Section » Enviromental Issues

Brazil: Indigenous Environmental Leader receiving death threats

kpsnews.net reported Davi Kopenawa, the leader of the Yanomami people in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest, who is internationally renowned for his struggle against encroachment on indigenous land by landowners and illegal miners, is now fighting a new battle – this time against death threats received by him and his family.

“In May, they [miners] told me that he wouldn’t make it to the end of the year alive,” Armindo Góes, 39, one of Kopenawa’s fellow indigenous activists in the fight for the rights of the Yanomami people, told IPS.

Kopenawa, 60, is Brazil’s most highly respected indigenous leader. The Yanomami shaman and spokesman is known around the world as the “Dalai Lama of the Rainforest” and has frequently participated in United Nations meetings and other international events. Read Article

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Atacamas Desert Chile: Huge Solar Lab to be constructed

plenglish.com reported the Plataforma Solar del Desierto de Atacama (PSDA, Spanish) will be operational at the end of this year, said Chilean Diario Financiero here Wednesday. This macro laboratory is located in one of the main points of solar radiation in the world, in which research, development and innovation projects related to photovoltaic power generation […]

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Mexico: Monsanto loses GM permit, victory for beekeepers

theguardian.com reported…Sweet victory for Mexico beekeepers as Monsanto loses GM permit Evidence convinced judge of threat posed to honey production in Yucatán – but firm will almost certainly appeal against ruling. A small group of beekeepers in Mexico has inflicted a blow on biotech giant Monsanto, which has halted the company’s ambitions to plant thousands […]

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Guajira Colombia: civil unrest unleased due to drought

bbc.com repoted nine people have been injured in clashes between police and residents of Colombia’s northern La Guajira province demanding more government support for the impoverished region. La Guajira is currently suffering from a drought and locals say the authorities have not done enough to mitigate its effects on the population. Riot police were deployed […]

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Ecuador: Mining Concession Granted in Protected area of Quito Metropolitan District

A mining project is planned for this biodiverse area of Quito, despite community opposition. upsidedownworld.org / Gkillcity.com There is a rain forest in Pacto, and rivers, waterfalls and pre-Incan remnants of the Yumbo people. This part of the western Andes mountain range ecosystem preserves endemic plant species such as the ivory nut-producing palm and a […]

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Colombia: 90% of Mining in Choco, illegal, environment being devastated

eltiempo.com reported the number of dredges operating in the Department increased by 180% between 2012 and 2013. 90 per cent of mining in Chocó is informal or illegal and driven by armed groups. Mining in Chocó shows many faces, some disappointment and others hope. But there is a single true situation: 90 per cent of […]

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La Guajira Colombia Crisis: 35 of every 100,000 children under five Dying of Malnutrition

eltiempo.com reported the issue has gained relevance in recent days due to the severe situation facing La Guajira in terms of drought and to the imminent arrival of el Niño. As a result, President Juan Manuel Santos made his first field visit to this Department, on second day of his new mandate. In this Department, […]

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Ecuador: Ecologic Study of oil production in Amazon Region and and cancer mortality

Cancer mortality and quantitative oil production in the Amazon region of Ecuador, 1990–2010 Suresh H. Moolgavkar1 , Ellen T. Chang1, Heather Watson2 and Edmund C. Lau1 Abstract Purpose Controversy persists over whether cancer risk is increased in communities surrounding oil fields, especially in the Oriente region of Ecuador. This ecologic study uses quantitative exposure data, […]

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Bolivia: New Species of Bat Discovered, Golden in Color

bbc.com reported a golden bat from Bolivia has been described as a new species by scientists. Myotis midastactus had previously been classified as another bat found in South America called Myotis simus. But examination of a collection of museum specimens suggested the existence of a different species, thought to live only in Bolivia. Its most […]

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Ecuador: Tungurahua Volcano emitting ash 4 km

RTUNOTICIAS.com reported Tungurahua, located in Ecuador’s Andean region, registered a significant emission of ash. Volcanic dust formed a column of 4 kilometers above the crater, approximately, which turned to the West and Northwest of the Colossus. According to Viviana Valverde, of the Observatory of the Tungurahua volcano, VPO, at noon (12:20) recorded a volcano-tectonic event […]

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Ecuador downgrades probabilities of El Niño Phenomenon

The Committee on the Regional Study of El Niño Phenomenon (ERFEN), which gathers different specialized organizations, concluded that local oceanic-atmospheric conditions tend to normalcy, which means low probabilities of this weather event to happen. “Different studies have been made by international organisms that analyze the condition of El Niño Phenomenon, and they have reached to […]

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Caribbean: Unpredictable Weather Patterns impact water resources

ipsnews.net reported as unpredictable weather patterns impact water availability and quality in St. Lucia, the Caribbean island is moving to build resilience to climate-related stresses in its water sector. Dr. Paulette Bynoe, a specialist in community-based disaster risk management, climate change adaptation policy and environmental management, says integrated water resource management is critical. “All governments […]

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Guatemala: 40,000 families affected by drought caused by El Niño

Some 40,000 families have been affected by the drought caused by the El Niño weather phenomenon in Guatemala, Agriculture, Ranching and Food Minister Elmer Lopez said Tuesday, citing preliminary figures. The lack of rain has damaged corn crops in some 28 cities in eight provinces located in the so-called Dry Corridor in the country’s east […]

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Ecuador: Phase V of hydroelectric power plant to begin operations Sept.

