11-Apr-2006 - Mussel power spearheads upliftment on Wild Coast
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers of The Herald for planets-voice.org --- A UNIQUE mussel re-seeding and food gardens’ project is rolling along quietly in the Wild Coast community of Coffee Bay – the tip of the iceberg in terms of the huge potential for integrated development in this remote corner of the Eastern Cape.




10-Apr-2006 - Heartland of beauty -- and disputes
Mbotyi, Wild Coast - Guy Rogers of The Herald for planets-voice.org --- BEYOND all human machinations, the beauty of Pondoland took hold.




28-Mar-2006 - Pit latrines threaten groundwater in Eastern Cape
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers of The Herald for planets-voice.org --- CONTAMINATION of groundwater supplies is threatening the health of communities in informal settlements, with pit latrines and cemeteries encroaching on boreholes, the provincial department of water affairs and forestry has warned.


23-Mar-2006 - Mega-reserve will benefit community
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - HOW well can you know a place?

23-Mar-2006 - "Return water" irrigation innovation set to be rolled out
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers of The Herald for planets-voice.org --- THE Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has launched an innovative project to irrigate the Port Elizabeth beach front with treated effluent water.



18-Mar-2006 - DOS VISIONES DIFERENTES
Mexico - Por: Federico Meléndez Valdelamar --- Dos hechos de gran significación histórica coinciden este año en México. La celebración del IV Foro Mundial del Agua (16-22 de marzo) y la conmemoración del Bicentenario del Natalicio (21 de marzo) de uno de los más grandes y recordado estadista, el presidente constitucional y héroe de México, Benito Juárez García, el Benemérito de las Américas.

17-Mar-2006 - Water - a child's view
Mexico - Tales of water - Water for the generations of tomorrow is one of the most important issue’s of today. Children from all over the world speak their minds and tell us about ordinary water in their daily life’s.

17-Mar-2006 - FORO MUNDIAL DEL AQUA - Fomento de una cultura de agua
- Por FEDERICO MELÉNDEZ VALDELAMAR --- Desde el 16 al 22 de marzo del presente año, la ciudad de México es la >anfitriona del IV Foro Mundial del Agua.

14-Mar-2006 - The Current Uncertainty Must Not Harm Victims
Geneva - Juan Gasparini et Carole Vann - InfoSud --- In New York, the U.N. member states must decide, sometime before Wednesday, upon the fate of the Human Rights Council. In Geneva, the disquiet over the transition is almost palpable. The Peruvian, Manuel Rodriguez Cuadros, chair of the Commission on Human Rights, is doing his best to sound reassuring. An Infosud exclusive interview.

14-Mar-2006 - Spotlight falls on human rights in Geneva
Geneva - Frédéric Burnand - swissinfo --- The festival opens with a film about the founder of the Red Cross, Henri Dunant, played by Thomas Jouannet

14-Mar-2006 - Commission halts amid human rights deadlock
Geneva - Adam Beaumont and Frederic Burnand for Human Roghts Tribune 2006 --- The Geneva-based Human Rights Commission has suspended its annual session for a week to allow further talks on a new global watchdog.

14-Mar-2006 - IRAN: the long march towards emancipation
Geneva - Claire Doole (InfoSud) --- “You can not bring democracy from outside”, says Iranian poet Reza Baraheni in an interview with InfoSud.

09-Mar-2006 - Wilderness concept exported to UK
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers of The Herald for planets-voice.org --- THE Eastern Cape’s “invisible export” of re-creating and managing wilderness is making waves in Scotland.




27-Feb-2006 - Artificial reef mooted in exciting beach front upgrade
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers of The Herald for planets-voice.org --- THE recent visit by Kiwi artificial reef pioneer Dr Shaw Mead raises exciting possibilities for the metro beachfront, not least Well’s Estate, the easiest beach for the sprawling Motherwell community to access.


10-Feb-2006 - Landmark conference plans looking good; mystery of the humpback whale calf solved
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers of The Herald --- A US science delegation has praised the “unique enthusiasm” from local service providers and government officials alike, as pre-planning for the first African hosting of the prestigious annual Society for Conservation Biology conference gets under way.



06-Feb-2006 - Mainstream biodiversity, SA urges congress
Anchorage - Guy Rogers for planets-voice.org --- SOUTH African presidential spokesman Murphy Morobe called yesterday (Sept 30 2005) for biodiversity protection to be mainstreamed into all areas of government -- and warned that “our planet has entered a defining moment.”



01-Feb-2006 - Minister puts the science back into politics
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers of The Herald for planets-voice.org --- THE best thing that came out of last week’s Elephant Science Round Table in Cape Town is that our environment minister clearly recognises the importance of science as the fundamental basis for his political decisions.


25-Jan-2006 - World Environment News
- 'World Environment News' is copyright (c) Planet Ark 2005
All headlines are copyright (c) Reuters 2005

20-Jan-2006 - From Pondoland to St Francis: community plus environment the key
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers of The Herald for planets-voice.org --- ONE of the most elegant and forthright speeches on the proposal to build a highway through the Pondoland Centre of Endemism was delivered last month by the Queen of Pondoland, Lombekiso Sigcau.


05-Dec-2005 - Scientists Ponder on Climate Change
Montreal - By Singy Hanyona in Montreal-Canada for planets-voice.org --- The first ever meeting of the 156 Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, an international rule book on climate
change, opened in Montreal-Canada, laying the foundation for future climate policy.

