April 21, 2008

CFACT Europe Co-hosts Conference on Climate Change in Berlin

Event marks second gathering of climate skeptics in a year

On 17 April, an audience of 80 assembled in the Parliament of the State of Berlin, Germany, to listen to latest findings of climate science. Under the patronage of the FDP-group, supported by the European Climate and Energy Institute and CFACT Europe, a range of top speakers presented their views on the issue. Great expectations had been linked to the event, and some political pressure had been put on the organizers.
more

April 24, 2008

Global warming tax hikes heading your way

Deficient computer models drive policies that destroy jobs, profits and family budgets

Paul Driessen

America is in the throes of a major housing and financial downturn, soaring food and energy costs, rising unemployment and near recession. But legislators, bureaucrats and presidential candidates are falling all over themselves to restrict fossil fuel use, advance climate change legislation – and thereby increase energy prices, oil imports, and costs for families and businesses. more

April 14, 2008

Dear Dr. Pachauri and others associated with IPCC,

We are writing to you and others associated with the IPCC position – that man’s CO2 is a driver of global warming and climate change – to ask that you now in view of the evidence retract support from the current IPCC position [as in footnote 1] and admit that there is no observational evidence in measured data going back 22,000 years or even millions of years that CO2 levels (whether from man or nature) have driven or are driving world temperatures or climate change.

If you believe there is evidence of the CO2 driver theory in the available data please present a graph of it. We draw your attention to three observational refutations of the IPCC position (and note there are more). Icecore data from the ACIA (Arctic Climate Impact Assessment) shows that temperatures have fallen since around 4,000 years ago (the Bronze Age Climate Optimum) while CO2 levels have risen, yet this graphical data was not included in the IPCC Summary for Policymakers (Fig. SPM1 Feb07) which graphed the CO2 rise. more

April 7, 2008

Still feeding the world

Norman Borlaug just turned 94 – and is still going strong

Paul Driessen

During the “Eat This” segment of their docu-comedy series BS, Penn Jillette beat Teller in a round of their “Greatest Person in History” card game. Penn needed just one card: Norman Borlaug.

This Iowa farm boy and University of Minnesota agriculture graduate lived Thomas Edison’s maxim to the fullest. “Invention,” Edison once remarked, “is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.” Dr. Borlaug did most of his 99% in the sweltering fields of Africa, India, Mexico and Pakistan.

At 94, and despite having cancer, the “Father of the Green Revolution” is still “an Energizer Bunny,” his daughter Jeanie says. He serves as a consultant, attends occasional conferences, and graciously let my daughter interview him for a high school paper. more

April 4, 2008

German government cancels biofuel plans

Fears repercussions from angry motorists

“In the pantheon of well-intentioned governmental policies gone awry, massive ethanol biofuel production may go down as one of the biggest blunders in history. An unholy alliance of environmentalists, agribusiness, biofuel corporations and politicians has been touting ethanol as the cure to all our environmental ills, when in fact it may be doing more harm than good. An array of unintended consequences is wreaking havoc on the economy, food production and, perhaps most ironically, the environment.“

Cinnamon Stillwell, San Francisco Chronicle
April 2, 2008

Berlin -- The German government officially reversed plans to impose controversial legislation that would have increased the mandatory ethanol and renewable additives content of gasoline and diesel to 10 percent, a law similar to the US Energy Policy Act of 2005. The government’s rescission was based on fears that imposing the new requirement would boost fuel prices substantially and provoke the ire of some 3 million German motorists.

more

March 10, 2008

The 2008 International Conference
on Climate Change Took Place in
New York City -
CFACT One of the Co-Sponsors

"This is a truly historic event, the first international conference devoted to answering questions overlooked by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change." said Joseph Bast, President of the Heartland, a Chicago-based think tank, at the opening of the event.

And he continued: "We're asking questions such as:

• how reliable are the data used to document the recent warming trend?
• how much of the modern warming is natural, and how much is likely the result of human activities?
• how reliable are the computer models used to forecast future climate conditions? and
• is reducing emissions the best or only response to possible climate change?

more

February 5, 2008

New Book:
"The Truth About Organic Foods"
by Alex A. Avery

Two years ago, the the most talked about book on organic foods in over a decade was issued in English - now, with the support of CFACT Europe, it is available to the 100 Million or so German speaking consumers too (link: order information): Alex Avery's "The Truth About Organic Foods".

