(March 11, 2010) The large-scale construction that accompanied the building of the Three Gorges dam and its reservoir has increased the number of landslides—both new and reactivated—in the surrounding area. County seats recently built on land near the reservoir are now particularly prone to landslides. Local schools and residential buildings are already suffering cracked foundations and walls.
China idles 40% of windpower turbine output capacity
(March 11, 2010) China is idling as much as 40 percent of its wind-turbine factories following a surge in investment driven by the government’s renewable-energy goals, the vice president of Shanghai Electric Group Corp. said.
Hidden waters, dragons in the deep: the freshwater crisis in China’s karst regions
(January 18, 2010) Just like the polluted waters of the Yangtze River, the eroded hills of the Loess Plateau and sandstorms whipped up in the deserts of Inner Mongolia that pummel Beijing every spring, the Shi Dong and Nan Dong caves of Yunnan Province represent the front lines of China’s fresh water crisis. Studies of China’s southwest karst region indicate the water beneath the surface is contaminated with bacteria, chemicals and sediments that drain off the land. Moreover, the region’s porous landscape makes securing a steady supply of water for agriculture and household use an often daily challenge.
Beijing once again turning to Hebei to solve its water problems
(March 9, 2010) Beijing’s worsening water crisis is once again forcing its neighbouring province Hebei to sacrifice more of its dwindling reserves. According to a recent report from China Daily, Hebei is expected to open four of its reservoirs this year in an effort to help cover demand in the country’s water-starved capital.
Mighty Mekong is drying up
(March 9, 2010) Resentment is simmering among Thai fishing communities along the Mekong River facing a prolonged dry spell and record-low water levels.
Local residents blame China’s dams upstream for disrupting fish and other marine life, causing a sharp drop in fish catches and in turn affecting their livelihoods.
Three Gorges construction fund under scrutiny
(March 8, 2010) A Chinese law school graduate recently sued China’s Ministry of Finance for denying his right, as a taxpayer, to information about the Three Gorges Construction Fund. This is the first time a taxpayer has challenged the Chinese regime.
Ethiopia aid diverted for rebel arms in 1980s: BBC
(March 4, 2010) Millions of dollars of international aid for victims of the mid-1980s famine in Ethiopia was diverted to rebels to buy weapons in the African country, a BBC investigation reported Wednesday.
Three Gorges reservoir plagued by hazards
(March 6, 2010) The fragile hilly ecosystem near the Three Gorges Reservoir has suffered a series of plights including geologic hazards, stone desertification and water pollution, said a vice-mayor of Chongqing municipality, the Beijing Times reported on Saturday.
Billions for Haiti, a criticism for every dollar
(March 5, 2010) The world’s bill for the Haitian earthquake is large and growing — now $2.2 billion — and so is the criticism about how the money is being spent.
The NS Interview: Dambisa Moyo, economist
(March 5, 2010) Interview with Dambisa Moyo from The New Statesman.com.
BECOL’s mindless meeting
(March 5, 2010) When it comes to the Chalillo Dam, it appears that we are supposed to accept all the outrageous and misleading things we are told and not question the logic or the contradictions of what they say.
Foreign aid that hurts rather than helps
(March 4, 2010) When it comes to giving aid to places like Haiti and Chile, sometimes a helping hand can have unintended consequences. Sabri Ben-Achour reports on the economics of disaster relief.
Beijing’s mirage: A water park in a water-starved city
(March 4, 2010) As Beijing’s water crisis continues to worsen, government officials say they intend to transform the city’s famed Olympic Water Cube into a massive water park, featuring seven-story water slides and a wave machine. Operators of the stadium say the project will cost 200-million yuan ($29-million).
China villagers moved to quench the urban thirst
(March 3, 2010) About 330,000 people are relocating as part of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, which will eventually see water transferred from the wet south to the dry north, where it is desperately needed. It is the biggest mass migration in China since the Three Gorges Dam project, under which some 1.5 million people have been relocated.
Foreign aid takes another blow–this time in Australia
(March 3, 2010) Criticism of the high salaries being offered to contractors working with AusAID, Austrialia’s national aid agency, is the latest example of the increased scrutiny facing aid agencies around the world. The criticism comes after a recent audit showed that a number of aid workers are earning more money than the country’s Prime Minister. And they’re doing so tax-free.
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
Lisa Peryman
Probe Media
Other News Sources
Probe International 