Mining – India
1. Crisis spells opportunity for local mining firms
2. Jindal and Tata to Develop Two Coal-to-Liquid Plants
3. No green light for Vedanta plan
4. Parrikar to oppose illegal mining
5. Indian stainless steel makers in a bind on radioactive scrap
Mining – International
6. Mining Law unfavourable to local communitites
7. The killing uranium fields of Topnaar Nama
8. DENR endorses mining project in Nueva Viscaya
9. Some spoiling for fight over mining: new report
10. Mining recovery needs longer-term aid
11. Illegal mining firm fined N5m
12. Still no decision on Gloucester mining licences
13. S.Korea's Kowepo eyes coal mines in Indonesia
Other News – India
14. CRZ-affected locals vow to expose chinks in system
15. Consider climate change threat to public health: WHO
16. Population growth, climate change sparking water crisis: UN
17. Give the poor choices: report
18. Women empowerment through literacy
Mining –
Crisis spells opportunity for local mining firms
Nandini Goswami
Thursday, March 12, 2009 3:43 IST
Kolkata: Indian mining companies may not find a better price and opportunity to clinch "attractive" global deals, given the current decline in commodity and equity prices.
"Indian mining and user industries have an unprecedented window of opportunity to gain access to targets that might be denied to them in normal circumstances," observed Kameswara Rao, leader for energy, utilities and mining at PricewaterhouseCoopers'
"The raw material supply constraints are likely to persist and the current lower valuations will help them (local firms) secure cheaper supplies for future," he added.
Many Indian PSUs with mining interests such as Coal
Rao feels this is also a good opportunity for the government to liberalise the domestic mining industry to help it grow, attract investment and reduce costs for user industries such metals and energy producers.
"We see a unique environment that will reshape much of the sector's ownership. The rapid decline in commodity and equity prices, combined with financing constraints owing to the global credit crisis, has left the sector polarised between the strong and the weak," Rao said.
Sources said though
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1238254
Jindal Steel and Tata-Sasol Joint Venture to Develop India's First Two Coal-to-Liquid Plants
BANGALORE, INDIA--March 12, 2009--Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Following initial plans to set up a single coal-to-liquid (CTL) petroleum project in Orissa at a cost of $8 billion, the Indian government is now planning to set up two CTL units in the state. Of the 22 companies that had bid for the initially announced pilot project, the Indian government's Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) has recommended Jindal Steel and Power Limited (BSE:532286) (JSPL) (New Delhi) and Strategic Energy Technology Systems Limited (SETSL), a joint venture between Tata Sons (Mumbai) and Sasol Limited (NYSE:SSL) (Johannesburg), for the two CTL projects.
http://www.industrialinfo.com/showAbstract.jsp?newsitemID=144644
No green light for Vedanta plan
BS reported that INR 11,500 crore Jharsuguda plant expansion faces delay over environmental issues. The INR 11,500 crore expansion plan of Vedanta Aluminium at Jharsuguda in Orissa may be delayed due to environmental issues.
As per report, the company put up its expansion proposal before the Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Orissa Ltd 2 months ago. It proposed to increase the Jharsuguda smelter’s capacity to 1.4 million tonne per annum from the current 0.5 million tonne.
However, the proposal is yet to be placed before the State Level Single Window Clearance Authority. Sources said the environmental carrying capacity study being commissioned by the Orissa State Pollution Control Board in the Sambalpur to Jharsuguda belt and the state government reported reluctance to provide more bauxite mines to VAL are delaying matters.
The proposed expansion was discussed when Mr Anil Agarwal chief of Vedanta chief, called on Naveen Patnaik CM of Orissa in the first week of January 2009.
It has indicated that if timely approval is given, it would like to complete the expansion by the end of November 2010. The aluminium rodding shop and the bake oven of the smelter project are expected to be completed by April and July 2010, respectively.
Sources said the process for the study on environmental carrying capacity of industries in Sambalpur to Jharsuguda has been set in motion by SPCB. It has invited technical offers from five IITs, the
The report added that these institutes are to give their offer by the end of this month. The selected institute will take up the study within a 35 kilometer radius around Rengali. The study is expected to consider the existing level of emissions, water and air pollution and project future levels.
Based on the study, it will recommend how many industries, particularly in sectors like power, aluminium and steel, should come up in the area. Since the seasonal data for a year will be required, the study is likely to take more than a year.
Sources added that the state government has asked SPCB to give a preliminary report on the carrying capacity in about three months, suggesting environmental mitigation measures to be taken by the new industries. It will be incorporated in the memorandum of understanding to be signed between the state government and the companies and will facilitate the government in taking decisions on some important projects.
