http://www.spiegel.de Daily news, analysis and opinion from Europe's leading newsmagazine and Germany's top news Web site. en Fri, 24 May 2013 15:26:02 +0200 Fri, 24 May 2013 15:26:02 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de http://www.spiegel.de/static/sys/logo_120x61.gif http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/growing-chinese-interest-in-the-arctic-worries-international-community-a-879654.html#ref=rss China is hungry for natural resources, and the Arctic is home to a wealth of them. Growing alarm about its ambitions has led Beijing to take a softer approach, stressing exploration and research over exploitation. Fri, 25 Jan 2013 17:52:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/growing-chinese-interest-in-the-arctic-worries-international-community-a-879654.html China is hungry for natural resources, and the Arctic is home to a wealth of them. Growing alarm about its ambitions has led Beijing to take a softer approach, stressing exploration and research over exploitation.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/limits-to-growth-author-dennis-meadows-says-that-crisis-is-approaching-a-871570.html#ref=rss In 1972, environmental guru Dennis Meadows predicted in his seminal study "The Limits to Growth" that the world was heading toward an economic collapse. Forty years on, he tells SPIEGEL ONLINE that nothing he has seen since has made him change his mind. Fri, 07 Dec 2012 13:03:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/limits-to-growth-author-dennis-meadows-says-that-crisis-is-approaching-a-871570.html In 1972, environmental guru Dennis Meadows predicted in his seminal study "The Limits to Growth" that the world was heading toward an economic collapse. Forty years on, he tells SPIEGEL ONLINE that nothing he has seen since has made him change his mind. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/contaminated-aquifers-radioactive-water-threatens-middle-east-a-865290.html#ref=rss The Middle East and North Africa suffer from water shortages and pump millions of liters a day from ancient aquifers. But the water contains high levels of naturally-occurring radioactive contamination. Experts fear this will increase the cancer risk for millions of people. Mon, 05 Nov 2012 12:24:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/contaminated-aquifers-radioactive-water-threatens-middle-east-a-865290.html The Middle East and North Africa suffer from water shortages and pump millions of liters a day from ancient aquifers. But the water contains high levels of naturally-occurring radioactive contamination. Experts fear this will increase the cancer risk for millions of people.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/mining-boom-underway-in-finland-in-the-search-for-mineral-deposits-a-864561.html#ref=rss Mining companies are flocking to northern Finland as new deposits of gold, nickel and other minerals promise vast profits. But the area's fragile wetland ecosystem is paying the price. Conservationists are so far fighting a losing battle. Fri, 02 Nov 2012 10:42:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/mining-boom-underway-in-finland-in-the-search-for-mineral-deposits-a-864561.html Mining companies are flocking to northern Finland as new deposits of gold, nickel and other minerals promise vast profits. But the area's fragile wetland ecosystem is paying the price. Conservationists are so far fighting a losing battle.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/safety-worries-lead-germany-to-shun-fracking-for-natural-gas-a-859446.html#ref=rss Using a method known as "fracking," Germany could exploit domestic sources to meet its natural gas needs for 20 years. But safety worries have prompted government authorities to refrain from granting the permits that companies need to use the controversial technique. Fri, 05 Oct 2012 13:50:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/safety-worries-lead-germany-to-shun-fracking-for-natural-gas-a-859446.html Using a method known as "fracking," Germany could exploit domestic sources to meet its natural gas needs for 20 years. But safety worries have prompted government authorities to refrain from granting the permits that companies need to use the controversial technique.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/gazprom-eyeing-second-pipeline-as-nabucco-faces-failure-a-833501.html#ref=rss With the planned Nabucco natural gas pipeline in southern Europe hitting snag after snag, Russian natural gas giant Gazprom is considering the construction of a second Baltic Sea pipeline to go with the just-finished Nord Stream. With unconventional natural gas from the US flooding the market, however, the strategy is not without risk. Fri, 18 May 2012 11:27:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/gazprom-eyeing-second-pipeline-as-nabucco-faces-failure-a-833501.html With the planned Nabucco natural gas pipeline in southern Europe hitting snag after snag, Russian natural gas giant Gazprom is considering the construction of a second Baltic Sea pipeline to go with the just-finished Nord Stream. With unconventional natural gas from the US flooding the market, however, the strategy is not without risk.