Monday, 10 Dec 2001

Lifting Their Kilt-owatts

Scotland has enough potential wind and wave energy to power the entire U.K., according to an independent study that has been met with excitement by the Scottish government. Known as one of the windiest spots in Europe, Scotland could apparently provide almost a quarter of the U.K.'s energy needs from onshore wind farms, without having to construct the farms on designated scenic areas. Wave and tidal stream energy could meet the other three-quarters of Britain's power needs. A second report issued today said Scotland could achieve its goal of generating 18 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2010.

Moore Is More

In the largest gift ever to a single environmental group, the foundation created by Intel co-founder Gordon Moore announced yesterday that it would give Conservation International $261 million over 10 years. The money will help the Washington, D.C.-based group identify and protect biodiversity hotspots, areas that CI says cover 1.4 percent of the Earth's land mass but contain 60 percent of the planet's terrestrial species. The group's president, Russell Mittermeier, said he hoped to use Moore's gift to leverage as much as $6 billion from private and public sources. In 1998, Moore gave $35 million to CI to help establish the Center for Applied Biodiversity Science.

Gwich'in to Drill?

Some tribes and lawmakers are criticizing environmental groups for continuing to represent Native Americans in a simplistic, self-serving way as model caretakers of the Earth. David Lester, a Creek Indian and executive director of the Council of Energy Resources Tribes, says, "Environmentalists are using the Indians the way the French and English used Indians in the French-Indian War: We're their foot soldiers." In Alaska, for example, many Native groups support proposals to drill for oil and gas in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. But enviros have made much to-do about the opposition of the Gwich'in Indians to the drilling. The Gwich'in say they rely on the refuge to support the Porcupine caribou herd, on which the tribe subsists. In less-publicized news, however, the tribe is working to open up oil resources on land in Canada, away from the herd.

If a Chopper Lands in the Forest, Does Anyone Hear?

Enviros, adventure guides, anglers, and local residents are worried that motorized recreation will soon take a toll on British Columbia's famous wild lands. Following up on campaign promises to boost the economy, the province's Liberal government has welcomed applications from tourism companies offering helicopter and caterpillar skiing, as well as snowmobile and all-terrain vehicle trips, into many of B.C.'s untouched rivers, mountains, and lakes. Susan Carson, a small resort owner in B.C.'s Cariboo region, says, "Can't there be some places left where the animals won't be disturbed by snowmobiles and helicopters?" Backcountry residents and hunters sometimes at odds with environmentalists are finding themselves on the same side in this case.

Litter Bugs Them

Most Hong Kong residents want their government to do a better job tackling environmental problems, according to a survey released over the weekend by Civic Exchange, a public policy think tank. More than 60 percent of the 960 respondents said issues such as pesticides in foods, contaminated seafood, and air and water pollution should be a top priority of the government. Fifty-five percent said they were unhappy with how the government had acted on pollution problems so far. Ninety-two said they would support tougher penalties for littering, while 33 percent admitted they littered because the city was already dirty. Only 19 percent cited environmental problems in mainland China as a concern, even though much of Hong Kong's drinking water comes from China.