EcoWorldly

China Begins Car-Rationing in Beijing Leading up to the Olympics

Timothy B. Hurst — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 11:01:35 +0000

Will last-ditch efforts help alleviate Beijing’s air pollution problem?

There have been serious concerns about air quality in the Chinese capital of Beijing ever since it was awarded the Olympic Games in 2001. Since then, the Chinese government has spent an estimated $15 billion dollars to address the air pollution problem in Beijing. The cash has been spent on shutting down factories, unleashing cloud seeders to encourage rain, and now, on paying people to not drive their cars.

Beginning today in Beijing, cars with license plates that end in an odd number are banned from the roads every other day, alternating with cars that have even-numbered plates. It is estimated that there are about 3.5 million vehicles on the roads in Beijing and the ban will reduce the numbers of cars on the road by about one million per day. Drivers will be compensated by not having to pay road and vehicle taxes for three months.

Beijing officials claim to have significantly improved air quality, with just over two-thirds of the days last year meeting national health guidelines, up from only 20% a decade earlier. But some question the validity of the data. An article in the Wall St. Journal suggests that pollution standards may have been loosened, air-quality-monitoring stations moved and data possibly manipulated with to show better results.

The Journal reports that:

“According to the state standards, days with a pollution-index reading below 100 on a 500-point scale measuring several types of pollution are considered “blue sky days,” with good air quality. But some analysts say the data show an unusual cluster of days with levels at or just below that crucial number, and very few with levels immediately above it, suggesting days with pollution levels just above the threshold are being marked down. Under normal conditions, air quality would be evenly distributed.”

“At a press conference Thursday, Du Shaozong, spokesman for the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau, rejected suggestions that the data had been manipulated. He said the pattern was the result of how testing locations are placed, and the ability of government measures to head off short-term spikes in pollution. Each testing site covers about nine square kilometers, and in some cases, the main source of pollution may be a large factory that is easily targeted.”

Will the plan work? No one really knows for sure, but with the August 8 ceremonies only weeks away, it would have to work quickly. Some are considering wearing masks to filter pollution, an image that might embarrass China’s leaders who are trying to portray Beijing (and China, more broadly) as a clean, modern, and affluent place - a place that is open for business.

The IOC has already indicated that certain events may be rescheduled if they deam the air quality is unsafe. And Australia has recently said its athletes will remain in Hong Kong during the opening ceremony to limit their exposure to polluted air.

A Review of the Huachipa Zoo in Lima, Peru and a Methodology for Grading Zoos

Levi Novey — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 06:28:10 +0000

Several days ago my family visited one of Lima, Peru’s zoos. On the day before our visit, I wrote about some of my general thoughts and feelings about zoos, in an article titled “Why Zoos Stimulate Our Minds.”

Writing out my thoughts was a sort of preparative exercise, mostly to try to articulate the main dilemma I have with zoos: do the potential education benefits of zoos outweigh the cruelty of caging animals in small spaces that I personally believe typically don’t provide them with fulfilling lives? I still am not sure of the answer, but my trip to the Huachipa Zoo did answer another intriguing question for me. When zoos are bad, would I personally prefer that a bad zoo exist rather than have no zoo at all?

Before I reveal the answer to the aforementioned question, I should explain that my wife and I came up with some criteria for rating zoos. For the purpose of reviewing more zoos in the future, I wanted to have some reasonable means to compare them.

A Methodology for Rating and Reviewing Zoos

We think that there are five important categories of factors for rating the quality of a zoo:

1. Animal Facilities, Habitats, and General Zoo Appearance

How representative of an animal’s natural environment is the space where an animal is caged? Is the animal in a cement pit, or is it having some plausibly decent existence in a simulated quasi-environment? How are the animals behaving? Do they seem content, or are they sleeping incessantly or pacing back and forth in a small area? Are animals crowded together? Do their cages seem clean? How does the zoo look as you walk through it? Like a natural place or more like a prison?

