Day: 20 November 1998

Snowmaking could increase heavy metals pollution

Levels of cadmium, copper, lead, manganese and zinc in Snake River, Colorado could increase by up to 12.5 percent if Arapahoe Basin ski area is granted permission for a snowmaking system.

Thailand prepares for water shortages

The northern provinces of Phrae and Lampang are expecting severe water shortages, in the next dry season, with many reservoirs already critically low.

$33 billion damage in wake of el nino

The 1997-1998 El Niño phenomenon is being blamed for the deaths of 21,706 in 27 countries, and caused $33 billion dollars in damage, according to the World Meterological Organization.

NGOs accuse shipping line of flaunting international hazardous waste laws

Greenpeace and the Basel Action Network (BAN) have accused Container shipping company, P&O Nedlloyd of breaking European hazardous waste laws by scrapping ships containing hazardous wastes in developing countries.

Climate talks agree deadline

After two weeks of negotiations between 170 nations, an agreement was reached in Buenos Aires last Saturday 14 November on deadlines for finalising outstanding details of the Kyoto Protocol to achieve a 5% reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases.

Store pulls direct-to-mouth PVC toys

Toys 'R' Us, a world-wide seller of toys, has announced it will have all direct-to-mouth toys that contain phthalates removed from its store shelves.

Indonesia – Environmental protection near collapse

Indonesia's financial crisis has meant the nation's efforts to prevent pollution and environmental degradation are "on the brink of collapse" according to Mr Sudarsono, Secretary to Indonesia's Minister for Environment. - Special report by Asia Environmental Review (ASER).

Leaked memo shows “collapse of public support” for GM crops

Greenpeace has released two leaked documents about the controversy over attempts to introduce genetically engineered food in the UK and Germany.

Turkey completes water project ahead of schedule

The build phase of the $900M Izmit Water Supply Project - Turkey's first ever water BOT scheme - has been finished five months ahead of schedule, and the project will now go into commercial operation in January 1999.

France publishes 1999 state of environment report

The French environmental statistics agency (IFEN) has published the 1999 edition of its annual state of the environment report.

Report confirms “excessive pesticides in French water”

Excessive levels of pesticides in French water have been confirmed by a recent report from the national environmental statistics agency IFEN. The report found around 100 substances at varying frequencies and levels, with the main pollutants being herbicides from the Triazine family.

Europe’s Recycling Laws Costing Packagers $10 Billion per Year

Europe's complex package recycling laws are costing industry about $10 billion per year in fees, data collection and package tracking for 15 countries, according to experts who spoke at the first "Take it Back!" Workshop Nov. 12 in Chicago, organized by Raymond Communications, Inc.

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