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The Real Story of China in Africa

Peter Bosshard — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:47:16 -0700

(Christopher Herwig)If we believe the news headlines, China is propping up dictators, dispensing billions of dollars for shady deals, and destroying whole ecosystems in its quest to extract oil and minerals from Africa. Beijing’s scramble for Africa will establish a new era of resource colonialism, and intensify corruption, human rights abuses and economic dependence on the continent. The Dragon’s Gift, a new book by Deborah Brautigam, looks behind this media hype. It offers surprising insights and challenges us to take a new look at Africa’s development.

Letter to SGS Re Kamchay Hydroelectric BOT Project (Cambodia)

Katy Yan — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:44:01 -0700

Current Status: At Validation (as of Mar 2010)

Jirote Na Nakorn
Managing Director
SGS (THAILAND) LIMITED
100 Nanglinchee Road, Chongnonsee
Yannawa
10120 Bangkok
Thailand

cc CDM Executive Board, SGS Headquarters

Re: Submission for carbon credits of the Kamchay Hydroelectric BOT Project

Methane Emissions from a Temperate Reservoir

Payal Parekh — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:12:42 -0800

A new study appeared in the scientific journal Environmental Science and Technology that has documented significant methane emissions from a temperate hydropower reservoir in Switzerland. The field and modeling study found that the 90-year-old Wohlen See reservoir in central Switzerland is a very significant source of methane, almost entirely due to bubbling sediments. The total methane emission from Lake Wohlen was on average > 150 mg methane m²/day, the highest ever documented for a midlatitude reservoir.

Licença Governamental para a Barragem de Belo Monte provoca oposição Internacional

Alexandra De Sá Pereira Meciel Teixeira — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:15:24 -0800

Carta ao Presidente Lula Demanda o Cancelamento do Massivo Projeto Hidroelétrico de Belo Monte

Carta ao presidente do Brasil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

Alexandra De Sá Pereira Meciel Teixeira — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:16:07 -0800

Countering Climate Misinformation – In the Classroom

Katy Yan — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:19:38 -0800

The earth is unhappy, but it's humans, not the sun, that's making it too hot to live on.

Back in college, a group of us worked with local high school students to see what methods were most effective in encouraging behavior change and climate change comprehension. One of the exercises we did early on was to dispel any climate myths through a mental model exercise.

"Draw a picture of what you think causes climate change," we'd asked.

Carta de 140 organizações internacionais ao presidente Lula contra a barragem de Belo Monte

Alexandra De Sá Pereira Meciel Teixeira — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:00:18 -0800

Proposed Belo Monte Dam location.

2010: Russia / East Asia

Ian Elwood — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:31:27 -0800

Russia | East Asia

Russia

Cultural and Environmental Presentations

The Countdown Begins

Day of Action for Rivers Intern — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:55:01 -0800

Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum

It's time to gear up as there are only four days until the International Day of Action for Rivers! As of today, we estimate that twenty-two countries are participating worldwide, with approximately 108 actions either currently taking place, planned for this Sunday, or scheduled during the rest of the month in solidarity with the March 14th. It's already apparent that the day will be highly successful, going far beyond the goal of creating awareness of dam affected people and threatened rivers around the world. As we're still hearing about new actions everyday it seems that we will easily surpass last year's participation (of 110 actions in 26 countries).

Government License for Belo Monte Dam Provokes International Outcry

Aviva Imhof — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:45:02 -0800

Letter to President Lula Demands Cancellation of Massive Hydroelectric Project

Today, a coalition of 140 international organizations sent a letter to Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to demand that he immediately halt plans to build B

Letter to President Lula from 140 international organizations on Belo Monte Dam

Aviva Imhof — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:17:48 -0800

Proposed Belo Monte Dam location.

This letter from more than 140 organizations from around Brazil was sent to Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to demand that he immediately halt plans to build Belo Monte Dam on the Amazon's Xingu River due to its im

Rivers for Life Event Internship Available

Katy Yan — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:56:57 -0800

International Rivers www.internationalrivers.org supports communities around the world seeking to stop destructive dams and promote better methods of meeting needs for water, energy and protection from floods.

Position: China Global Program Coordinator (80%)

Peter Bosshard — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:50:46 -0800

International Rivers supports civil society groups and communities around the world which seek to stop destructive dams and promote better methods of meeting energy and water needs. We promote stronger social and environmental standards for international dam builders and financiers, including from China.

2010 WRR

Katy Yan — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:19:14 -0800

World Rivers Review Mar. 2010

World Rivers Review is the foremost international publication devoted to river issues and appropriate freshwater management.

Belo Monte Fact Sheet

Berklee Lowrey-Evans — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:54:31 -0800

Massive Dam Project Strikes at the Heart of the Amazon

The Brazilian government is planning to build what would be the world's third largest hydroelectric project on one of the Amazon's major tributaries, the Xingu. Belo Monte would divert the flow of the Xingu River and devastate an extensive area of the Brazilian rainforest, displacing over 20,000 people and threatening the survival of indigenous peoples.

