(May 14, 2009) While the debate surrounding the effect the Zipingpu dam in China may have had on the deadly 2008 earthquake in Sichuan continues, the toll on citizens that once lived on the banks of the Yangtze is increasingly well documented. PBS recently made its production “Great Wall Across the Yangtze”.
[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9aU43suUvg autoplay:0]
(May 31, 2009) If Africa’s underdevelopment has been compounded mainly by official aid, as the Zambian economist Dambisa Moyo argues in her book “Dead Aid”, then addressing it might be as straightforward as she suggests. Aid could be turned off, African governments would work harder to foster growth and private capital might prove more effective in curbing poverty.
(May 13, 2009) The Chinese government has announced it is installing an experimental earthquake early warning system, capable of sending warnings within seconds before a quake strikes.
(May 11, 2009) In our report, Beijing’s Water Crisis: 1949 – 2008 Olympics, Probe International argued that the city’s worsening water shortage would not be solved by building more dams and diversion canals. But rather, the city should implement laws and regulations to limit polluting and water-profligate projects and ensure that consumers and businesses pay the full cost for water. Now, water authorities have announced a hike in water prices. Read the news coverage here.
(May 11, 2009) The first anniversary of the Sichuan earthquake that killed almost 90,000 people has prompted the Chinese government to go on a PR offensive. It’s preparing to release a white paper outlining steps to increase public-preparedness and warning systems for natural disasters.
(May 11, 2009) As the media coverage of the one-year anniversary of last year’s Sichuan earthquake heats up, reports of attacks on international journalists trying to cover the issue are on the rise. The attacks also come on the heels of the government’s official announcement that 5,335 students died as a result of collapsing schools during last year’s earthquake — the first time it’s released such data.
(May 11, 2009) The Chinese government is facing more criticism concerning its earthquake safety plans. A recent article in the Southern Weekend by Qian Gang asks if officials have turned any of their earthquake safety plans–dating back to 2005–into action.
(May 10, 2009) China needs stronger steps to promote public preparedness and early warning systems for natural disasters, experts said ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Wenchuan earthquake.
(May 8, 2009) The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), which provides billions of dollars in long-term interest-free grants and loans to the world’s 78 poorest countries, is apparently not too concerned about the fraudulent or corrupt use of its loans.
(May 8, 2009) The debate over whether the Zipingpu dam contributed to the severity or timing of last year’s deadly earthquake in China’s Sichuan province continues to attract attention. Fan Xiao, chief engineer of the Regional Geology Investigation Team of the Sichuan Geology and Mineral Bureau, was recently interviewed by Richard Stone for Science magazine.
(May 8, 2009) According to a recent article in AsiaNews.It, China’s Minister of Water Resources has warned that 37,000 dams are at risk of collapsing if the stronger-than-expected rains persist in the coming months and the tropical storms expected by meteorologists materialize.
(May 08, 2009) Sweden’s foreign aid may not have any long-term positive effects for developing countries, according to a comprehensive review of Swedish foreign development assistance.
(May 6, 2009) People involved in the design, construction and operation of large dams are normally particularly sensitive to earthquakes.
(May 5, 2009) [video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDKcbT3YS2w autoplay:0]
(May 4, 2009) To resuscitate the failing global economy and rescue the Third World’s poor, G-20 leaders have promised to pump the public international financial institutions – the World Bank, the IMF being the largest – with upwards of $1 trillion in new funds.
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
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