By Niall Firth
Global warming will make cities in northern countries like Canada and Scandinavia the next big global economic powers, a senior academic has predicted.
Rising temperatures will mean that previously frozen natural resources like gas, oil and water will be unlocked just as the rest of the world is facing dramatic shortages.
Professor Laurence Smith, a UCLA professor of geography and of earth and space sciences, claims that sparsely populated parts of world like the northern US, Greenland and Russia will become 'migration magnets' as people flock to the new centres of global power
‘In many ways, the New North is well positioned for the coming century even as its unique ecosystem is threatened by the linked forces of hydrocarbon development and amplified climate change,’ writes Professor Smith in a new book about the effects of climate change.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Pakistanis Flee As Floods Swamp More Towns
Pakistanis are still fleeing towns and villages due to rising flood waters - five weeks after heavy rains swamped large parts of the country. With an area the size of England now underwater, Sky News visited Khairpur Nathan Shah - a town in Sindh Province - which is the latest to be flooded.
According to early estimates by the United Nations and Pakistan's government, nine million acres of crops have been destroyed and 7.2 million livestock and poultry killed.
Sky News' Alex Crawford, in Khairpur Nathan Shah, said: "This hasn't got the speed of a tsunami, but the waters continue to destroy and claim fresh villages and towns.
"There's no sign of any organised help for these people. Here, it's each man and woman for themselves."
As he fled the town, one man said: "There are a number of people still trapped but there is no help."
Meanwhile, the public image of the Pakistani army is rising as fast as faith in the government is falling.
There is a growing suspicion that rich parliamentarians are diverting the waters away from their land by creating breaches in the dams to relieve pressure
But the military has taken the lead in providing relief, with about 60,000 soldiers involved in the effort.
The army chief has ordered each soldier to sacrifice a day's pay for donation to the flood victims.
One man told Sky News: "No one's helping us but the army."
:: The public can donate to the Disasters Emergency Committee by calling the 24-hour hotline on 0370 60 60 900, visiting www.dec.org.uk, donating over the counter at any post office or high street bank, or sending a cheque, or by texting the word GIVE to 70707
According to early estimates by the United Nations and Pakistan's government, nine million acres of crops have been destroyed and 7.2 million livestock and poultry killed.
Sky News' Alex Crawford, in Khairpur Nathan Shah, said: "This hasn't got the speed of a tsunami, but the waters continue to destroy and claim fresh villages and towns.
"There's no sign of any organised help for these people. Here, it's each man and woman for themselves."
As he fled the town, one man said: "There are a number of people still trapped but there is no help."
Meanwhile, the public image of the Pakistani army is rising as fast as faith in the government is falling.
There is a growing suspicion that rich parliamentarians are diverting the waters away from their land by creating breaches in the dams to relieve pressure
But the military has taken the lead in providing relief, with about 60,000 soldiers involved in the effort.
The army chief has ordered each soldier to sacrifice a day's pay for donation to the flood victims.
One man told Sky News: "No one's helping us but the army."
:: The public can donate to the Disasters Emergency Committee by calling the 24-hour hotline on 0370 60 60 900, visiting www.dec.org.uk, donating over the counter at any post office or high street bank, or sending a cheque, or by texting the word GIVE to 70707
Monday, August 30, 2010
Nepali migrant worker dies in Dubai
A Nepali migrant worker, Govind BK of Saljhandi VDC of Kapilvastu district was found dead in the company's camp in Dubai on Friday, the RSS reported today.
However, the family of the deceased came to know about his death only on Sunday, according to Govind’s brother Ganesh BK.
Ganesh mentioned that his brother was learnt to have gone to sleep after attending duty on Thursday night, but didn't wake up till late morning the next day.
"When his friends tried to wake him up, they found him dead," RSS reported quoting Ganesh.
The family of the deceased have appealed to the authorities concerned to help them receive compensation from the Dubai-based company and bring home his dead body. BK is survived by wife, one son and two daughters
However, the family of the deceased came to know about his death only on Sunday, according to Govind’s brother Ganesh BK.
Ganesh mentioned that his brother was learnt to have gone to sleep after attending duty on Thursday night, but didn't wake up till late morning the next day.
"When his friends tried to wake him up, they found him dead," RSS reported quoting Ganesh.
