(October 29, 2008) Farmers should cut back on fertilizers during a flood season that can last as long as six months to help mitigate ecological damage in China’s Three Gorges Dam region, according to US scientists quoted by Bloomberg.
Major landslides hit Three Gorges region
(December 1, 2008) On November 29, a major landslide hit Wu Gorge, one of the deepest canyons upstream of the Three Gorges dam on the Yangtze River, Xinhua reported on December 1.
26 Three Gorges turbines in operation
(October 31, 2008) The last turbine generator on the right bank of China’s Three Gorges hydroelectric project was officially put into commercial operation on Oct 30, Xinhua reports.
Integrated analysis of stress and regional seismicity by surface loading: a case study of the Zipingpu reservoir
(December 1, 2008) Probe International provides a partial translation of a Chinese geological case study of the Zipingpu reservoir authored by scientists from the government’s China Earthquake Administration. The study concluded that the 320 million tonnes of water in the Zipingpu reservoir had “clearly affected local seismicity” in the region and that, "it is worthwhile to further study if the effect played a role in triggering the Wenchuan earthquake."
Yunnan prefecture promotes Lancang hydro development
(November 30, 2008) Lancang hydro development has entered a new phase, according to Dali (Yunnan) Daily News.
FEATURE: Reclaiming the Sesan River
(November 30, 2008) Ever since Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) began damming the Sesan River for hydropower, affected communities in downstream Cambodia have grappled with the question: what, if anything, can be done to reduce the worst effects of EVN dam operations?
EGAT acquires coal mining rights in Indonesia
(November 29, 2008) Egat International Co (Egat Inter), a subsidiary of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, has received coal exploration and production rights in Sumatra from the Indonesian government, which will strengthen its power generating portfolio overseas.
Great Expectations
(November 28, 2008) Big things are expected of China’s new energy regulator as the country faces a power pinch and calls for a shift toward renewable sources.
South-to-North water project breach floods north China farms
(November 28, 2008) Engineers on China’s massive project to divert water from the Yangtze River to the parched north of the country are struggling to repair a breached canal that flooded 70 hectares of farmland.
FEATURE: Three Gorges dam authority suspends reservoir filling
(November 27, 2008) Mountains of floating garbage, geological problems, and stranded cargo ships prompted China’s Three Gorges dam authority to suspend filling the dam’s reservoir to its final height last month, according to the popular magazine South Weekend (Nanfang Zhoumo).
The aid industry in Nepal — large budgets, large problems
(November 26, 2008) The Asian Development Bank, Chinese banks, and Indian firms are using foreign aid to build a mega-dam in Nepal where experts say an earthquake is likely. Nepal’s Federation of Water and Energy Users says the decision bypassed Parliament, violates the constitution and the human rights of Nepalese. Meanwhile, local micro-hydro operators are churning out cheaper, reliable, aid-free power.
Earthquake jolts Three Gorges region
(November 23, 2008) An earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale jolted Zigui County in central China’s Hubei Province at 4:01 p.m. Saturday, the National Seismic Network reported.
November 2008 Campaign Letter
URGENT ACTION: Proposed Patagonia dams
GAP Questions World Bank Financial Cyber-Security
(November 20, 2008) Letter Sent to Bank President Questions Failure to Sanction Misconduct (Washington, D.C) – In the wake of recent news reports demonstrating serious breaches of the World Bank’s information security system, the Government Accountability Project (GAP) has sent a letter to Bank President Robert Zoellick requesting an accounting of steps taken to address the issue.
Ecuador confronts Odious Debts
(November 20, 2008) Ecuador is again threatening to suspend payments on foreign debt deemed “illegitimate” pending the release later this week of a long-awaited report by the country’s government appointed debt audit commission.
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