World Water Day 2012: Water and Food Security
Water is precious. All living things need it to survive. But we are failing to take care of it. Many struggle to get it while others believe their taps will never run dry. The UN has designated March 22nd World Water Day to focus attention on the importance of fresh, clean water and to advocate for the sustainable management of fresh water resources.
Avoiding the Tragedy of the Commons
Management of fisheries at the community level can help curb overfishing and the ‘tragedy of the commons’ which is driving humans to decimate the planet’s dwindling fish stocks, an international scientific team concluded. In an analysis of 42 coral reef sites where coastal resources are managed by partnerships between governments, conservation groups, and fishers, they found that such co-management is largely successful in both sustaining fisheries and improving livelihoods.
Hydrogen Sulfide Emissions off of Africa
Pale green patterns tinted the water along the Namibian coast. But unlike other bright hues that occasionally show up in the ocean, these colors didn’t result from a phytoplankton bloom.
Mission Blue: Coiba, Panama
Considered a precious jewel of the Pacific, Coiba National Park, located off the southwest coast of Panama, is made up of Coiba Island, 38 smaller islands and the surrounding marine areas within the Gulf of Chiriqui. The Mission Blue team, including oceanographer Sylvia Earle and Smithsonian senior scientists Hector Guzman, embarked on an expedition to draw attention to the importance of Coiba’s protection and explore its waters.
Radical Sand Dune project
Will a pioneering project to reshape sand dunes that are home to a stronghold of fen orchids and other rare plants and invertebrates, protect or destroy the habitat?
Energy Companies Pledge to Measure Impacts of Large Dam Projects ?
The sixth World Water Forum ( held this year in Marseille, France from March 12-17) the world’s largest meeting devoted to water, is to create solutions to the water, energy, and food challenges presented by climate change and economic growth. But critics say new scorecard to evaluate social and environmental impacts of hydropower projects serves dam builders not local communities and denounced the protocol as an attempt to “greenwash” the industry.
Chevron Execs Barred From Leaving Brazil
A judge barred 17 Chevron executives from around the world from leaving Brazil in an oil spill investigation as prosecutors readied new charges over a second spill involving the US energy giant.
Tullow Oil Confirms Major Find off coast of Ghana
Tullow Oil, the London-based explorer, has had a good week: two days after reporting soaring profits it confirmed that an oil strike off the coast of Ghana was a major find… Environmental concerns have raised as more oil companies begin drilling off the coast of Ghana. Does the country have the resources to cope with a major spill?
Santorini Shows Signs of Volcanic Unrest, Greece
The volcanic caldera on the picturesque island of Santorini is showing signs of unrest. The Greek island was the site of one of the most massive volcanic eruptions in history 3,600 years ago. That eruption, which created tsunamis 40 feet (12 meters) tall, may have spawned the legend of the lost city of Atlantis. The volcano last erupted in 1950, albeit on a much smaller scale.