Severe weather incidents across the globe which resulted in destructiveconsequences are clear signals of a new climate pattern. Despite these alarms we notice less dedication and commitment from leaders of developed and developing countries and the international community, in addressing the basic causes of these devastating occurrences much less produce significant progress. According to the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, there are four particular pollutants that have generated 45% of manmade global warming today: methane, tropospheric ozone, hydro fluorocarbons and black carbon. Experts say, we can reducethese specific pollutant emissions without changing our entire energy system because the alternatives and technologies to capture emissions are already existent, availableand have been proven cost-effective.We need to continue supporting these existing solutions.

Affordable and abundant renewable and sustainable energy technologies ought to be available and accessible both in the developed and the developing countries. Whether global warming is manmade or a natural earth phenomena, government authorities and private groups need toact immediately, coordinate and communicate,in order to address these harmful weather consequences with efficiency and effectiveness. Courage on this front would improve public health, provision and safety for the coming years. Indeed it is now the time for serious action for all humanity, physically as well as spiritually.

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The World Trade Organization made the first comprehensive agreement to make cheaper for business to move goods across borders. It is the first comprehensive deal since it was founded in 1995 that would benefit all WTO members. The main point of this agreement is trade facilitation often called as "cutting red tape". Prime Minister David Cameron said the "historic" agreement could be a "lifeline" for the world's poorest people, and benefit British businesses to more than $1bn (£600m).This agreement enables poor countries to sell their goods more easily, because rich countries have agreed to cut tariffs on products from the poorest nations. But economists are uncertain that the deal will make much difference to world trade volumes, it is doubtful that the governments concerned will meet the new standards any time soon. Implementing the WTO agreements may prove difficult because there are clearly political barriers to reaching an agreement on the most-important areas. Economists say, the Bali agreement does nothing to boost trade. It said, “The prospects of a major breakthrough in international trade liberalization in the foreseeable future remain fairly bleak.” Kennington said, the WTO is becoming less significant as a forum for free trade, leaving poorer nations to fend for themselves.

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Tidbits:

(PHILS.), INC. G.R. No.   189314, June 15, 2011, BARAIRO, versus OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT and MST MARINE SERVICES

As found by the POEA Administrator and  the Secretary of Labor, through Undersecretary Danilo P. Cruz,  petitioner's refusal to board the M/T Haruna on November 30, 2004 constituted unjustified breach of  his contract of employment under Section 1 (A-2) Rule II,  Part VI  [sic] of the POEA Sea based Rules and Regulations. That petitioner believed that respondent company violated his rights when the period of his earlier Maritina contract was not followed and his “stand-by fees” were not fully paid did not justify his refusal to abide by the valid and existing Haruna contract requiring him to serve aboard M/THaruna.  For, as noted in the assailed DOLE Order, “if petitioner's rights have been violated as he claims, he has various remedies under the contract which he did not avail of.” (Courtesy of Atty. Fedil Borja)