Tierramérica

Issue of September, 23, 2006



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This fossilized fly was discovered in a Peruvian amber deposit
Credit: Darío de Franceschi

Report
Fossils Reveal Ancient Biodiversity
By Julio Godoy
A fascinating amber deposit in Peru containing fossilized flies, wasps and spiders proves that the rich diversity of Amazon species dates back much further than previously thought. Tierramérica spoke with the international team that made the discovery.

A U.S. chemist demonstrates a catalyst converter that reduces chemical emissions from diesel engines.
Credit: Laboratorios Argonne

Accents
Scientists Set Sights on 'Green' Chemistry
By Stephen Leahy
New technologies are being employed to curb the use of toxic materials in productive processes and prevent tragic accidents that can potentially claim the lives of thousands of people.

Chile's Guanaco glacier would have been damaged in the original Pascua Lama project
Credit: OLCA

Accents
Canada Faces Pressure to Promote Sustainable Mining
By Stephen Leahy
Activists have demanded that the Stephen Harper administration impose mandatory social and environmental standards on Canadian mining companies operating in Latin America.

Eco-Briefs

MEXICO:: Proposed Nuclear Plants Under Fire
The Mexican government’s announcement of its plan to build one or two nuclear power plants has environmentalists opposed to atomic energy up in arms.

ARGENTINA: Scavengers Export Scrap
By the end of the month, the Argentine ecological cooperative Reciclando Sueños (Recycling Dreams) will have sent another two shipments to Spain, each containing 25,000 kilograms of scrap iron.

BRAZIL: Aluminum Can Recycling Record Remains Firm
In 2005 Brazil recycled 96.2 percent of its used aluminum cans, making it the world's leader in this activity for the fifth year in a row, according to the Brazilian Aluminium Association (ABAL).

HONDURAS: Conservation Planned for Yojoa Lake
The Honduran government has launched a three-year program to preserve the biodiversity of the northern lake of Yojoa -- the country's largest.

GUATEMALA: Geothermal Wells Being Drilled in Protected Area
A Guatemalan company is drilling three geothermal wells in a protected reserve at the Pacaya Volcano, some 40 kilometers south of the capital, without authorization from the local municipality.

COLOMBIA: Tornado Destroys Thousands of Homes
After the tornado swept through the northern Colombian city of Barranquilla on Sep. 15 -- affecting some 1,200 families -- 61,250 sheets of asbestos will be needed to rebuild houses, local infrastructure secretary Nyry Logreira told Tierramérica.

BRAZIL: Flood Insurance Measured
Researchers from the University of Sao Paulo have developed a method to estimate insurance costs for urban flooding, saying claims could eat up as much as 12 percent of the gross domestic product.

Lessons From a Unique Decade - José Graziano da Silva *
Rio+20 and Beyond: Together for a Sustainable Future - José Graziano da Silva *
Why Inclusive Green Growth Can Sustain Recent Gains in Latin America - Hasan Tuluy*
The Global Food Crisis and the Latin American Paradox - Pamela Cox