Israel's armed forces have destroyed vital water and sewage infrastructure in their bombing campaign of the besieged territory, writes Mohammed Omer. This constitutes a severe breach of the 1977 Protocol to the 1949 Geneva Conventions on the part of Israel and all those conceiving, planning, ordering and perpetrating the attacks.
… Gaza: Israel bombs water and sewage systems Mohammed Omer | 16th July 2014 News Middle East Water Health War Law Human Rights … Israel's armed forces have destroyed vital water and sewage infrastructure in their …
The military targeting of civilian infrastructure, especially of water supplies, is a war crime under the Geneva Conventions, writes Nafeez Ahmed. Yet this is precisely what NATO did in Libya, while blaming the damage on Gaddafi himself. Since then, the country's water infrastructure - and the suffering of its people - has only deteriorated further.
… War crime: NATO deliberately destroyed Libya's water infrastructure Nafeez Ahmed | 14th May 2015 News Libya Africa Water War Law libya-puddle-water-cut2.jpg The military targeting of …
As World Water Week kicks off in Stockholm today with a theme of 'Water for Development', the drought being deliberately inflicted on Palestinians is firmly off the agenda, writes Laith Shakir. While Israelis water their lawns, irrigate crops and swim in Olympic-sized pools, Palestinian communities a few kilometers away are literally dying of thirst.
… Laith Shakir | 23rd August 2015 News Water Middle East USA War Law Human Rights water-tanks-hebron-cut.jpg As World Water Week kicks off in Stockholm today with a …
Amid the growing call for those guilty of causing Flint, Michigan's water crisis to be prosecuted, Jane F. Barrett finds little prospect of criminal charges under the Safe Drinking Water Act. But federal, state and common laws offer prosecutors a range of potential charges, from malfeasance, misfeasance and nonfeasance to involuntary manslaughter.
… Flint water crisis - will anyone be prosecuted? Jane … of Maryland | 18th February 2016 Comment Water Pollution Health Regulation Law USA … for those guilty of causing Flint, Michigan's water crisis to be prosecuted, Jane F. Barrett …
UK water voles face an uncertain future after widespread habitat loss and predation by American mink, write Emily Thomas and Nida Al-Fulaij. But you can help by joining a UK-wide monitoring scheme run by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species that's recruiting nature-loving volunteers to survey local lakes, rivers, ditches and streams for signs of these lovable but elusive creatures.
… Citizens' science to save our water voles - volunteers needed! Emily Thomas … 2016 Ethical Living Natural World Mammals Water Science UK ratty-cut.jpg UK water voles face an uncertain future after …
To save a small amount of money residents of Flint, Michigan, have been forced to consume hazardous levels of lead in their drinking water, writes Farron Cousins. Just the moment for the Republican House Speaker to attack the Clean Water Act.
… Flint drinks lead-laden water; Republicans attack Clean Water Act Farron Cousins DesmogBlog.com | 22nd January 2016 News Water Politics USA Law Toxics Health …
Chinese scientists have established beyond doubt that water polluted with nitrite is feeding the worldwide cancer epidemic. But while China is beating cancer by providing new sources of nitrite-free water, Western scientists, regulators and the editors of scientific journals are doing their best to suppress the truth.
… Pure water the key to China's victories in the war … scientists have established beyond doubt that water polluted with nitrite is feeding the … by providing new sources of nitrite-free water, Western scientists, regulators and the …
A new study in Pennsylvania, USA shows that fracking is strongly related to increased mortality in young babies. The effect is most pronounced in counties with many drinking water wells indicating that contamination by 'produced water' from fracking is a likely cause. Radioactive pollution with uranium, thorium and radium is a 'plausible explanation' for the excess deaths.
… Fracking kills newborn babies - polluted water likely cause Oliver Tickell | 25th April 2017 News Fracking Health Water Pollution USA Science judys-water-cut.jpg A new study in Pennsylvania, USA …
Local people are furiously trying to stop a fracking company from drilling near a drinking water reservoir serving tens of thousands of homes, after Northern Ireland planners failed to block Infrastrata's claim for 'permitted development' rights.
… fracking company drilling near drinking water reservoir Oliver Tickell | 11th May 2016 News Fracking Water Law Pollution Protest Northern Ireland … company from drilling near a drinking water reservoir serving tens of thousands of …
Disastrous water pollution from gold mines in El Salvador has united government and people to oppose new metal mines, writes Lynn Holland. In Central America's most water scarce country, the imperative is to keep lakes, rivers and streams clean and wholesome. But there may be a heavy price to pay, with a Canadian mining company pressing a $300 million 'compensation' claim.
… For the love of water: El Salvador's mining ban may cost $300m … Lynn Holland | 10th October 2015 News Mining Water El Salvador Central America Canada Law … Disastrous water pollution from gold mines in El Salvador …
Environmental injustice is deeply embedded in American attitudes, says Robert D. Bullard, and the lead pollution of Flint's water is but the latest example of an unconscious yet pervasive discrimination against poor and minority communities across the US. Only with strong, deliberate and effective leadership can the EPA and other regulators overcome their prejudices.
… Flint's water crisis is a blatant example of … | 28th January 2016 Comment Regulation Water Racism Law USA flint-mi-cut.jpg … D. Bullard, and the lead pollution of Flint's water is but the latest example of an …
New research warns that rising temperatures will reduce the mountain snow in 97 major river basins worldwide, writes Tim Radford - cutting summer water supply to 2 billion people in lowland areas who depend on the meltwaters.
