Environment

• Wednesday, March 9th 2011 - 05:10 UTC

  Wikileaks reveals Chilean government changed environment rules to please US interests

  

  Wikileaks cables last week revealed that the U.S. Embassy in Santiago pressured Chilean government officials in 2009 to change environmental rules so that a controversial thermoelectric plant could be built.

• Tuesday, March 8th 2011 - 23:29 UTC

  Monte Grande dam project in the Amazon steams full ahead

  

  Work on the Belo Monte giant hydroelectric dam complex in the Amazon, which has generated much controversy in Brazil because of its environmental impacts, officially began Monday, (in spite of Carnival celebrations) according to the Norte Energia consortium.

• Monday, March 7th 2011 - 13:43 UTC

  Flying with the Albatross

  

  THE British Royal Navy and the company British International helicopters have been assisting Islander conservationists in vital surveys of the majestic Black-browed albatross in the Falkland Islands.

• Saturday, March 5th 2011 - 06:44 UTC

  About 70.000 people, 20% of the population have fled from Christchurch

  

  About 70,000 people, or 20% of the population, have fled Christchurch, New Zealand's second-largest city, since last week's devastating earthquake, Mayor Bob Parker said Friday.

• Thursday, March 3rd 2011 - 18:36 UTC

  Antarctic tour operators support prosecution of Berserk yacht owner

  

  The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators, (IAATO) in a statement released Thursday called the incident of the Norwegian yacht Berserk that went missing in Antarctic waters last week ‘tragic’ but also underlines the vessel did not have proper authorization or permits for their expedition and fully supports Norwegian prosecuting authorities for their investigation into the case.

• Wednesday, March 2nd 2011 - 17:21 UTC

  Insurers’ bill for the New Zealand earthquake climbs to 12 billion USD

  

  One of the world's biggest re-insurers Swiss Re described the New Zealand earthquake as a ''significant event'' for the global insurance industry, as it warned insurance losses from the disaster could top 12 billion US dollars.

• Monday, February 28th 2011 - 00:00 UTC

  Warm weather prevents full use of costly Australian Antarctica airfield

  

  An Australian airfield in Antarctica at a cost of 40 million US dollars and which was opened just three years ago may have become a short-lived victim of climate change, as unusually warm weather this summer has prevented flights landing there.

• Thursday, February 24th 2011 - 16:40 UTC

  Quake’s knock to NZ economy estimated in 9 to 12 billion US dollars

  

  The Prime Minister of New Zealand, John Key, says emergency teams in Christchurch are now focusing on recovering bodies, rather than finding survivors of the earthquake.
  He has confirmed that 98 people are known to have been killed in the recent earthquake, and more than 200 others are still missing.

• Thursday, February 24th 2011 - 16:33 UTC

  HMS Scott on Ice Patrol and Antarctic sea deep water survey mapping

  

  The Royal Navy ocean survey ship HMS Scott has returned to Antarctica for Ice patrol duties that include scientific research in coordination with the UK Hydrographic Office and the British Antarctic Survey.

• Thursday, February 24th 2011 - 06:45 UTC

  Magnetic observatory in South Georgia to track the “South Atlantic Anomaly”

  

  A magnetic observatory is being re-established on South Georgia to provide vital data on the 'South Atlantic Anomaly' as scientists monitor a possible reversal of the earth's magnetic field. This field, generated deep within the planet, shields against particle radiation from space.