Greenpeace activists arrested on oil drilling in the Arctic: the police (AFP)

Copenhagen (AFP) - two Greenpeace activists who scaled a platform for oil drilling off the coast of Greenland weekend to protest oil exploration in the Arctic were arrested during the night, police and environmental group, said Thursday.

"Last night, the police decided the time was right, and we have arrested two activists," Deputy police Chief of Greenland Morten Nielsen told AFP.

"They are being transported Nuuk (capital of Greenland) and it will be determined if they they will go before a judge", he added.

Greenpeace also said that two activists of 25 years, Luke Jones of Britain and Hannah Mchardy to the United States, had been arrested after having suspended in a "survival pod" under the platform of "leiv eiriksson" 53, 00-tonne four days.

"Our climbers are now in jail, but that won't stop it we opposed to the folly of drilling for oil that we can to burn and a region where a spill would be nearly impossible to clean," international Greenpeace militant oil Ben Ayliffe said in a statement.

The two activists arrived by Zodiac rubber early Sunday to the platform of 53 000 tonnes, which should begin to drill for oil (110 km) at 180 kilometres off the West coast of Greenland, to society Scottish Cairn Energy.

Greenpeace said the position of the pod prevented the drilling rig, but Cairn told AFP that it was not as drilling was no plan to start.

Deputy Chief of police Nielsen, said that the operation was led by the local police of Greenland is a semiautonomous Danish territory, but that the Danish Navy had been seen where rescue efforts are necessary.

Shortly before midnight (0000 GMT Thursday) "a mounted team operating from the platform broke in the pod", Greenpeace said, adding "Danish marine inflatable boats have been positioned below climbers.".

Cairn meanwhile said that he sought a court injunction to Netherlands against Greenpeace and the owners of its ships the MS Esperanza and the MS Arctic Sunrise.

"Cairn is asking for an order of the court requiring Greenpeace and ship owners to refrain from future disruption of legitimate operations of the offshore Cairn, in Greenland," said the statement.

Ayliff of Greenpeace described the move of the company as "try to us a legal hammer close our campaign for the launch of the oil companies of the Arctic."

View the original article here

Environment of China poses "challenges": official (AFP)

BEIJING (AFP) - China admitted it faced "difficulties and challenges" to clean up its environment, with pollution by toxic metals, aggravating the public and a severe drought further damage waterways.

Vice Minister of the environment Li Ganjie Friday reiterated a Government pledge to punish mining, recognized companies convicted of environmental offences in Mongolia-domestic, where protests fueled by concerns about the practices of the mining industry has erupted last month.

China's "overall environmental situation is still very serious and is facing many challenges and difficulties," Li said to journalists that his Department issued its annual report before world environment day, Sunday.

To clean up badly polluted waterways, reducing industrial pollutants, reduce the degradation of the rural land and a better balance between economic growth and environmental protection, the nation was quickly, he said.

"We are entered in a period where the sudden incidents affecting the environment or pollution accidents are frequently produce and where pollution of the environment is causing daily social contradictions,"Li said."".

Demonstrations erupted in Inner Mongolia last month after a Mongolian farmer was killed by a Chinese coal truck driver Han, may 10, but protesters also require action on the operating expenses of resources and damage to the environment.

China quickly strengthened security in the region of the North and announced a redesign of an accused to mining to encroach on the Prairie where the Mongolian herdsmen have raised animals for centuries.

"If we confirm that business relevant (mining) have violated the laws and regulations, I think that our local government and environment protection agencies will be severely punish", said Li.

Also promised to crack down on heavy metal pollution from mines and other factories, recognizing that incidents of lead poisoning - sometimes whole villages - were occurring at the national level.

"The incidents of pollution of heavy metals which are seriously endangering the health of the population and affecting social stability are quite severe", said Li.

Last year, China has been witness of 14 incidents of major pollution of heavy metals, including nine involving lead poisoning, said Li. In the first five months of 2011, seven of these incidents occurred.

