(June 28, 2001) Four Mekong nations have approved commercial navigation on the Lancang-Mekong river, to promote trade and tourism in the region.
China to help fund dredging of Mekong River in Laos and Myanmar
(June 28, 2001) A 331-kilometre (205-mile) stretch of the Mekong River running through Laos and Myanmar will be dredged under a project co-funded by China.
World Bank to black-list corrupt companies
(June 28, 2001) A World Bank spokesman in South Africa said the bank would black- list companies that were found guilty of corruption in the LHWP corruption trial.
Chongqing launches campaign to prevent a Three Gorges cesspool
(June 27, 2001) With only two years left before the water level is scheduled to rise behind the massive Three Gorges dam, Chongqing municipality has pledged to spend more than one billion dollars cleaning up the heavily polluted Yangtze River to prevent the dam’s 600-kilometre reservoir from becoming a cesspool.
IMF urged to swallow its own medicine
(June 26, 2001) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) should take over Indonesia’s US$80 billion debt that was incurred as a result of its bad advice on economic recovery measures, according to Jubilee Plus.
Latin America’s poor survive it all. Even boom times
(June 24, 2001) Does the combination of democracy and free enterprise guarantee achievement of the larger goal — higher living standards? In Latin America, the answer often is no, writes the New York Times.
Energy versus Environment in Chile
(June 21, 2001) The Pehuenches’ Last Stand Santiago
Don’t fund Bujagali dam, NGOs urge World Bank
(June 20, 2001) PI’s voice among NGOs urging the World Bank agency not to fund the proposed AES Nile Independent Power (NIP) project at Bujagali.
Independent Review Team of Klong Dan project in conflict
(June 19, 2001) Local people say independent experts misleading.
Ugandan environmentalists complain to World Bank ombudsman
(June 19, 2001) Complaint to the Ombudsman’s office at the IFC made on behalf of members of NAPE and members of the Save Bujagali Crusade. Members from both institutions come from various parts of Uganda and the Bujagali area.
Lesotho tries to end corruption culture
(June 19, 2001) Multinational companies are about to go on trial in Lesotho accused of paying huge bribes to a local official, a case virtually unprecedented in Africa.
Villagers hail return of fish as gates re-opened
(June 17, 2001) Villagers celebrate the opening of sluice gates at Pak Moon dam after a long delay. Pak Moon villagers won permission from the government to open all eight sluice gates for four months to gauge environmental impact from the free flow of the river.
R10,4m bribery trail led to Sole court told
(June 17, 2001) Ephraim Sole, the former chief executive of the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA), rose in Maseru’s high court and pleaded "not guilty" to 16 criminal charges of bribery and two counts of fraud before Judge Brandon Cullinan.
Huge hydro-plant to go ahead despite fears
(June 12, 2001) Vietnamese governing politburo has given the green light to what might become Southeast Asia’s largest hydro power project, amid human rights concerns over forced relocation of 100,000 people.
Top editors dismissed from daring newspaper
(June 11, 2001) The Financial Times of London and South China Morning Postreport that China’s censors have launched a clampdown on press freedoms, revealing insecurities among the country’s ruling elite threatened by rampant corruption and rural strife. The cause of their sensitivity seems to be a combination of an increasingly lively and emboldened state media, and the approaching 80th Communist Party anniversary, on July 1.
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