Stories for August 2008

Wednesday, August 13th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
UN proposes plant mutation to tackle food crisis

Plant mutation, a scientific technique that dramatically improves crop productivity, could be part of the solution to the current food and energy crisis that threatens to plunge millions worldwide into hunger, according to a United Nations expert on the subject.
Wednesday, August 13th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Food prices in the UK soared 13.7% in the last twelve months

UK's annual rate of inflation rose to 4.4% in July, its highest level since records began in 1997. The 0.6% rise was also the biggest monthly change since records began and took the figure to more than twice the government's target.
Wednesday, August 13th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Argentina's official inflation: even most faithful misbelieve

Enough is enough. Even the most loyal of Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner officials are rebelling against the latest consumer prices index released on Monday by the Statistics and Census Office, Indec.
Wednesday, August 13th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Energy short Chile looks for potential alternative sources

As global temperatures and energy prices soar, scientists, policymakers and environmentalists throughout the world are scrambling for solutions. For its part, Chile could meet as much as half its electricity demands with clean energy, according to a report released Friday by energy experts from the Universidad de Chile and Universidad Tecnica Federico Santa Maria.
Wednesday, August 13th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Brazilian mining giant orders 12 largest class ore carriers

Brazilian iron ore miner Vale has ordered a dozen of the largest class of ore carriers from a Chinese shipbuilder for 1.6 billion US dollars, aiming to boost business with fast-growing Asian customers.
Wednesday, August 13th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Mercosur concerned with growing surge of Chinese imports

Argentina and Brazil have established a standing consultation round to monitor the strong increase in Chinese imports which is causing concern in both countries manufacturing sectors, according to Brazilian sources.
Wednesday, August 13th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Paraguay's 300.000 landless families wait for new president

Land distribution promises to become the main immediate challenge for Paraguay's elected president Fernando Lugo who takes office on Friday. An estimated 300.000 peasant families are expecting to be given a lot of land and their organizations are impatient.
Wednesday, August 13th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Lula openly confirms 1979 amnesty bill and silences ministers

In an attempt to cool a controversy over punishing torturers from the 21 year military dictatorship, Brazilian president Lula da Silva said Brazilians should enshrine the “heroes” of that time and not only concentrate on incriminating the “villains” who killed them.
Wednesday, August 13th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
Octopus did you say? Not exactly, it's six arms and two legs

A giant Pacific octopus called Mavis has helped researchers to prove that the one thing everyone knows about the creatures is wrong. The name octopus is derived from the Ancient Greek for eight feet. Mavis, who lives in a tank at Weymouth Sea Life Centre, actually has six arms and two legs.
Wednesday, August 13th 2008 - 21:00 UTC
More Magellanic penguins washed up to Brazil beaches

More than 1000 juvenile Magellanic penguins have washed-up either dead or dying along the Brazilian coast and as far north as Natal in Rio Grande do Norte, 3000 km north of Sao Paulo. IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare - www.ifaw.org ) (*) deployed a team of penguin rehabilitation experts to assist local animal centers that are handling penguins for the first time.