Stories about Environment from March, 2012
Iran: Earth Hour celebrated in Tehran
Iranians are going to celebrate the “Earth Hour” today Saturday 31st of March. Here in this Farsi-language website, Iranians are organizing the “Earth Hour” events, including turning-off lights for an hour ‘to protect the planet’. Parham, an Isfahan-based user, tweets: ‘They are going to turn off Si-o-se Pol (historical bridge)...
South Asia: Every Day Is Earth Hour for Us
Today many countries of the world are observing Earth Hour, an event to make people aware of the climate change by turning off their non-essential lights for one hour. Millions of people in South Asia have no access to electricity and the demand of electricity is much bigger than supply.
Philippines: Petition Against Magnetite Mining
An online petition urges the Philippine government to deny the magnetite mining applications in the northern coastal areas of Luzon Island in the Philippines.
Bulgaria: Construction of the Nuclear Power Plant “Belene” Cancelled
The Bulgarian government announced the cancellation of the construction of the nuclear power plant "Belene" on March 28. This controversial project and the consequences of its halt drew quite some attention. Rayna Stamboliyska reports.
South Korea: Youtube Video on Saving Jeju Village from Naval Base Construction
A video with English subtitle explaining why protesters are against constructing a naval based in the Jeju island was posted on the Youtube site. The opposition accused the construction of destroying a rare ecosystem and disrupting local livelihood, while the other side argues it is necessary for national defense.
China: Sandstorms and Nuclear Tests
Henryk Szadziewski from Uyghurnomics blogs about the effect of 46 nuclear tests in East Turkestan, the homeland of millions of Uyghurs between 1964-1996 on people and environment.
DR of Congo: Health Challenges in Goma Due to Clean Water Shortage
Passy Mubalama reports [fr] that the Town of Goma in North Kivu, DRC is facing multiple challenges due to shortage of clean water. She explains that water provision has been a problem since the eruption of the Nyiragongo volcano in 2002 that destroyed the pipe that conducted clean water to Goma.
Ecuador: The March for Life Arrives in Quito
On its arrival in Quito on March 22, the March for Life was met with support from one side and opposition from another, including criticism from the government and police resistance. Ecuadorean netizens reported during the day on social networks by sharing photos, videos, reports, and reactions on the arrival of the march in the capital of Ecuador.
Video: Indigenous Communities Document their Growth and Governance
The Indigenous Territory and Governance Platform is made up of a series of institutions all working together to provide the indigenous people of Latin America the tools and resources to be able to strengthen the governance they have of their territory and their community. A series of short videos is used to document their progress. All links lead to Spanish language sites.
Ecuador: The ‘March for Life’ Approaches Quito
The March for Life is approaching the Ecuadorean capital of Quito without any major delays. As we reported in a previous post, indigenous communities and organizations of civil society have organized this march to protest large scale mining in the country. Here are a collection of citizens reports and reactions from the Ecuadorian blogosphere.
Arab World: Netizens Turn to Twitter to Complain About Dust
A massive sandstorm hit the Gulf region, disrupting air traffic in Yemen, and closing schools in Saudi Arabia. Netizens from Yemen, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar turned to Twitter to complain.
France: Protests in Marseille against the Privatisation of Water
Babalobi wrote on eWash: “Accompanied by unarmed policemen, protesters marched through the streets of central Marseille singing, dancing and chanting slogans against ‘privatisation’ and ‘commodification’ of urban water supply.” The protests were organised by global civil society movements that include Public Service International, Africa Water Network, European Federation of Public Service Unions, Transnational Institute,...
Colombia: Video Contrasts Ads Vs. Reality of Oil Extraction Companies
In Is Pacific Rubiales Really Colombia? [es] the people of Puerto Gaitán contradict the statements made by oil and mineral extraction corporation Pacific Rubiales’ television ads where community members state they are better off and happy with Pacific Rubiales.
Bolivia: New March Against TIPNIS Road to Start in April
Dario Kenner, a blogger based in La Paz, reports that “a majority of community leaders from the TIPNIS indigenous territory and national park decided to begin a march towards La Paz on 20 April to oppose a road project through their territory. This is the second time these communities will...
Panama: “I'm Ngäbe, I'm Bugle, I'm Panamanian”
After police forcibly removed the indigenous Ngäbe-Bugle who were blocking the Pan-American highway to protest mining in their territories, a video campaign titled "I'm Ngäbe, I'm Bugle, I'm Panamanian" aims to raise awareness and tell Panamanians that the struggle of the Ngäbe-Bugle should be a national concern.
Video: Surfers, Fishermen and Radiation in Post Earthquake Japan
Journalist Lisa Katayama and filmmaker Jason Wishnow are documenting the lives of people dealing with radiation in a post-earthquake Japan. In We Are All Radioactive, they are including 50% footage made by themselves in the areas around Fukushima Power Plant, and 50% footage made by residents who were given waterproof digital cameras.
Philippines: Electric Jeepneys
Prime Sarmiento writes that the Philippines has recently launched the largest electric public transport fleet in Southeast Asia with its first commercial franchise of electric jeepneys (e-jeepneys). The jeepney is the most popular public mode of transport in the country
Ecuador: ‘March for Life’ Says ‘No’ to Large-Scale Mining
The Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa has decided to promote large-scale mining in his country, but in spite of the economic benefits, indigenous communities and other civil organizations do not support these projects. Hence, The 'March for Life' is a protest against large-scale mining in Ecuador.
South Korea: Twitter Photos of One-Person Relay Protest against Jeju Naval Base Construction
South Korean Tweeters have joined rallies against the Jeju naval base construction that has been blamed for disrupting residents’ livelihood and destroying a rare ecosystem. Each Twitter user has volunteered to take turns to one-person protest against the construction and to tweet the photos, such as user @okeeffe00, @sirdy10 and @yds5921 did in...
Iran: A Nowruz New Year Without Goldfish?
Goldfish have a special place in the Iranian New Year, Nowruz, celebrating the first day of Spring (March 20). But every year animal rights defenders and bloggers launch campaigns to encourage people not to buy them.
Brazil: Demonstration Demands President Veto on Forestry Code
On March 7, Brazilian activists organized an act (#vetadilma) urging President Dilma to veto changes on the new Forestry Code. Biologist Pablo Pessoa published photos and videos of the act, and wrote [pt] about his participation, claiming it was difficult to ensure “preservation or conservation of ecological processes without the recognition by...
