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Archive for February 3rd, 2011
Psst… Groundwater and Surface Water Do Mix
Posted by New York Times: y FELICITY BARRINGER on February 3rd, 2011
New York Times: An article published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters this week describes a new and simple way of measuring groundwater`s contribution to small streams on the surface.
Sinking land levels in the San Joaquin Valley.
By taking snapshots of streams with a device designed to capture, through infrared radiation images, the temperatures in various parts of the water, the approach "advances the immediate detection and quantification of localized groundwater inflow for hydrology, geology...
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Call for overhaul of EU fishing policy
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 3rd, 2011
Guardian: Europe's fishing practices must be drastically reformed in order to prevent dwindling fish stocks passing the point of no return, a coalition of British supermarkets and conservationists warned today.
The unprecedented alliance, which includes Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer, members of the UK's Food and Drink Federation and WWF, is making the strongest statement from business to date on the failures of the European Union fishing policy.
It follows public anger at the practice of discarding...
EPA to regulate toxic chemicals in drinking water
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 3rd, 2011
LA Times: The Environmental Protection Agency took steps Wednesday to curb toxic substances in drinking water, including perchlorate, a chemical thought to threaten the thyroid gland that has contaminated hundreds of public water wells, mostly in California.
The agency also moved to set standards for 16 other substances that can invade water supplies and impair human health.
Perchlorate, a remnant of California's manufacturing, aerospace and military bases, can inhibit thyroid hormone production, especially...
Isolated Amazon Tribes Threatened by Logging, Groups Say
Posted by New York Times: JOHN COLLINS RUDOLF on February 3rd, 2011
New York Times: Members of the “uncontacted” Amazon tribe in western Brazil near the Peruvian border.
Brazilian officials have released new aerial photographs of a highly isolated tribe living deep in the Amazon rainforest in a bid to draw attention to the threat posed to its existence by illegal logging in neighboring Peru.
This is the second time the tribe has been photographed by Brazil`s Indian Affairs department. In 2008, images of tribe members shooting arrows at an airplane quickly circulated the globe...
Somalia faces malnutrition crisis
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 3rd, 2011
Guardian: Severe drought in Somalia has left nearly one in three children acutely malnourished in some areas – double the normal emergency threshold – and caused a sharp rise in food prices.
An estimated 2.4 million people – about a third of Somalia's population – require humanitarian aid after the failure of recent rains, according to the UN. This figure is up from 2 million six months ago.
Though fighting continues in many areas of the country, drought has overtaken insecurity as the main reason for...
Photos of isolated Amazonian tribe raise awareness of deforestation in Brazil, Peru
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 3rd, 2011
Christian Science Monitor: An indigenous rights group this week released stunning new photos of a supposedly isolated Amazonian tribe, saying illegal loggers operating near Brazil’s remote eastern border with Peru are threatening their survival.
The photos show five almost-naked Panoan Indians covered in natural red dyes, probably from the urucu or annatto plant. Some of them are holding bows and arrows and all appear healthy.
The photos were taken by Brazil’s National Indian Foundation (FUNAI) and given to the London-based...
Film About Sinking Island Nominated for Oscar
Posted by Daily News: None Given on February 3rd, 2011
Daily News: Film About Sinking Island Nominated for Oscar Film About Sinking Island Nominated for Oscar
The serious consequences of Earth's changing climate are the subject of a powerful documentary film nominated for an Academy Award, the U.S. film industry's top prize.
"Sun Come Up" is the story of the Carteret Islands off the coast of Papua New Guinea, where filmmaker Jennifer Redfearn says Islanders have had no choice but to move to higher ground. "We documented some of the destruction that is happening...
UN chief urges the world to realize full potential of forests
Posted by People Daily: None Given on February 3rd, 2011
People Daily: Marking the launch of the International Year of Forests, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Wednesday called on the world to realize the full potential of forests to ensure future prosperity.
"By declaring 2011 as the International Year of Forests, the United Nations General Assembly has created an important platform to educate the global community about the great value of forests -- and the extreme social, economic and environmental costs of losing them," Ban said in a video message for the launch...
Sri Lanka ‘poorly equipped to forecast floods’
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 3rd, 2011
SciDev.Net: Sri Lanka is installing a satellite image download unit for flood management.
Poor flood forecasting facilities contributed to the damage caused by recent extensive floods in Sri Lanka, the worst in nine decades, scientists said.
Between 1 December 2010 and 12 January 2011, Sri Lanka's northern and eastern districts received rainfall that almost equalled the area's total monsoon rains from December to February each year, according to the Colombo-based Disaster Management Centre of Sri Lanka...
Brazilian mining giant buys Amazon palm oil company
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 3rd, 2011
Mongabay: Brazilian mining giant buys Amazon palm oil company Vale, a Brazilian mining giant, will buy palm oil producer Biopalma da Amazonia SA Reflorestamento Industria & Comercio, reports Bloomberg.
The deal, valued at $173.5 million, will enable the mining company to run more of its operations on palm oil biodiesel.
Vale began its palm oil push in 2009 when it formed a partnership with Biopalma. At the time Vale said the deal would save $150 million in fuel costs starting in 2014, with palm oil biodiesel...