(January 26, 2009) Fan Xiao, Chief Engineer of the Regional Geology Investigation Team of the Sichuan Geology and Mineral Bureau, says scientists must investigate if Zipingpu dam triggered devastating 2008 earthquake, describes massive quake-damage to dams, rebuts recent Science Times article.
Columbia geophysical hazards scientist says evidence shows dam reservoir likely triggered China’s great quake of 2008
(January 26, 2009) Christian Klose, a geophysical hazards research scientist from Columbia University in New York, says geophysical data suggests that the Zipingpu dam reservoir — just a few kilometers from the epicenter of China’s great quake of 2008 — likely triggered the deadly quake and explains how it happened.
There’s no place for Brazil’s ethanol and biofuels in a real green world
(January 16, 2009) An assorted alliance of organizations published an open letter [1] this Thursday, January 15, in the U.S. and internationally, warning of the dangers of industrially produced biofuels (called agrofuels by critics).
G8 : Some give, plenty of take
(July 16, 2009) The media has presented the G8’s L’Alqila summit promise of US$20 billion for food security and agricultural development in Africa as good news, but a closer look at the figures shows that G8 countries actually take much more out than they put into the continent, writes Yash Tandon.
China delays part of massive water project
(January 12, 2009) China is delaying part of its plan to divert water from its major rivers across hundreds of (miles) kilometers to the booming cities in its arid north because it needs more time to resettle the more than 300,000 people who will be displaced by the project.
The World Bank and Satyam: A match made in heaven
(January 14, 2009) The cooked books at Satyam rocked India’s internationally-praised IT industry. But the problems at Satyam have also made their way onto the shores of World Bank – causing the agency to bar the company from bidding on projects for eight years.
China to raise water prices?
(January 12, 2009) The World Bank urged China on Monday to raise water prices to encourage people to use less water and to promote efficiency in a bid to prevent a ‘severe water scarcity crisis.’
Yangtze River water to supply water-scarce Beijing in 2014
(January 13, 2009) The Yangtze River in South China is expected to provide 1 billion cubic meters of water every year to Beijing starting 2014, according to the municipal water authority.
Backgrounder: A roundup up of Carbon Fraud reports
(January 8, 2009) A roundup up of stories, reports, and other coverage of fraud in carbon markets.
A Great Wall of carbon credits
(January 8, 2009) BADALING, CHINA – A bitter wind knifes down the Great Wall of China and through a stand of smoketrees, Chinese pine, maidenhair and Shantung maple.
FACT SHEET: Earthquake Fatalities High in 2008
(January 6, 2009) The number of earthquake-related fatalities across the world was much higher in 2008 than in recent years.
Papua New Guinea and China’s New Empire
(January 3, 2009) In less than a decade, China has spun a web of strategic investments that stretches from Latin America to the former Soviet Union, from the remotest islands of the South Pacific to the huge oil fields of Angola and Sudan. In a range of resource-rich countries, China is diligently cultivating its interests. The Globe and Mail’s Geoffrey York
Water brief: Three Gorges Dam
(January 1, 2009) In The World’s Water 2008-2009, the Pacific Institute’s Dr. Gleick examines the usual anticipated benefits of the Three Gorges Dam: power, navigation and flood control and the growing list of problems — serious impacts on fisheries, coastal erosion due to vastly lower sediment flow in the Yangtze, landslides, earthquakes and social unrest due to the displacement of millions of people.
Ecuador hangs tough
(January 1, 2009) After months of threats, the government of Ecuador has made good on its promise to forego payment of foreign loans deemed illegitimate by the country’s debt audit commission. Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa announced that his country would not be paying $30.6 million interest due Dec. 15 on its 2012 global bonds after the commission claimed the debt had been ‘illegally’ acquired by past administrations.
China quakes, but the dams don’t break
(December 28, 2008) The biggest potential disaster, Pearce reports, was averted at the Zipingpu dam, just 17 kilometres from the quake’s epicenter. “Holding back more than a cubic kilometer of water … the hydroelectric dam was the largest of a new, cheap design with a rock core and concrete face. As the tight valley sides juddered, the structure was squeezed and ended up 18 centimeters downstream, and 70 cm lower. … The concrete was ripped apart but the core of the dam survived.”
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
Lisa Peryman
Probe Media
Other News Sources
Probe International 