want? - 10 December
Many of the nations attending the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen are part of larger international collectives. Here is a sample of the key groups, or major nations and their prime issues. The data below each group or country notes that group's percentage of emissions, gross domestic product and population, as a share of the global totals. - The Daily Maverick website

Scientists 'manipulated' climate change data - 1 December
A leading climate change scientist said hackers breaking into a university's computer server and then posting documents online show the nasty politics of global warming. Kevin Trenberth, head of the climate analysis section of the US National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, said the hackers' intentions may have been to influence discussions in an upcoming global climate change summit in Denmark. - IOL website

Bhopal water still toxic 25 years after deadly gas leak - 2 December
Groundwater found near the site of the world's worst chemical industrial accident in Bhopal is still toxic and poisoning residents a quarter of a century after a gas leak there killed thousands, two studies have revealed. Delhi's Centre for Science and the Environment said that water found two miles from the factory contained pesticides at levels 40 times higher than the Indian safety standard. - Mail & Guardian website

The unending tragedy of Bhopal - 2 December
Twenty five years and several thousand dead and disabled men, women and children later, answers to most of the thorny questions about the world's most horrific industrial tragedyare still blowing in the wind in Bhopal. Why has the compensation to the victims been so paltry? Why is there a thick fog over the extent of contamination of groundwater in the Union Carbide factory neighbourhood? And above all, why have those responsible been allowed to go scot free? - BBC website

In pictures : Bhopal 25 years on - 3 December
BBC News website

InfoUpdate : an Information Service supplied by the KwaZulu-Natal Law Society