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Environment and Sustainability
Feeding the hungry giant
How will China, a nation with 22% of the world’s population but with only 9% of the world’s arable land, continue to feed her people?
Little red taxis — they were everywhere. Blowing their horns. Weaving in and out of the traffic. Scaring me. And the bikes! Wherever I looked, little red taxis and bikes — my first and lasting impression of Beijing in 1995. And people! People all around me — people, people, people. All busy going somewhere. Doing something. Eating. Walking. Cycling. Eating. Did I say eating? Oh and can the Chinese eat! They do love their food.
Eco-label questioned
Consumers see red over questionable eco-labelling.
Green labels, which once made it easier for consumers to discern socially and environmentally responsible companies, are today leaving them frustrated, confused and deceived.
Penny Wong
Australia's first Asian-born woman in Parliament leads the country in talks about Climate Change.
Born of a Malaysian father and Australian mother, Penny Wong moved to Australia at the age of eight after her parents divorced. There she gained an interest in politics, and later earned her law degree.
Feeding the hungry giant (Part 2 of 2)
How will China, a nation with 22% of the world’s population but with only 9% of the world’s arable land, continue to feed her people?
< BACK to Feeding the hungry giant (Part 1 of 2)
Our Chico in heaven
This December, environmentalists the world over remember Chico Mendes, a Brazilian unionist and rubber tapper who fought tirelessly to stop the felling of trees by cattle ranchers in his beloved Amazon, and gave his life to his cause.
"At first I thought I was fighting to save rubber trees, then I thought I was fighting to save the Amazon rainforest. Now I realise I am fighting for humanity."
His fight ended exactly 20 years ago when those opposed to him savagely murdered him. He made a sacrifice to protect the environment long before it became fashionable and inspired many, including popular Mexican band Mana, which penned a moving Grammy-nominated tribute to him "Cuando los angeles lloran" (When the angels cry).
A malaria-free future?
It prevails in 105 countries and kills more people than AIDS and tuberculosis combined. Its victims include both old and young, and nearly half of those infected are in Asia. As another year dawns, are we any closer to eliminating malaria at last?
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), malaria is responsible for nearly 3 million deaths worldwide each year. It remains the most important and widespread tropical disease, and its treatment and control have become more difficult with the spread of drug-resistant strains of parasites and insecticide-resistant strains of mosquito vectors.
Bugged by the heat
As earth warms up, new species of insects have begun to establish themselves all across Europe, sparking concerns about biodiversity and public health.
Castiglione de Cervia, a village of 2,000 in northern Italy, was celebrating Ferragosto – a summer festival marked by collective rites, eating, drinking and sexual excesses – when one after another fell ill with weeks of high fever, exhaustion and excruciating bone pain.
Less oil for your car, more bang for your buck
John Taylor has several impressive world records under his belt. His latest one is one he created with his wife, Helen. Together, they set a new World Record for fuel efficiency in 2006.
Find out how to cut fuel usage by at least 10 percent so drivers have less money going into the fuel tanks and more into their pockets.
Around the world in 78 days in a Volkswagen Golf FSI 1.6
Billionaire blossoms
Yang Huiyan of Country Garden Holdings Co. has supplanted the "wastepaper queen" as the richest woman in China.
Wasn’t it only a few months ago that Zhang Yin, founder of China’s largest paper recycling firm, was named the richest woman in the country? Well, now she has been replaced.