The drought affecting the reaches and lower Yangtze, longest waterway of China, was exacerbating pollution in lakes and tributaries in the basin of the River, of which many were already seriously polluted, he said.

View the original article here

EPA, USDA, DOI commemorate World Day of environment (ContributorNetwork)

EPA has joined the Ministry of the Interior (DOI), Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Council of the White House on the quality of the environment to blow the world environment day on Sunday, June 5.

World environment day was created in a program built by participating countries in the United Nations, known as the United Nations Environment Programme, according to the official website of the United Nations world environment day. This celebrated international day celebrated the first Sunday in June is designed as a means of raising awareness to some of the environmental issues the most difficult international around the world. Each year has a specific theme, with this year's theme is "" forests: Nature at your Service. ""

At United States on 5 June this year, EPA, DOI and USDA using the theme of the forest focus on iconic but fragile national parks in the country, forests, and refuges of wildlife, and parks and forests at the local level and district.

EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson commented on the importance of recognizing the value of the forests of the nations and this means for the country as a whole: "forests are one of the greatest treasures of our world, our wildlife dear bring natural beauty, clean air and a location can call home." On world environment day, I am proud of our international partners to join in acknowledging the work we do together to make our communities cleaner and healthier places to live, work, play and learn. When we learn to love our fresh air, we also feel more compelled to protect - make our communities stronger and healthier. ?

The USDA also plays an important role in the conservation of the forest of the nation. Secretary of agriculture Tom Vilsack said, "" USDA, home to the United States Forest Service, has a particular interest in improving the management of our forests and meadows. We are making significant progress in the restoration of the basin and an approach of all lands to restore and maintain our precious natural resources, clean water, wildlife and recreation.

EPA, USDA and DOI include the federal initiative known as initiative of outdoor large (AGO) of America, which was launched by the Administration of Obama to solve a large number of issues of ecological conservation in the country.

According to the site Web of the United Nations Programme for the environment, cities around the world participate world way of the environment in many ways, with many speaking holding and tree-planting events.

Rachel Bogart provides a thorough analysis of local environmental issues current and new in Chicago. As a student of the suburbs of Chicago, seeking to obtain two degrees of science, applied his knowledge and his passion for the two subjects to gather more public awareness.

View the original article here

Nations of the basin of rainforest agree to tackle deforestation (AFP)

BRAZZAVILLE (AFP) - the 32 countries sharing pools of forest tropical important three of the world agreed Friday to cooperate in the fight against deforestation and called on industrialized countries to help fund their efforts.

The agreement came in a statement at the end of a first meeting in the Congolese capital Brazzaville to experts in the basin of the Congo, Central Africa, the Amazon in South America basin and the basin of Borneo-Mekong River in Southeast Asia.

The three basins represent 80 per cent of the tropical forests of the world and two-thirds of its biodiversity, according to experts.

Participating Nations agreed in a statement to "assert their common interest in various multilateral fora" and to "take concrete measures to promote dialogue and cooperation between the countries."

Nations acknowledged "the links between deforestation and degradation of the forest and socio-economic sustainable development issues and poverty reduction."

The statement is also known as the international community to "support their efforts" and help provide "long-term and transparent financing for sustainable forest management".

Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso, said that the agreement would provide "a new dynamism... of solidarity between the basins".

Congo and other African basin countries have lobbied for a permanent structure to coordinate efforts, but were simply grateful statement "the necessity to put in place a platform for promotion and cooperation between the countries of the basins three forest".

The idea of a permanent structure ran against opposition from some heavyweight nations at the meeting, as the Brazil.

"It was premature, the head of the Brazilian delegation, Paulino Franco de Carvalho, told AFP, adding that it was not necessary for a"new bureaucracy"when there are other institutions of international cooperation already.

