Condensed from "Dams on Mekong river generate discord as environment suffers," by Yoolim Lee, published in the Phnom Penh Post, Oct. 29, 2010. All text below is copyright Lee/the Phnom Penh Post.
The Mekong river sparkles in the early morning sun as Somwang Prommin, a stocky fisherman wearing a worn-out black T-shirt and shorts, starts the motor of his boat. As the tiny craft glides on the river's calm surface in the northeastern Thai district of Chiang Khong, Somwang points to a nearby riverbank. Three days ago, he says, the water levels there were 3 meters higher.
The Mekong, which translates roughly as "mother of the waters" in the Thai langauge, has become unpredictable since China started building hydropower dams and blasting the rapids upstream, according to Somwang, 36, who has been fishing for a living since he was 8 years old.
In August 2008, devestating floods reduced his catches and income. Early this year, he witnesses the most severe drought in his life.
Tens of millions of people are experiencing similar currents of change along the 4,800-kilometer-long Mekong, which flows through six countries and is Southeast Asia's longest river.
The Mekong and its tributaries provide food, water and transportation to about 60 million people in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. Their livelihood is now threatened as their governments turn to hydroelectric dams along the river to generate power and create revenue.
[Proposed] projects will have a disastrous impact on Cambodia and Vietnam, says Milton Osborne, a visiting fellow at the Lowy Institute in Sydney and a historian who wrote The Mekong: Turbulent Past, Uncertain Future. "What the Chinese are doing shows a selfish lack of concern for the serious damage their dams will ultimately do to the downstream countries," Osborne says.
Downriver, other countries are pursuing their own objectives. Laos has proposed building 10 hydropower plants on the mainstream of the Mekong that will export electricity and transform the nation -- one of Asia's poorest, with a per-capita gross domestic product of US$886 -- into what the government calls "the battery of Southeast Asia."
Cambodia plans to build two dams near the border with Laos. In all, 12 dams are planned by the countries below China along the mainstream of the Mekong. The dams would transform 55 percent of the downstream river into a reservoir, making it into a series of impoundments with slow water movement. [A] report prepared by an independent consulting firm in Australia recommended that the [Mekong River Commission] delay any decision on constructing the dams for 10 years.
The dams "have the portential to create transboundary impacts and international tensions," the report says. "One dam across the lower Mekong mainstream commits the river to irrevocable change."
Chinese officials say they are aiding the environment, not harming it. Building dams "is an important step taken by the Chinese government to vigorously develop renewable and clean energy and contribute to the global endeavor to counter climate change," Song Tao, the country's vice minister of foreign affairs, told a summit meeting of the MRC in April.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
Condo Owners in Jakarta Want the Monkeys Gone
Condensed from "Urban Boom Threatens Jakarta Wildlife Reserve, Monkeys," by Reuters, published in the Cambodia Daily, Oct. 25, 2010. All text below is copyright Reuters.
JAKARTA -- The last wildlife reserve left in Indonesia's vast, traffic-choked capital is under threat from a growing tide of rubbish and angry local residents who complain that it harbours thieving monkeys.
The last such reserve in Jakarta, Muara Angke's 25 hectares are a popular destination for people eager to escape the crowded streets and view the 95 Long-tailed Macaques that live there.
Residents of a luxury residential complex in nearby Pantai Indah Kapuk have asked the managers of the reserve to eradicate the [reserve's] monkeys, which they say steal food and bite people. The demand has outrage those who work with the reserve.
"How can we ban monkeys? This is a wildlife area," said Muhammad Rifa'i, an official at Balai Mangrove Kapuk Muara, an NGO under the Muara Angke management.
Founded in the 1930s under the colonial Dutch government, [the reserve] stretched across 1,344 hectares in 1960 but has now dwindled to its meager 25 hectares, with large parcels of land sliced off for development. Pollution has also hit it hard, killing mangroves and destroying habitat.
The Angke river that runs through it -- a source of food and water for the animals -- is now badly polluted with rubbish and boat fuel. This pollution, along with illegal hunting and starvation, has helped take the monkey population down by more than 30 percent in just four years.
JAKARTA -- The last wildlife reserve left in Indonesia's vast, traffic-choked capital is under threat from a growing tide of rubbish and angry local residents who complain that it harbours thieving monkeys.
The last such reserve in Jakarta, Muara Angke's 25 hectares are a popular destination for people eager to escape the crowded streets and view the 95 Long-tailed Macaques that live there.
Residents of a luxury residential complex in nearby Pantai Indah Kapuk have asked the managers of the reserve to eradicate the [reserve's] monkeys, which they say steal food and bite people. The demand has outrage those who work with the reserve.
