International Rivers News RSS Feed

Thousands Call for Regional Governments to Save the Mekong

Aviva Imhof — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:14:29 -0700

In a bold outpouring of public concern for Southeast Asia's Mekong River, more than 16,000 people from within the six-country Mekong region and around the world have signed a "Save the Mekong" petition urging governments to abandon plans for hydropower development along the river's mainstream.

The Smoke and Mirrors of the EIB

Terri Hathaway — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 03:27:36 -0700

Clarification on the European Investment Bank’s role in Ethiopia’s Gibe 3 Dam

Giant "Dam Home Depot" Banner Flies Over Company's Annual Shareholder Meeting

Aviva Imhof — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:51:14 -0700

Five Destructive Dams Proposed in Delicate Patagonia Wilderness by Home Depot Suppliers

Home Depot Urged to Take Their $50 Million Elsewhere to Avoid the World's Longest Clearcut

(Atlanta, GA -- Thursday, May 28, 2009) -- Early this morning the nonprofit environmental organization International Rivers flew a giant "Dam Home Depot" banner over the compa

Missed Opportunity as Climate Bill Moves out of House Committee

Patrick McCully — Fri, 22 May 2009 17:47:32 -0700

CONTACT: Patrick McCully (International Rivers), +1 510 848 1155

In response to passage of the "American Clean Energy and Security Act" by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, a coalition of environmental, legal, consumer, and community advocacy groups released the following joint statement:

Big Dam, Bigger Problems

Colin Carpenter — Thu, 14 May 2009 09:37:43 -0700

Originally published in Los Angeles Times

Mega-dam to Test AfDB’s Will

Colin Carpenter — Thu, 14 May 2009 09:35:39 -0700

Originally posted in Business Daily Africa

Spain's Banco Santander Criticized for Hypocrisy

Glenn Switkes — Wed, 13 May 2009 15:32:06 -0700

Spain's Banco Santander Criticized for Hypocrisy 
Funding Destructive Dam in the Amazon While Adopting Green Principles

African NGOs Call on African Development Bank Not to Fund Ethiopia's Gibe 3 Dam

Peter Bosshard — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:30:36 -0700

Dakar, Senegal - At the annual meeting of the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Dakar, a controversy erupted today over the Gibe 3 Dam, a large hydropower project in Ethiopia that the AfDB is considering funding.

Civil Society Press Conference at AfDB Annual Meeting

Terri Hathaway — Wed, 13 May 2009 01:47:15 -0700

ETHIOPIA’S GIBE 3 DAM IN VIOLATION OF AfDB POLICIES

WHEN:   Wednesday, May 13 at 12:30pm

WHERE:   AfDB Conference Center, Room C103, Dakar, Senegal

SPEAKERS:

Reject False Promise of Ethiopia's Gibe 3 Dam

Peter Bosshard — Mon, 11 May 2009 09:42:27 -0700

Berkeley - From May 13-14, the African Development Bank (AfDB) holds its annual meeting in Dakar, Senegal with the theme, Africa and the Financial Crisis: an Agenda for Action. The financial crisis calls for the wise investment of dwindling capital flows.

Leading Socially Responsible Investor Joins Advocates in Call to Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders

Patrick McCully — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:30:13 -0700

MONDAY, APRIL 27

Shelley Alpern (Trillium), (617) 292-8026 x. 248
Bama Athreya (ILRF) 202-347-4100
Patrick McCully (International Rivers) 510-848-1155

Offsets in Climate Bill Undermine Clean Energy, Green Jobs

Katy Yan — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:11:00 -0700

Environmental Groups Urge Waxman/Markey to Close the Floodgate on Carbon Offsets

350.org, 1 Sky, California Communities Against Toxics, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Church World Service, Eco-Justice Collaborative, Energy Justice Network, Environmental Justice and Climate Change Initiative, Essential Action, Friends Committee on National Legislation, Friends of the Earth,

Waxman-Markey Bill: No Cuts until 2026!