Sources further added that however, with the model poll code of conduct in force and the outcome of the carrying capacity study yet to be known, the investment plans of different companies in that area will be delayed.
http://steelguru.com/news/index/2009/03/12/ODU3MzU%3D/No_green_light_for_Vedanta_plan.html
Parrikar to oppose illegal mining
12 Mar 2009, 0304 hrs IST, TNN
MARGAO: Leader of the opposition Manohar Parrikar has vowed to oppose all sorts of illegal mining activities in the state and has further pledged
to support all genuine environment-related issues.
Parrikar made these statements while informally speaking to the satyagrahis' of Mission Bypass at Curchorem when he called upon them on Wednesday and expressed the party's support to the agitation. BJP's South Goa Lok Sabha candidate Narendra Sawaikar, and former minister Vinay Tendulkar accompanied Parrikar, even as the satyagraha, that includes an indefinite hunger strike by residents, entered its fourth day on Wednesday.
Parrikar, while acknowledging that the dust and mining pollution had assumed disastrous proportions in Curchorem and surrounding areas, vowed to take up the cause with all the seriousness it deserves. Expressing concern over the loss of lives owing to accidents involving mining trucks, Parrikar assured that he would strive to find a solution to the vexed issue soon.
Meanwhile, the agitation launched by Mission Bypass has been receiving overwhelming support from the residents with over a hundred people registering their names for participating in the indefinite chain hunger strike.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Parrikar-to-oppose-illegal-mining/articleshow/4253366.cms
Indian stainless steel makers in a bind on radioactive scrap
BL reported that steel scrap has come to limelight following the recent incident of a Mumbai based steelmaker’s consignment of stainless steel bars being detected with radioactive contamination.
The secondary steelmakers are facing the heat after the Mumbai based Vipras Castings was singled out by the German authorities for exporting steel contaminated with radioactive material. The Atomic Energy Regulatory Board after inspecting the company premises had segregated products and raw material contaminated with radioactive material for safe disposal.
Overseas clients of major players here have reportedly sought in-depth details on the material procurement and processing methodology, besides the precautions taken to ensure that contaminated steel does not land up at their doorstep.
The
The majors of the segment such as specialty steel manufacturer Mukand Ltd, while importing ensure that the scrap is certified by agencies such as SGS, Societe Generale de Surveillance, an international agency specialized in testing, verification and inspection of industrial products.
Mr AM Kulkarni chief of Business Strategy, Mukand said that while details of the total quantity of scrap imported by
Mr Kulkarni, who is also a founder member of the Stainless Steel Developers Association of India said that all their members had taken pre emptive steps and communicated to their clients of their import certification and the process checks they had in place.
Industry sources, while conceding that one of the members was in the dock, alleged a well orchestrated campaign was on to block Indian exports as major European stainless steelmakers were reeling under the impact of recession.
http://steelguru.com/news/index/2009/03/12/ODU4MjQ%3D/Indian_stainless_steel_makers_in_a_bind_on_radioactive_scrap.html
Mining – International
Mining Law unfavourable to local communitites
Last Updated: Wednesday, 11 March 2009, 14:30 GMT
CEO of Chamber of Mines, Ms Ary
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Ms Joyce Aryee, has stated that the mining laws which prescribe compensation payments for lands, crops and buildings affected by mining are unfavourable to people and communities affected by mining.
"Objectives of the sections of the laws that deal with compensations are not specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time bound (SMART)," she stated.
She said this at a sensitisation workshop on compensation in the mining sector organised by the Ghana Chamber of Mines/Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) in
Ms Aryee stated that research and advocacy by the chamber were to help find lasting and mutually acceptable guidelines on compensation issues and push for the development and implementation of SMART guidelines for handling compensation in the mining industry and the nation.
She said the advocacy project was part of the chamber's objectives to provide leadership for the solution of national issues that were related to mining.
She said the chamber and its members subscribed to the principles of sustainable development that met the needs of the present generation, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Presenting an overview of the advocacy project titled "Advocacy for the establishment of standards of compensation for mining concessions", a consultant from AIDEC Consultancies International Limited, Mr Ambrose Yiennah, said there were no standard compensations and property values on land in the mining areas which left room for controversies.
He said the advocacy project included activities such as research, sensitisation workshops in
He said the objectives of the advocacy action were to have a national policy whi.ch clearly sorted out the principles, basis and standards of compensation for mining concessions and property values, have a prescribed negotiation procedure and dispute resolution mechanism and have a policy on speculative developers on mining concessions.