"How can we ban monkeys? This is a wildlife area," said Muhammad Rifa'i, an official at Balai Mangrove Kapuk Muara, an NGO under the Muara Angke management.
Founded in the 1930s under the colonial Dutch government, [the reserve] stretched across 1,344 hectares in 1960 but has now dwindled to its meager 25 hectares, with large parcels of land sliced off for development. Pollution has also hit it hard, killing mangroves and destroying habitat.
The Angke river that runs through it -- a source of food and water for the animals -- is now badly polluted with rubbish and boat fuel. This pollution, along with illegal hunting and starvation, has helped take the monkey population down by more than 30 percent in just four years.
Japan Targets Nuclear Power in Vietnam
Condensed from "Tokyo Targets Nuclear Power in VN," by Kazumasa Takenaka, the Asahi Shimbun, published in the Cambodia Daily, Oct. 28, 2010. All text below is copyright Takenaka/the Asahi Shimbun.
TOKYO -- A public-private firm has been set up to aggressively push sales of Japan's nuclear power plant technology abroad amid the intensifying international cooperation.
International Nuclear Energy Development of Japan Co was established Friday [Oct. 22] by nine electric utilities, three plant makers and the government-affiliated Innovation Network of Japan.
The new company initially aims to win contracts for two nuclear power reactors in Vietnam's southeast province of Ninh Thuan. Vietnam plans to build 14 reactors by 2030. At least 18 countries plan to build 74 reactors.
TOKYO -- A public-private firm has been set up to aggressively push sales of Japan's nuclear power plant technology abroad amid the intensifying international cooperation.
International Nuclear Energy Development of Japan Co was established Friday [Oct. 22] by nine electric utilities, three plant makers and the government-affiliated Innovation Network of Japan.
The new company initially aims to win contracts for two nuclear power reactors in Vietnam's southeast province of Ninh Thuan. Vietnam plans to build 14 reactors by 2030. At least 18 countries plan to build 74 reactors.
Russia Sells Subs, Nuclear Power to Vietnam
Condensed from "Russia Reaching Out to Vietnam to Firm Security, Energy Ties," by Hideki Soejima, the Asahi Shimbun, published in the Cambodia Daily, Oct. 28, 2010. All text below is copyright Soejima/the Asahi Shimbun.
TOKYO -- Russia is strengthening security and energy ties with Vietnam . . . .
The first step in Russia's efforts to engage in Vietnam's national security coincided with the agreement last December for Russia to build its first nuclear power plant in Vietnam. As part of that deal, Russia agreed to sell six submarines, at a reported cost of $1.8 billion, to Vietnam.
Russia is also providing Vietnam with missile cruisers and Sukhoi fighters to support the modernization of Vietnam's navy.
TOKYO -- Russia is strengthening security and energy ties with Vietnam . . . .
The first step in Russia's efforts to engage in Vietnam's national security coincided with the agreement last December for Russia to build its first nuclear power plant in Vietnam. As part of that deal, Russia agreed to sell six submarines, at a reported cost of $1.8 billion, to Vietnam.
Russia is also providing Vietnam with missile cruisers and Sukhoi fighters to support the modernization of Vietnam's navy.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Malaysian Prime Minister Pushes Regional Free Trade
Condensed from "Malaysia Premier Wants ASEAN to Focus on Trade," by James Hookway, the Wall Street Journal, published in the Cambodia Daily, Oct. 30-31, 2010. All text below is copyright Hookway/the Wall Street Journal.
HANOI -- Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak yesterday urged Asia and Pacific leaders gathering in Vietnam for an annual summit to push wider trade links in the region and not be distracted by the ongoing turmoil in the global foreign exchange markets.
In an interview, Najib . . . said expanding free trade should remain a top priority for the region, which accounts for about half of global exports and imports.
"I think we must all adhere to the principle of open and free trade . . . because that is the surest way in which we can ensure there is enough wealth being generated to underpin a long-term global recovery," Najib said. "If you go towards protectionism, then definitely the world will take a turn for the worse in terms of wealth generation and even further recessions in the future."
HANOI -- Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak yesterday urged Asia and Pacific leaders gathering in Vietnam for an annual summit to push wider trade links in the region and not be distracted by the ongoing turmoil in the global foreign exchange markets.
In an interview, Najib . . . said expanding free trade should remain a top priority for the region, which accounts for about half of global exports and imports.
"I think we must all adhere to the principle of open and free trade . . . because that is the surest way in which we can ensure there is enough wealth being generated to underpin a long-term global recovery," Najib said. "If you go towards protectionism, then definitely the world will take a turn for the worse in terms of wealth generation and even further recessions in the future."
A Case Study in Globalizing Food
copyright the Guardian, published in the Cambodia Daily, Oct. 30-31, 2010.
