WideWorld Bulletin 14

News in Brief

Copenhagen 2009

The Copenhagen climate change summit opened today, with delegates from 192 countries present in the Danish capital.

Reports suggest that divisions are already evident between countries – with small island states making it clear that they are not willing to let the fortnight conference end without a legally binding deal in place.

The objectives for the following two weeks have been clarified as discussing targets for greenhouse gas emissions, financial support and adaption to climate change and a carbon trading scheme aimed at ending the destruction of forests by 2030.

At this stage, though, it remains to be seen whether any concrete developments will be established.

Africa Trek

A 650km trekking route is to open in Africa, it has been announced. The ‘Rim of Africa’ – currently under construction in South Africa – calls itself ‘a walk of no ordinary proportion’. The route is planned to stretch from the Ceberberg wilderness to the Outeniqua mountains, and is estimated to take around 50 days to complete.

There will also be opportunities to join ten or eleven day hikes along sections of the trail. To sign up: www.rimofafrica.co.za

Former skier enjoys cycling debut

The former Olympic skier Alain Baxter has made his debut in the cycling world at the Manchester Revolution event. Baxter was stripped of an Olympic bronze for skiing back in 2002, when he failed a blood doping test.

The 35-year-old athlete says that he is now fully committed to cycling, and although his time at the Revolution event did not qualify for the competition, he remains optimistic that with practice he could have the talent to enter the competitive arena.

British geological pictures

The British Geological Survey has opened its image library for non-commercial use. As well as some stunning images of the UK, the website has a huge range of free data including maps.

To browse, visit: www.bgs.ac.uk