Stories about Environment from February, 2007
Barbados: The beautification of Bridgetown
Titlayo has good things to say about the government's efforts to beautify Bridgetown, Barbados’ capital city.
India: Microfinance in Rajasthan and Maharashtra
Trivial Matters has a wonderful photo-essay on rural microfinance and microenterprise in Rajasthan. “The women inside of the mud walled room are filled with a new found sense of empowerment: through their small self help co-operative they have successfully found a voice and a hand to change the society they...
Arabisc: Pictorial Tour of the Middle East
Fed up of all the politics in the Middle East? Me too. This week we will take a pictorial tour of the region, making stops in Qatar, Bahrain, Tunisia and Lebanon, to name a few. There are real amazing photographers out there and the scenery and mood quickly changes from...
Egypt: PETA Vs KFC
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) staged a rally against Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), in Cairo, wrote Issandr El Amrani in The Arabist.
Tajikistan: Water Pollution
At neweurasia, Gulru writes about water pollution in Tajikistan, saying that there Tajik citizens can be part of the solution.
Malawian bloggers on nature, health, technology, politics and corruption
The newest Malawian kid on the blog is journalist Kondwani Kamiyala, of The Nation newspaper, one of Malawi’s two daily papers. Since launching his blog on January 17, Kondwani has posted 11 entries in a space of four weeks, making him one of the most active bloggers in the Malawi...
Albania: “Lights Out”
Our Man in Tirana writes about Albania's energy problems and invites everyone to support “the good people of Albania”: “When I was out walking a few nights ago, I decided to try to record the sound of one of the many generators on my phone. I managed to convert this...
Russia: Kremin and Its Opponents
The Economist's Edward Lucas posts his piece on the Kremlin and its opponents battling in London and replies to critics in the comments section.
Africa: building with mud
African Architecture has an interesting post about using mud as flooring material, “Mud is a very eco-friendly and affordable material even though some might think it is floor finish associated with being primitive or poor. However I think mud is very beautiful flooring material as long as you can compact...
Kenya: solar concentrator
Afromusing blogs about solar concentrator (Sun Flower), “This is one product I am looking forward to testing it in Kenya once it becomes available, mainly because it is cost effective, and suitable for those wishing to still be tied to the electricity grid, but supplement their energy needs or even...
China: greenify
Peijin Chen from Shanghaiist shows how local governments “greenify” the landscape.
Jordan: Support Dibbin Forest
Jordanian blogger The Black Iris is spearheading a campaign to protect a forest from destruction. Click here to support the drive.
War on Israeli Flowers
Adloyada reports on a war on Israeli flowers in the UK. ‘Yes, that's the word from the spokesperson from Britain's Boycott Israeli Goods Campaign, justifying his group's publicity stunt for the oxymoronically named “Israel Apartheid Week” in which they chained themselves to the fence outside Carmel-Agrexco, the wholesaler which distributes...
Iraq – Draft Oil Law Published
The new oil law planned by the Iraqi government is controversial to say the least. The fact that it is being discussed in secret is doubly so. New blog Al-Ghad gets a leaked copy of the new draft law and publishes the document together with an expert commentary (in Arabic).
Bolivia: When Nationalization is Not Enough
As the violent course of events calmed down in the city of Cochabamba, another conflict emerged in the city of Camiri, located in the southeastern part of Bolivia known as the Gran Chaco. The population was protesting that the hydrocarbons nationalization announced by President Evo Morales last May had not...
Nigeria: the heartbeat of Africa
Oluniyi Ajao blogs about his experience in Nigeria, “I’ve been in Nigeria since Sunday, so I am well-informed about what I am writing about right now. I just saw an ad on CNN, about Nigeria – the Heartbeat of Africa. I am sad to say that this is just another...
Mayotte: En Route to the Farmer's Market
Expat blog Mayotte L'Ile au Lagon posts (Fr) annotated pictures of a stroll to the farmer's market of Labattoir. Says the blog: ” Wild mint grows along the road and invades the atmosphere with its tonic smell. Toothpaste in the outdoors…!!!”
Madagascar: A Win-Win Solution to Deforestation
Harinjaka posts and cites (Fr) a video by CommerceEquitable.com: “[The organization] … decided to create the cooperative Equimada which put in place a project of tree planting coupled with an equitable commerce project. The project seeks to create an economic alternative to deforestation. This encourages peasants to plant trees rather...
Senegal: President Wade Wants A Nuclear Plant
Blog Politique du Sénégal writes (Fr): “ [President] Wade … announced that he wants a nuclear power plant. Just what we needed! … Senegal doesn't even have the means to pay for the plant's enclosure, never mind the plant itself! “
Poland's Pulse: Healthcare Bingo, Alcohol Curfews, Red Pig
Photo by Embe at warsawdaily A week of intermittent snowfall broke a dry spell, drawing kids outdoors for some winter games. It will be a short-lived affair as the winter has been a let-down for some with warmer temperatures and, as Our Man in Gdansk suggests, indoor games are sure...
Venezuela: Chávez starts talking green
Both Leftside and The Latin Americanist give some analysis to Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez's recent enthusiasm for environmentalism.