Phase V of Ecuador’s Arturo Salazar Orrego hydroelectric power plant (Saymirin) is nearly ready to begin commercial operations. The 7.52-megawatt (MW) project will be connected to the national grid within 60 days, officials with project owner Generadora del Austro S.A. (Elecaustro) (Cuenca, Ecuador) told Industrial Info. Read Article

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Putumayo Colombia: FARC attacking tankers on border with Ecuador, spilling thousands of gallons of oil

In an apparent challenge to calls for alert on the environmental situation of Putumayo – full border with Ecuador – by systematic spills of crude oil on the roads, front 48 of FARC guerrillas yesterday stopped the March of two tanker trucks and forced drivers to open cisterns for spilling oil transporting, via the Alea […]

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Ecuador: Experts state little margin for error in bio-diverse region set for oil development

laht.com reported Ecuador’s controversial plans to develop oil fields in the Amazon jungle can be successfully brought to fruition but there is little margin for error in that bio-diverse region, according to experts taking part in an international forum in this capital. They reached that conclusion at the “Applying the Best Technologies in Extremely Sensitive […]

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Peru: New Neoliberal Reforms threaten environmental, labor protections

upsidedownworld.org reported the Peruvian Congress approved a packet of laws on July 3 which critics say subjects the country to neoliberal reforms that threaten to undermine environmental and labor protections and is a gift to the extractive industry. The Minister of Economy and Finance Luis Miguel Castilla first presented to Congress on this packet of […]

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Bioenergy Production Analysis in Ecuador

Christian Parra M. Gabriel Barriga B. Ricardo Narváez Abstract This paper describes the current state of bioenergy production in Ecuador, its present distribution among areas, present projects, and the current legal framework focusing on the evolution of each sector. It is analyzed the future development in function of energy subsides and current incentives for renewable […]

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Ecuador: New Water Law Endorses Further Privatization

Manuela Picq – upsidedownworld.org reported Ecuador’s constitution is the only one in the world to declare water as a human right. Yet the government of this South American nation may not fully agree with its own constitutional rights. Last month, Ecuador’s government fast-tracked a new water law endorsing further privatization of water and allowing extractive […]

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Ecuador: Protest Over Water Rights

Conflict over water rights in Ecuador Manuela Picq/aljazeera.com Indigenous people protest over water rights, as Ecuador’s government continues to ignore their demands. If you are going to pass unpopular legislation, you may as well do it while everyone is watching the World Cup. When Ecuadorians were focused on soccer, the government fast-tracked a new water […]

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South America: 80 Percent Chance of El Niño phenomenon occurring

eluniverso.com reported in countries like Peru, Nicaragua and Puerto Rico already occur made this week experts have interpreted as evidence of an imminent arrival of the El Niño phenomenon. This probability, which until last month was 70%, increased to 80%, according to the ‘ newsletter the child / girl today ‘ presented on Thursday passed […]

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Sucumbios Ecuador: After oil spill, 10 communities without access to water

Petroamazonas and municipal governments in the province of Sucumbíos I be delivered from Monday a thousand food rations for 10 communities affected by the spill of oil that polluted the rivers Parahuaico and Aguarico Wednesday, reported on its website El Comercio. About 2,000 barrels of oil spilled last Wednesday due to a landslide that common […]

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Ecuador: Nearly 2000 barrels of oil spilled into Amazon rainforest, result of landslide

larepublica.ec reported around 2,000 barrels of oil they poured in the Amazon rain forest, and one part became two rivers of the sector, after a landslide in a nearby road to common a secondary pipeline, reported on Wednesday the State-owned Petroecuador. In a statement stressed that the fact occurred on Tuesday night in a secondary […]

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Ecuador Oil Spill Update: tanker loadings, oil exports continue

platts.com reporte that tanker loadings and oil exports at Petroecuador’s Balao port terminal are continuing despite ongoing cleanup efforts in the aftermath of the crude spill discovered Tuesday, the company said Wednesday. Petroecuador said it has declared an emergency due to the spill, which will hasten cleanup efforts. The Balao terminal is near Esmeraldas on […]