01-Dec-2005 - Game farms row raises key issues
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers of The Herald --- LAND Affairs MEC Gugile Nkwinti’s statement in his opinion piece in The Herald this week about “usurping a people’s land” takes us to a place we haven’t been for a while, and that’s always interesting.



18-Nov-2005 - Water partnership tackles aliens
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - OUT at Maitland, good things are happening.


04-Nov-2005 - COMESA Launches Regional Approach to Biotechnology
Lusaka - By Singy Hanyona for planets-voice.org --- The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
(COMESA), is working towards a regional position on
biotechnology and biosafety policy in its regional
grouping of 20 Member States.

03-Nov-2005 - Alaska asks the question: the Knik Glacier, social models, the 8th World Wilderness Congress
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers for planets-voice.org --- WHEN Frank the pilot couldn’t get our radio to work, I got nervous.

24-Oct-2005 - COMESA Launches Regional Approach to Biotechnology
Lusaka - The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), is working towards a regional position on biotechnology and biosafety policy in its regional grouping of 20 Member States.
In conjunction with the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (ASARECA), COMESA launched the Regional Approach to Biotechnology and Biosafety Policy in Eastern and Southern Africa (RABESA) initiative.

20-Oct-2005 - SA and Costa Rica outline their "greenprints"
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers --- THREE weeks ago, on the other side of the world, a South African leader made a very important speech.


20-Oct-2005 - From Alaska to the Karoo: Player outlines new dream project
Anchorage, Alaska - Guy Rogers in Anchorage, Alaska --- WILDERNESS pioneer Dr Ian Player has unveiled a landmark plan to build an “African Dream Centre” in the Karoo.




20-Oct-2005 - First wilderness on private land launched in Latin America
Anchorage, Alaska - Guy Rogers for planets-voice.org --- THE first designated wilderness area in Latin America was declared yesterday (oct 3)here at the 8th World Wilderness Congress in Anchorage, Alaska, based on a launched in the Eastern Cape four years ago.


20-Oct-2005 - Wilderness project aimed at benefiting AIDS victims launched
Anchorage, Alaska - Guy Rogers of The Herald --- A LANDMARK Port Elizabeth-based project with the vision of a roll-out across Africa, aimed at "harnessing the healing power of Nature" to give AIDS orphans life skills and jobs, was launched here yesteday (oct 3 2005) at the 8th World Wilderness Congress.


13-Oct-2005 - Long Distance Sustainability Studies
Geneva - Jim Rudolf for planets-voice.org --- For people past their "university years," there aren't many opportunities for further education in the field of Sustainable Development. The University of Geneva aims to improve this situation.

13-Oct-2005 - Comment écouter l’écho des anciens…
Geneva - Myrna Sultan for planets-voice.org --- Un projet d’aménagement genevois se propose de mettre les personnes âgées au centre de leurs préoccupations.

12-Oct-2005 - Developing cities and villages: Local consensus is the trick
Genève - By Corine Schouten for planets-voice.org --- Involving all stakeholders in the development of cities and villages is essential for success. But how does one get local authorities, the private sector, NGOs, academics as well as the inhabitants in the same direction? By including them in every phase, explained UN-HABITAT Nairobi. Egyptian villages prove the point.

12-Oct-2005 - Information Technology Organizations Getting Serious About Social Responsibility
Geneva - By Jim Rudolf & Keya Acharya for planets-voice.org --- Is it a big heart or clever marketing? More and more companies are interested in corporate social responsability.

12-Oct-2005 - Is sustainable development a luxury ?
Geneva - Myrna Sultan for planets-voice.org --- Is sustainable development a luxury? Paul Van der Pol from the city of Tilburg is certain “Sustainable urban development in times of budget cuts is not a luxury. When taken a good approach, it offers chances, better and cheaper development if all costs of the life cycle are taken into account.”

12-Oct-2005 - Auroville: An evolutionary approach to Sustainable Urban Development.
Auroville. - Pierre-Alain Parini for planets-voice.org --- Auroville is offering a model which, beyond encompassing a vision, strives in expressing a lifestyle in harmony with the environment.

11-Oct-2005 - World Leaders Call for New Ideas and Financial Backing for Urban Planning for Cities
Geneva - By Keya Acharya at s-dev in Geneva for planets-voice.org --- UN leaders, regional authorities from the Council of Europe, a coalition of 46 European countries, Switzerland’s official Swiss Development Agency and urban planners from 70 countries gathered here at the Swiss capital today to discuss new ideas for proper development of cities worldwide

11-Oct-2005 - Egyptian Company Offers New Technology for Generating Power from Heavy Traffic Zones
Geneva - By Keya Acharya at s-dev in Geneva for planets-voice.org --- An Egyptian firm presents a novel method of turning traffic density into electricity generation

11-Oct-2005 - Mettre en scène des villes aimables
Geneva - Louisette Gouverne for planets-voice.org --- « La dimension culturelle est le quatrième pilier du développement durable », affirme le promoteur du concept de Cité créative, Charles Landry, directeur de Comedia (Grande-Bretagne). Le pilier manquant dans la plupart des programmes urbains.



11-Oct-2005 - A Pioneering Flight
Geneva - By Louisette Gouverne - A solar-propelled plane: a more attractive and tangible notion of sustainable development

11-Oct-2005 - L'envol des pionniers
Genève - Par Louisette Gouverne --- Un avion à propulsion solaire pour rendre plus séduisant et plus palpable le concept de développement durable.

08-Oct-2005 - Wilderness congress calls for urgent clarity, EIA for Zimbabwe farming project
Anchorage, Alaska - Guy Rogers of The Herald for planets-voice.org --- THE 8th World Wilderness Congress meeting here in Anchorage, Alaska has called on the Zimbabwean government to urgently clarify its plan to create a 120 000ha farm in the middle Zambezi River wilderness area.


