ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Wednesday 28 November 2012 14 Muharram 1434 - Volume 17 Number 5532 Price: QR2 Nakilat-Keppel Al Arabi stun wins Ship Al Rayyan Repair award in QBL Business | 21 Sport | 29 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Rising sea threatens Emir meets Ukrainian President artificial Gulf islands Rich, poor countries spar at climate talks BY SATISH KANADY a projected temperature rise will expires this year and remains the exacerbate the already high level most significant international DOHA: The phenomenon of of desertification of the region, achievement in the fight against rising sea levels is a strong sig- increasing the lack of arable land global warming. Countries are nal for investors pumping huge and water resources. Currently, hoping to negotiate an exten- money into artificial islands in the GCC region is importing over sion to the pact that runs until the Gulf region, according to 90 percent of their food demand. at least 2020 but several nations an expert. The countries possess the low- like Japan and Canada have said The slow-onset of effects of est renewable water supplies per they won’t be party to a new one. climate change is threatening capita in the world, despite an Marlene Moses, Chairwoman The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh the Gulf region. The reports of extremely high consumption rate. of a coalition of island countries, Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich in Doha yesterday. The Emir rising sea levels pose potential Earlier, releasing Greenwatch’s said she was “gravely disap- presented the Ukrainian President with the Necklace of Independence and the Ukrainian President presented threats to the low-lying coastal “Global Climate Risk Index 2013”, pointed” with rich nations, say- the Emir with the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise. zones of Qatar, Bahrain and the Sven and his colleague David ing they have failed to act or offer UAE. I would say it is not wise Eckstein said the countries of the up any new emissions cuts for the to invest hugely in the artificial Middle East are featured rather near term. The United States, for islands, Sven Harmeling, Team low on the 2013 Risk Index. But example, which is not a signatory Leader, International Climate the new aspects of the region’s of Kyoto, has said it would not Replace cylinders with Safi fish to be Policy, “Germanwatch” (picture weather pattern are expected to increase earlier commitments to left) told The Peninsula yesterday. be reflected in the Greenwatch’s cut emissions by 17 percent below “Germanwatch” is a global next Risk Index. Qatar’s “Vision 2005 levels by 2020. tested for NGO that actively promotes glo- 2030” is a strong reflection of the The position of Japan and other piped gas, says CMC bal equity and the preservation country’s ambition in environ- developed countries has the poten- metal contents of livelihood. This region is not mental management and protec- tial to reignite the battles between DOHA: Public representative Taking part in the debate in the known to be particularly vulner- tion objectives. rich and poor nations that have body, the Central Municipal House, she said she had submit- DOHA: Qatari authorities will able to the adverse impacts of On the second day of the meet, doomed past efforts to reach a Council (CMC), yesterday dis- ted a note to CMC’s general-sec- be conducting laboratory tests on climate change-at least not up to according to agencies, delegates deal. So far that hasn’t happened, cussed the dangers involved in retariat drawing the attention of samples of rabbit fish (safi) col- this point. However, this does not from island and African nations but countries like Brazil are warn- door-to-door sales of cooking Doha Municipality and the Traffic lected from the sea near Doha mean that the countries in the chided rich countries for refus- ing that it will be difficult for poor gas cylinders, with a member Department to the dangerous and Al Khor to check heavy region are not exposed to calami- ing to offer up new emissions cuts nations to do their part if they stressing the need to have piped practice. Not one but several metal levels. ties, he said. over the next eight years which continue watching industrialized gas channelled to homes and trucks filled with gas cylinders The move follows after reports Though slow, effects of cli- could help stem global warming nations shy away from legally- commercial users. can be seen parked near schools appearing in a section of the local mate change are threatening the The debate mostly swirled binding pacts like Kyoto. As for the supply of petroleum and the health centre in her con- media earlier that