Turismo e ordenamento do território

As relações entre o ordenamento do território e o turismo nunca foram pacíficas. Por razões várias mas que resultam, no essencial, do confronto de duas perspectivas (territorial/sectorial) e duas lógicas (público/privado) supostamente divergentes, relativamente aos modelos de ocupação e aos regimes de uso do solo estabelecidos pelos instrumentos de planeamento e de gestão do território. Regra geral este confronto é apresentado como opondo uma visão integrada do território, alicerçada em objectivos e estratégias de desenvolvimento sustentável, a uma visão parcelar do sector e do "negócio", fundada em objectivos e estratégias de desenvolvimento económico e de maximização dos benefícios privados. Mas não será esta uma representação caricatural, e forçosamente simplista e redutora, que ignora ou desvaloriza a complexidade do problema e as contradições e insuficiências do nosso sistema actual de ordenamento do território?

Creio bem que sim. É verdade que não podemos ignorar quer a pesada herança que o País tem neste domínio, quer as dificuldades de compatibilização, por vezes insuperáveis, de interesses tão díspares e mesmo antagónicos. Mas também não é menos verdade que a ausência de um sistema global e verdadeiramente integrado de gestão do território e a fraca ou inexistente articulação entre instrumentos de política sectorial e de planeamento territorial condicionam ou penalizam fortemente o desenvolvimento de sectores como o turismo.

Um exemplo sintomático desta situação é ilustrado pelo caso do Douro, onde a complexa e desarticulada camada de instrumentos de planeamento e de ordenamento do território que incide sobre a região impede, na opinião dos autarcas, dos investidores e de muitos responsáveis públicos, não só a concretização do Plano de Desenvolvimento Turístico (PDTVD) mas também a implementação dos inúmeros projectos que já receberam da Agência Portuguesa e de Investimento (API) o estatuto de Projectos de Interesse Nacional (PIN).

Graças à valia do seu património natural e cultural, à sua crescente notoriedade internacional e aos, não menos importantes, prometidos apoios públicos, o Douro começou a ser cobiçado pelos agentes económicos ligados ao sector turístico. Sucedem-se assim os anúncios de intenções e de projectos de investimento aldeamentos turísticos em Alfândega da Fé, Freixo de Espada à Cinta, Penedono; hotéis de charme em Alijó e Lamego; hotéis & resorts & spa & golfes em Mesão Frio, Alijó, Sabrosa, etc. Mas a quase totalidade destes projectos enfrenta dificuldades sérias na sua concretização, a maioria das vezes por razões que têm com a total desadequação dos planos em vigor (o Plano de Ordenamento das Albufeiras da Régua e Carrapatelo; o Plano Intermunicipal de Ordenamento do Território do Alto Douro Vinhateiro e os vários Planos Directores Municipais) à estratégia de desenvolvimento turístico formulada pelo PDTVD.

Este exemplo revela o estado caótico e anacrónico em que se encontra o nosso sistema actual de ordenamento do território, marcado pela sobreposição de planos com âmbitos e objectivos diferenciados, insuficientemente articulados entre si e, a maioria das vezes, pouco consentâneos com as estratégias e as prioridades de desenvolvimento veiculadas pelas entidades locais, regionais e sectoriais e com as intenções e as apostas dos potenciais investidores privados. E permite perceber até que ponto, em situações como estas, os conflitos são inevitáveis e as consequências desastrosas para os territórios onde o turismo é visto como uma das principais alavancas do processo de desenvolvimento.

Mc Cann furiosos com especulações

"As notícias que apareceram hoje em alguns jornais são inacreditáveis. O Gerry e a Kate não têm nada a esconder, estão inteiramente inocentes".

A afirmação é de Clarence Mitchell, o porta-voz da família McCann e surgem depois das notícias veiculados por alguns jornais que, citando fontes policiais, dão conta de uma teoria que aponta para o facto do casal ter enterrado a filha, Madeleine, em Huelva, durante uma viagem que fizeram aquela cidade espanhola.As notícias que, "são pura especulação e não fazem nenhum sentido", provocaram uma forte reacção do assessor do casal, que ontem se mostrou claramente perturbado com o assunto.

