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Archive for February, 2014
Is It Really Safe? Testing West Virginia’s Water
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 16th, 2014
National Public Radio: After the Jan. 9 chemical spill into West Virginia's Elk River, more than 300,000 people lost access to clean, safe drinking water. Government authorities have said the water is now "usable" for all purposes including drinking, but many residents say they don't trust the water.
In West Virginia, Polluted Water Squeezes Wallets And Patience
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 16th, 2014
National Public Radio: Nate May's Prius is loaded down with water. The back is filled with boxes, each holding three one-gallon jugs that he just bought at Walmart. He and other volunteers are driving around Charleston, W.V., dropping off the jugs to people who have contacted his ad hoc group, the West Virginia Clean Water Hub. It's paid for with donations.
"There are a lot of people this has put in a difficult bind. Some of them can't get out, some of them are elderly, some of them — it's just too much of a financial...
Posted in Water Conservation 
Comments Off on In West Virginia, Polluted Water Squeezes Wallets And PatienceUnited Kingdom: Flood area defences put on hold by government funding cuts
Posted by Guardian: Damian Carrington and Rajeev Syal on February 16th, 2014
Guardian: Flood-stricken communities, including those visited by David Cameron in the Somerset Levels and Yalding in Kent, have been left without planned defences following government funding cuts, the Guardian can reveal.
Undelivered defences, totalling many millions of pounds, also include schemes on the stretch of Devon coast at Dawlish where the mainline railway fell into the sea and near the nuclear power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset.
Ministers have been heavily criticised for cutting flood...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on United Kingdom: Flood area defences put on hold by government funding cutsAre We on the Path to Peak Water?
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 16th, 2014
Climate Central: Many scientists and experts fear that humanity is reaching the point of peak water -- the point at which freshwater is being consumed faster than it is being replenished or available. In the infographic above we take a look at the amount of water use around the world. Can we cut back before we reach the point of no return?
Kylie Schultz researched, wrote and produced this infographic as a participant in the Ensia Mentor Program. Her mentor for the project was Ensia director Todd Reubold. Infographic...
United Kingdom: Ed Miliband exploiting flooding crisis to score political points, says No 10
Posted by Telegraph: Steven Swinford on February 16th, 2014
Telegraph: Ed Miliband has been accused by Downing Street of trying to score "political points' from the flooding crisis after claiming that climate change has become a "national security issue'.
In an interview with The Observer, the Labour leader linked flooding to climate change and warned that it has the potential to destroy homes, businesses and livelihoods in Britain.
He criticised David Cameron for appearing to backtrack on his commitment to the environmental cause in the face of scepticism within...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on United Kingdom: Ed Miliband exploiting flooding crisis to score political points, says No 10United Kingdom: Flood defences: George Osborne tackled yesterday’s crisis at the cost of today’s
Posted by Guardian: Chris Huhne on February 16th, 2014
Guardian: There is no excuse. In 2010 the coalition slashed spending on flood defences when it should have gone up. Even last year's increase in flood defence spending was under duress. The insurers, some of the most enlightened big businesses on this issue, have repeatedly warned about the rising claims and losses from climate change-induced extreme weather.
A confidential deal struck last June, ahead of the spending review, increased flood defence spending as a payback for the insurance companies continuing...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on United Kingdom: Flood defences: George Osborne tackled yesterday’s crisis at the cost of today’sUnited Kingdom: Police attack Barton Moss anti-fracking protestors
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 16th, 2014
Ecologist: After anti-fracking protestors scored an important legal victory at Barton Moss, Manchester Police responded with outright violence and intimidation. The message was clear: 'Never mind the Courts and Judges. We are are the law.'
This is political policing, re-enforced with overt aggression - what took place today appears to be political policing in favour of a corporate agenda.
After the District Judge had declared Barton Moss Road a public footpath (see here), and the successful blockade of...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on United Kingdom: Police attack Barton Moss anti-fracking protestorsSomehow, the terrible floods in Britain have brought out the best in people
Posted by Guardian: Stuart Heritage on February 16th, 2014
Guardian: As a borderline hermit who lives on top of a hill, I've managed to avoid the worst of this spectacularly cack weather. I haven't been forced to travel to and from my home in council-assigned boats like the people of Somerset. I haven't watched in impotent horror as water has crept up through my floorboards like the people of the Thames Valley. I still have electricity, unlike much of Wales.
The worst thing to have happened to me is that the shortcut I take to the supermarket has got a bit slippy,...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Somehow, the terrible floods in Britain have brought out the best in peopleWinter storms spur climate change debate once again
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 16th, 2014
CBS: The spate of severe winter weather gripping the United States this season has led to a fresh round of doubts about the climate change occurring around the world and whether mankind should try to slow the trend. But J. Marshall Shepherd, the former head of the American Meteorological Society, says the storms are no reason to start doubting that global warming is occurring. “It's winter; it's January or February, we get snow storms. That's important,” he said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” Saying that...
UK floods: 5,000 more troops on standby as water continues to rise
Posted by Guardian: Caroline Davies and Rajeev Syal on February 16th, 2014
Guardian: An extra 5,000 troops are on standby to support communities hit by flooding, it was announced on Sunday, as the government faced calls for a halt to home building on flood plains.
Large swaths of the UK remain on high alert with severe flood warnings still in place along the Thames and in Somerset where water levels continue to rise despite a respite from the storms.
Defence secretary Philip Hammond said 3,000 troops were currently deployed, and another 5,000 were available. He admitted the...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on UK floods: 5,000 more troops on standby as water continues to rise