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Esmeraldas Ecuador: Three Mile Oil Slick Due to Broken Pipeline at terminal

A spot about 3 miles de Dia de left in the mar de 250 to 300 barrels de fuel oil spill, said Captain Hernán Peñaherrera, jefe de Operaciones del command de operations North de Esmeraldas, while Petroecuador reported that it is crude light. This spill occurred by the break de a pipeline located in a […]

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Ecuador exploring ways to develop green sectors to increase exports

How can Ecuador develop national “green sectors” to create new productive capacity, employment and export diversification opportunities while promoting sustainable development? This question will be addressed at the first national workshop in a new UNCTAD green exports programme in Quito, Ecuador, on 10 and 11 June 2014. The workshop marks the first step in an […]

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U.S.: Two Ecuadorians ejected from Petroleum Museum, in Texas

theecologist.org reported two indigenous representatives from the Ecuadorian Amazon travelled to the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum in Midland, Texas to present a gift – poster-sized photographs of rainforest contaminated by oil spills and debris. Humberto Piaguaje and Robinson Yumbo, from the Secoya and Cofan nations, offered their donation to the museum’s executive director, Kathy Shannon. […]

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Ecuador issues environmental permit to drill for oil in Yasuni

washingtonpost.com/ap reported earlier this month, Ecuador’s electoral council declared invalid a petition drive seeking to prevent drilling in the 6,500-square-mile Amazon reserve. Environment Minister Lorena Tapia said on state television that with Thursday’s signing of the permit camps and access roads can now be built. Production could begin as early as 2016. Read Article

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Ecuador preparing preventive measures to reduce impact of next El Niño

vtv.gob.ve reported the President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, announced on Wednesday that the Government planned preventive actions to reduce the impact that may have the climate phenomenon known as “El Niño”. “Better to prevent than cure. We will not be able to remedy everything for the next El Niño phenomenon, that it is true that […]

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Galapagos Islands: Authorities close two beaches to tourism as result of ship accident

Vistazo.com reported…The “Galapaface I” ship ran aground in an area near Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, capital of San Cristobal and the island province of Galápagos. Quito-the Ecuadorian authorities have suspended tourism activities on two beaches in San Cristobal Island, in the Galápagos archipelago, the risk posed by a cargo ship that ran aground there on May […]

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Ecuadorians learning Chinese have growing clout with mining project

Chinese banks ignore pleas of Ecuador mining campaigners chinadialogue.net – David Hill writes the failure to respond to an NGO letter challenging investment in the Mirador mining project has played to Ecuadorian fears about China’s growing clout. The Mirador copper mining project in Ecuador’s richly biodiverse Cordillera del Condor is under the control of Chinese […]

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Galapagos Islands: Emergency Declared, Cargo Ship runs aground

Vistazo.com reported – Quito-Ecuador authorities declared emergency in the Galapagos Islands the presence, on the island of San Cristobal, a stranded vessel that “could result in environmental damage and an alteration to the fragile ecosystem”, said today the Galapagos special regime governing Council. Galapaface I, the Ecuadorian flag vessel, ran aground last Friday in Puerto […]

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Ecuador: Yasunidos file appeal in denial of referendum on oil drilling

WSJ.COM REPORTED…A coalition trying to halt oil drilling in one of Ecuador’s most environmentally sensitive spots submitted an appeal Wednesday to force a referendum on the future of the area. The YasUnidos coalition submitted the appeal after Ecuador’s electoral council rejected a request for a referendum on whether to drill in the Ishpingo-Tambococha-Tiputini, or ITT, […]

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Illegal timber in Brazil being sold worldwide

Amazon timber is all over in the U.S. You can find it in hardwood flooring at national retailers like Lumber Liquidators and in walkways at landmarks like Atlantic City, Miami Beach, and the Brooklyn Bridge. Much of this wood comes from Pará State, Brazil’s largest timber producer and exporter. It is estimated that 78% of […]

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Mexicans concerned over resort planned by Chinese

kentucky.com/AP reported…Environmentalists say the only living hard coral reef in the Gulf of California is once again under threat, just two years after activists persuaded the government to block construction of a huge 30,000-room resort nearby. Once an overfished area, marine life around the Cabo Pulmo reef just outside Los Cabos exploded following a decision […]

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Ecuador denies petition for referendum on oil drilling in Yasuni National Park

bbc.com reported that Ecuador has rejected a petition for a referendum on whether the Yasuni National Park in the Amazon should be opened to further oil exploration. The National Electoral Council said not enough signatures were collected to force a referendum. Activists from the group Yasunidos, who had gathered the signatures, accused the council of […]

