Tierramerica - Ecobrief

Ecobreves – VENEZUELA: Students' Eco-Ideas Win Prizes

By IPS Correspondents and - -
María José Zavala, 20, and Enrique Pacheco, 23, traveled this month to Germany as part of the prize they won in a university contest for environmental ideas, sponsored in Venezuela by the environmental group Vitalis.

Ecobreves – HONDURAS: How to Mitigate Climate Threats

By IPS Correspondents and - -
Some 30 indigenous Lenca communities from the western Honduran departments of Lempira and Copán will develop projects aimed at preventing their vulnerability to the effects of climate change.

Ecobreves – MEXICO: Fees for Water Will Preserve Green Zones

By IPS Correspondents and - -
A fund that will be financed by a five-percent hike in fees for potable water services will go to rural residents of 88,000 hectares surrounding the Mexican capital.

Ecobreves – BRAZIL: Costly Urban Pollution

By IPS Correspondents and - -
The polluted air in Brazil's largest cities is costing the public sector at least one billion dollars a year, according to the University of Sao Paulo's air pollution laboratory.

Ecobreves – ARGENTINA: More and More Whales

By IPS Correspondents and - -
Studies released in Argentina show that the southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) population is on the rise in the Atlantic, thanks to greater protection of the species.

Ecobreves – HONDURAS: Elite Forest Troops

By IPS Correspondents and - -
The Honduran Armed Forces announced the creation of a specialized elite military team to defend the forest and fight illegal trafficking of timber.

Ecobreves – GLOBAL: UN Day Dedicated to Climate Change

By IPS Correspondents and - -
Possible actions to confront climate change were the focus of United Nations Day, celebrated Oct. 24 with a seminar at the UN University headquarters in Japan.

Ecobreves – HONDURAS: Award for Indigenous Ecotourism Project

By IPS Correspondents and - -
The Moskitia Route, an ecotourism project involving four indigenous communities in Honduras, has received the global prize "Tourism for the People".

Ecobreves – BRAZIL: Climate Plan Up for Public Debate

By IPS Correspondents and - -
Citizens and activists have until Oct. 31 to suggest modifications to the National Climate Change Plan proposed by a committee made up of seven government ministries.

Ecobreves – CUBA: Biogas Plant Begins Operating

By IPS Correspondents and - -
A new biogas plant located at the capital's largest dump and with the capacity to process 20 tons of urban waste per day will generate enough electricity to supply 120 fully equipped households.

Ecobreves – CHILE: Eco-Education in Preschool

By IPS Correspondents and - -
The National Environment Commission (CONAMA) of Santiago is premiering on Oct. 29 the first manual for environmental education for kindergarteners and first and second graders.

Ecobreves – VENEZUELA: Like a Big Garbage Dump

By IPS Correspondents and - -
Venezuela produces some 27,000 tons of garbage each day, and most of it ends up in one of the 800 open-air dumps, which contaminate water, land, flora and fauna and contribute to the spread of disease among the population.

Ecobreves – HONDURAS: Government Accused of Siding with Polluter

By IPS Correspondents and - -
The 55 organizations that make up the Greater Alliance for Omoa, on the Honduran Atlantic coast, accused the Manuel Zelaya government of favoring the Gas del Caribe company, which has been charged with pollution violations.

Ecobreves – MEXICO: Surprise Award for Bicycle Program

By IPS Correspondents and - -
The Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) has recognized the Mexican capital's municipal government for its promotion of bicycle use, but cyclists and activists argue that it is not deserved.

Ecobreves – BRAZIL: More Indigenous Mayors

By IPS Correspondents and - -
Six Indians were elected to mayoral posts in Brazil this month, doubling the number of indigenous electoral victories from 2004.

Ecobreves – ARGENTINA: Córdoba Residents Protest Dump

By IPS Correspondents and - -
Residents of Bouwer, in the central Argentine province of Córdoba, are protesting a large garbage dump that city officials intend to maintain in the city until 2016.

Ecobreves – CHILE: Government Promotes Solar Panels

By IPS Correspondents and - -
The government of Chile this week will send a bill to Parliament to reduce taxes on the installation of solar panels on newly constructed homes that are worth up to 4,500 production units (Unidades de Fomento, UF), about 160,000 dollars.

Ecobreves – HONDURAS: Indians Aim to Generate Their Own Energy

By IPS Correspondents and - -
Residents of the indigenous town of Tomalá, in the western Honduran department of Lempira, are seeking resources to build a mini-hydroelectric dam that would generate 10 to 15 megawatts.

Ecobreves – BRAZIL: Housing Credits Require Certified Lumber

By IPS Correspondents and - -
The leading provider of housing finances in Brazil, the government-run Federal Economic Bank, will only finance buildings made from certified legally-cut lumber, beginning in 2009.

Ecobreves – VENEZUELA: Action for Sloths

By IPS Correspondents and - -
The southeastern district of the capital known as Baruta will place signs in public areas about the movement among trees -- and possible fall -- of brown-throated three-toad sloths (Bradypus variegatus), relatives of the anteater and the armadillo that move at just 200 meters per hour.

Ecobreves – CUBA: Vaccines for Hurricane-Hit Population

By IPS Correspondents and - -
Residents older than one year in the town of Holguín, one of the Cuban provinces hardest hit by Hurricane Ike, began receiving immunizations against leptospirosis with a homeopathic vaccine produced in Cuba.
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