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Archive for October, 2012
Hurricane Sandy causes evacuations, closings throughout East Coast
Posted by Washington Post: Ashley Halsey Iii, Annie Gowen and Mark Berman on October 29th, 2012
Washington Post: Hundreds of thousands of East Coast residents had moved to higher ground on Monday, and cities announced shutdowns that typically occur after several feet of snow, as the mammoth storm system known as Hurricane Sandy conspired to assault the most populous part of the United States. The Washington region’s entire public transit system — Metro, Virginia Railway Express and the Maryland Transportation System — ceased Monday operations, leaving residents to either drive themselves to work or stay home....
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Comments Off on Hurricane Sandy causes evacuations, closings throughout East CoastAsia–Pacific Analysis: Solving the water dilemma
Posted by SciDevNet: Crispin Maslog on October 29th, 2012
SciDevNet: The Pacific islands are surrounded by water, yet inhabitants face severe water shortages. Crispin Maslog highlights potential solutions.
As we approach the end of the 'Water for Life' Decade in 2015, concerns over water availability in the Pacific island nations have taken an urgent turn.
In October last year, big headlines about two idyllic South Pacific island nations, Tokelau and Tuvalu, which are facing a water crisis, made a splash in the Asia--Pacific region. After six months without...
The dash for gas is a dangerous gamble
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on October 29th, 2012
Guardian: So, are the "No dash for gas" protesters perched atop the cooling towers of the new West Burton gas-fired power station in Nottinghamshire right? They argue:
The new 'dash for gas' will leave us dependent on a highly polluting and increasingly expensive fossil fuel for decades to come. It would make even our modest carbon reduction targets impossible to hit, and cause household energy bills to soar even further.
The answer is mostly yes, for reasons I'll explain below. So why is the new dash...
New UN “atlas” links climate change, health
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on October 29th, 2012
Associated Press: The two U.N. agencies for health and weather services have created a new "atlas" of scientific data that they say offers fresh evidence of the links between climate change to outbreaks of meningitis, malaria and other diseases. The World Health Organization director-general says the manual, which includes maps, tables and graphs, provides a practical guide to "climate-sensitive diseases" that decision-makers and leaders can use as a tool for prevention. Dr. Margaret Chan told reporters Monday in...
Zimbabwe turns to drought-resistant crops
Posted by AlertNet: Madalitso Mwando on October 29th, 2012
AlertNet: As planting season approaches amid concerns about successive poor harvests, research into drought-resistant seeds is gaining momentum in an indication that the Zimbabwean government is waking up to the reality of climate change.
Earlier this month, the country's Meteorological Services Department announced that another drought is likely during what should be the rainy season.
Zimbabwean farmers have suffered a succession of poor harvests with yields far below what the country needs, forcing...
Atlas of health and climate launches new collaboration between public health and meteorological communities
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on October 29th, 2012
Reuters: As the world's climate continues to change, hazards to human health are increasing. The Atlas of health and climate, published today jointly by WHO and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), illustrates some of the most pressing current and emerging challenges.
Droughts, floods and cyclones affect the health of millions of people each year. Climate variability and extreme conditions such as floods can also trigger epidemics of diseases such as diarrhoea, malaria, dengue and meningitis, which...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Atlas of health and climate launches new collaboration between public health and meteorological communitiesUnited Kingdom: Climate activists occupy West Burton gas power station
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on October 29th, 2012
Guardian: Around 20 climate change protesters have seriously disrupted operations at one of the UK's new generation of gas-fired power stations at West Burton in Nottinghamshire.
Police have made five arrests but climbing parties from the campaign group No Dash for Gas successfully scaled two 91m (300ft) concrete cooling towers overnight, securing themselves on ledges with supplies for a week.
One of the group tweeted exuberantly with accompanying pictures: "Guess where we woke up this morning! Dawn...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on United Kingdom: Climate activists occupy West Burton gas power stationBig Coal Is Putting Climate Targets Hopelessly Out Of Reach
Posted by Guardian: Fiona Harvey, on October 29th, 2012
Guardian: Coal is enjoying a renaissance, with the highest consumption of the fuel since the late 1960s. The unexpected development threatens to put climate change targets out of reach -- and much of the reason is the rise of a supposedly "green" fuel, natural gas.
The controversial use of shale gas in the US, where it now makes up a quarter of electricity generation, has brought down carbon emissions there -- but the greenhouse gases have simply been exported elsewhere, meaning no net gain for the planet,...
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Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on October 29th, 2012
Press Association: Five climate change protesters have been arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass at the site of a gas-fired power station.
Nottinghamshire police said some of those involved in the protest had scaled buildings at West Burton power station after gaining access to the site at about 1.20am.
A police spokesman said: "Around 10 are thought to have climbed the water towers and have secured themselves to restrict their removal. Searches are ongoing to find a number of other people who are also...
Indonesia: Green film portrays the plight of Merbabu farmers
Posted by Jakarta Post: Agnes Winarti on October 29th, 2012
Jakarta Post: For many people, especially those living in the most remote villages of Indonesia, climate change is unlikely be a familiar term, despite their daily struggles against the incomprehensible changes to the seasons.
An internationally acclaimed documentary made by Indonesian film director Shalahuddin Siregar entitled Negeri di Bawah Kabut (The Land Beneath the Fog), intimately captures the daily lives of two humble farming families living in Genikan village on the slopes of Mount Merbabu in Central...
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