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NEWS HEADLINE SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2023 |
More than 15,000 scientists warn the world about drastic deterioration in the 'vital signs' of our planet.
October 24, 2023. Synopsis: "At least 20 of the 35 indicators we have studied to monitor the state of the planet's health have worsened in recent years," states the analysis, led by William Ripple and Christopher Wolf. "Life on our planet is clearly under siege. "We are entering unexplored territory," adds the study.
"If we do not take clear actions to address this crisis, everything indicates that we are heading towards a future of unbearable heat, water and food shortages, and where all natural and socioeconomic systems will end up collapsing," warns Wolf. Clear signs are the surprising increase in temperature, the proliferation of forest fires, intense droughts, the melting of the poles and glaciers, the increase in sea temperature, etc.
They point out that "the climate crisis disproportionately affects the world's most impoverished people, who, ironically, have had the least role in causing this problem."
The UN warns of six catastrophic risks for the planet.
eL Universal 10/25/2023 Synopsis:
A United Nations report warns of six threats that could destroy systems essential for human life; Melting glaciers, unbearable heat, insurance crisis, space debris, the water supply system and the food system.
A new approach is proposed to analyze possible responses to these crises, classifying them into two categories: solutions aimed at avoiding the causes of the problem and those of adaptation to inevitable changes.
The report finds that most solutions currently being implemented focus on delaying problems rather than genuinely addressing root causes.
President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro welcomed the founding of the Green Party of Venezuela.
El Universal, October 27, 2023 Synopsis: The President of the Republic, Nicolás Maduro, welcomed the creation of the Green Party of Venezuela during the Founding Congress of the aforementioned body.
The Green Party has among its principles to promote life, mother earth and the human species; as well as "solidarity with anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist peoples." President Maduro stated that he has high expectations of this political force that assumes, from Venezuela, the ecological cause and the fight against the climate emergency.
US President Joe Biden declared that humanity needs a new world order to replace the one that has existed for the last 50 years.
RT October 20 Synopsis:
The president said that "We lived in a post-war period for 50 years in which [the world] was functioning quite well, but this, somehow, ran out of steam. [...] A new world order is needed."
In addition, he said that the world "is at a turning point in history," adding that "the decisions we make in the next four or five years are going to determine what the next four or five decades will look like."
N.R. This news should be enough for Latin American leaders to take immediate action to organically unite our people, to not let other countries build a "NEW INTERNATIONAL ORDER", leaving our people out, condemning us to continue being third-class countries, and now, at the mercy of climate changes
More than 800 researchers registered for the second congress on the climatic crisis in Venezuela.
Aporrea 10/10/2023
Synopsis:
More 800 registered researchers and on 204 works for presentation, this week will be seen in three states (Mérida, Anzoátegui and Capital District), during the development of the Second National Congress of Researchers and Researchers on the Climate Crisis.
The Minister of Popular Power for Ecosocialism, Josué Lorca, said that "a vice ministry was created for the climatic crisis and a national observatory against the climate crisis (ONCC), directed by the Meride?o Franklin Leal. of eight Oncc venues associated with the main universities of the country. "
All this although "we only issue 0.48 % of emissions worldwide, however, we are one of the countries that are affected by the climatic crisis either by large floods, forest fires or droughts."
Ozone hole reaches historic highs and grew three times the size of Brazil. It reached a size of 26 million square kilometers last September 16.
El Universal Newspaper 06/10/2023 Synopsis:
Measurements from the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite revealed that the ozone hole over Antarctica this 2023 is one of the largest ever recorded, reaching a size of 26 million square kilometers on September 16, 2023, about three times the size of Brazil.
Some researchers speculate that this year's unusual ozone patterns may be associated with the eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai in January 2022, which injected a large amount of water vapor into the stratosphere, enough to fill more than 58,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
It should be remembered that the widespread use of chlorofluorocarbons in products such as refrigerators and aerosol cans damaged the ozone in the upper atmosphere, resulting in a hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica. The 1987 Montreal Protocol to protect the ozone layer eliminated the production of these harmful substances.
The planet recorded the 3 hottest months in a row since there are records.
The Iguana TV Thu, Sept 7 Synopsis:
Last August, the planet had the three hottest consecutive months since records exist, according to data confirmed by the Copernicus climate change service, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) announced today.
