Nepal's King Gyanendra bowing under the pressure of a general strike and mass protests called for new elections today.
Addressing the nation during the Hindu New Year, Gyanendra said that general elections will be held in April 2007.
The monarch hinted though that the Maoist elements would not be considered in any polls.
The largest opposition party, the Nepali Congress, rejected the offer. They have claimed in the past that the king has rigged the polls assuring that his own candidates get elected.
On Friday, the United Nations warned Nepal against using "excessive force" against protesters calling for an end to autocratic rule. U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said he was "concerned" over events in the country and urged both sides to enter into dialogue.
Gyanendra took control of the country 14 months ago by arbitrarily sacking the elected government.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Is Katrina-hit New Orleans ready for hurricane season?
Today lots of blame was ladled out for the response to Hurricane Katrina and the preparation for a disaster that everyone knew was coming.
Lack of preparation in New Orleans was largely about poverty and race, but not entirely. There is a general lax attitude when it comes to environmental problems as compared to something sexier like terrorism.
In Sacramento where I'm at they have the country's most questionable dam holding back flood waters from the capital of the country's most economically-important state. Even the surrounding backwater delta area is extremely important as it supplies water to the more populous southern California region.
Not sure what can be done about the New Orleans levees in so short amount of time. Fixing the levees and dam here in Sacramento creeps along at a snail's pace despite serious floods that have occured over the last few decades.
One recommendation for the hard-hit Gulf region is to build new houses on piles at least three feet above the ground.
Given the last two hurricane seasons, everyone is looking to see if the trend will continue. Some meterologists are predicting a busy season and at least one very prominent weather expert thinks 2006 can be worse than last year if damaged areas suffer a direct hit:
Hurricane Expert: 'The 2006 Season CAN Be Worse than 2005'
Lack of preparation in New Orleans was largely about poverty and race, but not entirely. There is a general lax attitude when it comes to environmental problems as compared to something sexier like terrorism.
In Sacramento where I'm at they have the country's most questionable dam holding back flood waters from the capital of the country's most economically-important state. Even the surrounding backwater delta area is extremely important as it supplies water to the more populous southern California region.
Not sure what can be done about the New Orleans levees in so short amount of time. Fixing the levees and dam here in Sacramento creeps along at a snail's pace despite serious floods that have occured over the last few decades.
One recommendation for the hard-hit Gulf region is to build new houses on piles at least three feet above the ground.
Given the last two hurricane seasons, everyone is looking to see if the trend will continue. Some meterologists are predicting a busy season and at least one very prominent weather expert thinks 2006 can be worse than last year if damaged areas suffer a direct hit:
Hurricane Expert: 'The 2006 Season CAN Be Worse than 2005'
Bird flu due in North America this fall
From all accounts, the avian influenza virus should cross into the "Western hemisphere" this fall on the wings of a migrating bird or two.
This past year has seen a rapid expansion of the bird flu into West Asia, Europe and Africa.
According to a U.N. report the bird flu shoud arrive with the fall snow goose migration into Canada and the United States. The most likely route will be across the Aleutian islands into Alaska.
Although some U.S. officials have discounted the impending arrival of the virus at least with regard to domestic poultry and people, there are some reasons to be alarmed.
Just going by the numbers, the greater the spread of the virus the more chances it has of mutating into a human-transmittable form. Genetic mutations are random events, so more infected birds means more viruses. Each time the virus multiplies, there is a chance of a mutation that could transmit among humans.
Also the variability of the virus increases as it is introduced into new species. The genetic region in the DNA where changes take place becomes more expansive as a result.
We would have to be very lucky for this not to become a human epidemic because of the vast reach of the virus. However, one hope is that this bird flu strain might not be as severe as the so-called Spanish Flu that hit during World War I.
Although the current disease contracted directly from birds is even significantly more deadly than the Spanish Flu, there is a chance that a mutation causing a human epidemic may produce a less virulent type. The impact would still be severe but not as catastrophic as in some well-publicized scenarios.
Bird Flu Will Reach U.S. and Canada This Fall, Experts Predict
This past year has seen a rapid expansion of the bird flu into West Asia, Europe and Africa.
According to a U.N. report the bird flu shoud arrive with the fall snow goose migration into Canada and the United States. The most likely route will be across the Aleutian islands into Alaska.
Although some U.S. officials have discounted the impending arrival of the virus at least with regard to domestic poultry and people, there are some reasons to be alarmed.
Just going by the numbers, the greater the spread of the virus the more chances it has of mutating into a human-transmittable form. Genetic mutations are random events, so more infected birds means more viruses. Each time the virus multiplies, there is a chance of a mutation that could transmit among humans.
