Project helps farmers deal with climate change

Vietnam is at risk of becoming one of the most adversely affected countries by climate change, which could slow down the country’s economic growth.

To help address this issue, a bilateral project was launched by the Vietnamese Association for the Conservation of Nature (VACNE) and the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) to strengthen farmer resilience to climate change in the country’s Mekong and Red River deltas.

A conference on the project was opened in Hanoi on January 22.

Current trends show that climate change will result in a significant temperature increase, leading to sea level rise, increased water and soil salinity, and dramatic changes in weather and flood patterns.

Increased precipitation during the rainy season and perceived drought during the rest of the year are among the current trends observed by national agro-meteorologists and the international research community.

The potential impact of climate change is likely to be serious for agricultural production and water resources availability. About 80-90 percent of the population live off agriculture, which together with water resources has been pinpointed as most vulnerable.

Low land fish raising and rice farming are major  sectors for millions of Vietnamese, as they are key to national food security. Vietnam is currently the second largest rice exporter in the world.

The project, partially funded by the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida), aims to help the country increase the resilience of its farming communities by synthesising international and field research on this topic, and raise awareness among farmers, and building capacities of water management practitioners at government agencies on what needs to be done to avoid a devastating socio-economic downturn due to climate change.

Fines increased for illegal gas use

The maximum fine for the illegal transfer of gas to smaller min-gas cyclinders will be increased to $4800 under a Draft Decree under consideration by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The maximum fine for the illegal transfer of gas to smaller min-gas cyclinders has been increased to $4800.—File Photo

Under the new Decree, illegal transfer of gas could result in a fine up to VND80-100 million (US$3,850-$4,800), while unauthorised reuse of mini-gas cylinders in restaurants would make the violator liable to a penalty up to VND20-30 million ($960-1,400).

The mini-gas cylinders are normally used for hot-pot meals. Gas is also transferred illegally to other household cylinders

The draft Decree on the trade and use of gas and fuel, which is open to submissions or comment from the public, is planned to replace Decree 105, which has lower fines.

The new decree proposes a maximum fine of VND40-50 million ($1,900-2,400) for the sale of substandard gas cylinders or those without proof of origin and a penalty up to VND60-70 million ($2,900-3,400) for illegally changing the weight, shape or label of a gas cylinder.

Second violations will result in the suspension of a vendor's operations.

More homes to receive clean water

The Sai Gon Water Corporation (Sawaco) expects to supply tap water to at least 89 per cent of all households in the city by the end of this year.

The current figure is 87 per cent. The company also plans to reduce the water-leakage rate from 36.5 per cent to 35 per cent by the year end.

The targets were set at a Sawaco meeting held last Saturday.

By the end of last year, 1.33 million households in the city had access to tap water, a rise of 87,649 households from 2011.

The water leakage rate fell to 36.5 per cent by the end of last year, down 1.88 per cent from 2011.

Tran Dinh Phu, Sawaco general director, said this year Sawaco would invest in water-supply pipes to receive 200,000 cubic metres of water a day from the Kenh Dong Water Supply Plant.

The plant's water will be supplied to the outlying district of Can Gio, which does not have access to tap water.

Sawaco will also begin construction of the third phase of the Thu Duc Water Plant, which has a capacity of 300,000 cubic metres a day.

Phu said the company would supply about 1.5 million cubic metres of water a day this year.

Urgent need for unemployment insurance

More than 482,100 workers applied for unemployment insurance in 2012 and nearly 90 percent of them have enjoyed government’s support.

However, Le Quang Trung, deputy head of the Employment Department under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), said the rate of unemployment is still rising in many provinces and cities across the country.
At present, more than 421,000 people are in need of unemployment insurance.

For instance, thousands of workers in the northern province of Bac Giang have been left unemployed since Sanyo OPT company suspended operation in 2012.

Police warn of pen-shaped gun danger

A 46-year-old man was recently killed by a gun in the shape of a pen, the HCM City police said.

Huynh Van Giao, from Phu Nhuan District, was shot by a friend who allegedly pulled the trigger by accident.

A similar incident also occurred in Thu Duc District, injuring a 21-year-old girl.

The police have warned local residents of the danger of the weapon, which has become more popular recently.

Human trafficking women prosecuted

Two women have been prosecuted for human trafficking, border guards of the northern central Thanh Hoa Province announced on Sunday.

The two female criminals from the northern mountain province of Lao Cai admitted that they enticed 31-year-old Giang Thi Cu to travel to China by promising they would help her marry a Chinese man.

They also confessed receiving VND10 million (US$480) for each woman smuggled to China.

Green One UN House's construction kicks off

Construction of an office building for all United Nations staff working in Ha Noi – the Green One UN House - kicked off in the city today.

The building will centralise UN staff in Ha Noi to a single location, with the aim of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the UN in Viet Nam when it is completed in 2014.

Expected to be both energy and water efficient, the new eco-friendly building located at 304 Kim Ma Street will reduce the UN's carbon footprint in Viet Nam, according to the organisation.

It forms one of the six pillars of the "Delivering as One" reform initiative in Viet Nam, which includes: one plan, one budget, one leader, one set of management practices, one voice and the Green One UN House.

The initiative, launched in 2006 in eight pilot countries, will bring together the expertise, experience and capabilities of all UN agencies in the country to provide co-ordinated and effective assistance, the UN said.

Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh described the ground-breaking ceremony as a "reaffirmation of the Viet Nam Government's strong commitment to the implementation of the initiative."

Once completed, the Green One UN House will stand as a symbol of the lasting co-operation between Viet Nam and the United Nations, Vinh added.

Meanwhile, UN Resident Co-ordinator Pratibha Mehta said she hoped the house would strengthen the UN's efforts to deliver-as-one in Viet Nam and make the UN Country Team stronger and more effective.

VNN/VOV/VNS