2. Educational Resources

What kinds of educational resources the zoo has available in the way of signs, exhibits, brochures, as well as any programs led by zoo staff play an important role in fulfilling what I view to be as the saving grace of zoos: the ability they might have to help people learn and care about animals. This criteria for rating a zoo is only second in its importance to that of the facilities provided for animals.

3. Environmental Initiatives of the Zoo and Other Services

How well does the zoo reflect its supposed environmental values? For instance, are there places to recycle? Does the zoo explain how you can help animals that are endangered through your own actions? And does the zoo make efforts to provide staff and information to help people behave in a positive way in the zoo? Are people taught the reasons why they should not attempt to feed or touch animals? Or are zoo visitors free to do as they please?

4. Visitor Comfort

Feeling comfortable at any tourist destination and educational facility is important. If you really need to pee and there’s no place to do so, you probably aren’t paying much attention to learning about zoo animals. Also, are food and drinks readily available? Are there places to sit, get in the shade, and cool off? How is the traffic flow and personal space in the zoo? Are you always being crowded into a small space with lots of screaming, squirmy kids?

5. Degree of Zoo Commercialization

Are the commercial aspects of the zoo as a business interfering with the zoo’s mission to help visitors learn about animals? Does it seem like the zoo exists more to sell tickets, food, and toys than to provide a decent environment for the animals?

6. Unique and Distinguishing Zoo Features and Reasons to Recommend It

Are there any parts of the zoo that are particularly creative or memorable that distinguish the zoo from others? Are there any highlights?

Grading Lima’s Huachipa Zoo

Before providing an assessment of the Parque Zoologico Huachipa, here’s a little bit of general information about it. This zoo is located in an eastern neighborhood of Lima, and is not as well known as Lima’s other zoo, which is known as the Parque de las Leyendas (The Park of Legends). Of the five guidebooks we own about Peru, I don’t think any of them in their Lima chapters mention either zoo.

1. Animal Facilities, Habitats, and General Zoo Appearance

When you first enter the Huachipa Zoo, the first thing you see is a dreary and large faded painting on a zoo building. Although this feature could stand to be improved, the rest of the zoo has a colorful and welcoming appearance. It does not take long though before you see that the animals are in very bad facilities.

For instance, a giraffe located near the zoo entrance is in a relatively small pin, with only a few trees. A zebra pit is also fairly representative of the small and uninteresting nature of the animals’ living spaces. Something about the zoo’s several monkey islands is psychologically disturbing. Large moats detain the monkeys from leaving small, crowded islands that are graced with a few ropes and wooden structures that can be used for climbing and swinging.

Perhaps most depressing is the zoo’s display of large cats. One after the other, you see them in incredibly small, dull rooms that are unfit for their spacial needs. Some of the cats were in deep sleeps during our visit, while several others were pacing back and forth with a look on their faces like they would kill somebody if they ever got out.

Several of the last animals we saw during our visit were river otters. My 12 year old nephew said after seeing the otters that “they don’t have enough water to swim in the way that they like.” The otters in fact were coasting on their bellies in a pool of water about 1 foot deep.

While the outward appearance of the cages and rooms where animals are kept in the Huachipa Zoo is not always bad, and there are plenty of trees and plants throughout the zoo, the overwhelming crappy feeling the animal facilities inspire is unpleasant. Grade: C-

2. Educational Resources

When you enter the zoo, you receive a small brochure that provides a map of the zoo and talks generally about the zoo’s conservation mission and its animals and plants. Only a few of the animal exhibits have small signs that tell you what kind of animal you are looking at. And few of these signs give you any additional information about where the animal species live, what they eat, their conservation status, and so on. For instance the penguin exhibit, which generated a significant amount of interest from zoo visitors, had absolutely no signs whatsoever labeling the species. The species was in fact the Humboldt Penguin: a charismatic endangered species that lives in Peru that also has many fascinating characteristics.

