2ND LD: Int'l meeting on acid rain in Niigata mulls declaration.NIIGATA, Japan, Oct. 25 Kyodo (EDS (Electronic Data Systems, Plano, TX, www.eds.com) Founded in 1962 by H. Ross Perot (independent candidate for the President of the U.S. in 1992), EDS is the largest outsourcing and data processing services organization in the country. : UPDATING WITH DECISIONS AT 5-6 PARAS) A two-day intergovernmental meeting on establishing a network to monitor acid rain in East Asia East Asia A region of Asia coextensive with the Far East. East Asian adj. & n. put the finishing touches finishing touches finish npl the finishing touches → der letzte Schliff finishing touches npl → ultimi ritocchi mpl Wednesday to a draft declaration that will mark the region's first formal concerted action on the issue. The draft, to be adopted Thursday, says the Acid Deposition acid deposition The accumulation of acids or acidic compounds on the surface of the Earth, in lakes or streams, or on objects or vegetation near the Earth's surface, as a result of their separation from the atmosphere. Monitoring Network in East Asia (EANET) aims to create a common understanding on acid rain, provide information on acid rain to national- and regional-level policy-makers, and promote cooperation among countries on the issue. The draft also calls for the network to formally start operations next January. Representatives from 10 countries, including Japan, China, South Korea and Indonesia, and various international organizations attended the meeting, which kicked off earlier Wednesday at a hotel in Niigata, Niigata Niigata (新潟市 Niigata-shi Prefecture, on the Sea of Japan coast, the Environment Agency said. On the first day of the meeting, participants decided to designate a Niigata-based acid rain research center as the backbone of the planned EANET. The participants also agreed to situate sit·u·ate tr.v. sit·u·at·ed, sit·u·at·ing, sit·u·ates 1. To place in a certain spot or position; locate. 2. To place under particular circumstances or in a given condition. adj. the network's permanent headquarters at the U.N. Environment Program (UNEP UNEP United Nations Environment Program(me) UNEP Unbundled Network Element Platform UNEP University of Northeastern Philippines ), possibly in the fall next year or afterward. Agency officials earlier said the Japanese government aims to conclude a treaty to reduce the quantity of substances causing acid rain after several years of monitoring to gather necessary data. Efforts in East Asia aimed at preventing acid rain started in 1993 with an expert-level meeting held to set up a network to monitor acid rain. In 1998, a two-year trial observation covering 38 locations in the 10 countries kicked off, based at the Environment Agency. Participants said the 1998 trial was successful but that efforts should be made to improve monitoring technology. The other six countries are Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam. Other parts of the world have been taking preventive measures against acid rain for some time. European countries concluded a treaty to curb air pollution in 1979 following recognition earlier in the decade of the seriousness of acid rain damage. In 1985, these countries also inked a pact to reduce the amount of sulfur oxide Noun 1. sulfur oxide - any of several oxides of sulphur sulphur oxide oxide - any compound of oxygen with another element or a radical in the air by 30%. |
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