If you wonder if organic foods are worth their high price, if the marketing claims of organic advocates are true, or if the organic foods are really more nutritious, safer, and better for the environment - this book will answer these and many other questions on organic or "biological" food. more

January 10, 2008

CFACT Europe issues new book -
"The Climate Catastrophe -
What Is It All About?"

Continuing its growth as an important resource on environmental issues, CFACT Europe recently released its latest publication entitled "The Climate Catastrophe - What Is It All About? The Nairobi Report on Climate Change, Climate Madness and Climate Hoax".

This provocative booklet examines the latest political developments surrounding the issue of climate change and their relationship to the current state of climate science. It begins by exploring the question of whether there has been any substantial warming outside the range of natural variability (answer: no), continues by examining whether the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide over the last 100 years is a principle cause of global warming (answer: no) and concludes by discussing whether global warming would be a more of a bane or benefit if it should be proven true (answer: it depends!). more

November 19, 2007

Commentary:
Sick and deadly disease control programs

Too many of them perpetuate disease and cost lives

Paul Driessen

If an accident kills wildlife or people, punishment is meted out and restitution made. A host of regulators, lawyers, judges, activists, journalists and politicians help bring the wrongdoers to justice.

But when it comes to policies and programs that sicken and kill millions of parents and children a year, these ethics cops and eco warriors are not just silent. They refuse to hold government agencies and activist groups to the same honesty and accountability standards they apply to for-profit companies. They even oppose programs that would reduce disease and save lives. more

November 10, 2007

CFACT participates in the Capitalist Ball

What better to celebrate than individual freedom? For the third year in a row CFACT Europe join conservative and libertarian leaders to raise a glass to liberty at CNE's Capitalist Ball on 12th October at the usual venue, the Concert Noble, in Brussels.

CFACT first participated in the "International Leaders Summit" at the European Parliament and Rennaisance Brussels Hotel. more

October 13, 2007

CFACT Europe presents its new book in Brussels

On October 11, CFACT Europe's Executive Director Dr. Holger Thuss presented Edgar Gaertner's new "Eco-Nihilism. A Critique of Political Ecology" (Öko-Nihilismus. Eine Kritik der Politischen Ökologie) at a private reception in the Brussels Renaissance Hotel.

The many invited guests, mainly from the media, like-minded think tanks and assistants of MEPs, were able to listen to some introductory remarks by author Edgar Gaertner. There was also an opportunity to purchase sigend copies of the new book that was recently published with the support of CFACT Europe. more

September 14, 2007

Vaclav Klaus' Speech at the U.N.: We Should Not Make Big Mistakes

Politicians know that they have to act when it is necessary. They know that their duty is to instigate public-policy responses to issues that could pose a threat to the people of their countries. And they have to form partnerships with colleagues from other countries when a problem cannot be "confined" within national boundaries. To help doing it is one of the main reasons for the existence of institutions such as the United Nations. more

August 20, 2007

Dear Friend:

I’ve never done this before – asked friends to help support an important cause. I am doing so today only because the Congress of Racial Equality Uganda does so much with so little, and truly needs your help. more

August 6, 2007

CFACT-Book Enters Top 20 of Book Charts

For the first time ever, a book supported by CFACT Europe entered the book charts. Last week, Edgar Gaertner's "Eco-Nihilism: A Critique of Political Ecology" appeared on #20 of the BOD book charts in non-fiction. Even better: in this week's charts, the book defended its position.

"The example of Edgar Gaertner's book shows that the German readers are waiting for books promoting a more honest approach towards the environment" says Dr Holger Thuss, Executive Director of CFACT Europe. "We at CFACT Europe are very happy about that."

The best selling lists of BOD are released every Monday. There are two separate categories, one for fictional and one for non-fictional books. The Hamburg-based BOD GmbH is Europe's largest print-on-demand company.