There was no schedule posted that would lead you to think that programs were offered by park staff either, even though the zoo’s nice website led us to believe there would be some kind of educational offerings. We saw no programs being offered while we visited the zoo. Given that this zoo not only had bad animal facilities but also essentially no educational offerings on the day we visited, it basically provided me with a tool for deciding whether or not I thought a zoo like this one should exist at all given the circumstances (answer to follow in the conclusion of this review) Grade: F

3. Environmental Initiatives of the Zoo and Other Services

Seeing as that there were no educational materials or programs offered by the zoo, helping model positive behavior for zoo visitors was going to be tough. One easy opportunity was lost: the zoo did not offer anywhere to recycle plastic bottles or anything else. On several occasions I saw zoo visitors feeding animals junk food, and the bird pictured at the top of this article I witnessed having it’s tail pulled by a visitor. No one was around to ask visitors not to do this things, or explain why doings these things is bad. Grade: F

4. Visitor Comfort

This is probably the major area where the Huachipa Zoo shines. Large, spacious pathways are available throughout the zoo, and there is almost always somewhere to move to if you feel crowded for space by other people. Food and beverages are available throughout the zoo in numerous locations, as are restrooms and benches. I’ve been to a lot of zoos, and most of them feel tight for space. Grade: A

5. Degree of Zoo Commercialization

The Huachipa Zoo unfortunately does seem in some ways like it is out to make money. In addition to a relatively high entrance fee by Peruvian standards, a trip through the zoo’s special exhibit space comes with an additional charge (the current exhibit features animatronic dinosaurs and little else in the way of educational materials except some signs at the beginning). A gargantuan play area for children has several rides that cost extra, and several other cleverly designed enticements for children throughout the zoo cost extra money.

Perhaps the most interesting commercial thing I saw in the zoo was blatant advertising by a milk company. The company boasts with pleasure that it helps to pay for some food for zoo animals. Given that the sign is next to the zebra exhibit and shows a zebra, I’m not sure the company should feel so proud of itself. Maybe it could provide some money for a better environment for the zebras. And if the zoo needs a sponsor to help pay for food, what business does it have attempting to do what it is doing?

I only took a quick look at the gift shop, but it seemed to have little more than stuffed animals (no books it seems). Grade: C

6. Unique, Distinguishing Zoo Features and Reasons to Recommend It

No, there are not any features to this zoo that make it unique. Perhaps the best area of the zoo though is its “Bosque de las aves” (Forest of the birds). While it is not a feature that is unique to this zoo, this enclosed area is quite beautiful, and provides access for seeing a number of beautiful macaws and other birds with ease. Numerous trees provide the forest with a lush canopy that can be observed from a centrally located tower. A waterfall you get to walk behind is a nice touch, and the combining sounds of birds make this one of the few places in the zoo that has a strong sense of place. The Forest of the Birds is the one highlight of the Huachipa Zoo that I would recommend. Grade: C

The Huachipa Zoo’s Overall Grade is a D

It’s hard to give a positive review of the Huachipa Zoo with its lack of educational materials, environmental initiative, commercialization, and with its very bad animal facilities. One of the most interesting things about the experience for me though was that I still really had a good time going. So how can I reconcile this feeling with the fact that I would grade the zoo with a D overall?

I started by asking myself whether or not I thought a zoo like this one should close its doors. The animals live in sad, crowded facilities, and there are almost no educational services available for zoo visitors.

Nonetheless, I can’t bring myself to say that I think the zoo should close. In fact, I’d probably like to go back again. Why do I feel this way I wonder. Perhaps it’s because I like seeing animals, just like the other zoo visitors who seemed to enjoy their visit to the Huachipa Zoo. But when a zoo solely serves us as entertainment, is it immoral? In my soul am I more of a savage beast than some of the animals in the zoo? I don’t know the answer.

Hopefully some of the next zoos I visit with my family will help me to clarify my thoughts on the matter.

