(July 10, 2006) A Burmese government official says construction on the Hutgyi dam on the Salween (Nu) River will start in December 2006 or January 2007, ahead of the November 2007 date in the initial agreement with Thailand and China.
China power appetite ‘wasteful’
(July 10, 2006) China is building too many power stations, says Paris-based energy think tank International Energy Agency.
‘Aid only feeds Africa’s corruption’
(July 8, 2006) In a recent address on western aid to Africa, outspoken Ugandan journalist Andrew Mwenda said "the best thing the West can do" for Africa "is nothing."
China says it’s building hydro-electric station over Sutlej
(July 7, 2006) China’s plan to build a barrage across the Sutlej River in Tibet has raised concerns that Beijing ‘may finally be controlling the flow of water into India.’
On the road to forgiveness, justice is forgotten
(July 7, 2006) The World Bank’s high-profile focus on curbing corruption looks set to continue but to what effect can the Bank implement its anti-graft agenda when the Bank itself has been "the cause of corruption, and odious and illegitimate debts, in the past?" asks Gail Hurley of the
Brussels-based NGO network Eurodad.
China’s new dam builders and electricity regulator
(July 6, 2006) The operation and regulation of China’s new dam builders as commercial power generating companies will set the pace for how rivers will be regulated in the six-country Mekong region for years to come. The following paper was delivered by Grainne Ryder of Probe International to the Mekong Region Waters Dialogue, which took place in Vientiane, Lao PDR, on July 6-7.
Future of the west set to follow Yangtze
(July 3, 2006) Viewpoint Beijing’s determination to modernise the Yangtze will transform the mainland’s economic landscape over the next 20 years.
Chinese law would apply to all media
(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.
Patricia Adams
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Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
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