Environment

• Saturday, June 5th 2010 - 05:44 UTC

  Environmentalists march to protest building of dams in Patagonian Chile

  

  In honour of June 5, World Environment Day, activist groups and artists will march this weekend to protest efforts by electric companies to build hydroelectric plants in southern Chile.

• Saturday, June 5th 2010 - 00:43 UTC

  Wales will have the largest offshore wind farms in the world

  

  Construction work will begin next year on one of the largest offshore wind farms in the world, an energy firm has announced. The £2 billion Gwynt y Mor wind farm will have 160 wind turbines around 10 miles off the north Wales coast near Colwyn Bay and Llandudno.

• Thursday, June 3rd 2010 - 00:47 UTC

  Falkland Islands approves plan to further reduce seabird deaths by trawl fishing

  

  Seabird deaths caused by trawl fishing will be further reduced following the Falkland Islands Government’s approval of a new Action Plan. A ninety per cent reduction in seabird deaths was recorded in the long-line fishery the year after a similar Action Plan to introduce tori lines was put into effect in 2004. Both plans demonstrate the steps taken by the Falkland Islands to maintain their international reputation for the responsible and sustainable management of their fishing industry.

• Wednesday, June 2nd 2010 - 23:03 UTC

  Chilean navy upgrades communications in anticipation of future disasters

  

  Chilean Navy Commander in Chief Edmundo Gonzalez announced this week that the institution will be spending around 10 million US dollars on new, state of the art communications equipment for its SHOA (Hydrographical and Oceanographic Service) office.

• Tuesday, June 1st 2010 - 23:48 UTC

  Invasive algae found in Chilean Patagonia threatens ecosystem and tourism

  

  In February, Chris Spelius, owner of the adventure travel company Expediciones Chile, was standing out by the Futaleufu River in Southern Chile waiting for a client, when he looked into the normally clear water and noticed something unusual.

• Monday, May 31st 2010 - 04:03 UTC

  Gulf of Mexico BP oil spill worse than the Exxon Valdez in Alaska 1989

  

  The Gulf of Mexico oil spill is the worst environmental disaster the US has faced, a senior official has said. White House energy adviser Carol Browner also said the US was “prepared for the worst scenario” that the leak might not be stopped before August.

• Monday, May 17th 2010 - 04:36 UTC

  Fire destroys the world’s major collection of tropical serpents

  

  A fire destroyed on Saturday 82,000 snake specimens, considered the largest collection of tropical serpents in the world, as well as thousands of other reptiles, spiders and scorpions at Brazil’s prestigious Butantan Institute laboratory in Sao Paulo.

• Saturday, May 15th 2010 - 13:56 UTC

  Antarctic Treaty Governments Progress on Climate Change and Marine Protected

  

  Punta del Este, Uruguay. Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition welcomed steps at the 33rd Antarctic Treaty meeting to make climate change a major item on the agenda, and to keep momentum going on a network of Marine Protected Areas in the Southern Ocean.

• Saturday, May 15th 2010 - 03:44 UTC

  European summer of volcanic ash disruptions to air travel, warn geophysicists

  

  Europe should brace itself for a summer of sudden flight disruptions caused by the Icelandic volcano, experts have warned. Air-control authorities and geologists agree there are likely to be more cancellations to come as computerised projections try to pinpoint where the ash clouds will float next at the whim of shifting winds.

• Monday, May 10th 2010 - 18:38 UTC

  Chile Embroiled in Whaling Conservation Controversy

  

  Chilean Foreign Minister, Alfredo Moreno, said that Chile will maintain a position “in favour of conservation and against whaling,” and that Chilean Ambassador Cristián Maquieira, though he now chairs the International Whaling Commission, “is not the person who represents Chile” in this forum.