In Hot Water: Solar Thermal Takes Off

Katy Yan — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:17:32 -0800

From March 2010 World Rivers Review

Solar thermal collectors – used for heating water and buildings (and even for cooling, through solar chillers) – are now the world's top renewable energy source, producing more energy than wind power, and more than geothermal, solar photovoltaic (PV) and ocean energy combined, a new report states.

Interview: The Fine Art of Watershed Protection

Katy Yan — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:08:52 -0800

From March 2010 World Rivers Review

Alison Jones at victoria Falls, Zambia. (© Bonnie Muench)

Alison Jones has been photographing African and US landscapes for 25 years. Her "No Water, No Life" (NWNL) project combines the powers of photography, science and stakeholder information to document threats to watersheds, including dams, deforestation, climate change, and loss of wetlands and floodplains. We talked to Alison about her work for the world's watersheds.

India Moves Forward with Groundbreaking Solar Plan

Katy Yan — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:44:25 -0800

From March 2010 World Rivers Review

The first phase of a solar mega-project, aimed at expanding India's solar capacity from the current three megawatts (MW) to a reported 20 gigawatts (GW) by 2020 and 200 GW by 2050, was approved in January. The program, called the National Solar Mission, will form the centerpiece of the nation's climate change strategy and cost an estimated US$20 billion to implement.

Science Nonfiction

Katy Yan — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:20:06 -0800

From March 2010 World Rivers Review

The Future of Energy is Getting Greener (And Closer)

Renewables are booming around the world, but they still have a lot of catch-up to do. Installation of solar PV systems has been nearly doubling every two years in both the US and Europe. The cost of producing solar-generated energy fell by over half in just a decade and a half. Wind power capacity rose nearly a third last year, to a total power capacity of 157.9 gigawatts (China accounted for a third of that, doubling its wind capacity). Some 150 companies worldwide are working to commercialize algal biofuels, which could cleanly fuel cars, planes and other engines while feasting on the atmosphere's excess carbon dioxide.

Wild River Dance Contest Rules

Ian Elwood — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:41:31 -0800

Contest Rules

Play fair. Rules drafted in good faith that contest entrants will submit videos created from a motivation to celebrate rivers rather than the modest prize money. The grand prize and runner up prizes are tokens of appreciation. All video responses to one of International Rivers' "Wild River Dance" videos will be entered into our contest.

Honduras Communities Explore Small Hydro Development

Katy Yan — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 11:37:19 -0800

From March 2010 World Rivers Review

No one knows for sure if the idea of a community-owned small hydropower project will work, but Lenca indigenous peoples in the Municipality of Tomalá in Honduras are not afraid to try. And they have nothing to lose.

Renewing Africa with Community Energy

Katy Yan — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:50:00 -0800

From March 2010 World Rivers Review

African countries are making some important strides toward a green energy sector. According to the Global Renewables Status 2009, Northern Africa boasts more than 500 MW of installed wind power, while Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania are all planning their first wind farms. Mauritius, Uganda, Kenya, and South Africa have all enacted feed-in tariffs (pricing policies that encourage renewable electricity's access to the grid). Renewable energy targets have been set by Rwanda, Tunisia, Kenya, and Madagascar. But the energy divide between urban and rural areas remains a major challenge, with too few resources being put toward the problem. Here we highlight just a few communities who have taken matters into their own hands.

Fast Facts: Renewable Energy in China

Katy Yan — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:31:00 -0800

From March 2010 World Rivers Review

As the following figures attest, China is fast becoming a renewable supermarket and superpower. The country is on track to achieve the world's most ambitious renewable energy targets. By doing so, it will reduce the demand for destructive coal and hydropower projects at home, and set a model for other countries.

China's Green Leap Forward

Katy Yan — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:44:25 -0800

World's biggest energy user on track to become world's best energy-saver

From March 2010 World Rivers Review

It is a cold winter morning in Beijing. As I prepare to write this story about energy efficiency in China, I wonder how efficient my own day will be. I enjoyed a quick shower with warm water from the solar tank on our roof, and prepared our breakfast with appliances that carry energy performance labels. All our lighting fixtures are energy efficient, and none of the electronic equipment is on standby. (Many appliances use power even when off. Standby power now accounts for 5-10% of total residential electricity use in developed countries.)

The Next Wave

Katy Yan — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:10:27 -0800

A Bright Future For Hydro – Without Dams

From March 2010 World Rivers Review

A quiet revolution is underway in the world of hydropower. An emerging non-dam based hydro industry holds the promise of economically viable technologies that do not deplete resources or warm the planet, and do not wipe out species, ecosystems and cultures. With supportive policies from governments, non-dam hydro could become a key part of the world's energy mix over the coming decades, and could, as wind power already has, overtake big-dam hydro in terms of its share of new capacity additions.