Link to the charts (in German):
http://www.bod.de/index.php?id=1516

July 18, 2007

CFACT book reviewed by Deutschlandfunk:
"Global Warming is not the Greatest Problem"

Every Monday, Deutschlandfunk (DLF), Germany's national information radio station rewiews what it considers the nation's most important political literature. On June 16, between Czech President Vaclav Havel's autobiography, and a book by Alice Schwarzer, Germany's most prominent feminist, Edgar Gaertner's "Eco-nihilism" was presented and reviewed to the listeners.  more

July 10, 2007

Life Earth Day: Austrian Media reviews CFACT book

On the occasion of Al Gore’s Earth Day concert on July 7, one of Austria‘s largest daily’s, the Linz-based "Oberösterreichische Nachrichten" (OÖN), extensively covered and reviewed Edgar Gaertner’s new German book "Öko-Nihilismus: Eine Kritik der Politischen Ökologie" (Eco-nihilism: A Critique of Political Ecology). The book publication was arranged and supported by CFACT Europe. Alongside the review the paper also published an interview with the author.  more

June 2, 2007

Political Magazine of Switzerland Discusses "Eco-imperialism"

For the first time, a political magazine Switzerland extensively reviewed and debated the German edition of Paul Driessen’s book "Eco-imperialism: Green power – black death". Its latest edition, "Die Idee" ("The Idea"), newsletter of the Young Swiss People’s Party, has extensive coverage of both the topic and the book. Thus for the first time, a book edited and promoted by CFACT Europe influences the political debate in one of the oldest democracies of the world.  more

May 31, 2007

Report: Berlin Climate Conference

On May 30, CFACT Europe, together with the European Institute for Climate and Energy and the German Free Market Institute (GFMI), hosted a conference on current climate affairs in Berlin (Germany). The high profile event was hosted by GFMI-Executive Officer Wolfgang Mueller and CFACT Europe's executive director Dr. Holger Thuss and included presentations given by Dr. S. Fred Singer, the former President of the US Weather Satellite Service who also served as an IPCC reviewer, and Ernst Georg Beck, a lecturer and biologist from Freiburg (Germany).  more

May 15, 2007

CFACT Europe issues new book - "Eco-nihilism. A critique of Political Ecology" challenges environmentalist credo

In the 1970s and 80s, environmental policies rose in prominence as environmentalists scored many political victories. But their successes in cleaning rivers and air pollution were unfortunately followed by an environmental populism that led to an intellectual and economic downward spiral, often driven by fears of approaching ecological cataclysm. This devolution of the environmental movement is what German journalist and environment expert Edgar Gaertner has recently written about in his new book "Eco-nihilism: A critique of a Political Ecology."  more

May 6, 2007

Berlin Climate Conference

On May 30, CFACT Europe, together with the European Institute for Climate and Energy and the German Free Market Institute, is co-hosting a conference on current climate affairs in Berlin (Germany). Key note speakers are Prof. S. Fred Singer, University of Virginia, and Ernst Georg Beck, biologist, Freiburg (Germany).  more

May 2, 2007

Open Letter to Evangelical Academy in Bad Boll, Germany

Dear Mr. Kraus,
The "Appeal of the Climate Alliance," drafted by the Evangelical Academy of Bad Boll, contains mistakes in logic that cannot remain unchallenged...  more

April 23, 2007

EU-Commissioners Verheugen and Potocnik address annual congress of European Liberal Youth

LYMEC calls on Europe to rise to the challenge of globalization

Around 150 representatives of various European liberal youth organizations gathered in Berlin this past weekend at the annual congress of LYMEC, their European umbrella organization. Top speakers included EU-Commissioners Verheugen (Enterprise and Industry) and Potocnik (science and research). The congress was equally addressed by other distinguished speakers: Guido Westerwelle, Chairman of the German FDP, Markus Löning, Vice-president of the European Liberal Democrat Party (ELDR), Alexander Alvaro, Member of the European Parliament, Aliou Sow, Minister of Labour of Senegal, Chris Gallaway, President of the Young Democrats of America, Johannes Vogel, President of Junge Liberale (JuLis) and Roger Albinyana i Saigi, President of the European Liberal Youth (LYMEC). Following an invitation of LYMEC, CFACT Europe Secretary General Holger Thuss also attended the meeting.  more

March 28, 2007

12 reasons why the EU Emissions Trading Scheme is an environmental and economic failure

In 2005 the EU created an ambitious EU-wide Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to tackle the alleged growing threat from global warming.

