Page 155 - Environment
'No Planet B': Global youth demo for climate kicks off
Tens of thousands of young people across Asia skipped school Friday to march through the streets, kicking off a global day of student protests aiming to spark world leaders into action on climate change. Classrooms in capitals from Lagos to London were expected to be empty, as the ambitious organisers of the global student strike hoped to stage 1,000 demos in more than 100 countries. Students flooded into the streets in Wellington, Sydney, Bangkok and Hong Kong carrying placards that read "There is no planet B", "You're destroying our future" and "If you don't act like adults, we will." In Delhi, one of the world's most polluted cities, around 200 students took part in a colourful protest, waving ribbons, juggling and performing stunts with hoops. In Sydney, 18-year-old Charles Rickwood, warned that if nothing is done, Australia's famous Great Barrier Reef could be destroyed. "Especially if current trends in the environment continue, we'll see the one, two degrees increase in our ...
Crew from aborted Soyuz capsule dock safely at ISS
NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Alexey Ovchinin of the Russian space agency Roscosmos have safely docked at the International Space Station (ISS), five months after their Soyuz rocket booster malfunctioned soon after launch, the US space agency has said.
Feb sees 7 pc rise in import of vegetable oils
Import of vegetable oils in February rose 7.4 per cent to 12.42 lakh tonnes on sharp rise in shipments of refined palm oil, according to industry body SEA. Vegetable oils comprise of edible oil and non-edible oil. Oil marketing year runs from November to October. "Import of vegetable oils during February 2019 is reported at 1,242,533 tonnes compared to 1,157,044 tons in February 2018," Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA) said in a statement. While import of edible oil increased to 11,82,062 tonnes in February 2019 from 11,24,999 tonnes in the year-ago period, the inward shipments of non-edible oil nearly doubled to 60,471 tonnes from 32,045 tonnes. During November-February period of 2018-19 oil year, the overall import of vegetable oils went up by 1.61 per cent to 48,62,849 tonnes compared to 47,85,778 tonnes in the corresponding period of the previous year. "Ministry of Finance with effect from January 1, 2019, reduced import duty on palm oil and also reduced the duty ...
Smuggler arrested in Indonesia with over 2,000 endangered turtles
An Indonesian man has been arrested for trying to smuggle 2,000 endangered pig-nosed turtles, police said, marking the latest wildlife-trafficking arrest as the Southeast Asian nation battles the vast trade. Authorities in Papua province said they seized 2,227 of the palm-sized turtles which were stuffed into boxes on a boat docked in the remote town of Agats. "Officers saw a port worker carrying three big boxes and got suspicious," Papua police spokesman Ahmad Musthofa Kamal said late Thursday. "This is protected species and they are not for sale." Following the discovery, police arrested another man believed to be involved in the trafficking bid. The port worker was not detained. If convicted, the arrested man could face up to five years in prison and a 100 million rupiah ($7,000) fine, police said. It was not clear where the turtle shipment was headed. The pig-nosed turtle -- which has a distinctive snout-like nose and webbed feet -- is only found in Australia and New Guinea, an ...
Global student climate rally starts in New Zealand
Students in New Zealand launched a global wave of protests on Friday aimed at spurring world leaders into acting on climate change for the sake of future generations. Hundreds gathered in Wellington carrying placards reading "Time's Melting Away" and "Act Now or Swim", part of a grassroots movement planning to stage 1,000 demonstrations in more than 100 countries on Friday. The international student strike is set to see classrooms empty in cities across the globe, from Boston to Bogota, Dhaka to Durban and Lagos to London. "This is young people taking the reins and realising that they do have people power, that's really awesome," Abigail O'Regan, 20, told AFP. The protests were inspired by Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg, who camped out in front of parliament in Stockholm last year to demand action from world leaders on global warming. "We are only seeing the beginning," tweeted Thunberg, who has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for her activism. "I think that change is ..
UN alliance to halt environmentally destructive fashion practices
The UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion, launched at the UN Environment Assembly on Thursday, is seeking to halt the environmentally and socially destructive practices of fashion, and instead harness the industry as a driver for improving the world's ecosystems.
France pledges 500 million euros more to ISA
France will commit 500 million euros more to the International Solar Alliance (ISA), President Emmanuel Macron said at the third One Planet Summit on reversing climate change, here on Thursday.
US, Indian experts share ways to fight pollution
Indian and American experts will chalk out strategies to combat air pollution caused by crop burning, vehicular emission and construction dust at a workshop that began, here on Thursday.
Health Ministry team to assess WNV spread in Kerala
The government on Thursday said it has dispatched a multi-disciplinary Central team from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to assess the spread of West Nile Virus (WNV) in Kerala.
Power finally restored in Venezuela, says Information Minister
Venezuelan Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez on Wednesday (local time) said that the massive power outage, that led to a prolonged nationwide blackout, has been completely restored.CNN reported Rodriguez holding a press briefing, informing that the Venezuelan President "has decided to resume work activities throughout the country", from Thursday.He, however, added that, "School activities will remain suspended for another 24 hours."Venezuela, which is currently in midst of a political crisis, experienced an almost total blackout last week which left 22 out of the 23 states in the country without power.The electricity disruption hit the country last Thursday, with the national electricity supplier Corpoelec alleging "sabotage" at the Guri hydroelectric power plant.The information minister urged people to unplug appliances and turn off lights."Help us to help you," he said.Hospitals across Venezuela were also adversely affected due to the blackouts. An NGO, called Doctors for Health,
Norway MPs want Nobel for student climate campaigner Greta
Greta Thunberg, the Swedish school girl climate campaigner who has inspired worldwide protests, should be awarded this year's Nobel Peace prize, Norwegian lawmakers said Thursday. "We have proposed Greta Thunberg because if we do nothing to halt climate change it will be the cause of wars, conflict and refugees," Norwegian Socialist MP Freddy Andre Ovstegard told AFP. "Greta Thunberg has launched a mass movement which I see as a major contribution to peace," he added. Six months ago no one knew who Thunberg was when, as a 15-year-old, she camped outside Sweden's parliament next to a hand-written sign: "SCHOOL STRIKE FOR CLIMATE". Since then she has gone global, striking a chord with younger people disillusioned by the slow progress of the adult world in halting climate change. On Friday, thousands of students are expected to demonstrate in more than 100 countries in what activists say could be a milestone moment in a grassroots campaign to push world leaders into doing more. "We are ..
