world news

Climate Change Affecting Pakistani Power Supplies

Basically, Pakistan's hydroelectric reservoirs are drying up. Several are reported to be at "dead level," which means the turbines can only use run-of-the-river flows, and have lower output as a result. Because natural gas supplies are also low,




world news

Me to We Tees Promote International Development

There are lots of eco-tees out there today, we'll admit it. The tees designed by Me to We clothing have improved on the design of most eco-tees in that they fit better because they are cut longer and larger than your standard




world news

Climate Contributes To Lahore Pakistan's Daily Power Blackouts - Australian Coal To The Rescue?

People often write of climate associated flooding, loss of agricultural productivity, spread of tropical disease, and so on. The City of Lahore, Pakistan is experiencing




world news

South Asian Monsoon Rains Could Be Delayed, Decrease In Intensity Due to Climate Change

As if melting Himalayan glaciers weren't enough to radically (and perhaps catastrophically) reshape water supply in South Asia, a new report from researchers at Purdue University shows that summer monsoons could be




world news

Scientist's Hunger Strike Halts Work on Himalayan Dam

The near-death of one of India's most distinguished scientists has halted work on a major hydroelectric dam in the Himalayas. Professor AD Agarwal, 77, former dean of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi at Kanpur,




world news

China Builds Dam on Indus, Doesn't Tell Pakistan

If you're already on TreeHugger it's safe to assume that you've got an interested in what lies under the great green umbrella. And, now, if you've also got an




world news

Himalayan Houseboats Shut Down for Polluting Lake

Adventurous, and eco-friendly, travelers often seek out off-beat lodging options, staying in yurts or on organic farms, both to soak up more local color and to avoid the




world news

Water Wars or Something Better: Can Water Bring Peace?

Image credit: Marjukka Grover Because Water is so Vital, Even Enemies Can Find Common Ground There's no doubt that as our climate gets weirder, the world will increasingly face a severe water crisis. Given the fact that we absolutely cannot live without




world news

Don't Oversimplify Glacier Retreating (and Advancing) Reports

With all the recent brouhaha over inaccurate and since retracted statements in the 2007 IPCC climate change report about the speed with which Himalayan glaciers are melting, a recent series of posts over at China Dialogue is




world news

Pentagon 'Discovers' Huge Lithium Deposit in Afganistan

From the "re-positioning of old news' file: as quoted in the New York Times story about a trillion dollar minerals discovery in Afganistan, U.S.




world news

Illegal Logging by Pakistan's Timber Mafia Increased Flooding Devastation

Forget for the moment about to what degree climate change has influenced the flooding in Pakistan. A new article in China Dialogue brings to light a new angle on one very aggravating factor on the overwhelming devastation: Illegal logging by the 'timber




world news

Pakistani Soldier Plants 20,101 Trees in One Day! Sets New World Record

Let that sink in for a second: Over a period of 18 hours and 40 minutes on September 29th, Muhammed Yousuf Jamil, a Lance Naik (Lance Corporal) in the Pakistani Army singlehandedly




world news

Pakistani Timber Mafia & Climate Change Caused Much of Summer's Flooding

Back when 20% of Pakistan was underwater, I wrote about the influence of deforestation on the flooding--deforestation caused in no small part by illegal logging at the hands of the so-called timber mafia, a group with




world news

Rogue Storm From Bay of Bengal Caused 2010 Pakistan Flooding

We know that illegal logging contributed to the devastation caused by last summer's flooding in Pakistan, when up to 20% of the nation was underwater. New research now sheds light on how so much rain fell: A rogue




world news

Animals Taunted and Confined at Bahawlpur Zoo (Video)

PETA and I may disagree about the ethics of eating meat, and there are plenty of people who object to PETA's overly sexualized campaign tactics. Nevertheless, I have always felt they are one of the more effective campaign




world news

Spiders Fleeing Floods Build Mosquito Buffet in Trees

When heavy rains caused rivers to overflow and flood parts of Pakistan last year, it set into motion a surprisingly complex chain of events that scientists are only now beginning to understand -- and which may have




world news

Indian Vultures Show Some Signs Of Recovery Since Veterinary Painkiller Ban

Some good news on the critically endangered Indian vulture: New research published in PLoS One documents how the rate of the bird's decline has fallen since India, Nepal, and Pakistan banned the veterinary painkiller




world news

As Pakistan Powers Down, Protests Mount: Climate Change A Root Cause

After Pakistan's extensive hydroelectric power resources dried up in 2008, Australian coal was marketed to satisfy the growing power consumption




world news

Adapting to Climate Change: Salt-Tolerant Biofuel Crops Could Turn Saline Soil Back Into Cultivable Land

