Eat in style – Know the origin: A joint mission to better Vietnam’s environment and consumers’ health

WWF – August 14th – 24th 2015, seafood certified as responsibly farmed in Vietnam will be officially available for the domestic market at many eateries. The certification denotes the seafood has met strict standards that ensure food safety and minimize environmental impact. This is part of Sustainable Seafood Week 2015, organized by WWF-Vietnam, to introduce the world’s newest trend in stylish dining: sustainability.

In support of responsible production and products, which have gained worldwide popularity and become a significant indicator of a modern, healthy and positive lifestyle, the Sustainable Seafood Week with the message “Eat in style – Know the origin”, is urging Vietnamese consumers to join the international call for products from responsible sources.

Participating restaurants in Sustainable Seafood Week 2015, serving responsibly produced seafood (certified by ASC eco-label)

During the 10 days, besides introducing Vietnam’s responsibly farmed seafood to the domestic market, the program will engage consumers in an array of exciting activities to raise awareness about sustainable seafood, through a display of informative artworks, a theme-inspired flash mob and exciting mini-games at Crescent Mall, District 7, Ho Chi Minh city. Consumers can visit www.cabenvung.vn to find the full list of restaurants participating in the program, and also pledge their support online to the demand for sustainable seafood in Vietnam. Tiếp tục đọc “Eat in style – Know the origin: A joint mission to better Vietnam’s environment and consumers’ health”

Sustainable Fishing in Vietnam

WWF– Tram Chim National Park is one of the most important remaining expanses of wetlands in Vietnam. While most fishing in the park is forbidden, some locals exercise traditional rights to fish for food and a living. WWF works in Tram Chim to restore natural water flows, fisheries and wildlife.

Bac Ninh gets waste treatment plant

Updated  September, 08 2015 08:40:00
 VNS
Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai and delegates visit the Tu Son Town waste water treatment plant which became operational on Sunday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thai Hung

BAC NINH (VNS) — The Tu Son Town wastewater treatment plant became operational on Sunday after its construction was completed in 18 months, six months ahead of schedule.

The plant is expected to help treat wastewater from the town’s inner area of about 1,890ha, comprising six wards – Dong Ngan, Dinh Bang, Dong Nguyen and Tan Hong, besides Trang Ha and Chau Khe — that are home to about 100,000 people. Tiếp tục đọc “Bac Ninh gets waste treatment plant”

‘Báu vật’ ở quê lúa Nghệ An

VE – Tại xã Lăng Thành (Yên Thành, Nghệ An) hiện có hơn 100 ha rừng lim cổ thụ được người dân xem như “báu vật”.

Là huyện nửa trung du miền núi, nửa đồng bằng, Yên Thành được biết đến là vựa lúa của Nghệ An. Trong 39 đơn vị hành chính của huyện, Lăng Thành là xã rất đặc biệt, được bao bọc bởi 106 ha rừng lim. Từ trung tâm xã đến rừng lim gần nhất chỉ một cây số, đó là Rú Chùa, xa hơn nữa là Hóc Nông, Đồng Bàu, Vệ Thạng…

rung-lim-1862-1441529719.jpg

Khu rừng lim tại xã Lăng Thành. Ảnh: Phan Ngọc.

Tiếp tục đọc “‘Báu vật’ ở quê lúa Nghệ An”

Bốn thử thách khi thực hiện dân chủ trong các vấn đề môi trường

outdoor pollution
Ô nhiễm không khí ngoài trời gây ra cái chết của 3,7 triệu người ở độ tuổi dưới 60 trên toàn thế giới trong năm 2012. Ảnh: Leo Fung / Flickr.

Chỉ số Dân chủ về môi trường (Environmental Democracy Index – EDI) – đã được đưa ra hồi tháng 5 này – theo dõi các nước trong tiến trình ban hành luật quốc gia nhằm phát triển tính minh bạch, sự tham gia của công chúng và khả năng tiếp cận công lý của cộng đồng trong quá trình đưa quyết định về môi trường. Có bằng chứng cho thấy rằng các nhà làm luật quốc gia đang dần nhận ra tầm quan trọng của các quyền này. Lấy ví dụ, trong 102 điều luật về Quyền Thông tin trên thế giới, 42 điều luật đã được ban hành trong 10 năm qua. Tuy nhiên, có luật nghiêm chưa chắc đảm bảo rằng luật đó được tôn trọng trong thực tế. Tiếp tục đọc “Bốn thử thách khi thực hiện dân chủ trong các vấn đề môi trường”

Ho Chi Minh City to spend $42mn on reservoirs to prevent flooding

tuoi tre news

Updated : 09/06/2015 17:21 GMT + 7

A man is pictured pushing his motorbike on a heavily flooded street in Ho Chi Minh City on October 1, 2014.

