Other stories
Year of disasters speeds drive to pool knowledge
The World Summit on Sustainable Development in n Johannesburg in 2002 stressed the need for coordinating data on the state of the earth. 2005, with its bird flu, earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis proved them right. 58 countries and 47 global organisations now support a Global Earth Observation System of Systems.
European Doctors Call for Legislation
Europe's leading medical associations want a strict EU legal framework for chemicals. They say this is essential to prevent a further increase of cancer in Europe if a proposed chemicals bill is watered down as the chemicals industry wants.
Global energy meet agrees roadmap on renewables
Environment officials were in Beijing to discuss renewable energy and recommended that the U.N. Commission on Sustainable Development launch a 10-year framework to "substantially increase the use of renewable energy." Commitment to renewable forms of energy was said to be growing, and to targets - apart from by the U.S. China raised its target for renewable energy on Monday.
Chinese solar panels power army outposts
SunOasis is a company developing solar powered systems for remote users such as army outposts. It is also supplying solar power for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.80% of its raw materials are imported and of its output is exported.
New coal technology could help climate-German Steag
German coal-based generator Steag says that efficiency of coal-fired power plants could be increased enough to help meet climate protection targets, reducing their carbon dioxide (CO2) by 30 percent. Coal plants which supply just over 20 percent of the world's power and heating requirements. Coal generation plants are more expensive to build than gas-fired stations, but coal is much cheaper and more readily available.
Lawmakers Cut Funding for Yucca Mountain
Lawmakers have reduced the 2006 budget for the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump, which is behind schedule. They also replaced a House plan to supplement Yucca with nuclear waste interim storage sites by a $50 million plan to promote recycling spent nuclear fuel. $220 million was approved for construction of a plant at the federal Savannah River complex in South Carolina to convert weapons-grade plutonium into a mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel for commercial power reactors. $337 million goes to the National Ignition Facility at the Lawrence Livermore nuclear weapons lab in California. Funding was dropped for a proposed "bunker-buster" nuclear warhead.
$5.4 billion was allocated to the Corps of Engineers, $1 billion more than President Bush asked for. $8 million of that was requested by Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., for a plan to bring south Louisiana up to Category Five hurricane protection. Other Hurricane Katrina spending has been dealt with through separate spending bills.
House GOP Leaders Wrestle With Budget Cuts
The House Republican leaders' $54 billion deficit reduction package includes Arctic drilling, coastal drilling, a program that compensates companies hurt by unfair trade practices, and real-term cuts in government programs like Medicaid, food stamps and student loan subsidies. Republicans are among those balking at some of the provisions.
Pond Being Searched for Tornado Victims
Search teams were draining a large pond for victims of the tornado that devastated a mobile home park in Indiana. Five bodies and a lot of debris have been found so far, but further bodies are considered unlikely. The tornado travelled at 70 to 75 mph with the help of the Jet Stream and winds may have briefly topped 200 mph.
Japanese fleet sets out to double whale catch
A Japanese whaling fleet has set sail for the Antarctic to catch its share of the doubled target for whales that Japan has set itself, to the condemnation of many other countries.
Seals, Sea Lions Can Be Condor Food
California condors may benefit from the increase in harbour seals and sea lions along the West Coast. Conservationists are trying to encourage condors to eat them rather than dead animals that they provide. Condors used to eat sea animals 10,000 years ago, but turned to land animals when hunting reduced the number of sea animals available.
Sailing-Racing yachts capsize in Atlantic storm
Two yachts which capsized and a third lost its mast during an Atlantic race when the weather turned nasty, and the crews had to be rescued. Other yachts were damaged during the race.
High School Evacuated After Mercury Spill
A Nevada high school had to be evacuated after students spilled mercury in a classroom.
Two Drunken Moose Invade Home for Elderly
Two moose got drunk by eating fermenting apples and invaded an elderly home in southern Sweden. Police managed to drive them off, and all the apples were cleared away.
Index of topics in this series.
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