How Visionary Political Leadership Can Save the Environment for Future Generations

Masimba Biriwasha — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 14:05:01 +0000

Political leaders have a key role to play in developing and taking action to combat the world environmental degradation, according to a recent survey of 1,350 professionals in position to make or influence large climate-related decisions in their governments, companies, or other organizations across 120 countries.

The performance of key actors - particularly national governments - has been inadequate to date with rhetoric at much feted climatic conferences over-dominating action states the survey.

Respondents in the survey conducted by the GlobeScan for the World Bank, The World Conservation Union (IUCN), and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), noted that there is currently little consensus on solutions to climate change.

In many parts of the world, the destruction of the environment is a daily reality in spite of the numerous statements that have been made about the terrible state of the environment.

But visionary political leadership can indeed influence a paradigm shift that can promote better treatment of the environment through requisite legal and policy mechanisms, but most importantly through political text that highlights the urgency of the matter followed by action.

As Kenyan Nobel Peace Laureate Wangari Maathai succinctly puts it the generation that destroys the environment may not be the one that pays the prize.

It is the future generations that will confront the consequences of today’s destructive activities of the current generation, she says.

Halting the destruction of the environment for the sake of future generations takes peering into the future so that we are able to truly perceive the impact of our actions. In that respect, leadership can be a powerful force to direct the behavior of nations toward the accomplishment of some common environmental objectives.

The survey showed strong and consistent views that government leaders worldwide need to act quickly and agree on a set of clear, inclusive, and long-term policies in order to put climate solutions in place.

The survey sought the views of 1,350 professionals in position to make or influence large climate-related decisions in their governments, companies, or other organizations across 120 countries.

According to the survey, decision makers are most in need of political support, policy development, and regulatory clarity in order to implement climate change solutions

Respondents gave high ratings to four elements that leaders need to prioritize in order to achieve a global impact on the environment, and these include: a) the inclusion of all major carbon-emitting countries; b) a commitment by wealthy countries to provide aid and technology transfer to assist developing countries to meet targets; c) legally binding targets for each signatory country; d) different types of commitments based on countries’ stages of development.

“After the need for policy development, respondents pointed to technology as key, particularly in seizing the many opportunities they see in the areas of energy demand management and energy efficiency,” states the report.

“They saw the current generation of bio-fuels production from food crops as the least promising of 18 rated technologies for reducing greenhouse emissions “without unacceptable side-effects.” Current nuclear technology also received a low rating,” adds the report.

Image credit: carf at Flickr under a Creative Common Licence.

How 3 ABBA CD’s Can Buy You Control Over Europe’s Big Polluters

Gavin Hudson — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 09:49:25 +0000

I know the question burning in your mind right now is “How much would I have to pay to own three copies of ABBA’s Definitive Collection all for myself?”. Not just the Greatest Hits or the Mamma Mia soundtrack. No, the one with the word “definitive” in the title. We wouldn’t mind telling you exactly how much it’d cost.

But before we do that, we’d like to tell you about a different way to spend the same amount of money. While this option wouldn’t have you rocking out to Swedish 80’s pop songs, it would let you personally prevent a measurable amount of pollution from some of Europe’s biggest greenhouse gas emitters.

This eco-sweet opportunity is possible thanks to the European Union Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading Scheme. (Say that five times fast!) The EU ETS, as it’s more easily called, regulates how much greenhouse gas can be emitted by some of the biggest polluters on that side of the pond: coal power plants, oil refineries, coke ovens, cement and paper factories, and the like.

Under the Kyoto Protocol, around 11,500 of these European “emissions queens” are required to purchase carbon allowances for all the CO2 they emit. The more carbon allowances are sold the fewer there are on the market and the more expensive they become. With fewer on the market, polluting becomes more costly and companies are forced to find a better way to do business.

Still with me? Now we come to the part about the price and the ABBA CD’s.

