SANTIAGO — Once again, Chilean students have taken to the streets to protest the…
80% of Andean Habitats unprotected, Duke study shows
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA – According to a new study released on January 27, 2012 by Duke University, 80% of the endangered species and habitats in the Andes region are not only being threatened, but are currently completely unprotected. With ceaseless destruction of land for oil and gold mining, animals are simply running out of space to [...]
So Long and Thanks For All The Fish- Jack Mackerel in Chile
The age old tradition of trawling our oceans for fish has become considerably easier with the help of state-of-the-art sonar technology. This type of modern fishing can pin-point schools of fish quickly and accurately and while this may have been helpful initially, it is now time to deal with the consequences. From 2000 to 2010, Chile landed [...]
How Torres del Paine was nearly lost
by Michael A. O’Neill I remember the first time I heard about hiking in Torres del Paine National Park. I knew nothing about Patagonia except that it was pretty far south, but as soon as I learned about Paine I decided that one day I would hike in Chile and see the sun rise against those [...]
Environmental entrepreneur from Chile’s VI Region gives speech at ProPyme ceremony
CHACAYES – Patricio Silva was invited to the ProPyme ceremony this month to deliver a speech on his experiences as an environmental entrepreneur. Silva started a small plant nursery a few years ago in his home town of Chacayes in the foothills of the Andes. Soon after he began taking on small projects from the Pacific Hydro company, [...]
Pigmy Hippopotamus born in Buin Zoo sets global milestone
BUIN – After seven months of gestation, one of the Buin Zoo’s two pigmy hippopotamuses (Hexaprotod Lothadamensis) named “Coca” gave birth to a healthy baby male. This yet unnamed baby was separated from his father “Hipólito” so he can remain at his mother’s side, and also to give Coca some much-needed peace until the baby [...]
Energía Austral court appeal rejected
COYAHIQUE- The Court of Appeal in Coyahique has rejected a bid by energy company Energía Austral to have an injunction against them. The stay-of-action order was declared on January 9th and has stalled the Environmental Evaluation Committee vote on the Rio Cuero project. The injunction was brought before the court by representatives from across the [...]
Mother Nature Network names Santiago as destination of the week
SANTIAGO — Though many tourists use Santiago as a jumping-off point for greener places in Chile, Mother Nature Network, an organization and website devoted to supporting the green lifestyle, named Santiago as destination of the week for its green spaces and environmental consciousness. A vast public transportation system and the city’s numerous parks make Santiago [...]
Project Earth: 2012 World Environment Day contest now open for submissions
SANTIAGO – In preparation for its World Environment Day contest, in which students from all over the world are expected to compete, Project Earth is currently accepting submissions until June 5, 2012. Winners from each participating country will have the opportunity to present their idea at an upcoming United Nations conference in Rio de Janeiro. [...]
Weather warning for Valparaíso to the Lake District
Heavy rains, hail and avalanches affected pre-Andean areas in the central district, generating landslides leaving one tourist dead in Cajón del Maipo and hundreds of people trapped in the Nature Sanctuary Yerba Loca. The National Emergency service, Onemi issued an early warning between the regions of Valparaiso and Los Lagos, or the Lake District. This [...]
HidroAysén dam vote stalled until January 18
SANTIAGO — The debate about the $10 billion HidroAysén dams is far from complete. For about a year, Energía Austral, which is carrying out the HidroAysén project, has been planning to build three hydroelectric dams (Cuervo, Blanco and Cóndor) in the Aysén region of Chile’s Patagonia. Currently their business interests conflict with “Right to Life” interests of the Aysén people. The building of the [...]