Panel reinforces Ecuador award halt in Chevron case
(Reuters) – An arbitration panel reinforced an order that Ecuador’s government seek to suspend an $18 billion court award against U.S. oil company Chevron Corp over pollution in the South American country’s rainforest.
A year after its original order, the three-person panel, working under The Hague’s Permanent Court of Arbitration, told the Republic of Ecuador on Thursday to “take all measures necessary” through its judicial, legislative or executive branches to suspend enforcement of the award at home and abroad.
It is the latest sign that the landmark litigation, which has run almost two decades, could go on for years longer as it works its way through legal channels outside the country where the pollution occurred.
Chevron has also appealed last February’s ruling against it to Ecuador’s top court. The California company inherited the case with its 2001 takeover of Texaco, which left Ecuador nine years earlier after three decades in the country.
The arbitrators, who previously ordered Ecuador to take measures to suspend the damages without specifying how, are weighing whether they should decide if Ecuador violated a U.S.-Ecuador treaty by failing to ensure Chevron had a fair trial.
But the plaintiffs awarded the $18 billion a year ago say they could try to collect in countries where Chevron has assets, and believe the panel’s ruling will not affect those plans.
Pablo Fajardo, lead lawyer for the local communities in that case, argued in a statement on Friday that the panel’s ruling violated provisions of Ecuador’s constitution prohibiting interference in its courts, as well as treaties obligating the government to protect citizens’ rights to seek legal redress.
“The United States would never abide by such a ruling,” said Karen Hinton, Washington D.C.-based spokeswoman for the Ecuadorean plaintiffs. “Nor will Ecuador or any other country that has a system based on due process of law.”
TO ECUADOR AND BACK
The plaintiffs accused Texaco of dumping oil-drilling waste in unlined pits, causing illnesses among local people. They began the case in 1993 in New York, before it was moved to a court in the Amazonian town of Lago Agrio nearly a decade later.
Anticipating defeat in Lago Agrio, Chevron filed to set up the arbitration tribunal in September 2009, and the company’s general counsel, Hewitt Pate, said on Friday it would seek opportunities with Ecuador to resolve the arbitration.
“Chevron welcomes the constructive steps that Ecuador has recently taken, such as the announcement that Petroecuador will remediate sites impacted by
Article source: Source
Sewage dumping disrupts water supply in China city
BEIJING |
BEIJING (Reuters) – About 50,000 residents in a southern Chinese city had their water supplies disrupted after a fish farm discharged sewage into the local water source, state media said Sunday, in the country’s latest pollution incident.
Authorities in Foshan city, an industrial part of export- dependent Guangdong province close to Hong Kong, discovered the problem Saturday and immediately stopped taking water from the stream, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
“Initial investigations showed the aquatic farm … had discharged waste water into the stream,” it said.
The part of the city affected has since taken measures to make up for the lost supply, and as of Sunday the number of people facing disruption had come down to around 1,000 people, Xinhua added.
Pollution, especially when it threatens relatively prosperous urban citizens, is a growing source of concern for Chinese people and has even sparked protests, a major worry for the stability-obsessed ruling Communist Party.
In 2005, a chemical explosion sent an 80-km long benzene slick flowing along the Songhua River, forcing tap water to be suspended in cities in Northeast China and Russia in the dead of winter. The accident was initially covered up.
In recent weeks, two water disasters have come to public attention — waste from metal processing plants sent cadmium levels soaring in the Longjiang river, which ultimately flows into the heavily populated Pearl River Delta, and a South Korean chemicals barge sank in the Yangtze River, releasing phenol that caused tap water to smell strange in the city of Zhenjiang.
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)
Article source: Source
Nuclear Engineering Firm ENERCON Expands to Europe and Middle East
Nuclear Engineering Firm ENERCON Expands to Europe and Middle East
PR Newswire — February 20, 2012
KENNESAW, Georgia, February 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ –
- ENERCON adds Abu Dhabi and Belgium to make 21 offices total
Enercon Services, Inc. (ENERCON [http://www.enercon.com ]) has added two international offices in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and Brussels, Belgium to their expanding company, bringing the total of the company’s offices to 21. Founded in 1983, ENERCON is a highly respected engineering, nuclear licensing, environmental, technical and management services firm.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111122/AQ11481LOGO-b)
ENERCON President John Richardson said, “Our New Plant Services Division [http://www.enercon.com/new_plant_services/services/deployment.php ] has opened offices in Europe and the Middle East to respond to the growing demand for superior services in engineering, licensing, operations and outage support. The opening of these two offices focuses resources on developing business in new nuclear power markets in Europe, especially Central Europe, and the Middle East, where a number of countries are looking to develop new nuclear power programs, or expand their existing nuclear power programs in light of the Fukushima accident. Many countries recognize that nuclear power is an essential element in improving energy security and in reducing carbon emissions that can contribute to global warming.”