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Ecuador: Yasunidos charge petition results for referendum on oil drilling being manipulated

theguardian.com reported that Yasuni campaigners claim oil drilling petition results are being manipulated Civil society groups say enough signatures have been gathered to force a referendum but authorities are interfering Kevin Koenig, Ecuador programme director of Amazon Watch, said: “It is extremely troubling to see these kinds of irregularities so soon into the verification process. […]

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Ecuador: Shuar Indigenous groups culture threatened by planned copper mine

Deep in Ecuador’s Amazon rainforest, a gigantic open pit copper and gold mine is planned in the heart of the Shuar peoples’ territory. David Dene tells the story of a growing international campaign to uphold and defend the ‘Rights of Nature’, in Ecuador and beyond. In 2012 I received a call for help from ‘the […]

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Scientists warn large-scale fracking in Mexico will cause increase in seismic activity

IPS reports…Scientists warn that large-scale fracking for shale gas planned by Mexico’s oil company Pemex will cause a surge in seismic activity in northern Mexico, an area already prone to quakes. Experts link a 2013 swarm of earthquakes in the northern states of Tamaulipas and Nuevo León to hydraulic fracturing or fracking in the Burgos […]

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Latin America: Mercury emissions remains serious problem

IPS reported Latin America is not taking the new global agreement to limit mercury emissions seriously: the hazardous metal is still widely used and smuggled in artisanal gold mining and is released by the fossil fuel industry. After the European Union banned exports of mercury in 2011 and the United States did so in 2013, […]

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Bolivia, Peru: deforestation in the Andean highlands major problem

IPSnews.net reported that deforestation, especially in the Andean highlands of Bolivia and Peru, was the main driver of this year’s disastrous flooding in the Madeira river watershed in Bolivia’s Amazon rainforest and the drainage basin across the border, in Brazil. That is the assessment of Marc Dourojeanni, professor emeritus at the National Agrarian University in […]

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Ecuador: Environmentalists claim enough signatures to force referendum to drill or not inYasuni

bbc.com reported that environmentalists in Ecuador say they have collected enough signatures to have a referendum on whether the Yasuni National Park in the Amazon should be opened to further oil exploration. They said 727,947 people had signed their petition to have a vote – more than required by Ecuadorian law. President Rafael Correa has […]

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Ecuador: Reventador volcano erupts

volcanodiscovery.com reported that the Reventador volcano has entered a new eruptive phase since yesterday, Ecuador’s Institute of Geophysics (IGP) reported. Starting from 15:00 local time yesterday, increasing tremor was registered and steady ash emissions were observed. At night, incandescent blocks could be seen and heard rolling down from the crater where probably a new lava […]

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Brazil: Arid Regions Suffers Worst Drought in Decades

theguardian.com reported that the Brazilian semi-arid region has over the last few years experienced the worst drought in decades. According its national agency of water, this drought is increasingly proving to be major challenge for South America’s largest nation. “The water level of the São Francisco River [one of the most important in Brazil] is […]

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Chevron Case Ecuador: The little guy does not seem to count

theguardian.com reported that the Chevron case is something of a parable in two ways: first, it is a lesson about the incandescent response of multinational corporations to any questioning of them; second, it’s a reminder how little the voices of campesinos (peasant farmers) and indigenous people in Latin America seem to count in the eyes […]

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Chile: network of caves discovered, may hold clues to development of continents

Theguardian.com (video report) Scientists have discovered a network of caves on a remote island off the coast of south-west Chile. The team of French and Chilean researchers found a system of around 20 limestone caves, some of which are 50 metres deep, on Diego de Almagro. They hope the caves may hold clues as to […]

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First Tiger sharks in history of Galapagos Islands tagged

scoop.co.nz reported that the first Tiger sharks in history of Galapagos Islands tagged, including 4-meter female named Yolanda captured in Canal de Itabaca – 66 fish, 8 species tagged in total. The Galapagos National Park Directorate, Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF), Turtle Island Restoration Network (TIRN) and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth collaborated with OCEARCH to […]

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Climate Prediction Center predicts increasing chance of El Nino pattern over coming months

U.S. weather forecaster Climate Prediction Center (CPC) said on Thursday there was an increasing chance of the El Nino weather pattern after expecting neutral conditions through the Northern Hemisphere spring 2014. The U.S. Climate Prediction Center states that El Nino weather pattern to be neutral through Spring of 2014. However, they have changed their outlook […]

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Governments in Latin America Accused of Harrassment by Indigenous Activists

dw.de reported that Indigenous activists in Bolivia and other Latin American countries who take to the streets to protest the exploitation of their ancestral homelands face repressive measures and charges of terrorism. In many Latin American countries, the measures taken against protesters are rather repressive, according to Almut Schilling Vacaflor, Latin American expert from the […]

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Mangroves of Ecuador, Colombia, Peru under threat (video)

El Manglar from Plan de Acción – CPPS on Vimeo. IF YOU DESIRE A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF CULTURE IN ECUADOR – READ THIS BOOK

