Green Options » international relations

70 Bears to Be Killed in Slovenia

Jake Richardson — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 18:50:40 +0000

The Slovenian Environment Ministry has approved a wild bear kill of 70 animals. The country has between 430 and 480 bears according to one estimate.

Some environmentalists put the number slightly lower. In 2008 the Environment Ministry approved a kill of 75, and in 2007 it was 100. In 2006 it was also 100. That will make 345 wild bears killed in the last four years. The number of cubs born each year is estimated at 60-90.
(Brown bears in Slovenia are a protected species.)

Developed, Developing Nations Argue Over Sharing Costs of Cutting Carbon Emissions

Mridul Chadha — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 01:54:34 +0000

There is an urgent need to bring down the rising carbon emissions and switch over from the dirty fossil fuels to clean alternative energy sources. Leaders of the developed and developing nations completely agree over this plan of action but, sadly, the agreement between the two ends there. Both parties agree that they have got to act quickly but none is willing to take the initiative on the economic front of the fight against climate change.

Under the Kyoto Protocol the onus of controlling and bringing down the carbon emissions was on the developed nations with the help of tools like the national carbon registry and the emission permits whereas the developing nations were not obligated to any emission cuts. Now that the talks for a new climate treaty have started to gain momentum the developed nations want the developing countries to reduce their carbon emissions under that treaty. And although the developing countries recognize their responsibility in the fight against climate change they are unwilling to bear the full economic burden of the same.

Putin, Russia and the North

Amiel Blajchman — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:14:03 +0000

While not new news to any readers who follow international relations, what does it mean when Russian scientists have claimed that the 1,220-mile long underwater Lomonosov Ridge is geologically linked to the Siberian continental platform? While not the start in a race for unclaimed territory, it is simply the latest salvo in an on-going dispute over which nations will be able to control what part of the Arctic, and therefore the ability to exploit or protect.