ENERCON provides a broad range of professional services to private, public, and government sector clients throughout the United States. With 19 U.S. offices [http://www.enercon.com/our_company/locations.php ] and over 1,200 professionals in a broad range of disciplines, ENERCON has substantial capabilities that help clients address both today’s and tomorrow’s energy and environmental needs. In 2011 Engineering News Record (ENR) ranked ENERCON in the top 200 of all International Design Firms and third in the U. S. for Nuclear Plant Design Firms.
Subject Codes: PC/t.120220111648520, PR/dest.Public, PT/lang.en, RE/Georgia, RE/Belgium, RE/Middle_East, IN/OIL, IN/UTI, IN/ALT, SU/CXP
ET Solar Launches Global Product Roadshow
ET Solar Launches Global Product Roadshow
PR Newswire — February 20, 2012
NANJING, China, February 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ –
ET Solar Group Corp. (“ET Solar”), one of the global leading solar one-stop solution providers, today announces a global roadshow to promote the company’s new module products.
The roadshow is scheduled to consist of various conferences between February and July this year in 13 countries across Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East.
The new module products to be promoted over the roadshow include Moly (Mono-like) modules, Dual-box modules, Anti-glare modules, and Chromatic modules. These products were developed in the past 6 to 12 months to increase unit output, lower production cost, enhance operating safety and offer remote operability.
Mr. Dennis She, President and Chief Executive Officer of ET Solar, commented: “It is our firm belief that solar industry will only grow when new products that offer stronger operating efficiencies and lower cost are constantly brought to the market. In the past, we have made tremendous efforts to develop and introduce new products to our customers. We are now pleased to be on the road again to present our latest technological achievements that will make solar energy more efficient and affordable. Our research and development aim at expressing our dedication towards innovation and excellence.”
About ET Solar
ET Solar is one of the global leading solar one-stop solution providers. With local sales and marketing subsidiaries and offices in Asia, Europe, and North America, ET Solar has provided solar modules, turnkey solutions services and PV balance of system components to its customers in over 50 countries. To learn more about ET Solar, visit http://www.etsolar.com.
Subject Codes: PC/t.120220050330363, PR/dest.Public, PT/lang.en, RE/China, IN/CPR, IN/OIL, IN/UTI, IN/ECP, IN/ALT, IN/GRE, SU/PDT
Thin Film Amorphous Silicon Solar Cell Industry Global and China Market 2012 Deep Research Report
ResearchMoz: Thin Film Amorphous Silicon Solar Cell Industry Global and China Market 2012 Deep Research Report
PR Newswire — February 20, 2012
ALBANY, New York, February 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ –
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Johnson Controls at the 82nd Auto-Salon in Geneva
Johnson Controls at the 82nd Auto-Salon in Geneva
PR Newswire — February 20, 2012
HANOVER, Germany, February 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ –
Johnson Controls Presents Next-Generation Energy Storage Solutions
Johnson Controls Power Solutions breathes life into hybrid and electric powertrains. At the 82nd Geneva Motor Show (8-18 March 2012), the market leader in vehicle batteries is presenting a technical highlight: Johnson Controls’ next generation low profile prismatic lithium-ion cells and submodules that feature all the components necessary to construct versatile, cost-efficient lithium-ion battery systems. Visitors can also test drive a Ford Transit Connect Electric (Essais Vert, PAV56) and learn more about the company’s full range of energy storage solutions (Pavillon Vert, PAV22).
Johnson Controls is showcasing its comprehensive battery expertise, from Start-Stop batteries to the prismatic lithium-ion cells for hybrid and electric cars. “Pavillon Vert at the autoshow is dedicated to sustainability. With our next generation energy storage solutions that help our customers to deliver more fuel efficient cars to consumers, we fit perfectly in this special “green” area of the Geneva autoshow,” explains Stefan Suckow, managing director at Johnson Controls. “We’re currently working on making lithium-ion batteries more affordable with the aim of further launching them onto the mass market.”
More affordable energy storage for hybrid and electric cars
Submodules are the electric heart of hybrid and electric cars and represent a key technology for further advancement. The next generation of submodules features prismatic cells as compared to today’s cylindrical cells, requiring less installation space and making them easier to integrate into cars. The submodules feature all the necessary components such as storage cells, an electric collector system, monitoring electronics, a cooling system and mechanical mounting options. Modular systems are easier to adapt to different cars, shortening development times and making batteries more affordable to produce. Johnson Controls currently plans to produce submodules beginning in 2014, and as part of its application pending under the national showcase project, the company could launch these automatic production capabilities at its Hanover facility which will help to further reduce battery costs.