If you were to buy one of these carbon allowances today (thereby reducing the number available to polluters), it would cost in the neighborhood of £28, or around $60. Not cheap, but not bad for the knowledge that you’ve made a measurable difference in the world’s pollution levels, which, as our Swedish quartet might say, is the name of the game.

To buy carbon allowances for yourself or as gifts for eco-conscious friends, take a look at Carbon Retirement, a company that has made it a goal to send as many particles of CO2 as possible into early retirement.

… Or you could get the ABBA CD’s.

Sources: Carbon Retirement, iTunes (for the price of ABBA’s Definitive Collection), The Encyclopedia of Earth, European Union Emissions Trading Scheme, and the EU ETS official website.

Corruption in Water Sector a Cause of Global Water Crisis, Says New Report

Nayelli Gonzalez — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:07:26 +0000

We already know about the myriad of problems around the world caused by drought, water delivery restrictions and inadequate access to clean water. And we’ve already heard the argument that global warming is to blame for such water shortages. A report recently released by the advocacy group Transparency International provides another reason for the global water crisis: corruption.

In a press release issued by the global coalition against corruption, Chair Huguette Labelle was quoted, “Water is a resource without substitute. It is paramount to our health, our food security, our energy future and our ecosystem. But corruption plagues water management and use in all these areas.”

The organization’s report which was published last month, entitled Global Corruption Report 2008: Corruption in the Water Sector, argues that corruption plagues all segments of the water sectors, from water resources management to drinking water services, irrigation and hydropower. The report’s analysis of corruption in 35 countries from different world regions cites examples, such as bribery in water delivery and procurement-related looting of irrigation and hydropower funds, and focuses on the gravity of the situation and urgent need for reform.

According to the report, the head of Chicago’s water department was found guilty of scheming to extort campaign contributions from subcontractors and use employees from the water agency to do campaign work. In Nairobi, Kenya, a survey found that the poor pay five to ten times more for water than their wealthy counterparts. In the Philippines an investigation discovered that US$2.9 million was allocated to build an irrigation project; the money disappeared but no such reservoir, dam or irrigation system was built. And officials in Grenoble, France and Milan, Italy were found to have received hefty bribes to influence the design of water and sanitation contracts.

“Corruption’s impact on water is a fundamental governance problem, yet it is not sufficiently addressed in the many global policy initiatives for environmental sustainability, development, and food and energy security. This must change,” Labelle stated for the press release.

The report also argues that corrupt water dealings directly affect global food shortages, drinking water sanitation, water pollution regulations, energy security, and sustainable development — which fuels the urgency to address this issue.

Several recommendations for reform highlighted in the report include:

* Refining the diagnosis of corruption in water
* The establishment of transparency and participation as guiding principles for all aspects of water governance
* Strengthening regulatory oversight
* Ensuring fair competition and accountable implementation of water projects.

“Tackling corruption in the water sector is not only a moral imperative that serves the interests of many, particularly the poor. It is also feasible. The time for action is now,” the report urges in its closing statements.

* Free downloads of the report are available on Transparency International’s website.

Photo: Transparency International

Teach India: An Education Strategy for Underprivileged Kids

Reenita Malhotra — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:39:00 +0000

In India, the press does more than report the daily happenings of the country, it establishes initiaves to steer citizens into taking action. The Times of India newspaper has recently published a series of articles relating to the shortfall of teachers in India.

China Wins UN Approval for Bagging Africa’s Ivory, and Attempts to Gag Activists’ Furore

Sam Aola Ooko — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:22:18 +0000

Certainly it may not have helped in the furore that followed a UN CITES decision to allow Chinese access to Africa’s ivory that two Chinese women were caught in Kenya, a country opposed to the deal, trying to smuggle more that 36 pieces of ivory worth millions of dollars.

Stinking or controversial as it may have been, China now has the wonderful opportunity to stock “legally obtained” African ivory in the mix of those acquired illegally in a superbly coordinated international ring that continues to deplete Africa of its wildlife resources.

