· January, 2013

Stories about Environment from January, 2013

Egypt Silent on Sinai Flooding

  31 January 2013

Sinai is being ravished by flooding, after heavy rains in the region. Very little information is available on online media, amid total silence on mainstream media. Netizens report that up to 1,400 families could be caught up in the flooding, without electricity and access to food.

Tens of Thousands Affected by Heavy Rains in Mozambique

  30 January 2013

In Mozambique, the rains that have been falling since early January devastated populations in the country's center and south. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated, and 45 deaths have been reported. While the number of victims continue to rise and damages continue to increase, the online community has called for solidarity and expressed its indignation in the face of the vandalism and pillaging that has occurred.

‘Planet Asks for Pedalling': Cycling Through Latin America

  30 January 2013

"I understood that travelling like this, without being in a rush, gives you the freedom to get to know cultures more deeply and the simplicity of the people." Meet Beto, from Brazil, and his project 'Planet asks for Pedalling' that will take him on a 2.5 years journey cycling through Latin America.

China: Air Pollution in Major Cities

  30 January 2013

Jacky Huang from China Hush translated a local media feature on the problem of air pollution in major Chinese cities. According to a report published by National environmental analysis of the People’s Republic of China: only 1% of China’s 500 largest cities meet the recommended standard set up by WHO....

Indigenous Xavantes of Marãiwatsédé Fight for the Right to Their Land

  29 January 2013

Having inhabited the Marãiwatsédé territory in the north of Mato Grosso for centuries, natives of the Xavante ethnic group face occupation and threats from farmers who are trying to evictl them from their homeland, which was returned to them 14 years ago. On December 6, 2012, the justice department in Mato Grosso ordered the delivery of subpoenas for the removal of illegal occupants of these ancestral lands. A month and a half later the process has almost been finalized.

Critical Mass: Cycling Through Brazil's Salvador City

  29 January 2013

In our attempt to discover the route of Brazilian Critical Masses, we spoke with two organizers of the Salvador Critical Mass (also known as “Bicicletada”), Roque Júnior and Rosa Ribeiro. Here's the second part of the interview, in which we get to know a little more about the city’s urban mobility policies.

Hotel Development near the Pitons Raises Concerns in St. Lucia

  25 January 2013

A planned hotel development near the Pitons in Saint Lucia has fueled more debate about the way to balance development with cultural and environmental concerns. The proposed “eco-luxury” development is “Freedom Bay”, which plans to include a five-star hotel in addition to private residences.

Critical Mass: Wheels of Activism Come to Brazil's Salvador City

  24 January 2013

The international cycling movement Critical Mass - or Bicicletadas as it is been known in Brazilian Portuguese - has won the hearts of Brazilians, since cars have reached a saturation point on the country's congested roads. Visiting the city of Salvador in Brazil, Global Voices contributor, Thiana Biondo talked to Critical Mass local activists Roque Junior and Rosa Ribeiro. Check out the first part of the interview.

Air Pollution In Bhopal

  23 January 2013

Bagchiblog sheds light on the rise of air pollution in Bhopal, the capital of the the Indian State of Madhya Pradesh. The degradation in the air quality has primarily been caused by an increase in cars and two-wheelers in the cities and rural areas.

Russia's Siberian State Within A State

RuNet Echo  23 January 2013

Roughly 90% of Russian gas production originates in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, located in the northwestern corner of Siberia. In recent months, bloggers and Russian netizens have reacted to the latest in a series of changes to internal migration laws inside YaNAO that make it difficult for non-residents even to pass through the region.

Philippines: US Navy Ship Damages ‘Protected’ Tubbataha Reefs

  23 January 2013

Filipino netizens, environmentalists, and nationalists are angry after a United States Navy minesweeper, the USS Guardian, caused damage to the corals of the Tubbataha Reefs in the Sulu Sea. The Tubbataha Reefs was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. It is a protected marine area that is off-limits to ships.

Guyana: Modern Architecture and the State of The Nation

  22 January 2013

Now why would the toga wearing Vitruvius have anything relevant to say about modern day Guyana architecture …until one considers the proliferation in this far away land of Roman columns. Guyana Mosquito thinks the trends in modern Guyanese architecture are indicative of the state of the country.

Indonesia Flood: Emergency Phone Numbers in Jakarta

  21 January 2013

Enda Nasution posted a list of phone numbers of emergency flood mitigation posts throughout Jakarta in Indonesia. Jakarta was heavily flooded last week and was placed on a state of emergency. The flooding has eased already but residents are still on high alert following the reported damage in the city floodgates.

South Korea's Four Rivers Project is a Train-Wreck

  21 January 2013

In South Korea, the highly controversial Four Rivers Project has finally proven to be a train-wreck. Contrary to government claims, the latest audit report finds that the project has worsened water quality and hemorrhaged an astronomical amount of taxpayer money due to defective construction.

Earthquake Debris Disposal Divides Japan

  19 January 2013

One year and ten months have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake hit. The affected areas are now making steps towards recovery thanks to the support from all over Japan and around the globe. However one remaining issue, disaster debris incineration, is dividing the country.

Bayaka Fighting to Save the Congo Basin Forests

  18 January 2013

The documentary Ndima (forest in Bayaka Language) depicts the struggle of the Bayaka people to protect the Congo Basin forests and preserve their way of life. An similar initiative, Mapping for Rights, strives to help forest communities in the Republic of Congo to gain legal rights to their lands via...