• New Report Shows "Sprinkles" are Working to Prevent and Treat Childhood Nutrition Epidemic

Telecommunications
Telephone/fax
Dialling code for Burkina Faso: IDD access code + 226 followed by subscriber's number (there are no area codes).
Electricity supply
220/380V AC, 50 cycles.
Getting there
Air
National airline: Air Burkina
Surface
Road: Most practical during dry seasons - from Mali (Bamako) and Niger (Niamey), when buses operate on these routes. The road from Ghana is being improved. Land journeys are also possible from Cote d'Ivoire, Benin and Togo.
Rail: Daily express service from Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire) to Bobo Dioulasso and Ouagadougou. Sleeping and dining cars.
Getting about
National transport
Air: Air Burkina serves Ouagadougou, Bobo Dioulasso and other main centres. Light aircraft can be chartered from Air Burkina. The airline also operates flights to surrounding countries, Mali, Togo, Benin, Cote d'Ivoire and Niger.
City transport
Taxis: Unmetered and available in main centres. A 10 per cent tip is usually given.
Car hire
National licence plus permit or international driving licence required. Use of chauffeur-driven cars advised. Copyright: Walden Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. Walden Publishing Ltd and Quest Information Ltd assume no liability for the consequence of reliance upon any opinion or statement.
Document qedafr0020020927dy9q0000k

UNEP, US National Renewable Energy Laboratory join forces to deliver pollution-free electricity to developing countries; Closer cooperation strengthens pioneering wind and solar power mapping project
883 words

26 September 2002

M2 Presswire

MTPW

English

Copyright 2002 M2 Communications, Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
WASHINGTON, D.C./NAIROBI, (UNEP) -- An international effort to pinpoint the most promising wind and solar power sites in developing countries received a boost today with the announcement of a new collaboration between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and one of the world's leading "green energy" research centres.
The agreement, between UNEP and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), headquartered in Golden, Colorado, will expand the pilot Solar and Wind Energy Resource Assessment (SWERA).
Under the existing project, surveys and high-quality solar and wind maps are being prepared for 13 developing countries. The new agreement, termed a Memorandum of Understanding, will increase the number to 14 by including the Maldives in the Indian Ocean. An existing plan to map Bangladesh will also be expanded under the new deal.
The SWERA, which has secured a $6.7 million investment from the Global Environment Facility, is seen as an important new initiative to deliver cleaner forms of energy to developing nations.
Klaus Topfer, the Executive Director of UNEP, said: "I welcome this closer cooperation with NREL. Delivering cleaner and less-polluting forms of energy to poorer parts of the world is absolutely crucial for fighting poverty and helping to reduce emissions of pollutants linked with unhealthy indoor and outdoor air and global warming. A lack of energy has other severe environmental consequences. Those without access to electricity are forced to fell trees for firewood and cooking fuel, accelerating impacts such as soil erosion and the loss of the world's wildlife."
"While the costs of renewable energies like solar and wind have been tumbling in recent years, obstacles remain to their widespread deployment, particularly in developing countries.
One of these is the uncertainty about the size and intensity of the solar and wind resource. The SWERA project aims to bridge this knowledge gap so potential investors can know, with a great deal of accuracy, the locations where they can secure a good and reasonable return", he said.
The importance of providing high-quality solar and wind maps, produced by SWERA using remote-sensing satellite and on-the-ground data, is highlighted by the Philippines. The Government there changed its national energy strategy to include a greater reliance on wind power, after receiving an assessment of the kind SWERA would produce, showing a sizeable potential for wind power.
Experts also claim that, by using the information gained through SWERA, wind developers may be able to find the best wind sites more quickly and shave 12 months or more from the time it takes to gather sufficient data to advance a wind project.
The SWERA project links with other renewable energy initiatives, including the Global Network on Energy for Sustainable Development, which was launched by UNEP at the World Summit on Sustainable Development on 1 September in Johannesburg.
It is linking up "energy centres of excellence" in order to promote renewable and cleaner forms of energy production on the ground in developing countries.
Currently over 2 billion people in developing countries have little or no access to a reliable source of energy, and nine out of 10 Africans have no access to electricity at all. Last year, the G-8 Renewable Energy Task Force outlined how, given financing, political will and creative projects, renewable energy could be delivered to 1 billion extra people by 2010.
These new initiatives, such as a strengthened SWERA, are in line with the G-8 Task Force's proposals.
Democratic Representative Mark Udall of Colorado, Co-Chair, House Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus, said: "I'm delighted that after nearly five years of development, this important collaboration between Colorado's own National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the UN Environment Programme is coming to fruition. Its first project -- the expansion of the Solar and Wind Energy Survey Assessment -- promises to help people in developing countries gain access to clean energy technologies that can improve the quality of their lives."
Currently, the SWERA pilot countries are: Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Cuba, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Nepal, Nicaragua and Sri Lanka. The partnership with NREL will enhance these efforts and allow an expansion of the Bangladesh assessment and an additional assessment in Maldives.
For more information, please contact: Eric Falt, UNEP spokesperson and Director of the Division of Communications and Public Information, in Nairobi, tel: [phone]; e-mail: [e-mail]; or Nick Nuttall, UNEP Head of Media, tel: [phone], mobile: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]
In Washington, D.C., Brennan Van Dyke, Director, UNEP Regional Office for North America, tel: [phone]; or e-mail: [e-mail]
At NREL, please contact: Ron Benioff at [phone]; or e-mail: [e-mail]
The SWERA Web site can be found at http://swera.unep.net.
((M2 Communications Ltd disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data prepared by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to [e-mail])).
Document mtpw000020020926dy9q0053l
Workers of the world.
By EMMA TURNBULL.