A Ford Transit Connect Electric delivery vehicle powered by a Johnson Controls lithium-ion battery will also be available for test drives on location. “Eco-friendly vehicles represent the future and Johnson Controls is promoting this development,” explains Stefan Suckow. “We want to demonstrate that with our trade fair stand at the Auto-Salon in Geneva.”
For more information, please contact:
Ina Longwitz Johnson Controls Power Solutions EMEA Am Leineufer 51 30419 Hanover Germany Tel.: +49(0)511-975-1031 Email: ina.longwitz@jci.com
Subject Codes: PC/t.120220030225567, PR/dest.Public, PT/lang.en, RE/United_Kingdom, RE/Germany, IN/OIL, IN/EUT, IN/GAS, IN/GRE, SU/PDT
SPIE Shares its Experience as a Charging Station Installer
Electric Vehicles: SPIE Shares its Experience as a Charging Station Installer
PR Newswire — February 20, 2012
CERGY, France, February 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ –
First edition of “Assises Nationales des Infrastructures de Charge”, electric vehicule charging infrastructure exhibition, Nice – 16 and 17 February 2012.
Electric vehicles: SPIE shares its experience as a charging station installer
SPIE is taking part in the first “Assises Nationales des Infrastructures de Charge” exhibition held in Nice on February 16 and 17 to promote the deployment of electric vehicles charging stations.
By supporting this exhibition’s first edition, SPIE aims to showcase its experience in the reductions of greenhouse gases in the transport sector, one of the major sources of emissions in France.
SPIE is especially active in the installation and maintenance of infrastructures supporting electric mobility for public and private transport on both local and nationwide scales in France. Its principal customers are car manufactures, industrial firms in general, local and regional authorities and commercial sector firms.
SPIE offers its expert advice on the various solutions that may be adopted according to the customer’s charging requirements, provides them with assistance from design through to maintenance, including the provision of parking places reserved for the charging of electric vehicles.
10% of the Group’s vehicle fleet is to be electric
Strongly committed to reducing the environmental impact of its business activities, SPIE is taking steps to cut down on waste from its work sites and also to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions linked to all its business travel requirements. The major target for 2015 is increase the Group’s fleet of electric vehicles to reach 10% of its total vehicle fleet (including 17% for the “utility” category) by purchasing 330 3m3 utility vehicles and 400 company cars (2 seaters). With the development of electric mobility, SPIE plans to cut its CO2 emissions by 3,000 tonnes a year. In addition, it is to provide its personnel with eco-driving training and promote the organisation of car-pooling within the company.
A long-term commitment
SPIE, the first company to have obtained the “energy efficiency” accreditation awarded by SERCE (French association of electrical engineering and HVAC companies), has for several years been pursuing a strategy to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of its customers and its own activities. Optimising energy efficiency through energy performance contracts, energy saving certificates and energy-efficiency services, etc., is a top priority. In implementing its eco-responsible approach, SPIE focuses on concrete achievements in developing the world around us.
Subject Codes: PC/t.120220020246522, PR/dest.Public, PT/lang.en, RE/United_Kingdom, RE/France, IN/AUT, IN/ECP, IN/ALT, SU/PDT
Processed Children’s Food Causing Hyperactive Kids
A study on baby food reveals that processed and artificial food for kids are actually the ones causing hyperactivity among children. This is because the food contains the ingredient coal tar, which is found i many cheese flavored products and beverages. Coal Tar is considered an industrial waste derived chemical, an artificial ingredient known as Tartrazine.
In the early 2007, Tartrazine, which is also known as E102 or Yellow #5 was already linked to hyperactivity in a study done by United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency, which is why the European Union made sure to come up with labels advising adults on the possible effects of Tartrazine.
In the United States, however, this was ignored, even as the study has also linked Tartrazine to other diseases such as migraines and cancer.
Many health advocates in recent years have actually thought it was important for kids suffering from ADHD and other similar diseases to change their diets and if possible, go organic and fresh, instead of eating a lot of these processed and preserved foods. Studies have also revealed that there really is a change in behavior for these kids whose diet and eating habits have been altered. The effects of what a proper diet can do has been documented and even used as basis for other case studies.
However, it is no surprise that the FDA or US government seem to have no concern over this considering aspartame or MSG are still approved and legal to use in many of the food we eat.
Energy 2030
Pathways to a Lower Carbon & More Electrified Future – Unveiling the Equinox Blueprint: Energy 2030
PR Newswire — February 20, 2012
WATERLOO, Ontario, February 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ –
Imagine a world with too much energy… clean energy. How different would our human civilization be with fewer energy limitations – less risk of climate change, no peak oil, and more renewable ways to provide power to an exploding global population?
But, this is not our present scenario. Today’s energy needs are met largely by high-carbon sources and inefficient technologies. But, is there a better way? How could we use the latest scientific knowledge to best prepare ourselves for a lower carbon, more electrified future?
