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Archive for May 24th, 2011
Biggest Floods in History—Does Mississippi Make the List?
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on May 24th, 2011
National Geographic: As the crest of the Mississippi River flood moves through New Orleans and out to sea this week, peak river levels recorded during the month-long deluge threaten to top even the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927.
The most destructive river flood in U.S. history, the 1927 event moved about 2 million cubic feet (65,000 cubic meters) of water—enough to fill about 26 Olympic-size swimming pools—every second. (See pictures: "Mississippi River at Its Worst.")
"The numbers are still provisional, but...
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‘Being Disliked, but Feared’ Is Swaggering Advocacy Group’s Ambition
Posted by Greenwire: John Mcardle on May 24th, 2011
Greenwire: The federal Merit System Protection Board reinstatement this year of U.S. Park Police Chief Teresa Chambers was a landmark victory in the annals of whistleblower protection law and a crowning achievement for Chambers' legal team at the nonprofit Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). But PEER executive director Jeff Ruch is the first to admit his group's mission of "protecting employees who protect our environment" is not necessarily best served through drawn-out legal battles...
Global lessons from Durban’s climate change challenges
Posted by IRINnews.org: None Given on May 24th, 2011
IRINnews.org: Five years ago, the South African port of Durban - threatened by storm surges and sea-level rise - pioneered a cross-sectoral climate adaptation policy similar to ones in London and New York, but is now experimenting with new policies more suited to a developing country.
Climate change was seen as a distant threat and not a priority by sectors such as housing which urgently needs to deliver to a majority of the population denied proper homes during apartheid.
The city is torn between environment...
As drought tightens grip, farmers’ losses mount
Posted by Chron: William Pack on May 24th, 2011
Chron: Texas' farmers and ranchers are coping with their eighth drought in the last 13 years, and this one, while still young, has a chance of slamming producers with their biggest losses ever, officials said.
Texas AgriLife Extension Service experts have estimated that from November 2010 through May, Texas ranchers lost $1.2 billion because pastures have not greened up and high-priced feed products have been needed longer than normal.
It's still too early to get a good read on the state's crop losses,...
Global Campaign to Bestow Legal Rights on Mother Earth
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on May 24th, 2011
Inter Press Service: An international coalition of academics and environmental activists has launched a global campaign for the creation of a new U.N. convention to protect "mother earth".
With the United Nations fighting a relentless battle against water pollution, loss of biodiversity, desertification, deforestation, climate change and a depleted ozone layer, the campaign for a "Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth" has taken added significance.
"It is not too late to change course and improve...
EU urges governments to let city soils breathe
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on May 24th, 2011
Business Green: EU urges governments to let city soils breathe
New report urges member states to tackle the problem of "soil sealing" by reassesing planning processes and promoting green roofs
European governments are being urged to tackle the damage caused to so-called ecosystem services, when massive areas of soil are lost to urban sprawl that degrades the soil and increases the risk of flooding.
The European Commission has today published a report highlighting the problem of "soil sealing", when land...
By Barcoding Trees, Liberia Looks to Save its Rainforests
Posted by 360 yale: fred pearce on May 24th, 2011
360 yale: A decade after a brutal civil war, the West African nation of Liberia has partnered with the European Union on a novel system for protecting its remaining forests -- marking every harvestable tree so it can be traced to its final destination. But given Liberia’s history of conflict and corruption, will it work?
Nearly two-thirds of West Africa’s remaining rainforests are in the small but troubled nation of Liberia. That is a small miracle. A decade ago, Liberia’s forests were being stripped bare...
Govt torn between courting business, protecting forests
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on May 24th, 2011
Jakarta Post: On shaky ground: Forestry Minister Zulkifl i Hasan (right) and Environment Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta (second right) walk on the “canopy trail” in Ciwalen, Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park, Bogor, West Java, on Monday. The 60 meter-long canopy trail can accommodate fi ve to 10 people with a total weight of 300 kg to enjoy the beauty of a tropical rain forest from 30 to 40 meters above ground. Antara/Rosa PanggabeanOn shaky ground: Forestry Minister Zulkifl i Hasan (right) and Environment Minister...
Giant Dams Touted as Development
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on May 24th, 2011
Inter Press Service: The Yacyretá hydroelectric dam run by Argentina and Paraguay is fully operational, supplying the energy it was designed to provide when it was built 40 years ago. But critics complain about severe social and environmental impacts.
The giant dam on the Paraná River, which separates the two countries, left wetlands rich in biodiversity under water, hurt previously abundant fish species, and pushed some 100,000 people out of their homes in the two South American countries.
Although the original...
MPs reject ‘hot air’ safety fears over shale gas drilling
Posted by WalesOnline: David Williamson on May 24th, 2011
WalesOnline: A Gas fracking platform at work in Philadelphia DRILLING for shale gas in Wales came a step closer last night when a cross-party group of MPs gave it the green light and rejected safety concerns. The Energy and Climate Change committee concluded drilling will not endanger drinking water if properly regulated and should not be stopped. No evidence was found that the controversial method of extracting underground gas poses a threat to water supplies and objections were described as "hot air". The...