Chinese nationals have been implicated in illegal ivory seizures in more than 20 African nations in the last few years.

What’s worse, the Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), a 173-nation agreement charged with ensuring a sustainable international trade in wild animals and plants, has sanctioned it all.

If one may put into perspective the swift perfection with which international poaching syndicates and organized crime gangs operate, that China (world’s largest ivory market) can also buy in the open market presents a nightmare to poorly resourced wildlife enforcement agencies in Africa, as African animal rights groups have opined.

But how much does the 108 tons of ivory at stake in this latest agreement mean in real numerical terms? Well, this represents the death of an estimated 7,699 South African elephants (1.8 tusks per elephant and 3.68kg per tusk).

More than 20,000 elephants a year are killed illegally in Africa and Asia for the ivory black market. As per the terms of the agreement, Namibia was permitted to sell 9 209 kg of ivory, Botswana 43 682 kg, South Africa 51 121 kg and Zimbabwe 3 755 kg.

Wildlife activists and Environmental Investigation Agency, a non-governmental organization that monitors the illegal wildlife trade say China’s government lost track of 121 tons of elephant ivory between 1991 and 2002 that probably was sold on illegal markets, according to a previously undisclosed Chinese report to U.N. regulatory officials.

Ivory trade was banned globally in 1989, but reviving elephant populations allowed African countries to make a one-time sale a decade later to Japan, the only country which had previously won the right to import.

Last year, CITES authorized Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe to make a second sale of 108 tons of government stocks.

But Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Liu Jianchao, trashed the activists’ furore saying Beijing has passed a series of laws and strictly cracked down on ivory smugglers and illegal traders and urged the international press, at the same time, to report facts more objectively. In other words, you can go to hell if you care.

South Africa only recently lifted a moratorium on elephant culling after a 13-year ban saw a sharp rise in population numbers. But the real losers are Africa’s elephants who are faced with commercial exploitation now more than any other time in history.

Image credit: Lenny Montana at Flickr under a Creative Commons license

Activists Against Horse Carriage Tours in Rome: What Will Animals Think About Their Rights?

Eva Pratesi — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:26:44 +0000

Wandering the streets of central Rome and taking in the breathtaking ruins and archaeological history can be somewhat of a challenge when trying to keep cool in 30+ degree heat. In summer time tourists love to discover the city centre walking or looking up to the Colosseum from the back of a horse carriage.

Now animal rights activists are trying to ban this practice. The group, Ente Nazionale Protezione Animali (ENPA) says that traffic, pollution, heat and heavy carriages expose the horses to health risks, especially during this hot season. According to the association, about 90 horses carry tourists to see the city’s landmarks on busy streets full of speeding cars and motorbikes.

Activists say that horses have also been killed while on the streets. “They are in disastrous condition, forced to work in an urban environment and exposed to a million dangers,” said ENPA’s Claudio Locuratolo. The coachmen reject accusations that their horses are overworked or abused. “The horses are our partners at work, and very often, they are also partners for life,” said Roberto Sonnino, who owns five horses and has been a coachman for 20 years.

The activists have appealed to Rome’s city hall to stop the service, proposing that the coachmen be rehired as cab drivers. City hall has not commented on the issue and we don’t know which response they’ll receive in the future. Somebody believes the accusations are largely exaggerated even if ENPA activists said horses almost always ended their careers at the slaughterhouse.

I imagine horses can suffer as many others animals when people exploit them; nevertheless we have to remember that, in ancient Roman times, horses were used quite often: they were a big part in military, daily life, in mythology and stories. One might not think to be an asset to a culture but the horse played a big role here. And the tradition is still going on…

This let me think about Siena, the city I come from, well-known all over the world for the Palio: a medieval horse race that’s run around the centre of Siena’s main square twice a year, at the beginning of July and in Mid-August. This is not only a tourist attraction but a fiercely cherished part of the Senese way of life dating back to the 11th century.

