Blogs & Ecology

Chernobyl and Eastern Europe Blog reports how the Russo-Ukrainian gas crisis is beginning to have severe effects on deliveries to the European market, and how Bulgaria considers reopening one of its closed down nuclear plants.

Robert Amsterdam illustrates how Russia is winning the PR-war in the ongoing gas conflict with Ukraine.

Peter Lavelle has his say about the ongoing gas conflict between Russia and Ukraine, putting the blame heavily on Kiev.

Baltic publishes the latest Latvian opinion polls, showing how people consider politics under the threat of international financial guardianship.

The Bolivian government is proposing a nationwide referendum to determine whether the international reserves valued at 7.7 billion dollars will be used to invest in the industralization of the hydrocarbons. Carlos Gustavio Machicado of Guccio's [es] believes that this is a terrible idea, and the decision should be left to the experts.

Brain Black from China Challenges blogs about the impact of global economic downturn on job security in China.

Blogger Esteban Grinberg of De Todo Un Poco [es] is currently on holiday in Chile and upon hearing that he is from neighboring Argentina, besides asking about tango and Diego Maradona, many seem to always ask about the economic and political crisis of 2001.

Want to keep track of what's happening money-wise in clean tech during 2009? A new website called TheFunded.com presents a way to get insider input and reviews on what's shaking in clean tech investing. ...

E Contrario writes that urban poverty is a serious problem in Malaysia.

Image courtesy of Blue Summit Invest

Now that both a massive recession and the New Year are underway, it's time to start thinking about staying afloat financially. And now might be the best time ever to invest in green—there are a slew of factors that make green look good for 2009: among them, a new administration bent on unfurling a green jobs plan is taking office in a matter of weeks, and the fact that shares in most green companies are way down at the moment (read: cheap).

January 1st 2009 marked the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution. Bloggers from across the region took note of the occasion, with the voices of the Cuban diaspora being some of the most outspoken.

My big, fat, Cuban family remembers the experience of being forced to flee her country:

After the disasters they went through in 2008, Haitian people celebrated the start of 2009 more or less happily - in Haiti, January 1st marks not only New Year, but also the date when in 1804, the island got independence from France, becoming the first black democracy in the world.

Some French-speaking Haitian bloggers pay homage to the anniversary while readying themselves for the difficulties their country will have to face in the future:

“Minister of Culture Marlene Mc Donald has no doubts that Carnival 2009 will be a success even in the face of the global economic crisis”: Trinidad Carnival Diary is not so sure.

“We won’t be condemning the Palestinians or the Israelis…we won’t be contributing to the chaos on frontlines…[we] have decided that our approach will be to help bridge communities”: Jamaica's Abeng News Magazine has a very clear goal for 2009.

According to the ancient Chinese calender, that is popular all over Asia, 2009 is the year of the ox. This calm and trustworthy animal is a symbol of prosperity through fortitude and hard work. When even the Wall Street Journal follows the lead of Treehugger, and introduces frugal advice for How to Fix Your Life in 2009, it may be a good time to take a moment and heed the wisdom of the ages.

Herding the ox is a parable for students of Zen Buddhism. The story draws a parallel between the indiv...