Heatwave kills almost 700 in Pakistan

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Jim Brennan

RT.com reports on a deadly heatwave currently afflicting Pakistan:

A three-day heatwave in Pakistan has killed nearly 700 people, primarily in the southern province of Sindh. A state of emergency has been declared in hospitals, while army is being deployed to help stroke centers.

“The number of people who have died in the heatwave has now reached 692,” Sindh province Health Secretary Saeed Mangnejo said Tuesday, adding that the number may increase. Most of those died in state hospitals of Karachi, capital of the southern province of Sindh.

To read more about the changing world and what you can do to prepare, visit: www.greatwavesofchange.org

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Many of Europe’s species have unfavourable conservation status

Posted on June 18, 2015 by Jim Brennan

The (EU) Parliament Magazine reports on a recent assessment of the state of Europe’s biodiversity:

Europe's biodiversity still faces significant pressure according to recent assessments. Image by taesmileland on freedigitalphotos.net.

Europe’s biodiversity still faces significant pressure according to recent assessments. Image by taesmileland on freedigitalphotos.net.

Nature policy works when implemented well. The health of our natural environment is a key component of our health and wealth, but our recent assessments show that the majority of habitats and species in Europe have an unfavourable conservation status despite significant improvements for many species in recent years.

The results are mixed, but clear. When implemented well, conservation measures work and improve the status of habitats and species on the ground.

Nevertheless, improvements remain limited and patchy, and, unfortunately, Europe’s biodiversity is still eroding and the pressures continue. Under the habitats directive reporting, 77 per cent of habitats and 60 per cent of species assessments are unfavourable while only 16 per cent of habitats and 23 per cent of species assessments are favourable.

To read more about the changing world and what you can do to prepare, visit: www.greatwavesofchange.org

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North Korea reports worst drought in 100 years

Posted on June 16, 2015 by Jim Brennan

Reuters echoes reports of a drought in North Korea by its state news agency:

North Korea's state news agency has reported that the country has been hit by a historic drought. Image by taesmileland on freedigitalphotos.net.

North Korea’s state news agency has reported that the country has been hit by a historic drought.
Image by taesmileland on freedigitalphotos.net.

North Korea said on Tuesday it has been hit by the worst drought in a century, compounding chronic food shortages in the reclusive country where almost one third of children under five are stunted due to malnourishment.

The North’s KCNA news agency said paddies around the country including the main rice farming regions of Hwanghae and Phyongan provinces were drying up due to lack of rainfall. Paddies require enough water to keep rice plants partially submerged to grow.

(Break)

The U.N. resident coordinator for North Korea, Ghulam Isaczai, last month warned of a looming crisis due to last year’s drought caused by the lowest rainfall in 30 years.

To read more about the changing world and what you can do to prepare, visit: www.greatwavesofchange.org

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Pollution a concern for Chile’s Copa America

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Jim Brennan

Yahoo! News reports on concerns over levels of pollution in the Chilean host cities of Santiago and Temuco, as the Copa America draws near:

As the Copa America in Chile draws near, concerns hang over Chile about the level of pollution in the host cities and the effect that this may have on the game. Image credit: satit_srihin on freedigitalphotos.net

As the Copa America in Chile draws near, concerns hang over Chile about the level of pollution in the host cities and the effect that this may have on the game.
Image credit: satit_srihin on freedigitalphotos.net

As South America’s football heroes jet into Chile for the Copa America, a dark cloud is hanging over two host cities where air pollution alerts are worrying organizers and fans.

With just days to go to the continental championship which kicks off Thursday, an “environmental emergency” was declared in host city Temuco and a “pre-emergency” in the capital Santiago, where the hosts will face Ecuador in the opening match.

(Break)

Under the so-called “pre-emergency,” city officials also suspended physical education classes at schools and recommended citizens refrain from outdoor athletic activities because of concerns over the effects of breathing the contaminated air while exercising.

