(February 15, 2006) New international anti-bribery guidelines for export credit agencies were due to be agreed in principle early next month. Opposition from Berlin and Tokyo, plus several smaller countries, means the decision will now be delayed by months, if not years, according to officials close to the negotiations, which are taking place in the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Export bribery rules challenged
(February 15, 2006) Tough new guidelinesGermany and Japan have challenged new draft global anti-corruption guidelines for exporting companies, according to documents seen by the BBC. The countries say that rules aimed at improving the transparency of export credit agencies are too bureaucratic.
CAG finds lapses in deal with SNC Lavalin
(February 14, 2006) The KSEB signed an MoU with Lavalin in August 1995. Under the provisions of the MoU, the funds for the renovation were to be arranged by SNC Lavalin from the Export Development Corporation (EDC), Canada, and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The Board did
so, ignoring the CEA’s recommendation that immediate replacement of the generating units at the allivasal power station was not called for as the plant was in fairly good condition.
Gorges official slaps tour scare stories
Tourists do not need to hurry to visit the Three Gorges dam area because “the rising water level will only add to the beauty of that section of the river,” Xinhua news agency quotes a tourism official as saying.
China’s power-sector reform plans fail to impress
(February 14, 2006) Beijing is banking on new foreign money to help the domestic power industry become more market-oriented, but only a few foreign players remain interested in China.
China sets overall plan for Yangtze water resources
People’s Daily reports on a new, ‘more feasible and efficient’ program to manage water resources in the Yangtze River valley.
CAG report finds major lapses in deal with SNC Lavalin
(February 13, 2006) The supply of goods and services were actually made by other firms at much higher costs leading to ‘extra avoidable payments.’ Quality of renovation work executed by the contractor in the absence of technology transfer and training could not be ensured.
Kenya corruption charges rattle relations
(February 13, 2006) A former Kenyan anti-corruption czar responsible for distributing a tape that implicates his government in corruption is facing allegations he was a spy for Britain.
Dam migrants to move on schedule
Officials express confidence that 170,000 more people will have been moved out of the Chongqing area by the time the Three Gorges reservoir is filled next June.
Top Lesotho water boss charged
(February 12, 2006) The former top Lesotho official on the Highlands Water Commission, now an influential adviser on water matters with The New Partnership for Africa’s Development, has been charged with bribery involving over R1-million.
Report examines murky funding of power projects
Official funders and commercial banks may publicly withdraw from direct lending for controversial dams such as Three Gorges, but then go ahead and support the same projects indirectly, a new report says.
GAP releases internal World Bank whistleblower analysis
(February 10, 2006) Report from renowned expert outlining improvements made public by GAP.
Debt repudiation possible
(February 10, 2006) Norway plays a key role in efforts to cancel odious debt," says Christian Aid’s Jonathan Glennie. The government and opposition are both open to supporting poor countries repudiate their debt.
Silt levels reported as dropping in Yangtze River
New data on sedimentation show ‘the ecological system along the Yangtze River has obviously improved,’ Xinhua says. ‘We still face a tough task in … consolidating the current achievements,’ a hydrologist is quoted as saying.
Landslide hazard monitoring in China with an example from the Baota landslide, three gorges area
(2006) The purposes of landslide monitoring are applied to analysis, forecasting and control of landslide. The indicators in landslide monitoring include the geological indicators, ground displacement indicators, indicators of displacement in borehole, ground water indicators (pore pressure, ground water table, ground water chemistry), induced factor indicators (weather, human activity), geophysical indicators and geochemical indicators. The techniques in landslide monitoring include extensometer of ground fissures, inclinometer in borehole, global position system, remote sensing and integrated real time monitoring system. A case study of Baota landslide in the enclosed landscape of the three gorges projects of Yangtze river is detailed in this paper.
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
Lisa Peryman
Probe Media
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Probe International 