Maha nod for Rally for rivers is a land mark step : Isha
A pilot project proposed by National Rally for Rivers, a campaign by the Isha Foundation here, to rejuvenate Waghari river in Maharashtra has received the state cabinet nod and Rs 415 crore alloted for it, the foundation said Thursday, hailing it as a landmark step. Maharashtra cabinet nod to @rallyforrivers Waghari revitalisation project is a landmark step which will create a model & an example for the nation that ecology & economy can indeed work together," founder of the Isha Foundation Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev tweeted. The Maharashtra cabinet had on March 5 approved the pilot project in Yavatmal and the agriculture department had earmarked Rs 415 crore for project implementation, a release from the foundation said separately. The approval also includes formation of a Special Purpose Vehicle for the project, which will have representation from members of Rally for Rivers and other technical experts, it said. A team from the initiative had made a detailed ...
'Need to strengthen Nagaland's electricity billing mechanism'
The Power Department in Nagaland needs to strengthen its electricity billing and collection mechanism to increase revenue collection that would go a long way in improving the state's economy, Nagaland Commissioner and Secretary for Power Department, K D Vizo said Thursday. He said that power is an essential service and its interruption could endanger life, health or personal safety of the general population. As of now, Nagaland's power demand is estimated at 250 MW. The state's four power projects together generate 89.09 MW. The state spends Rs 296.97 crore to buy power to meet the shortfall while the revenue receipt stood at Rs 130.15 crore, government data showed. Speaking at the general conference of Association of Power Engineers Nagaland (APEN) in Kohima, Vizo stressed on the need to incorporate state-of-the-art technology to improve transmission, generation and distribution sector to enhance revenue collections. He said that power connection is still a costly ...
Kerala solar scam: 3 Congress MLAs booked for rape
The Kerala police on Thursday registered an FIR against three Congress legislators, likely to be named Lok Sabha candidates, on a complaint of sexual misconduct filed by Saritha S. Nair.
AfDB commits $25 bn to fight against climate change
The African Development Bank (AfDB) announced on Thursday it would provide 2.5 trillion shillings ($25 billion) over the next five years to help in the global fight against climate change.
Swedish activist nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old Swedish activist, who is a prominent voice in the fight against climate change, has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize this year.
Leaders appeal for 'urgent action' on environment
World leaders gathered in Kenya on Thursday to lend political muscle to UN environment talks, calling for "urgent action" to slow the destruction of natural habitats and accelerate funding for green development. French President Emmanuel Macron and Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta were among several heads of state in Nairobi for the fourth UN Environment Assembly -- a vast gathering of ministers, legal experts, charities and business leaders. The assembly aims to push countries to commit to slashing pollution and widening renewable energy, recycling and conservation. But it lacks the legal teeth to compel nations to act, and there is no prospect of it reaching a binding international action plan this week. "Current global statistics are quite sobering and projections for future generations are dire and demand urgent action," Kenyatta told delegates. "Climate change continues to be a major threat to sustainable development worldwide. And its impact places a disproportionately heavy ...
Govt proposes national green aviation policy
The civil aviation ministry will create a simplified regulatory regime to speed up clearances for airport development and other aviation projects while taking due care of environment sustainability, according to a white paper. In a white paper on 'National Green Aviation Policy' that has been put up for public comments, the ministry said aviation regulator DGCA would work with other government agencies for making bio-jet fuels commercially viable. Besides, the watchdog would assess and understand emissions from all aviation related sources, their contribution to the local air quality and their effect on compliance with local air quality regulations, as per the paper. According to the paper, the ministry would create a "favourable regulatory regime for clearances of aviation projects such as new airports development and expansion". There would be a special provision and timelines that would be worked out in collaboration with central and state government bodies, environment ministry, ..
'I was a Sari' collection showcased at UN meet
Circular Design Challenge 2019 winners designer duo Stefano Funari and Poornima Pande showcased their winning collection 'I was a Sari' on the sidelines of the Fourth UN Environment Assembly in the Kenyan capital.
NGT directs Delhi chief secy to submit quarterly report on solid waste management
The National Green Tribunal has directed the Delhi chief secretary to personally monitor the progress in the implementation of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in the national capital and asked him to submit a quarterly report. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel ordered that at least three wards, zones, circles in each municipal corporation may be notified within two weeks as model initially, which will be made fully compliant within the next six months. "The remaining wards/zones/circles may be made fully compliant in respect of environmental norms within one year. A quarterly report be furnished by the chief secretary, every three months. First such report shall be furnished by June 30," the bench, also comprising Justices S P Wangdi and K Ramakrishnan, said on March 11. The tribunal directed the chief secretary to personally monitor the progress, at least once in a month, with all the district magistrates and it said that the officers concerned may be
