Environment

• Sunday, February 6th 2011 - 20:43 UTC

  Droughts could turn Amazon basin from greenhouse gas eater to source of gases

  

  A long-lasting drought that affected the Amazon Rain Forest last year was worse than the once-in-a-lifetime drought that the region suffered in 2005, and a team of British and Brazilian scientists say it may have a bigger impact on global warming than the US does in a year.

• Sunday, February 6th 2011 - 08:26 UTC

  Pod of 80 whales beached on New Zealand coast; at least 14 dead

  

  At least fourteen whales from a pod of more than 80 beached on the New Zealand coast have died, with officials fearing others may be stranded elsewhere after freeing themselves on Saturday.

• Wednesday, February 2nd 2011 - 06:30 UTC

  Coal mine project in Chilean Patagonia triggers Facebook debate

  

  Mina Invierno, a major coal mine project to be located in Chilean Patagonia, has sparked new controversy in the Magallanes Region. The coal mine will be located on Isla Riesco, Chile’s fourth biggest island, just 80 miles from the region’s capital of Punta Arenas.

• Monday, January 31st 2011 - 20:48 UTC

  Loss of Antarctic glacial ice expected to trigger changes in ocean circulation patterns

  

  The loss of a massive “tongue” of glacial ice on the Antarctic coast — a natural protective barrier nearly the size of Luxembourg (2.500 square kilometers) — could affect ocean circulation patterns and anticipate changes to come from global warming, scientists on a mission to the frozen continent say.

• Sunday, January 30th 2011 - 21:24 UTC

  North Pole Waters Will Soon Be Ice Free New Report Says

  

  The north Atlantic current flowing in to the Arctic Ocean is warmer that it has been for at least 2000 years and is a sign that global warming is likely to bring ice free seas around the North Pole in a few years time, a new study finds

• Sunday, January 30th 2011 - 21:16 UTC

  Work Gets Underway on Amazonian Hydro Project

  

  Building will now begin on what will be the world's third-largest hydroelectric dam after Ibama, Brazil's environment agency, gave the go-ahead for the controversial $17 billion (£10.6 billion) project.

• Friday, January 28th 2011 - 20:58 UTC

  Tenders for Three Winds Farms in Uruguay Awarded

  

  A Spanish firm and two Argentine ones have been awarded tenders to build wind farms. Spanish Teyma and the Argentine Impsa and Fingano will invest around U$ 300 million in the project.

• Friday, January 28th 2011 - 20:51 UTC

  Cruise Costs to Increase Due To Rise in Fuel Costs

  

  British holidaymakers wanting to go on a cruise are going to have to shortly pay more as UK based operators announced they are set to begin charging fuel supplements.

• Friday, January 28th 2011 - 02:19 UTC

  Half a Million Chileans Fall into Poverty Following Earthquake

  

  Chile’s Planning Minister Felipe Kast and Housing Minister Magdalena Matte met yesterday at Cerro Navia to announce the results of Chile’s Post Earthquake Survey (EPT). The survey’s aim was to measure the social impact of the February. 27, 2010, 8.8-magnitude earthquake on poverty, property, and psychological well-being in Chile.

• Thursday, January 27th 2011 - 00:18 UTC

  Rains in Brazil Oust Over 25,000 From Homes

  

  Over 25,000 people have been forced to move out of their homes in the Serrana region in the south-eastern Brazilian state of Rio de Janiero, because of the devastating rains and mudslides. which lasted thirteen days and killed over 800 people, authorities said..