The global cost of disasters is growing: The economic burden of disasters is intensifying. While the direct costs of disasters averaged $70–80 billion a year between 1970 and 2000, between 2001 and 2020 these annual costs grew significantly to $180–200 billion. But the real cost is far higher. Disaster costs …
just as birds stop chirping and go into hiding before a storm and ants begin to march before it starts pouring, some plant species can warn of possible environmental damage
The Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) has hit yet another roadblock. Even as the Union government passed an order to raise the height of the proposed dam from 90 metres (m) to 100 m recently (Down To Earth, Vol 10, No 19, February 28, 2002), the resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R;) sub-group …
Enron is once more in news. As more and more skeletons are shaken out of its cupboards, a merry dance has begun. But the big issue here is the conflict of interests of bigwig Arthur Anderson. The firm was on one hand the consulting agency and on the other the …
In a bid to break the impasse over the Thailand-Malaysia gas pipeline project, the Thai government has asked local oil and gas company ptt Plc to assess opposition to the project and decide on how to proceed. The project has been delayed several times earlier because of local concerns over …
Alarmed at the recent cane burning, president Alfonso Portillo has announced that he would send inspectors to evaluate environmental damage caused by such fires. Even though the minister did not specify if any action would be taken against the growers who set fire to sugar cane during the harvest to …
Official reports of Pakistan reveal that around 11.7 million children in the country are stunted and underweight. The stunting found in 40 per cent of the children (8.3 million) is because of unhealthy environmental conditions, malnutrition and inadequate protein and calorie intake. Fourteen per cent children are underweight. These low …
The Karnataka High Court quashed the Karnataka state pollution control board (KSPCB) order, which rejected an application filed by Vijaynagar educational trust seeking environmental clearance for constructing a building on the banks of Kumdvathi river near Bangalore. The court gave the go-ahead to the trust for the construction work, subject …
a report calling for widespread testing of chemicals to assess their health and environmental impact has been recently endorsed by the European Parliament. This move is being seen as a major step towards overhauling the outdated chemical policy of the European Union (eu). The report was approved by 242 votes …
The Bangladesh-run Water Resource Planning Organisation (WARPO) recently put forward an updated guideline for environmental impact assessment (EIA) for flood control and drainage structures. This guideline is a modified one with particular focus on flood protection and drainage projects. Director general of environment department Hedayetul Islam Chowdhury says flood control …
V S Yadav, a retired colonel, just strives for one thing: cleanliness. Around two years ago he had declared a war on garbage by starting an organisation called the Hawk Eye Environmental Service that runs a waste management programme. "It was quite frustrating to see piles of garbage lying all …
Toxic waste dumped in the southern state of Johor has sparked off environmental and health fears. The waste was reportedly brought in from Singapore by illegal dumping syndicates. Samples of the waste material have been collected to determine the level of toxicity. Initial investigations suggest that most of the waste …
Comments made by economy minister Jorge Rodriguez supporting the controversial aluminium plant in an ecosensitive area have created a flutter. And environmentalists are seeking a clarification for the same. They have handed in a written petition to the state comptroller questioning the remarks made by the minister. Some time back, …
South Africa has banned the use of thin plastic bags. And retailers of these bags are a worried lot as they fear that it would wipe out their retail profits. The South African cabinet recently approved a ban to prohibit anyone from distributing grocery bags thinner than 80 micrometres. The …
In a move that will see the world's deepest oils drilled off the East African coast, the Kenyan government has signed an exploration treaty with a uk- based company. Although the move is likely to expand Kenya's fuel supply and get the government out of the mess caused by the …
"sauns sabhi ko pyari hai, Ganga maiya ki sawari hai .' This is the constant chanting that follows every splash of water as fisherfolk in Patna nudge their boats along the banks of the Ganges. And the hymn simply denotes a truth: Gangetic dolphin is dear to all and it …
Boeing Corporation is getting ready to develop and test an electrically powered airplane to see if fuel cell technology can make jets more ecofriendly. The goal would be to replace jet engines on commercial planes but to use fuel cells and electric motors for auxiliary power instead of gas turbines. …
despite protests by environmentalists against exploiting the northern Pacific coast for tourism, the Mexican government is going ahead with its plan to develop a beach resort in the northwestern state of Baja California. The greens argue that the project could harm the delicate ecology of the region. Some time ago, …
Early morning twitter is music to ears. But soon this melody may turn into a requiem with the bird community slowly being driven out of its natural surroundings. Constant human encroachment on the forest cover is forcing these avian creatures to abandon their homes and explore alternate sites for shelter …
a tiny mosquito is getting genetically altered in response to global warming, reveals a study. According to researchers at the University of Oregon in Eugene, usa , global warming has delayed breeding and development timings of Wyeomyia smithii , a tiny fragile mosquito that lives in the pitcher plant. The …
During the past years, there have been calls to move the tasks of sustainable development at the international level to a new independent body, often labelled a World Environment Organisation (weo) or International Environmental Organisation. Advocates of weo include academics and expert commissions as well as international civil servants, politicians, …
