Ho Chi Minh City to invest big in buses

SGGP English Edition- City plans buses as major means of public transport: "Ho Chi Minh City plans to maintain an efficient fleet of buses as the major means of public transport by 2020, according to a proposal for a master plan by the Department of Transport. "

Bangkok auto-purchase subsidy creates traffic nightmare

Traffic tops governor's to-do list | Bangkok Post: breakingnews: "Hundreds of thousands of new cars have hit the streets in the wake of the government's wildly successful tax-rebate programme for first-car buyers. Some longtime residents believe traffic is as bad as in the mid-1990s before the capital had any mass transit."

Forestry official: Indonesia should extend moratorium on new forest concessions

Forestry official: Indonesia should extend moratorium on new forest concessions: "Despite opposition from the powerful palm oil industry, Indonesia should extend its two-year moratorium on new logging and agricultural concessions in carbon-dense peatlands and forests, said a top forestry official. "

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Indonesia floods - its #climatechange caused by cars

Five star flood

17 January: A luxury hotel is surrounded by floodwater.

http://www.aljazeera.com/weather/2013/01/201311783336137576.html?

Malaysia petroleum project destroying communities

Main - Malaysia - Cops say Pengerang family deaths due to depression, not RAPID @ Thu Jan 03 2013: "He said he was told by residents that the family had received a notice informing them their home was being acquired for the RAPID project and they would receive only RM20,000 in compensation as the land on which their house was built was owned by another.

The RAPID project is expected to turn Pengerang into a boom town for global petroleum investors"

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Why is oil palm replacing tropical rainforests

Why is oil palm replacing tropical rainforests: "Palm oil is used as one of the raw materials in a biodiesel production, a fuel that is derived from vegetable oils or animal fats. In general, biodiesels are biodegradable and, when burned, have fewer emissions than traditional petroleum-based fuels. Typically, biofuels are blended with traditional petroleum-based fuels, though it is possible to run existing diesel engines purely on biodiesel, something which holds a great deal of promise as an alternative energy source to replace fossil fuels.

Traditionally environmentalists have been supportive of biofuels for their lower rates of pollution, while others like the idea of reducing dependence on Middle East oil since many biodiesel crops can be grown in friendly territories or even domestically produced. With this in mind, policymakers from Asia to Europe have shown interest and have made a major push to promote and adopt biofuels.
"

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Mad dash for energy profits destroying peoples lives

Forest cleared in October 2011 on Muara Tae customary land, in a concession issued to PT Munte Wani Jaya Perkasa (credit: EIA/Tom Johnson)

Group releases photos of Borneo rainforest to be converted for palm plantations: "PT Munte Waniq Jaya Perkasa is currently bulldozing forests around Muara Tae to establish an oil palm plantation. The company, which is owned by Malaysia-based TSH Resources, is backed by police and other security personnel.

Read more at http://news.mongabay.com/2012/0127-muara_tae_eia.html#yVYZMFb1L6TfYcfP.99