The sooner the better as it will take 15 to 20 years before any effect is felt.
See also: Sex disparity
04/07/2012
Public self awareness, self analysis and open self criticism are seldom followed by ruling parties.
See also: ability of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to retain the loyalty of its citizens
04/07/2012
* China Says No More Shark Fin Soup at State Banquets
NY Times: “China said Tuesday that it would prohibit official banquets from serving shark fin soup, an expensive and popular delicacy blamed for a sharp decline in global shark populations.
Fishermen displayed their sharks for sale at a market in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, in 2011. Rapid economic growth across Asia has increased the demand for shark fin soup.
The ban, reported by Xinhua, the state-run news agency, could take as many as three years to take effect, and it remains unclear how widely it will be adhered to across a sprawling nation where orders issued by Beijing are often shrugged off by officials in faraway regions and provinces.
Still, the decision to stop serving shark fin soup at official functions was welcomed by environmental campaigners. Experts have long cautioned that soaring demand for the soup over the past two decades has imperiled shark populations around the globe.
“This is a very positive step forward,” said Andy Cornish, director of conservation at W.W.F. in Hong Kong. “It is the first time that the Chinese central government has expressed a decision to phase out shark fin from banquets funded by taxpayers’ money.” He said the move would send an important signal to consumers in China, the largest market for the fins.”
via China Says No More Shark Fin Soup at State Banquets – NYTimes.com.
Maybe the Japanese will stop killing whales!
03/07/2012
* China factory construction halted amid violent protests
BBC News: “Chinese officials have halted the construction of a copper alloy plant in Sichuan province following violent protests by local residents.
Local officials said large crowds of residents gathered on Sunday and Monday in Shifang city to protest against the plant on environmental grounds.
Both police and residents were injured in the clashes as bottles were thrown and cars damaged, they said.
Officials said they would now consult residents on the project.
Local authorities said hundreds of residents and students were involved in the protests, while state-run Global Times, quoting an unnamed police officer, said “several thousand” took part.
A statement on the incident on the city’s Sina Weibo account said the government would not restart the project “until the majority of people support it”.
This is not the first time that protests over the environmental impact of heavy industry plants have broken out in China.
In recent years, the public has become more aware of its rights – and more vocal when it comes to issues of public health.
While China has achieved astonishing economic growth in the past few decades, it has come at a huge environmental cost.
The country’s growing middle class worry about air and water pollution. They are concerned about the impact it will have on their children and are increasingly prepared to protest.
Last year, the authorities were forced to close a chemical plant in the north-eastern city of Dalian following similar protests.
Authorities face a huge challenge – they must balance the demand for continued economic growth against rising public anger over pollution.
“Work teams will be sent to all communities and schools to listen to people’s opinions and suggestions,” they added.”
via BBC News – China factory construction halted amid violent protests.
See also:
02/07/2012
* India to launch $75m mission to forecast rains
BBC News: “India is launching a $75m (£48m) scheme using computer models to understand the south-west monsoonand forecast the rains more accurately, officials say.
Rains have come down pretty heavily this monsoon (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
India receives 80% of its annual rainfall during the summer monsoon between June and September.
A significant shortfall in rain can trigger drought, which can cause great damage to India’s 235 million farmers.
There have been reports that this year’s monsoon has been poor.
“Understanding the monsoon will be a major priority of the government for the next five years,” says Shailesh Nayak, a senior official in the ministry of earth sciences.
He said efforts will be made to understand the rains using computer models developed by the UK and the US and gathering fresh data.
Forecasting the monsoon is a tricky task, as India’s meteorologists have discovered time and again.
Last year they predicted a bad monsoon, but in the end the rains turned out to be in excess of what was forecast.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) admitted later that it was “not very accurate” in its forecasts.
In its 137-year history the IMD has never been able to predict a drought or a flood – the two extremes of a monsoon season – successfully.
Experts say scientists all over the world struggle to forecast weather patterns.
They say the IMD does a “commendable job, putting its reputation on the block” by making monsoon forecasts every year.
Monsoon watchers like Prof J Srinivasan from the Indian Institute of Science says seasonal forecasts for drought and floods are relatively accurate for the Sub-Saharan region in Africa, but no agency in the world has ever been able to predict a drought or flood for the Indian region.”
via BBC News – India to launch $75m mission to forecast rains.
Related articles
- Monsoon becomes weak again (thehindu.com)
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