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Indigenous Rights and Repression in Rafael Correa’s Ecuador

Robin Llewellyn writes for IC Magazine: On 10 January Andrés Donoso Fabara, Ecuadorian Secretary of Hydrocarbons, filed a formal complaint against eight indigenous leaders: Humberto Cholango and Bartolo Ushigua, President and Vice-president of CONAIE (Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador); Franco Viteri, President of GONOAE (Governing Body of the First Nations of the Ecuadorian Amazon); […]

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Brazil: new species of river dolphin discovered

Scientists have discovered a new species of dolphin in the Amazon River system for the first time in almost 100 years – and say it should immediately be given endangered status. Experts from the Federal University of Amazonas in Manaus, Brazil found that a small group of river dolphins, also known as botos, in the […]

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Ecuador: Zoo expedition team looking for rare parrot

WILDLIFEEXTRA.COM REPORTED…January 2014: A team of 10 experienced conservationists, bird and horticultural experts, depart this month to survey the remote Cerro Blanco Forest in South West Ecuador, with the aim of tracking down and collecting vital data on the Ecuador Amazon parrot. Until recently, the Ecuador Amazon parrot was considered to be part of a […]

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35 New Species Discovered in Ecuador

radioangulo.cu reported that Ecuadorian scientists presented to the world 35 new species discovered through Noah’s Ark project, fostered by the Ministry of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation (SENESCYT) and the Ministry of Environment. 100 Points to Consider Before Moving or Retiring in Ecuador Through the study of samples and DNA, the researchers discovered eight reptiles […]

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Mexico: most attractive near-term solar market in Latin America

With high insolation and a supportive regulatory body, Mexico is the most attractive near-term solar market in Latin America. GTM Research provides a deep dive into the region in a new quarterly subscription service announced today: the Latin America PV Playbook. The Mexican solar market’s installed base will quadruple from 60 MW to 240 MW […]

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Latin America: Bicycle Use Sees New Era of Popularity

IPSNEWS.net reported the second-most urbanised region in the world, public sentiment towards bicycles is mixed, with some seeing them as a symbol of low socioeconomic status, says the “Biciciudades 2013” study by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) with regard to the expansion of this sustainable means of transport in large and medium-sized cities in the […]

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Cuenca Ecuador: environment ministry – Cuenca to begin studies into waste managment program

bnamericas.com reported…Ecuador’s environment ministry and the decentralized autonomous government of Cuenca signed an agreement for preliminary studies into a waste management program in the city, as well as the design of solid waste separation and recycling plants. Read Article – Registration required Do you live in Ecuador? Do you live in Cuenca? This book will […]

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Ecuadorian Non-Profit organization shut down, alleged involvement in political events

Quito, December 2, 2013 – Fundación Pachamama, an Ecuadorian non-profit organization with 16+ years working in defense of the Human Rights of Amazon Indigenous Peoples and Rights of Nature, exercises its democratic right to freedom of speech and considers it necessary to state its position regarding the XI Round and the opinions expressed in the […]

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Sao Paulo Brazil: over last six years 100,000 dead from air pollution related illnesses

de.de reported that Smog in Sao Paulo kills more people annually than road accidents, AIDS and breast cancer combined says a recent report. While the city seeks a solution ahead of next year’s World Cup, local residents remain frustrated. A recent study has found that over the last six years, 100,000 people in Sao Paulo […]

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Ecuador: purchase of 600 acres may improve chances of rare Parakeet species surviving

chattanoogan.com reported the outlook for at least 15 globally endangered bird species—including the rare El Oro Parakeet—has just gotten brighter, thanks to a land deal engineered by Ecuador’s Fundación Jocotoco, Rainforest Trust, and American Bird Conservancy. The deal expands Ecuador’s renowned Buenaventura Reserve by 600 acres, to a total of 4,600 acres. Read Article Read: […]

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Costa Rica: Fecal matter in waste water along Guanacaste beaches may force closures

Wastewater treatment in Costa Rica is once again making headlines, and the latest reports indicate that strict measures such as limiting access to entire beach towns along the Pacific coast of Guanacaste could be taken unless a comprehensive water management strategy is adopted soon. Earlier this year, Playas del Coco was one of the beaches […]

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Ecuador-Colombia: Trans-Andean oil pipeline leak causes oil slick on Amazonia river

Colombiareports.com/EFE reported that an oil slick from a leaking pipeline has contaminated a major Amazonian river that runs between Ecuador and Colombia, reported Spanish press agency EFE on Monday. The Trans-Andean oil pipeline reported a leak last Thursday, and the Ecuadorian Environmental Ministry is now warning that a large oil slick is spreading on the […]

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Ecuador: U.S. Oil Expert / Author to visit areas of contamination left by Texaco/Chevron