… Global warming reduces snows that water 2 billion people Tim Radford | 24th November 2015 News Water Climate Change Science … writes Tim Radford - cutting summer water supply to 2 billion people in lowland …
First the Pepsi-Cola bottling company in south India caused outrage by depleting groundwater. Next it was found to be operating without valid permits.Then as protests grew the company won a High Court order giving it police protection. Now locals are vowing to keep the plant shut for good.
… protection The Ecologist | 20th May 2015 News Water India Corporations Law … south India caused outrage by depleting groundwater. Next it was found to be operating … - and will receive - police protection for water being trucked in to the disputed plant …
The lack of snow in California's Sierra Nevada is historically unprecedented, write Valerie Trouet & Soumaya Belmecheri. It's also seriously bad news for the state's water supplies - and may be an indicator of even worse to come in a warming world.
… Belmecheri | 15th September 2015 Comment Water Climate Change USA Science … It's also seriously bad news for the state's water supplies - and may be an indicator of … plays a critical role. It serves as a natural water storage system that feeds waterways and …
Mainstream climatologists predict a 15% fall in rainfall over the Amazon if it is stripped of its rainforest. But the 'biotic pump' theory, rooted in conventional physics and recently confirmed by experiment, shows that the interior of a forest-free Amazon will be as dry as the Negev desert. We must save the Amazon before it enters a permanent and irreversible dessication.
… Peter Bunyard | 2nd March 2015 News Forests Water Climate Change Amazon South America … climate models. Finally - a theory that holds water Indeed, I was with Victor Gorshkov and … evidence that the theory not only holds water but provides a better explanation than …
Now it's Argentina's turn to be sued in a secret 'free trade' court run by the World Bank, writes Nick Dearden. After bringing a profiteering water company that was missing all its service and quality targets back into public ownership, the country has been ordered to pay $405 million 'compensation'.
… Nick Dearden | 17th April 2015 Comment Trade Water Corporations Law Argentina argentina-water-protest-cut.jpg Now it's Argentina's … Nick Dearden. After bringing a profiteering water company that was missing all its service …
A new scientific paper presents the radiation produced by fracking as 'natural' and harmless. But it's based on sketchy data, hyperbolic statistics and questionable assumptions, writes Paul Mobbs. Is it an attempt to stifle an essential public debate?
… 'Research finds fracking would increase water radioactivity but would not pose a … flux of radioactive elements to controlled waters including to surface water bodies. "However, it is clear that …
New regulations that will allow fracking under national parks, water sources and nature sites won the approval of MPs today in a Commons vote, write Kyla Mandel & Oliver Tickell, even though four Tory MP's rebelled against the party whip. But the new rules won't apply in Wales and Scotland.
… go-ahead in England's national parks, SSSIs, water sources Kyla Mandel Oliver Tickell | … will allow fracking under national parks, water sources and nature sites won the … and other protected sites including groundwater protection zones as the government goes …
The last ice age came to an end following the massive release of carbon dioxide from the Southern Ocean, write Miguel Martinez-Boti and Gianluca Marino, and the signature of that event is written in planktonic shells. It's a timely reminder that the oceans contain 60 times more carbon than the atmosphere - and we want to keep it there.
… Carbon stored deep in Antarctic waters ended the last ice age Miguel … 19,000 and 10,000 years ago, releasing enough water to raise the sea level by about 130 … in atmospheric CO 2 . Large volumes of deep water loaded with carbon come to the surface …
Although flowing water is fundamental to river ecosystems, temporary streams are distinctive landscape features that support surprisingly diverse communities, writes Rachel Stubbington. However, the biodiversity of these dynamic ecosystems needs greater recognition and protection.
… Rachel Stubbington | 25th July 2016 Comment Water Natural World Ecology Conservation … streams are set-cut.jpg Although flowing water is fundamental to river ecosystems, … recognition and protection. A river without water may seem like a contradiction in terms, …
After eleven years of campaigning by local people suffering from water shortages, state authorities have closed Coca-Cola's bottling plant at Mehdiganj, Uttar Pradesh - inspiring campaigners at another three Coca Cola sites in India.
… | 19th June 2014 News Corporations India Water Pollution Law Food … of campaigning by local people suffering from water shortages, state authorities have closed … in Mehdiganj since 2003 as a result of water shortages - blamed on over-extraction by …
On the final day of the trial of Caroline Lucas and other anti-fracking protestors, we ask - what about human rights? Entirely neglected by the government in its desperate drive to frack, they ought to trump all other policy considerations.
… March 2014 Comment Fracking Law Fossil Fuels Water Pollution UK Politics … shale gas reserves. Health, air and water at risk On the one hand, supporters … including the potential contamination of water and soil from toxic chemicals used in …
Levels of neurotoxic mercury in Yellowfin tuna are rising at almost 4% per year, and will soon reach a point where the fish are officially unsafe to eat, writes Paul Drevnick. And after decades of debate, there's no longer any doubt where the mercury comes from: humans. Industrial sources like coal burning are mainly to blame, and it's high time we put a stop to it.
… found widespread mercury pollution in wastewater from industrial activities. … snow, or dust. Once out of the air and in the water, it can then be taken up by fish. There … because they are in direct contact with their watersheds that collect rain and snow, but the …
Radiation can be carried long distances by marine currents, concentrated in sediments, and carried in sea spray 16km or more inland, writes Tim Deere-Jones. So Fukushima poses a hazard to coastal populations and any who eat produce from their farms. So what are the Japanese Government and IAEA doing? Ignoring the problem, and failing to gather data.
… as Caesium, mixes very well in the marine water body and thus is dispersed and diluted … over hundreds of kilometres in sea water and then re-concentrated (relative to ambient sea water) in both pore-water and fine sediments …