It is good news for vampires by bad news for gourmets. Garlic was last year's best-performing commodity in China, Morgan Stanley says, and its has continued to appreciate.
Until last spring, garlic cost as little as $0.06 a kilo, prompting many farmers to turn to other crops. But by April last year, demand was far outstripping supply and the price began to rocket. A bad harvest this year sent it up against and caused speculators to pile in; some reportedly made hundreds of thousands of dollars trading warehousefuls. This July, the price hit a high of $1.97 - where it remains.
For Chinese consumers, it is only the most painful example of rising food prices, in many cases caused by bad weather; September saw a year-on-year increase of around 8 percent.
Wu Fei, a 30-year-old accountant, said her family's food costs had almost doubled over the last two years, particularly because they love eating meat. "The price of ribs has never come down since it doubled a year ago. My favorite crispy dates were [$0.90] a pack, but now they are [$1.65] and the contents are smaller. The cooking oil we use was about [$9] a bottle; now it's [$15]," she said, adding: "The increases in prices are not matched by that of salaries in Beijing."
It is good news for vampires by bad news for gourmets. Garlic was last year's best-performing commodity in China, Morgan Stanley says, and its has continued to appreciate.
Until last spring, garlic cost as little as $0.06 a kilo, prompting many farmers to turn to other crops. But by April last year, demand was far outstripping supply and the price began to rocket. A bad harvest this year sent it up against and caused speculators to pile in; some reportedly made hundreds of thousands of dollars trading warehousefuls. This July, the price hit a high of $1.97 - where it remains.
For Chinese consumers, it is only the most painful example of rising food prices, in many cases caused by bad weather; September saw a year-on-year increase of around 8 percent.
Wu Fei, a 30-year-old accountant, said her family's food costs had almost doubled over the last two years, particularly because they love eating meat. "The price of ribs has never come down since it doubled a year ago. My favorite crispy dates were [$0.90] a pack, but now they are [$1.65] and the contents are smaller. The cooking oil we use was about [$9] a bottle; now it's [$15]," she said, adding: "The increases in prices are not matched by that of salaries in Beijing."
"Earthwalker" Stops in Phnom Penh
Condensed from "On His Way to London, 'Earthwalker' Stops in Phnom Penh," by Drew Foster of the Cambodia Daily. All text below is copyright Foster/the Cambodia Daily.
Yuji Miyata has circled Taiwan on foot, trekked for days through an Okinawan forest and claims he escaped being kidnapped in Hanoi.
The Japanese national's adventures have all been part of his journey from Korea to London for the 2012 Olympic games, an expedition he is undertaking largely on foot. Mr. Miyata, an "Earthwalker" participating in the Culture of Peace Project, which is part of th UN-designated Peace Messenger Initiative, arrived in Cambodia on Oct. 11. The 28-year-old began his walk from Korea to London in January 2009 and has covered 7,000 km across South Korea, the Japanese island of Okinawa, Taiwan, Vietnam, and now Cambodia. He is advocating peace and environmental stewardship along the way.
"When we do something for the Earth, nature will do thousands of more things for us," he said.
Mr. Miyata began his journey to London after walking to the 2008 Beijing Olympic games with seasoned Earthwalker and British national Paul Coleman, who claims to have hoofed more than 47,000 km across 39 nations. The pair hear China was putting an emphasis on hosting an environmentally friendly Olympic games.
"In China, I saw lots of pollution and destruction, and the Chinese government said they were going to hold a green Olympics, but they didn't," Mr. Miyata said. "I saw both sides, so I decided to walk to the London Olympics."
Yuji Miyata has circled Taiwan on foot, trekked for days through an Okinawan forest and claims he escaped being kidnapped in Hanoi.
The Japanese national's adventures have all been part of his journey from Korea to London for the 2012 Olympic games, an expedition he is undertaking largely on foot. Mr. Miyata, an "Earthwalker" participating in the Culture of Peace Project, which is part of th UN-designated Peace Messenger Initiative, arrived in Cambodia on Oct. 11. The 28-year-old began his walk from Korea to London in January 2009 and has covered 7,000 km across South Korea, the Japanese island of Okinawa, Taiwan, Vietnam, and now Cambodia. He is advocating peace and environmental stewardship along the way.
"When we do something for the Earth, nature will do thousands of more things for us," he said.
Mr. Miyata began his journey to London after walking to the 2008 Beijing Olympic games with seasoned Earthwalker and British national Paul Coleman, who claims to have hoofed more than 47,000 km across 39 nations. The pair hear China was putting an emphasis on hosting an environmentally friendly Olympic games.
"In China, I saw lots of pollution and destruction, and the Chinese government said they were going to hold a green Olympics, but they didn't," Mr. Miyata said. "I saw both sides, so I decided to walk to the London Olympics."
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