The family of the deceased have appealed to the authorities concerned to help them receive compensation from the Dubai-based company and bring home his dead body. BK is survived by wife, one son and two daughters
Nepal media aggressively targets Indian Embassy, Kantipur takes the lead
Including several professional media organizations, Nepal’s main opposition Unified Maoists’ Party and the leaders of various political parties have heavily come down against the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, under the dynamic leadership of Ambassador Rakesh Sood, for violating diplomatic norms and also blamed for blatant interference in Nepal’s media.
The media organizations, the main-opposition and leaders have been criticizing a press-release issued by the Indian mission which claimed referring to Indian Joint-Ventures in Nepal that certain print and television media houses (in Nepal) had approached them for release of advertisements.
The Indian embassy press release also claimed that the Indian JVs were threatened with negative publicity if requests for release of advertisements were not met with.
Money matters!
The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), Revolutionary Journalists’ Association and the Press Council-a statutory body constituted and controlled by Nepal government have collectively deplored the press-statement of the Indian Embassy.
Jolt in series. Bad days for India in Nepal. Poor India.
“The Indian Embassy in the past had threatened the media here in Nepal for publishing the news of blocking consignment of newsprints at the Kolkata port by India”, the joint statement made by FNJ-Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur district chapters read.
Friendship shattered! So sad.
“Such events have exposed Indian Interference in series”, the statement also adds insult to injury.
Narayan Sharma of Press-Council states that India has been ignoring diplomatic norms and that it has begun interfering in affairs exclusive to Nepali media.
Mr. Sharma was handpicked by the Maoist led government and made the Press Council Chairman.
Similarly, Nepal’s main opposition Unified Maoists’ Party has also deplored the act of the Indian Embassy in making a statement against the Nepali media. The party has also demanded apology from Indian Embassy to the free media here.
Asking the absurd. Good joke indeed.
“Our central committee meeting has deplored the act of Interference of the Indian Embassy”, said vice chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha.
The so-called democratic parties, the Nepali Congress and the UML are yet to criticize the event.
This has some meaning underneath.
Similarly, making exclusive comments to the Kantipur National Daily August 30, 2010, Chakra Prasad Bastola of the Nepali Congress, Pradip Nepal of UML, Devendra Poudel of Unified Maoists’ Party, Jay Prakash Gupta of Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Nepal and Sarita Giri of Sadvawana Party too have criticized the Indian Embassy for targeting the Nepali media.
Those who have made scathing comments against the Indian Embassy, mentioned above, were at one time in the not so distant past very very friendly to India.
But why they are distancing themselves? Naughty Nepali political animals.
Some may have, it could be presumed, talked against the Embassy with “heavy hearts”.
The Kantipur, Nepal’s largest circulating daily has penned an editorial in the issue.
The media organizations, the main-opposition and leaders have been criticizing a press-release issued by the Indian mission which claimed referring to Indian Joint-Ventures in Nepal that certain print and television media houses (in Nepal) had approached them for release of advertisements.
The Indian embassy press release also claimed that the Indian JVs were threatened with negative publicity if requests for release of advertisements were not met with.
Money matters!
The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), Revolutionary Journalists’ Association and the Press Council-a statutory body constituted and controlled by Nepal government have collectively deplored the press-statement of the Indian Embassy.
Jolt in series. Bad days for India in Nepal. Poor India.
“The Indian Embassy in the past had threatened the media here in Nepal for publishing the news of blocking consignment of newsprints at the Kolkata port by India”, the joint statement made by FNJ-Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur district chapters read.
Friendship shattered! So sad.
“Such events have exposed Indian Interference in series”, the statement also adds insult to injury.
Narayan Sharma of Press-Council states that India has been ignoring diplomatic norms and that it has begun interfering in affairs exclusive to Nepali media.
Mr. Sharma was handpicked by the Maoist led government and made the Press Council Chairman.
Similarly, Nepal’s main opposition Unified Maoists’ Party has also deplored the act of the Indian Embassy in making a statement against the Nepali media. The party has also demanded apology from Indian Embassy to the free media here.
Asking the absurd. Good joke indeed.
“Our central committee meeting has deplored the act of Interference of the Indian Embassy”, said vice chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha.
The so-called democratic parties, the Nepali Congress and the UML are yet to criticize the event.
This has some meaning underneath.
Similarly, making exclusive comments to the Kantipur National Daily August 30, 2010, Chakra Prasad Bastola of the Nepali Congress, Pradip Nepal of UML, Devendra Poudel of Unified Maoists’ Party, Jay Prakash Gupta of Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Nepal and Sarita Giri of Sadvawana Party too have criticized the Indian Embassy for targeting the Nepali media.
