(October 4, 2010) An increasing number of experts say efficient and accountable tax regimes, not foreign aid, are vital in promoting development, writes Brady Yauch.
Three Gorges Dam attempts third try for 175-meter water level mark
(October 3, 2010) Officials are once again trying to raise the controversial dam’s reservoir to 175 metres, marking the official “completion” of the project.
New bath cities and ski resorts are banned in Beijing to save water
(October 1, 2010) To tackle the city’s water shortage, the Beijing government has launched a new measure on water use regulations that forbids high water usage industries, like bath cities, ski resorts and golf courses, from start new branches, the Beijing news reports.
Conflicts of interest threaten carbon-trading mechanism
(October 1, 2010) In one of the UN’s most important schemes for tackling climate change, auditing companies may have too many temptations to misbehave thanks to conflicts of interest reminiscent of the financial crash, writes Chelsea Wald for Deutsche Welle.
Think twice before doing damage that will be irreversible
(September 30, 2010) With wildlife habitat and cultural heritage at stake, dam projects on the lower Mekong River must be debated in public forums, writes The Nation editorial board.
Why good governance matters more in Africa than aid
(September 30, 2010) Trying to achieve the targets set out in the Millennium development goals is worthwhile, but relying on foreign aid handouts, rather than internal policies to do so, is not, writes Franklin Cudjoe from African Liberty.org.
UK Becomes a Denier Nation
(September 30, 2010) The UK today has made it official. With the release of its revised guide to climate change by the Royal Society, the nation’s preeminent scientific organization, the UK now formally joins the ranks of the denier nations. The science on climate change is no longer certain, the Society now says.
China moving heaven and Earth to bring water to Beijing
(September 29, 2010) The $62-billion South-North Water Diversion, which will bring water to the parched capital, is being compared to the Great Wall. But environmentalists are up in arms about the ‘replumbing’ of the nation’s great rivers.
New life breathed into dusty, dry, dead river
(September 28, 2010) Wanping Lake, which is alongside Yongding River, had been dry for almost three decades before it was brought back to life a week ago.
Beijing to pass pioneering pollution law
(September 26, 2010) Beijing is likely to be the first on the mainland to pass a local law against water pollution that allows government institutions and organizations to assist victims in collecting evidence against polluters in civil lawsuits.
‘Development Aid Achieves the Opposite of Its Goals’
(September 24, 2010) When the United Nations agreed on the Millennium Development Goals a decade ago, it was a triumph of consensus. But with five years to go before a self-imposed deadline, failure on many fronts is a real possibility. German commentators discuss why this is so.
In Xie Chaoping’s Own Words
(September 24, 2010) Xie Chaoping talks about his arrest and detention after the publication of his book, “The Great Relocation”, which detailed the story of the Sanmenxia Dam migrants.
Laos sees big fish as small price to pay for hydropower
(September 24, 2010) Laos is moving ahead with plans for hydroelectric development on the Mekong River, despite concerns from conservation groups, writes Jonathan Watts in the Guardian.
The Sichuan Earthquake’s Lessons for Dam Builders
(Sepember 23, 2010) Given their relatively short lifetimes to date, modern dams remain generally untested against real-world seismic activity. A report from the International Commission On Large Dams considers the lessons learned from the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake.
China to draw natural disaster “risk map” to assist future urban planning
(September 23, 2010) Chinese authorities are drawing up a national natural disaster “risk map” in a bid to improve planning of urban construction projects in western China to avoid potential catastrophes.
Patricia Adams
Dai Qing
Fan Xiao
Lawrence Solomon
Mu Lan
Probe International
Lisa Peryman
Probe Media
Other News Sources
Probe International 