(September 11, 2002) Even before all the generators at the Three Gorges dam come into operation, Chinese planners are furiously mapping out numerous dams along some of the biggest rivers in the southwestern part of the country.
Hated, feted but still awesome
(September 11, 2002) ‘The sheer size of the [Three Gorges] dam has fuelled decades of controversy. … Environmentalist and writer Dai Qing has not relaxed her condemnation of the project.’
Norwegian firm pulls out of Bujagali dam
(September 11, 2002) Norwegian company, Veidekke, is pulling out of the Bujagali dam project following the discovery of an alleged bribe by its English subsidiary to Uganda’s former Energy minister.
US Justice Department and police in Norway investigate fraud allegations related to Bujagali project
(September 6, 2002) Norwegian construction concern Veidekke, which is heading the consortium contracted to build the Bujagali hydropower plant in Uganda, revealed that a controversial payment to former Energy Minister of Uganda had been made.
Canadian survey sheds new light on rural livelihoods in Laos
(September 6, 2002) Survey warns that hydro dams, irrigation schemes, and tree plantations – in the name of poverty alleviation – can do more harm than good for Laotians whose livelihoods depend upon natural rivers and forests.
Taiwan ‘conducts computer-simulated attack on the dam’
(September 4, 2002) Amid growing tensions with Taiwan, China has revealed that it has built a missile defence shield to protect the Three Gorges dam from the threat of military attack.
The mouth of the moon
(September 4, 2002) The Pak Mun dam has disrupted the lives of more than 25,000 villagers in Thailand. NGOs and local communities have campaigned to close the dam’s gates permanently. So far, their ongoing protests have achieved partial success.
Pay role
(September 2, 2005) "It would be appropriate for banks and Arab debtors to write off large parts of the odious loans they made to Saddam, and for Kuwait to forgive the war compensation it is due. A clean slate, not new money, is what Iraq’s economy needs most."
World Bank to examine Pehuenche criticisms
(September 2, 2002) Envoys to investigate Ralco dam project. EDC provided Quebec’s ABB Alstom with US$17-million in financing for generating equipment.
Der deutsche Exportweltmeister als Todeshändler
(September 1, 2002) Hans Branscheidt analyzes the role of German companies which exported weapons and other materials for military purposes to Iraq.
China’s murky waters
(August 31, 2002) An alert about industrial pollution threatening the Chinese city of Harbin has cast the spotlight on the huge challenge China faces improving its water system.
Officials warned to be conscious of corruption
(August 31, 2002) Corruption arising in Lao society has been called a major obstacle for development and likened to termites eating away at the nation.
River contamination from chemical factory explosion reaches major Chinese city
(August 30, 2002) ‘China’s central government … worked to explain why officials waited 10 days before informing people in Harbin that the blast several kilometers up the Songhua River had dumped dangerous amounts of poisonous, cancer-causing benzene into the waterway.’
Part 4: Reform in the forests
(August 30, 2002) The final article in Asia Times Online’s xclusive series on the Mekong examines how logging in the ancient rain forests has affected the mighty river, and the people who depend on it.
Romanians want western help for second CANDU
(August 30, 2002) Export Development Canada (EDC) is negotiating with France’s Société Générale, a private bank, over support for the Cernavoda 2 nuclear plant in Romania.
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