(May 19, 2009) Another landslide that took place at the Three Gorges, China on May 18 prompted me to write this post and look closer at the causes of slope instability in that area.
Three Gorges in China and Landslides
Bracing for the unknown
(May 14, 2009) Last year’s earthquake in China is a salutary reminder about preparing for risk in the face of uncertainty.
More landslides in the Three Gorges Dam area
(May 19, 2009) Dramatic images of the moutainside after a landslide in the Three Gorges dam area dumps around 20,000 cubic meters of rock and mud into the Yangtze River.
Indonesian dam kills hundreds of citizens
(May 19, 2009) On March 27, a 76 year-old dam collapsed on the outskirts of the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, killing more than a hundred citizens and destroying hundreds of homes. The Situ Gintung dam stood 16m high and held back a lake of nearly two million cubic metres of water.
CPP Investment Board urged to abandon controversial Chilean transmission scheme
(May 15, 2009) We are writing on behalf of the “Patagonia Defense Council” (“Consejo de Defensa de la Patagonia” – CDP), a diverse coalition of 58 organizations from Chile, USA, Canada, Spain and Italy, who have assumed the mission of defending the environmental integrity of Chilean Patagonia threatened by a mega hydroelectric project, called HidroAysén, and the associated transmissions lines.
Stop over-development of hydropower is the only way to save rare fish in the Yangtze
(May 15, 2009) Probe International provides a translation of a story detailing the effects on aquatic life resulting from the construction of hydro dams in the Yangtze. The article was originally published in The China Economic Times, on May 6, 2009.
PBS documentary “Great Wall Across the Yangtze” featuring Dai Qing now on You Tube
(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]
To aid or not to aid, that is the question
(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.
China’s earthquake and early warning system
(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.
Beijing Water Authority postpones South-to-North Water Diversion Project, Prepares to raise Beijing’s water prices (Update 3)
(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.
China’s government wants to be better prepared for natural disasters
(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.
Roughing up journalists in China
(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.
China’s quake readiness: looking back to 2005
(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.
China launches public campaign to counter disasters on quake anniversary
(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.
Massive influx of aid to Pakistan carries massive risk of corruption
(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.
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
Lisa Peryman
Probe Media
Other News Sources
Probe International 