(July 21, 2009) Developers building one of the world’s biggest hydropower projects in southwest China are taking dangerous shortcuts, state media reported Tuesday, citing the national auditor.
As a people, Americans giving more of themselves
The Globe and Mail’s Neil Reynolds breaks down the foreign aid numbers.
Interview with Dambisa Moyo
(July 20, 2009) Dambisa Moyo, economist and author of Dead Aid, discussing problems of foreign aid to the developing world. Moyo believes that pouring more aid into the coffers of African governments will do nothing to promote healthy economic growth. Instead, she calls for an opening of global trade, lower tariffs and a functioning tax system.
Carbon emissions trading system ‘seriously flawed’
(July 20, 2009) The system of trading carbon emissions at the heart of the ambitious low-carbon plan announced by the government last week is seriously flawed and close to becoming irrelevant, according to researchers behind a new analysis.
The Gr8 Escape: The G8 is doing very little to help Africa
(July 17, 2009) Foreign aid is again in the spotlight after the recent G8 meeting in L’Aquila, Italy. One area that garnered particular attention from the media was the decision by G8 leaders to increase aid to Africa for food security and agricultural development to $20-billion-a 33% increase from the previously promised $15-billion.
Obama’s plan to override Congressional conditions for US funding of World Bank is overwhelmingly rejected by lawmakers
(July 17, 2009) President Obama recently received a harsh lesson from Congress after he decided to openly ignore some of the environmental, labour and transparency regulations attached to funds allocated for the World Bank and IMF. Worse still for the President, the indictment came from both sides of the aisle—with 429-2 voting to negate the recent signing statement.
Beijing’s water drying up
(March 22, 2009) A province in north China that supplies Beijing with much needed water is itself facing serious shortages of the resource, state media reported ahead of World Water Day on Sunday.
Beijing Water Crisis: 1949 – 2008 Olympics
(June 26, 2006) Beijing’s policy of draining surrounding regions to ease water shortages in the ancient capital is akin to "quenching thirst by drinking poison," according to a new report by Probe International’s Beijing-based researchers. To keep water flowing to Beijing’s "green" Olympics this August, the water-strapped city is pumping water from four newly-built reservoirs in nearby Hebei province, depriving poor farmers of water for their crops.
Beijing’s water crisis
(March 15, 2007) In the short-term, the drought which lasted for most of the winter had surprisingly few effects on the lives of Beijingers bar a few newspaper headlines.
Beijing’s water crisis and economic collapse
(July 15, 2009) Beijing consumes more water than is deposited there by rainfall and snow and has been forced into major water mining projects. In the past, around 50 years ago, the city had numerous aquifers that could be tapped by relatively shallow wells of 2 to 3 meters. Now wells of 50 metres are required to access that water. Indeed of Beijing’s consumption of almost 4 billion cubic metres of water per annum, most still comes from the disappearing aquifers. The fear is that this source of water is rapidly drying up and that has the potential to plunge the capital into major water resource crisis.
Water Supplies for Beijing 2008 Olympics in State of Crisis
(July 1, 2008) We have heard about China’s air quality and pollution woes recently in the media , especially as the start of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games approaches. A new report released last week adds yet another dimension to China’s environmental concerns.
Beijing’s Water Binge
(June 27, 2008) Apparently Beijing is consuming water at the rate Marie Antoinette consumed petit fours and there is always a price to pay for such gluttony. Many news organizations (see, e.g., here and here) reported today on a new study, published by Probe International and written by a Chinese environmentalist, entitled “Beijing’s Water Crisis: 1949-2008 Olympics” which reads like a Temperance Union pamphlet.
Acute Water Shortage May Cause Beijing Exodus
(March 27, 2009) Chinese officials may be forced to resettle some of Beijing’s new arrivals over the next 5 to 10 years due to a population boom that accompanied both a rapid economic expansion and a decade-long stretch of yearly droughts.
Report predicts dire economic effects of Beijing water crisis
(June 28, 2008) Beijing’s water crisis is so critical that the city is facing economic collapse and the need to resettle part of its population in coming decades, a leading development policy group said yesterday.
Beijing faces collapse due to water crisis: Probe International
(June 27, 2008) Beijing’s water crisis is so critical that the city is facing economic collapse and the need to resettle part of its population in coming decades, a leading development policy group said Friday.
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
Lisa Peryman
Probe Media
Other News Sources
Probe International 