Antonia Juhasz, an oil industry expert and author, will visit Ecuador to see the contamination that Texaco, now Chevron, left behind in the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest, and to meet with members of the local communities that were affected by the massive environmental contamination. Juhasz is visiting the South American nation in response to an invitation […]

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Ecuadorian Tribesman (Shuar) Killed in Army Raid

IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING MOVING TO ECUADOR OR IF YOU ALREADY LIVE THERE, YOU WILL FIND THIS BOOK INVALUABLE IN YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF ASPECTS OF THIS COMPLEX SOCIETY

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Peru: Scientists predict no appearance for El Nino en 2014

fis.com reported that experts of the Marine Institute of Peru (Imarpe) announced that next year El Niño phenomenon (FEN) will not certainly occur in the country, a situation that will be beneficial for productive activities, and mainly fishing. The scientists said they have a 90 per cent certainty that this current will not appear in […]

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Scientists research in Galapagos Islands, impact of El Nino on global warming

the Ecuadoran archipelago are probing whether global warming is related to El Nino. There is not yet conclusive evidence of a link. But experts are very serious about the possibility that climate change is making El Nino — unusually warm water in the Pacific off the west coast of South America — more frequent and […]

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Ecuador: Reasons not to drill for oil in Yasuni National Park

If you ever wondered where the world’s most biodiverse piece of land is, you might have guessed somewhere in the Amazon Rainforest. Well, there is a particular piece of the ever- dwindling-Amazon that takes the trophy for being the worlds richest place for animal and plant diversity: Yasuní National Park, inland Ecuador. However, in this […]

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Ecuador to reimburse fund for failed Yasuni ITT initiative

On 2 September the Government of Ecuador formally notified the UN Development Programme (UNDP) that it had brought the Yasuní ITT initiative to an end. Subsequently, on 8 October the Trust Fund’s Steering Committee agreed that the Trust Fund would reimburse all contributions received. The Yasuní ITT Trust Fund Steering Committee is responsible for the […]

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Mexico: thousands evacuated due to gas pipeline leaks caused by oil thieves

Authorities evacuated about 5,000 people in the western Mexican state of Jalisco by a leaking gasoline pipeline, apparently caused by oil thieves. Images of the leak in the town of Tlajomulco, near the state capital Guadalajara, showed what looked like a gas jet that rose into the air in a field near a housing development. […]

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Atiliaca Mexico: Residents file human rights complaint for being forced to sign agreement to allow floodwater

ooskanews.com reported – Residents of the indigenous city of Atliaca in Mexico’s Guerrero state have presented a complaint to the state’s Human Rights Commission, saying that they were detained and forced to sign an agreement that allowed floodwater from the city of Tixtla to be drained through their land. The city of Tixtla was heavily […]

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Lawmakers in Ecuador approve extraction of oil in Amazon

Lawmakers in Ecuador on Thursday authorized the extraction of oil from Yasuni National Park, a pristine Amazon reserve. After a 10-hour debate, a loyalist congress approved President Rafael Correa’s plan by a 108 to 25 margin, with four legislators absent. Correa in August announced that he was abandoning a unique plan to persuade rich countries […]

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Ecuador: Water Supplies Increasingingly Scarce Along the Coast, possible rice shortage

POSSIBLE SHORTAGES OF RICE IN THE FUTURE / RED ALERT Expreso.ec reported that water is becoming scarce in the coastal areas of the country. The seals begin to ration irrigation fluid to the plots. Rice shortage foreseen Never happened before in America Lomas, Fig Tree, The Matte and San Jacinto. For the farmers of these […]

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Yasuni National Park Ecuador: Authorities seize nearly 500 pounds of protected fish, alligator meat

Ecuavisa.com reported that 476 pounds of meat and 44 pounds paiche alligator meat were seized by the Ministry of Environment on 24 September. This after one of the control and surveillance operations that are performed permanently in the Yasuni National Park. After several complaints from the public about illegal execution within the protected area, the […]

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Storms in Mexico demonstrate weakness of infrastructure, corruption

Human nature is sharing the blame with Mother Nature in Mexico for the destruction spawned by twin storms, with critics pointing to shoddy construction, endemic corruption and political wheeling-and-dealing. The country was thrashed last week by a rare tag team of tropical storms on opposite coasts, Manuel and Ingrid, that killed at least 123 people, […]

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Ecuador: Yasuni National Park oil drilling plans, divides Ecuadorians

An Inside Look into the Intricate Culture of Ecuador indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com reported by David Dudenhoefer Despite protests at home and abroad, Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa has moved quickly to consolidate support for his decision to drill oil wells in Yasuni National Park, in that country’s portion of the Amazon Basin. Correa announced on August 15 that […]

