South Korea - The Korea Times

A new way to meet the environment (10)

Ecotourism does not stop at amplifying the value of natural resources; it can even change the paradigm of local economic cycle. By Yoo Young-sook Every winter, Upo Wetland of Changnyeong County, located south east of the Republic of Korea, is crowded with special guests. They are no other than the migratory birds who have escaped the harsh cold weather of Siberia. Some of the migratory birds wintering in Upo Wetland are worldwide endangered species such as the Eurasian Spoonbill and Whooper Swan. A spectacular view of thousands of migratory birds nesting there is more than enough to attract numerous tourists every year. Upo Wetland, also known as “a paradise of migratory birds,” is the largest undisturbed wetlands in the country. Not only the migratory birds, but also many kinds of plants, trees, insects, fish and humans inhabit this benevolent land and enjoy the gift from nature. Also called “a museum of ecosystem,” Upo Wetland was designated as a wetland with international importance in 1998 by the Ramsar Convention, an international treaty for the conservation of wetlands

Mar 12, 2012

Are environmental conflicts all bad? (9)

Environmental disputes are causes of waste in budgetary expenses, but they also prevent financial waste by helping to terminate unnecessary development projects. By Lee Kyoo-yong Conflicts occur in every society. There are disagreements concerning environmental problems coupled with development projects, stretching from which end of the water resources residents are in and numerous interest parties. Conflicts happen all over the world, no matter what the size and depth of the problems are in terms of economic and media considerations. Owing to the fact that the adverse effects of environmental conflicts tend to be told to the public, there is a deep-rooted social stigma that conflicts must and should be prevented at any cost. But are conflicts really and only destructive in nature? Traditionally, Korean people have lived in a culture which stresses the importance of harmonious coexistence and this is well reflected in the education system. Accordingly, it is generally regarded that environmental conflicts result in heavy economical and social costs as well as social disru

Mar 8, 2012

(8) A new paradigm of economic growth

An important caveat is in order: growth is not an end in itself. The objective of economic policy is not growth but rather broad-based progress in living standards. By Richard Samans Green growth is a relatively new concept that has been characterized by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as "fostering economic growth and development, while ensuring that natural assets continue to provide the resources and environmental services on which our well-being relies." It is closely related to the concept of a green economy, which UNEP defines as one in which "growth in income and employment should be driven by public and private investments that reduce carbon emissions and pollution, enhance energy and resource efficiency, and prevent the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services." In any discussion of economic growth, an important caveat is in order: growth is not an end in itself. The fundamental objective of economic policy is not growth but rather broad-based progress in living standards. After all, growth in GDP per capita is a measure of mean,

Mar 5, 2012

Women’s role vital in disaster prevention (2012-03-01)

By Margaret Arnold Natural disasters are not neutral in the way that they impact people. They compound social exclusion and existing vulnerabilities, disproportionately impacting the poor, women, children, the elderly, the disabled, minority groups and those marginalized in other ways. Certain groups are particularly vulnerable to disasters, for example, female-headed households, children, the disabled, indigenous groups, landless tenants, migrant workers and other socially marginalized groups. The root causes of their vulnerability lies in a combination of their geographical context; their financial, socio-economic, cultural, and gender status; and their access to services, decision making and justice. More than 90 percent of the estimated 140,000 fatalities following the 1991 cyclone in Bangladesh were women. In India, up to three times as many women as men died in the 2004 tsunami, while in Indonesia, this figure rose to up to four times the number of male casualties. The limited mobility and social status of women increased their vulnerability to these events. Impor

Mar 1, 2012

Asia-Pacific fighting climate change (2012-02-27)

The region needs to bring people from different disciplines of endeavor, ranging from the natural to engineering sciences, together to work for disaster risk management By Komal Raj Aryal There is mounting evidence that Asia and the Pacific are undergoing weather patterns more extreme than previously experienced, attributable to the effects of global climate change. Reduction of the impact of climate change is gaining importance in the international agenda. Increasing intensity and frequency of climatic hazards are impacting negatively upon environmental and socio-economic systems. As disasters such as flooding, mudslides, forest fires, cold waves and heat waves and storm surge, decreases in ground water are issues in the arena of governance of sustainable development in the region. Many countries from the region are struggling to cope with frequent disasters that are believed to originate from climate change. In the last three years we have seen major floods and mudslides induced by high intensity rain in of Korea, Vietnam, China, Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, Thailand, Myan

