"From the Lacandon rainforest of Mexico and Guatemala to the Amazon and La Plata rivers in Brazil and Argentina, governments and multinational companies plan to exploit the hydroelectric potential of the region?s rivers and carve water "highways" through their basins. There are plans for hundreds of dams in the region, including more than 400 in Brazil, 70 in Mexico?s Chiapas state, 100 in Costa Rica, 13 in Nicaragua and 10 in Chile. Virtually all of the proposed projects threaten indigenous communities "... read more at Latin American Press.

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Pelau Java, a far northern island in Polynesia (Solomon Islands) went online some days ago, reports the People First Network. The interesting thing is that this is done by a special short wave radio technology, which is use also to connect other islands. It's seems to be part of a UN-funded project to develop distance learning in rural regions and to higher information flow between the islands people. And don't forget: "When sending messages, please write the name of the person in the subject line, as this is a community facility." :-) Via ITW

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