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Brasilia, Brazil: Brazil and Congo Sign Bilateral Agreement to Combat Deforestation

agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br reported on September 17, 2013 that Brazil and Congo signed the Memorandum of Understanding in attempt to reduce deforestation and promote environmental sustainability as both countries have the largest rainforests in the world. The bilateral effort aims to share technology and resources such as satellite imagery, staff training and management practices. The issue of […]

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Ecuador: Oilwatch urges Correa not to extract oil from Yasuni-ITT

dailyindependentnig.com reported that President of the Republic of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, has been urged by Oilwatch International not to permit the extraction of crude oil from Yasuni-ITT in order to protect the region from environmental damage. In a recent correspondent to Correa, the environment watchdog group told the president to stand firm and continue to […]

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Ecuador: Defenders of Yasuni claim treated differently by commission

lahora.com.ecOn the seventh floor of the National Assembly, which meets the Biodiversity Committee, there was intense movement last week. The schedule stated that the morning of Wednesday September 11, social organizations began to present their arguments for or against oil exploration in the blocks 31 and 43 of the Yasuní. The expectation was great as […]

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Ecuador drops suit against Colombia regarding aerial fumigation

READ THIS BOOK BEFORE MOVING TO ECUADOR latino.foxnews.com reported Colombia and Ecuador have settled the suit Quito filed five years ago with the International Court of Justice over the effects on Ecuadorian citizens, crops and livestock of Bogota’s aerial fumigations of coca near the two countries’ shared border, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said Thursday. […]

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Ecuador: Petroamazonas plans oil production in Yasuni October 2013

Petroamazonas plans to start next month production at its Block 31, located at Yasuni National Park, the company’s general manager said. Oswaldo Madrid told journalists that production will start with an average of 2,000 bpd from the Apaika and Nenke fields. Peak production for those fields could be about 20,000 bbl. About 70% of the […]

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Oilwatch groups criticize Rafael Correa in opening up Yasuni to oil extraction

Yasuni-Itt: Oilwatch Writes Ecuador President, Raises Ecological Issues A coalition of Oilwatch groups around the world have expressed shock by the August 15, announcement by President Rafael Correa of Ecuador that he will permit crude oil extraction in the Yasuni-ITT. In a letter dated September 6, to Correa that was wired to AkanimoReports on Sunday […]

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Campinas, Brazil: City Buys Mini Airplane to Monitor Environmental Crimes

Globo reported on September 9, 2013 that the city of Campinas in Sao Paulo would buy a mini airplane (drone) as a means to combat environmental crime. Crimes include preservation, capturing wild animals and waste disposal. This aerial vehicle has been used by the Brazilian Air Force to provide security during the Rio +20 and […]

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Latin America: Water energy costs higher due to loss of water

In Latin America, 45% of water is lost before it reaches the customer Globally, water and sanitation companies consume 4% of all the energy produced worldwide Utility companies met in Argentina to share experiences on how to boost energy efficiency and reduce water loss In Latin America, a massive 45% of water is lost before […]

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Ecuador: Correa’s Failure with Yasuní-ITT

Rafael Correa must back this key initiative instead of blaming the rest of the world for his decision to drill for oil in the Amazon. Ecuador has had the opportunity to bring about environmental change, but this has been thwarted. In mid-August, a plan to leave oil in the ground in one part of the […]

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Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: Suspects and companies indicted on charges for issuing false environmental permits

On August 30, 2013 Terra reported that 49 people and seven companies were indicted by the Federal Police for suspicion of fraudulent activity in Rio Grande do Sul. The suspects, accused of issuing false environmental permits, are charged with crimes of money laundering, forgery, and conspiracy among others. Among those arrested included businessman, public servants, […]

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Ecuador: Indigenous, Enviromental groups call for vote on drilling in Yasuni

IPSNEWS.NET reported that the Ecuadorean government’s decision to allow oil drilling in the Yasuní National Park, one of the most biodiverse areas of the planet, has caused alarm among environmentalists and indigenous people, who are calling for a referendum on the issue. President Rafael Correa ordered the shelving of the Yasuní-ITT Initiative, a plan to […]

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Protests in Ecuador over opening of Yasuni national park for oil drilling

MOVING TO ECUADOR? GET THIS BOOK IBTIMES.com reported Following Brazil, Argentina, Chile and other nations in Latin America, Ecuador has become the latest country in the region to face street protests, after President Rafael Correa made the unpopular decision to allow oil drilling in a pristine Amazon reserve. The decision sparked protests that began last […]

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Guayaquil Ecuador: port, coast needs defence upgrades to alleviate losses in flooding catastrophe

Guayaquil Ecuador could face ($3.2 billion) in Ecuador The world’s 136 largest coastal cities could risk combined annual losses of $1 trillion (750 billion euros) from floods by 2050 unless they drastically raise their defences, a study warned Sunday. World Bank economist Stephane Hallegatte and colleagues composed a loss risk scenario based on city population […]