Payal Parekh — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:09:48 -0700

Allowable US Emissions under Waxman-Markey

While there is much to praise about the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, the climate section of the draft bill is seriously weakened by its heavy reliance on offsets to substitute for actual emissions cuts by large polluters.

Did Ethiopia’s Hydro-Rush Cause its Power Crisis?

Terri Hathaway — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 05:57:43 -0700

Ethiopia announced last week that, faced with a 120 MW deficit, electricity will be cut, 14 hours daily for six days each month. Those lost 84 hours a month will cost the country’s economy 1% of its GDP.

Although Ethiopia has only 767 MW of grid-based electricity, it was more than the country’s demand until last year. Domestic peak demand has reportedly risen 24% since, beyond the national utility’s meager supply.

But Ethiopia’s power company, EEPCo, had every intention that two new hydro plants, Tekeze (300 MW) and Gilgel Gibe II (480 MW), would be supplying power long before now, doubling grid supply and even jumpstarting power exports in 2008. Once operational, both will loom largely over Ethiopia’s current largest power plant, the 184 MW Gilgel Gibe Dam. But technical delays and cost overruns, two characteristics notoriously common in large dams, are now haunting EEPCo.

Will Dams on Amazon Tributary Wreak Global Havoc?

Glenn Switkes — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:19:20 -0700

Originally published with video in the McClatchy Newspaper.

Hydropower Projects Continue to Generate Concern in South Asia

Colin Carpenter — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:31:12 -0700

Originally published in VOA News

By Steve Herman
New Delhi

Ilisu Dam Fighters Honored at Award Ceremony in Istanbul

Payal Parekh — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:07:08 -0700

Global Dam Experts Find World Water Forum Expands the Global Water Divide

Payal Parekh — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:22:06 -0700

Istanbul, Turkey -- At a press conference today at the Fifth World Water Forum (WWF), a panel of international experts and activists denounced the undemocratic methods of the WWF and World Water Council. They reaffirmed their opposition to large dams, the impacts of which include increased poverty, debt, earthquakes, and global warming.

Dams and the Global Water Divide

Katy Yan — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 10:10:24 -0700

Statement by Peter Bosshard, Policy Director, International Rivers

Press conference: March 20, 2009. See here for details.

International Rivers Condemns Suppression of Freedom of Speech

Katy Yan — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 11:51:09 -0700

Statement by Dr. Peter Bosshard, Policy Director, International Rivers, in Istanbul

Yesterday, Payal Parekh and Ann-Kathrin Schneider, two staff members of International Rivers, unfurled a banner at the opening ceremony of the World Water Forum in Istanbul. The banner said, No More Risky Dams.

Turkey Deports International Rivers Staff After Peaceful World Water Forum Protest

Aviva Imhof — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:20:11 -0700

Press conference to discuss civil society response 11am March 17 at the Taksim Hill Hotel

Istanbul, Turkey - Two International Rivers staff members were arrested and detained today for unfurling a banner at the opening ceremony of the World Water Forum (WWF) in Istanbul. They will be deported tomorrow morning or face a year in Turkish prison.

On the Wrong Side of the Global Water Divide

Aviva Imhof — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:01:36 -0700

Published in the Turkish Daily News

“At World Water Forum 5 Expect a Flood of Risk” – International Rivers Warns

Susanne Wong — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:21:54 -0700

For Immediate Release

* Interviews Available Now *

Expect increased global warming, earthquakes, poverty, and debt if world leaders push big dams at the Fifth World Water Forum in Istanbul, Turkey, March 16-22.

Brazilian NGOs urge World Bank not to approve $1.3 billion environment loan

Glenn Switkes — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:02:26 -0800

For immediate release

International Rivers' CDM Work Gets Gore's Attention

Katy Yan — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 11:11:57 -0800

For Immediate Release

Former Vice President Al Gore told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at their hearing on climate change on January 28 that the Kyoto Protocol's carbon offsetting scheme, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), required "significant reforms." Gore was head of the US delegation that pushed for the creation of the CDM at the Kyoto talks in 1997. The CDM is by far world's biggest source of carbon offset certificates.