Desdemona Despair

Blogging the End of the World™

India flood rescue hindered by ‘very severe’ rain and landslides – Government prepares for mass cremations – ‘Overwhelming stench of bodies and rotting carcasses pervades the air’

By Basharat Peer24 June 2013 (The New York Times) – Rain and landslides have limited efforts to rescue the victims of floods in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand. Military helicopters were unable to fly there for most of Monday, and the Indian Meteorological Department warned of “very severe” rain in the next three days. […]

Two thirds of Chile faces desertification, says president Sebastian Pinera

18 June 2013, SANTIAGO (AFP) – Two thirds of Chile’s territory is facing desertification in which the bone-dry Atacama Desert grows by over a meter (3.3 feet) a day, President Sebastian Pinera warned Monday. The changing topography and consequences for the land “is one of the greatest threats to sustained development, and to sustainable development, […]

Malaysia declares state of emergency as air pollution from illegal burning of forests and peat lands in Indonesia reaches hazardous levels – ‘These are actions by companies for commercial profit’

By Manirajan Ramasamy, Sharon Chen, and Yoga Rusmana; Editing by Stanley James 23 June 2013 (Bloomberg) – Malaysia declared a state of emergency in some areas after air pollution from illegal burning of forests and peat lands in Indonesia reached hazardous levels, while Singapore breathed easier as winds shifted direction. Prime Minister Najib Razak signed […]

Worst floods in Alberta history spread as water subsides in oil hub of Calgary – PM Harper: ‘I never imagined you could have a flood of this magnitude in this part of the country’

By Edward Welsch; Editing by Dan Stets 24 June 2013 CALGARY (Bloomberg) – The worst flooding in Alberta’s history spread to new parts of the province as water levels began to subside in Calgary and other southern Alberta cities hit this weekend by rain-swollen rivers. Evacuation orders were issued to towns north and east of […]

Rising sea temperatures call for new insurance models: Insurance think tank report

Contact: Anthony Kennaway, Head of Communications, The Geneva Association, +41 22 707 66 00 24 June 2013 GENEVA (The Geneva Association) – In some high-risk areas, ocean warming and climate change threaten the insurability of catastrophe risk. This is one of the conclusions of a research report [pdf] issued today by the climate risks and […]

Massive mine proposal threatens half of sockeye salmon runs – ‘The record of industrializing a salmon drainage is very clear: When that happens you end up losing the salmon at some point’

By Aaron Kase 20 June 2013 (Salon) – The habitat for half the world supply of wild sockeye salmon — as well as a critical area for other wildlife, tourism and native peoples — is at urgent risk of being filled with pollutants, and sterilized in the name of gold and copper mining. Dillingham is […]

Monsoon floods kill at least 560 in Uttarakhand; thousands missing

  By Danish Siddiqui, with additional reporting by Sruthi Gottipati, Ratnajyoti Dutta, and Nita Bhalla in NEW DELHI; Editing by Clarence Fernandez24 June 2013 RUDRAPRAYAG (Reuters) – Flash floods and landslides unleashed by early monsoon rains have killed at least 560 people in Uttarakhand and left tens of thousands missing, officials said on Saturday, with […]

Indian River Lagoon mystery ailment killing dolphins, manatees, pelicans

By Craig Pittman16 June 2013 (Tampa Bay Times) – The Indian River Lagoon on Florida’s east coast has long been known as the most diverse ecosystem in North America. Its 156 miles of water boast more than 600 species of fish and more than 300 kinds of birds. The lagoon is not just an ecological […]

Video: Fighting for water in New Mexico

[As always, apologies for the ad. – Des] In Magdalena, N.M., the town’s well has run dry. Now they’re rationing water bottles, and using porta-potties while trying to conserve as much as possible. NBC’s Gabe Gutierrez reports. Fighting for water in New Mexico Technorati Tags: North America,drought,crop failure,agriculture,global warming,climate change,freshwater depletion

Hong Kong’s pink dolphins dwindle to just dozens as calves die from ‘toxins in the mother’s milk, accumulated from polluted seawater’

By SASHA HAN21 June 2013 BEIJING (ABC News) – The Chinese white dolphin, treasured by the people of Hong Kong people for its pink color and friendly nature,  is endanger of being exterminated by pollution and a traffic jam of boats. The dolphin, once the official mascot of the 1997 sovereignty changing ceremonies, draws tourists […]

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