Stories about Environment from July, 2009
Pakistan: Rain In Karachi
The recent record breaking rainfall in Karachi has made the lives of Karachites miserable and Kashif Aziz at Chowrangi questions “why Karachi suffers when it rains?”
Kenya: Water Crisis and Government Inaction
The Mount Kenya Trust Blog decries the worsening water crisis in Kenya, pointing out the wanton waste of resources by an MP (Member of Parliament), and continuing wildlife-people conflict.
Ethiopia: Live discussion of the film “The Market Maker”
Follow live discussion of the film “The Market Maker”: The Market Maker follows Eleni Gabre-Madhin, a charismatic Ethiopian economist who, in an effort to end hunger in her famine-plagued country, designs the country’s first commodities exchange.
Bangladesh: Beauty Of The Countryside
Expat blogger Amy Moyer is charmed by the amazing Bangladesh countryside.
Pakistan: Guinness Record For Tree Planting
All Things Pakistan informs that Pakistan has been listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as a team of 300 volunteers succeeded in planting 5,41,176 mangrove tree saplings in a day.
Israel: A Belief In Coexistence – Interview With Activist Ibn Ezra
While Israel as a whole has moved to the right in recent years, there are nevertheless Israelis who oppose their government’s policies towards the Palestinians. Global Voices Online has interviewed activist Joseph Dana, who blogs at Ibn Ezra, about his involvement with the group Ta'ayush ("coexistence"), the state of activism in Israel, and using social media to get the message out.
Uganda: Government Quiet as Famine Takes Toll
As drought spreads throughout East Africa, more than three million Ugandans are at risk of starvation. Hunger has claimed the lives of more than 40 people, and bloggers fear more will die before the government takes notice.
Puerto Rico, B.V.I.: Earthquake
Repeating Islands reports on an earthquake that was felt yesterday in Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands.
Pakistan: A Fatwa To Stop Electricity Theft
Kalsoom at CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan informs that “the Karachi Electricity Supply Company (KESC) has reportedly obtained a fatwa [religious decree] from 12 senior Islamic scholars against the theft of electricity, which is costing the company 1 billion rupees ($12.3 million) a month.”
Colombia: The Hunt for Pablo Escobar's Hippo
There is controversy in Colombia after photos were shown of soldiers surrounding a dead hippopotamus, which had been hunted and killed after being labelled a health risk to local communities. The animal had escaped from the estate of former drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, who had brought its parents to Colombia to show them as "trophies and walking symbols of his power."
Global: The push to boycott Shark Week
A group of scientists, scuba divers and self-described shark lovers are using the blogosphere to publicize their criticism of the Discovery Channel’s “horror-show” portrayal of sharks during its annual Shark Week. This loose coalition argues the Discovery Channel programming sensationalizes shark attacks and embellishes the dangers sharks pose to humans.
Trinidad & Tobago: In Pictures
A few “random shots” of Trinidad and Tobago, courtesy This Beach Called Life.
Barbados: Reduce, Re-use, Recycle
“Our culture and attitudes must change from that of ‘guvment take care of it’ to ‘This street is mine and I must take care of my property’.”: Barbados Free Press says that there's no excuse for not recycling.
Kenya: Devastating Drought Worsens Human-Wildlife Conflict
Kenya is experiencing the worst drought in more than a decade according to the country's meteorological department. This drought has been felt throughout the country, but it is more visible among the Maasai community who's primary source of livelihood is cattle. Faced by the danger of loosing their valued livestock,...
Aruba, Suriname: Journey of Discovery
“It was so incredibly beautiful. The big trees rising from the gorges. The river flowing seemingly endless past the jungle…”: Arubagirl visits Suriname and posts some photos from her trip.
Bulgaria: Ukrainian gas crisis caused government fall
LJ user koltashov turns attention to [RUS] a report claiming that Bulgaria's government fell earlier this year due to the gas crisis between Russia and Ukraine.
Bangladesh: What Bloggers Can Do On Tipaimukh Issue
JRahman at Mukti urges Bangladeshi bloggers to act “by any means necessary and possible” to highlight the issue of the disastrous effects of the proposed Tipaimukh Dam in India.
China: Xinjiang People – Sorry and Thank You
China Digital Times has translated a popular post, Xinjiang people – sorry and thank you, written by a Han Chinese in Xinjiang that criticizes the social and economic development in the region.
China: Rio Tinto's trouble – commerical bribery or espionage?
According to China Daily, the official newspaper in China, Rio Tinto has virtually bribed the entire management of the steel industry in the country. More than a week ago, four employees of Rio Tinto were arrested on suspicion of ‘espionage, stealing state secrets and harming the nation’s economic interests and...
Pakistan: The power of the Fatwa
The Karachi Electricity Supply Company (KESC) has reportedly obtained a fatwa [religious decree] from 12 senior Islamic scholars against the theft of electricity. Kalsoom at Changing Up Pakistan writes in this post how the idea of a major corporation using religious fatwas to give religious legitimacy to their cause is...
Light Up Nigeria: Enough Is Enough
Despite being a country rich in oil, Nigeria's electricity supply situation is insufficient. “In most parts of the country, darkness pervades and generators have taken over as the source of power”, says Adebayo's blog. Now Nigerians have started a massive online demonstration against this frustrating situation on social media sites, especially on Twitter with the hashtag #lightupnigeria.