Segundo Clarence Mitchell, que trabalha exclusivamente para a família, os pais de Madeleine não acreditam que tal teoria possa estar a ser considerada pela polícia e garantem que "todos os seus passos, desde o desaparecimento da menor, são do conhecimento da Polícia Judiciária".

Desta forma, Mitchell responde às alegações de que existe um lapso de duas horas nos depoimentos do casal, relativamente ao dia em que estiveram em Huelva, no início de Agosto.Esta teoria foi lançada há quatro dias por um blogue, da autoria do jornalista freelancer Paulo Reis, e reciclada dias depois por dois jornais diários portugueses.

O jornal britânico "The Sun" pegou também na história e afirmou que esta é uma teoria em análise pela polícia portuguesa. Também o "Evening Standard" aborda o mesmo tema mas dá destaque ao facto de Kate e Gerry não poderem falar com a imprensa.

De acordo com o jornal, a família começa a perder a paciência para os rumores da imprensa e quer concentrar-se na campanha "Find Madeleine".

No entanto, diz o jornal, Kate e Gerry estão limitados pelas restrições impostas pela PJ ao casal, que não pode discutir quaisquer detalhes da investigação.Cabe assim a Mitchell fazer eco das manifestações da família McCann, que continua a acreditar que a filha está viva.

O porta-voz também já veio desmentir as notícias da contratação de detectives privados para trabalharem em Portugal (a legislação também não o permite), mas admite a possibilidade de haver detectives contratados pelo casal, noutros países, que procuram Madeleine. "Essas notícias são falsas", assegurou Clarence Mitchell, explicando que "qualquer trabalho que esteja a ser feito para encontrar Madeleine está a ser feito dentro da lei".

O assessor voltará a falar com os jornalistas depois de amanhã.

NOT SOCIALLY UPLIFTING: CHINA TV BRA BAN

China has banned TV networks showing "saucy" adverts for push-up bras and figure-hugging underwear ahead of a major Communist Party meeting next month.

It follows a similar ban on "sexually provocative sounds" on television.

China's State Administration Of Radio, Film & Television said other targets of the crackdown included "low-brow and base" commercials for sex toys and ads featuring famous people or experts attesting to the efficacy of medicines.

"Every television advertisement management bureau and television station must strengthen their political consciousness and responsibility towards society," said spokesman Tian Jin.

The order is the latest in a raft of measures which have included axing reality shows featuring sex changes and plastic surgery, and banning talent contests during prime-time viewing periods.

The media watchdog's edicts have reached fever pitch in recent weeks, ahead of a meeting of the 17th Communist Party congress, a sensitive five-yearly meeting at which key national leaders are appointed and policy is set out for the next few years.

It earlier urged the country's increasingly freewheeling broadcasters to forgo vulgarity and bad taste in the pursuit of ratings in favour of providing "inspiring" content for the masses imbued with socialist values.

State television boss Zhao Huayong told his staff: "Create a positive atmosphere for public opinion.

"Strictly adhere to propaganda requirements. Do not rush to report, do not report impulsively and make sure there are no mistakes from reports on any large events."

Farmers' Fears Confirmed Over Bluetongue

Bluetongue disease is circulating in Britain, the Deputy Chief Vet Fred Landeg has confirmed. Farmers described the news as "a devastating blow". Julie Etchingham spoke to Sky correspondent David Bowden following the announcement at Defra.

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Is This Woman A September 11 Fraud?

When Tania Head tells her story about September 11, 2001 it's a story of tragedy, heroism, survival and love. But there seems to be one thing wrong with her account - it may be a complete fabrication.

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'Sighting' Boosts Hunt For Madeleine

Gerry and Kate McCann have welcomed the latest supposed sighting of their daughter in Morocco, even though it did not turn out to be her.

They believe the media coverage boosted their campaign to find Madeleine, who went missing shortly before her fourth birthday.

A spokeswoman for the family told Sky News Online: "They were obviously disappointed it was not her.