The idea of a market-based solution to pollution control is appealing. Permit-trading schemes have worked successfully in the past, with the US sulfur dioxide trading system since 1990 perhaps being the best-known example.  more

March 8, 2007

Today on UK Channel 4:
Documentary Claims
'Global Warming Is Lies'

Accepted theories about man causing global warming are "lies" claims a controversial new TV documentary. 'The Great Global Warming Swindle' - backed by eminent scientists - is set to rock the accepted consensus that climate change is being driven by humans.

The programme, to be screened on Channel 4 on Thursday March 8, will see a series of respected scientists attack the "propaganda" that they claim is killing the world's poor. Even the co-founder of Greenpeace, Patrick Moore, is shown, claiming African countries should be encouraged to burn more CO2.  more

February 8, 2007

Brussels: EPP Seminar on "Europe's energy challenge" reflects divide between old, new Europe

Majority of participants disagree with panelists

The timing was perfect. With much of Europe in the middle of a heated public debate regarding energy security and global warming, the center-right European People's Party (EPP) -- Europe's largest alliance of political parties -- together with the think tank European Ideas Network (EIN), jointly organized an important, high profile seminar on "Europe's Energy Challenge".  more

February 12, 2007

Canadian Frazer Institute presents its own
Independent Summary for Policymakers
of the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report

The Independent Summary for Policymakers is a detailed and thorough overview of the state of climate change science as laid out in the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) draft report. This independent summary has been reviewed by more than 50 scientists around the world and their views on its balance and reliability are tabulated for readers. more

January 25, 2007

CFACT Europe Expert Joins Panel on Foreign Affairs

Berlin, Germany, 20 Jan. Today, Dr. Holger Thuss, Executive Director of CFACT EUROPE, joined a panel debating the role of ethical values in foreign affairs, in order to present his translation of Paul Driessen's best-selling book "Eco-imperialism: Green Power - Black Death". more

January 2, 2007

Biotech: transgenic potatoes supply polymer for sustainable diapers

One of the easiest ways to kill small talk is to say things like "To send troops to Iraq was a great idea. But I think we should send the NATO to Iran too." But there is one kind of comment that is even more efficient if you think you need to reduce the number of people feeling obliged to send you a Christmas card: Tell your friends you really like how biotechnology is producing transgenic plants, and that you serve genetically modified food to your kids on Christmas eve.  more

December 22, 2006

CFACT's Rothbard and Rucker on Environment, Development and Africa in "European View", the autumn edition of the journal of the European People's Party dedicated to "Energy, Environment and Politics"

In their article, David Rothbard and Craig Rucker urge EU policy makers to ensure that their new policies towards Africa will be beneficial in particular to African nations that were once European colonies. more

Welcome!

This is the website of the European Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT Europe). As part of the international CFACT-network we are active on all continents.

We are a non-governmental and non-partisan organization dedicated to the improvement of our environment, our public services and to efficient strategies to overcome poverty in Europe and beyond.

However - at our website you will NOT find the usual doomsday scenarios of conventional environmentalism. Actually, we are tired of these scenarios.

Why? Pessimism and extremism are destructive. We believe that there is a constructive solution for every basic human problem - and that these solutions should be responsible, ethical, conventional and based on the findings of free, unprejudiced scientific research.

Freedom, market economy and democracy provide sufficient means to feed the hungry and to decrease pollution. And many times, they ARE the means.

This is in very brief how we understand a "constructive tomorrow". More information on what we belief you will find in our Mission Statement. Also don't forget to check the publications section.

Furthermore, you will find sufficient and updated information on what we want, what we do and who we are in all other sections of this website.

Since we believe in free and open debates, our website contains articles that do not necessarily reflect the opinion of all members of our network, but are presenting interesting views often underrepresented.

We are also grateful for any comment, question and support.

Enjoy reading!