NZ, Netherlands protest start of whaling season

New Zealand Australia and the Netherlands have issued a joint statement, calling for "responsible behaviour" as Japan begins its whaling season in Antarctica.

The joint communique said the three nations remained "resolute in our opposition to the so-called scientific whaling" but condemned "dangerous or violent activities" by whalers and protesters.

"The Southern Ocean is a remote and inhospitable region where the risk of adverse incidents is high and the capacity for rescue or assistance is low. Our Governments jointly call upon all parties to exercise restraint and to ensure that safety at sea is the highest priority," the communique said.

The statement, issued by Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully, said the three countries would be using diplomacy and the International Whaling Commission to fight for whale conservation.

The Japanese whaling fleet has recently left Japan for the Southern Ocean while the protest group, the Sea Shepherd, set sail in the Steve Irwin from Australia yesterday.

Greenpeace is not sending a vessel to the Southern Ocean.

Greenpeace New Zealand oceans campaigner Karli Thomas said the organisation will be campaigning for an end to whaling in Japan by taking a case to the Japanese Supreme Court.

Source:nzherald.co.nz/

Spacefleet Project - Consortium of Aerospace Companies

The Spacefleet Project have recently posted some updates, Ray Wright (Company CEO) recently spoke with the Space Fellowship and discussed some of the progress the organisation have been making.

Back in November 2009 the Spacefleet Project posted an update “Spacefleet Ltd is joining in an international consortium of aerospace companies, based in Ukraine, Georgia, Poland, Czech Republic and The Netherlands to bid for funding from the European Union Framework Programme, for a project to develop a novel rocket motor with wide-ranging applications. We will build it into a small, lifting-body vehicle, much like the SF-01 vehicle featured on this site, but unmanned“.

“The small demonstrator will be able to fly up to around 6km above the ground and then be guided remotely back to a runway landing. In this way, the key features of the SF-01 will be demonstrated, without having to build the full-size vehicle. Following this, we hope further developments to lead up to the building of the SF-01“.


SF-01
The team have now posted an update on their progress “Spacefleet Ltd joined an international consortium of aerospace companies, with members in Ukraine, Georgia, Poland, Czech Republic and The Netherlands, to bid for funding from the European Union Framework Programme Number 7, for a project to develop a novel rocket motor with wide-ranging applications. We will build it into a small, lifting-body vehicle, much like the SF-01 vehicle featured on this site, but unmanned and remotely controlled“.

“The considerable volume of electronic “paperwork” was, I’m happy to tell you, completed before the deadline of December 5th, even though we had to change our application from one FP7 “call” to another, because of unacceptable restrictions on the way the consortium could be funded. The application was acknowledged as technically complete, so not rejected automatically. Now, we must wait until February next year to discover whether our application was successful“.

About the SF-01
The SF-01 will cost around €260M to develop and build three vehicles, over three years, after which it will be ready for passenger service. The important feature of the SF-01 is its liquid-fuelled rocket propulsion system, which is specially-designed for long life, high reliability and high safety.

The craft will operate routinely, like a conventional aircraft, and could fly as often as once every day. The cost of a seat will be around €120,000, to begin with, but the price will come down over the following years.

Source:spacefellowship.com

Netherlands - First female foot patrol in Uruzgan

Last Saturday the first all-female foot patrol took place in Uruzgan. Nine women serving with Task Force Uruzgan (TFU) and the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) – seven soldiers, one diplomat from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague and one Afghan interpreter – took part in the patrol near Ali Shirzai, Chora district. The special unit was led by Sergeant 1st Class Eli of the Battle Group.

The PRT, which is working to reconstruct and develop Uruzgan, is keen to improve the position of women in the province. Chora district, situated to the north of Tarin Kowt, was the scene of heavy fighting two years ago. It was chosen as the location of the patrol because it is a conservative area where it is difficult to speak to women in public and it was felt an all-female patrol may help establish contact with women in the area.

‘No-one suffered more under the Taliban’s reign of terror than the women of Afghanistan. Strict segregation of the sexes is a tradition in Uruzgan. Here, the way to reach women is through other women. That is why we came up with the idea of an all-female squad of soldiers and civilians to tackle this issue head on,’ said Michel Rentenaar, Director of the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Uruzgan.

Women from all over Chora traditionally come together during the Festival of Sacrifice. The special patrol was an ideal opportunity to speak with local women out of the view of men. In the next few months the PRT Team is planning to set up a women’s park where women can go to meet. In interviews, local women have expressed enthusiasm for the plan.

Source: isria.com/