· February, 2006

Stories about Environment from February, 2006

Myanmar: Damning the Dams

  27 February 2006

Dathana at the Blog of Nyein of Chan Yar complains about the environmental damage bound to be caused by a planned series of dams on the Salween River along the Thai-Myanmar border: “Burma stupid generals just know how to get money. They do not consider how much damage will be...

South Africa: Failed habitats

  27 February 2006

African HOUSEIT writes on “Failed Habitats” that is the thousands of homes that lack proper sewage systems and water supplies...”Thousands in the area have no private access to water, and hundreds of people are forced to share single taps. More than 15,000 use what is euphemistically called the “bucket system”...

Indonesia: Mining Politics

  24 February 2006

Yosef Ardi reflects on the long involvement of U.S. mining company Freeport McMoran in Indonesian politics. Freeport, which operated a massive mine — the largest copper and gold mine in the world — in Irian Jaya (now West Papua) province, is shutting down its operations.

Iran: Cutting Trees!

  23 February 2006

Hanouz, an Iran based journalist & blogger, talks about cutting thousands trees (Persian) in Levizan forest in neighbourhood of Tehran. According to the blogger, Tehran's municipality is cutting these trees to construct a highway. It is considered disastrous for Tehran and its air pollution.

Africa: water & energy solutions

  23 February 2006

Timbuktu Chronicles reports on an amazing invention that may provide the water and power to may people in poor rural areas of the developing world. “To solve the problem, he’s invented two devices, each about the size of a washing machine that can provide much-needed power and clean water in...

Caribbean: Hurricane season

  21 February 2006

“My Caribbean and Florida bloggers, do you realise we are less than 16 weeks away from hurricane season”? asks Cayman Islands-based blogger Ri.

Indonesia: Electric Growth

  20 February 2006

Sarapan Ekonomi critiques John Perkins, author of Confessions of an Economic Hitman: “His self declared crime — inflating the forecast of electrical demand to force Indonesia into bankruptcy — has turned into an important engine of Indonesia’s economic growth since the early 1970s.”

Kenya: reforestation

  20 February 2006

Afromusing comments on the depleted forest lands of Kenya and the need to replant trees. Would you be willing to spend $5 to replant trees? If so contact Afromusing.

St. Vincent & the Grenadines: Cooking gas war

  20 February 2006

Abeni reports that a “gas war” is on the verge of breaking out in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as Texaco pushes to increase the price of a cylinder of cooking gas from EC$30 to EC$43. Abeni wonders “if the Petro Caribe gas that came in from Venezuela a few...

Ukraine: News Roundup

  17 February 2006

Dan McMinn of Orange Ukraine does his regular roundup of Ukraine's main political and economic themes: the gas agreement, privatization issues, campaign news and relationship with Russia.

Nigeria: Army v citizens

  17 February 2006

Agodi News describes President Obasanjo as irresponsible and dangerous following the use of military helicopters to fight illegal bunkering in Warri.……….”Why use bomb on your own community when you can simply shut down whatever illegal operation was going on peacefully and positively? Is the Nigerian army at war?”

Hong Kong, Here Comes The Pollution

  16 February 2006

China has just announced the building of two large nuclear power plants in Southern China. HK Dave reminisces on Simon World about what the announcement says about China's skyrocketing energy needs, and how those needs will translate into pollution traveling to Hong Kong.

Barbados: Leptospirosis

  15 February 2006

“How will the current garbage crisis on Barbados impact the spread of deadly Leptospirosis during the coming rainy season?” asks Barbados Free Press in a post detailing the problem and its background.

Barbados: Coral reefs & racism

  14 February 2006

Titlayo reports that a yacht owned by US billionaire J. Paul Getty III has destroyed a portion of the coral reef off the west coast of Barbados, but she's even more dismayed at this comment: “Well, man, he got a lot o’ money. He could afford to build back that...

Putin's Dissertation and Russian Energy Sector

  13 February 2006

Sean Guillory looks at Vladimir Putin's dissertation, “Strategic Planning of Regional Raw Material Operations in a Market Economy,” which he wrote as a student of the St. Petersburg Mining Academy in 1997. Stored at the Russian State Library, the dissertation is a hit with the readers. Also, Sean discusses Vladimir...