In The News

China Aims for Bigger Share of South Asia's Water Lifeline

Brahma Chellaney July 2, 2007
Asia has less fresh water per capita than any other continent except Antarctica. As the population booms and a growing middle class seeks modern conveniences like washing machines and dishwashers, water becomes a prized commodity and the source of conflict. The latest concern about Asia’s water supplies stems from Chinese plans to build additional dams, redirecting water from the Tibetan plateau...

Europe/Plan B – For a Carbon-Free Economy Independent of Arabic Oil, Russian Gas or Chinese Coal

Juraj Mesik July 2, 2007
Demanding more studies on climate change and delaying are easy. Action to reduce dependence on nonrenewable energy sources requires leadership. “Our task is hard – our task is unprecedented – and the time is short…. Speed will count. Lost ground can always be regained – lost time, never. Speed will save lives… speed will save our freedom and our civilization.” The 1942 State of the Union speech...

The Double Edge of Globalization

Nayan Chanda June 28, 2007
Activists have long accused global corporations of being bad environmental citizens. But the problems of climate change and deforestation are part of a larger phenomenon, in which globalization is but one factor among many. As Nayan Chanda, editor of YaleGlobal, discusses in his new book “Bound Together: How Traders, Preachers, Adventurers, and Warriors Shaped Globalization,” international...

Putting the Brakes on US Fast Track

David Dapice June 26, 2007
Negotiating a free-trade agreement is no easy task. To minimize complications or addition of provisions to cater to special-interest groups, US Congress gave the president the authority to negotiate such pacts, before submitting them for legislative review and an up or down vote. Jobseekers and politicians in the West increasingly worry that labor, health, safety and environmental regulations put...

A Sacred River Endangered by Global Warming

Emily Wax June 25, 2007
One of Hinduism's most revered traditions is a trip to the Ganges River. But the sacred river may vanish as the Himalayan source, the Gangotri glaciers, melt with rising temperatures. With the current rates of melting, the glaciers could vanish by 2030 – and scientists predict that, in the long term, the Ganges will become a seasonal river that relies on monsoon rains. An immediate effect of...

Both Sides Say Project Is Pivotal Issue for Brazil

Larry Rohter June 23, 2007
A proposal to build two dams on Brazil’s Madeira River has sparked debate about the value of economic growth versus environmental protection. An environmental agency denied the construction license, but the government ordered more studies. Environmentalists cite many concerns about building the dams. The river that winds through rainforest is said to have more distinct types of fish than any...

China Overtakes US as World's Biggest CO2 Emitter

John Vidal June 22, 2007
Nations seek to achieve superiority in all sorts of endeavors – but not with carbon-dioxide emissions. A report released by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency recorded China’s emissions as 8 percent higher than those of the US. China’s reliance on coal contributed to the high rates, as did cement production, which produces 9 percent of China’s total emissions. China’s lead in...