08-Oct-2005 - Wild Coast biosphere project aired
The 8th World Wilderness Congress in Anchorage, Alaska - Guy Rogers for planets-voice.org - SOUTH Africa's East Cape Parks Board has announced an ambitious plan here to expand protected areas on the Wild Coast and link them to social upliftment.


05-Oct-2005 - Save the Earth, honour justice, delegates urged
Anchorage, Alaska - Guy Rogers at the 8th World Wilderness Congress for planets-voice.org ---WITH all the pressures of development facing government decision-makers and land-owners alike, and all the imponderables about what natural processes are out there and how they are connected, wilderness gives us the best, the only true eco-benchmark to work from.


04-Oct-2005 - Tackle politics, wilderness delegates urged
Anchorage, Alaska - Guy Rogers for planets-voice.org --- CONSERVATION is a lost cause unless we can change the way we do politics.


28-Sep-2005 - Katrina Casts Spotlight on Global Warming Research
North America, San Francisco - By Li Miao Lovett, planets-voice.org correspondent --- While no specific hurricane can be attributed to global warming, Katrina’s destruction on the Gulf Coast has been a lightning rod for debate about the effects of climate change caused by human activity, namely, the burning of fossil fuels.

24-Sep-2005 - Heed Katrina's message, wetlands' group urges
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers of The Herald for planets-voice.org --- US President George Bush says he wants to know what went wrong in the handling of hurricane Katrina. But there is a more important question, says South Africa’s Mondi Wetland Project (MWP): Why did the disaster happen in the first place? And what is the message for the rest of the world? Could Katrina happen here?



20-Sep-2005 - Katrina Casts Spotlight on Global Warming Research
North America - San Francisco - By Li Miao Lovett, planets-voice.org correspondent for North America --- While no specific hurricane can be attributed to global warming, Katrina’s destruction on the Gulf Coast has been a lightning rod for debate about the effects of climate change caused by human activity, namely, the burning of fossil fuels.

15-Sep-2005 - Community key to land in a bubble
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers of The Herald for planets-voice.org --- I DROPPED in one evening at Bar Monserrat after a long day at the Palacio.



12-Sep-2005 - WWF Launches Project to Conserve Miombo Ecoregion
Lusaka - By Singy Hanyona for planets-voice.org --- The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in Southern Africa has called on people living in the Miombo Ecoregion to appreciate the diversity and lovely landscape it provides in order to secure the future generation. “Miombo” refers to a particular type of woodland which exists widely through East and Southern Africa.

02-Sep-2005 - Southern Africa Develops Biodiversity Strategy
Lusaka - Singy Hanyona for planets-voice.org --- The Southern Africa Development community (SADC) is developing a regional Biodiversity Strategy that will help curb the increasing depletion of biological resources and species in the 14 Member body.


27-Aug-2005 - Cuba just the ticket for Zuma
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers of The Herald for planets-voice.org --- DID you know, Jacob Zuma loves Cuban music?


27-Jul-2005 - China’s Two-Headed Dragon – Taming the impact of economic growth on the environment
Beijing - By Li Miao Lovett, planets-voice.org reporter --- China’s booming economy extracts a heavy price on the environment. The government is attempting to address the impacts – and so is a new generation of environmental NGOs.

27-Jul-2005 - Coega smelter: Have we done our homework?
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers of The Herald for planets-voice.org --- ONE of the important environmental aspects of the proposed Coega aluminium smelter relates to the substantial demand it will make on our power supply capacity.


27-Jul-2005 - News Bulletin 27-07-2005
London - This bulletin is sent out every working weekday before 13:00 GMT/UTC from
InterWorld Radio


26-Jul-2005 - News Bulletin 26-07-2005
London - This bulletin is sent out every working weekday before 13:00 GMT/UTC from
InterWorld Radio


25-Jul-2005 - News Bulletin 25-07-2005
London - This bulletin is sent out every working weekday before 13:00 GMT/UTC from
InterWorld Radio


22-Jul-2005 - News Bulletin 22-07-2005
London - This bulletin is sent out every working weekday before 13:00 GMT/UTC from
InterWorld Radio


20-Jul-2005 - Zambia's Tonga People Reveal their Environmental Testimonies
Lusaka - By Singy Hanyona for planets-voice.org --- Testimonies and memories of the Tonga speaking people of the Gwembe Valley remain vivid 48 years after the Kariba dam flooded their villages between 1957- 58.
"Our gods never helped us again", these are the words used to describe the Tonga people's resettlement and its aftermath.

04-Jul-2005 - Auction joint venture brings success
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers of The Herald for planets-voice.org --- THE Kirkwood Wildlife Auction, cornerstone this year as in years past of the Kirkwood Wildlife Festival, was a roaring success, with some R3,8-million accrued in sales.



03-Jul-2005 - Knowledge of traditional plant use must be recorded
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers of The Herald for planets-voice.org --- KNOWLEDGE of traditional use of indigenous plants must be urgently documented before it is lost, the South African government says.



24-Jun-2005 - New manifesto calls for ethical hunting
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers of The Herald for planets-voice.org --- THE Eastern Cape branch of the Wildlife and Environment Society has drafted a landmark manifesto aimed at exposing the “appalling practice” of canned hunting and promoting the many benefits of ethical hunting.