Mr Yiennah said the purpose of the sensitisation workshop was to inform, educate and seek stakeholder input into the draft compensation policy
Presenting the research findings, Mr Andorful stated that the issue of compensation had been one of the difficult subjects in the mining sector, spanning from exploitation to decommissioning.
He added that the law left the determination of actual compensation payable to negotiations between the parties involved, resulting sometimes in lengthy litigation.
He said the objective of the research was to collate data on the current socioeconomic conditions, livelihood activities, capabilities and options available to households that had suffered economic displacements with the purpose of reevaluating the options for compensation packages.
"It was also to review the Minerals and Mining Law with regard to compensation with a view to minimising the impact mining operations had on the incomes and livelihoods of mining communities.
The study showed that 79 per cent of people affected were not satisfied with their compensation packages, 5.6 per cent stating no indications, with 15.4 per cent being satisfied with their packages.
It revealed that 57 per cent of the respondents wanted cash as their compensation, two per cent expected money and land, four per cent expected land, three per cent expected financial investments, with 34 per cent expecting land and financial investments.
The study suggested the need for a better compensation, especially for non-cropped areas, and a better compensation level that should include money, land and financial investment.
Source: Daily Graphic
http://topics.myjoyonline.com/news/200903/27389.asp
The killing uranium fields of Topnaar Nama
2009-03-12 15:20:00
NAMIB: Topnaar Nama people in
Debates rage over whether energy generated by uranium induced nuclear fission is beneficial or harmful. The debate often settles into familiar bipartite arguments of nuclear power plants versus nuclear bombs. Whilst tragic results of the atomic bombs dropped on
During the development of the atomic bomb, thousands of mines were built in the Southwest of the
The sad truth is that Governments are fully aware of the dangers but refuse to implement adequate protection measures.
Uranium can cause a wide variety of health problems. Miners and local communities drink contaminated water, eat contaminated food and breathe in radon gas and dust from the tailings. In addition to this, the extraction and processing of uranium ore uses huge amounts of highly sought-after water that cannot be recycled.
It has been argued by mining companies that uranium extraction brings jobs to local populations, thus creating better living conditions, and for a few this was true. However the companies also quietly ignore the health and environmental effects of the process.
In many cases there have been no safety precautions, no radiation protection and no information about the hazards of the mining process. Regulations are non-existent or faulty to such an extent that they would never be accepted in industrialized states.
The problems associated with uranium mining are set to continue with its rising price as demand from nuclear power plant companies increases.
One community that is particularly at risk from uranium extraction is the Topnaar Nama, one of fourteen groups of Nama people. These groups traditionally lived in the southern parts of the Namib, which today is part of
There are currently two mines operating in the Topnaar territory with the Namibian Government recently issuing more uranium exploration licenses to various international companies.
The lack of water, and other environmental issues related to uranium mining have other impacts on the Topnaar. As Captain Samuel Khaxab from the Royal House of the Topnaar Nama states:
‘We do not accept the uranium mines. One day I want to show my children, my small children, this flower and that bock - which is called springbock and that one [which] is an Oryx. But if that mine is coming, the animals cannot be there anymore. The thing is so strong, dangerous; the people who are working in the mine become sick. The Roessing mine is far from us, but now it comes near at us. And it is dangerous for us. We cannot give permission for that thing.’
It has been recognized that the demand for water is much too high for the Namib to supply. In an attempt to combat this problem a water desalination plant is presently under construction at Wlozkasbaken as a joint venture between the uranium mining company UraMin and Nam Water.
It has been reported that workers of the Roessing mine, amongst them Topnaar people, are becoming ill and are dying. One Topnaar reported that his friend, a miner, had died a few weeks ago because of what the doctor referred to as ‘old mans illness’. He was only 60, and those within the Topnaar villages that have never worked in the mines live beyond 80 without any ‘old mans illness.’
It is clear from the issuing of uranium exploration licenses that the Namibian Government is less than supportive towards the Topnaar peoples’ situation. This is despite the fact that the Namibian constitution states that traditional chiefs (captains or kings) of different tribes be included in parliament.
It appears that financial institutions within the country, such as the Bank of Namibia, have found the potential income that mining may bring too attractive to reject. This is despite studies in other African countries that demonstrates only a small percentage of the worth of the resources extracted actually stay in the country.
Indeed it is clear that the Topnaar people are not benefiting from the mining taking place within their territory. Ephraim Peterson, also from the Royal House of the Topnaar-Nam said:
‘In the harvest time we collect the !Narra fruit. We eat it, the goats and donkeys also eat it. But the fruit is in danger because of the Uranium mines. If those mines are coming they can contaminate our plants, the !Narra. We also have the fish but we never benefit from it. Even from the
Captain Samuel Khaxab agrees, arguing that the ‘Government has forgotten the customary law, the old law of
It is apparent to the Topnaar, in the words of Ephraim Peterson, that the Government ‘does not care’, no money has ever been received from the mines; instead they must pay the water company in order to get water. He claims that the ‘people who govern now do what they want. They do not care about us. And that is very painful for us!’