Ho Chi Minh City authorities have decided to spend VND950 billion (US$41.8 million) building three large-scale reservoirs in the most flood-prone areas of three districts.

With a total area of ​​100ha, the three proposed reservoirs are expected to accumulate tens of millions of cubic meters of water and resolve the flooding problem in District 4, Tan Binh District, and Thu Duc District. Tiếp tục đọc “Ho Chi Minh City to spend $42mn on reservoirs to prevent flooding”

Better estimates of worldwide mercury pollution

New findings show Asia produces twice as much mercury emissions as previously thought
August 12, 2015
Jennifer Chu, MIT News

MIT – Once mercury is emitted into the atmosphere from the smokestacks of power plants, the pollutant has a complicated trajectory; even after it settles onto land and sinks into oceans, mercury can be re-emitted back into the atmosphere repeatedly. This so-called “grasshopper effect” keeps the highly toxic substance circulating as “legacy emissions” that, combined with new smokestack emissions, can extend the environmental effects of mercury for decades.

Now an international team led by MIT researchers has conducted a new analysis that provides more accurate estimates of sources of mercury emissions around the world. The analysis pairs measured air concentrations of mercury with a global simulation to calculate the fraction of mercury that is either re-emitted or that originates from power plants and other anthropogenic activities. The result of this work, researchers say, could improve estimates of mercury pollution, and help refine pollution-control strategies around the world.

The new analysis shows that Asia now releases a surprisingly large amount of anthropogenic mercury. While its increased burning of coal was known to exacerbate mercury emissions and air pollution, the MIT team estimates that Asia produces more than double the mercury emissions previously estimated. Tiếp tục đọc “Better estimates of worldwide mercury pollution”

More forests wiped out by farmers in central Highlands

Updated  September, 07 2015 08:31:27
Dak NONG (VNS) — Deforestation is on the rise in the Central Highland province of Dak Nong’s Dak Song District.

More than 30 cases have been detected and tackled since the rainy season started in May, the local forest management authority said.

The 40-year-old protective pine forest along Highway 14 covers a total area of 430ha. So far more than 50 per cent of the forest has been lost due to severe deforestation, which is increasing at an alarming rate, an official said. Tiếp tục đọc “More forests wiped out by farmers in central Highlands”

Chợ nổi đang ‘chìm’

06/09/2015 08:00

TNLà “tài nguyên” du lịch lớn của ĐBSCL nhưng gần đây, nhiều du khách đến chợ nổi Cái Răng (Cần Thơ) đều có chung cảm nhận: sản phẩm nghèo nàn, bán buôn nhàm chán, môi trường mất vệ sinh.

Chợ nổi Cái Răng không còn sầm uất như xưa, chỉ còn thưa thớt những cây “bẹo” tiếp thị hàng
Chợ nổi Cái Răng không còn sầm uất như xưa, chỉ còn thưa thớt những cây “bẹo” tiếp thị hàng

“Mới có mấy năm mà chợ thay đổi nhiều quá. Hàng hóa giờ sao toàn thấy khoai, sắn, bắp cải”, ông Lê Văn Sơn, một du khách từ tỉnh Hải Dương đến Cần Thơ lần thứ 2, nói với vẻ thất vọng. Ông Sơn cho biết, lần đầu vào ĐBSCL cách đây 6 năm, ông đã “chết mê chết mệt” với không khí nhộn nhịp của chợ nổi và vẻ đẹp hút hồn của bình minh trên sông. Vì vậy trong lần trở lại này cùng gia đình, ông Sơn rất háo hức giới thiệu vẻ đẹp sông nước ấy với người thân. Ông chọn tour tham quan là chợ nổi Cái Răng và vườn trái cây Ba Cống (Q.Cái Răng, Cần Thơ). Nhưng trái với hình dung của ông Sơn, lần này, mọi thứ đã thay đổi, chợ nổi Cái Răng bây giờ không còn tấp nập như trước, tàu du lịch cũng thưa hẳn. Tiếp tục đọc “Chợ nổi đang ‘chìm’”

Nơi rừng bình yên lấn biển

13/03/2015 09:34 GMT+7

TTRừng nơi này từng bị người dân chặt cây lấy gỗ, bới đất tìm bắt con sâm đất, đào vuông nuôi tôm… Nay trước diễn biến khí hậu, cư dân ý thức được lợi ích của rừng, yêu quý rừng, trồng mới rừng che chắn sóng biển. Mỗi năm rừng phòng hộ nơi này vươn ra biển hơn 20m.