To explore these questions, the Waterloo Global Science Initiative (WGSI) assembled a multinational, interdisciplinary and multigenerational group in June 2011 for the Equinox Summit: Energy 2030. Together, these pioneering scientists, policy advisors, entrepreneurs and tomorrow’s leaders took a fresh approach, focusing on what science and technology can deliver to tackle our global energy challenges.
Building on the initial outputs of their June collaborations, participants developed the Equinox Blueprint: Energy 2030 – a detailed view of the highest impact energy technologies, with a set of implementation strategies; a roadmap to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.
Download the Equinox Blueprint: Energy 2030, now available at: http://wgsi.org/content/equinox-blueprint-energy-2030
Five technological strategies and implementation steps include:
1) Energy storage technologies to enable renewable electricity generation 2) Enhanced geothermal, tapping into the Earth’s heat using techniques we’ve already mastered 3) Advanced nuclear reactors for enhanced safety, utilizing inexhaustible resources (recycled uranium, thorium, and high level wastes) to close the fuel cycle 4) Off-grid electrification using flexible solar cells and self-sustaining micro-grids 5) Smart cities and electric transport for a global future dominated by urban living
“The Equinox Summit: Energy 2030 was a very different sort of collaboration, emphasizing dialogue between science, policy, industry, and the leaders of 2030,” says Professor Jatin Nathwani, the Equinox Summit’s Scientific Advisor and Executive Director of the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE) at the University of Waterloo. “The multinational, multigenerational group arrived at a fresh approach, stepping away from political stalemates towards a science-driven, solutions-based strategy. They offer pragmatic next steps for a global energy transition to take shape.”
“The Equinox Blueprint: Energy 2030 gives readers an informed look at emerging energy technologies and a clean energy future that is within our global reach,” says Aaron Leopold, Equinox Summit Forum member and Director of Environment and Sustainable Development at the Global Governance Institute in Brussels. “We hope the knowledge presented in the Blueprint will help realign the global energy dialogue in a positive, collaborative direction, and motivate readers to accelerate efforts to achieve clean, sustainable energy for all.”
About WGSI
Founded in 2009, the non-profit Waterloo Global Science Initiative (WGSI) is a partnership between Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics and the University of Waterloo. Located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, WGSI aims to present highly focused international conferences that can advance dialogue and catalyze the long-range thinking necessary for scientific and technological solutions of the future.
For further information: Media Inquiries RJ Taylor WGSI Communications Liaison rtaylor[at]wgsi[dot]org +1-226-220-8387
Subject Codes: PC/t.120220013051407, PR/dest.Public, PT/lang.en, RE/Canada, RE/United_Kingdom, IN/OIL, IN/ALT, IN/EUT, IN/GAS, IN/GRE, SU/TDS, SU/RCY, SU/ENI
Poachers kill 200 elephants in Cameroon killing spree
YAOUNDE |
YAOUNDE (Reuters) – Poachers have killed more than 200 elephants in Cameroon in just six weeks, in a “massacre” fuelled by Asian demand for ivory.
A local government official said heavily armed poachers from Chad and Sudan had decimated the elephant population of Bouba Ndjida National Park in Cameroon’s far north in a dry season killing spree.
“We are talking about a very serious case of trans-frontier poaching, involving well-armed poachers with modern weapons from Sudan and Chad who are decimating this wildlife species to make quick money from the international ivory trade,” said Gambo Haman, governor of Cameroon’s North region.
Speaking on local radio, Haman said some of the poachers were on horseback and operated in cahoots with the local population, who were given free elephant meat and were glad to be rid of animals that damage their crops.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) said cross-border poaching was common during the dry season but the scale of the killings so far this year was unprecedented.
“This latest massacre is massive and has no comparison to those of the preceding years,” the group said in a statement.
Citing a record number of large scale ivory seizures in 2011, TRAFFIC, a conservation group which tracks trends in wildlife trading, has warned of a surge in elephant poaching in Africa to meet Asian demand for tusks for use in jewelry and ornaments.
Underlining the clout of the poaching force, Haman said a group of 50 had killed six Chadian soldiers who tried to arrest them as they fled with the ivory.
“In January we counted 146 (elephant) carcasses and since the beginning of this month we’ve had close to 60 already. This may only be a tip of the iceberg as some may have been killed in parts of the park that we cannot access,” Haman added.
Cameroon has dispatched a rapid reaction force to the zone but Haman said there were not enough troops to cover the remote park in Cameroon’s far north.
IFAW said it was not clear how many elephants remained in Cameroon but a 2007 estimate but the figure a between 1,000 and 5,000.
TRAFFIC has said that the spike in poaching and illegal ivory trade in Africa was a direct consequence of China’s investment drive into the continent.
(Writing by David Lewis,; Editing by Rosalind Russell)
Article source: Source