22-Jun-2005 - Longliner hoves to after albatross kill
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers of The Herald for planets-voice.org --- NORBERT Klages fingered long-line fishing when we asked him about the albatrosses -- and it looks like he could have been spot on.


15-Jun-2005 - Rare vulture sighting signals conservation boom
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers of The Herald for planets-voice.org --- A WHITE-headed vulture, normally confined to the north of the country, has appeared at Schotia Safaris, in what is thought to be the first ever sighting in the province.



15-Jun-2005 - Endangered frog threatened by vlei development
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers of The Herald for planets-voice.org --- ONE of the many good reasons why the Chade Manor development should not be allowed to encroach on Parson’s Vlei near the Port Elizabeth suburb of Bridgemead is that it is home to the southern-most population of the endangered African giant bullfrog.



14-Jun-2005 - Eastern Cape farmers must be ready for climate change
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers of The Herald for planets-voice.org --- EASTERN Cape farmers must be ready to adapt to changes in temperature and rainfall patterns, the Climate Systems Analysis Group said yesterday. Based at the University of Cape Town, the research group is headed by Prof Bruce Hewitson, who is a lead author for the international Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change.



06-Jun-2005 - World Environment Day Calls for 'Green Cities'
San Francisco - By Li Miao Lovett planets-voice.org US corrspondent --- World Environment Day kicked off with opening ceremonies June 2nd in San Francisco, bringing together citizens, public-private partnerships, and mayors from the world's major cities. Mayors signed a set of Urban Environmental Accords with the goal of making their cities more livable and ecologically sustainable.

03-Jun-2005 - African Bank Pumps in $5 Million into Lake Tanganyika Biodiversity
Lusaka - By Singy Hanyona for planets-voice.org --- The African Development Bank (ADF) has approved a multi-million dollar facility that will help rationalize the exploitation of fishery resources and improve the biodiversity of Lake Tanganyika, Africa's second deepest lakes.

21-May-2005 - InterWorld Radio News Bulletin 20-05-2005
London - InterWorld Radio/pv - This bulletin is sent out every working weekday before 13:00 GMT/UTC from InterWorld Radio, the daily news and features service from the Panos Institute, London http://www.panos.org.uk.


20-May-2005 - Declines in Biodiversity threaten development goals –Findings of Biodiversity Synthesis presented to coincide with International Day for Biological Diversity
New York - CBD/wri/pv --- Earth’s species – their variety and numbers –are declining faster than ever, threatening the well-being of humans today and in the future. According to a new study presented at McGill University on May 19, to mark the International Day for Biological Diversity, which takes place on 22 May 2005, the culprit: human activities across the world.


19-May-2005 - Putting what the EC has to offer on the tourism map
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers of The Herald for planets-voice.org --- OUR metro tourism team has drawn up an exciting draft concept intended to link us up with the blue chip Cape winelands route.


13-May-2005 - The GM Debate : Who Decides?
Lusaka - By Singy Hanyona for planets-voice.org --- A regional information and communication organization, Panos Southern Africa, has released a ground breaking report which questions the place of genetically modified (GM) crops in today's agriculture systems.

06-May-2005 - SA should capitalise on its great water basics
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers of The Herald for planets-voice.org --- WHEN the Land of the Rising Sun offers financial assistance – it really pulls out all the stops.


22-Apr-2005 - New plan proposed for Madiba Bay
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers of The Herald for planets-voice.org --- INSTEAD of a stylised leisure park, what about transforming Driftsands and the Cape Recife-Sardinia Bay coast into our own peninsula national park?


20-Apr-2005 - BOIS TROPICAL - Les Penan dénoncent à Berne le "déboisement durable" de leur territoire
Berne - Par Daniel Wermus, infosud --- Les indigènes défendus par Bruno Manser manifestent à Berne où se réunit l’Organisation internationale des bois tropicaux. Ils demandent à la Suisse de dénoncer la "supercherie" de la Malaisie qui octroie un "label durable" pour raser leur forêt.

19-Apr-2005 - Illegal GM Maize Contaminates Exports
Lusaka - By Singy Hanyona --- A huge scandal concerning undetected transgenic maize has broken out and become even more shocking as details emerge about the scale of the crisis and the subsequent attempts to cover-up or ignore the issue.

14-Apr-2005 - Shocking levels of dioxin contamination found near proposed EU-funded waste site in Bulgaria
- CEE Bankwatch/pv --- A study of free-range chicken eggs produced in the village of Kovachevo in the Stara Zagora region of Bulgaria has revealed evidence of alarming levels of dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination, pointing to the crucial need for Bulgaria to fulfill its commitment to reduce human exposure to harmful persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

10-Apr-2005 - Sao Carlos engine plant introduces innovative process to treat industrial waster water
- Released by VW --- There may be an abundance of it where we live, but it is a scarce resource in many countries and regions of the world – water. The United Nations has therefore declared the next ten years the International Decade for Action "Water for Life". The goal for this decade, which begins today on World Water Day, is to enhance protection of this precious resource and support water conservation.
With its new technology for processing cooling water, the Volkswagen engine plant in Sao Carlos, Brazil, is working to achieve these goals.


25-Mar-2005 - States, Regional Groups Chart Course for Clean Energy
North America, San Francisco - By Li Miao Lovett --- Part V of the U.S. energy policy story: State governments are taking steps toward a brighter energy future. While 18 states have adopted a renewable energy standard, regional efforts by the Western Governor's Association intend to boost production of renewable power in the coming decades. Behind the scenes, NGO's and ordinary citizens are leading these initiaves even as the federal government abandons its public trust.