"But they are pleased with the publicity because it has turned the focus back on the search for Madeleine."

There have been several apparent sightings of the British girl since she disappeared from a holiday resort in Portugal on May 3.

The latest one turned out to be the five-year-old daughter of an olive farmer.

Reporters went to the remote village of Zinat after an image of a young girl being carried on a Moroccan woman's back was shown around the world as a possible sighting of Madeleine.

But it emerged on Wednesday that the girl in the photograph was youngster Bushra Binhisa.
The McCanns' spokeswoman said the couple believe Madeleine is still alive.

She said the pair, from Rothley in Leicestershire, have spent a lot of time recently on a fresh publicity campaign.

A new poster is planned in the coming weeks for Portugal, Spain and Morocco, where there have been a number of reported sightings of the youngster.

The couple are still regarded as suspects by Portuguese police, but insist they had nothing to do with her disappearance.


Sighting Ruled Out In Hunt For Madeleine 26/09/07

It seems the picture of a blonde girl taken in Morocco is not Madeleine McCann, as had been hoped. Evening Standard journalist Rashid Razaq flew there from London and saw the youngster for himself. He speaks to Julie Etchingham.

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Traduções atrasam cartas para amigos dos Mc Cann

O Ministério Público (MP) de Portimão continua a preparar as cartas rogatórias que vão permitir novas inquirições aos amigos do casal McCann. As traduções para inglês estão a demorar algum tempo, revelando que, além das traduções, "há sempre coisas novas que vão surgindo" no processo e que também estão a atrasar um pouco a expedição das cartas para Inglaterra.



Com estas novas inquirições, que serão feitas aos sete adultos (três casais e uma mulher) que passaram férias com a família McCann, no Ocean Club, na Praia da Luz, em Maio último, quando Madeleine desapareceu, a Polícia Judiciária (PJ) pretende apurar o que realmente se passou no dia 3. Os investigadores acreditam que, tal como os pais, os amigos ainda não contaram tudo o que sabem e, por isso, querem que, durante esta nova diligência, seja quebrado o "pacto de silêncio", alegadamente feito entre todos. É nessas diligências, que as autoridades concentram agora energias, enquanto se procura o eventual cadáver de Madeleine, que desapareceu em 3 de Maio do quarto onde dormia com os irmãos gémeos.

Em Rothley, no Reino Unido, Kate e Gerry McCann tentam manter uma vida normal. As declarações à Imprensa continuam a ser asseguradas pelo porta-voz, Clarence Mitchell, que prometeu para a próxima semana um novo encontro com os jornalistas. Em Birmingham, o laboratório de ciência forense continua a analisar os vestígios recolhidos no apartamento do Ocean Club e nas roupas de Kate e dos amigos, que foram cheiradas pelos dois cães da Polícia de South Yorkshire, especialistas em detectar odor de cadáver e sangue. Os vestígios, alguns dos quais bastante danificados, encontram-se no laboratório desde o início de Agosto, não estando ainda prevista uma data para conclusão da análise. Dados que são aguardados com alguma expectativa pela PJ. AS e MR

Morreu no relvado a quatro meses de conhecer o filho

Um ataque fulminante roubou-lhe a vida a quatro meses de conhecer o filho. A mulher, levava já 150 dias de gestação de um menino que António Marco Salgueiral Ferreira (Marconi) nunca chegará a conhecer.

Tombou antes, em pleno relvado do estádio dos Trambelos, Viseu.Marconi estreava-se como treinador-adjunto do Lusitano de Vildemoinhos, o seu clube de futebol de sempre.

Anteontem à noite, preparava o campo para uma sessão de treinos com os pupilos, e caiu inanimado. De nada valeram as tentativas de reanimação de massagistas e colegas. Nem dos médicos que chegaram depressa. Marconi estava morto. Jazia no chão.

A morte prematura do jovem técnico auxiliar do Lusitano de Vildemoinhos vestiu de luto o clube e deixou consternada toda a população. A família está em estado de choque.

"Foi uma tragédia que se abateu sobre nós", sussurrou Sílvio Guedes, presidente do Vildemoinhos, fundado há 91 anos.

