http://www.alainhubert.com/ Alain Hubert, Ulimate Earth en-uk Thu, 09 Sep 2010 02:03:01 +0200 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 02:03:01 +0200 webmaster@alainhubert.com http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/helping_pakistan_a_matter_of_humanity/ As you all know, the International Polar Foundation usually keeps to its mission. Yet, whether you feel concerned by the future of our Earth or not –and we all should– you cannot, as a human being, not be moved by the dramatic events that are currently striking Pakistan. Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:43:13 +0200 http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/helping_pakistan_a_matter_of_humanity/ http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/the_extent_of_sea_ice_is_not_all_that_matters/ Every now and again, I would like to draw our readers’ attention to a particular item of polar topicality. Today, I would like to zoom in on an article written by Chris Mooney. He points out that the reduction of the Arctic pack ice surface is not the only problem caused by global warming. There are also drastic changes to its thickness and its quality. Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:16:16 +0200 http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/the_extent_of_sea_ice_is_not_all_that_matters/ http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/UNICEFs_life-saving_operation_in_Pakistan_in_jeopardy_due_to_funding_s/ ISLAMABAD/Brussels, 17 August 2010 - UNICEF warned today that serious funding shortfalls are jeopardising its humanitarian operation in Pakistan. UNICEF is extremely concerned at the lack of funds for its water and sanitation operation, with millions of children at risk from water-borne diseases. Thu, 19 Aug 2010 09:25:00 +0200 http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/UNICEFs_life-saving_operation_in_Pakistan_in_jeopardy_due_to_funding_s/ http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/ipf_at_schneider_electric_vip_event_in_ostend/ On June 9th 2010, Schneider Electric organized a VIP Event in Ostend. The event, in which the IPF participated, started with an academic meeting that was opened by Jean-Paul Brees, President of Schneider Electric in Belgium. Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:49:27 +0200 http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/ipf_at_schneider_electric_vip_event_in_ostend/ http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/reciprocal_awards/ On Friday 04 June, on the premises of the Libre Belgique, the prize-giving ceremony in relation to the Belgian Energy and Environment Awards took place for the fifth time. Since 2006, the “Belgian Energy and Environment Awards” have paid tribute to more than 600 Belgians who, in an individual capacity or via their organisations, have made exceptional contributions to the construction of a sustainable future at local, regional or national levels. Tue, 08 Jun 2010 08:42:02 +0200 http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/reciprocal_awards/ http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/a_polar_secretariat_for_the_belgian_research_station/ Following the donation of the Princess Elisabeth Research Station by the International Polar Foundation last April, the Belgian Government has set up a new separately-managed State Institution, the Polar Secretariat, with Alain Hubert as its Chair. Sun, 06 Jun 2010 08:56:18 +0200 http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/a_polar_secretariat_for_the_belgian_research_station/ http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/successful_launch_of_cryosat-2/ During the Arctic Arc Expedirion of 2007, Alain Hubert and Dixie Dansercoer had collected snow samples during the entire crossing of the arctic ice pack. The datas have been made on behalf of ESA as a technical partner for the further launching of the new european satellite CryoSat-2. Wed, 05 May 2010 14:43:53 +0200 http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/successful_launch_of_cryosat-2/ http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/alain_hubert_at_the_rtbf_belgian_radio/ On April 6th 2010, Alain Hubert was interviewed by the Belgian journalist, Georges Lauwerijs (RTBF), for the 'Matin Première' programme. They talked about Belgium’s Princess Elisabeth Antarctic Station. Here are the most significant moments. Fri, 16 Apr 2010 08:22:51 +0200 http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/alain_hubert_at_the_rtbf_belgian_radio/ http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/haiti_unicef_good_will_ambassasor/ Just back from a few days spent in Haiti as a Unicef goodwill ambassador and I would like to dwell for a moment on the actual concept of the goodwill ambassador, as well as make a few necessary reminders. Plus, of course, I want to talk about what I saw out there on the ground as the wrongly-named ‘reconstruction phase’ was just swinging into action. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:54:20 +0100 http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/haiti_unicef_good_will_ambassasor/ http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/interview_with_alain_hubert_about_oxfam_trailwalker/ Belgiam journalist Grégory Laermans has interviewed Alain Hubert about his support of the 2010 edition of the well known event 'Oxfam Trailwalker' due to take place this summer in Les Fagnes (Ardennes). This interview has been published in the belgian newsspapers 'De Morgen' and 'Le Soir' on February 22nd. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 11:48:11 +0100 http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/interview_with_alain_hubert_about_oxfam_trailwalker/ http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/just_before_i_head_to_haiti_with_unicef/ This week I have been invited as a Unicef ambassador to make a short trip to Haiti. My stay there will enable me to assess the relief programmes that Unicef is implementing on the ground. Many of these programmes have, of course, been running since the dramatic earthquake that occurred on 12th January, but what the general public may not be aware of is that Unicef has already been working for quite a few years in Haiti and certainly well before the latest disaster to hit the area. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:02:23 +0100 http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/just_before_i_head_to_haiti_with_unicef/ http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/princess_elisabeth_antarctica_zero_emission_objective_achieved/ This is the big news for today: after successful completion of the final tests of all systems, the Princess Elisabeth Station now operates solely on renewable energies, achieving a major first. The official press release is available for download on the IPF website. Wed, 17 Feb 2010 09:55:28 +0100 http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/princess_elisabeth_antarctica_zero_emission_objective_achieved/ http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/seule_la_solidarite_peut_apporter_une_reponse_constructive/ The earthquake in Haiti of this Tuesday, 12 January has proven to be one of strongest ever recorded in 200 years. It is an immense catastrophe, yes, and especially because that country in no way has the means of coping with it. Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:30:42 +0100 http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/seule_la_solidarite_peut_apporter_une_reponse_constructive/ http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/alain_hubert_live_from_utsteinen/ A few days ago, we announced that we would have Alain Hubert on the phone for a short interview. Here he is answering Michel Brent's questions and explaining the (his) daily routine during this year BELARE expedition revolving abound the Princess Elisabeth Station. Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:29:42 +0100 http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/alain_hubert_live_from_utsteinen/ http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/about_the_copenhagen_un_conference/ The UNCCC in Copenhagen is important in that it brings all of the partners together round the table to discuss reaching a possible common standpoint for achieving a significant reduction in greenhouse gases to replace the Kyoto Protocol in 2012. This meeting is important because a joint solution needs to found to the question of anthropic global warming, since greenhouse gases are also distributed in less than a year throughout the lower atmosphere surrounding the planet. It is vital for a decisive step forward to be taken in this area. Also, the industrialised nations (which are the leading culprits in the exponential rise in greenhouse gases) need to be prepared to share their environment-related technologies with emerging countries, which are hungry for energy today. Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:39:07 +0100 http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/about_the_copenhagen_un_conference/ http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/i_invite_you_to_join_the_growing_climate_wave/ Saturday 5th December, join the growing Climate Wave. Brussels, 25th November 2009: International negotiations on the climate will be reaching a decisive turning point this coming 7th to 18th December. If these talks do not result in a solid agreement, it will not be just the environment that will suffer the consequences, but entire human populations. Business and social circles will be affected, too. Which is why the Copenhagen agreement is everybody’s business. With thousands of people in the heart of Europe demanding a proper and effective response to global warming, the people of Belgium are taking up the challenge... Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:45:24 +0100 http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/i_invite_you_to_join_the_growing_climate_wave/ http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/en_direct_de_lantarctique/ Thursday, 03 December: we have a telephone appointment this evening with Alain Hubert, who left for the Antarctic a month ago. He will tell us how the Belgian station seemed to him after eight months of absence, what his daily work consists of, how the Japanese who came to visit the station a few days ago reacted and which tasks are awaiting him before his return to Brussels in the middle of February.  As soon as we have made a transcript of this conversation, we will publish it. Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:50:31 +0100 http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/en_direct_de_lantarctique/ http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/welcome_to_my_new_website/ I finally had the time to work on the long overdue redesign of my website with the geeks at the International Polar Foundation. I hope you will enjoy this new version, which I will try to update as often as possible with the help of my long time friend Michel Brent. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:58:31 +0100 http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/welcome_to_my_new_website/ http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/belare_2009-2010_the_new_season_has_just_begun/ After the briefing of Friday October 16th in the headquarters of the IPF, we can now confirm that the new season for the Princess Elisabeth Station has started! 44 people will take part in this season, staying between 1 and 5 months on the spot. The objective for this year is to finalize the tests of all the technical systems of the station. Moreover, a new satellite antenna will be installed next to the station. Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:10:42 +0100 http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/belare_2009-2010_the_new_season_has_just_begun/ http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/unicef_mission_in_pakistan/ At the end of June, I participated in a mission organised by UNICEF Belgium in Pakistan as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. We left for the Mardan district where whole families fled their homes to avoid getting caught up in fights between the army and Islamists in the Swat Valley area. Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:24:57 +0200 http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/unicef_mission_in_pakistan/ http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/invited_to_monaco_for_an_antarctic_evening/ Invited by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, I attended a special event on Antarctica that followed up on the Prince's journey to the 7th continent during the 2008-2009 austral season. It was held on April 14th at the Grimaldi Forum of Monaco and gathered a number of scientific personalities, schoolchildren, journalists and citizens. Fri, 01 May 2009 13:56:06 +0200 http://www.alainhubert.com/news/news_detail/invited_to_monaco_for_an_antarctic_evening/