Cameron Kovach

November 12, 2010

Last Chance to Save the Wild Tiger

Over the past decade, poachers have killed at least 1,000 tigers. Today, only 3,200 tigers survive in the wild and the species remains in peril of extinction because of continued illegal harvesting. Later this month, however, the heads of state from eleven countries will convene in St. Petersburg, Russia, in a first of its kind meeting, to discuss ways to double tiger populations by 2022.

Source:

Eben Harrell, Last Chance to Save the Wild Tiger, Time, Nov. 10, 2010, http://ecocentric.blogs.time.com/2010/11/10/last-chance-to-save-the-wild-tiger/.

Prop. 23 Battle Marks New Era in Environmental Politics

Venture capitalists and environmentalists joined forces in a nearly $31 million effort to defeat an initiative to suspend California's greenhouse gas law by an impressive margin. The vote sends a message to the rest of the country and beyond that climate change still represents an imperative issue and that high–tech entrepreneurs see clean energy as an economic investment.

Source:

Margot Roosevelt, Prop. 23 Battle Marks New Era in Environmental Politics, L.A. TIMES, NOV. 4, 2010, http://articles.latimes.com/2010/nov/04/local/la-me-global-warming-20101104.

General Electric Plans to Invest $2 Billion in China

Over the next two years, General Electric Co. intends to invest $2 billion in technology and financial service ventures in China. The plan will add approximately 1,000 new jobs in the country, and establish cleaner sources of energy in a region that will likely experience robust growth in upcoming decades.

Source:

Amit Prakash, General Electric Plans to Invest $ 2 Billion in China, BLOOMBERG NEWS, Nov. 9, 2010, http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-09/general-electric-to-spend-2-billion-on-china-technology-finance-ventures.html.

Key Economies of Australia, India, China and USA at 'High Risk' from Water Stress

A recent study listed four key economic nations–United States, Australia, China, and India–as "high risk" areas for water shortages because of dwindling supplies and demands that exceed 80% of total renewable water resources. Water shortages may affect the sustainability of businesses, increase water–use conflicts, and potentially have negative impacts on local communities and their environments.

Source:

Key Economies of Australia, India China and USA at "High Risk" from Water Stress,MAPLECROFT, http://www.maplecroft.com/about/news/water-stress.html.

High-Tech Cures for Water Shortages

Innovative new technologies may solve global water solutions in the future. Some of the technological breakthroughs on the horizon include new infrastructure for decreased water waste, water recycling programs, and improved desalinization techniques.

Source:

Michael Totty, High-Tech Cures for Water Shortages, WALL ST. J., Oct. 18, 2010, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703735804575536560185801260.html