(February 7, 2007) Companies need the incentive of prosecution, fines and reputational risk to tackle bribery more effectively. The abandoning of a probe into BAE Systems’ dealings in Saudi Arabia shows a lack of will to deal with these issues, says Alexandra Wrage.
Water woes plague China’s economy
(February 7, 2007) High in the hills above the sprawling city of Chongqing lies a tiny settlement, whose name translates as Dragon Spring village. It was given that name because its water was so clear and plentiful. But, in a bitter twist of fate, its famous springs have now run dry.
Prosperity or pollution?
(February 5, 2007) Following the release of an authoritative United Nations report that unequivocally links human activities with climate change, the rulers of the world’s most populous country are faced with the quandary of balancing prosperity against pollution.
Dolphin extinction shows river degradation
(February 5, 2007) Sand-dredging and river pollution are threatening the very existence of white fin in the Yangtze River.
Quenching China’s thirst
( February 2, 2007) On January 3, 2007, the level of the Yangtze River was seen to plummet at the point where it passes through the city of Shashi, in central China’s Hubei province, two metres below the average for this time of year.
Renegotiating the odious debt doctrine
(February 1, 2007) Following the United States’ invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq,1 the U.S. government argued that the successor government in Iraq was not responsible for Iraq’s Saddam-era debt under the purported doctrine of odiousregime debt. This purported doctrine apparently excused—by operation of law—all successor regimes from repaying debts that were incurred by oppressive predecessor regimes.
Green watchdog targets hidden polluters
(February 1, 2007) China’s top environmental watchdog yesterday vowed to expand the tough green measures to more industries and regions to ensure that approvals for projects found wanting are suspended.
Reconstructing the odious debt exception
(January 31, 2007) Sovereign debts are persistent – as financial obligations of a sovereign state, these debts survive the regime which contracted for them and bind future governments until the creditors are satisfied.
China fails to make progess on environment: report
(January 30, 2007) China has failed to make any progress in protecting the environment in the past three years, state media on Monday cited an official report as saying, despite government pledges to put the issue at the top of its agenda.
China’s big dams: Are they safe?
(January 29, 2007) It goes without saying that flood control is one of the most important functions a dam project can fulfill. However, it is unrealistic to build a dam expecting it to achieve a permanent solution to a flood problem.
Raise environment watchdog to ministerial level: academics
(January 29, 2007) A group of academics has called for more power to be given to the State Environmental Protection Administration (Sepa) and for the creation of a new energy ministry, as the mainland tries to tackle the consequences of rapid development.
Chinese economic juggernaut among the last in environmental protection
(January 29, 2007) In 2006 China ranked 100th of 118 countries in terms of environmental protection, the same as three years earlier, this according to a joint report by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and mainland universities.
China gets trade route instead of dams on the Mekong River
(January 29, 2007) A month ago, two small river tankers each carrying about 1,000 barrels of refined oil pulled into a Mekong River port in China’s southwestern Yunnan province after a voyage from Thailand’s northern Chiang Rai province.
China’s second largest lake at risk of environmental decay
(January 27, 2007) On the shores of Hunan Province’s Dongting Lake — the second largest freshwater lake in China — lies the village of Qingshanyuan. As all too commonly found in rapidly developing China, industrial plants surround the lake discharging wastewater and emitting toxic gases into the air, regardless of the environmental consequences.
Company only fined for benzene slick in Songhua River
(January 26, 2007) Jilin Petrochemical, a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corp, was ordered to pay one million yuan (US$128,000) for polluting the Songhua River in 2005. That amount is the maximum possible fine but has never been imposed before on corporate polluters.
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
Lisa Peryman
Probe Media
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