Top Stories
Global IT brands urged to be more
accountable for pollution in China supply chain.—reliability
high.
"Vodafone, BT and 27 other leading technology companies must do more
to come clean about the potentially dirty and dangerous side of their
manufacturing operations in China, according to a new investigation
into heavy metal poisoning in the supply chains of global IT brands.
The investigation – carried out by a coalition of 34 Chinese
environmental groups – traced a link between lead and cadmium
contamination cases and the production of materials for mobile phone
batteries and computer circuit boards for foreign companies." See story
in The
Guardian. [Is
your mobile phone poisoning people in China?]
THE INFLUENCE GAME: Can BP's connections
help?—reliability high.
"With millions of dollars invested in campaign donations and an
all-star lobbying team, BP executives could give an advanced class in
how to build influence in Washington. But with millions of gallons of
leaking oil bearing down on Gulf Coast beaches and bayous, they could
also teach how to lose it. Even pro-oil Republicans — whose 2008 vice
presidential nominee, Sarah Palin, made "Drill, Baby Drill!" a party
rallying cry — are demanding answers. At least for the moment, it
appears that whatever clout BP has accrued, the oil company is unlikely
to get delicate handling from lawmakers investigating the oil rig
disaster when oversight hearings begin this week on Capitol Hill. ...
BP-related campaign and lobbying spending makes the political outlays
of Toyota, another major foreign-based company under investigation by
Congress for its failings on safety issues, look feeble by comparison."
Story at Yahoo Green from AP.
[This is when that
investment can really pay off for BP. On the other hand, politicians
who took BP cash now have some explaining to do. Politicians are good
at explaining.]
Companies,
Industries, Markets and Supply Chains
Indian Cos jittery as govt plans import of
solar power tools.—reliability high.
"The government’s decision to import solar power equipment for its
flagship clean energy programme has run into strong opposition
from domestic equipment makers, who have argued that it will open up
the floodgates for import of cheaper and sub-standard equipment from
China. The government is contemplating import of cells (photo voltaic)
and modules from other countries for the its Jawaharlal Nehru National
Solar Mission. 'The national solar mission, which will be implemented
using Indian taxpayers money, is somehow becoming the reason for many
countries to dump their untested, sub-standard solar products in the
country,' said Ajay Prakash Shrivastava, president, Maharishi Solar
Technology." From Economic
Times.
Samsung’s $20B Greentech Plan.—reliability
medium.
"Korean conglomerate Samsung sells everything from chemicals and
construction to shipbuilding and sugar. But in recent years the Korean
giant has started to turn the wheel towards green technology, and this
morning Samsung said it plans to spend over $20 billion largely on
developing and selling green tech, including solar cells, battery
cells, and LEDs, (in addition to non-greentech items like
biopharmaceuticals and medical devices.)" From earth2tech.
Better Place Closes Massive $350M Round.—reliability
medium.
Better Place has closed a funding round raising "a whopping $350
million to help it build out its network of charging and battery swap
stations across nations like Israel and Denmark. ... Better Place said
back in January that the round was being led by HSBC Group, which will
put in a whopping $125 million and will own 10 percent of the company’s
shares". From earth2tech.
Government and
Regulation
Cameroon agrees to cut illegal wood out of
its supply chain.—reliability medium.
"One of Africa's largest exporters of tropical hardwoods, Cameroon,
has announced today a trade agreement with the European Union (EU) to
rid all illegal wood from its supply chain to the EU and worldwide.
Cameroon signed a legally-binding Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA)
that will cover all wood products produced in Cameroon." See Mongabay.
[Cameroon wants to
keep lucrative EU business. Plus, smugglers don't pay taxes.]
US States Lead Clean Energy Initiatives.—reliability
high.
"A new report by the National Governors Association Center for Best
Practices (NGA Center) profiles the work of 12 states to explore and
expand new techniques for promoting clean energy. ... 'States are key
actors in the push towards a cleaner, more secure energy future,' said
John Thomasian, director of the NGA Center. 'The accomplishments of
these states provide concrete examples of how states from across the
country--with varying natural resource and economic conditions--can
advance energy efficiency, renewable energy and clean transportation
fuels.' ". See Sustainable
Business. "Advancing Clean Energy: A Report on the Clean Energy
States Grant Program" PDF available here.
Science and
Economics
Stronger evidence pollution damages heart:
report.—reliability high.
"The evidence is stronger than ever that pollution from industry,
traffic and power generation causes strokes and heart attacks, and
people should avoid breathing in smog, the American Heart Association
said on Monday. Fine particulate matter from burning fossil fuels such
as gasoline, coal and oil is the clearest offender, the group said.
"Particulate matter appears to directly increase risk by triggering
events in susceptible individuals within hours to days of an increased
level of exposure, even among those who otherwise may have been healthy
for years," said Dr. Robert Brook of the University of Michigan in Ann
Arbor, who headed the group writing the report." From Reuters.
Heart Association press release and access to report here.
[Crossposted from HaraBara.com courtesy of HaraBara, Inc. Copyright © 2010 HaraBara, Inc.]
