TOP 100 SCIENCE SITES
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| Tasty Vegan Food? Cupcakes Show It Can Be Done Vegan eating has had a growth spurt in recent years, but a victory on a Food Network baking show this summer has showered attention on vegan food's fine taste. feeds.nytimes.com |
Letters: Working With Disabilities (1 Letter) A letter to the editor. feeds.nytimes.com |
Roman remains at risk from Turkey's dam building Conservationists argue that development of archeological site would be more beneficial than irrigation plansSeveral metres of sand now cover the second-century Roman baths at Allianoi, the largest in Asia Minor. The wall paintings and columns, a few kilometres from the ancient city of Pergamon in western Turkey, have been buried and may soon be submerged beneath 17 metres of water."It has become a political issue and the government is trying to get rid of Allianoi. We want to avoid a massacre," said Güven Eken, head of the Doga Dernegi conservation group. Last month Eken and a handful of activists chained themselves to the cranes on the construction site to draw attention to "a massacre of nature and a violation of the law".Protesters say the layer of sand, which is supposed to protect the ruins, is ill-suited to the job, and cement containing brick dust is being used. The feasibility of the project itself, which involves building a dam and reservoir for irrigation of local farms, is open to doubt. "The river has run completely dry," Eken said, "and there is no certainty there will be enough water to fill the reservoir."He added: "The government refuses to admit that Allianoi is an exceptional site and that the problem of water for farmers can be solved without wrecking our heritage."The Yortanli scheme, started 15 years ago, disregards Turkish law on the protection of natural and historic heritage. A dozen or so court rulings have already sought to stop construction. The Allianoi ruins, if properly exploited, could have attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.The minister of culture and tourism, Ertugrul Günay, said that alarmist calls to save the ruins were "exaggerated". He maintained that the historic heritage would not be damaged in any way by the work. His counterpart at the environment ministry, Veysel Eroglu, was less diplomatic in his treatment of the popular singer Tarkan, who campaigned to save the Roman baths. "He shouldn't poke his nose into issues he doesn't understand," Eroglu said."Allianoi is being sacrificed for the sake of Eroglu's policies," Eken said, drawing attention to the many conflicts of interest involved. The minister, previously head of the state hydraulic works, which is responsible for supervising dam building, has launched a large number of irrigation and hydroelectric power projects since his appointment in 2007. Another reservoir, to be built on the Tigris at Ilisu in south-east Turkey, has stirred up wide opposition. It threatens to engulf the ancient town of Hasankeyf.This article originally appeared in Le MondeTurkeyArchaeologyguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Election unlikely to change US farm subsidies By STEVE KARNOWSKI 2010-10-15T08:03:35ZMINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Republicans might take control of Congress as they ride a wave of voter anger over deficit spending and big government, but experts who follow agriculture say they don't expect deep cuts in subsidies to farmers who grow crops such as corn and soybeans.... hosted.ap.org |
Why such cold weather so early? Further heavy snow has hit parts of the UK, causing school closures and travel disruption, but why have such harsh conditions arrived early this year? bbc.co.uk |