(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.
Applied Legal History: Demystifying the Doctrine of Odious Debts
(March 1, 2009) “Odious debts” have been the subject of debate in academic, activist, and policy circles in recent years. The term refers to the debts of a nation that a despotic leader incurs against the interests of the populace. When the despot is overthrown, the new government—understandably—does not wish to repay creditors who helped prop up the despot…
A faultline runs through it: Exposing the hidden dangers of dam-induced earthquakes
(March 1, 2009) Besides posing a major risk to dams, scientists are increasingly certain that earthquakes can be triggered by the dams themselves. Globally, scientists believe that there are over 100 instances, strewn over six continents, of dam reservoirs inducing earthquakes. The most serious case could be the magnitude-7.9 Sichuan earthquake in China in May 2008, which some experts believe may have been induced by the Zipingpu Dam.
Probe International urges CPP to release details of Patagonia Investments
(February 28, 2009) In a letter sent on February 28 to David Denison, President of the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) investment board, Probe International Executive Director Patricia Adams has called on the CPP to provide more information on investments it has made on behalf of all working Canadians in Chile’s main electricity provider, Transelec.
China’s giant water scheme opens torrent of discontent
(February 27, 2009) China’s vast scheme to channel southern rivers to its parched north faces potentially explosive defiance at a dam where bitter memories and an unsure future are driving farmers to protest the nation-spanning feat.
FACT SHEET: Triggering Earthquakes
(January 5, 2011) Earthquakes Caused by Dams: ‘Reservoir-Triggered/Induced Seismicity’
“Small is beautiful”: Civil society pushes for small-scale energy resource management
(February 21, 2009) ASEAN is ignoring innovations in local energy sources in favour of a centralised and potentially dangerous energy system for the region, the ASEAN Peoples’ Forum heard today.
Damaged dams to be fixed
(February 20, 2009) About half the 2,125 reservoirs damaged by the massive earthquake in southwest China will be repaired this year, state media on Friday quoted a water resources official as saying.
Chinese press finally covers story that Zipingpu reservoir may have induced deadly quake
(February 20, 2009) After several weeks of widespread international media coverage of the theory that the Zipingpu dam reservoir played a role in triggering the deadly Sichuan earthquake of May 2008, China’s official Xinhua news agency has finally published an article online discussing the theory.
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
Lisa Peryman
Probe Media
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