Also the variability of the virus increases as it is introduced into new species. The genetic region in the DNA where changes take place becomes more expansive as a result.
We would have to be very lucky for this not to become a human epidemic because of the vast reach of the virus. However, one hope is that this bird flu strain might not be as severe as the so-called Spanish Flu that hit during World War I.
Although the current disease contracted directly from birds is even significantly more deadly than the Spanish Flu, there is a chance that a mutation causing a human epidemic may produce a less virulent type. The impact would still be severe but not as catastrophic as in some well-publicized scenarios.
Bird Flu Will Reach U.S. and Canada This Fall, Experts Predict
China meets only half of environmental goals
China announced today that it only achieved half of its environmental goals for the period from 2000 to 2005.
Older images of Chinese making their way around on bicycles is rapidly giving way to desires by the new middle class for automobiles.
The country also depends much on highly-polluting coal to produce energy for its fast-growing economy.
AFP photo from Yahoo Asia News
Nations in the Asia Pacific region have generally been favorable to plans like the Kyoto Protocol but their ability to meet stated goals is another question.
Rapid growth in the region and an increasingly competitive spirit among the people often hampers governmental ability to handle the resulting production of polluting by-products.
One of the more successful strategies has been to implement newer more environmentally-friendly technologies, and other methods that do not rely on curbing growth.
Older images of Chinese making their way around on bicycles is rapidly giving way to desires by the new middle class for automobiles.
The country also depends much on highly-polluting coal to produce energy for its fast-growing economy.
AFP photo from Yahoo Asia News
Nations in the Asia Pacific region have generally been favorable to plans like the Kyoto Protocol but their ability to meet stated goals is another question.
Rapid growth in the region and an increasingly competitive spirit among the people often hampers governmental ability to handle the resulting production of polluting by-products.
One of the more successful strategies has been to implement newer more environmentally-friendly technologies, and other methods that do not rely on curbing growth.
China meets only half of environmental goals
China announced today that it only achieved half of its environmental goals for the period from 2000 to 2005.
Older images of Chinese making their way around on bicycles is rapidly giving way to desires by the new middle class for automobiles.
The country also depends much on highly-polluting coal to produce energy for its fast-growing economy.
Nations in the Asia Pacific region have generally been favorable to plans like the Kyoto Protocol but their ability to meet stated goals is another question.
Rapid growth in the region and an increasingly competitive spirit among the people often hampers governmental ability to handle the resulting production of polluting by-products.
One of the more successful strategies has been to implement newer more environmentally-friendly technologies, and other methods that do not rely on curbing growth.
Older images of Chinese making their way around on bicycles is rapidly giving way to desires by the new middle class for automobiles.
The country also depends much on highly-polluting coal to produce energy for its fast-growing economy.
Nations in the Asia Pacific region have generally been favorable to plans like the Kyoto Protocol but their ability to meet stated goals is another question.
Rapid growth in the region and an increasingly competitive spirit among the people often hampers governmental ability to handle the resulting production of polluting by-products.
One of the more successful strategies has been to implement newer more environmentally-friendly technologies, and other methods that do not rely on curbing growth.
Berlusconi claims hamper new Prodi government
Silvio Berlusconi alleged massive election fraud after the apparent victory of Romano Prodi's Left coalition.
Berlusconi has been searching for about 25,000 votes from disputed ballots to reverse the poll in his favor. The fraud charges are likely to delay any new government from taking office for at least a month. The billionaire's Right coalition has mostly supported his claims.
In the end the election could be decided by expatriates whose votes still are not counted. President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi has refused to name a victor in the race saying that he would leave that up to his successor. Some believe he may change his mind in the event of a Supreme Court ruling.
The victory, if it remains so, marks the latest evidence of a resurgence of the Left in European politics. The Left's victory in Spanish elections, and the recent retreat of the French government on controversial employment "reform" are other examples.
Berlusconi has been searching for about 25,000 votes from disputed ballots to reverse the poll in his favor. The fraud charges are likely to delay any new government from taking office for at least a month. The billionaire's Right coalition has mostly supported his claims.
In the end the election could be decided by expatriates whose votes still are not counted. President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi has refused to name a victor in the race saying that he would leave that up to his successor. Some believe he may change his mind in the event of a Supreme Court ruling.
The victory, if it remains so, marks the latest evidence of a resurgence of the Left in European politics. The Left's victory in Spanish elections, and the recent retreat of the French government on controversial employment "reform" are other examples.
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