Environment

• Tuesday, July 10th 2012 - 21:53 UTC

  IAATO helps with checklists for assessing Antarctic land bases and yachting expeditions

  

  Safe and environmentally responsible travel to the Antarctic featured prominently in the official press communiqué issued at the 35th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM XXXV), which concluded June 20 in Hobart, Australia. The meeting was held in conjunction with the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP XV).

• Saturday, July 7th 2012 - 01:11 UTC

  “Collusion” much to do with Japan’s Fukushima nuclear crisis, says expert panel

  

  Japan's Fukushima nuclear crisis was a preventable disaster resulting from “collusion” among the government, regulators and the plant operator, an expert panel said, wrapping up an inquiry into the worst nuclear accident in 25 years.

• Friday, July 6th 2012 - 15:59 UTC

  Falklands’ farms helped with wool prices rapidly moving to wind energy

  

  Electricity generated from wind is spreading across the Falkland Islands with two large farms Goose Green and Fitzroy preparing to be the next to have turbines, inverters and batteries installed.

• Wednesday, July 4th 2012 - 22:13 UTC

  South Korea announces plans to start whaling for “scientific research”

  

  South Korea said on Wednesday that it planned to start whaling through a loophole that allows the killing of whales for scientific research, following the lead of Japan's controversial expeditions.

• Wednesday, July 4th 2012 - 18:37 UTC

  Argentine high court ruling delays mining in glacier and peri-glacier areas

  

  Canadian mining giant Barrick Gold Corp. suffered a legal setback on Tuesday as Argentina's Supreme Court reversed preliminary injunctions that have blocked key parts of a glacier protection law.

• Tuesday, July 3rd 2012 - 00:50 UTC

  Japan and allies thwart South Atlantic Whale sanctuary at the IWC

  

  By a vote of 38 in favour to 21 opposed, the South Atlantic Whale Sanctuary (SAWS) failed to meet the International Whaling Commission’s (IWC) required 3/4 majority to pass and be established.

• Friday, June 29th 2012 - 01:18 UTC

  Emergency mobile hospitals in Santiago to treat bout of respiratory diseases

  

  Faced with a critical season of respiratory diseases and an increasingly unmet demand for medical services, Chilean authorities announced two military mobile hospital centres will be installed in Santiago this week.

• Thursday, June 28th 2012 - 21:23 UTC

  Greenpeace asks IWC for historic whale sanctuary in the South Atlantic

  

  Greenpeace and a vast coalition of environmental groups are calling on the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to establish a sanctuary in the South Atlantic Ocean that would protect Southern Hemisphere whales from commercial whaling for their entire lives.

• Thursday, June 28th 2012 - 07:31 UTC

  Punta Arenas will host IAATO’s 24th annual meeting in April next year

  

  The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) announced on Wednesday that Punta Arenas, Chile would be the site of its 24th Annual Meeting. The meeting is scheduled for April 22-24, 2013.

• Tuesday, June 26th 2012 - 01:02 UTC

  Lonesome George, last giant tortoise of its subspecies dies in Galapagos

  

  Staff at the Galapagos National Park in Ecuador announced Lonesome George, a giant tortoise believed to be the last of its subspecies, has died. Scientists estimate he was about 100 years old.