658 words

8 June 2002

Irish Times

IRTI

76

English

(c) 2002
Those of you who want to get more from travel than a tan and a collection of museum passes might like to consider working abroad. UK company i-to-i, which recently opened an office in Ardmore, Co Waterford, specialises in organising work placements in other countries. Placements, open to everyone from 17 to 70, last from two weeks to six months and have flexible starting dates.
In places as far flung as Bolivia, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Ghana, Honduras, India, Nepal, Russia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Mongolia, volunteers can be sent to do work in conservation, journalism, medicine, business and, one of the most popular fields, English teaching. If you don't already have a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) qualification, i-to-i holds intensive weekend courses (about 20 hours class time) in Dublin and the UK. These certificate courses cost f310 (E280 concession), and the next Dublin weekend will be on August 1lth-12th, then September 2lst-22nd and November 16th-17th. i-to-i also offers an online course for those in emote areas (wwwonlineTEFL.com). Apart from volunteer placements, the company can arrange paid teaching in Korea. Placement costs E795, and includes a salary of C 1,400 a month, a return ticket, free furnished accommodation, TEFL training, a meet-and-greet service, plus transfer to the school. Call 024-94889, e-mail eire(at)i-to-i.com or see wwwi-to-i com Just add water Watersports holiday agents Sunsail are offering special deals to Club Yedi Tepe, Turkey, between July 12th and August 9th. The resort has two main swimming pools, a children's pool, a tennis and volleyball court and a waterside bat between the pools and the sea. One week costs £665 per person (E1,100), a saving of £245 (E383), while two weeks costs £995 (E1,555) per person ex-London or Manchester. Use of all sailing equipment, breakfast and afternoon tea daily, four dinners and three lunches are included. Children's club and babysitting on request. Call 01-2886828 (www.sunsail.com).
Bums on seats Holiday-goers heading to the Canaries with Budget Travel this winter can now pre-book seats, to guarantee a place next to a family member or friend. To reserve a seat, simply advise your travel agent on booking (at least seven days before departure). All party members must travel under the same booking reference. Reservation costs E7 per adult and E3 per child (under 16). For details pick up a Budget Travel Winter Sun 2002/2003 brochure from your travel agent, phone [phone] or see www.budgetrravel.ie.
Simply the best Holiday-makers will get an opportunity to vote for their favourite destination this year at the inaugural Irish Holiday Awards. The awards, supported by the Irish media and Bord Failte, will be held on October 23rd.
Voting will take place in August and September and categories will include the best airlines, ferry companies, tour operators, travel agents, home holidays, ski operators, short breaks to Europe, Irish attractions, hotels, restaurants, self-catering accommodation and B&Bs. The aim of the Bellhops, as they will be known, is to raise money for Outreach Moldova, a charity set up to rebuild an orphanage in Moldova for disabled children. More details will be announced shortly. Northern Cyprus flights New flight arrangements have been made for Irish holiday-makers to Northern Cyprus, following the Department of Public Enterprise's refusal to grant a licence for flights from Dublin. Travellers from the Republic can now fly with Cyprus Turkish Airlines and their subsidiary company, CTA Holidays, to Northern Cyprus from Belfast International Airport every Monday Free coach transfers from Dublin will be provided. Holidays to Northern Cyprus can be booked through travel agents or appointed sales agents Toolin Travel (01-8379282). For more details call the North Cyprus Tourism Centre on 00-44-207-6311930.
Document irti000020020608dy680003z