Temuco declared an emergency two weeks ago because of air pollution — its second this year.
Santiago has declared 10 environmental alerts since the beginning of the year.

(Break)

Chile introduced tighter restrictions on air pollution levels this year, meaning even more alerts and emergencies will likely be declared.

The aim is to reduce the health impact on adults and especially children. A government study in 2014 found that 4,000 people a year die prematurely of cardiopulmonary diseases linked to air pollution.

Other studies have shown significant increases in respiratory diseases such as chronic bronchitis, pneumonia and asthma linked to air pollution in Santiago.

To read more about the changing world and what you can do to prepare, visit: www.greatwavesofchange.org

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Current mobile phone contracts damaging the environment

Posted on June 9, 2015 by Jim Brennan

Scienceblog.com reports on the waste being caused by frequent upgrading and non-recycling of mobile phones:

A combination of frequent upgrading and non-recycling of mobiles is resulting in the loss of tons of reusable precious metals used in their manufacture. Image by freeimageslive.co.uk - stockmedia.cc

A combination of frequent upgrading and non-recycling of mobiles is resulting in the loss of tons of reusable precious metals used in their manufacture.
Image by freeimageslive.co.uk – stockmedia.cc

Research published today in the journal the International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment has called for an overhaul of the way mobile devices are manufactured and contracted, in order to stop the harmful effects on the environment caused by current business models.

Researchers from the University of Surrey analysed studies on the lifespan of mobile devices, from manufacture, use and disposal to see what impact each stage had on the environment. Through their investigation, they concluded that the current mobile business model, driven by frequent upgrades, is costing both the manufacturer and the environment. The study argues that where frequent upgrades are encouraged and recycling schemes not actively pursued, valuable materials integral to phone manufacture are lost, causing damage to the environment by additional waste to landfill as well as from the impact of extracting additional finite resources.

“There are an estimated 85 million unused phones in the UK,” said lead author Dr James Suckling from the University of Surrey. “Each of these phones has been manufactured using precious metals such as gold, copper and silver which are costly to extract, both in cash-terms and environmental impact. These unused phones contain approximately 4 tonnes of gold, lost resource that would cost £110million and an equivalent of 84,000 tonnes of CO2 released into the atmosphere to replace.

To read more about the changing world and what you can do to prepare, visit: www.greatwavesofchange.org

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No peaceful end in sight for Ukraine, according to analysts

Posted on June 7, 2015 by Jim Brennan

The Moscow Times comments on the continuation of hostilities in Ukraine:

Diplomacy will be essential to ending the ongoing Ukraine conflict, but more than a year into it the key stakeholders in the crisis lack the political will to compromise with one other and to commit to a peaceful resolution, analysts told The Moscow Times amid reports of fresh fighting near Donetsk.

Following several months of relative calm, disturbed only by occasional bouts of short-lived local skirmishes, heavy artillery has been rolled out once again in the ongoing conflict between pro-Russian insurgents and Kiev’s forces.

The conflict in Ukraine’s east has taken a devastating toll on the region’s population. It had claimed more than 6,400 lives, according to the latest figures released by the United Nations, and some 15,900 have been wounded. Much of the region’s economic infrastructure has been destroyed.

The recent resurgence of violence in war-battered eastern Ukraine highlights the frailty of the internationally brokered Minsk accords. Though they may have been successful in producing a temporary respite from the fighting after they were signed in February, the accords have thus far proved incapable of offering a framework for a more fundamental resolution of the conflict.

To read more about the changing world and what you can do to prepare, visit: www.greatwavesofchange.org

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Storm Hits Northern Colorado

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Jim Brennan

The Virginia Gazette reports on the aftermath of a storm system that hit northern Colorado:

A storm system has hit northern Colorado, with the threat of more bad weather on the horizon. Image credit: George Stojkovic on freedigitalphotos.net

A storm system has hit northern Colorado, with the threat of more bad weather on the horizon.
Image credit: George Stojkovic on freedigitalphotos.net

Residents and authorities surveyed the damage from tornadoes that crushed houses and dropped hail that piled up like snow as the threat loomed of more severe weather Friday in northern Colorado.