The Topnaar Nama people fear for their lives and for their existence. Uranium mining poses considerable health hazards to the people, and the side effects of uranium mining, such as the depletion of the underground and surface water resources make their traditional lifestyles impossible to maintain.
Fanuel Abraham Haoseb describes how the natural water systems have come under strain in recent years:
‘In the past elephants, giraffes, rhinos they used to come down the river during the rainy season. But today these animals are not coming down anymore. Our water is now supplying too many things like factories or the mines in our area. Mines use a lot of water and this will have an effect on us because Nam Water will have to pump more water out of the river so that they can give more water to other people. This will also have an effect on our community itself. The river, the trees and the whole lifestyle of us will be afflicted by this system.’
Less or no water means no food for the animals, and it also means fewer !
http://www.commodityonline.com/news/The-killing-uranium-fields-of-Topnaar-Nama-15943-3-1.html
DENR endorses mining project in Nueva Viscaya for large scale operation
03/12/2009 | 11:00 AM
The 25-year financial and technical assistance agreement (FTAA) calls for a $50-million development investment while developing in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. The project is currently held by FCF Minerals Corp., which is 85 percent-owned by Metals Exploration, under an exploration permit.
“This endorsement of our FTAA by DENR Secretary Atienza is a critical milestone in the development of the Runruno project. The application process and project review has been rigorous and detailed, and we are grateful to the staff in the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and DENR for their support and assistance. The feasibility study on Runruno is progressing well and on schedule, and further updates will be released in due course," Metals Exploration chief executive Jonathan Beardsworth said.
In March 6, DENR Secretary Jose L. Atienza, Jr. endorsed the conversion of the existing exploration permit into an FTAA, which Metal Exploration began applying since first quarter of 2008.
“It is going to be a big boost for the economy. I am sure [the President] will act on this very fast to allow the company to immediately operate," he said in the statement.-RAMR, GMANews.TV
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/152393/DENR-endorses-mining-project-in-Nueva-Viscaya-for-large-scale-operation
Some spoiling for fight over mining: new report
Last updated 13:31 12/03/2009
Years of living with mining has made some Waihi residents tolerant of it but a new report points to likely renewed opposition from Maori and environmentalists.
Researchers found Newmont Waihi Gold (NWG) activity in Waihi comprises about 25-30 per cent of the local economy and as a historical mining town with generations of miners in some families, "there may be a heightened degree of tolerance to some of the downsides that come from mining".
Researchers from the
There had been significant community opposition to the open pit Martha mine including strong protests from environmental groups to the mine's 1987 consent process.
Also, subsidence in 2001 caused one house to collapse and led to a number of people being resettled.
Since the researchers visited Waihi, Newmont has agreed to pay compensation to 130 households affected by noise, blast vibrations and dust from the Martha mine.
Although Newmont had planned to close the Martha pit several years ago, it wanted to keep operations in Waihi going as long as possible.
Further delays in closure were also unlikely to be supported by local iwi.
Ngati Tamatera, custodians of Pukewa (Martha Hill), were opposed to mining on their lands.
"On the one hand NWG says it recognises the cultural significance of Pukewa, and the need for iwi to have due recognition and a clear closure timeframe so that the healing process can commence, yet on the other hand it seeks to extend the life of the mine," the report says.
One stakeholder told researchers that the "next generation" of Maori were "spoiling for a fight" because of what they saw as a negative impact on their culture. However, for the moment, the iwi chose to pursue their grievances through legal means.
NZPA
http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/2254594/Some-spoiling-for-fight-over-mining-new-report
Mining recovery needs longer-term aid
By Ed Crooks
Published: March 12 2009 02:00 | Last updated: March 12 2009 02:00
In recent years soaring energy prices have revived British coal production. The number of working pits hit a low of 13 in 2005-06, from 170 at the 1984 start of the strike but rose to 19 in 2006-07.
The partial recovery was symbolised by the reopening in 2007 of the Hatfield mine in
UK Coal,
The industry can even see the prospect of skills shortages, with the average age of the workforce now 49. Powerfuel and UK Coal have been taking on the first apprentices to join the coal industry for decades.
Yet these signs of renewed vigour are deceptive. British coal faces an uncertain future.
Geology is not a problem. As Aneurin Bevan put it,
The problem is economics.
