News - April



	ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS January 2005 February 2005 Mac 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 27 April 2005: China Melted Snow Helps Curb Sandstorms in Qinghai Northwest China's Qinghai Province has for two years diverted melting snow from Kunlun Mountains to irrigate arid land and curb sandstorms, local officials said Monday. ¤ Read News China Pollution: A High Price For Growth April, 2000. Several Chinese executives endure foul-smelling steam billowing from underground vents in central Beijing. Photo: AFP/Stephen Shaver ¤ Read News China Pollution, urbanization pose threat to E. Asian people: WB BEIJING, April 22 (Xinhuanet) -- Pollution and environmental degradation increasingly threaten the health of East Asia and Pacific's rapidly urbanizing population, according to two new environmental reports from the World Bank. ¤ Read News Indonesia Tsunami Rebuilding Could Deforest Island, Green Groups Say If Indonesia's tsunami survivors do not get an immediate and massive delivery of timber for reconstruction, the country faces devastation of what's left of its forests, environmentalists warned today. ¤ Read News Malaysia Indigenous communities show the way with renewable energy project While the central government is only beginning to dabble in renewable energy, indigenous communities living in remote parts of Sabah and Sarawak are forging ahead with sustainable hydro and solar electrification. ¤ Read News Malaysia An expanding global network for community-based renewable energy Sabah-based Partners of Community Organisations (Pacos) is a member of an expanding consortium of non-governmental organisations in Asia that are involved in community-based renewable energy projects to generate social, economic and environmental progress in their respective geographical locations. ¤ Read News Asia Emerging Asia looking for bigger role In the hustle and bustle of the world stage, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to India earlier this month had some special significance for geopolitics observers. ¤ Read News Earth Day Analysis: Earth Day reactions still mixed WASHINGTON -- It has been 35 years since Earth Day first was celebrated, yet policymakers and environmentalists alike still disagree whether they should celebrate or commiserate its anniversary this Friday. ¤ Read News General /World Papyrus Reveals New Clues to Ancient World Classical Greek and Roman literature is being read for the first time in 2,000 years thanks to new technology. The previously illegible texts are among a hoard of papyrus manuscripts. Scholars say the rediscovered writings will provide a fascinating new window into the ancient world. ¤ Read News General / World Without Top Predators, Ecosystems Turn Topsy-Turvy When the construction of a hydroelectric dam on Venezuela's Caroni River was finally completed in 1986, it flooded an area twice the size of Rhode Island, creating one of South America's largest human-made lakes: Lake Guri. ¤ Read News General / World Even Slight Warming Harms Some Species, Experts Say It seems like warmer temperatures should come as welcome relief to the caribou that roam the harsh lands of Alaska. ¤ Read News General/World Rare Bats Increasing in Number The habitat of an endangered species, the orange-whiskered bat, has improved and its numbers are increasing, according to a new study. ¤ Read News 22 April 2005: China Another Oil Clean Up in Dalian Local officials said on Wednesday that an oil leak in Dalian's new port detected on Monday morning, the third there in three weeks, has been cleaned up. ¤ Read News China Tornado Kills Seven, Scores Injured A tornado killed seven people and seriously injured 72 in Jiangsu Province on Wednesday. It was the worst of several extreme weather events that have hit China in recent days. ¤ Read News Malaysia Ecology of forest reserve damaged by illegal gold miners The once pristine environment of Gunung Arong has been besmirched by illegal prospectors and their destructive methods. ¤ Read News Philippines Environmental police force created in V’zuela Valenzuela City Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian ordered yesterday the creation of an environmental police force to effectively counter the city’s continuing problem against waste collection and disposal in its bid for a clean and healthy city. ¤ Read News Thailand First disaster alert systems ready for Patong The first sites to broadcast warnings in the event of an emergency at Patong beach, Phuket will be operational this month