Twisters on Thursday night destroyed at least three homes and damaged more than two dozen others, but weather and darkness hindered people from taking a closer look at the damage.

The strong storm system also hit the Denver area, bringing hail the size of quarters and opening a sinkhole about 15 feet deep that swallowed a police SUV.

(Break)

At least three homes were demolished Thursday in the town of Berthoud, about 40 miles north of Denver, said Lori Hodges, director of the Larimer County Office of Emergency Management.

The National Weather Service said at least two other tornadoes touched down in the afternoon near the tiny town of Simla, about 60 miles southeast of Denver. Elbert County officials said at least six homes were damaged there, one severely.

To read more about the changing world and what you can do to prepare, visit: www.greatwavesofchange.org

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India’s annual farm output is down this year, with fears of drought

Posted on June 3, 2015 by Jim Brennan

The Economic Times of India reports on challenges facing India’s agricultural economy:

A drought this year could further impact India's agriculture. Image credit: prozac1 on freedigitalphotos.net

A drought this year could further impact India’s agriculture.
Image credit: prozac1 on freedigitalphotos.net

India’s farm sector shrank for the first time in five years in the year ended March 31, Farm Minister Radha Mohan Singh said on Wednesday, a day after the government forecast a likely drought this year that could hit output again.

India’s weather office cut this year’s monsoon forecast on an El Nino weather pattern that has raised fears of the first drought in six years.

(Break)

The monsoon rains are vital for the rural economy as three-fifth of India’s population of over 1.2 billion depend on farming for their livelihood.

(Break)

India’s economy, Asia’s third-largest, grew 7.5 percent year-on-year in the last quarter through March, outstripping China’s 7 percent growth in the same quarter.

But the farm sector posted two straight quarters of negative growth of 1.1 percent each to March.

To read more about the changing world and what you can do to prepare, visit: www.newmessage.org

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South Korea has its first two deaths from MERS

Posted on June 1, 2015 by Jim Brennan

The BBC reports on South Korea’s first fatalities from MERS and the measures being taken to limit the spread of the disease:

2 people have died from MERS in South Korea, the first two fatalities of the disease in the country. Image credit: taesmileland on freedigitalphotos.net

2 people have died from MERS in South Korea, the first two fatalities from the disease in the country.
Image credit: taesmileland on freedigitalphotos.net

Two people have died of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers) in South Korea, becoming the country’s first fatalities from the disease.

The first victim was a 58-year-old woman who had contact with the original case, a South Korean who visited the Middle East.

A 71-year-old man also died.

The vast majority of cases have been in Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries, but South Korea has reported 17 since last month.

More than 680 people, who may have come into contact with the infected patients, have been placed in isolation.

To read more about the changing world and what you can do to prepare, visit: www.greatwavesofchange.org

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At least 22 killed in Pakistan bus attack

Posted on May 30, 2015 by Jim Brennan

Sky News Australia reports on an attack on 2 coaches in Pakistan:

Unidentified gunmen have stormed two passenger coaches in southwest Pakistan and killed at least 22 people, officials say.

The buses were travelling to the port city of Karachi when they were stormed in Mastung district in the troubled province of Baluchistan late on Friday, Mastung deputy district commissioner Akbar Harifal said.

‘The death toll has risen to 22,’ Harifal said on Saturday.

Officials earlier had put the death toll at 19, but one passenger died in hospital overnight while the body of another passenger was recovered from the site of the attack.

Harifal said security forces rescued five passengers after a firefight with the assailants. It was unclear exactly how many passengers were on the buses.

To read more about the changing world and what you can do to prepare, visit: www.greatwavesofchange.org

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