25-Mar-2005 - British Nuclear Fuels plc: A World First for Sellafield
Sellafield - (bnf press release/pv) --- In a world-leading decommissioning project, engineers at Sellafield have pumped hundreds of cubic metres of radioactive waste from a tank used to store it for the last fifty years. It is the latest stage in a project several years in the planning and one which will take a further twelve years to fully complete, when the radioactive waste from all six tanks in the Primary Sludge complex will have been removed and processed.

24-Mar-2005 - Young EC scientists take up the challenge
Port Elizabeth/Paris - Guy Rogers of The Herald for planets-voice.org --- WE CANNOT protect what we do not love, and we cannot love what we do not know.


24-Mar-2005 - Water still Luxury for Zambia's Rural Poor
Lusaka - Singy Hanyona for planets-voice.org --- WATER STILL LUXURY FOR ZAMBIA’S RURAL POOR ALTHOUGH ... as the Country is Hit by DroughtZambia joined the rest of the world in celebrating World Water Day (22 March, 2005), the life-line commodity is still a luxury for most people in rural areas, who still feel marginalized.

22-Mar-2005 - Indian Environmental Organisation (CSE) Wins 2005 Stockholm Water Prize
New Delhi/Stockholm - siwi/pv --- The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in New Delhi, an influential Indian non-governmental organisation led by Ms.Sunita Narain, a dynamic advocate for water, environment, human rights, democracy and health, will receive the 2005 Stockholm Water Prize.

19-Mar-2005 - Living in a thirsty world
Southeast Asia - By Imelda Visaya-Abano for planets-voice.org --- The United Nations General Assembly at its 58th session in December 2003 agreed to proclaim the years 2005 to 2015 as the International Decade for Action, "Water for Life", and beginning with World Water Day, March 22, 2005.


15-Mar-2005 - Bilan des activités d'Aguas del Illimani (Suez) en Bolivie
Paris - planets-voice.org/CNW (press release) ---A l'occasion de la présentation des
comptes de SUEZ le 10 mars 2005, Jean-Louis Chaussade, Directeur Général
Adjoint de SUEZ en charge de l'environnement a rappelé le bilan des activités
du groupe en Bolivie.

15-Mar-2005 - LA CHARTE : ET APRES ?
Paris - (actu environnement) Chronique de Corinne Lepage --- La promulgation au Journal Officiel de la Charte de l'environnement a été présentée comme une grande avancée pour le droit de l'environnement.

11-Mar-2005 - Green fishing event a success (but still many questions)
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers for planets-voice.org --- THERE were 1199 fish (weighing 9590kg) caught during the Sedgewick’s SA Shore Angling Championship near Port Elizabeth last week -- and only two died before being released.


08-Mar-2005 - ASSURANCES SOUGHT AFTER DEATH THREAT IN BULGARIA
Brussels - (FOE Press release/planets-voice.org) --- Friends of the Earth Europe, Greenpeace
International, and CEE Bankwatch Network have asked the Bulgarian Government
to do everything possible to ensure the safety of Albena Simeonova, a
Bulgarian environmental campaigner, following a death threat made against
her.

08-Mar-2005 - Reef protection needed in Taiwan: expert
Taipei - By Chiu Yu-Tzu, Taipei-Times Staff Reporter and planets-voice.org correspondent --- UNDER THREAT: The coral reef in Cape Tofu in Ilan County is a prime location for ecotourism, but development projects in the works could damage the ecosystem




24-Feb-2005 - Market Forces May Lift U.S. Out of Inertia on Global Warming
North America -- San Francisco - By Li Miao Lovett --- Part IV of the U.S. energy policy story: The evidence of global warming mounts with melting ice caps, record-setting temperatures, and severe droughts, but the Bush administration continues to stick its head in the hot sand. With business as usual, the U.S. may lose out in the long term not only ecologically but economically. However, market forces could provide the catalyst for change.

24-Feb-2005 - Protocol move a reason for all to rejoice
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers for planets-voice.org --- VIVA February 16, viva!


23-Feb-2005 - Environment Ministers Discuss Tsunami Disaster
Nairobi - By Singy Hanyona in Nairobi-Kenya for planets-voice.org --- AROUND 70 Environment Ministers from all over the world are meeting in Kenya’s capital- Nairobi to plan the future of the environment as a pillar of development, taking the issue of the Asian Tsunami disaster as top on their agenda.

22-Feb-2005 - Experts Link Malaria to Environmental Degradation
Nairobi - By Singy Hanyona in Nairobi-Kenya for planets-voice.org --- A Zambian woman from Kalingalinga compound in the capital-Lusaka is languishing on the bedside at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), taking care of her sick child attacked by a bout of malaria.

16-Feb-2005 - Urgent need for a new fuel source
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers for planets-voice.org --- THERE was a wonderful quote that came out of a TV interview about four years ago just after Eskom identified Koeberg as the site for its proposed new pilot Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR).


15-Feb-2005 - Stumble on mine in Kopacki rit
- By Ljiljanka Mitos-Svoboda for planets-voice.org (Translated by: Martina Fabij) --- Croatian Demining Center (HRC) has sent out a map of mining suspicious areas in Croatia. Those are areas of high risk, full of mines and non-exploded war material. Thus, staying in those zones is more than dangerous.

31-Jan-2005 - Six American Corporations Linked to Iraq War
Porto Alegre - Singy Hanyona at Porto Alegre, Brazil, for planets-voice.org --- Top-Six (6) American companies have been named as having sponsored or financed the "war against terror" waged by the United States on Iraq in 2003.