Chinese leaders' activities 23 May-2 June 02.
2,000 words

2 June 2002

06:57 AM

BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific - Political

BBCAPP

English

(c) 2002 The British Broadcasting Corporation [date of publication]. All Rights Reserved. No material may be reproduced except with the express permission of The British Broadcasting Corporation.
Jiang Zemin
Comrade Xi Zhongxun, former vice-premier, died of illness in Beijing at 0534 on 24 May 2002 (local time) at the age of 89. He was cremated at the Babaoshan Cemetery for Revolutionaries in Beijing on 30 May. President Jiang Zemin, Li Peng, Zhu Rongji, Hu Jintao, Wei Jianxing, Ding Guangen, Tian Jiyun, Li Tieying, Chi Haotian, Zhang Wannian, Jiang Chunyun, Jia Qinglin, Qian Qichen, Wen Jiabao, Zeng Qinghong, Wan Li, Qiao Shi, Song Ping, Wang Guangying, Bu He, He Luli, Cao Zhi, Xu Jialu, Jiang Zhenghua, Ismail Amat, Wang Zhongyu, XiaoYang, Han Zhubin, Wang Zhaoguo, Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme, Ren Jianxin, Zhang Siqing, Qian Zhengying, Zhu Guangya, Wan Guoquan, Hu Qili, Chen Jinhua, Bai Lichen, Zhang Kehui, Wang Wenyuan, Liao Hansheng, Wang Fang, Gu Mu, Ma Wenrui, Zheng Tianxiang, Liu Fuzhi, Yang Baibing, Wang Hanbin, Zhang Zhen, Ni Zhifu, Chen Muhua, Li Ximing, Wang Bingqian, Hong Xuezhi, and Han Guang, Yu Yongbo, Wang Ke, Cao Gangchuan, and Xu Caihou attended.
Going to the hospital to visit Comrade Xi Zhongxun when he was seriously ill and expressing condolence to his relatives in various forms after his death were Li Ruihuan, Li Lanqing, Li Changchun, Wu Bangguo, Wu Guanzheng, Luo Gan, Huang Ju, Wu Yi, Liu Huaqing, Rong Yiren, Bo Yibo, Song Renqiong, Zou Jiahua, Pagbalha Geleg Namgyai, Cheng Siyuan, Tomur Dawamat, Wu Jieping, Peng Peiyun, Zhou Guangzhao, Ding Shisun, Cheng Siwei, Ye Xuanping, Yang Rudai, Ba Jin, Qian Weichang, Song Jian, Li Guixian, Chen Junsheng, Ding Guangxun, Sun Fuling, Huo Yingdong, Ma Wanqi, Zhao Nanqi, Mao Zhiyong, Jing Shuping, Luo Haocai, Zhou Tienong, Li Desheng, Xiao Ke, Zhang Jingfu, Zhang Aiping, Duan Junyi, Huang Hua, Peng Chong, Yang Chengwu, Lu Zhengcao, Fei Xiaotong, Sung Qimeng, Lei Jieqiong, Wu Xueqian, Seypidin Aze, Qian Xuesen, Su Buqing, Dong Yinchu, Deng Liqun, and Zhang Tingfa, as well as Tung Chee-hwa, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Edmund Ho Hau Wah, chief executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region; and Fu Quanyou, Wang Ruilin, and Guo Boxiong, members of the Central Military Commission.
Source: Xinhua news agency domestic service, Beijing, in Chinese 1216 gmt 30 May 02
On 26 May, President Jiang Zemin visited an exhibition featuring late Chinese Leader Mao Zedong and his attachment to China's development of literature and art.
Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 1415 gmt 26 May 02
Party and state leaders Jiang Zemin, Li Peng, Zhu Rongji, Hu Jintao, Wei Jianxing and Li Lanqing attended a performance to mark International Children's Day on the evening of 31 May in the Great Hall of the People, Beijing. Also attending were Ding Guangen, Li Tieying, Chi Haotian, Luo Gan, Jiang Chunyun, Jia Qinglin, Qian Qichen, Wen Jiabao, Zeng Qinghong, Wu Yi, He Luli, Wang Zhongyu, Wang Zhaoguo, Qian Zhengying and Chen Muhua, as well comrades in charge of relevant central party and government departments. The evening party was jointly sponsored by the Women' and Children's Work Committee of the State Council, the All-China Women's Federation, the Chinese Communist Youth League Central Committee, the National Working Committee on Children, the Beijing Municipal People's Government, and the China Central Television.
Source: Xinhua news agency domestic service, Beijing, in Chinese 1540 gmt 31 May 02
Jiang Zemin, Li Peng and Li Ruihuan have hailed the centenary of Southeast University in their inscriptions. A celebration ceremony was held on 31 May at the university in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province.
Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 1028 gmt 31 May 02
Zhu Rongji
Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji met a Japanese small-and medium-sized enterprises delegation headed by Hatakeyama Noboru, director-general of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) on 28 May.
Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 1430 gmt 28 May 02
Li Peng
Li Peng, Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), met a delegation from Chile's Socialist Party, headed by its President Camilo Escalona on 24 May. Li thanked Chile for its understanding and support over China's entry into the World Trade Organization, and over the human rights and Taiwan issues. He hoped to further encourage the bilateral partnership on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence.
Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 1355 gmt 24 May 02
Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), visited an exhibition being held in Beijing to mark Mao Zedong's 60-year-old landmark lecture on literature and art on 24 May.
Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 1513 gmt 24 May 02
Hu Jintao
Vice-president Hu Jintao, president of the Party School of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Committee, sent a letter of congratulations to the school on the occasion of its celebration of the 20th anniversary of the launching of its academic degree and post-graduate programme. During the past 20 years, the Party School recruited 1,872 students for post-graduate studies, including 388 for doctorates and 1,484 for master's degrees.
Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 1412 gmt 1 Jun 02
Wei Jianxing
Wei Jianxing, a member of the Political Bureau Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Committee, met International Ombudsman Institute President Brian Elwood and heads of delegations attending the Seventh Asian Ombudsman Association (AOA) Conference in Beijing on 23 May. He said that the Chinese government greatly values cooperation with the AOA.
Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 1431 gmt 23 May 02
Wei Jianxing had separate meetings with diplomatic envoys from Cote d'Ivoire, Gabon, Botswana and Zimbabwe in Beijing on 28 May. Wei said that although China and Africa are afar with the other in term of geographical distance, the two sides boast deep friendship and broad cooperative prospects. He hoped his upcoming Africa visit would further enhance the mutual understanding and friendship between the two sides and promote the healthy, stable, comprehensive and lasting growth of Sino-African friendly and cooperative ties.
Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 1343 gmt 28 May 02
Qian Qichen
Vice-Premier Qian Qichen a Ghanaian delegation headed by Kwabena Gyima Osei-Bonsu, adviser to Ghanaian President Kufuor in Beijing on 30 May. Qian said China and Ghana have enjoyed good friendship and fruitful cooperation since diplomatic relations were established.
Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 1231 gmt 30 May 02
Wen Jiabao
Vice-Premier Wen Jiabao met a US delegation led by President of Oregon State Senate Gene Derfler and Speaker of Oregon State House Mark Simmons in Beijing on 26 May. Wen briefed the guests on China's economic situation and exchanged views with them on enhancing Sino-US cooperation. The delegation is here at the invitation of Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs.
Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 0731 gmt 26 May 02
Jia Qinglin
