International News for March 15 - April 5

This is not original reporting. All information has been compiled from NPR and The Washington Post. Silver Chips Online posts this news summary to provide readers with a forum for discussion.

Qatar
March 23 - Governments at a United Nations (U.N.) wildlife meeting voted against eliminating sanctions on ivory sales. Environmentalists approved of the U.N. decision, expressing concerns that weakening the 21-year ban would contribute to an increase in poaching, which is already at a 15-year high. U.N. delegates also agreed to reduce poaching of African and Asian rhinos by slowing the demand for ivory in Asia.

Venezuela
March 24 - Venezuelan authorities jailed Oswaldo Alvarez Paz, a former state governor who accused President Hugo Chavez's administration of working with "subversive groups" in Latin America. Alvarez, who was a member of Chavez's opposition party, COPEI, is one of several Chavez opponents who are now in jail or living in exile. Charged with conspiracy, inciting hate and spreading false information, Alvarez could face up to 16 years in jail. His arrest raised concerns that Chavez will lead Venezuela down a dictatorial road.

Haiti
April 1 - Haitian President Rene Preval presented a $3.9 billion reconstruction plan to donors at a U.N. conference in New York. Preval recommended restructuring Haiti's post-earthquake economy by bolstering economic development outside of Port-au-Prince. His proposal is only the first phase of the Haitian reconstruction effort, which includes building a new airport and seaport and paving new roads throughout the country to promote tourism and trade.

China

April 5 - More than 100 trapped miners were freed after being caught in the flooded Wangjjiaiing coal mine for over a week. The miners had been trapped since last Sunday, when workers digging a tunnel hit a shaft filled with water. The miners survived by eating sawdust and strapping themselves to the shaft walls to avoid drowning. As of 4:30 a.m., an estimated 115 survivors out of the 153 miners stuck in the mine had been saved, according to a rescue spokesman. There is currently no information on the status of the 39 other workers who still remain underground.