News Brief (E275, 01 August, 2008)

Top News

Police seize largest quantity of wildlife ever confiscated in Quang Ninh
On 25 July, 2008, Environmental Police, in collaboration with anti-smuggling department and National Forest Protection Department’s task force, reportedly seized the largest amount of wildlife ever confiscated in Quang Ninh Province. The wildlife included 2100 snakes and 524 turtles with the estimated value of 70 000 USD.
(Vietnamese and English version)
http://envietnam.org/E_News/E_275/Bat_vu_van_chuyen_DVHD_voi_so_luong_lon_nhat_tu_truoc_toi_nay.pdf
http://envietnam.org/E_News/E_275/Police_net_illegal_wildlife_smugglers_in_Quang_Ninh.pdf

Thanh Hoa: People fined for illegal wildlife transportation
Three men were fined 100 million VND for illegally transporting a large amount of wildlife including snakes, monitor lizards and turtles.
(Vietnamese version)
http://envietnam.org/E_News/E_275/Xu_phat_doi_tuong_van_chuyen_DVHD_trai_phep.pdf

Quang Ngai: Rangers detect and apprehend many forest law violation cases
In July 2008, Quang Ngai rangers have strengthened their law enforcement operations in regard to inspections of forest product storage, transportation and trade. The result of this is the confiscation of over 10m3 of illegally transported timber and nearly 100kg of wildlife from local restaurants.
 (Vietnamese version)
http://envietnam.org/E_News/E_275/Kiem_lam_Quang_Ngai_phat_hien_va_xu_ly_nhieu_vu_vi_pham_lam_luat.pdf

Thanh Hoa: Police confiscate large amount of timber in an illegal trade
Environmental Police, in collaboration with rangers, have recently apprehended a local married couple for illegally trading timber. The two people were fined over 12 million VND in addition to the confiscation of the timber.
(Vietnamese version)
http://envietnam.org/E_News/E_275/Thanh_Hoa_Bat_giu_vu_mua_ban_lam_san_trai_phep_voi_so_luong_lon.html

Bac Lieu: Factory fined for discharging waste water
F78 Factory has been fined 28.5 million VND for discharging waste water into a river. This factory has also been ordered to treat waste water before discharging it into the Bac Lieu - Ca Mau canal.
(Vietnamese version)
http://envietnam.org/E_News/E_275/Bac_Lieu_xi_nghiep_F78_bi_xu_phat_28tr_vi_xa_nuoc_thai_ra_song.html

Dak Lak: Eld’s deer disappear from Dak Lak forests
Eld’s deer (Cervus eldi), a rare animal named on the IUCN Red List, are disappearing from local forests in Dak Lak Province as a result of reduction in forest area and wildlife hunting. Eld's deer is the second species of animal in Dak Lak to be facing extinction after the kouprey, which have already disappeared.
(Vietnamese version)
http://envietnam.org/E_News/E_275/Nai_Ca_Tong_bien_mat_khoi_cac_khu_rung_Dak_Lak.html

Quang Tri: 5000 people at risk from pesticide stores
Two untreated storages of pesticide are posing grave danger to the health of people living in two villages of Cam Vu Commune, Cam Thuy District. However, local authorities are still delaying the treatment of those two pesticide stores.
(Vietnamese version)
http://envietnam.org/E_News/E_275/5000_nguoi_song_giua_hai_kho_thuoc_tru_sau.html

Bac Kan: People suffering from severe lead poisoning as a result of lead mining
People in a local village are suffering from poor health due to daily use of lead contaminated water sources. The lead mining on Phia Khao Mountain is believed to be the main cause of this disaster. However, people involved with the mining operation are evading taking any responsibility to solve the problems.
(Vietnamese version)
http://envietnam.org/E_News/E_275/Bong_ma_tren_dinh_Phia_Khao.pdf

Quang Ngai: Elderly man volunteers for beach clean up
An old man has voluntarily collected the waste and swept the beach for nearly ten years without ever receiving any pay.
(Vietnamese version)
http://envietnam.org/E_News/E_275/Ong_lao_quet_rac_khong_cong_tren_bai_bien_An_Cuong.pdf

National technical criteria on environment issued
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has issued three national technical environment criteria concerning industrial waste water from rubber treatment, medical solid waste burning and underground metal. The criteria provide a set of technical parameters that the mentioned activities are required to meet.
(Vietnamese version)
http://envietnam.org/E_News/E_275/Ban_hanh_quy_chuan_QG_ve_moi_truong.html

Le Thi Tra My                                                  
Communications Officer
Education for Nature - Vietnam (ENV)
N5. IF1, lane 192 Thai Thinh Str, Dong Da Dist, Hanoi
Tel/Fax: (84 4) 514 8850
Email: communication.env@fpt.vn