as part of a national disaster early warning system, according to the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda). ¤ Read News Viet Nam Management problems challenge Can Gio mangrove forest protection efforts (20-04-2005) HCM CITY—Vietnamese environmentalists feel that the overlapping management mechanisms at play in the conservation of the Can Gio mangrove forest in HCM City are slowly but surely threatening the very existence of this world’s biosphere reserve. ¤ Read News Earth Day Time to honor the planet, every day 'If the environment is a fad, then it's going to be our last fad," warned Denis Hayes at the first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, having given up his own graduate studies at Harvard only months before to organize this historic event. ¤ Read News Earth Day Matters of survival in a 'shattered world' One of the best things about writing a newspaper column is that I get a chance to meet people whose paths I might otherwise never cross. Last weekend, at the Odaiba waterfront launch of Earth Day Tokyo 2005, I had the rare pleasure of meeting and interviewing two environmentalists I have long admired, David Suzuki and C.W. Nicol. ¤ Read News General/World Antarctic glaciers show retreat The glaciers of the Antarctic Peninsula are in rapid retreat. ¤ Read News General/World Green Data Book Offers Factual Basis for Sustainable Development NEW YORK, New York, April 21, 2005 (ENS) - Better environmental management can improve people’s livelihoods, health, and security now and in the future, but sound management depends upon accurate, timely information. The latest environmental information for 200 countries was presented Tuesday at the UN Commission on Sustainable Development meeting in the form of "The Little Green Data Book 2005," a joint product of the World Bank's Development Data Group and Environment Department. ¤ Read News General/ World 5 m die due to waterborne diseases: UN NEW YORK, APRIL 20: An estimated five million people die in developing countries every year prematurely from waterborne diseases and exposure to pollution caused by stove smoke inside their homes, according to data released by the United Nations. ¤ Read News 20 April 2005: China Acid Rain Damages Giant Buddha Statue The world's largest sitting Buddha, located in southwest China's Sichuan Province, is suffering visible erosion caused by acid rain after receiving a facelift only four years ago, China Daily reported on Tuesday. ¤ Read News China Weather Warning for Asia Asian meteorologists gathered to forecast climate changes and omens of consequent effects on the continent at a regional forum in Beijing scheduled to end on Saturday. ¤ Read News Indonesia Indonesia tsunami relief effort faces tough times BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (Reuters) - The massive international effort to help victims of the Asian tsunami faces new challenges in Indonesia, withfrustration growing among survivors at the pace of reconstruction. ¤ Read News Malaysia Doing our bit to take care of the drains Imagine having a cup of water with a cigarette butt, some grease or coconut husk in it. And while you’re at it, try to visualise a motorcycle, complete with helmut, in your drinking water too. ¤ Read News Malaysia Corals suffer blow Three months after the Indian Ocean tsunami, divers are still pulling mattresses and metal from the coral-lined bays of Thai paradise isles, although experts say overall reef damage is not that bad. ¤ Read News Philippines Local Government Code: Blessing or bane? I HAVE referred to the Local Government Code a few times in this column, and have concluded that this law, which empowers local governments to manage their resources, generally works to the advantage of the greater mass of our local communities. Based on my experience in coastal and marine resource management in the central Philippines and western Mindanao, I estimate that in about two-thirds of cases, the Code has been used as an effective tool by enlightened local government leaders to properly conserve and manage marine and terrestrial resources, giving socio-economic benefits to coastal and upland populations. Viewed from this perspective, the Code is good because it facilitates development of a better life for our people. ¤ Read News Viet Nam WB, Swiss fund clean air project HA NOI — The World Bank (WB) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation (SDC) are funding two projects to help improve air quality in the capital city. ¤ Read News East Asia Concern about the environment grows in