Ongoing Sand Mining Mafia, Konkan coast, India

Sand mining had come to a near standstill last year after the Bombay High Court banned it, however Maharashtra’s creeks and the Konkan coast and beaches do remain prey to the sand mafia.

The Speed of Change: Oceans in Distress, An International Report

Sponsored by the International Programme on the State of the Ocean (IPSO), the 27 participants from 18 organisations in 6 countries produced a grave assessment of current threats, and a stark conclusion about future risks to marine and human life if the current trajectory of damage continues: that the world’s ocean is at high risk of entering a phase of extinction of marine species unprecedented in human history.

Cuba: Sea levels to rise more than 30 in. by 2100

Cuban scientists warn that right now it is urgent to preserve mangroves, coral reefs, sea grass and sand beaches. Each of these ecosystems is a natural barrier to defend the coasts from the impact of climate change and sea level rise. Most of the 400 beaches of Cuba’s territory are affected by erosion with a receding coastline estimated at 1.2 meters per year.

Italy says Yes to a nuclear energy free future

In the past weekend Italians’ were called to cast their vote on four referendums, one of which was about the production of nuclear energy in Italy. 95% of voters have chosen for a future free of nuclear energy.

Arctic Melt Raises Sea Levels and Reinforces Global Warming

If you want to see global warming’s signature, look to the Arctic. Up north, the air is warming and the ice is melting. For two decades, scientists have predicted these things would happen as the Earth warms, and now we see that the Arctic is changing much as expected. Melting Arctic ice is also contributing significantly to sea level rise.