"Uma morte sem explicação", lembra o chefe do departamento de futebol, Carlos Jorge. Em Março, também durante um treino nos Trambelos, mas então ainda como jogador, Marconi sofreu um desmaio no relvado.

O susto levou-o a fazer todo o tipo de exames ao coração electrocardiogramas, ecografias, provas de esforço, etc.

"Não lhe detectaram nada de anormal. Mas, por precaução, o médico do clube e o conselho técnico do Lusitano aconselharam-no a deixar de jogar", recorda Carlos Jorge.

É então convidado para adjunto do treinador principal. E aqui, volta a demonstrar o mesmo empenho.

"Era um estudioso do futebol. Estava sempre a tomar notas. No treinos, tornou-se um auxiliar competentíssimo", conta o presidente do Vildemoinhos. No primeiro jogo oficial da época 2007/2008, realizado no domingo a contar para o campeonato da Divisão de Honra da Associação de Futebol de Viseu, o clube venceu por 3-1 o Campia.

"Sentiu-se-lhe uma alegria enorme no rosto", lembra Sílvio Guedes.

"Como jogador foi uma referência e agora despontava para uma promissora carreira de treinador. O seu desaparecimento é uma perda enorme para o Lusitano.

Nunca nos tinha acontecido uma tragédia como esta. Espero que isto nunca mais se repita. É uma dor imensa que sentimos. Temos recebido muitas mensagens de condolências", acrescenta o dirigente.O corpo de Marconi foi ontem autopsiado, mas desconhecia-se se o funeral decorrerá hoje.

"Estamos à espera de que o pai chegue do Canadá, para podermos acertar a hora e data", disse um familiar.

Doubt Over Claims Of 9/11 'Survivor'

An alleged victim of the September 11 terror attacks has been kicked out of a survivors group after growing doubts about her story.

Tania Head said she had been badly burned on the 78th floor of the south tower.

She claimed she had been saved by a man who died trying to help - and said a dying man handed her his inscribed wedding ring, which she later returned to his widow.

Ms Head also said her husband, or in some accounts her fiance, died in the north tower.

The board of the non-profit survivors' organisation has now removed her as president and director.
A statement on the group's website read: "Tania Head is no longer associated with the World Trade Centre Survivors' Network.

"Our organisation was created so that those affected by the terrorist attacks could help each other through crisis and its aftermath."

Ms Head has also stopped leading tours of the World Trade Centre site, where in the past she has shown around former New York City mayor and Republican presidential candidate Rudolph Giuliani.

Jennifer Adams, the Tribute Centre's CEO, said: "At this time, we are unable to confirm the veracity of Tania Head's connection to the events of September 11."

The New York Times reported that none of her claims had been verified and said Merrill Lynch & Company, where Ms Head told people she had worked, had no record of her employment.

The paper said Ms Head argued she had done nothing illegal and had not filed any claim with the federal Victim Compensation Fund.

On the fifth anniversary of the attacks, Ms Head said: "It was like King Kong had come up and basically taken a chunk out of the north tower.
"Black smoke was billowing out into the blue sky. It was such a contrast, I'll never be able to forget it."

World Remembers Terror Attack 11/09/07

Survivors and relatives have been marking the sixth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the US, which killed about 3,000 people. They did so as the man behind the atrocity, Osama bin Laden, released a new video. Lisa Holland reports.

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A WHOPPING GREAT BUNDLE OF JOY

A Siberian woman has given birth to a whopping baby girl who rocked the scales at 17.1lbs.


Nadia, 43-year-old Tatyana Barabanova's twelfth child, was delivered by Caesarean section in the local maternity hospital in Russia's Altai region on September 17.

She joins eight sisters and three brothers, all of whom weighed in at more than 11lbs.

"We were all simply in shock," said Nadia's mother. "What did the father say? He couldn't say a thing - he just stood there blinking."
"I ate everything, we don't have the money for special foods so I just ate potatoes, noodles and tomatoes," she added.

New-born Nadia is even bigger than Mexican baby Super Tonio who caused a sensation in February when he came into the world weighing a massive 14.5lbs.

