News stories by Marcela Valente* - IPS/IFEJ

The BP oil spill earlier this year in the Gulf of Mexico seems to have motivated Argentina to double the protected area in the Patagonian Sea, which is rich in petroleum -- and in biodiversity.

The Argentine hake fisheries of the southern Atlantic Ocean, among the world's leaders in the white fish market, are on the verge of collapse due in part to the indifference of the Argentine people, who are apparently more interested in beef, a staple of their diet.

With its enormous potential for biogas production, Argentina is gearing up for this clean energy alternative - which has already seen good results on ranches that transform manure into energy.

A town in Argentina has launched a programme that requires restaurants and other food producers to hand over their used vegetable oils to be distilled into biodiesel, which will be used to run the city's vehicles and public transportation.