East Asia as impacts of pollution and urbanization increase Pollution and environmental degradation increasingly threaten the health of East Asia and Pacific's rapidly urbanizing population, according to two new environment reports from the World Bank. ¤ Read News World/General Arctic Warming Quicker Than Other Parts of the World Global warming is wielding more power over the Arctic, with the region experiencing twice as much temperature growth as in the other parts of the world. ¤ Read News 15 April 2005: China SKSE Helps Plant Trees South Korea's Samsung Electronics (SKSE) recently sponsored, with the Ministry of Information Industry (MII), a voluntary tree planting activity in Beijing. ¤ Read News China Chinese Zhou Qiang Wins UNEP's 'Champion of Earth' Award Zhou Qiang and the All-China Youth Federation win the special prize of the inaugural Champion of the Earth environmental award, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) announced Tuesday. ¤ Read News China Yangtze River Wetlands Home to More Waterfowl Wetlands on the middle and lower Yangtze River floodplain are of vital importance to many species of waterfowl, the summary of a recent survey confirmed. It also disclosed that different water levels in the region had changed waterbird distribution considerably this spring. ¤ Read News Indonesia Increased activity spotted in two more volcanoes Two volcanoes in the western part of the island of Java have registered increased activity on Wednesday, only a day after the Mt. Talang volcano erupted in West Sumatra, sparking fear that more terrifying natural disasters would soon rock the country. ¤ Read News Korea Eco-Friendly Bus Project Delayed The replacement of diesel-powered intra-city buses in urban areas with compressed natural gas (CNG) engines will be delayed until 2010, according to the Ministry of Planning and Budget (MPB) Tuesday. ¤ Read News Viet Nam Islanders switch to sustainable livelihoods Four years ago, Tran Thi Cu, made a seemingly small decision, but one that could help revive the environment of the ocean waters surrounding her home, Hon Mot Island. ¤ Read News Viet Nam Endangered primate species emerges in central province Ha Tinh (VNA) - The Douc Langur, an endangered species of primate, has emerged for the first time in Huong Son district of central Ha Tinh province. ¤ Read News 13 April 2005: China Old Summer Palace Hits New Environment Snag It's not proving to be a good year for the Old Summer Palace, or Yuanmingyuan Park, in northwestern Beijing. ¤ Read News China Environmentally-aware Children Appeal to the World Through Art Holding up a picture he drew, Zhu Heibai, a primary school pupil from Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province, explained what he thought the Earth should be like. ¤ Read News Indonesia Volcano on Indonesia's Sumatra Erupts JAKARTA, Indonesia -- A volcano on Indonesia's Sumatra Island erupted Tuesday, spewing out clouds of ash and causing villages on its slopes to flee their homes in panic, government volcanologists said. ¤ Read News Japan Japan in plan to expand whaling The plan would see Japan nearly double its catch of minke whales and start catching humpback and fin whales. ¤ Read News Japan Whalers set off for research hunt Six ships left a port in northern Japan on Monday for a whale hunt in an offshore research program that critics have denounced as a cover for commercial whaling. ¤ Read News Malaysia Begonias under threat For thousands of years, begonia plants have thrived in the shaded valleys of primary forests and crevices on limestone hills. ¤ Read News Malaysia Journey of discovery When renowned botanist Dr Ruth Kiew contracted him as the photographer for her book on begonias, little did Yap Kok Sun realise that the assignment would stretch over four years. ¤ Read News Malaysia Trying to get Malaysians to recycle Growing affluence and a westernised urban lifestyle have led to one thing: Malaysians are chucking out more trash than ever before. This would hardly matter if we practise the 3Rs – reduce, reuse and recycle. However, most of us do not. ¤ Read News General / World Thought-Controlled Machines May Be One Step Closer Scientists have made a brain discovery that could help lead to thought- controlled machines. Recent experiments have shown that a little- understood part of the brain that we use to process information about objects also plays a role when we move a hand or other limb. ¤ Read News 08 April 2005: China Nature blamed for Beijing's bad air quality Natural factors have been blamed for the worst air