Sustainable Development in Dominican Republic

Credit to Victoria Espinosa in the Diario Libre :

The Directorate General of Multilateral Cooperation and the European delegation on Tuesday unveiled the second call for submission of projects in the area of renewable energies may involve African, Caribbean, Pacific and European Union, with an availability of 100 million euros.

Dominican Republic has a new opportunity to obtain financial support offered by the European Union, for the development of renewable energy projects to improve the national energy system.

Domingo Jimenez, Computer Fund of the European Union, stressed the importance of improving sustainable energy services in rural and peri-urban areas of the country.

Meanwhile, the director of infrastructure at the EU Delegation, Lorenzo Martelli, also praised the importance of renewable energy projects not only to improve the energy service, but also to tackle climate change and protect the environment.

Applicants to submit projects have until April 21 to submit their proposals and the second call is planned for next year.

The call is addressed to public and private entities, intergovernmental organizations and civil society.

The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARENA) perform during the 2010 reforestation days at the border, in the framework of the "Sowing the Border: Towards a Green Border."

The conference began last in Macasías, Elías Piña, in coordination with the National Army and continue throughout January in Pedro Santana, Restoration, Capotillo, Fondo Grande, Loma de Cabrera, Jimaní, Elías Piña, and Pedernales. On Sunday March the day was done with the Navy and on Monday April with the Air Force.

The communicator Gina Almonte addressed the most important events of national and international environmental sector, every Monday on "Telematutino 11" by Telesistema.

"Ecological Code" is the segment that leads Almonte for some time and is in the air around 8:00 am, with the current issues on environment, in order to guide and create awareness in Dominican population about the importance of them.

"Ecological Code" also combines outdoor recording interviews with personalities committed to the issue, so privately or through social responsibility their business. The driver of the section is noted for his work in radio and commercial voice, giving life to leading brands in the country and currently serves as public relations director of the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources.

Credit to El Nacional .

The Vice President Rafael Alburquerque, said the launch of a comprehensive program for creating "Green Jobs" under the technical assistance of the International Labour Organization (ILO), which in his opinion can reduce unemployment and also contribute to preserving the environment and would decrease the effects of climate change.

Dr. Rafael Alburquerque said building programs will be developed Green jobs in the areas of renewable energy, water, tourism and ecological housing in a first stage.

Technicians reported that the ILO and the Dominican government agreed to hold a joint meeting which will conclude with a conference to be held in Santo Domingo in mid-September next year.

Peter Poschen, Director of Job Creation and Enterprise Development of the ILO, also revealed that today, in Haiti, is developing several projects account recovery basins, with the planting of endemic trees, which has generated thousands of jobs.

For his part the lawyer Omar Ramirez, informed that a technical unit of the United Nations Council for Environment, technicians will meet with Na tional Council of Climate Change in the country, to coordinate the project together with the Secretaries of State Work, Environment and the Institute of Technical and Vocational Training (INFOTEP).

The meeting was also present Vice President Alburquerque, Omar Ramirez, coordinator of the Presidential Office for Climate Change and Ana Belem Sanchez, ILO specialist on Climate Change and Peter Poschen.

Albuquerque tops the Dominican official delegation which is here, participating in the XV World Meeting on Climate Change, along with Secretary of Environment, Jaime David Fernandez Mirabal, Omar Ramirez, the Assistant Secretaries of the Environment, Ernesto Reyna and Patricia Abreu, his chief bodyguard, Gen. Ramon Alcantara and their personal assistants and press Ramon Ramirez and Felipe Romero.

Credit Deianira Polanco in the Listin Diario .

The Organization of the United Nations determined that it is not feasible or appropriate construction of the cement Gonzalo community in Los Haitises, considering that the project's risks outweigh the benefits and opportunities.

The result of the evaluation of the international organization was unveiled at the headquarters of the United Nations Resident Coordinator UN System, Valerie Julliand with the technical team involved in the investigation.

The UN suggestion was applauded by environmentalists, civil society representatives and other personalities who were present and applauded "no, no, no, no cement."

Mrs. Julliand presented a video on the process carried out in which consulted all parties involved in the process, such as civil society, environmentalists and government.

With regard to the technical assessment concluded that the process did not have the technical and scientific rigor, given the complexity of the case.

"The environmental impact study should have included critical analysis, necessary as it Elative the impact on human health and cultural heritage, and all potential environmental impacts must be identified and evaluated," he said.

He said that with regard to the legal disposal is concluded that met the requirements of the law, however "is not properly observed all the principles of environmental legal framework, in particular the precautionary principle laid down the law from 1964 to 1900 and Rio Convention, which in this context is of vital importance to avoid irreversible damage to the environment.

