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Current AffairsFurther decline in number of trees in Prague could have serious consequences, warns green group

There are serious levels of pollution in Prague, with the quality of air in many parts of the city leaving a great deal to be desired. Now the environmental group Arnika is warning that things could get even worse, if a recent decline in the number of trees in the Czech capital continues. At the launch on Wednesday of a report entitled The State and Development of Greenery in Prague, I spoke to Arnika’s Martin Skalský.  More

Current AffairsCommunist agreement to dialogue after environmental protests on eve of Velvet Revolution unprecedented, says historian

November 17 is the anniversary of the start of Czechoslovakia’s Velvet Revolution. But what is less well known is that six days earlier it was preceded by what has been described as the “smog revolution”, when hundreds of people – angered by the appalling state of the local environment – took to the streets in the north Bohemian city of Teplice. More

Current AffairsCycling halfway round the world to combat climate change

What are you doing to fight climate change? That’s what Australian environmentalist and social worker Kim Nguyen wants ordinary people to ask themselves. For his part, he’s bicycling from Brisbane, Australia to Copenhagen, Denmark. 15 months into his journey, Kim arrived in Prague for a lap around Wenceslas Square and some meetings with the press to promote the idea that if he can cycle half-way round the world, certainly others can cycle to work.  More

Current AffairsCzech industry ministry sparks uproar with long term power plans

The Czech Ministry of Industry has just made public its plans for the country’s energy policy over the next four decades. They include more nuclear power, the breaching of environmental barriers to mining brown coal, and expansion of uranium mining. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the plans have provoked howls of protests from environmental groups.  More

NewsGarbage Warrior selected as Ekofilm winner

NewsEco damage caused by Soviets will take many much more time and money

Current AffairsPresident Klaus wages war on energy saving light bulbs

Two topics are guaranteed to evoke an angry reaction from President Václav Klaus: environmental activists and Euro-federalists. On Friday he took both to task at the launch of his new book “Blue Planet Under Threat”.  More

Current AffairsEnvironment Ministry overhauls flagship carbon cutting programme following cool response

Global warming is climbing ever higher up the agenda as world leaders prepare for a key meeting in December to agree on emissions cuts. The Czech Republic would have liked to go to the Copenhagen meeting brandishing a successful flagship programme for saving energy and cutting greenhouse gases. Unfortunately that programme has got a cool response and has been hurriedly overhauled.  More

Current AffairsČEZ calls for offers to expand Temelín nuclear power plant

Czech power giant ČEZ has launched a tender for two new nuclear reactors at its existing Temelín site in south Bohemia. The move aims at more than doubling output at the controversial plant and has raised questions at home and protests from neighbouring anti-nuclear Austria.  More

Current AffairsPlans to expand Temelín provoke Austrian anger

ČEZ’s decision to more than double Temelín’s capacity has raised hackles in neighbouring anti-nuclear Austria. Politicians in Upper Austria, which lies under 30 kilometres away, have threatened legal action and even border blockades if the expansion goes ahead. The Austrian Green Party ranks amongst the plan’s most vociferous critics. A little earlier, I asked the Austrian Greens’ spokesperson, Christiane Brunner, what her party’s problem with the new reactors was:  More