Environment

Tuesday, May 28th 2013 - 06:00 UTC
Fearing Andes volcano eruption, Chile and Argentina order mandatory evacuation

Chilean and Argentine authorities declared a red alert and ordered the mandatory evacuation of a 25-km radius around the active Copahue volcano, which straddles the border between the two Andean nations.
Monday, May 27th 2013 - 08:13 UTC
Chile fines and suspends Barrick Gold for contamination at major project

Chilean authorities have fined the world's largest gold mining company, Barrick Gold Corp, more than 16 million dollars for environmental offences. Construction at the Pascua-Lama mine, on the border with Argentina, has been suspended until a system to contain contaminated water is put in place.
Monday, May 27th 2013 - 05:10 UTC
Millions take to the streets world-wide to protest against Monsanto and GM

The United States biotech giant Monsanto says it respects people’s rights to express themselves, but that its genetically-modified seeds improve farm productivity and food quality.
Friday, May 24th 2013 - 06:35 UTC
Russia forced to evacuate Arctic base because of melting ice field

A Russian drifting Arctic research station is to be evacuated because the ice field around it is melting, the environment ministry in Moscow reports. The evacuation order plan to be drawn up within three days for North Pole 40 and its staff of 16 is already operational.
Saturday, May 18th 2013 - 00:56 UTC
Chile investigates alleged case of blast-fishing close to a major Humboldt rookery

The bodies of sea lions, cormorants and penguins were discovered on Sunday littering a seven mile stretch of beach in Punta de Choros, northern Chile, is the proximity of the Humboldt Penguin Nature Reserve. Fisheries officials and police are investigating since there are serious suspicions that the deaths were caused by local fishermen using explosives to increase catches.
Friday, May 17th 2013 - 02:03 UTC
The Arctic eight-member Council has accepted China and India as ‘observer states’

New emerging powers including China and India have been accepted as “observer” states in the eight-nation Arctic Council and a new deal was signed to improve oil spill response to safeguard the fragile eco-system of the region, as Canada begun its chairmanship.
Thursday, May 16th 2013 - 19:34 UTC
Solar activity at its 11-year peak; major flares could impact Earth over the weekend

Between Sunday and Monday, and within a 24 hour period, the sun has let lose three major flares, all in the X range. Solar flares are rated on a scale with X flares being among the largest possible. The latest flare erupted Monday night and registered as an X3.2, which is so far the most powerful solar flare of 2013.
Thursday, May 16th 2013 - 06:41 UTC
US environmentalist donates 15.000 hectares of pristine Patagonia land for a national park

US millionaire and environmentalist Douglas Tompkins who has dedicated his life to promoting the beauty and wildlife of Patagonia will be donating one of his several estancias of pristine land to the Perito Moreno National Park in the extreme south of Argentina.
Tuesday, May 14th 2013 - 18:32 UTC
Monsanto wins leading soybean seed replicating case to the relief of biotechnology industry

In a decision that drew sighs of relief from the biotechnology industry, the US Supreme Court ruled that an Indiana farmer violated agribusiness company Monsanto Co’s patent for a type of soybean. The court agreed unanimously with Monsanto that Vernon Bowman, 75, had performed an end-run around the law when he used the company’s patented soybean seeds without seeking a licence.
Tuesday, May 14th 2013 - 05:43 UTC
FAO suggests farming and feeding on insects can address global food insecurity

While insects can be slimy, cringe-inducing creatures, often squashed on sight by humans, a new book released by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) says beetles, wasps and caterpillars are also an unexplored nutrition source that can help address global food insecurity.