(March 2, 2009) Rumours have begun to circulate that Li Peng, the now 80 year-old former Premier of China who was the major driving force behind the Three Gorges project, may be seriously ill. An NGO worker in China recently told John Bishop of the China Economic Review that if the ex-leader, seen by many as the ‘Father’ of Three Gorges, were to die that critics would be able to “more openly express negative views about the project.”
Drought plagues China’s crops
(March 1, 2009) Northern China is dry at the best of times. But a long rainless stretch has underscored the urgency of water problems in a region that grows three-fifths of China’s crops and houses more than two-fifths of its people – but gets only one fifth as much rain as the rest of the country.
Water service resumes in Chinese city after acid pollutes river
(February 23, 2009) Water service resumed Monday after more than 1 million people in the eastern Chinese city of Yancheng went without tap water for three days when a river was polluted with a toxic chemical. The owner and manager of the Biaoxin Chemical Co were arrested after an unknown amount of carbolic acid was released into the Mangshe River, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
Behind China’s drought
(February 10, 2009) When the Chinese state media reported last week that China’s wheat-producing provinces have been hit by the worst drought in 50 years, the story immediately went global. But when we checked official Chinese news sites we noticed something odd. Many of the photos and video clips popping up under the “worst drought in 50 years” banner showed soldiers and farmers hosing down wheat fields with water. Lots of water.
Beijing’s water supply unaffected by 100-day drought
(February 9, 2009) Beijing’s water supply has been unaffected by the drought that has hit central and eastern parts of China, according to the Beijing Water Bureau. Ample rainfall last summer and the diversion of water from surrounding regions has kept the city’s reservoir levels high despite the latest 100-day dry spell.
Where are Africa’s Obamas?
(March 16, 2009) The president’s fairness and honesty should serve as a powerful example to the continent’s leaders.
Chinese Official Defends Construction of Schools Felled in Quake
(March 9, 2009) A vice governor of the Chinese province hardest hit by the earthquake last May said Sunday that many schools collapsed then because of the strength of the 7.9 magnitude quake, and not because of shoddy construction.
MOZAMBIQUE: Biofuel companies line up for land and carbon credits
(March 6, 2009) Despite shrinking demand for biofuels globally, the government of Mozambique may soon grant millions of hectares of land to biofuel developers chasing UN-brokered carbon credits.
Sen. Navarro calls for nationalization of Chile’s water
(March 5, 2009) Behind Chile’s controversial plans to further dam the rivers of its ecologically delicate Patagonia region, which may soon be partially funded by the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), the Chilean government must first settle a growing debate over who actually controls Patagonia’s rivers. A number of companies were granted legal rights to Patagonia’s rivers during the final years of the infamous Pinochet regime, and the current plan is to build five large dams in the region. Now, the people of Patagonia want control of their rivers back.
Was China’s deadly earthquake man-made or an act of God?
(March 4, 2009) Chinese government must learn the lessons of Zipingpu.
Chinese displaced by Three Gorges Dam protest
(March 4, 2009) More than 2,000 people displaced by construction of the Three Gorges Dam clashed with police in central China during a protest Wednesday over missing resettlement payments, leaving 30 protesters injured, a Hong Kong-based group said.
Top Philippine Graft-Buster Won’t Quit Over World Bank Scandal
(March 2, 2009) The Philippines’ top graft-buster on Monday defied mounting calls for her resignation for failing to act over a multimillion dollar corruption involving a World Bank-funded road project.
Diamer-Bhasha Dam cost swells to $11.5 billion
(March 2, 2009) “The project cost that includes complete work to make the project operative is $11.50 billion against the last estimate of $8.5 billion just six months ago,” official sources in the Ministry of Water and Power said.
Chile’s Hidroaysen spent US$40 million in 2008
(March 2, 2009) Energy company HidroAysén spent an estimated US$40 million in 2008 on its controversial Region XI hydroelectric dam project, a hefty amount considering the multi-billion plan hasn’t even been approved by government environment authorities.
‘Kerala govt wasn’t serious about hospital’
(March 1, 2009) Breaking its silence on the Rs 374.50-crore scam in Kerala, SNC Lavalin of Canada has denied any wrongdoing and, instead, blamed the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front government for not having cooperated with it.
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