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Friday, November 6, 2026
News and Views from the Global South
ENVIRONMENT: Preserve Peru’s Biodiversity, Save the World
Peru, second in Latin America for total area of tropical forests, has adopted international laws, instruments and strategies to protect its wealth of flora and fauna. But those tools have not yet had much effect.Ecobreves – MEXICO: Testing Tiny Device to Fight Epilepsy
Mexican researchers say they are ready to involve patients with epilepsy in tests of a millimeter-sized device placed in the brain and which releases substances to control the illness.Ecobreves – ARGENTINA: New Environmental Party
Political leaders and environmental activists in Argentina this month founded the Green Initiative Party, which will field its own candidates in June’s legislative elections.Ecobreves – HONDURAS: Gas Company Case Goes to OAS
Residents, environmentalists and civil society groups will ask the Organization of American States to intercede on their behalf with the governments of Mexico and Honduras to relocate installations of Gas del Caribe, a Mexican firm that has caused damage in the Honduran region of Omoa.
Tourism Threatens Natural Treasure
A unique natural and geological site in the Dominican Republic hangs in the balance in the debate between ecotourism and major hotel expansion.Ecobreves – BRAZIL: Final Steps to Eliminate Ozone-Depleting Gases
The Brazilian government this month launched its HCFC (hydrochlorofluorocarbon) Elimination Program, in keeping with the Montreal Protocol, whose goal is to halt consumption of these gases and eliminate them by 2030.Preserve Peru, Save the World
Serious threats to Peru’s natural wealth and biodiversity mean it is urgent to get its regulations up and running.
SCIENCE: Questions Surround Mexican Genome Project
In Mexico scientists are seeking volunteers who are obese, diabetic or suffering from cancer or other diseases, in order to study their genes. The results will help fill in a genetic map of the Mexican population.Ecobreves – BRAZIL: Agrarian Reform Also Deforests
The settlements created or officialized by Brazilian agrarian reform in 2008 contributed 21 percent of deforestation in the nine states that are part of the Amazon jungle, according to a new report by the national agrarian reform and settlements institute, INCRA.Ecobreves – VENEZUELA: Newborn Whale Shark Rescued
A newborn whale shark (Rhincodon typus), measuring some 40 centimeters long, was found this month by artisanal fisherfolk off the coast of northeast Venezuela and taken to the Marine Museum of Isla Margarita.Ecobreves – HONDURAS: Spain Aids in Protecting Hummingbird
Spain has granted Honduras 1.9 million dollars to develop sustainable programs in the habitat of the endangered emerald hummingbird (Amazilia luciae).Ecobreves – CUBA: Urban Agriculture Boosts Production
The urban agriculture movement in Cuba produced 409,668 tons of fresh vegetables and herbs in the first quarter of this year, and is now working to offer products even at the height of the northern summer season.Ecobreves – CHILE: Pets All the Rage in Santiago
Keeping pets, especially dogs and cats, is a daily reality for more and more residents of the Chilean capital, according to a survey by the social studies and public opinion center at the private Central University.
Exotic Fish Has Bad Reputation but High Yields
A foreign catfish in Cuba is a symbol of all the challenges posed by exotic species, which once introduced in a habitat become invasive.
Questions Surround Mexican Genome
In deciphering the population’s genome, Mexico has entered new scientific territory, replete with legal and ethical challenges.
HEALTH: Science on the Trail of New Flu’s Secrets
Scientists around the world are trying to decipher the influenza H1N1 virus in order to develop a vaccine, while others are tracking its origins to fight its spread more effectively.Ecobreves – BRAZIL: Biodegradable Plastic from Sugarcane
Brazil will produce 200,000 tons a year of biodegradable plastic made from sugarcane. This raw material could be used to make fuel tanks for vehicles and containers for yogurt, milk, detergents and other products.Ecobreves – LATIN AMERICA: Unionists Demand Eco-Jobs
Labor unionists in Latin America and the Caribbean are calling for greater participation in sustainable development through the promotion of jobs in environmentally friendly technologies.Ecobreves – MEXICO: Nudist Resort Destroys Mangrove
Residents of Marquelia, a coastal town of some 15,000 people in the southwestern Mexican state of Guerrero, have complained that municipal authorities allowed the destruction of mangrove forests in an area where a nudist resort is to be built.Ecobreves – CENTRAL AMERICA: A Digital System to Avoid Natural Disasters
The countries of Central America will set up a digital platform to detect areas of risk of natural disasters, and to share experiences in prevention and mitigation, reported the Honduran Permanent Commission for Contingencies, Copeco.
Science on the Trail of New Flu's Secrets
Using genetic studies, scientists are seeking conclusive answers about influenza virus A/H1N1, which continues to mutate.« Previous Page — Next Page »
Tierramérica is the main communications platform on sustainable development and the environment in Latin America and the Caribbean. It is produced by IPS Noticias, the agency’s Spanish-language service, which created it jointly with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), with later support from the World Bank. The weekly editions of Tierramérica are published in Spanish, Portuguese and English and are picked up and printed by dozens of media outlets in the region. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
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