The environment in the news wednesday, 15 August 2007 unep and the Executive Director in the News
Bangkok Post : Industry may swallow more green areas
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- Viet Nam News : Animals can seek refuge in Cu Chi
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Bangkok Post : Industry may swallow more green areasAPINYA WIPATAYOTIN More green areas in Rayong's Ban Chang district are likely to become industrial zones because of the government's strong support for the petrochemical industry, a senior local town planning official has warned. Suraphan Klinkachorn said it was likely petrochemical firms would soon ask for a change to the district plan to serve the planned expansion of the industry. Mr Suraphan said there was still room at Map Ta Phut industrial estate in Muang district, but investors were not interested because of the high cost of the land. ''We still have more than 20,000 rai at Map Ta Phut industrial estate which can serve the expansion of the industry,'' he said. ''But, from my experience, petrochemical firms will look for other sites where land is cheaper''. Mr Suraphan was speaking at a seminar on Map Ta Phut industrial estate organised by the Thai Society for Environmental Journalists yesterday. ''What the companies usually do is to push for a change of town planning, from green to purple zones,'' he said. The most likely site was in Ban Chang district. Under town planning regulations a green zone is for agriculture and residential areas, while a purple zone is for industrial activities, including the heavy industries that can affect the environment and local communities. Mr Suraphan's comments follow a report the Asia Industrial Estate in Bang Chang district is seeking about 700 rai of land for two petrochemical plants. Local residents are strongly opposed to it and a group of them yesterday petitioned the provincial governor. The environmental impact assessments for the new petrochemical plants have not yet been approved by the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP). Santi Boonprakub, chief of the ONEP environmental impact assessment division defended the expansion of the petrochemical industry in the district. He said the industry no longer posed any threat to the environment and people living nearby as the companies had adopted stringent environmental protection measures. Villager leader Sutti Atchasai condemned government officials and industry operators for failing to tackle pollution in the province. At least 10,000 people could be expected at a protest next month against a planned coal-fired power plant at Map Ta Phut, he said. http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/15Aug2007_news04.php ……………………………………. Viet Nam News : Animals can seek refuge in Cu Chi(13-08-2007) HCM CITY — The Wildlife At Risk (WAR) and HCM City Forest Protection Department has opened a wildlife rescue centre to fight against the illegal trade in endangered animals. Cu Chi Rescue Centre is the first multi-species wildlife hospital and holding facility in southern Viet Nam. Its main purpose is to help FPD staff enforce the law against the killing and capturing of endangered wildlife by providing accommodations and care for animals confiscated from illegal traders. The centre has an environmental awareness facility designed to educate the public on the importance of conserving wildlife. The facility features educational displays and information about the country’s biodiversity, threats posed by the illegal wildlife trade and the vital role of the rescue centre in helping FPD enforce the law. The main objectives are to raise awareness of Viet Nam’s unique natural heritage, particularly among the younger generation, highlight the plight of the country’s beleaguered wildlife, generate support for the work at the rescue centre and encourage more people to take an active role in conservation. WAR hopes that the displays will help to change traditional attitudes towards wildlife in Viet Nam so that it is viewed as a long-term national asset, rather than a disposable commodity. Officials hope the facility will attract a variety of visitors including local residents, Vietnamese and foreign tourists, biology students and school groups. The centre became operational late last year. An official opening ceremony will be held on 17th August 2007. After the ceremony, the awareness building and the less sensitive areas of the rescue centre will open to the public. Wildlife currently held at the centre includes sun bears, several primates, monitor lizards, water dragons, pythons and a wide variety of turtle species. Buying and selling wild animals is big business, not only in Viet Nam and other countries in Asia, but throughout the world. The illegal wildlife trade in Asia has reached an extreme. Wild animals are being hunted, killed or captured on a massive scale in order to satisfy the enormous demand for exotic meat, animal skins and traditional medicine that use wildlife ingredients, and to supply the international pet trade. Some of these animals are dangerously close to extinction. Others are becoming increasingly rare. If the slaughter continues at the present rate, Viet Nam’s forests, rivers and seas will soon be empty, according to a WAR press release. The centre also aims to promote high standards in animal husbandry. — http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/showarticle.php?num=01ENV130807 ……………………………………. TVNZ, New Zealand : Volcano spews ash and rocksAug 14, 2007 10:40 PM A volcano on the northern tip of Indonesia's Sulawesi island has started spewing ash and rocks, gradually sending lava debris down its slopes, but no evacuation had taken place, an official said. Mount Soputan, 2,175 kilometres northeast of the capital Jakarta, was no threat to the nearest village, located 11km from its crater, even in the event of an actual eruption, said Saut Simatupang, head of Indonesia's Vulcanology Survey. "We have not raised its alert status to the maximum because it is unlikely to erupt in a way that would harm the nearest village," Simatupang said by telephone from his office in the city of Bandung. Another volcano only 175km north of Mount Soputan has shown increased activity since last week, prompting officials to raise its alert status one notch on Saturday. Mount Karangetang, on the diver's resort island Siau, is one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia aside from Merapi and Krakatau, Simatupang said. "We are keeping it on our watch list, but things look safe at the moment." Indonesia has the highest number of active volcanoes in any country, sitting on a belt of intense volcanic and seismic activity known as the "Pacific Ring of Fire". http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411749/1301261 ............................................... Directory: cpi -> briefs briefs -> The environment in the news briefs -> The environment in the news briefs -> The environment in the news briefs -> The environment in the news briefs -> The environment in the news briefs -> The environment in the news briefs -> The environment in the news briefs -> The environment in the news briefs -> The environment in the news Download 361.33 Kb. Share with your friends:
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