(July 3, 2006) A Chinese draft law that threatens to fine domestic and foreign news media for reporting without permission on ‘sudden incidents’ is intended ‘to prevent malicious behavior by news media that willfully mislead the public.’
Nu River: environmentalists may not sue SEPA
(July 3, 2006) Greens may cancel plan to sue dams watchdog.
China electricity rate hikes (2004-2006)
(July 1, 2006) View report
Auditors need sharp teeth to bite at inefficiencies
(June 29, 2006) Auditor-general Li Jinhua said recently that institutional inefficiency could cause more waste of money than individual corruption. He cited the NDRC, which ‘injected 1 billion yuan into five river dam projects before their feasibility was proven.’
Nujiang Prefecture CCP committee held a seminar on the protection of state secrets
(June 27, 2006) Speakers reminded officials to be on alert for "rampant spying activities and the penetration of state enemies" during the current period of peace and economic reform.
China’s Sinohydro and EGAT to jointly develop Hat Gyi dam project
(June 27, 2006) China, Thailand and Burma have signed an agreement to jointly develop the Hat Gyi dam in Burma.
Smelling a boomtown rat
(June 27, 2006) This time last year, I spent a fruitless Saturday night touring pubs in Nairobi trying to find a Kenyan who was watching Live 8. There were plenty watching Wimbledon, but no one who had even heard of Bob Geldof. When I explained what was going on in Britain, they replied briskly that pop music was for children – and if you borrow money, you ought to pay it back.
China media face disaster fines
(June 26, 2006) China is considering imposing financial penalties on media outlets that report emergency incidents without prior permission. Media organizations could face fines of more than $10,000 if they disobey.
China suspicious of nonprofit organizations
(June 25, 2006) China fears that money from the West may be backing democracy: political and environmental activist Dai Qing, for example, organized training camps for NGOs sponsored by Probe International and the Open Society Institute.
Pollution control ordered to protect Beijing water source
(June 23, 2006) Chinese Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan has ordered governments on the upper reaches of the Danjiangkou reservoir to curb pollution so that water to be diverted to Beijing will remain clean.
Prevent a man-made disaster
(June 23, 2006)”As Indonesia struggles to rebuild after this weekend’s devastating earthquake – striking less than two years after the 2004 tsunami – world leaders must move quickly to cancel Indonesia’s onerous debt burden. While donors pledge emergency assistance in the form of more loans to Indonesia, the country would be better served through full debt cancellation.”
Yunnan power grid company losing money: ADB report
(June 22, 2006) The Asian Development Bank reports that the ADB-financed company responsible for linking hydro dams in Yunnan to the provincial power grid has been operating at a loss in recent years and is not financially viable.
Beijing’s planned water supply faces pollution threat
(June 22, 2006) Water that will be brought to the capital along the central route of the south-north water diversion project is under threat from pollution. The source of the problem is a river more than 1,000 kilometres away, in Shaanxi province.
The last river
(June 22, 2006) China plans to exploit the power of Southeast Asia’s last great wild river in a giant staircase of dams stretching from Tibet down through Yunnan province. Swedish journalist Ola Wong reports on a region of unique natural and cultural wealth under threat.
Opening statement for hearing on UN Convention Against Corruption
(June 21, 2006) The US administration has sent the UN Convention Against Corruption to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for Senate advice and consent. A hearing chaired by Dick Lugar is now underway and the treaty is expected to be discharged.
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
Lisa Peryman
Probe Media
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