In the past year the price of imported coal has ranged from about $220 per tonne down to about $50 (£36) per tonne today.
British mines typically need a price of about £50 per tonne to cover costs and pay a return on investment.
Producers protect themselves from the worst of the swings by selling their coal on long-term contracts but need to remain competitive.
Expensive investments such as digging a new deep mine shaft, which could cost up to £1bn, are unlikely to be commercially viable.
David Price, editor of Coal
Surface mining, which has undergone a modest revival, will last longer but is constrained by planning difficulties.
As coal has declined,
At the same time,
By then, the leading exporters in the world are likely to be
Those concerns can be met while cutting greenhouse gas emissions by investing in wind and nuclear power, both of them controversial and potentially expensive, or in "clean coal" power stations that capture and store their carbon dioxide emissions.
If clean coal works, it would guarantee a
There might also need to be separate incentives to persuade generators to use British rather than imported coal.
Mr Budge argues that there are good reasons for energy policy to do that.
"Every other technology has been supported, and here's a cheaper alternative," he says. "If the government is going to intervene in the market, let's do it for security of supply and environmental reasons."
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/aa72a95e-0ea6-11de-b099-0000779fd2ac.html
Illegal mining firm fined N5m
By Kemi Obasola
Published: Thursday, 12 Mar 2009
The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency has imposed a fine of N5m on an illegal mining company in Ikorodu area of the state.
Mining equipment
The company had been mining laterite in the area for five years without permission from the state government.
The General Manager of the Agency, Mr. Adekunle Shabi, said on Wednesday that the agency had been monitoring the illegal mining company for about three months.
Shabi said, “In the course of arresting these illegal miners, they attacked some of our staff and tried to stop them from performing their official duties.
“We have been asking them to write a technical report stating the environmental impact of their mining activities, but they refused. Through their activities, gullies are being created, underground water is being polluted, while the trucks carrying their laterite have been destroying the roads in Ikorodu.
“If we do not stop their activities now, the area where they are carrying out their illegal activities will become useless.”
Continuing, he said, “We have said it several times that mining and dredging are not permitted in residential areas, as the state has zero tolerance for these activities.”
According to Shabi, the company moves from one local government to the other, creating gullies and causing erosion.
Once a site became useless due to their activities, Shabi claimed, they abandoned it and moved elsewhere.
“We asked them to write the Environmental Impact Assessment for that particular site, but they refused. When our men got there, they were attacked with charms and other weapons,” Shabi claimed.
He said the agency would continue to monitor the activities of dredgers, miners and manufacturing companies.
”Our environment must be protected. It may be tough because people are already set in their ways, but we must all change so that our environment can be conducive for positive activities.
“The state has assumed a mega-city status and we cannot continue to do things the way we used to. This is why LASEPA goes out everyday to monitor what goes on within the environment. We visit at least eight industries per day to ensure compliance with our environmental laws,” he said.
Shabi noted that the state would not hesitate to prosecute where necessary; while those who had been given an option of fine once and refused to comply would have their companies sealed.
http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200903120492740
Still no decision on
Thursday, 12/03/2009
A decision on whether three exploration licences in
Residents and the local council have both expressed concern over the exploratory drilling currently on the town's outskirts.
Gloucester Council is concerned about the possible damage further coal mining in the region will do to tourism, its rural residential relocation program and prime agricultural land.
But the State's Minister for Mineral Resources and Primary Industries, Ian Macdonald, believes mining and agriculture can co-exist.
He says it is up to the department to consider any application for renewal.
"These are formal systems that are in place, and have been in place for a long time, they'll consider whether the company has abided by the conditions of its exploration licence in the past and generally if they have, they are then renewed."
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/200903/s2514390.htm
S.Korea's Kowepo eyes coal mines in
Wed Mar 11, 2009 5:28pm IST
JAKARTA, March 11 (Reuters) - South Korean utility Korea Western Power Co. Ltd (KOWEPO) is considering investing in coal mines in Indonesia to secure future supply, a source said on Wednesday.
"The firm wants to participate in coal mining directly in
The firm consumes 12 million tonnes of coal every year, and about 40 percent is imported from
Coal, mostly used for heating by utilities, accounts for about 40 percent of
Coal imports from
http://in.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idINJAK39760120090311
Other News –
CRZ-affected locals vow to expose chinks in system
12 Mar 2009, 0336 hrs IST, TNN
MARGAO: CRZ-affected residents of coastal villages in Salcete while alleging a fraud in the process of determining illegal structures have vowed
- to expose the chinks in the system to strengthen their case.
It is the contention of the villagers that neither the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) nor the land survey department have any records that could help establish whether the structures constructed within the no development zone of the CRZ existed prior to or post February 19, 1991.
