Daily View 2×2: 31 January 2009 – India keeps Copenhagen pledge on emission cuts

It’s Sunday. It’s 9am. It’s time for RISO: The Movie, but first the news.

2 Must-Read Blog Posts

What are other Liberal Democrat bloggers saying? Here’s are two posts that have caught the eye from the Liberal Democrat Blogs aggregator:

• Simon Hughes takes on First Capital Connect: Chris White reports
• Liberal Internationalism: Alex Wilcock takes a reassuringly extensive look at what the Liberal Democrats stand for

Spotted any other great posts in the last day from blogs that aren’t on the aggregator? Do post up a comment sharing them with us all.

It’s nearly time for RISO: The Movie. Nearly, but not quite…

2 Big Stories

India keeps Copenhagen pledge on emission cuts

India is stepping up pressure on the West to act on climate change. On Saturday, the government formally conveyed to UNFCCC that India will endeavour to reduce the emission intensity of its GDP by 20-25% by 2020 in comparison to the 2005 level through domestic mitigation actions…

The decision assumes significance in view of India’s traditional position on the issue of climate change. While the Indian government has recognised the Copenhagen Accord as a political ‘guiding’ document, it has refused to accept it as legally binding. The government has also maintained that the Accord cannot continue while sidetracking the official UN negotiation process on climate change. [Times of India]

‘Callous, unethical and dishonest’: Dr Andrew Wakefield

The panel’s findings were astounding, both in their number and substance. More than 30 charges were found proven against Wakefield. For him alone they ran across 52 pages. Embracing four counts of dishonesty — including money, research and public statements — they painted a picture of a man not to be trusted.

Other proven charges included nine of mistreating developmentally challenged children: causing invasive “high-risk” research to be carried out without ethical approval and against their best clinical interests.

The panel ruled that Wakefield caused three children to undergo lumbar punctures without clinical reason. Three more rulings said he had breached his employment contract at the hospital’s medical school which forbade him from involvement in patient care.

He was also found to have shown “a callous disregard” for the “distress and pain” of children to whom he paid £5 in return for blood samples at his son’s fifth birthday party. [Sunday Times]

Sunday Bonus

RISO: The Movie. It’s what you’ve been waiting for, isn’t it?