(November 20, 2009) A recent article from Canwest details the sharpening criticism facing Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai from foreign leaders, including U.S. President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Prime Minister Stephen Harper, concerning the country rampant corruption. But the article does little to confront the ugly reality that the massive amount of foreign aid entering Afghanistan may be playing a crucial role in supporting rampant corruption.
BJ hikes water & sewerage bills for non-residential use
(November 20, 2009) In Beijing the price of water and sewage treatment is going up for non-residential consumers.
Only democracy can clean up the planet: Save the ballot box and save the world
(November 20, 2009) It should be easy to demonstrate that democracy (however defined) is better for the environment than dictatorship (however defined) – and it is.
Video: China’s Three Gorges dam in trouble
(November 20, 2009) Report from Al Jazeera on rising costs of the Three Gorges dam.
The bills pile high for operators of Three Gorges
(November 19, 2009) A recent report by Chris Buckley in Reuters offers more evidence that the final price tag for the Three Gorges dam will be far higher than officials admit. According to Buckley, a draft plan prepared for the central government says a backlog of problems created by the construction of the dam require an additional $24.9-billion to solve.
The dam that shook the earth
(November 19, 2009) Peter Bosshard, policy director of International Rivers, provides a nice overview of the controversy surrounding the Zipingpu dam.
How Beijing accounts for the cost of the Three Gorges dam
(November 19, 2009) The project has been plagued by corruption, escalating costs, technological problems, human rights violations, and resettlement difficulties. The dam has caused flooding to numerous archaeological and cultural sites, the displacement of about 1.24 million people, and significant ecological changes, including an increased risk of landslides.
Africa: Foreign Aid Not Good for Region
(November 18, 2009) We must question foreign aid’s embedded, corrupting system that takes people who reside in resource-rich countries and makes them poor. Computer experts talk about malware—a short form for "malicious software" that infiltrates a computer without the owners’ informed consent. Foreign aid—like malware—harms a country’s operating system. The term "aid" in itself is corrupting. What is the justification for using such a term when Africans repay their debts, amounting to US$20 billion every year?
Did 2008 Wenchuan quake strike because China filled a reservoir?
(November 18, 2009) Scientists have seen this one before: Fill a reservoir behind a new dam, and, oops, you trigger an earthquake nearby not long after the lake is topped off.
Aid we give to the Third World is more harmful than helpful
Many countries are going backwards. This is not surprising. The UN and British government—egged on by NGOs and activists—has bet the house on the daft idea that if western governments transfer enough money to governments in poor countries, health systems will magically improve and medicines will get to sick kids. As far as strategies go, this is a turkey.
A Damned Dam
(November 17, 2009) For fifteen years, Three Gorges dam officials have been looking forward to the day they could declare the dam – the world’s most spectacular, and controversial, engineering feat – finished and operating at full capacity.
Foreign aid on the ropes
(November 16, 2009) The Canadian International Development Agency is effectively dysfunctional, lacking the ability to effectively and strategically deliver its $3-billion foreign aid budget, says a recent report by Canada’s auditor general, Sheila Fraser.
Wind power dilemma: Money blows away
(November 12, 2009) Various experts have started weighing in with suggestions for reducing overcapacity and streamlining wind energy in China, which is government subsidized. For example, State Council researchers recently called for a “systematic” approach to promoting healthy development of the industry.
Three Gorges PowerPoint presentation
(November 11, 2009) A fascinating PowerPoint presentation by Song-kai Yan from Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure Inc., providing an overview of the Three Gorges dam. The report offers a number of stunning photographs of the dam itself, and the area surrounding the project—both before and after construction.
A closer look at the odious debts doctrine
(November 11, 2009) The Akiton Finanzplatz Schweiz, an independent network that monitors the Swiss financial system, has today released a book detailing both doctrine of odious debts and ways countries and organizations can challenge illegitimate debts. The book, “How to Challenge Illegitimate Debt. Theory and Legal Case Studies,” will be available November 11 at 1 pm Geneva time for a free download.
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