He noted that hopefully the authorities take into account the warning that makes the UN in its assessment because it is they who have to make a decision.

He said it is a historic moment and growth in civil society and state, because they worked with an international agency to settle the dispute.

Credit to TODAY .

The Electricity Generating Company Haina (EGE-Haina) is building the country's first wind farm with a generating capacity of 25 megawatts in its first stage.

The information was provided by the General Manager of the company, Tito Sanjurjo, during the celebration of its tenth anniversary with various activities including a Mass of thanksgiving in the recently restored Imperial Dominican Convent followed by a toast in his backyard : a gala dinner authorities, entrepreneurs and executives in the energy, financial and insurance in the Olivo restaurant and a lively dinner-dance for all staff in the Avenida del Puerto.

During the gala dinner, Sanjurjo referred to the constitution of EGE-Haina, in the process of international competitive bidding called for capitalization of the then Dominican Electricity Corporation. It was composed of capital contributed to fifty percent by the invesment Haina Company Ltd., a consortium composed of national and international investors and the Reformed Companies Equity Fund (FONP) and other minor shareholders.

He stressed that the strength and solvency has been developed so the company made in 2007, placing a second bond issue of $ 175 million under the regulations of the Securities Commission of the United States, received bids that exceeded the one thousand seven hundred million more than 130 international investors, amounting to almost ten times greater than the amount originally planned. "That same level of confidence is expressed locally by placing successfully in the year 2009, our first public offering issuance of corporate bonds in the Dominican market value amounting to 30 million dollars to increase our working capital" said the executive.

Meant that the Fitch Ratings BBB Dominican granted both the company and the bonds, with sufficient capacity to pay principal and interest payments within the deadlines set. Sanjurjo stressed that this EGE-Haina is one of the largest private power generation in the country with an installed capacity of 600 megawatts, which represents twenty percent of the total available to the national electricity system, with facilities in Haina, Puerto Plata, Barahona and San Pedro de Macoris. In this port, the barge also has installed Sultana del Este which produces 150 megawatts and is the largest floating generation plant in the world. "In anticipation of increased demand for electricity that will require both strong national economic development as the growth of domestic consumption, EGE-Haina is projected on a policy of continued growth and diversification based on technological advancement and habitat conservation .

Hence we maintain strict control over carbon emissions from our plants, "said in his speech. He stressed that the company has instilled that same concern for environmental preservation staff taking it to make frequent days and cleaning costs reforestation and landscaping, being also the main currency of its Corporate Social Responsibility policy.

Under it, developed the pioneering program in the country of EcoEscuelas that involves both teachers and students, as well as a member of the Board of Directors of the Multisectoral Coalition for Higuamo River Rescue has taken on this task. To acknowledge the support received from different sectors with which it has relationships, Sanjurjo emphasized that having that support the company "will continue to grow and serve the progress of the Dominican Republic increasingly contributing to stability and progress of the sector national electricity essential basis for development of the country to continue to provide financial and technical resources, sustained effort and our steadfast will to collaborate. "

During the subsequent activity carried out with staff for the celebration of its 10th anniversary, the General Manager of EGE-Haina gave recognition of seniority to employees who are 5 and 10 years working in the same, noting the fact that they represent 42 percent of its total payroll employment reflects the harmony that exists within the company, calling it "a big family."

"If we get here and what we are and we can look to the future with the firm conviction of new achievement is largely due to the contribution of our employees. In his rapport with the ideals of the company, its high degree of training and responsibility, the spirit of professional and dedicated interest in ever reach the level of excellence in their work. You are the main asset of EGE-Haina and so we are pleased to once again acknowledge this special occasion, expressing completed.

In Quito, the capital of Ecuador, 50 percent of drinking water comes from glaciers.

Latin America is the region where there is a greater imbalance in per capita water availability.

In this century will be lost between 20 and 80 percent of the Amazon, made under climate projections.

The Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic southern Brazil-Uruguay and Parana-La Plata only hold 10 per cent of water resources.

Santo Domingo .- The imbalance in the use of water resources in Latin America and the Caribbean, combined with climate change, which has become a threat to humanity made huge proportions, could generate a water crisis in this region, has more than 30 percent of global water resources.

The warning was made by Omar Ramirez, executive vice president of the National Council for Climate Change and Clean Development Mechanism.

Sixto Inchaustegui, the local office of the United Nations Programme for Development (UNDP), expressed a similar view: "A lot of the shortcomings of water in the regions and countries is due to the inequity in the use and water governance. "

Both experts made presentations on the effects of climate change on the water during an international seminar on the subject recently made in the country under the auspices of the United Nations Organization and the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development.

