(June 22, 2009) 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 says. Experts predict the Chinese capital could run out of water in five to 10 years, according to Grainne Ryder, policy director at Probe International.
Canada pension fund urged to abandon Chilean transmission scheme Eco groups call it harmful and unnecessary
(June 21, 2009) Probe International is calling on the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Investment Board to halt its investment in a controversial hydro transmission project in Chile’s Patagonia region. The CPP is currently listed as an investor in a 1,500-mile (2,400 kilometres) transmission project designed to handle power from five proposed hydroelectric dams in the Chilean Patagonia.
Iraq seeks forgiveness of Saddam Hussein’s “odious” debts
(June 21, 2009) Iraq will continue to press its neighbours and the world to forgive billions of dollars in debt accured by former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, an Iraqi lawmaker said Sunday.
Nigerian government gets caught with its hand in the World Bank cookie jar
(June 19, 2009). As the World Bank and the IMF drastically increase lending to countries in the developing world, local politicians are beginning to question the loans. The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNNP) recently expressed outrage over the ruling People’s Democratic Party plan to obtain a $1-billion loan from the World Bank.
Chinese citizens respond to environment ministry’s suspension of dam projects along upper Yangtze
(June 19, 2009) In response to the environment ministry’s suspension of two major hydro projects along the upper Yangtze last week, citizens groups issued a statement with photos, questioning temporary suspensions and calling for a halt to dam projects along the upper Yangtze (known as Jinsha).
A response to the Ministry of Environmental Protection’s decision to suspend approval of hydro dam construction along the middle
(June 12, 2009) A letter and photos from Chinese NGOs after the environment ministry suspended two major hydro projects along the upper Yangtze last week. In the letter, they question the temporary suspensions and call for a halt to dam projects along the upper Yangtze (known as Jinsha).
About 37,000 Chinese dams deemed “unsafe,” some on the verge of collapse
(June 19, 2009) China Daily blames the problem on shoddy construction, unqualified workers and embezzled public funds. Now that the flood season is right around the corner the authorities call for maximum alert to prevent collapses.
June 2009 Campaign Letter
Canadian pension dollars set to fund eco-destruction
PRESS RELEASE: Canada Pension Plan urged to abandon Chile’s Patagonia dam scheme
(June 18, 2009) In a letter submitted yesterday to the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, environmental group Probe International urged CEO David Denison to abandon a controversial hydro-transmission scheme in southern Chile’s Patagonia region.
Ship lift at Three Gorges Dam, China − design of steel structures
(June 18, 2009) A detailed look at the colossal ship lift proposed for the Three Gorges Dam: a structure so enormous in dimension and complex in its engineering, it effectively represents a ‘moveable building’.
Probe International reply to Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
(June 17, 2009) Last August, HidroAysén submitted its Environmental Impact Assessment to the environmental authorities for its proposed hydroelectric dams in the Patagonia region of southern Chile. The EIA excluded the transmission component of the project, which would be developed by Transelec and includes a 1,500-mile long transmission line and related infrastructure crossing through 14 legally protected natural areas and thousands of private properties, around volcanoes, and over fjords spanning, in all, more than half of Chile’s entire length.
Coalition raises dam worries
(June 18, 2009) Group says Cambodian fisheries vulnerable to planned Mekong hydro dams.
Mekong citizens appeal to Thai PM against construction of dams
(June 18, 2009) Citizens of six countries which share the Mekong River on Thursday submitted a petition with 16,000 signatures to Thailand’s Prime Minister to save the Mekong River.
Dams on China’s Yellow River near collapse
(June 18, 2009) Several dams on China’s mighty Yellow River are close to collapse just a few years after they were built amid concerns that over 40 percent of the nation’s reservoirs are unsafe, state media has said.
Morally repugnant: Britain and the Netherlands bully little Iceland
(June 16, 2009) As officials from Iceland, a nation with a population of only 300,000, sat down to negotiate the conclusion of the IceSave dispute with their counterparts from the U.K. and the Netherlands, the disadvantage of Iceland was apparent from the start.
Patricia Adams
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