29-Jan-2005 - Calls for a United Nations Charter on Water
Porto Alegre - Singy Hanyona in Porto Alegre, Brazil, for planets-voice.org --- "We want to hear from public opinion on whether the best way to go is to have a United Nations Charter on water. In the rush to privatize water resources, our voices are being drowned out", said Bernhard Weismeir from the German-based NGO Bread For the World, at the ongoing 5th World Social Forum in Porto Alegre-Brazil.

29-Jan-2005 - World Social Forum Discuss Zimbabwean Crisis
Porto Alegre - Singy Hanyona in Porto Alegre, Brazil, for planets-voice.org --- The stifling of civil society organizations is a recipe for weakening of democratic institutions in the once great African country of Zimbabwe, according to Zimbabwe Social Forum (ZSF) President Regis Mtutu.
Presenting his organization's experiences with the problems that beset Zimbabwe in early 2000, Mtutu told delegates at the ongoing World Social Forum (WSF) in Porto Alegre-Brazil, that the current economic situation was a cause for concern to social movements in that country and the entire region.

29-Jan-2005 - Another World is Possible, Without Child Trafficking
Porto Alegre - Singy Hanyona in Porto Alegre, Brazil, for planets-voice.org --- HUMANISTS, radicals and social activists are battling it out to include children as active participants at the ongoing World Social Forum (WSF) in Porto Alegre-Brazil.
We see these children on the streets everyday. Just where do they come from? How come they are begging in the cities and why are some of them cripled or disabled?.

28-Jan-2005 - Global Campaign launched against poverty
Porto Alegre - By Singy Hanyona in Porto Alegre, Brazil, for planets-voice.org--- The Global call to Action Against Poverty (G-CAP) has been launched with a clarion and wake up call for rich countries to address the issue of unjust trade rules and competition in the global market.
Launching the G-CAP, which drew about 12,000 people at the 5th World Social Forum, Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva called for the rich and powerful countries to take responsibility for their promises and increase aid only according to poor countries’ priorities.

27-Jan-2005 - Concern over land use in metro
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers for planets-voice.org --- TUNNELS for vegies, not a brick-making factory, is what’s intended for the latest block of cleared land at Seaview.


26-Jan-2005 - Emergence of new technologies raise eye-brows at World
Porto Alegre - By Singy Hanyona in Porto Alegre-Brazil for planets-voice --- While scientists and researchers are still battling with the issue of genetic engineering, a new controversy is approaching and this is nanotechnology. The issue will be at the centre of discussions at the 5th edition of the World Social Forum (WSF), which opens 26 January, 2005, in Porto-Alegre Brazil.


26-Jan-2005 - Face of Tsunami Disaster Brings in Debt Issue
Porto Alegre - By Singy Hanyona in Porto-Alegre-Brazil for planets-voice.org --- In the face of the Tsunami disaster that hit several Asian, and African countries, delegates at the ongoing 5th World Social Forum in Porto-Alegre-Brazil (officially opened today) have called on total debt cancellation for all Southern countries. Thousands of delegates, led by Jubilee South, expressed their deepest sympathy to the Tsunami victims, but emphasized how saddened they were by the climbing death toll unleashed by the Tsumani last December, 26.

25-Jan-2005 - SUMMARY OF THE WORLD CONFERENCE ON DISASTER REDUCTION:
Kobe - IISD --- The UN World Conference on Disaster Reduction (WCDR) was held from 18-22 January 2005, at the Portopia Hotel, in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Approximately 4,000 participants attended the WCDR, including representatives from 168 governments including more than 40 ministers, 78 UN specialized agencies and observer organizations, 161 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and 562 journalists from 154 media outlets.

25-Jan-2005 - KOBE La Suisse prône une "culture du risque"
Kobe - infoSud --- Le savoir-faire helvétique est très demandé à la conférence de Kobe sur la prévention des catastrophes. La Suisse, qui présente l’expérience valaisanne de gestion des dangers, joue un rôle important

de Viera Malach et Daniel Wermus



25-Jan-2005 - TSUNAMI - Pour un système d'alerte mondial contre l'indifférence
Lausanne - (InfoSud) --- Après le tsunami, que va-t-il rester à long terme de la formidable émotion planétaire qui a jailli, mise en scène par les médias? Des journalistes humanistes et opiniâtres pourraient bien constituer un des meilleurs systèmes d'alerte mondial contre l'indifférence. OPINION.

de Fabrice Boulé

24-Jan-2005 - Industry Polluters Breathe Easier Under Bush
North America, San Francisco - By Li Miao Lovett --- Part III of the U.S. energy policy story: Major U.S. laws protecting human health and the environment are being rewritten by the Bush administration. Carbon dioxide is no longer considered a pollutant. Mercury's toxic effects are ignored under federal attempts to weaken the Clean Air Act. Who's taking action to protect the public?

24-Jan-2005 - Preparations at World Social Forum Heats Up
Porto Alegre - By Singy Hanyona in Porto Alegre, Brazil --- THE mood is heating up and momentum gaining at the 5th World Social Forum (WSF) as delegates make final touches to their pavilions and exhibition stands.
The WSF will be officially opened in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on 26th January, 2005.

20-Jan-2005 - United Nations Conference on Disaster Reduction in Kobe Discusses Need for Global Early Warning System
Kobe - (UN-Press release/pv-editors) --- The World Conference on Disaster Reduction opened with the goal of reaching agreement on a 10-year global action plan to mitigate the effects of natural disasters through early warning systems, quake-proof buildings, accelerated response units and other measures that can reduce the death toll.