Feb 27, 2012

World needs better alternatives to oil (2010-02-24)

‘The Oil Age will end long before the world runs out of oil. It will end when renewable alternatives fall to a level where oil cannot compete.’ By Martin Kruse It’s hard to understate the importance of petroleum production for the 20th century. Oil forms the backbone of our society. Without oil, the world’s largest industry, the tourist industry, would not have existed as we know it today. The process of globalization would have been limited and the many 100 million that have been lifted out of poverty into the global middle class would have remained in poverty. Oil is unlike every other energy source. It permeates the global economy: transport, military, construction and manufacturing depend on it. It is used in the pharmaceutical industry, agriculture and by industry to produce plastic. It is an ingredient in products as different as pharmaceutical drugs, DVDs and asphalt. Oil lubricates the gears of the world’s economy. It is at the heart of manufacturing. Without it, the free movement of goods as we know it would grind to a halt. It is easy to pick on fossil fuels i

Feb 23, 2012

Adaptation critical in changing climate

From a climate change perspective, adaptation is precautionary or anticipatory adjustments to shifts already happening or likely to happen in the near future. By Geoff O’Brien From a climate change perspective, adaptation is precautionary or anticipatory adjustments to shifts already happening or likely to happen in the near future. Accelerated climate change and increasing variability is one of the greatest challenges we face. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has determined that there is clear evidence that human actions are exacerbating the natural variability of the climate system; we are responsible for producing changes. Though there is general agreement that there is an urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, there is also recognition that we will have to adapt to the changes that will be driven by the emissions already loaded into the atmosphere. There seems little likelihood of an international agreement to reduce emissions before 2020, meaning that climate change could be further accelerated. There is a possibility that we will ente

Feb 20, 2012

Risk governance in age of uncertainty

Green chemistry is an alternative to traditional chemistry that leads to environmental pollution. However, alternative technologies can also risk yielding unpredictable consequences later. By Kim Eun-sung We are now living in an age of uncertainty arising from the development of emerging technologies such as biotechnology, nanotechnology, information technology, neuroscience and the convergence of all these technologies. At present, many nations take these emerging technologies as their future growth engines and make enormous investment in the research and development (R&D) of these technologies. However, it is still uncertain whether or not these technologies can ultimately contribute not only to economic growth but also to sustainable development and the improvement of life quality. It is reported that genetically modified organisms are at risk of genetic pollution within an ecosystem in which their genes are transferable from species to species. In the case of nanotechnology the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warned in 2006 that silver nano-particles can have

Feb 16, 2012

Are we prepared?

By Choi Sang-ok BLACKSBURG, Va. ― Recent natural and human-made disasters have forced our societies to re-consider existing emergency management systems and plans. The year was a memorable one for the many Americans impacted by disasters. Massive blizzards and floods affected dozens of states across the country. Texas and other states fought dangerous wildfires for months. Last spring, the United States was devastated by the deadliest tornadoes since the 1950s over just a few weeks. In August, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Virginia and was felt as far as away New York City. It was just one of 5,017 earthquakes experienced in 2011, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. As a result, emergency management systems are asked to reflect global changes in the environments of ecosystem, politics, economy, society, technology, and international situations. So as we reflect on the past year, many wonder what lessons we learned. Weather-related disasters In 2011, more than 1,100 American people died in weather-related incidents and more than 8,000 were injured. The year also i

Feb 13, 2012

Climate change, resource depletion trigger dramatic global change

By Park Eung-kyuk One of the biggest challenges facing mankind and governments across the globe is tackling the dire consequences of climate change, pollution and the destruction of the ecosystem, and natural resource depletion due to the mindless activities of human beings. The effects of these changes are not only lethal to men, but also to a vast majority of other species. By and large, the overall effects of these changes have produced some natural disasters that have claimed a significant number of lives and properties all over the world. Nevertheless, the impact of these changes have been felt by the attendant increase in temperatures, sea level rises, economic upheaval, shifting landscapes and extinction of wildlife, to mention just a few. This impact has shocked the world like nothing before and, if left unchecked, could account for a susceptible biotic existence. Therefore, it is high time that the entire world begins to realize the significance of these challenges, which have created several imbalances in Earth’s life by adjusting the form and abundance of land, sea and

Feb 9, 2012

Environment & Animals