Those who have made scathing comments against the Indian Embassy, mentioned above, were at one time in the not so distant past very very friendly to India.
But why they are distancing themselves? Naughty Nepali political animals.
Some may have, it could be presumed, talked against the Embassy with “heavy hearts”.
The Kantipur, Nepal’s largest circulating daily has penned an editorial in the issue.
Stand aside, the behe-moths of the insect world have arrived
With their stunning colours and 12in wingspan they're not the sort of insect you could ignore.
And now not just one but nine of the world's largest moths have hatched at a butterfly sanctuary in Gloucestershire.
The giant Atlas moths emerged from their chrysalises at Berkeley Castle Butterfly House
Atlas moths are named after the intricate, colourful map-like patterns on their wings It is the first time the moths have successfully bred and hatched offspring in two years.
The moths, which do not have fully-formed mouths and survive off fat they built up as caterpillars, only live for a maximum of two weeks.
They are unsteady fliers and they do not stray far. Their sole purpose of life as a moth is to breed. Atlas moths are found in the tropical and subtropical forests of South-East Asia and are common across the Malay archipelago.
And now not just one but nine of the world's largest moths have hatched at a butterfly sanctuary in Gloucestershire.
The giant Atlas moths emerged from their chrysalises at Berkeley Castle Butterfly House
Atlas moths are named after the intricate, colourful map-like patterns on their wings It is the first time the moths have successfully bred and hatched offspring in two years.
The moths, which do not have fully-formed mouths and survive off fat they built up as caterpillars, only live for a maximum of two weeks.
They are unsteady fliers and they do not stray far. Their sole purpose of life as a moth is to breed. Atlas moths are found in the tropical and subtropical forests of South-East Asia and are common across the Malay archipelago.
Wales set to confirm 2011 World Cup warm-up schedule
Wales are in the process of finalising details for four summer Test matches next year as they build towards the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
They will play a June game at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium to mark the 130-year anniversary of the Welsh Rugby Union.
Home and away fixtures against England follow on 6 and 13 August, the details of those games yet to be confirmed.
Another August Test could follow at the Millennium Stadium against a southern hemisphere side, probably Argentina.
"We've got something special in June to celebrate 130 years of the WRU," said the Union's group chief executive Roger Lewis.
Wales face England warm-ups, despite unhappy experiences in 2003 & 2007
"There are a couple of very special warm-up matches in August against England and perhaps something else as well.
"We've got a very big meeting with our friends from another southern hemisphere country."
While the August fixtures are restricted to World Cup years, Wales are looking to make the June Test a regular fixture of the international calendar to help boost finances.
This June's 34-31 defeat to a second-string South Africa side attracted over 60,000 fans to the Millennium Stadium.
Wales open their World Cup campaign against holders South Africa in Wellington on 11 September, with group games to follow against Samoa, Namibia and Fiji.
They will play a June game at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium to mark the 130-year anniversary of the Welsh Rugby Union.
Home and away fixtures against England follow on 6 and 13 August, the details of those games yet to be confirmed.
Another August Test could follow at the Millennium Stadium against a southern hemisphere side, probably Argentina.
"We've got something special in June to celebrate 130 years of the WRU," said the Union's group chief executive Roger Lewis.
Wales face England warm-ups, despite unhappy experiences in 2003 & 2007
"There are a couple of very special warm-up matches in August against England and perhaps something else as well.
"We've got a very big meeting with our friends from another southern hemisphere country."
While the August fixtures are restricted to World Cup years, Wales are looking to make the June Test a regular fixture of the international calendar to help boost finances.
This June's 34-31 defeat to a second-string South Africa side attracted over 60,000 fans to the Millennium Stadium.
Wales open their World Cup campaign against holders South Africa in Wellington on 11 September, with group games to follow against Samoa, Namibia and Fiji.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Millions of rural poor in Nepal could face more hunger as a result of climate change; situation “deeply worrying”
Poor crop yields, water shortages and more extreme temperatures are pushing rural villagers closer to the brink as climate change grips Nepal, according to a new report launched by the international aid agency Oxfam.
In the report, “Even the Himalayas Have Stopped Smiling: Climate Change, Poverty and Adaptation in Nepal”, farmers told Oxfam that changing weather patterns had dramatically affected crop production, leaving them unable to properly feed themselves and getting into debt. Oxfam called the situation “deeply worrying.”