19-Jan-2005 - Nautilus washed up on E Cape beach
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers for planets-voice.org --- FORMER EP angler Ronald van Antwerp's motto that one should always keep one's eyes open when walking along the beach resulted in a prize recently.


13-Jan-2005 - Was the tsunami a warning?
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers for planets-voice --- WAS the tsunami that ripped into South East Asia two weeks ago a natural phenomenon?


13-Jan-2005 - UNICEF says Tamil Tiger rebels recruit tsunami-affected children
Colombo - By AP/msw/pv --- Tamil Tiger rebels have recruited at least several tsunami-affected children to their ranks, the chief of UNICEF in Sri Lanka said Thursday.

13-Jan-2005 - Le gouvernement s'engage à doubler la population d'ours dans les Pyrénées
Paris - AFP --- Le ministre de l'Ecologie Serge Lepeltier s'est engagé jeudi à doubler d'ici trois ans la population d'ours dans les Pyrénées, avec un premier lâcher de cinq femelles en 2005.

30-Dec-2004 - ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES EMERGING FROM WRECKAGE OF ASIAN TSUNAMI
Nairobi - UNEP/pv-editors --- UNEP earmarks US $1 million for environmental needs assessments


29-Dec-2004 - Zambia drafts its first environmental policy
Lusaka - By Singy Hanyona for pv --- ZAMBIA has set itself up to February, 2005 to have a final draft of the environmental policy, the document which has been non-existent for the past 40 years of the country’s independence.

29-Dec-2004 - Corruption in dam industry
Lusaka - By Singy Hanyona for pv --- The dam building industry deserves more scrutiny by prosecutors and the media. Public works and the power industry are perceived to be the most and the third-most corrupt industrial sectors by business executives around the world.

23-Dec-2004 - Wonderful suburban eco-mystery
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - By Guy Rogers, pv-correspondent in South Africa --- TO THE delight of my children, last week a crab appeared in our swimming pool.


22-Dec-2004 - African Farmers Movement Wage War Against GMOs
Lusaka - African Farmers Movement Wage War Against GMOs
By Singy Hanyona
A regional farmers Association in east, central and southern Africa has called on governments to place a moratorium on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) until a system of labelling of these products is put in place.

20-Dec-2004 - Disabled folk regain access to SA beaches
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers for planets-voice.org --- IT WAS great to get a call this week from Alexandria from a reader wanting to know more about Friday’s amendment for the physically disabled to be exempt from the vehicles on beaches ban, and how to get an application form.


14-Dec-2004 - Where There's the Will to Drill - U.S. Energy Policy on Public Lands, part II
North America -- San Francisco - By Li Miao Lovett --- Part II of the U.S. energy policy story examines the politics and the players on both sides of the energy debate. Who stands to gain? Who loses? Can Vice President Cheney's energy plan really slake the U.S. thirst for oil?


08-Dec-2004 - US rules out joining Kyoto treaty
BBC News, Buenos Aires - By Elizabeth Blunt
The US has told a UN conference on global warming that it has no intention of re-joining international efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
The chief American negotiator at the conference in Argentina's capital Buenos Aires ruled out any move to sign up to the Kyoto Protocol for years.

He told reporters that efforts to cut emissions were based on bad science.


08-Dec-2004 - UK 'failing on greenhouse gases'
London - (BBC-News) --- UK targets to cut greenhouse gases are now unlikely to be met, the government is set to admit on Wednesday.
Friends of the Earth says Tony Blair will reveal they are falling short when a public consultation on the five-year climate change programme is unveiled.


08-Dec-2004 - 'GM cocaine grown in Colombia'
Bogota - (BBC-News) --- Some Colombian drug growers are using genetically modified coca "trees" to boost cocaine production dramatically, government officials say.
Anti-drug operatives say they found new strains with yields eight times higher than normal coca plants.


02-Dec-2004 - Zambia Bans Fishing Activities
Lusaka - By Singy Hanyona for planets-vice.org --- THE Zambian government has with immediate effect banned all fishing activities in the country, until March, 2005.

01-Dec-2004 - Where There's the Will to Drill - U.S. Energy Policy on Public Lands, part I
North America -- San Francisco - By Li Miao Lovett --- The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, dubbed "America's Serengeti," is targeted for oil and gas development along with millions of acres of western public lands. Who stands to gain and who loses? Can Vice President Cheney's energy plan really slake the U.S. thirst for oil?

25-Nov-2004 - Taking the right road: picnic spots to Pondoland
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers for planets-voice.org --- ONE of my favourite things in life is pulling into a road-side picnic spot: the sudden stillness as you switch off your engine, the friendly exhalation of country things going on around and without you, the sense of a secret window into the Real South Africa.


25-Nov-2004 - Lancement de CO2solidaire.org - un nouvel outil pour la protection du climat
- msw/pv --- Le transport aérien est responsable chaque année de l’émission de quelques 600 millions
de tonnes de CO2. CO2solidaire.org propose aux particuliers et aux entreprises une
solution inédite en France pour compenser les émissions de CO2 relatives à leurs
déplacements en avion. Le site offre la possibilité de calculer en ligne ses propres
émissions et d’en estimer la valeur en euros. Le visiteur peut alors reverser ce montant
pour financer des projets de solidarité qui, réduisent les émissions de CO2, en plus
d’améliorer les conditions de vie des populations des pays en développement. Par cette
démarche de compensation volontaire, chacun peut faire un geste pour le climat.
Le transport aérien, l’oublié du protocole de Kyoto

23-Nov-2004 - Witchcraft at Zambezi River Source
Lusaka - Singy Hanyona for planets-voice.org --- SUSPICION of witchcraft is hanging in the air at the source of the waters of the great Zambezi river at Kalene Hills in Mwinilunga district of North-Western Province of Zambia.
A visit by our reporter to the Site reveal that it is here (at Kalene hills) in the Zambezi Source National Forest No. P.80, where the mighty Zambezi river begins its 2,700 kilometres journey to the Indian Ocean.