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/germany-rejects-fracking-to-tap-natural-gas-a-831764.html#ref=rss Berlin is opposed to plans to use the controversial fracking process to extract natural gas in Germany, SPIEGEL has learned. Government ministers are "very skeptical" about the technology, which environmentalists claim can pollute groundwater. Mon, 07 May 2012 13:42:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/germany-rejects-fracking-to-tap-natural-gas-a-831764.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/lithium-exploration-underway-at-german-czech-border-a-830889.html#ref=rss Essential for building electric car batteries and solar technology, lithium is a raw material of the future. Now a German firm is searching for deposits of the valuable resource in the country's Ore Mountains. Geologists believe that some 1.5 billion dollars' worth of the light metal lies underground. Wed, 02 May 2012 15:28:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/lithium-exploration-underway-at-german-czech-border-a-830889.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/mining-green-energy-a-coal-region-s-quest-to-switch-to-renewables-a-796399.html#ref=rss Germany's bituminous coal mines are soon to lose their subsidies. But one Ruhr Valley company is looking to transform its mines into sources of renewable energy. Along the way, they could solve one of Germany's largest challenges as it attempts to switch over to green energy. Wed, 09 Nov 2011 12:03:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/mining-green-energy-a-coal-region-s-quest-to-switch-to-renewables-a-796399.html Germany's bituminous coal mines are soon to lose their subsidies. But one Ruhr Valley company is looking to transform its mines into sources of renewable energy. Along the way, they could solve one of Germany's largest challenges as it attempts to switch over to green energy.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/help-for-german-industry-merkel-joins-the-global-hunt-for-natural-resources-a-795256.html#ref=rss With rare earths in short supply the world over, Chancellor Angela Merkel has jumped in to help German industry search for more. The hope is to secure supplies well into the future -- and break the Chinese monopoly. <i>By SPIEGEL Staff</i> Wed, 02 Nov 2011 09:17:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/help-for-german-industry-merkel-joins-the-global-hunt-for-natural-resources-a-795256.html With rare earths in short supply the world over, Chancellor Angela Merkel has jumped in to help German industry search for more. The hope is to secure supplies well into the future -- and break the Chinese monopoly. By SPIEGEL Staff ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/the-world-from-berlin-germany-playing-catch-up-in-scramble-for-resources-a-791843.html#ref=rss Chancellor Angela Merkel has signed a commodities deal with Mongolia during her visit to the Central Asian country. The agreement is intended to secure access to much-needed raw materials for German industry. But commentators point out that it will take more than just a piece of paper to win the scramble for rare earths. Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:31:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/the-world-from-berlin-germany-playing-catch-up-in-scramble-for-resources-a-791843.html Chancellor Angela Merkel has signed a commodities deal with Mongolia during her visit to the Central Asian country. The agreement is intended to secure access to much-needed raw materials for German industry. But commentators point out that it will take more than just a piece of paper to win the scramble for rare earths.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/transylvanian-gold-rush-ancient-mining-site-in-romania-may-fall-victim-to-mining-a-783197.html#ref=rss The area around the Transylvanian village of Rosia Montana in Romania has been mined for some 2,000 years. But it still contains the largest gold and silver reserves in Europe. Despite widespread opposition, the site may soon succumb to open-pit gold mines. Mon, 29 Aug 2011 17:54:56 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/transylvanian-gold-rush-ancient-mining-site-in-romania-may-fall-victim-to-mining-a-783197.html The area around the Transylvanian village of Rosia Montana in Romania has been mined for some 2,000 years. But it still contains the largest gold and silver reserves in Europe. Despite widespread opposition, the site may soon succumb to open-pit gold mines.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/thyssenkrupp-ceo-on-germany-s-energy-revolution-an-effort-comparable-to-reunification-a-777944.html#ref=rss In a SPIEGEL interview, ThyssenKrup CEO Heinrich Hiesinger discusses his plans to radically restructure the steelmaking firm. He says the traditional German company is deeply concerned about the European debt and currency crisis as well as Chancellor Angela Merkel's expensive plans for an energy revolution. Wed, 03 Aug 2011 17:48:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/thyssenkrupp-ceo-on-germany-s-energy-revolution-an-effort-comparable-to-reunification-a-777944.html In a SPIEGEL interview, ThyssenKrup CEO Heinrich Hiesinger discusses his plans to radically restructure the steelmaking firm. He says the traditional German company is deeply concerned about the European debt and currency crisis as well as Chancellor Angela Merkel's expensive plans for an energy revolution.