Environment
EnvironmentClimate change and higher levels of C02 making trees grow faster
A new study on trees and climate change, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has found evidence that forests in the Eastern United States are growing faster than they have in the past 225 years.
Whaler, activist ship collide again off Antarctica
Anti-whaling activists have described how Japanese whaling ships circled their protest vessel “like sharks” before ramming it off Antarctica.
Green light in Brazil for controversial dam in Amazon jungle
A controversial project to build a massive hydroelectric dam in the heart of the Amazon jungle has received the go-ahead from Brazil’s environmental protection agency, despite objections from environmentalists and indigenous people who live in the area.
Falklands plan to reduce seabird deaths caused by trawl fishery
A FOUR year action plan to reduce seabird mortality caused by trawl fishing around the Falklands was passed by the Islands Executive Councilors this week.
Russia and Antarctica
A historic discovery was made on January 28, 1820. A Russian navy expedition under the command of Faddei Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev sighted the last of the remaining unexplored continents - Antarctica.
New species moving into Chilean waters because of climate change
“I felt a rush and a little fear when I saw it,” said Chilean surf champion Diego Medina after spotting what appeared to be a shark off the beaches of La Serena (Region IV). In reality, the creature was one of the large swordfish species that recently migrated to Chile's shores as a consequence of warming water currents.
Released from glaciers Patagonia mountains are growing taller
Mountains along the southernmost swath of South America are growing taller at a record rate, say researchers, who attribute the growth to the accelerating loss of glaciers.
NASA surveillance flights to anticipate quakes in Haiti
US space agency NASA will send surveillance flights over Haiti and the Dominican Republic to look for signs that more earthquakes may hit the area after a giant quake that killed as many as 200,000 people two weeks ago.
Rains and mudslides strand 1.900 tourists in Machu Picchu
Flooding and mudslides near Peru's Machu Picchu archaeological citadel have killed at least seven people and stranded 1900 tourists. An operation to airlift the foreigners out of the south-eastern disaster zone was suspended because of heavy rain after just 75 were flown out by helicopter.
Haiti’s aid and reconstruction plan main challenge: a legacy of failures
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper speaking at the International Conference on Haiti taking place in Montreal conceded Monday that countries are in for a decade of “hard work” to rebuild earthquake-shattered Haiti.