Antonio Vasconcelos was also born by Caesarian and measured an enormous 22 inches in length.
Another Antonio, born in Salvador, Brazil, in January 2005, weighed an enormous 16lbs 11ozs when proud mother Teresa Alejandra Cruz, 23, gave birth.

Seven years earlier, his younger sister arrived weighing 11.46lbs.
According to Guinness World Records, the heaviest baby born to a healthy mother was a boy weighing 22lbs 8ozs, in Aversa, Italy, in September 1955.

The average weight for most healthy newborn babies is around 7.06lbs, according to World Health Organisation figures.

SMOKING CRACKDOWN IN NEW HIGHWAY CODE

Drivers could be prosecuted for smoking at the wheel, according to a warning in the latest version of the Highway Code.

Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick described the new code - the first update for eight years - as a "crucial tool for all road users".

However the AA said the new code, which contains 29 more rules than the previous one, would be harder to decipher.

AA spokesman Andrew Howard said: "After an eight-year gap since the last edition, it would have been helpful to have had the changes marked out, as they were in the draft, and allow experienced drivers to skim through this 307-point version.

"A major change is the code's inclusion of smoking at the wheel as behaviour that police may interpret as a distraction and failure to be in proper control of the vehicle. This addition will polarise drivers' opinions both for and against."

Among the changes is a new safety code for novice drivers.

It tells those new to the road: "If you are driving with passengers, you are responsible for their safety.

"Don't let them distract you or encourage you to take risks. Never show off or try to compete with other drivers, particularly if they are driving badly."

The code has also been updated to include new legislation that has been introduced on vehicle emissions.

It also includes the provision of new stopping/directing powers to traffic officers from the Vehicle & Operator Services Agency and the Highways Agency.

Mr Fitzpatrick said: "The Official Highway Code is for life - not just for passing your driving test. It is a crucial tool for all road users and applies to every stage of your life.
"Everyone should have a copy of the code to keep their knowledge up to date."

MUSIC - Elvis Presley

elvis-presley-love-me-tender

Not Found Him Yeti - Pic Goes For £3.5k

A photograph of a mysterious footprint believed to be that of a yeti has sold for £3,500.


A Christie's auction in London, themed on exploration and travel, included Captain Lawrence Oates' sleeping bag case from his ill-fated South Pole expedition with Captain Scott in 1912.

The 'yeti' footprint was photographed in the Menlung Basin in the Himalayas in 1951.

A team of mountaineers travelled to the region on a reconnaissance mission before attempting to conquer Everest for the first time, a feat achieved two years later.

A member of the expedition, Tom Bourdillon, sent it to his friend Michael Davies with an inscription on the reverse.

"Dear Mick, here are the footprint photos: sorry for the delay. We came across them on a high pass on the Nepal-Tibet watershed during the 1951 Everest expedition.

"They seemed to have come over a secondary pass at about 19,500ft, down to 19,000ft where we first saw them, and then went on down the glacier. We followed them for the better part of a mile.

"What it is, I don't know, but I am quite clear that it is no animal known to live in the Himalaya, and that it is big. Compare the depths to which it and Mike Ward (no featherweight) have broken into the snow. Yours, Tom Bourdillon."

Christie's spokesman Matthew Paton said: "There has been a great excitement over the yeti photograph. It trails a history of 20th century exploration in the Himalayas and we were very glad to see it go for more than twice its estimate."

The yeti was first sighted in 1925 by N A Tomaz, a member of the Royal Geographic Society, while on an expedition in the Himalayas.

A debate was sparked over the creature's existence, and several exploratory expeditions, but no conclusive evidence of the animal's existence has yet been found.

Becks Back After Dad's Heart Attack

Footballer David Beckham has flown home from the United States to be with his father, who is seriously ill in hospital.

The former England captain arrived at Heathrow at lunchtime after boarding a flight in Los Angeles on Wednesday night.

Ted Beckham, 59, was rushed to Whipps Cross Hospital, in Leytonstone, east London, after suffering a heart attack.

