Beijing promises open media environment for Olympics

BEIJING, June 21 (Reuters) - This summer's Beijing Olympics will offer a "zero refusal policy" for media interview requests, state media said on Saturday, as China tries to deflect criticism about its press controls in the run-up to the Games.

Organisers promised complete media freedom when they bid to host the Games, and while the reporting environment has improved for foreign journalists, the country has not relaxed its grip over domestic reporters, a policy criticised by rights groups.

"BOCOG will apply a zero refusal policy for interview requests, which means that all requests for interviews will be replied to," the China Daily quoted Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, as saying.

Checklist for environment-friendly investment options

There are several renewable energy companies listed on the bourses and mutual funds which invest in the renewable energy companies. One can even look to buy stocks and funds in the overseas markets. In India, Suzlon Energy is a perfect example of a company operating in this area.

The company is a leading player in the wind energy segment. In fact, high networth individuals can also buy stake in environment-related private equity funds. In India, Yes Bank is raising funds for a private equity fund investing in clean energy and technology businesses.

UN to Celebrate World Environment Day in Batumi

This year’s campaign – Change Your Lifestyle, not Climate!, stimulates awareness of climate change and promotes resources and initiatives that help make economy greener and cleaner.

Throughout the day, Batumi Boulevard faced a bicycle parade, kids’ drawing competition and a symbolic decoration of the Earth Cake. This was followed by a public discussion and a film show in the Batumi Green Café.

G8 Environment Ministers Agree on 2050 Climate Goal

Environment ministers from the Group of Eight industrialized nations concluded a three-day meeting in Kobe Monday with an agreement on the long-term goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050.

But the ministers failed to support specific emissions reduction targets for 2020, as recommended last year by an international body of climate scientists, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC.

Still, the G8 environment ministers said there is "strong political will" to reduce the greenhouse gases responsible for climate change during the G8 leaders annual summit set for July 7 to 9 on the Japanese island of Hokkaido.