World News

• 6/5/2013   China Aims at Europe’s Wines After Solar Panel Action
  
  In an escalating and increasingly hilarious tiff between two major world powers, China seemingly arbitrarily threatens Europe's wine imports as the EU's first round of tariffs go into effect. "Seemingly" because the EU's trade commissioner owns a large stake in wine vineyards in Tuscani.
  
  
• 6/4/2013   Europe Imposes a Tariff on Chinese Solar Panels, for Less Than Expected
  
  China gets an early (and temporary) slap on the wrist for solar panel price dumping. The EU couldn't decide what powerful interests to listen to and so languish in meager threats as China lashes back (see above).
  
• 9/6/2012   EU initiates anti-dumping investigation on solar panel imports from China
  
  A good step-by-step explanation of the EU's anti-dumping investigation into Chinese solar panels. Looks like we'll have tariffs by December 5th, 2013.
  
  
  
• 5/14/2013   The Future of Solar in Latin America
  
  Looks unsurprisingly like Brazil will lead the way with excellent sun and a bustling economy to boot. The DR doesn't inspire my confidence politically, and Mexico's 25% renewables by next year seems absolutely, but may be a reason they will even more resources in solar to at least make an attempt.
  
  
• 4/22/2013   In China, Breathing Becomes a Childhood Risk
  
  The pollution readings we were all shocked by in Beijing last month are starting to be examined a little bit closer. The NYT reports that health problems from pollution are creating brain drain and the educated are moving away. Based on how concerned parents are in the states about even trivial problems, it wouldn't surprise me.
• 4/9/2013   Vietnam launches electric motorcycle program in cooperation with Japan
  
  The Vietnamese government is encountering some resistance to replacing the millions of gas-powered scooters roaming Hanoi and Saigon, but it could fight air pollution, save money, and quiet their busy streets if successful.
  
  
• 11/9/2012   Viet Nam embraces wind power
  
  Vietnam is slowly ramping up support for green energy, but as Professor Duong Ngoc Huyen of Hanoi University of Technology says, "beside the energy, Vietnam has some other different issues to worry about: food, infrastructure, literacy, etc".
  
  
• 4/1/2013   Air Pollution Linked to 1.2 Million Premature Deaths in China
  
  Many people complain about outsourcing to the Chinese, but not too many people talk about how we are also outsourcing all the pollution that comes with production.
  
  
  
• 3/31/2013   Tamar gas field has given Israel energy independence
  
  Israel is probably the country most in need of energy independence, but, domestic benefits aside, natural gas pollutes and discourages green energy investment by dropping energy prices. In this case, it looks like the Israeli people won't see much of this on their monthly bill.
  
  
• 9/25/2012   1st Geothermal Plant in Vietnam Gets Approved
  
  Historically Vietnam hasn't invested heavily in renewables, but with new investment from Germany and the US and policies like net-metering on the way, things are beginning to develop.