pollution Beijingers have experienced this year. ¤ Read News Malaysia Small tsunami caused phenomenon in Lukut KUALA LUMPUR: A small tsunami caused by the March 29 earthquake near Nias island is the reason for the thousands of sea cucumbers being washed ashore in Port Dickson. ¤ Read News Malaysia Perak to shield coast with mangrove trees DEVELOPMENT along the coastal areas of Perak will be reviewed to ensure that mangroves – which have been found to be an effective buffer against tsunamis – will not be destroyed. ¤ Read News Malaysia An organic waste composting system for the country Wouldn't it be great if we could return our waste to the land, rather than turning more space into wasteland? ¤ Read News Malaysia Tipping the balance Man is living on borrowed time. A study examining the planet’s life support systems has found that two-thirds of the services provided by nature to mankind has been damaged by human pressure. And the harmful effects of the degradation will get worse in the next 50 years. ¤ Read News Malaysia Better intact than fallen Even as a huge wave of public outcry followed the destruction of forests surrounding the Bukit Cahaya agricultural park in Selangor, another piece of greenery nearby is fighting for survival. ¤ Read News General/World Noisy Reefs Preferred by Young Fish, Study Says Travel brochures often use coral reef imagery to lure tourists to seemingly tranquil locales. Don't be fooled: Reefs are anything but quiet. And that's a welcome fact if you're a reef fish looking for a place to settle, scientists say. ¤ Read News General/World Dalai Lama campaigns for wildlife The Dalai Lama has called for an end to illegal wildlife trafficking between Nepal, Tibet, India and China. ¤ Read News General/World Animal laughs no joke says expert Many animals may have their own forms of laughter, says a US researcher writing in the magazine Science. ¤ Read News General/World Butterflies 'follow flightpaths' Butterflies do not flutter aimlessly around the garden but instead follow precise flightpaths, scientists say. ¤ Read News General/World In Borneo, Hunger for Logs, Pigs, and Bird Are Intertwined When John Rowden asks local villagers on the Southeast Asian island of Borneo what they know about the Bulwer's pheasant, the first thing most people say is that the bird is delicious. ¤ Read News 11 April 2005: China Misery Is Over for Panda with a Giant Case of Toothache After a successful dental procedure, giant panda Xiaopingping can get on with eating, free of pain. ¤ Read News Japan Woolly Mammoth Resurrection, "Jurassic Park" Planned A team of Japanese genetic scientists aims to bring woolly mammoths back to life and create a Jurassic Park-style refuge for resurrected species. The effort has garnered new attention as a frozen mammoth is drawing crowds at the 2005 World Exposition in Aichi, Japan ¤ Read News Malaysia Jakarta cuts tsunami missing toll Indonesian officials have reduced the number of people officially listed as missing as a result of Aceh's December tsunami by more than 50,000. ¤ Read News Malaysia Artificial reefs to be built off Mukah coast KUCHING: Artificial reefs will be built off the coast of Mukah to create a fishing paradise for anglers. ¤ Read News Philippines Fernando: Revive tributaries to rehab Pasig River REVIVE Marikina River to rejuvenate the Pasig River. ¤ Read News Philippines A film festival called 'Moonrise' AT LAST, a film festival focusing on the environment! And it will happen here.¤ Read News Philippines Local Government Code: Blessing or bane? I HAVE referred to the Local Government Code a few times in this column, and have concluded that this law, which empowers local governments to manage their resources, generally works to the advantage of the greater mass of our local communities. Based on my experience in coastal and marine resource management in the central Philippines and western Mindanao, I estimate that in about two-thirds of cases, the Code has been used as an effective tool by enlightened local government leaders to properly conserve and manage marine and terrestrial resources, giving socio-economic benefits to coastal and upland populations. Viewed from this perspective, the Code is good because it facilitates development of a better life for our people. ¤ Read News Viet Nam Japan helps central coastal provinces plant forests on sand Phu Yen, Apr. 8 (VNA) - Over 3,200ha of forests have been planted along coastal areas of central Quang Nam and Phu Yen provinces, under a 1.3 billion JPY project funded by the Japanese Government. ¤ Read News