Jia Qinglin, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party of China (CCP) and secretary of the CCP Beijing Municipal Committee, received a delegation from Houston in the US State of Texas on 24 May. Jia said that Beijing and Houston have vast potential for cooperation over high-tech and education and could strengthen future exchanges in these fields. Houston Mayor Lee Brown, who is here to attend the on-going 5th China Beijing International High-Tech Expo, said that three agreements on educational cooperation had been signed with Beijing during this visit.
Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 1513 gmt 24 May 02
Jia Qinglin met a delegation from Bangkok, Thailand, led by the city's Mayor Samak Sundaravej. During the meeting, Jia and Samak agreed to strengthen cooperation between the two cities in tourism and commerce, so as to boost the friendship between China and Thailand, and between Beijing and Bangkok which became sister cities in 1993. Beijing Mayor Liu Qi also met with Samak, who is here to attend the on-going 5th China Beijing International High-Tech Fair.
Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 1525 gmt 24 May 02
Jia Qinglin met Adrian Hallmark, president of British Rolls-Royce and Bentley Motor Cars Ltd on 31 May. Jia said that with China's entry to the World Trade Organization (WTO), he said that the market price of motor cars had dropped, resulting in more and more Beijing people buying cars. Hallmark said his company had great interest in China's vast domestic auto market. He saw the exhibition as the first step for his company to enter China, and hoped to find satisfactory partners in Beijing.
Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 1238 gmt 31 May 02
Li Tieying
Li Tieying received a delegation from the Socialist Party of Chile on 24 May. The delegation, headed by Camilo Escalona, president of the Chilean Socialist Party, is here at the invitation of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee.
Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 1204 gmt 24 May 02
Li Tieying, member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), met a delegation of the Communist Party of India (CPI) led by Shameem Faizee, member of the National Executive Council of the CPI and editor of the newspaper New Age in Beijing on 28 May. The CPI delegation is visiting China at the invitation of the CCP.
Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 1434 gmt 28 May 02
Li Tieying met a delegation of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) on 28 May. The delegation, headed by Kasu Ilala, member of the National Executive Council of the EPRDF and minister of infrastructure, is visiting China at the invitation of the Chinese Communist Party.
Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 1428 gmt 28 May 02
Wang Wenyuan
Wang Wenyuan, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, met Emile Boga Doudou, minister of state for the Interior and Decentralization of Cote d'Ivoire, and his party in Beijing on 25 May.
Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 1213 gmt 25 May 02
Zhao Nanqi
Vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Zhao Nanqi met Martin Bouygues, President of the Bouygues Group of France in Beijing on 24 May.
Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 1238 gmt 24 May 02
Peng Peiyun
Peng Peiyun, vice-chairwoman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress and president of the Red Cross Society of China, and a delegation she is leading arrived in Auckland on Sunday to begin their six-day official and working visit to New Zealand at the invitation of the New Zealand Red Cross. Peng and her party were greeted by Chinese Consul-General in Auckland Zhao Xiangling at the Auckland International Airport.
Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 0738 gmt 2 Jun 02
Liu Qi
Beijing Mayor Liu Qi met Jorma Ollila, chairman and chief executive officer of Nokia on 24 May, to thank him for his participation in a drive to promote information technology in urban construction. Liu said that Nokia's Beijing