He was then transferred to the London Chest Hospital where he is said to be in a stable condition after surgery.

Mr Beckham was taken by ambulance to hospital from his home in Chingford, east London, after complaining of chest pains.

He added: "Victoria is in Japan working but obviously she has been informed of it and she is concerned."

Midfield star Beckham moved to the US in the summer after signing for LA Galaxy.

In 2005, his father, a gas fitter, published a book called David Beckham: My Son.

It reportedly led to a falling out but the pair have since patched up their differences.

Mr Beckham's first name is also David but he is known as Ted - short for Edward, his middle name.

Mr Beckham is divorced from David's mother, Sandra. The pair also had two daughters, Lynne and Joanne.

TOURIST STRIPPED BY ORANGUTAN

A French tourist has been stripped of her clothes by a marauding orangutan - getting bitten in the process.


The woman became embroiled in a scuffle with the animal after it tried to steal her backpack.

When she put up a fight, the beast took her bag along with her shoes, socks and trousers.

The tourist, who would only be named as Odile, was taking pictures of the orangutan, named Delima, in a park in Malaysia's Semenggoh Wildlife Centre on the island of Borneo.

But the animal got bored of being photographed and tried to take the tourist's bag.
Park wardens said the two fought over the backpack for some time before the battle moved on to the woman's clothes.

"He took my shoes and socks off, and then tried to take off my trousers," said Odile.
"As he couldn't manage it with his hands only, he tried with his teeth - and that's when I got bitten.

"As soon as he got my trousers he went away."
Chief park warden Wilfred Landong said: "She had scratches and bruise marks on her knees and thighs."

The tourist said Delima searched her bag as though she was looking for something to eat.
She insisted she had not tormented or provoked the animal while taking its photograph.
Mr Landong said the park considered the incident "an accident".
"We are not faulting anyone," he said.

"But we remind tourists that they should not go too near the orangutans."

Photo Girl 'Not Missing Madeleine'

Hopes that a blonde girl photographed in Morocco could be Madeleine McCann have been dashed after British journalists said they had tracked her down.

Reporters descended on the remote hillside village of Zinat in the north of the country after the image of a young girl being carried on a Moroccan woman's back was flashed around the world as a possible sighting of the missing girl.

But it quickly emerged that the girl in the photograph is believed by villagers to be five-year-old Bushra Binhisa, the daughter of an olive farmer.

Evening Standard journalist Rashid Razaq, who flew to Morocco from London, said he saw the youngster today.

He said: "She has got a resemblance to Madeleine but when you see her properly, it is obvious it isn't her."

Clarence Mitchell, the McCanns' spokesman, said: "Clearly, if these reports that the girl in the photograph isn't Madeleine are true, it is disappointing news.
"This is why Gerry and Kate refused to comment on individual sightings and why I was advising caution overnight.

"Clearly, the search for Madeleine will continue and I would appeal for everyone to refocus their efforts to achieve her safe return."

'Photo Is Not Madeleine'

It seems the picture of a blonde girl taken in Morocco is not Madeleine McCann, as had been hoped. Evening Standard journalist Rashid Razaq flew there from London and saw the youngster for himself. He speaks to Julie Etchingham.

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Tropical Storm Karen Forms in Atlantic

Tropical Storm Karen strengthened early Tuesday from the twelfth tropical depression of the season in the open Atlantic Ocean but posed no immediate threat to land.

At 5 a.m. EDT, Karen was centered about 1,565 miles east of the Windward Islands, with top sustained winds near 40 mph, the National Hurricane Center said. It was moving toward the west-northwest near 16 mph and was expected to strengthen over the next 24 hours. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 45 miles from Karen's center. On its current course, it is expected to hit two troughs, though forecasters are unsure how they will affect Karen.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Jerry weakened into a depression and then dissipated in cooler waters. Jerry, which formed Sunday, broke up Monday night. Jerry was the 10th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season . Forecasters expected it to be absorbed by a larger non-tropical low pressure system on Tuesday.

