Environment

Friday, June 17th 2011 - 16:33 UTC
Peru cancels construction of Amazon dams; major setback for Brazil

Peruvian environmentalists have welcomed a decision by the country's Energy Ministry to cancel the development of the 1.5GW Inambari Dam in the Amazon basin.
Friday, June 17th 2011 - 05:54 UTC
Naked Russian woman scientist dances in Arctic waters with Beluga whales

Braving subzero temperatures and underwater conditions, Natalia Avseenko, 36 threw away her inhibitions and her clothes to dive in with the Arctic Beluga whales, in an extremely interesting yet controversial experiment, trying to test the theory that the Beluga whales don’t like to be touched like diving suits, for example.
Wednesday, June 15th 2011 - 22:02 UTC
End of intense La Niña cycle anticipates return to average rainfall in Chile

The most intense La Niña climate pattern since 1975 is coming to a close in Chile, after it cooled water temperatures off the Pacific coast of South America and left a troubling drought in its wake.
Wednesday, June 15th 2011 - 21:53 UTC
French giant oil group Total invests heavily in solar energy

French oil and gas giant Total completed its 1.3 billion US dollars tender offer to buy a controlling 60% stake in SunPower, a California provider of solar power systems, the two companies announced Wednesday.
Wednesday, June 15th 2011 - 14:41 UTC
Aquaculture more efficient than livestock production, says WorldFish Centre

WorldFish Centre and Conservation International (CI) have revealed a comprehensive analysis exploring the environmental impact of the world's major aquaculture production systems and species and gives an unprecedented global assessment of trends and impacts. The results from the two-year study show that aquaculture is more efficient than other forms of animal protein production such as livestock.
Wednesday, June 15th 2011 - 04:21 UTC
Evacuees from Chile’s Puyehue volcano allowed back to their homes

Evacuations ordered after an eruption in Chile’s Puyehue-Cordón Caulle volcanic complex begun to be lifted on Sunday for various areas in southern Chile’s Los Ríos and Los Lagos regions, over 600 miles south of Santiago.
Wednesday, June 15th 2011 - 02:43 UTC
“Self determination and self sufficiency”, Falklands message to the world on Liberation Day

“Self-determination and self-sufficiency” is the Falkland Islands message to the world on the day the Islands commemorate the 29th anniversary of its liberation, said the Falklands’ government representative in London Sukey Cameron, who added Argentina continues with its campaign to claim sovereignty and disrupt the Falklands economy.
Tuesday, June 14th 2011 - 21:52 UTC
Humpback whale appears floating in the port of Montevideo

An eight metre long humpback whale with a big gash close to the mouth appeared dead in the port of Montevideo. According to local marine biologists the cetacean most probably collided with a vessel.
Tuesday, June 14th 2011 - 13:49 UTC
Antarctica visitors drop 8.3% in 2010/11 and 25% fall for 2011/12 season, forecasts IAATO

The total number of visitors to Antarctica during the 2010/11 season, and traveling with IAATO member-operators, was 33,824. This includes those traveling on traditional expedition ships, yachts, larger cruise-only vessels as well visitors participating in land programs. The overall seasonal results reflect a decrease of 8.3% last year’s total of 36,875 passengers.
Monday, June 13th 2011 - 23:37 UTC
Millions of farm-salmon in south Chile moved because of the volcanic eruption

Chile’s National Fisheries Service (Sernapesca) authorized the transfer of more than five million salmon from three farms in the south of the country. The decision was taken as a precautionary measure because of the eruption of the Puyehue-Cordón Caulle volcanic range and possible pollution of rivers and lakes.