Stories about Environment from December, 2011
Online Highlights from the Portuguese-Speaking World in 2011
2011 has been another year in which bloggers and activists from a number of Portuguese-speaking countries have come together to report, translate and promote blogs and citizen media from all over the world. This article selects the highlights in the coverage of Lusophone countries on Global Voices over the last year.
Macedonia: Pioneering Battery Disposal Initiative
Greener, a Macedonian NGO, blogged [mk] about their pilot-project Go Clean [FB page, mk], which aims to grow into a national campaign for proper disposal of used batteries and accumulators.
Chile: Neighbors and Netizens Unite to Save Concon Dunes
After 20 years of struggle against the construction of a real-estate project on a delicate and unique ecosystem called the Concon Dunes, neighbors and netizens have united their voices to continue the protest on the day the development company started closing in on this nature sanctuary.
Singapore: Is it Flooding, or Just Ponding?
Singapore's Public Utilities Board used the term “ponded” rather than "flooded" when heavy rains caused flash floods in various parts of the city last week. The use of the word has led to much scorn and ridicule from Singaporeans online.
India: A Letter to the Home Minister, Protesting Forced Eviction
William Gomes writes an open letter to the Union Home Minister, Mr.P.Chidambaram, protesting against the recent police action against campaigners who were holding a protest rally demanding the repeal of the controversial Manipur Loktak Lake Protection Act, 2006.
Puerto Rico: Investigating Monsanto
The Center of Investigative Journalism published a three-part series on the little known operation in Puerto Rico of the multinational biotechnology corporation Monsanto, the principle producer of genetically engineered seeds.
Cuba: #Twittsaneo
The blog El Microwave writes about the initiative #Twitsaneo [es], convened originally by El Taburete [es] and organized by a group of avid Cuban twitter users. #Twitsaneo was the name given to the event last December 26 when a group of people got together to clean sections of the coast...
Lebanon: Electric Xmas Decorations
From Lebanon, Habib Battah draws our attention to Christmas decorations in Lebanon, where the decorations are lit and and the electricity in the street lamps is switched off during the night, and on during the day. Check out the photographs accompanying the post.
Mauritania: Earth's Bulls Eye
Algerian-American Kal, or The Moor Next Door, shares this interesting geographical tidbit about Mauritania: “f readers ever get into space, they may find themselves looking for Mauritania, or its enormous Richat Structure, sometimes called ‘Earth’s Bulls-Eye.’”
Singapore: Animal Lovers Rally to Save Stray Dogs
Animal-lovers in Singapore have been rallying to save the lives of stray dogs in Punggol, after authorities stepped up efforts to round up the strays, possibly for culling.
China: Top 10 Problems in 2011
Paul from ChinaSMACK translated Chinese Academy of Social Science's survey on the top 10 problems in 2011 as perceived by Chinese people.
Macedonia: Christmas Tree Made of Plastic Bottles
Inspired by the example of Kaunas, Lithuania, Macedonian Twitter users made a Christmas tree from plastic bottles at the Skopje City Park on Dec. 25, to raise awareness of everyone's responsibility for the environment. The action's organizers used their blogs [mk, mk, mk, mk] as a starting point for the...
Philippines: State of National Calamity After Tropical Storm Sendong
A state of national calamity was declared by the Philippine president after tropical storm Sendong devastated many parts of north Mindanao Island. More than 1,000 people have already died in the flash floods and 1,000 are still missing. Here are some citizen media photos and reports of the flood impact.
Bermuda: military mess?
The United States maintained a military base in Bermuda for 50 years, finally departing in 1995. Who should clean up the pollution that got left behind, asks Catch a Fire? “The Americans … shouldn’t need to be told what to do…. They have no right to come and pollute our...
Armenia: Activists Demand Controversial Governor's Dismissal
Surik Khachatryan, the governor of Armenia's southern Syunik province, has been making headlines in the last month for all the wrong reasons. No stranger to controversy, activists are now demanding his dismissal.
Brazil: Protest and Sit-in Against Belo Monte in Sao Paulo
Journalist Leonardo Sakamoto posts [pt] a picture and video of a protest in São Paulo, Brazil, against the construction of the Belo Monte Dam [pt], on December 17, 2011.
Brazil: How Many Lives Does the Guarani-Kaiowá's Land Cost?
Last November, 42 gunmen attacked an indigenous reserve in Mato Grosso do Sul, executing Nísio Gomes, 59, chief of the Guaraní Kaiowá and several other villagers. These attacks take place at the same time as Brazil consolidates its position as one of the leading exporters of agricultural goods and biofuels in the world, and Mato Grosso do Sul one of its most productive states.
China: Guangdong Uprising, Now in Haimen
Since the village of Wukan in Guangdong province was placed under siege after kicking out party and government officials, at least two nearby towns have launched actions of their own. The most recent, which broke out today, has reportedly seen 30,000 people blocking a busy freeway.
El Salvador: Environmental Groups Meet to Discuss UN Climate Change Conference
Voices from El Salvador blogs about climate change in El Salvador and a local forum organized by environmental groups to discuss the United Nations Climate Change Conference, which was held in Durban, South Africa from November 28 to December 11, 2011.
Sri Lanka: The Undesirables In The National Parks
Uditha Wijesena discusses about the increased number of visitors in Sri Lankan National Parks and the threats they create to the animals.
Philippines: Storm Leaves Hundreds Dead and Missing
Hundreds died in many parts of Mindanao Island in southern Philippines after tropical storm Sendong hit the country last Friday. The casualties could be worse and may even reach more than 600. It’s the worst flooding to hit the north part of Mindanao in many years. Netizens immediately used the web to report about the disaster and to call for support
