OLIVIA AMERCUA WRITES – At the 34th ASEAN Summit, held recently in Bangkok, all member nations made a pledge through the “Bangkok Declaration on Combating Marine Debris” to strengthen their fight against ocean pollution. ASEAN, which stands for Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is comprised of 10 countries: Thailand, Indonesia,…
Full Article BANGKOK: MORE HOT AIR ADDED TO THE WORLD ENVIRONMENT
OLIVIA AMEZCUA WRITES– There are currently eight known species of pangolins – four listed as critically endangered by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the other four categorized as vulnerable, and all eight face declining populations. It is reported that about 300 pangolins are killed every day, meaning one…
Full Article SINGAPORE: TRYING to save the Pangolins, a Most Worthy Cause
OLIVIA AMEZCUA WRITES– Fisheries, or rather the poor management of fisheries, has generated a multitude of problems, ranging from environmental to economic to health. For Indonesia, a coastal country heavily reliant on the fishing industry, this issue must be addressed with urgency. Among the adverse effects of poorly managed fisheries:…
Full Article Indonesia: Fisheries Regulation and Sustainability Urgently Needed
OLIVIA AMEZCUA WRITES — Ongoing attacks against environmental activists have been on the rise throughout Asia, attacks that are increasingly violent and range from death threats, arrests, intimidation, cyber attacks, sexual assault, and lawsuits, the Global Witness reports. The Philippines is by far the largest hotspot for such foul play. Still,…
Full Article Asia: Environmental Activists Under Attack
OLIVIA AMEZCUA WRITES– When one thinks of Indonesia, palm oil might not be the first thought that comes to mind. Many folks remain vastly unaware of both the country’s near-existential ties with the product— and the self-destructive dangers the palm oil industry imposes on this sprawling nation’s environment. Palm oil…
Full Article Indonesia: THE SLIPPERY BUSINESS OF ‘DIRTY’ PALM OIL
OLIVIA AMEZCUA WRITES — The smog that has been polluting New Delhi for decades has reached a new intensity, according to recent reports, with pollution levels 20 times the World Health Organization’s recommended limit. In fact, the New Delhi Air Quality Index hit an all-time high reading of 999. Last…
Full Article India: Choked by Smog
OLIVIA AMEZCUA WRITES — After countless reports this past week about UN scientists’ prediction that mankind has 12 years left to save the world from irreversible climate change, it seems appropriate to analyze Asia’s involvement in this nightmare – given the continent’s large contribution to pollution and pollution’s large contribution…
Full Article Climate: The Reality of Plastic in Asia
OLIVIA AMEZCUA WRITES – Summer 2018 was anything but relaxing for the 127 million people living in Japan. The nation was brutally struck with floods, heat waves, landslides, typhoons and earthquakes. The latest natural disaster to wreak havoc was Typhoon Jebi on September 4, the country’s strongest typhoon in 25…
Full Article SUMMER OF NATURAL DISASTERS IN JAPAN SHOWS GLIMPSE OF WHAT’S TO COME IN CLIMATE CHANGE