Stories about Environment from September, 2007
Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago: Maharaj's New Novel
“I was more interested in the ambivalence that many West Indians feel about the canefields, a reminder of more oppressive times and also a means to a livelihood”: Geoffrey Philp's Blogspot features Trinidad-born author Rabindranath Maharaj as he discusses his new novel.
Jamaica, DR, Cuba, Haiti: Sugar Protocol
The Latin Americanist reports that ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific) countries are calling on the European Union to uphold the “Sugar Protocol” agreement, which guarantees that EU states buy and import agreed quantities of sugar at certain prices.
Banned Chlordecone Pesticide in Used in Martinique
le blog de [moi] writes that the pesticide chlordecone has been used in the French Antilles as recently as 2002, despite being banned in the United States since 1976 and in France since 1991. Although the scandal broke five years ago, [moi] says the most damning details were kept quiet...
Trinidad & Tobago: Disaster Preparedness
“We're well into the 2007 hurricane season, and all I got was a lousy brochure…”: KnowProSE.com blogs about disaster preparedness in the Caribbean.
Japan: Monju reactor trial to begin Sept. 20th
Blogger tokyodo-2005 writes about the famous sodium leak and fire at the Monju fast-breeder reactor in Fukui Prefecture (Japan) in 1995 [Ja] and about the subsequent cover-up of a video taken immediately after the incident. tokyodo-2005 reports that a trial about the case is set to begin on Sept. 20th...
Trinidad & Tobago: Open Letter
Taran Rampersad receives a letter from Trinidad and Tobago's Minister of Planning and Development – and writes one back.
Trinidad & Tobago: Beach Cleanup
“I hope that this post makes you more appreciative of your environment…it really was sad (and gross) how much plastic debris we cleared. I wish that here in Trinidad and Tobago we took our roles as collective custodians more seriously”: TriniGourmet.com takes part in a beach cleanup effort and posts...
Iran: Dogs arrested
The blogger Dastan reports on the arrest of dogs by Iranian police on September 9th, to rid the country of ‘western influences’ and ‘immodesty’. The dog owners are shocked at the arrests and are worried about the fate of their pets. Furthermore, dastan notes that the dogs are neither fed...
Kazakhstan: Energy Twists and Media Tricks
Be it the crisis of the country's biggest oil project or the biases of the national media: Both big stories from Kazakhstan this week demonstrate that power is concentrated in very few hands, while social indicators point at huge income inequalities.
Bahamas: Climate Change
Larry Smith at Bahama Pundit blogs about “the economics of pollution”.
St. Kitts & Nevis: Volcano Hike
“Mt Liamuiga is St Kitts tallest mountain at 3,792ft, and a ‘potentially active’ stratovolcano with a very well defined crater…” Steve's Dominica goes hiking.
Japan: Protecting the Kyoto Cityscape
While many countries around the world are struggling to tackle Kyoto at home, the city the environmental accord was named after is caught up in its own struggle. The capital of Japan for over 1,000 years (794-1868), Kyoto was once a picturesque ancient city surrounded by mountains. Today it is...
Yemen: Locust Invasion
Hadhramout in Yemen is being invaded by swarms of locust, writes Omar Bursawad. “For the last few weeks I have been hearing of how swarms of locusts have descended here and I have seen too – the great, unbelievable damage done to the crops and fields around,” he explains. Click...
Paraguay: Forest Fires as a Result of Climate Change?
R.E.S.C.A.T.A.R [ES] writes about uncontrollable forest fires in Paraguay and whether climate change is responsible for this disaster.
Africa: Africans need to “villagize” the Internet
Despite advances in information and communication technologies, rural stories in Africa remain untold: “Ngurumo told the Indaba that Africa has to “villagize” the internet and make sure that people in the rural areas blog, podcast and tell their stories to the world.”
Paraguay: 48 Tough Hours
Elyacare [ES] writes about 48 tough hours in Paraguay in which a law that would regulate agricultural waste was rejected, a former general involved with a coup was freed and one of the responsible for the fire in an Asuncion supermarket was also freed.
Egypt: Culinary Tour
Maryanne Stroud Gabbani, who lives in Egypt, takes us on a culinary tour of Egypt's food basket.
Russia: Oil and Gas
In his “third oil and gas blog post of the day,” Tim Newman of White Sun of the Desert writes: “In the summer of 2007, the Russian government backed themselves to deliver what no other country has yet managed: a route to prosperity based almost entirely on a nationalised oil...
Liberia: Millenium Villages Project in Liberia
“I have it from an unimpeachable source that the controversial Millennium Villages project is coming soon to Liberia, probably first to Kokoya District, Bong County, and later to somewhere in the Southeast, per the president's request. The proposal is still in draft form,” writes Liberia Ledger.
D.R of Congo: War affecting Gorilla protection efforts
There is a very fluid situation unfolding at the Virunga national park in Congo. The Congo war is spreading into the protected Gorilla sector in the Virunga mountains, which is now under the control of the rebels. The blog Gorilla Protection is following the situation and posting regular updates. The...
Jordan: Nine Crimes & Other September Stories
One story dominated Jordan's blogosphere lately. Naseem Tarawnah writes about how bloggers rallied behind "9 Miserable Days", a post by Jordanian blogger Who Sane, where he told an unfortunate personal story involving the mysterious disappearance of his father, leading his family to expect the worse.