It may be noted that 196 structures purported to have been constructed post the CRZ notification of February 19, 1991 are facing the axe following the show-cause notices issued to them by the Colva panchayat.
Speaking to TOI, Calvert Gonsalves, member of the Colva panchayat, who has taken up the cause of the affected villagers, said that government agencies were relying on inaccurate and unreliable data to determine the legality of structures within CRZ.
"The Colva panchayat has been persistently requesting the land survey department and the GCZMA to provide records prior to February 19, 1991. While the department of survey and land records has replied to our letter stating that they do not have in their possession any information showing structures that existed prior to February 19,1991, the GCZMA provided us plans showing structures existing in 2008 incorporated in the land survey plans of 1972 and thereabouts. On the basis of such vague and inaccurate data, it is highly impossible to identify which structures came before or after the CRZ notification," Gonsalves pointed out, producing copies of the correspondence between the Colva panchayat and the concerned authorities.
Criticizing the authorities for relying on satellite images for the purpose of identification of illegal structures, Gonsalves expressed apprehension that such images were prone to digital manipulation, and thus cannot be relied upon. "Don't kill people with inaccurate data and faulty information. Hit them only if you are armed with correct facts and figures," he remarked.
Advocating the need to amend the CRZ law to safeguard the interests of the fisherfolk, Gonsalves cautioned that the politicians will have to pay a heavy price in the forthcoming elections if no steps are taken to protect their hearths and homes.
"If laws can be changed to protect a starred resort, can't the government
do the same to protect thousands of Goans? If not, why should we vote for them (politicians) if they do not allow us to live in peace?" Gonsalves questioned, even as he expressed his determination to take up the issue with Central leaders of the political parties, including prime minister Manmohan Singh and opposition leader L K Advani.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Goa/CRZ-affected-locals-vow-to-expose-chinks-in-system/articleshow/4253335.cms
Consider climate change threat to public health: WHO
New York, Mar 12 (PTI) The UN health agency has asked policymakers to consider the threat climate change poses to public health before setting up their priorities for action and investments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO) highlighted the health dimension of the issue at the three-day "Climate Change -- Global Risks, Challenges and Decisions" conference in
Based on research, WHO estimates that around 150,000 deaths now occur in low-income countries each year, with young children making up almost 85 per cent of these excess deaths, due to the effect climate change has on crop failure, diarrhoeal disease, malaria and flooding.
Health hazards from climate change are diverse, global and difficult to reverse, according to WHO. They range from increased risk to safety from extreme weather events, to the effects of global warming on infectious disease and sea level rises leading to salinisation of land and water sources.
The agency contends that feasible improvements to the environment could reduce the burden on global disease, a large part of which is caused by energy consumption and transport systems, by more than 25 per cent.
Outdoor air pollution accounts for 800,000 deaths annually around the world, traffic accidents for 1.2 million, physical inactivity for 1.9 million and indoor air pollution for 1.5 million, WHO says. PTI
http://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite.nsf/0/776C9B4B8280D71C65257577001E00F9?OpenDocument
Population growth, climate change sparking water crisis: UN
50 minutes ago
PARIS (AFP) — Surging population growth, climate change, reckless irrigation and chronic waste are placing the world's water supplies at threat, according to a landmark UN report.
Compiled by 24 UN agencies, the 348-page document gave a grim assessment of the state of the planet's freshwater, especially in developing countries, and described the outlook for coming generations as deeply worrying.
Water is part of the complex web of factors that determine prosperity and stability, it said.
Lack of access to water helps drive poverty and deprivation and breeds the potential for unrest and conflict, it warned.
"Water is linked to the crises of climate change, energy and food supplies and prices, and troubled financial markets," the third World Water Development Report said.
"Unless their links with water are addressed and water crises around the world are resolved, these other crises may intensify and local water crises may worsen, converging into a global water crisis and leading to political insecurity at various levels."
The report pointed to a double squeeze on fresh water.
On one side was human impact. There were six billion humans in 2000, a tally that has already risen to 6.5 billion and could scale nine billion by 2050.
Population growth, especially in cities in poor countries, is driving explosive demand for water, prompting rivers in thirsty countries to be tapped for nearly every drop and driving governments to pump out so-called fossil water, the report said.
These are aquifers that are hundreds of thousands of years old and whose extraction is not being replenished by rainfall. Mining them for water today means depriving future generations of liquid treasure.
Fuelling this is misuse or abuse of water, through pollution, unbridled irrigation, pipe leakage and growing of water-craving crops in deserts.
Applying pressure from the other side is climate change, said the report.