“Communities told us crop production is roughly half that of previous years. Some said that while they used to grow enough food for three to six months of the year, last year many could only grow enough for one month’s consumption,” said Oxfam’s Nepal country director, Wayne Gum. ”Poor farmers rely on rainfall. They farm small areas of land which, at the best of times, can barely produce enough food for the family.”
Currently, more than 3.4 million people in Nepal are estimated to require food assistance, due to a combination of natural disasters, including last year’s winter drought - one of the worst in the country’s history. Higher food prices have also reduced people’s ability to purchase food. Although single drought events cannot be attributed to climate change, climate models predict less winter rain, indicating how the current situation could get worse.
Among recent changes in weather patterns in Nepal are an increase in temperature extremes, more intense rainfall and increased unpredictability in weather patterns, including drier winters and delays in the summer monsoons. The melting of the Himalayan glaciers will also be felt well beyond Nepal’s borders. Scientists warn that if the Himalayan glaciers disappear – with some predicting this could happen within 30 years – the impact would be felt by more than one billion people across Asia.
Some of the heaviest burdens have fallen on women who are on the frontline of climate change. They have to travel further distances to fetch water and take on the responsibility for feeding the family as men in many poor households migrate seasonally to seek work.
“The predicted impacts of climate change will heighten existing vulnerabilities, inequalities and exposure to hazards”, said the report.
“Poor and marginalized communities tend to be those most vulnerable to climate change and least able to cope with weather-related disasters because of lack of access to information and resources to reduce their risk.”
Nepal is one of the world’s poorest nations, with 31% of its 28 million population living below the poverty line. Most of Nepal’s poor live in rural areas that are most at risk to disasters such as floods and landslides.
Oxfam says more work needs to be done in Nepal by the government and international organisations to create greater awareness about climate change and its likely impacts, to prioritize and institutionalize actions at national level; and help communities to play a greater role themselves in initiatives to reduce their vulnerability.
Nepal is extremely vulnerable to climate change; yet has one of the lowest emissions in the world – just 0.025% of total global greenhouse gas emissions
In the report, “Even the Himalayas Have Stopped Smiling: Climate Change, Poverty and Adaptation in Nepal”, farmers told Oxfam that changing weather patterns had dramatically affected crop production, leaving them unable to properly feed themselves and getting into debt. Oxfam called the situation “deeply worrying.”
“Communities told us crop production is roughly half that of previous years. Some said that while they used to grow enough food for three to six months of the year, last year many could only grow enough for one month’s consumption,” said Oxfam’s Nepal country director, Wayne Gum. ”Poor farmers rely on rainfall. They farm small areas of land which, at the best of times, can barely produce enough food for the family.”
Currently, more than 3.4 million people in Nepal are estimated to require food assistance, due to a combination of natural disasters, including last year’s winter drought - one of the worst in the country’s history. Higher food prices have also reduced people’s ability to purchase food. Although single drought events cannot be attributed to climate change, climate models predict less winter rain, indicating how the current situation could get worse.
Among recent changes in weather patterns in Nepal are an increase in temperature extremes, more intense rainfall and increased unpredictability in weather patterns, including drier winters and delays in the summer monsoons. The melting of the Himalayan glaciers will also be felt well beyond Nepal’s borders. Scientists warn that if the Himalayan glaciers disappear – with some predicting this could happen within 30 years – the impact would be felt by more than one billion people across Asia.
Some of the heaviest burdens have fallen on women who are on the frontline of climate change. They have to travel further distances to fetch water and take on the responsibility for feeding the family as men in many poor households migrate seasonally to seek work.
“The predicted impacts of climate change will heighten existing vulnerabilities, inequalities and exposure to hazards”, said the report.
“Poor and marginalized communities tend to be those most vulnerable to climate change and least able to cope with weather-related disasters because of lack of access to information and resources to reduce their risk.”
Nepal is one of the world’s poorest nations, with 31% of its 28 million population living below the poverty line. Most of Nepal’s poor live in rural areas that are most at risk to disasters such as floods and landslides.
Oxfam says more work needs to be done in Nepal by the government and international organisations to create greater awareness about climate change and its likely impacts, to prioritize and institutionalize actions at national level; and help communities to play a greater role themselves in initiatives to reduce their vulnerability.
Nepal is extremely vulnerable to climate change; yet has one of the lowest emissions in the world – just 0.025% of total global greenhouse gas emissions
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