Sea Level Rise Could Flood Many Cities

Ultimately, rising seas will likely swamp the first American settlement in Jamestown, Va., as well as the Florida launch pad that sent the first American into orbit, many climate scientists are predicting. In about a century, some of the places that make America what it is may be slowly erased

Northeast: A map created by University of Arizona scientists, based on data from the U.S. Geological Survey, show areas in the Northeast that would become flooded if the the sea rose one meter.

Global warming - through a combination of melting glaciers, disappearing ice sheets and warmer waters expanding - is expected to cause oceans to rise by one meter, or about 39 inches. It will happen regardless of any future actions to curb greenhouse gases, several leading scientists say. And it will reshape the nation. Rising waters will lap at the foundations of old money Wall Street and the new money towers of Silicon Valley. They will swamp the locations of big city airports and major interstate highways. Storm surges worsened by sea level rise will flood the waterfront getaways of rich politicians - the Bushes' Kennebunkport and John Edwards' place on the Outer Banks. And gone will be many of the beaches in Texas and Florida favored by budget-conscious students on Spring Break. That's the troubling outlook projected by coastal maps reviewed by The Associated Press. The maps, created by scientists at the University of Arizona, are based on data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Few of the more than two dozen climate experts interviewed disagree with the one-meter projection. Some believe it could happen in 50 years, others say 100, and still others say 150. Sea level rise is "the thing that I'm most concerned about as a scientist," says Benjamin Santer, a climate physicist at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. "We're going to get a meter and there's nothing we can do about it," said University of Victoria climatologist Andrew Weaver, a lead author of the February report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in Paris. "It's going to happen no matter what - the question is when." Sea level rise "has consequences about where people live and what they care about," said Donald Boesch, a University of Maryland scientist who has studied the issue. "We're going to be into this big national debate about what we protect and at what cost." This week, beginning with a meeting at the United Nations on Monday, world leaders will convene to talk about fighting global warming . At week's end, leaders will gather in Washington with President Bush . Experts say that protecting America's coastlines would run well into the billions and not all spots could be saved. And it's not just a rising ocean that is the problem. With it comes an even greater danger of storm surge, from hurricanes, winter storms and regular coastal storms, Boesch said. Sea level rise means higher and more frequent flooding from these extreme events, he said.

2200: An Earth day is 0.12 milliseconds shorter, as rising temperatures cause oceans to expand toward the poles, speeding up the planet's rotation. Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

All told, one meter of sea level rise in just the lower 48 states would put about 25,000 square miles under water, according to Jonathan Overpeck, director of the Institute for the Study of Planet Earth at the University of Arizona. That's an area the size of West Virginia. The amount of lost land is even greater when Hawaii and Alaska are included, Overpeck said. The Environmental Protection Agency's calculation projects a land loss of about 22,000 square miles. The EPA, which studied only the Eastern and Gulf coasts, found that Louisiana, Florida, North Carolina, Texas and South Carolina would lose the most land. But even inland areas like Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia also have slivers of at-risk land, according to the EPA. This past summer's flooding of subways in New York could become far more regular, even an everyday occurrence, with the projected sea rise, other scientists said. And New Orleans' Katrina experience and the daily loss of Louisiana wetlands - which serve as a barrier that weakens hurricanes - are previews of what's to come there. Florida faces a serious public health risk from rising salt water tainting drinking water wells, said Joel Scheraga, the EPA's director of global change research. And the farm-rich San Joaquin Delta in California faces serious salt water flooding problems, other experts said. "Sea level rise is going to have more general impact to the population and the infrastructure than almost anything else that I can think of," said S. Jeffress Williams, a U.S. Geological Survey coastal geologist in Woods Hole, Mass. Even John Christy at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, a scientist often quoted by global warming skeptics, said he figures the seas will rise at least 16 inches by the end of the century. But he tells people to prepare for a rise of about three feet just in case. Williams says it's "not unreasonable at all" to expect that much in 100 years. "We've had a third of a meter in the last century." The change will be a gradual process, one that is so slow it will be easy to ignore for a while. "It's like sticking your finger in a pot of water on a burner and you turn the heat on, Williams said. "You kind of get used to it."l