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Ecuador: President Correa to open up Yasuni Amazon rainforest for oil exploration

uk.reuters.com reported that Ecuador will open up part of the Amazon rainforest to oil drilling after rich nations failed to back a conservation plan that would have paid the country not to explore in the area, President Rafael Correa said on Thursday. Correa launched the initiative in 2007 to protect the Yasuni area of the […]

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Amapá, Brazil: Illegal Mining Raises Concern Along Border with French Guiana

Globo reported on August 14, 2013 that the issue of illegal mining and exploitation of gold by Brazilians (Gendarmes) along the border area of Amapá, Brazil and French Guiana was one of the issues of concern discussed at the VII Meeting of the National Strategy for Border Security (ENAFRON). According to officials, illegal mining raises […]

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Quito Ecuador: Firm awarded contract for final design of wastewater treatment plant

Ecuadorian capital Quito’s basic services utility Epmaps has awarded the contract for the final design studies of its US$440mn Vindobona wastewater treatment plant project to American-Colombian consortium, Hazen and Sawyer-PiEpsilon, BNamericas has learned. The final design studies are to include the wastewater treatment plant, a 34km sewage collector pipeline linking the La Tola neighborhood with […]

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Ecuador: Yasuní-ITT Initiative at risk, may force drilling for oil

miamiherald.com reported that the Yasuní-ITT Initiative was designed to leave more than 846 million barrels of crude oil untouched, in perpetuity, beneath Yasuní National Park — rioting with unknown species and tribes living in voluntary isolation. In exchange, the government asked the world to cover just half of the crude’s $7.2 billion market price. 100 […]

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Ecuador Tungurahua Volcano Update August 3, 2013

INSIDE SECRETS OF ECUADORIAN CULTURE volcanodiscovery.com reported the trend of increasing activity has continued over the past days. The volcano has been producing nearly constant steam and ash emissions to a maximum height of 2 km height, as well as discrete strombolian to vulcanian-type explosions accompanied by atmospheric shock waves and ground vibration. Ash fall […]

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Peru studying possible marine preserve on border with Ecuador

The Environment Minister Manuel Pulgar Vidal, said Friday it is considering the creation of a marine reserve of 650,000 hectares in northwestern Peru, Ecuador border, to protect biodiversity under threat of predation and pollution. “We have been studying the proposal and to create a marine reserve of 650,000 hectares in northern Peru, Ecuador border, to […]

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Despite IACHR Ruling, Ecuador fails to apologize to Sarayaku Indians

The government of Ecuador must do more to protect the human rights of the indigenous people of Sarayaku if it is to fully comply with an international court ruling said Amnesty International. A year ago today the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) ruled that Ecuador must apologize, consult with and recompense the Sarayaku people […]

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Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil: Police Operation Combats Environmental Crimes

acritica.net reported on July 26, 2013 that the Environmental Military Police in Mato Grosso do Sul, concluded on the 25th, operation “Foreign Ministry” which has worked to combat environmental crimes against flora. In total, R$14,600 was issued in fines to farmers and producers in rural settlements. As well, during the operation, police confiscated about 2,000 […]

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Cochabamba Bolivia to offer amnesty to users of clandestine water, sewage connecitons

The Authority for Drinking Water and Sanitation (AAPS) announced that in the coming weeks will have an amnesty to regularize illegal connections of water and sewerage in the city of Cochabamba, as similar to that already used in the cities of La Paz and El Alto . “We are planning at least until the end […]

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Ecuador: Indigenous leaders mobilize in effort to close bids Amazon area

amazonwatch.org reported through a press release…….. Puyo, Ecuador – Amazonian indigenous leaders mobilized today in the regional capital of Puyo to oppose the Ecuadorian government’s attempts to close bids on eight million acres of its pristine southeastern Amazon. The region is Ecuador’s last remaining tract of virgin rainforest and is home to seven indigenous nationalities. […]

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Manta Ecuador: World Bank to loan 115 million dollars in water, sanitation infrastructure

The World Bank has approved a project information document to improve water, sanitation and public transportation services in Ecuador’s Manta city, in Manabí province. Despite substantial improvements in urban water and sanitation services coverage, especially in the large cities, Ecuador still faces a significant challenge in providing better services in medium and small size cities […]

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Ecuador to spend 100 million dollars on thermoelectric power plant

Ecuador has earmarked US$101 million for the construction of a thermoelectric power plant in Esmeraldas, northwestern Ecuador, Vice President of Ecuador, Jorge Glas said. He said the Termoesmeraldas II project, which is part of the National Plan of electrification and energy sovereignty, is 78 per cent completed and has so far generated employment for 500 […]

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