Unplanned embankment poses threat to river
The ongoing construction of an embankment on the Sandhya river in Barishal has sparked outrage among locals who believe the structure will damage the river crucial to their livelihoods. Locals in Banaripara
Daily Star (Bangladesh)
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Scientists predict more floods, droughts
Scientists predicted Thursday that climate change in coming decades will cause more flooding in the Northern Hemisphere and droughts in some southern and arid zones. In addition, they said that some areas around the Mediterranean, parts of southern Africa, northeastern Brazil and the western US region will likely suffer water shortages. Rajendra Pachauri, the chief UN climate scientist, said at the end of a meeting in Budapest that the rising frequency and intensity of floods and droughts could lead to a food crisis.
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Micronutrients, education keys to end hunger: study
Governments could take a big step towards ending world hunger by spending just $1.2 billion a year in developing nations on dietary supplements and education about the food needs of babies, a study showed. Such targeted spending to help a billion of the poorest people in Africa and Asia could save millions of lives and bring annual economic benefits of more than $15 billion in lower health bills and longer and more productive lives, it said.
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Linking environment with development
Linking environment with development Dr. M Aminul Islam
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Dhaka has very high air pollution level
Dhaka has very high air pollution level Nurul Huda Air pollution has become a matter of great concern for us in recent years. Those who are living in cities in Asian countries including Dhaka, have already realised how seriously air pollution has been poisoning life and degrading the environment. People living in major towns of Bangladesh experience the problems of air pollution in varied degrees.
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Unabated earthquake fear
Unabated earthquake fear Abdul Khaleque Earthquakes happen when forces deep within our planet cause movement of the earth's outer layer called the crust. The rock plates that make up the earth's crust number about 20. Most earthquakes occur along the boundaries of major plates. As the mantle moves plates slowly around the globe, the plates may crape against each other. Sometimes pressure along the edges becomes so great that something has to give way. Then the land trembles with an earthquake.
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$ 50m livelihood project for Sidr-hit people
The US$ 50 million livelihood restoration project for cyclone Sidr-affected people will be launched this month, with four worst affected upazilas being covered in the first phase. The second phase would be the formal project launch, which would take place simultaneously in all the proposed unions by the end of June this year, said a World Bank information note. Social Development Foundation (SDF) will implement the project to meet the emergency need to support restoration of livelihoods with financial assistance from the World Bank.
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Time to check salinity intrusion in the Sundarbans
Time to check salinity intrusion in the Sundarbans Mohammad Asrafur Rahman Sundarban Mangrove forest of Bangladesh covers an area of about 6017 sq. km which is 62 percent of its total area whereas other 38 percent is situated in the West Bengal province of India. The average elevation from the mean sea level varies between 0.9 and 2.1 m. The rise in sea level and availability of less fresh water particularly during winter will cause inland intrusion of saline water.
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Britain wants G8 to discuss biofuel link to food prices
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has urged his Japanese counterpart to include the impact of biofuel production on food prices on the agenda of the G8 summit in July, Downing Street said Thursday. "There is growing consensus that we need urgently to examine the impact on food prices of different kinds and production methods of biofuels, and ensure that their use is responsible and sustainable," Brown wrote in a letter to Yasuo Fukuda.
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Bird flu haunts farmers
Breeders yesterday said retail prices of poultry will go up further unless farmers now move to restart farming at an increased pace. The warning came amid a slow recovery in the demand for poultry following the decline in bird flu spread. But many farmers remain reluctant in resuming farming with bird flu still haunting them.
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Awareness, protests cut tobacco cultivation in southwestern districts
Awareness, protests cut tobacco cultivation in southwestern districts Farmers say it destroys soil fertility Amanur Aman, Kushtia Tobacco cultivation in seven southwestern districts which got a big boost several years ago is declining due to awareness about its harmful effect on soil and health following protests and campaign and also because of farmers' need to grow more food. Farmers now say its cultivation decreases fertility and deposits harmful ingredients in soil.