Some years ago animal welfare activists called for it to be banned when an eight-year-old bay died after it collided with another horse. Television viewers witnessed the horse being dragged away by its hind legs. From that moment activists have been going on to contrast the Palio even if, in the last few years, people has been doing a big effort in order to protect horses’ welfare. Today near Siena there is a retirement home where hacks stay after their career as racers. But activists didn’t mention this good initiative…

The Palio is an ancient tradition that lives every year as the first time. Let’s see what Rome will decide to do with the horse-drawn carriage tradition…

Sources: Il Corriere - Repubblica

Indo-US Nuclear Deal Drops Nuclear Bomb on Indian Politics, Government Faces No-Confidence Motion

Govind Singh — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:08:55 +0000

It was only yesterday that the Congress led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) - the ruling party in India - was negotiating the Nuclear Deal with the United States, in an attempt to boost the country’s Nuclear Power sector. And now that the deal is set and ready to be signed, the Government is itself struggling to stay in power. Energy and ‘Power’ have indeed been closely associated in the recent past and politics is known to be governed by the energy sector. But when the world’s largest democracy faces a political crisis over an energy policy, we can safely conclude that in the climate constrained world of today, the only way to stay in power is to get the energy policy right!

The issues raised on the Nuclear Deal (also popular as the 1-2-3 Deal) are however not purely environmental. Though the deal is said to strengthen India’s energy independence, sovereignty and autonomy by putting an end to the sanctions that seem to have crippled the country’s nuclear efforts, political parties opposing the deal have raised concerns over compromising India’s independence in managing its nuclear program and taking autonomous decisions required to be taken for safeguarding national security.

The 1 of the 1-2-3 deal states that at a time when India faces crippling energy shortages, and when our nuclear plants are short of uranium, the nuclear deal assures us the supplies we need to power the future. However, there are groups who have pointed out the crippled conditions of people working in the existing plants in the country. As if Chernobyl and the Three Mile Island aren’t examples enough, citizen groups opposing the deal are also reminding the Government about what happened during the Bhopal Gas disaster over 20 years ago. Nuclear waste is the next issue raised.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist), which was until now supporting the coalition Government stay in power has not just withdrawn its support but has also launched a nation-wide agitation against the Government’s decision to sign the deal. With them gone, the Government now faces not just the agitation but also a no-confidence motion in the Parliament anytime now.

The Government is also trying to gather public support for the deal through the media by placing public service messages in the newspapers. One such message remarks, “The Nuclear Deal is in India’s Future” and urges the people to “think of tomorrow and support the agreement today”. What this short sighted ad grossly overlooks is the both the radioactive-full tomorrow and the option we have to switch to renewables.

Image Source: The Economic Times, July 4 2008

Chile Bets on Solar Power

Martín Cagliani — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:26:19 +0000

“We have the obligation to lead the renewable energies development here in Chile. Currently we own 50 percent of the electric market and we want to keep this number also for the renewable energies,” said Rafel Mateo, the Chilean manager from Endesa. Endesa Chile, an Endesa Spain subsidiary, will invest 40 million dollars in the first solar power plant in Chile.

The chosen location for the plant is the northern part of Chile, possibly Tarapacá or Antofagasta. The northside of Chile is warm and desert, with sunlight almost all year long. Those attributes make the place ideal for a solar energy plant.

Until now Chile has not been using renewable energies, unless we count enormous dams that actually damage the local environment.

The Endesa solar power plant will have power of 10 megawatts and will be done before the year 2010, at least that is what Endesa says.

Endesa Chile is also considering the possibility to imitate the wind farm of Canela, Coquimbo, that started with 9 megawatts but will reach 80 megawatts sometime next year.

The renewable energies “will be more and more important in becoming the support of the electric systems. The high price of the oil and the coal reduce the gap between cost of central thermal plants and wind farms,” added Mateo. “The costs are going to decrease more and more if the technology becomes more efficient.”

Via Invertia

Image: Flickr by Marc Shandro