(October 20, 2006) The Yangtze River and Pearl River estuaries have been listed as newly registered “dead zones,” according to a study released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
New energy minister thumbs down projects
(October 20, 2006) New Thai Energy Minister Piyasvasti Amranand has killed the grand plans of his predecessors, from vast tracts of oil palms to make biodiesel to building hydropower dams in military-ruled Myanmar.
Africa loses about 148 billion dollars through corruption annually
(October 19, 2006) Corruption also scares away investors, affects development, entrepreneurship and impedes growth. Sir Quett Ketumile Masire, former president of Botswana has said Africa loses more than $148 billion annually due to corruption.
Caught in the ebb
(October 19, 2006) Impoverished villagers along the vast Mekong are blaming China for threatening of the livelihoods of millions, writes Benjamin Robertson.
Thailand may delay controversial dam project in Burma
(October 18, 2006) Piyasvasti Amranand, Thailand’s energy minister, is considering a move to refocus the country’s hydropower projects from Burma to Laos, according to a source close to the minister.
Filmmaker Jia Zhangke on the forgotten people of Three Gorges
(October 16, 2006) Fresh from winning a prestigious award for Still Life, his feature film set against the backdrop of the Three Gorges dam, the acclaimed director talks to Three Gorges Probe about the making, and the meaning, of the movie.
Yunnan suggests redrawing boundary of Three Parallel Rivers heritage site
(October 16, 2006) Translated from the Guangzhou-based Nanfeng Chuang magazine.
Seas, rivers face serious pollution threats
(October 16, 2006) China will make an all-out effort to protect its marine environment, which is facing very serious pollution threats, said the country’s top environment official Monday.
Development plan threatens heritage site
by Mary-Anne Toy, The Sydney Morning Herald October 19, 2006 The United Nations’ cultural organisation has threatened to drop one of China’s most beautiful areas from its World Heritage list if the […]
Myanmar foreign investment in 2005-06 registers highest in 18 years
(October 15, 2006) Myanmar absorbed a contracted foreign investment of 6.065 billion U.S. dollars in the fiscal year of 2005-06, registering the highest annual foreign investment the country has drawn since 1988, according to the latest figures released by the Central Statistical Organization (CSO).
Insist on impact assessments
(October 15, 2006) Interim Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has told each newly appointed minister to look into the projects initiated by the previous government and determine whether or not to proceed. In all likelihood there will be many calls for Energy Minister Piyasvasti Amranand to review the involvement of Egat in a joint venture with the Sinohydro Corporation, a Chinese state-run enterprise, to build a 1,000 megawatt hydroelectric dam at Hutgyi, 50 kilometres inside Burma.
Eight turbines operate well
(October 15, 2006) Eight out of the 14 giant power turbines on the Three Gorges Dam have been operating well for power generation at full capacity for three straight days, a local official said Saturday.
Two ships collide near Three Gorges Dam, 7 missing
(October 14, 2006) Two cargo ships collided upstream from the Three Gorges Dam on China’s longest Yangtze River, leaving seven sailors missing, local authorities said Saturday.
The bridge doctor
(October 14, 2006) (Article excerpt) … [Engineering professor Maria Feng and her colleagues at University of California (Irvine)] have developed sensors that monitor stress on everything from bridges and high-rise buildings to dams that are prone to damage from earthquakes. One of the devices is a fiber optic sensor that’s the size of a half dollar.
Polluters feel impact of ignoring assessment
(October 13, 2006) Eight construction projects have been blacklisted by the country’s environmental watchdog for failing to meet environment impact assessment (EIA) targets.
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