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Archive for June, 2012
Eight wildfires roaring across Colorado
Posted by Denver Post: Jeremy P. Meyer on June 24th, 2012
Denver Post: On the hottest day of the year so far, wildfires erupted throughout Colorado on Saturday, producing fast-moving fires that burned down homes in Estes Park, forced evacuations in Colorado Springs and shut down state highways in southern Colorado.
Firefighting officials are girding for more of the same as a hot and dry weather pattern likely won't lift until midweek.
A jetliner full of firefighters has been summoned to the Western Slope, where buses will take them throughout the state; firefighting...
Rising seas mean shrinking South Florida future, experts say
Posted by Miami Herald: Curtis Morgan on June 24th, 2012
Miami Herald: The subject of global warming has become so politically unpalatable over the last few years that neither party mentions it much anymore.
A conference on climate change sponsored by Florida Atlantic University made it clear that ignoring the threat has done nothing to slow it down -- particularly in South Florida, which has more people and property at risk by rising sea levels than any place in the country.
The two-day summit in Boca Raton, which wrapped up Friday, painted a bleak and water-logged...
Posted in Water Conservation 
Comments Off on Rising seas mean shrinking South Florida future, experts sayGlobal warming predicted to raise sea level on West Coast up to 4 feet in places
Posted by Oregonian: Chase G. Hall on June 24th, 2012
Oregonian: Expect more flooding and coastal erosion as global sea levels rise more than previously predicted over the next century, according to a study released Friday. Some parts of the Pacific Coast will see several inches higher in coming decades, and by the year 2100, places may need to brace for up to 4 1/2 feet rises. Throw in a major earthquake off the coast of Oregon and the land could drop further causing sea levels to rise more than 3 feet.
Grim estimates from the National Research Council found...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Global warming predicted to raise sea level on West Coast up to 4 feet in placesIndia: Bridge over troubled waters
Posted by Hindu: Gargi Parsai on June 24th, 2012
Hindu: There is an urgent need to study the impact of climate change on water and protect water sources
A new report on water sector options in the face of changing climate has called for fresh approach to studying alterations in the patterns of rainfall and snowfall, availability of surface and ground water and the existing water infrastructure.
The report-Water Sector Options for India in a Changing Climate-- laments the lack of studies in the country on the impact of climate change in the water...
Vicious wildfires spread to Colorado tourist centers
Posted by Associated Press: Thomas Peipert on June 24th, 2012
Associated Press: Wildfires moved in on some of Colorado's most popular summer tourist destinations over the weekend, demolishing nearly two dozen homes near Rocky Mountain National Park and emptying hotels and campgrounds at the base of Pikes Peak.
A wildfire near Colorado Springs erupted and grew out of control to more than 3 square miles early Sunday, prompting the evacuation of more than 11,000 residents and an unknown number of tourists. On Saturday, a blaze destroyed 21 structures near the mountain community...
Firefighters struggle with blazes in Western U.S. states
Posted by Reuters: Jennifer Dobner and Keith Coffman on June 24th, 2012
Reuters: Firefighters in Western U.S. states struggled to contain out-of-control wind-stoked wildfires on Saturday as summer temperatures mounted, and a fresh blaze consumed more homes in Colorado even as Utah allowed 2,500 evacuees back for the night.
Colorado firefighters remained unable to halt the spread of the High Park Fire, a growing 81,190-acre (32,856-hectare) blaze in steep canyons west of Fort Collins. The fire jumped containment lines on Friday and roared through a subdivision, forcing the...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Firefighters struggle with blazes in Western U.S. statesRio climate change summit takes baby steps
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on June 24th, 2012
New York Times: Burdened by low expectations, snarled by endless traffic congestion and shunned by President Obama, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development ended here as it began, under a shroud of withering criticism.
The anti-poverty organization CARE called the meeting "nothing more than a political charade," and Greenpeace said the gathering was "a failure of epic proportions."
The Pew Environment Group was slightly more charitable. "It would be a mistake to call Rio a failure," the group...
United Kingdom: Great northern mop-up begins after a month of rain falls in just one day
Posted by Guardian: Mark Townsend on June 23rd, 2012
Guardian: Northern England began mopping up after a month's rainfall falling in 24 hours saw waist-high water flowing down streets and families forced to flee their homes.
Cumbria bore the brunt, with almost 10cm of rain overnight on Friday. Scores of homes were evacuated in Croston and Darwen, near Chorley in Lancashire, after rivers burst their banks, while people had to be rescued from their homes by boat in Wigan. Those flooded out should be able to recoup the cost of temporary accommodation, according...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on United Kingdom: Great northern mop-up begins after a month of rain falls in just one dayUnited Kingdom: Worry for homeowners who face the threat of fracking
Posted by Guardian: Jill Insley on June 23rd, 2012
Guardian: Fracking has already caused small earthquakes in the north-west, but homeowners in the vicinity of shale gas extraction could face an even worse aftershock: falling house prices.
John Johnson, manager of estate agent Farrell Heyworth in the Lancashire town of Poulton-le-Fylde, near one of the main drilling sites, says: "There are a lot of properties coming on to the market, and some of the owners are saying they want to get out before prices start dropping."
Fracking involves drilling a well...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on United Kingdom: Worry for homeowners who face the threat of frackingBelo Monte, An Announcement of War
Posted by Intercontinental Cry: None Given on June 23rd, 2012
Intercontinental Cry: Belo Monte, An Announcement Of War is an independent, crowd-funded, feature-length documentary about the largest ongoing construction project in Brazil and the permanent struggle to stop it. The entire film has been uploaded to the internet for anyone who wishes to view it. Visit the film's official website: www.BeloMonteoFilme.org Synopsis "BELO MONTE, AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF WAR" A Documentary about the largest ongoing construction project in Brazil, where both OPINIONS/DEPOSITIONS for and against...