Shifts to weather systems, unleashed by man-made global warming, will alter rainfall patterns and reduce snow melt, scientists say.
The water report was first issued in 2003 and is updated every three years. The latest issue, entitled "Water in a Changing World," is published ahead of the fifth World Water Forum, taking place in
The mammoth document made these points:
-- DEMOGRAPHIC GROWTH is boosting water stress in developing countries, where hydrological resources are often meagre. The global population is growing by 80 million people a year, 90 percent of it in poorer countries. Demand for water is growing by 64 billion cubic metres (2.2 trillion cubic feet) per year, roughly equivalent to
-- In the past 50 years, EXTRACTION from rivers, lakes and aquifers has tripled to help meet population growth and demands for water-intensive food such as rice, cotton, dairy and meat products. Agriculture accounts for 70 percent of the withdrawals, a figure that reaches more than 90 percent in some developing countries.
-- ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION from water pollution and excessive extraction now costs many billions of dollars. Damage in the Middle East and North Africa, the world's most water-stressed region, amounts to some nine billion dollars a year, or between 2.1-7.4 percent of GDP.
-- The outlook is mixed for key UN MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS, which in 2000 set the deadline of 2015 for halving the number of people without access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. The target on drinking water is on track but the tally of people without improved sanitation will have decreased only slightly by 2015, from 2.5 billion to 2.4 billion.
-- Water stress, amplified by climate change, will pose a mounting SECURITY CHALLENGE. The struggle for water could threaten fragile states and drive regional rivalry.
"Conflicts about water can occur at all scales," the report warned, adding: "Hydrologic shocks that may occur through climate change increase the risk of major national and international security threats, especially in unstable areas."
-- Between 92.4 billion and 148 billion dollars are needed annually in INVESTMENT to build and maintain water supply systems, sanitation and irrigation.
-- CONSERVATION and reuse of water, including recycled sewage, are the watchwords of the future. The report also stressed sustainable water management, with realistic PRICING to curb waste. It gave the example of
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jYLC1oMez3uunpFQAg6bxHtVFrKQ
Give the poor choices: report
Top News
Written by
Thursday, 12 March 2009 00:41
IN order to achieve mass-poverty reduction globally, a new study released by the World Bank underscored the need not only for initiative and good work ethics on the part of the poor, but also ample economic opportunities for the poor created by governments.
The World Bank study, titled “Moving out of Poverty: Success from the Bottom Up,” was conducted in 15 countries—the Philippines and its neighbors Indonesia, Cambodia and Thailand, as well as Malawi, Morocco, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Colombia and Mexico
Among the key findings of the study: the poor and the rich have the
same or at least similar aspirations in life, particularly on family and work ethic, and the myths surrounding the poor have resulted in counterproductive government policies through the years.
The study also cited a need to shift the focus of governments and other institutions to the local level to better understand how to expand opportunity sets for poor people and help facilitate their own initiatives to improve their lives.
“Myths about poor people and about the causes of poverty have led to policy choices that have not helped those in poverty. Our research reveals the wretched opportunities that confront poor people in contrast to the gilded choices that the rich enjoy. To break out of poverty, poor people need the same opportunity sets as the rich. This requires fresh thinking and new mindsets about poor people and the scale of poverty,” the study stated.
“Poverty is not an affliction of the few but a condition of the many. In almost half the countries in our study, 50 percent of the population is poor. These hundreds of millions of people cannot all be drunken, lazy, criminal or unable to imagine and plan a future for themselves and their children,” the study added.
The World Bank conducted 21 studies that focused on specific communities, resulting in studies that are not nationally representative. In the
The Bukidnon study built on a panel data set to examine the role that physical assets, human capital and governance play in mobility. In
Among the findings of the study are that large fractions of the nonpoor are falling into poverty in other parts of
“It is interesting that in the conflict-affected region of the
The study also said another reason that poor people remain poor is the poor’s lack of “clout in the marketplace,” mainly due to the small size of their transactions. This forces the poor to buy at high costs and sell their products at low costs.
In the
“The problem is us, not [the] poor people. We have to change. If only we can make the world look like what poor people think it really is—a place where hard work pays off, where there is equality of opportunity—we will see mass-poverty reduction in our time. Imagine a world in which we listen to poor women, men and young people, and fix what they think isn’t right,” the study stated.
In order to improve the poor’s plight, the World Bank study said there is a need to improve economic opportunities in rural areas by providing quasi-public goods like permanent roads, physical market spaces, irrigation waterways, telephone networks, electricity and cheap, reliable transport.