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/the-western-culture-of-waste-we-should-be-outraged-at-ourselves-a-773992.html#ref=rss Germans want to end nuclear power and turn to renewable energy, but they keep buying SUVs. Global carbon emissions and oil consumption have risen sharply over the last two environmentally conscious decades -- and the trends will continue, as long as Westerners keep discovering new "needs." Thu, 14 Jul 2011 12:41:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/the-western-culture-of-waste-we-should-be-outraged-at-ourselves-a-773992.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/treasure-from-the-trash-urban-mining-could-reduce-reliance-on-metal-imports-a-767178.html#ref=rss The demand for special metals used in the manufacture of electronics is booming, but a few countries control much of the world's supply. Germany is looking to reduce its reliance on imports by exploiting the metal that is thrown away in trash. Urban mining could become big business.  Wed, 15 Jun 2011 17:46:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/treasure-from-the-trash-urban-mining-could-reduce-reliance-on-metal-imports-a-767178.html The demand for special metals used in the manufacture of electronics is booming, but a few countries control much of the world's supply. Germany is looking to reduce its reliance on imports by exploiting the metal that is thrown away in trash. Urban mining could become big business. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/change-in-russia-s-far-east-china-s-growing-interests-in-siberia-a-761033.html#ref=rss There are just 6 million Russians left on the Siberian side of the border with China. Ninety million Chinese, backed by a voracious economy, live on the other side. China's influence in Russia's far east is growing rapidly and Siberia has become the raw material supplier to Beijing's economic miracle. Fri, 06 May 2011 12:24:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/change-in-russia-s-far-east-china-s-growing-interests-in-siberia-a-761033.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/final-frontier-berlin-enters-the-scramble-for-the-arctic-a-751240.html#ref=rss As the Arctic ice melts, Germany wants to make sure its scientists gain unfettered access to the region. They have been hindered by the Russians, and other Arctic nations have been hesitant to cooperate. But Berlin also has its eyes on the bigger North Pole booty: natural resources and sea routes. Wed, 16 Mar 2011 17:10:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/final-frontier-berlin-enters-the-scramble-for-the-arctic-a-751240.html As the Arctic ice melts, Germany wants to make sure its scientists gain unfettered access to the region. They have been hindered by the Russians, and other Arctic nations have been hesitant to cooperate. But Berlin also has its eyes on the bigger North Pole booty: natural resources and sea routes.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/chaos-at-the-pumps-german-consumers-are-wary-of-new-e10-biofuel-a-749199.html#ref=rss Germany recently began introducing gasoline containing a higher percentage of biofuels. But consumers have so far been skittish, leading to production chaos and shortages of traditional gasoline. Some politicians have called for laws mandating that biofuels be scrapped altogether. Fri, 04 Mar 2011 18:48:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/chaos-at-the-pumps-german-consumers-are-wary-of-new-e10-biofuel-a-749199.html Germany recently began introducing gasoline containing a higher percentage of biofuels. But consumers have so far been skittish, leading to production chaos and shortages of traditional gasoline. Some politicians have called for laws mandating that biofuels be scrapped altogether.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/scrambling-for-raw-materials-eu-plans-measures-to-tackle-resource-crunch-a-730137.html#ref=rss European companies are facing serious shortages of vital raw materials. China is holding back the export of rare earths, which are needed for high-tech products. A new EU strategy paper, which has been obtained by SPIEGEL ONLINE, seeks to address the resource crunch. But critics say it does not go far enough. Fri, 19 Nov 2010 18:32:32 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/scrambling-for-raw-materials-eu-plans-measures-to-tackle-resource-crunch-a-730137.html European companies are facing serious shortages of vital raw materials. China is holding back the export of rare earths, which are needed for high-tech products. A new EU strategy paper, which has been obtained by SPIEGEL ONLINE, seeks to address the resource crunch. But critics say it does not go far enough.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/winds-of-change-big-firms-gain-ground-in-ballooning-wind-power-market-a-726466.html#ref=rss Europe's wind energy sector is currently experiencing a major transformation. New massive offshore wind parks are soon expected to crop up off Europe's coastline. Big companies like Siemens and General Electrics are increasing their stakes in a market worth billions. But experts warn that a new energy oligopoly may soon emerge. Mon, 01 Nov 2010 15:35:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/winds-of-change-big-firms-gain-ground-in-ballooning-wind-power-market-a-726466.html Europe's wind energy sector is currently experiencing a major transformation. New massive offshore wind parks are soon expected to crop up off Europe's coastline. Big companies like Siemens and General Electrics are increasing their stakes in a market worth billions. But experts warn that a new energy oligopoly may soon emerge.]]>