Stories for August 2010
Southern Chile Commerson dolphins’ population falls dramatically
A recent study showed a reduction in the population of Commerson’s Dolphins living in the southern tip of Chile. Commerson’s are also known as Panda Dolphins (or Tonina Overa in Spanish).
Brazil greens claim 300.000 sharks have been killed for their fins
Demand for shark fin soup in Asia has been blamed for the illegal killing of nearly 300,000 sharks off Brazil, an environmental group has alleged. The Environmental Justice Institute in Brazil has accused a seafood exporter (Siglo do Brasil Comercio) of illegally killing nearly 300,000 sharks.
UN Court ruling props “self determination”, contains “territorial integrity”
An International Court of Justice ruling, that Kosovo (in the Balkans) did not violate international law when it claimed secession from Serbia in February 2008, may have implications for territories caught in territorial sovereignty disputes such as Gibraltar, it has emerged.
Low fares airline has Gibraltar/UK summer flights fully booked
Low fares airline Monarch is adding even more flights from Gibraltar to the UK this summer with an additional Friday service to London Luton, which will operate between 24 September and 29 October 2010, according to the Gibraltar Chronicle.
Wheat prices at 22 month high; fears about drought and fires in Russia
International wheat prices hit a 22-month high Monday after a severe drought and ensuing wildfires in Russia devastated crops. Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) wheat for September delivery broke through the $7-a-bushel level in US trade for the first time since September 2008 but have since falling back.
Proposal in Chile to legalize same sex marriage “to install the debate in society”
Socialist Sen. Fulvio Rossi announced Sunday that he will present a law to the Senate on Tuesday to legalize same sex marriage in Chile. The announcement was made at a press conference one day after Santiago Archbishop Francisco Javier Errázuriz publicly called the idea of marriage between two people of the same sex “an outrage,” referring to Argentina’s initiative.
Mercosur signs trade accord with Egypt; Venezuela/Colombia conflict out of the agenda
Argentine Foreign Minister Héctor Timerman set in motion the 39th Mercosur Summit during which Argentina informed of the results obtained under its pro-tempore presidency of the bloc in the first six months of the year.
Mrs. Kirchner underlines Mercosur economies ‘very good’ performance
President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner said Monday evening that the Mercosur Summit “arrives at a very special time in the world economy, especially in all of South America, which has had a very satisfactory performance”.
What happens if Chilean maritime costs force cruises to cancel the Pacific leg?
A Uruguayan cruise industry expert has brought up an interesting debate about the whole business for South America if Chilean port and auxiliary services costs remain so high that they end convincing some of the cruise companies to drop the traditional Pacific and Chilean leg of the tours.
Chilean wine industry and pork plant clash over land planning and use
Winemakers in Chile’s Casablanca Valley have been fighting pork-producing behemoth Expo Pork Meat for the past two weeks, as the company looks to construct a pork-processing plant in the region.
