Leprosy bacillus decoded
French and British scientists have decoded the genetic make up of the bacillus that causes leprosy, a chronic nerve-killing disease that affects worldwide two million people worldwide, the Pasteur
News
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Food for though
Ever notice that the people most vocal against genetically modified foods are the ones least likely to be debiliated by malnutrition? But in many parts of Asia, such as China, people are less likely
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Leap of faith
China's embrace of genetically modified crops is set to revolutionize farming. Unlike in the West, where an emotional debate is raging on the side effects of inserting foreign genes into plant
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An elephantine problem
Trade in rare species should be permitted, but only if it can be monitored to ensure it does not endanger the species' survival. These passions are on view in Nairobi, at a meeting of the convention
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Environment audit
The government has proposed to make environmental audit mandatory for companies registered under the Companies Act 1956. An amendment to the Companies Act soon would make it mandatory on the company
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Fix achievable targets in forestry sector, says Baalu
Minister for environment and forests T R Baalu has called for formulating realistic resource mobilisation plans and fixing achievable targets in the foresty sector, considering the overall economic
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Proposed amendments to Forest Act sent to Cabinet
The ministry for environment and forests has already proposed necessary amendments to the Forest Conservation Act and has sent to the Cabinet for approval, said highly placed sources in the ministry.
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Excitement at CITES
Every two years, the delicate sensibilities of conservationists are roughed up by a bunch of hard-nosed diplomats at an international meeting on trade in endangered species and the same is happening
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Gelatine to deal with oil slicks
German researchers have developed a method to transform crude oil and other liquid organic substances to a solid state that may help manage environmental disasters resulting from oil spills and ship
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Plea to ban mining in Kudremukh National Park
The fourth National Consultation on Wildlife Conservation and People's livelihood Rights has unanimously called for total ban on mining in the Kudremukh National Park. The national park is from where
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Earth Day turns 30 and stretches across globe
Earth Day celebrations are planned across the globe this week, marking the 30th year for the annual attempt by organisers to ban the masses together in an effort to save the planet from environmental
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Africa agrees to delay sales of ivory
African countries agreed to delay ivory sales for at least two years to give them time to assess the threat that poaching poses to the elephant's survival. The compromise agreement, hammered out
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Clinton protects giant redwoods
In the shadow of one of the world's oldest and largest trees, President Bill Clinton granted permanent protection this weekend to groves of California's giant sequoia redwoods, calling them "the
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The protests are wrong
There are fair criticisms to be made of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the free-trading world order that exists around them. But when thousands take to the streets to demand the
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Incentives soon for sandalwood growers
Karnataka Forest Minister K H Ranganath today informed the Legislative Council that the State government was contemplating to bring about suitable amendments to laws to encourage growing of sandal
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'Green cover' project
A 'Green cover' project is to be implemented in Madurai by the Corporation of Madurai is association with Tamil Nadu District Forest
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Bengal tops in fish production
West Bengal tops in fish production in the country, followed by Gujarat, Kerala and Tamil
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Canada to protect endangered species
The Canadian Government introduced a proposed law this week intended to protect endangered species from extinction. The legislation would impose fines of up to C$1 million (HK$5.3 million) on
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AIDS epidemic will exact toll on world economies
Report : AIDs is threatening to undo decades of development in Africa, and continues to menace Russia, Eastern Europe and Asia, World Bank president James Wolfensohn warned yesterday. Wolfensohn told
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Timber growers losing
The actual farmers of the Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) presently earns much less compared to what larger companies earn by producing products from them, said forestry experts today in Kathmandu.