Month: November 2019

The United States was required to pay just a paltry amount for an environmental crime and violation of the Philippines’ sovereignty. That’s what critics are saying of the U.S. payout to the Philippines as compensation for damages a U.S. Navy minesweeper caused to a World Heritage-listed coral reef two years ago. As Common Dreams previously reported: In January 2013, the USS Guardian rammed into and got stranded in the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park after reportedly…

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Former Marussia F1 driver Max Chilton says the performance gap between F1’s leading teams and those at the rear of the field is ruining the sport. The 26-year-old Brit raced in Formula 1 with the now-defunct Manor-Marussia outfit in 2014 and 2015 before moving to greener pastures in the United States and tackling IndyCar. Chilton believes the American series largely makes up in close and competitive racing what it may lack in glamour compared to…

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A powerful 7.9 magnitude earthquake that struck central Nepal overnight has devastated populated areas across the Himayalan region, causing buildings to crumble and killing hundreds, if not thousands, of people on Saturday. #NepalEarthquake Tweets A spokesperson for Nepal’s Home Ministry, Laxmi Prasad Dhakal, told the New York Times early on Saturday morning that the preliminary death toll stood at 686, nearly all in the valley around Katmandu, and that thousands more had been injured. According…

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Former Red Bull and Toro Rosso driver, Daniil Kvyat had the opportunity to test a NASCAR Euro Series car on Tuesday, but won’t be racing in the series. The Russian found himself staring at the unemployment line after Red Bull dropped the 23-year-old after last October’s US Grand Prix. It is rumored that Kvyat has had contact with at least two Formula E outfits as he contemplates a move to the all-electric series. Yesterday however,…

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ROME, Italy – Driven by solar and wind, world investments in renewable energy reversed a two-year dip last year, brushing aside the challenge from sharply lower oil prices and registering a 17 percent leap over the previous year to stand at 270 billion dollars. These investments helped see an additional 103Gw of generating capacity – roughly that of all U.S. nuclear plants combined –around the world, making 2014 the best year ever for newly-installed capacity, according…

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McLaren racing director Eric Boullier says the team refrained from taking an “easy route” when it embarked on the design of its new MCL33 contender. Following a dismal three-year period of failure and under-performance, the Woking-based outfit begins a new chapter of its history, thanks in part to its partnership with engine supplier Renault. While most of the attention centers on the MCL33’s striking livery, which takes the team back to the roots established by…

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FIA President Jean Todt has suggested that Formula 1 should consider developing ‘global engines’ in order to rein in spiralling costs. The idea would be for the same engine unit to be used across a number of different open-wheel championships, such as IndyCar in the US. Rallying, touring cars and prototype sportscars series could also sign up. The proposal was previously discussed in 2009. The FIA commissioned British engineering consultancy Ricardo to analyse whether a…

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Formula 1’s tyre supplier Pirelli has announced which rubber compounds will be available to teams and drivers for the first three outings of 2018. The company is expanding its range of compounds next season. Instead of five different tyres – ranging from hard to ultrasoft – there will now be seven alternatives next season. Pirelli has added a new superhard tyre at the top end, and a hypersoft option at the other. However, neither compound…

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The center of Dublin has reportedly shut down as demonstrators, joining a chorus of nation-wide protests on Saturday, came out in droves to fight government efforts to tax citizens’ right to water. Click Here: Maori All Blacks Store An estimated 30,000 marched in Dublin while other protests were held in cities and towns across the country including Limerick, Waterford and Donegal. According to The Irish Times, the rallies have caused major traffic disruption and road…

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The power of food systems is concentrated in few hands, and this narrow control over seeds, food production, and processing creates a disconnect between consumers and their food with repercussions for maintaining cultural knowledge and skills, local connections, and local economies as well, Friends of the Earth Europe states. But in places across Europe, communities are coming together to show that another way—a better way—is possible. “The ‘business-as-usual’ model can no longer be considered an…

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