Stories about Environment from August, 2012
Peru: Amazon Officially Inaugurated as Nature's Wonder
On Monday, August 13, the city of Iquitos was the scene of colourful celebrations marking the official inauguration of the Amazon as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. Netizens shared diverse reactions to this new recognition for the Amazon.
Brazil: Judge Orders Halt to Belo Monte Dam
Brazilian judge Souza Prudente ordered halt to the construction of the controversial Belo Monte dam, in Altamira, state of Pará, on August 13, 2012, reports [pt] independent researcher Telma Monteiro on her blog. Netizens’ reactions on Twitter are being shared under the hashtag #BeloMonte.
Trinidad & Tobago: Flood Relief
A comprehensive post about tangible ways in which to help victims of the Trinidad floods, here, while Plain Talk questions the role of the army during the crisis.
Oil Exploration Prompts Lake Malawi/Nyasa Ownership Dispute
News that Malawi is exploring oil on Lake Nyasa (also known as Lake Malawi) has attracted hot debate. While the Malawian government claims exclusive ownership, Tanzania is pressing for recognition of some earlier ownership of half of the lake.
Kyrgyzstan: Does Torpedo Testing Pollute Unique Lake?
Blogger Ilya Lukash writes [ru] about a Soviet-built facility on the shore of Kyrgyzstan's unique mountainous lake Issyk-Kul. The facility is apparently used by the Russian navy to test torpedoes in the lake. Angered by the pollution that the facility might have caused to Kyrgyzstan's prime tourist area and natural reserve,...
Trinidad & Tobago: Dark Cloud, Gold Lining
Heavy floods pounded the northwestern part of Trinidad yesterday morning, as two rivers burst their banks following torrential rains from a tropical depression. But the nation's spirits were to be lifted - at least for a while - as the country won Olympic gold for the second time in its history, thanks to the efforts of Keshorn Walcott in the Javelin Throw.
Bangladesh: Ugly and Deadly Billboards in Dhaka
Dhaka skylines are covered with commercial billboards. These not only block the view of the sky but during string winds and storms they are prone to collapse and harm pedestrians. So far 15 people have died in billboard related accidents.
Video: No Pool? No Problem! Creative Solutions to Beat the Heat
The hot summer in the Northern hemisphere is forcing many people to seek ways in which to escape the high temperatures or get some relief. These next images and videos show how with creativity and ingenuity, people young and old find ways in which to beat the heat.
UK: Taking on ‘Brandalism’
The collectively maintained website Brandalism presents an ever-growing collection of street art. The project is inspired “from the Dadaists, Situationists and Street Art movements” and its goal is to “see the largest reclamation of outdoor advertising space in UK history as artists challenge the authority and legitimacy of the advertising...
Bangladesh, USA: 5000 Miles Bicycle Ride For Climate Awareness
Two activists from Bangladesh are riding on a tandem bike to collect and measure the amount of plastic and other waste they come across during their 5000 miles journey from Seattle to New York.
Sri Lanka: The Need for a National Water Resources Policy
Ranil Senanayake at Groundviews exerts that the water rich Sri Lanka urgently needs a National Water Resources Policy to preserve the quantity and quality of the water resources.
China: Illegal Ivory Trade Ban Gains Online Support
Support for a ban on the global illegal ivory trade has recently gained support from Chinese netizens. From 2000 to 2011, whilst East Africa was the centre of illegal ivory trafficking, China and Thailand were the major destinations for ivory products.
Bangladesh: Save Sundarbans’ Bengal Tigers
Global Tiger Day is observed in 13 countries on the 29th of July each year. This year the slogan in Bangladesh was 'Save Sundarbans Tiger Landscape'. Protests were also made against construction of a coal based power plant project near the forests which will endanger the tigers and other wildlife.
Sao Tome and Principe: Deforestation of an Area of Unique Biodiversity
“In the distance a bulldozer was relentlessly doing its work while the whole landscape seemed to be mourning the destruction.” denounced [pt] João Pedro Pio, a biologist living in Sao Tome and Principe, after visiting a former forest known for its unique biodiversity. The area – mapped on his photopost –...
Guatemala: Peoples’ Health Tribunal Declares Goldcorp Guilty
For years, the community of San Miguel Ixtahuacán in Guatemala has been denouncing the negative consequences of Goldcorp's Marlin gold mine. On July 14 and 15, 2012, members of the San Miguel Ixtahuacán community joined other international organizations in a 'Peoples' International Health Tribunal.' This second post in a two-part series coverst event and some of the cases presented there.