View the original article here

China says deals with pollution in Inner Mongolia (AP)

BEIJING - a Chinese official said that the Government and local organizations focus on pollution problems that sparked clashes leading to a wave of ethnic protests through the Inner Mongolia.

The events of last month following the assassination of two Mongolians seeking to block mining operations and the transportation of coal that people complained about the Prairies of damage and cause pollution.

Vice Minister of the environment Li Ganjie said Friday that "the situation has abated and I am satisfied that the relevant issues will be reviewed".

He said he believes that local governments and agencies for the protection of the environment will be empowering companies that break laws and regulations.

View the original article here

18 Greenpeace activists climbed the Greenland oil rig (AP)

STOCKHOLM - Greenpeace said 18 of its members climbed 53,000 tons oil drilling platform in Arctic waters off the coast of Greenland to protest against a Scottish drilling in deep water by an oil company he.

Activists demand a plan for how to manage an oil spill potential Cairn Energy release.

The environmental group said activists approached Leiv Eiriksson platform by five inflatable stars and soared to rig early Saturday before making their way to the Office of the Manager of drilling. She said that an oil response plan has not been published.

Greenpeace calls for an oil spill in the region would be almost impossible to clean because of the remoteness and freezing.

Drilling began this week, and already, two Greenpeace activists were arrested for trying to prevent it.

View the original article here

Tropical "hot spots" can get too hot to grow (AFP)

PARIS (AFP) - climate change is on the right track to disrupt food crops of lifeline across large parts of Africa and Asia already mired in chronic poverty, according to an international study published Friday.

More than 350 million people are facing a "Storm" conditions for food disaster, warns the report by scientists at the Consultative Group on international agricultural research (CGIAR).

Temperature increases projected by the specialists of the climate one could, by 2050, shorten the seasons below the critical threshold of growth, aggravate the variability of weather and make several regions dominated by subsistence inappropriate for the main crops.

If these areas first have a history of persistent food shortages, the mixture could be fatal.

"We are beginning to see much more clearly where the effect of climate change on agriculture could intensify the hunger and poverty," said Patti Kristjanson, researcher in the research programme of the CGIAR climate change, Agriculture and food security (CCAFCS).

Farmers know from experience dealing with temperamental weather patterns by planting time changing and the movement of livestock.

But climate change fast and could force them to use "entirely new crops or new farming systems", and many may not able to adapt, Kristjanson said.

The 100-page study identifies points hot "potential food crisis" by the superposition of three kinds of data on global and regional maps.

It identifies areas of heat above optimal conditions - or even downright tolerance - for major crops, including rice, maize and beans.

Average maximum temperatures during the growing seasons, for example, are poised to rise above 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) in some parts of the West and South Africa, the India and China by 2050.

In some areas agricultural growing seasons can be short at least five per cent, and considered to be in any other year on the other variation of rainfall is probably exceed 21 per cent, as thresholds of viability for some cultures, the study found.

To assess potential impacts, agricultural density and current food insecurity are also taken into account.

"When you put these maps together, they indicate places in the world, where the arrival of the stressful growing conditions could be particularly disastrous," said Polly Ericksen, researcher at the International Institute of research of the livestock of the CGIAR in Nairobi.

Even in rich countries, climate impacts can be very disturbing - French farmers, reeling from the worst drought of spring, in more than a century are slaughtering herds due to lack of food.

But in many countries in Africa and Asia, where farmers are already struggling to meet basic needs, "survival is strongly linked to the fate of regional crop and livestock yields," said Eriksen.

Scientists are working hard to breed new strains of grain staple that will be able to withstand a future warming, but some areas may have to new crops completely to meet the nutrition needs, researchers said.

"The window of opportunity to develop innovative solutions that can effectively address these challenges is limited, said Philip Thornton, a CCAFS researchers and co-author of the study."

"The major adaptation efforts are needed now if we want to avoid the serious food security and livelihood problems later.

View the original article here