As salinization impacts agriculture around the world—another effect of climate change that will hit already-vulnerable places and people the hardest—farmers, small-scale farmers in particular, have to figure out how to




world news

Southern Pakistan Hit By Worst Floods in Living Memory

If you thought the flooding in the northeast in the wake of Hurricane Irene and subsequent storms dropping heavy rain, thank your lucky stars you're not in Pakistan. In a repeat of last summer, the nation is again in the grips of catastrophic flooding,




world news

Watch A Latrine Get Built In 51 Seconds

Time-lapse video shows the construction of a latrine in rural Pakistan -- from before the hole is dug until the doors are hung on each 'stall.'




world news

Climate Change Will Destroy 5% of Pakistan's GDP

Climate-related disasters and other losses will cost Pakistan $14 billion each year, a former environment has said.




world news

Pakistani Villagers Set World Record For Tree-Hugging

In a recent show of solidarity with the forests and one another, more than a thousand villagers gathered to simultaneously give their beloved trees a loving squeeze.




world news

Do Well in School, Get a Solar Panel, Pakistani Students Told

$46 million is going to give students who do well their own solar power.




world news

As sea waters rise, coastal communities in Pakistan suffer

A new report chronicles the impact of climate change along Pakistan's shores.




world news

Multipurpose building is a flexible wooden wonder

It is modern in appearance yet traditional in operations




world news

ECO cycle parks your bike in 13 seconds

It may not make economic sense to park bikes this way, but it sure is fun to watch.




world news

Marie Kondo is a graphic novel superhero!

Her latest publication is every parent's dream come true -- an attempt to get teens to declutter.




world news

Artist's blossoming animal forms depict triumph of life over death

These flowery sculptures seem to grow and flourish, out of repurposed dead animal skulls.




world news

'Ikigai' is the Japanese art of finding one's purpose in life

You will find your ikigai at the intersection of what you are good at and what you love doing.




world news

Concept of “Ma” is at the heart of Japanese minimalism

The embrace of negative space is celebrated in everything from home décor and flower arranging to poetry and all aspects of Japanese daily life.




world news

Renovation in Tokyo creates a house for four generations

What the Club Sandwich Generation looks like in Tokyo, where it is unusual to renovate instead of starting from scratch.




world news

Built on a tilt: climbable bookshelf is also earthquake resistant

It's wood, it's small, it's resilient.




world news

The capsule hotel gets a remake

Schemata Architects gives it a new image and a nice sauna.




world news

Airy chapel held up by tree-like fractal structure in Japan

This chapel looks to nature and the generations-old tradition of Japanese wood joinery for inspiration.




world news

70 Story tallest timber tower tipped for Tokyo

Sumitomo Forestry has a lot of wood to use up.




world news

Small Japanese house really is all about eaves

Deep overhang controls light, provides privacy for bedrooms upstairs.




world news

Super Monster Wolf is a crop-saving demon robot

The solar powered lupine menace has proven so successful at scaring away wild boar from Japanese farms that it’s going into mass production.




world news

Forget decluttering; here is a house designed around stuff and more stuff

Yo Shimada designs a house for a family that believes if you've got it, flaunt it.




world news

Kakeibo: a life-changing method for saving money

This Japanese approach to managing household spending may be over 100 years old, but it's as relevant as ever.




world news

There are lessons to be learned from these soulful snow monkeys (video)

Watch these beautiful Japanese macaques at Wild Snow Monkey Park who have truly mastered the fine art of relaxation.




world news

Multi-level lakeside cabin recomposes relationship to nature

This quiet retreat has an interesting interior of overlapping layers that welcomes the outdoors in.




world news

House of Furniture has a place for everything

No Japanese minimalism here.




world news

These sassy little seahorses are the size of a grain of rice

Meet the 'Japan pig,' a newly discovered pygmy seahorse that is as tiny as it is beautiful.




world news

Japan's confused cherry blossoms are blooming 6 months early

Because of the weather, some of the country's famed cherry trees are having a surprise autumn bloom instead of in spring.




world news

We should all adopt 'hanami,' the Japanese tradition of flower viewing

In Japan, celebrating the transient beauty of flowers is a beloved custom when the cherry blossoms spring to life.




world news

Grain Sacks Never Looked So Good

Old canvas bags have never looked so good. These antique Hungarian grain sacks date from 1910-1930. They are handwoven with flax linen, which is known for its durability and strength, and is said to be two to three times stronger than cotton. The




world news

Hot Rocks Energy Gets a $5 Million Nod from Govt

Much to the scepticism of our readers we’ve covered hot rocks at least once or twice before. In a nutshell, it’s a form geothermal energy derived from pumping water kilometres underground where it gets heated enough (by hot rocks!) to then rise back to




world news

Sustainable Wheel Replacements

Not many details on this one, so I'm not sure if it's a genuine modification, a weird advertising campaign or even an art installation. Anything’s possible. I like to think though, that it's a Hungarian motorist who places sustainability as a higher




world news

TreeHugger Radio: Claiming the Arctic Floor, Sled Dogs on Thin Ice, and the Price of Carbon Cuts

This week is all about climate change and its myriad ripple effects. Melting Arctic ice has opened up an international controversy over deep-sea land rights, and Russia will now make a bold move by planting its flag 14,000 feet below the surface. New