some people region. An expected decrease in around the Kyoto Protocol — a THE PENINSULA/AGENCIES products to filling stations, some stituency, Al Jefairi said. had taken ill after eating Safi precipitation in combination with legally-binding emissions cap that See also page 5, 6 & 7 CMC members called for a ban Mohamed bin Hamoud Al fish, raising doubts that they were the movement of oil tankers on Shafi said oil tankers, especially, ‘contaminated’ with heavy metals. the roads during day time. shouldn’t be allowed to pass The fish samples will begin to The CMC took up the issue through busy streets. They should be sent for laboratory tests to for threadbare debate after an instead use auxiliary routes. the Supreme Council of Health oil tanker recently exploded on He said only fellow Qatari (SCH) from December 1, a joint a busy road in Riyadh claiming nationals should be allowed to statement issued by the SCH and several lives and leaving many drive oil tankers as they would the Ministry of Environment said. injured. feel more responsible while han- Similar tests were conducted in “We are witnessing so much dling such hazardous materials. 2010 on the samples of this very development so why we can’t have “But the tragedy is whenever a fish and low levels of zinc and lead pipeline networks to supply cook- fellow Qatari goes enquiring about were found, so the fish were fit for ing gas to users? Why we are still job prospects as a driver he is told human consumption. relying on door-to-door supply of that there is no vacancy,” said Al The SCH and the Ministry said gas cylinders?,” asked Mohamed Shafi without naming Qatar Fuel doubts that the sea water near Al Muslemani. Company (Woqod), local distribu- Al Khor was polluted with heavy The lone woman member of tors of petroleum products. metals due to the flow of affluents the CMC, Sheikha Al Jefairi, Another CMC member, from the waste water treatment said she had been consistently Mohamed Al Hajri emphasised plant nearby were baseless. The raising the issue of gas cylin- the need to shift Woqod’s depot statement said that those eating der trucks being parked near from Abu Hamour saying it was contaminated fish do not take ill The Fourth Plenary meeting of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action in progress at the the primary health centre and right in the middle of residential suddenly as the impact is gradual, Plenary 1 Conference Hall, at QNCC, yesterday. SALIM MATRAMKOT schools in her constituency (Old localities. and asked people not to lend ears Airport Area). THE PENINSULA to rumours. THE PENINSULA Syrian rebels down army helicopter Egyptians challenge Mursi in nationwide protests DAMASCUS: Syrian rebels CAIRO: Tens of thousands overshadow the show of strength A 52-year-old protester died “We don’t want a dictatorship in a town north of Cairo where downed an army helicopter for Egyptians protested yesterday by the normally divided oppo- after inhaling teargas in Cairo, again. The Mubarak regime was a Muslim Brotherhood youth the first time yesterday with against President Mohammed nents of Islamists in power, posing the second death since Mursi a dictatorship. We had a revolu- was killed in clashes on Sunday. a ground-to-air missile from Mursi in one of the biggest ral- Mursi with the biggest challenge last week issued a decree that tion to have justice and freedom,” Hundreds have been injured. newly acquired stocks, a watch- lies since Hosni Mubarak’s over- in his five months in office. “The expanded his powers and barred 32-year-old Ahmed Husseini said “The main demand is to with- dog said, in a potential turning throw, accusing the Islamist people want to bring down the court challenges to his deci- in Cairo. The fractious ranks of draw the constitutional declara- point for the 20-month conflict. leader of seeking to impose a regime,” protesters in Tahrir sions. Mursi’s administration has Egypt’s non-Islamist opposition tion (decree). This is the point,” “It is the first time that the rebels new era of autocracy. chanted. Protesters also turned defended the decree as an effort have been united on the street said Amr Moussa, former Arab have shot down a helicopter with Police fired tear gas at stone- out in Alexandria, Suez, Minya to speed up reforms and complete by crisis. League chief and presidential a surface-to-air missile,” Syrian throwing youths in streets near and other Nile Delta cities. a democratic transformation. Mursi’s move provoked a candidate who has joined the new Observatory for Human Rights direc- the main protest in Cairo’s Tahrir The protest called by leftists, But opponents say Mursi is rebellion by judges and has bat- opposition coalition, the National tor Rami Abdel Rahman said.