Life beneath the waves
Their scientific names conjure bizarre images of otherworldly creatures from outer space: Hippocampus hippocampus, Dugong dugon, the highly improbable-sounding Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda. And indeed they are of another world, but not outer space. Rather its terrestrial equivalent: the lesser-known ‘inner space
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Axe promotes a sexy campaign to save Boracay
Axe, the iconic male fragrance & deodorant brand just launched a new campaign dubbed as “Axe Anarchy Island: Sexy Saves Boracay.” Many have raved about the wonders of this island located in the Visayas region of the Philippines. I was astonished to see Boracay for the very first time in 2007 for a church retreat. Yes, you heard it right -- we spent a church retreat in Boracay and the experience was breathtaking!
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Melia Bali awarded top EarthCheck rank
Resort attains regional-first platinum certification following 10-year commitment
Melia Bali was recently awarded Platinum Certification by EarthCheck – the first venue in Asia to receive this and one of just five worldwide. CEI Asia speaks to Melia Bali general manager Jim Boyles about the landmark achievement:
How has the local community been impacted?
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Laos speeds up construction of power plants
Following the 3rd MRC Regional Stakeholder Forum on Basin Development Plan at MRC headquarters in Vientiane where the overall consensus appeared to be a slowdown in decision making processes allowing better representation and participation of community stakeholders this tit-bit caught my eye… from Vietnam Plus.
General Director of the Electricity of Laos (EDL) Khammani Inthirath has said at a press briefing that the country will build at least two hydro power plants every year until 2020.
Community Groups Unite to Protect Cambodia’s Fishery and Forestry Sectors
Just months ago, Choeung would never have dreamt of speaking in public. If told that he would speak in front of more than 300 people, including high-ranking officials, several deputy governors from seven provinces, and an under secretary of state, he would have laughed at such a good joke, and his fellow fishermen would have as well.
Tafika arrives at the EOP
Tafika (meaning ‘to arrive’) is the newest elephant to join the Elephant Orphanage Project in Kafue National Park. He was rescued on the 19th August 2009 when he became isolated from his herd having fallen into a village long-drop pit! Thanks to the quick response of Rachel McRobb, the South Luangwa Conservation Society and ZAWA Officers Tafika was hauled out and transported locally to the Chipembele Wildlife Education Trust (and wildlife rehabilitation facility), run by Steve and Anna Tolan, where his initial care was provided.
Perseid Meteor Shower to Yield 80 Meteors an Hour
The Perseid meteor shower will have to fight it out with a bright moon for visibility this year, but astronomers are still predicting a dazzling show.
From any vantage point in the world, you might see more than 80 meteors an hour streak across the sky during the best viewing time, when the moon's glare will be weakest—late Tuesday night and into the wee hours of Wednesday, local cloud and lighting conditions permitting.
The highest concentration of Perseid meteors hitting Earth's atmosphere will occur during Wednesday afternoon, when they'll be largely invisible.
New Species of Carnivorous Plant Discovered in Cambodia
A new species of carnivorous pitcher plant has been found by Fauna & Flora International (FFI) in Cambodia's remote Cardamom Mountains. The discovery of Nepenthes holdenii is an indicator of both the stunning diversity and lack of research in the forests of the Cardamom Mountains.
The large red and green pitchers that characterize Nepenthes holdenii are actually modified leaves designed to capture and digest insects. The pitchers can reach up to 30 centimeters long. The carnivorous strategy allows the plants to gain additional nutrients and flourish in otherwise impoverished soils.
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The Lake is Going to Be Lost Forever
The Mirror, Vol. 14, No. 690
The activities to get the lake in Phnom Penh – the Boeung Kak – filled up with sand has been further sped up during the week, resulting in the destruction of houses by machines and by sand. People who had been informed that this might happen, continued their protests, while, on the other hand, such massive, forceful, and violent actions continued. Some of them are now also protesting because they had thumb-printed an agreement in 2007 to get US$8,500 if they move – but they have neither received a copy of the agreement, nor the money, they claim.
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Garbage
The Mirror, Vol. 14, No. 689
When I moved to Cambodia in May 1990, there was hardly any garbage problem in Phnom Penh. According to my memory, public discussions about what to do with the increasing volume of garbage started only after the arrival of UNTAC in 1992. With the arrival of 22,000 UNTAC personnel, there was all of a sudden a lot of plastic, cardboard, and paper refuse – formerly, lotus and banana leaves, used at the markets to wrap fish or meat and others, did not present a problem: all these natural materials did rot and automatically returned into the recycling rhythm of nature. Now also metal cans and glass bottles contributed to increasing the total volume of garbage