It is also important, the World Bank said, that opening up procurement chains and markets, increasing local grain-storage capacity, and improving access to information on prices are some measures that can usher in better returns to poor people in rural communities.
The study said economic organization of poor people could play a critical role in helping them move out of poverty. It stressed that the initiative to bring about change can come from any institution—government, civil society, or the private sector.
There is also a need to provide poor people larger loans, new and innovative financing arrangements for small enterprises and support in making the best use of credit. The bank said this is important since the poor cannot access formal credit facilities or do not have the collateral to obtain loans.
The World Bank also said there is a need for strong local democracies that ensure property rights; and that a positive business environment is critical for ensuring that the benefits of opening up markets are more equally shared.
However, the study said land titling, business licensing and other economic policies adopted by local democracies often help only the socially dominant, wealthier class.
“People in poverty want economic opportunity. When opportunity sets expand in a dynamic local economy, people can take initiative and move up or out of poverty. All too often, however, people find channels of upward movement blocked and their initiatives thwarted,” the study stated.
The publication is the latest and most comprehensive study on attitudes about poverty since its predecessor, Voices of the Poor, was released in 2000. The study included interviews with more than 60,000 people.
http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/top-news/7366-give-the-poor-choices-report.html
Women empowerment through literacy
Suroopa Mukherjee
The 2008 'Chingari Award for Women Against Corporate Crime' has been announced, and this year the laurels go to Dayamani Barla, the Jharkand activist and torchbearer of the struggle for land rights of the displaced Munda tribe, to which she belongs. As leader of the Adivasi-Moolavasi Astitva Raksha Manch (Front for the Protection of Identities of Tribal people and Original dwellers), she has spearheaded a sustained campaign against Arcelor Mittal's $8.79 billion steel project in Jharkhand, which threatens to acquire 12,000 acres of forestland, and evict entire villages.
Interacting with Dayamani one realises the significance of an award that is more inspirational than competitive. The award was instituted in 2007 by two women, Rashida Bi and Champa Devi Shukla, survivors of the industrial disaster in
What inspired Dayamani's struggle to fight for the rights of her community? As a journalist Dayamani has used her pen like a crusader. When I requested her to write down her thoughts on issues that concerned her she was more than willing. And true to her words she sent me an impassioned account of her struggles. What is most striking about her story is her firm conviction that empowerment comes through literacy and engagement with people's causes. In her case, both factors involved great deal of hardship and determination. Her story is both uncommon and insightful.
Born in a poor tribal family in a remote village in the Gumla district of Jharkand, she was educated mostly in
Her earliest assignment was with an NGO on an education programme for spreading pedagogical skills and tools for learning. At the same time, she got involved with the 'panchayat' (village council) elections in her district in 1996. It introduced her to fieldwork at the district level, and strengthened her understanding of the democratic process. That led to the crossroads. She had to take an important decision about her future. Recalls Dayamani, "Either I worked on a regular salary within the constraints of an organisation or joined the movement. I chose to fight for the rights of land/forest/livelihood of indigenous people."
Her career entered an important phase. In 1995, the
Dayamani, at this point, decided to become a journalist. "Many tribal youths were associated with the Netarhat and Koel-Karo struggle. We joined hands to start a broadsheet in 1996. I was assistant editor of the paper. I wrote extensively on the struggle, which was brought out in installments. I was determined to highlight the truth. I wanted to create a forum where issues could be fearlessly discussed and public opinion built. The published news made the authorities sleepless and shook up the administration."
Journalism taught her one thing: "Wielding the pen and entering the battlefield were twin efforts." She realised that to get justice one needed to work together by sharing knowledge on all kinds of struggle against oppression. She has written two booklets titled "Pains of Development" and it has shaped her own fight against Arcelor Mittal. She also maintains a blog that gives her instant connectivity. It has become a forum where people can interact and thrash out matters with her. As an AID Sathi she gets a fellowship that helps her continue with her writing. (AID, or Association for
She is most eloquent when she describes the small eating joint she runs to earn her living. "It's no bigger than a tea stall. It's my office-address. This is where all the meetings are held, action plans are sketched out, and this is where I have met thinkers, intellectuals, writers, academics and social activists from all walks of life. The henchmen from the company have sent their 'dalals' (goons) to threaten me here or to work out a compromise. In one corner I keep my typewriter. For the first three years I used to wake up at four in the morning to do the cooking. Today, I have employed tribal youth and I have taught them to be self-sufficient. My tea stall is well-known, for it offers the social space to think of ways to change society."
Clearly, the Chingari Award will go a long way in celebrating the confluence of women and people's power, help bring struggles for change into national focus and expose the exploitation being done in the name of development.
http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2009/03/12/news0969.htm
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