Ramirez said that, despite the abundance of water, its distribution is not equitable in terms of geography or social, which makes it the region with the greatest imbalances in water availability per capita.

Much of the water is in the Amazon, in Peru, Colombia and Brazil, where population density is low, while areas of the Gulf of Mexico basin, South Atlantic Brazil-Uruguay and Parana-La Plata, covering 25 percent of America and have 40 percent of the population possess only 10 percent of water resources, he said. In connection with the Dominican Republic, said that in the last 30 years water availability declined by almost half due to the increase of its population: "The country fell from 4.150 meters to 2,200 cubic per m3. A country that has thousand cubic meters per capita in a state of water stress, below there is almost unbearable. We have companies in the Eastern Caribbean are importing water, and societies in which a liter of water is worth more than one of gasoline. "

Ramirez said the development of society depends largely on water resources, and gave the example of farming: "In the Caribbean, three quarters of the water consumed is for food security, hence it is strategic that resource, whose preservation demand for the implementation of sustainable water management and decentralization of responsibility for good governance and good governance.

"People need to be empowered, from local governments to the irrigation boards. Civil society needs to empower the topic to be effective public policy, "he said.

They predict Read Water Crisis in Dominican Republic

Credit to TODAY .

A group of youths from the Youth Social Christian Reformist (JRSC) launched a tree planting program, which aims to plant over 50,000 trees in different mountains and watersheds in the country.

The day of reforestation was carried out in the Loma de Managua, Borough of Santiago Mata, in the province of Monte Plata, and it was headed by Joaquín Díaz, Secretary of the Social Christian Reformist Youth.

The reformist leader said "we are planting for the future, so that more water, more life, and thus follow the guidelines of the PRSC, which has been the party that has most contributed to the preserved environment and natural resources .

Joaquin Diaz said the tree planting plan began in the mountains of Monte Plata, where they planted over 500 plants, as this is the place where born as much of underground rivers, which feed water of major rivers in the country.

The day of reforestation was supported by Secretary of State for the Environment in the person of engineer Lantigua Blas Gonzalez, Manager Environment Forest Bayaguana.

Blas Lantigua, welcomed the initiative of the Youth Reformita, to put their priorities in the conservation of natural resources, while urging other political forces to emulate this initiative.

Among the trees planted by the group of young reformers are, native pine and acacia, because plants do not need a lot of water to grow.

Among the young reformers who said yes, the day of reforestation are: Carlos Roa, Gustavo Martínez, Miguel Suero, Raul Negron, Vanessa Guzman, Carmen Cepeda, Katerina Pelletier.

Finally, the Secretary General of the reformist youth urged young people across the country interested in environmental issues, since in the present moment all problems are intertwined with climate change and environmental conservation.

Credit Yvonne Alcantara in Diario Libre .

Because of its temperate weather, Constance was a closed area for dengue. But this year, the Public Health authorities have had reports of the virus in this demarcation.

In the eyes of Omar Ramirez, vice president of the National Council on Climate Change, the phenomenon is one of the consequences attributable to climate change in the country.

"The mosquitoes did not come up there and you're coming, by the climatic situation," said Ramirez interviewed by DL under the Regional Workshop for journalists: Information and Communication on Water and Climate Change, held as part of the Conference International of the Americas (CILA).

The increase in temperature causes the mosquito that transmits the virus to move into areas traditionally cold as Constanza and Jarabacoa.

So far this year, 33 Dominicans have died and more than 4,000 have fallen ill from the virus, a high amount.

However, the increasing incidence of tropical disease not only confined to the Dominican Republic, also affect other Caribbean islands such as Trinidad and Tobago.

With the workshop being held from today, you find that journalists in the Caribbean and Latin America increase their knowledge on climate change and its effects, so that they may convey information more effectively to citizens.

Credit to Silvio Cabrera .

The Commission's Rejection of Cement in Gonzalo said Thursday that the main watershed of Socoa Salto, declared by the Executive as a protected area is located within the space that was assigned to build a cement factory in Gonzalo.

Manuel Benitez, a spokesman for the commission, stating that the main watershed is situated at the Batey Carmona, belonging to the municipality of Gonzalo, within concession by the Government to a private firm for the construction of a cement.

According to the explanation of Benitez Socoa Falls, declared a Natural Monument, is located in Layer Vara, site of the municipal district of Gonzales.

Benitez was asked what would happen if that area is allowed and encouraged the construction of a cement in a space, he said, is within the National Park Haitises.

He said the government is trying to impose clearly the construction of this cement, despite an opposition that has more than 90 percent of rejection.

He reiterated his call for the government to rescind the license by which it empowers the Dominican Consorcio Minero.