Khu rừng ngập mặn ở xã Thạnh Phong, huyện Thạnh Phú (Bến Tre) bao la một màu xanh mướt bạt ngàn của rừng đước, bần, mắm… Đi đâu cũng thấy rừng xanh tốt, nhiều khu rừng đước cây cao to có thể làm cột nhà kê, rễ chen kín mặt đất phù sa màu mỡ. Hình ảnh này hoàn toàn khác hẳn những năm 1990-2000 khi chúng tôi có dịp về đây công tác nhiều lần. Tiếp tục đọc “Nơi rừng bình yên lấn biển”

Trading parts of endangered animals goes rampant in Vietnam

Tuoi Tre News

Updated : 08/31/2015 10:54 GMT + 7

Parts of endangered animals including tigers, panthers, bears and antelopes have been blatantly traded in Vietnam at exorbitant prices, as these items appeal to a large clientele who believe in their purported medicinal properties and feng shui effects or simply use them as decorative objects.

>> An audio version of the story is available here

Rings trafficking and processing organs of wild animals, particularly those teetering on the verge of extinction, have done good business and reaped whopping profits, according to a recent Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper investigation. Tiếp tục đọc “Trading parts of endangered animals goes rampant in Vietnam”

Good news for forest animals

VNS

Updated  August, 15 2015 12:00:00

Luckily for animals like the langurs and the gibbons, their forest homes are going to get more protection.

This will be happening because of an agreement between Viet Nam government agencies and an international environmental organisation.

It will mean that more work will be done to help guards who protect the forests from people wishing to destroy them and the creatures that live in them.

A red-shanked douc (Pygathrix nemaeus) is caught by a biologist in the natural reserve in Son Tra Peninsula in Da Nang City.
A red-shanked douc (Pygathrix nemaeus) is caught by a biologist in the natural reserve in Son Tra Peninsula in Da Nang City. – Photos courtesy of the Frankfurt Zoological Society in Viet Nam

DA NANG — The Viet Nam Administration of Forestry (VNFOREST) and the Frankfurt Zoological Society in Viet Nam have inked a five-year conservation plan.

The agreement covers strengthening of the management and supervision of biodiversity in national parks and natural reserves in the Central and Central Highlands regions. Tiếp tục đọc “Good news for forest animals”

Stolen gold rock given back

VNS
Duncan Guy/Learn the News/ Viet Nam News 2015

People in the central Quang Nam Province admitted they had been doing things that were wrong. They had been taking rock that has gold in it from a gold mine to get the gold out themselves.

However, they handed this rock over to the authorities.

It was the first time the residents had handed over gold ore that had been illegally taken away from the mines.
It was the first time the residents had handed over gold ore that had been illegally taken away from the mines. – Photo tuoitre.vn

HA NOI (VNS) — Authorities have destroyed 10 tonnes of gold ore from the Bong Mieu gold mine that were handed over by Tam Lanh Commune residents in the central Quang Nam Province.

It was the first time the residents had handed over gold ore that had been illegally taken away from the mines. Tiếp tục đọc “Stolen gold rock given back”

Hospital fined VND1.4 billion for environmental law violations

Updated  September, 03 2015 17:58:00
Local police dug up some 60 tonnes of untreated medical waste buried by the hospital.— Photo tuoitre.vn

HA NOI  (VNS)— Le Ngoc Tung Hospital in southern Tay Ninh Province has been fined VND1.4 billion (US$62,000) for illegally burying untreated medical waste in a local district.The decision was issued by the People’s Committee of the province, which also ordered the seizure of two vans used by the hospital to transport the medical waste for illegal burial.

Earlier in June, two security guards of the hospital were caught red-handed by the police, when they were burying three packages of medical waste weighing more than 100kg in Chau Thanh District’s Thanh Binh Village.

The police said the packages contained used gloves, needles, bandages and other items.

The two guards admitted they had been burying untreated medical waste there and in some other parts of the province since January 2014.

Local police dug up some 60 tonnes of untreated medical waste buried by the hospital.—VNS

3,000 illegal detonators seized in central province

Updated
August, 31 2015 17:07:00
 VNS
The illegal items include more than 3,000 detonators and 150 metres of slow-burning fuses.— Photo doisongphapluat.com

THANH HOA (VNS) – Local police today seized nearly 3,000 detonators being transported illegally in a taxi that was going from Nghe An Province to central Thanh Hoa Province.

The vehicle was stopped by the local police for having violated a traffic law. As the police were checking his papers, the male passenger riding in the taxi managed to flee.

The police then searched the car and discovered the illegal items, including more than 3,000 detonators and 150 metres of slow-burning fuses.

Le Hong Lam, the driver, said the confiscated material belonged to the passenger, who had hired the cab at Dien Chau District in Nghe An Province and wanted to go to Tinh Gia District in Thanh Hoa Province.

All the items were sealed for further investigation.—VNS