Environment

• Monday, November 4th 2013 - 05:43 UTC

  Uruguay extends UPM pulp mill production license for another three years

  

  The Uruguayan government announced it has renewed until 2016 Botnia/UPM pulp mill license so it can continue with production since it complies with the necessary environmental requisites and is committed to the additional standards demanded, said Housing and Environment minister Francisco Beltrame.

• Monday, November 4th 2013 - 00:30 UTC

  IDB financing for private sector 90 MW wind farms in Uruguay

  

  The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a private sector loan for up to 132.6 million to partially finance the construction of the Carapé I and II wind farms in Uruguay.

• Sunday, November 3rd 2013 - 12:07 UTC

  Russia, Ukraine, China block plans in CCAMLR to create Antarctica marine reserves

  

  Russia, Ukraine and China are being blamed for a failure of plans to protect almost 3 million square kilometers of ocean in Antarctica. After two weeks of discussions behind closed doors, the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) has failed to come to an agreement on new marine reserves.

• Saturday, November 2nd 2013 - 23:39 UTC

  Chile's Torres del Paine park named '8th Wonder of the World” by VritualTourist

  

  VirtualTourist announced that after more than five million worldwide votes, Turismo Chile's entry of Torres del Paine National Park has been named the “8th Wonder of the World”.

• Friday, November 1st 2013 - 21:40 UTC

  Argentina warns Barrick on announced suspension of gold mine project

  

  Barrick, the world’s largest gold mining company, is indefinitely suspending construction of its troubled gold mine straddling the Chile-Argentine border, part of a cost-cutting effort that also involves 10 other mining projects around the world.

• Friday, November 1st 2013 - 21:29 UTC

  Risks to public health from fracking for shale gas are low, says UK government

  

  The risks to public health from fracking for shale gas are low, according to a new official report. Any problems publicized so far - such as in the US - are the result of operational failure or poor regulation according to a study, by Public Health England, an agency of the Department of Health, reviewed the latest research.

• Tuesday, October 29th 2013 - 00:10 UTC

  Ozone hole slightly smaller than average this year, according to NASA

  

  The ozone hole that forms each year in the stratosphere over Antarctica was slightly smaller in 2013 than average in recent decades, according to NASA satellite data. The ozone hole is a seasonal phenomenon that starts to form during the Antarctic spring (August and September). The September-October 2013 average size of the hole was 8.1 million square miles (21 million square kilometers).

• Saturday, October 26th 2013 - 00:39 UTC

  Cartes pledges motivation and support for those who help create wealth and jobs

  

  President Horacio Cartes said on Friday he wanted “a reliable and serious Paraguay, full of self esteem” taking advantage of the good economic times and pledged motivation and support for all those who help generate wealth and jobs for the country. However he also admitted that Paraguay has serious failings, “but problems are challenges and opportunities”.

• Friday, October 25th 2013 - 02:21 UTC

  European Parliament gets tough on fishing industry and conservation

  

  The European Parliament voted Wednesday to reject most new subsidies for the saltwater fishing industry and provide financial support for new ecologically friendly measures meant to prevent overfishing. But in a nod to commercial fishing fleets, the lawmakers did maintain some handouts to the industry.

• Thursday, October 24th 2013 - 07:25 UTC

  Former Ecuadorean judge admits taking bribes in pollution case against Chevron

  

  A former Ecuadorean judge who presided over a pollution case against Chevron Corp. (CVX) testified that he and a colleague who issued a 19 billion judgment against the company in the environmental lawsuit were bribed.