Stories about Environment from June, 2011
U.S.V.I.: The National Park on St. John
A Nation or Nobody blogs about a report on National Parks, Tourism, and Local Development, written 30 years ago, which he feels “should be required reading for every student in the US Virgin Islands…it [also] has the power to speak to a much larger audience on issues of development, government...
Russia: Video Reports From Anti-Seliger, Opposition Summer Camp
Oleg Kozyrev publishes a series of video reports [ru] from Anti-Seliger, a summer camp situated in the endangered Khimki city forest park. “The bloggers’ Woodstock” united digital activists, environmentalists, and opposition politicians.
India: Hungry For Power
Srishti Chauhan asks “why is India stepping on the nuclear bandwagon?”
Ecuador: Project Aims to Bring More Green to Guayaquil
In El Ecuador de Hoy [es] Guillermo Sornoza praises a project called ‘Guayaquil Ecológico’ [Ecological Guayaquil] which aims to bring more green spaces to the city in the form of picnic areas, parks, bicycle paths, etc.
Brazil: Denouncement on Belo Monte to OAS
The journalist Leonardo Sakamoto analyzes the petition [pt] sent to the Human Rights comission of the Organization of American States (OAS) concerning the Belo Monte dam, in Brazil. The country may be judged for illegalities in the licensing process that “disrespected the right of consultation and access to information and...
Panama: The Indigenous Ngobe-Bugle’s Struggle to Defend the Rio Tabasara
Intercontinental Cry publishes an exclusive report by independent journalist Richard Arghiris, who “takes an in-depth look at the controversy surrounding the Barro Blanco hydroelectric dam in Panama and the Ngobe-Bugle’s struggle to defend the Rio Tabasara along with their own right to survive as Indigenous Peoples.”
Barbados: Environmental Sham
As the Environmental Protection Department celebrates its 40th anniversary, Barbados Free Press asks “why Barbados has no Environmental Protection Act.”
Taiwan: A Song for Those Pro-Nuclear Power Legislators
Political vlogger 廖小貓(Kitty Liao) made a music video with the names of the legislators who passed the additional budget of the 4th Nuclear Power Plant that is under construction. In the lyrics, Liao asserts: “Remember these legislators who poison Taiwanese people, and don't vote for them!”
South Korea: Best Photos of Lunar Eclipse, Taken by Tweeters
The moon disappeared behind the shadow of the earth from 2 to 5 am in South Korea on June 16. Korean net users who witnessed the event posted photos online and South Korea's blogger/citizen news site Wiki Tree picked Twitterer @dmzkor‘s pictures as one of the best photos.
Kenya: The Winners of Pivot25 Mobile App Developer Conference
Mark announces the winners of Pivot25 Mobile App Developer Conference: “We’ve covered Pivot25 for the past two days. You can follow the goings on through our live blogs on Day 1 and Day 2 and it’s been a blast. We’ve had a great time here and built up to it...
Bahamas: Transformation of Nassau
Bahama Pundit‘s Larry Smith blogs about “three interesting environmental projects..that could have a big impact on our landscapes and lifestyles – at the eastern, western and southern extremities of Nassau.”
Brazil: The Chilling Beauty of the Green Desert
Where jungle was once seen, green woodland can now be seen. Bloggers comment on the beauty, environmental impact and the social consequences which are being brought to the country by the eucalyptus monocultures - the so-called green deserts.
Russia: Southstream as a hoax
Streetwise Professor questions whether Russian state gas monopoly Gazprom will actually build the Southstream gas pipeline – the main competitor to the Western-financed Nabucco pipeline.
Honduras: Policies to Improve Agriculture
“What is the appropriate mix of policies regarding agriculture in Honduras?” asks blogger Jose Falck Zepeda, who then argues that Honduras “need[s] to look for innovative approaches to improve smallholder productivity, to improve medium and large scale agriculture, promote exports and to develop the non-farm rural economy.”
Peru: Government Announces End of Concession for Inambari Hydroelectric Project
Isabel Guerra updates [es] her blog with the latest news on the Inambari hydroelectric project: after protests demanding its cancellation, the government has announced it will suspend the temporal concession given to Egasur, the project's developer.
Cambodia: Power woes
Cambodia As It Is blogs about the power shortage problem in Cambodia. A power plant is being constructed but it seems the intent is to sell power in nearby Vietnam instead of addressing the power needs of Cambodia.
Singapore: ‘Save the World’s Saddest Dolphins’ Campaign
Twenty-five dolphins caught in the wild are being held in captivity in a Singapore gaming and spa resort. Animal lovers and netizens have launched a campaign demanding the release of these dolphins.
Haiti: Reconstruction Issues
Haiti Grassroots Watch writes a series of posts about the country's reconstruction efforts, here and here.
Jamaica: Rain Review
“If this was the dress rehearsal for flooding, later-on in the year, when we are pelted with rain from storms and hurricanes, later in the hurricane season, then we've failed”: Girl With a Purpose blogs about the country's recent bout of bad weather.
Peru: Aymara Indigenous People Announce Resumption of Protests in Puno
After a temporary truce to allow for presidential elections to take place in the Puno region, the Aymara Indians in said region have announced that they will resume their strike indefinitely, with which they demand the cancellation of all mining concessions in Puno.
East Timor: National Oil Company
La'o Hamutuk writes a letter to the president of East Timor regarding the proposed creation of a national oil company to manage the country's petroleum resources. The group wants more transparency and stronger measures to prevent corruption.