23-Nov-2004 - Victoria Falls Risk Losing its Biodiversity
Lusaka - Singy Hanyona for planets-voice.org --- The proposed lighting of the Victoria Falls by the Zambian government might lead to the world’s seventh wonder losing its uniqueness, scientific value and disturbance to the Falls’ eco-system, it has been learnt.
Environmental enthusiasts have anticipated that the ambitious tourism developments in some countries, might soon override efforts to conserve pristine tourist attractions in the Southern African region (SADC).

11-Nov-2004 - Partnerships the golden thread in EC environment debate
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers for planets-voice.org --- ONE of the most interesting ideas that in-coming East Cape Tourism Board CEO Glenton de Kock mentioned to me in our recent interview was this – we need a regular debate about poverty.


05-Nov-2004 - ICRISAT Scientists Play Host To GM Technology
Patancheru, Hyderabad - By Keya Acharya for planets-voice.org --- Amidst negative media reports worldwide on GM crops, now it's the turn of international agricultural scientists from the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, based in India, to appeal to the Press not to trash Genetically Modified technology.
ICRISAT scientists believe transgenic technology holds great potential for benefit to the poor in developing countries and are ready to collaborate with government institutions from developing countries in disseminating the technology.

29-Oct-2004 - Gearing up to apply exciting new land-use programme
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers for planets-voice.org --- SEVERAL key events have happened in the conservation arena in the Eastern Cape in the past two weeks, and there’s at least one more up-coming before the month’s end.


15-Oct-2004 - South Africa tackles climate change
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers for planets-voice.org --- THE government has unveiled an historic new “framework for action” to combat the predicted onset this century of radical new weather patterns caused by global warming.


15-Oct-2004 - Plant destruction renews anger at illegal grazing
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers for planets-voice.org --- THE metro looks set to take legal action against a Sherwood stock owner who has been grazing his animal illegally in the area.


01-Oct-2004 - Les criquets pèlerins envahissent l’Afrique. On aurait pu éviter la catastrophe
- by infosud --- planets-voice.org partner agency --- Désormais inéluctable, la lutte chimique est à nouveau engagée contre les criquets pèlerins en Afrique de l'Ouest. Pourtant, on aurait pu prévenir le fléau avec des méthodes moins brutales pour l’environnement et l’homme.


30-Sep-2004 - Stock farming threatens our drinking water
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers for planets-voice.org --- IF YOU thought the concerns raised in the Herald recently about the grave dangers of livestock farming in our water catchment area were far fetched -- think again.



23-Sep-2004 - Premier hails "new model" conservation project
Komdomo, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers for planets-voice.org --- THE Baviaanskloof World Heritage Site is the symbol of “a new struggle in the Eastern Cape”, Premier Nosimo Balindlela said yesterday (Wednesday Sept 22).


16-Sep-2004 - Net closes on yellowwoods poacher
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers for planets-voice.org --- THE Baviaans yellowwood suspected poaching drama has picked up speed again with a visit by a carbon dating expert to the site.



16-Sep-2004 - Celebrate your wild side
The Wilderness, Southern Cape - Guy Rogers for planets-voice.org --- SWINGING down a cliff face, leaping into icy mountain pools or ambling through the forest on horseback - The Wildnerness is a great place to access the environment that makes the Garden Route so special.



16-Sep-2004 - Red tape rules as stock farming threatens city's water
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers for planets-voice.org --- ALMOST three years after a top-level metro report calling for immediate action, municipal staff are still grazing their livestock in Port Elizabeth’s key water catchment areas, diminishing the capacity of our dams and posing a serious health hazard to hundreds of thousands of consumers.


08-Sep-2004 - The youth of the world meet in Alexandria to promote environment, peace and culture
Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Alexandria - (PRESS RELEASE) On Saturday September 11th 2004 around 500 teenagers from Egypt and the rest of the world will gather in Alexandria for the Third Global Environmental Youth Convention (GEYC) under the patronage of Mrs. Susan Mubarak. During the five days of the convention they will discuss preventive environmental strategies and how this can be linked to development, human rights, peace and culture.

08-Sep-2004 - Die Groot Krokodil returns to Nature
The Wilderness, Southern Cape - Guy Rogers for planets-voice.org --- AMONG the most prominent residents of The Wilderness is former President PW Botha, who we managed to interview on a visit to the Southern Cape town last week.

08-Sep-2004 - The path to a cure, out in The Wilderness
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers for planets-voice.org --- STEFFI Williams of Eden Adventures, a medicinal plant guide in The Wilderness, learned his skills fetching plants for his sangoma grandmother as a child – but his first job was as a caddy at Fancourt.


03-Sep-2004 - Complaint heats up canned lion hunting debate again
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers for planets-voice.org --- CONCERNS raised by a British tourist about a local wildlife enterprise have sparked heated new debate about ecotourism and canned lion hunting.


19-Aug-2004 - Young Eastern Cape scientist returns from Arctic adventure
Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape - Guy Rogers for planets-voice --- A YOUNG member of the SA Institute of Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) in Grahamstown has returned from the sub-Antarctic with vivid tales of volcanoes and icebergs, and the discovery of two possible new species.