By a considerable margin, last month was the warmest August on record and was the second warmest of all months, behind record-breaking last July. August has been estimated to have been 1.5 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial era between 1850 and 1900, and the year 2023 is so far considered (with measurements taken from January to August) the second warmest after 2016.
Eleven dead and five missing in floods in southeastern Europe.
El Universal Newspaper 6 Sept. Synopsis:
At least eleven people have died, five are missing and dozens have been injured as floods hit Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria, causing massive damage to homes, roads and infrastructure. In Greece, which until last week suffered the worst forest fires in fifteen years, meteorologists speak of the most extreme phenomenon that the country has experienced since there are records of rainfall. In the town of Zagora, 754 liters per square meter were recorded within 18 hours, a historical maximum.
UN Secretary General admits he has "no power at all".
HEAD-POST ES 19/09/2023 Synopsis:
Prior to the General Assembly, the UN Secretary General was asked in an interview with CNN about the executive power he has over the UN General Assembly conclave, Guterres bluntly said, "No power at all." "The UN secretary has no power and no money," the Portuguese leader remarked.
He further stated that the UN only has one voice. "That voice can be strong and I have an obligation to make it strong," he stressed. Island nations sue major polluting nations before sea swallows their land
RT sep. 11, 2023 Synopsis:
Nine small island nations - Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, St. Lucia, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, among others - intend to go to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea on September 11 to force major polluting nations to reduce the carbon emissions that cause global warming, causing sea levels to rise, and which could mean that some of these islands could be partially or completely submerged under water by the end of the century.
Two Indonesian islands have already sunk and four more are at risk from rising sea levels.
"Without swift and ambitious action, climate change may prevent my children and grandchildren from living on the island of their ancestors, the island we call home," Antigua and Barbuda's Prime Minister Gaston Alfonso Browne has vehemently explained.
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Medical doctors around the world unite to call for urgent climate action.
Resisto 10/28/2023 Synopsis: The majority of the world's GPs and health bodies, representing more than three million health professionals worldwide, will deliver an open letter demanding international governments to urgently phase out fossil fuels and accelerate energy renewables, as health professionals increasingly see patients suffer the harms caused by climate change.
Signatories include health bodies from Canada, India, Europe, Pacific nations and the United Kingdom, demanding that all governments end the expansion of any new fossil fuel infrastructure and production, phase out existing fuels, phase out subsidies and invest in renewable energy.
The director of environment, climate change and health at the World Health Organization, María Neira, states that air pollution causes more than seven million premature deaths each year. "Climate change has been identified as potentially the biggest health challenge of the 21st century," she said.
A Guaraní spiritual leader, defender of one of the last tropical forests in the area, was murdered in Paraguay.
El País October 26, 2023 Synopsis: The leader of a Guaraní community on the Paraguayan border with Brazil lived under threats and was beaten to almost death and the authorities did not come to help him.
The lack of rain is impacting lower agricultural production in Bolivia. More than half of the population suffers from food insecurity.
EL PAIS, OCT 18, 2023 Synopsis:
Seven of the nine departments of Bolivia are already suffering from the severe drought and lack of rain that plague this country where, according to authorities, there are already more than 200,000 families affected.
"More than half of Bolivia's population currently suffers from food insecurity, which will continue to worsen as extreme weather events become more severe and frequent, decimating agriculture and livestock farming," indicates the organization Save the Children in a release. The drought has affected 25,143 hectares of crops and 163,000 heads of livestock so far this year, according to data from the Ministry of Rural Development and Lands.
In recent months, Bolivia has suffered unusually high temperatures. According to the National Meteorology and Hydrology Service (Senamhi), in La Paz, 27.5 degrees Celsius was recorded in September, the highest temperature since 2010.
Drought: they declare in "critical situation" one of the main tributaries of the Amazon.
THE IGUANA TV 10 OCTOBER, 2023
Synopsis:
The National Water Agency and Basic Sanitation of Brazil declared in "critical situation" the Madeira River, one of the main tributaries of the Brazilian Amazon, due to the drought suffered by several regions.
The Madeira is an important river for the transport of passengers and cargo, with a navigable section from Porto Velho, in the state of Roraima, to Itacoatiar, in Amazonas and in its waters the hydroelectric plants of Jirau and Holy Antonio. Last week, Santo Antonio suspended his activity due to the low river flow.
The expectation is that the situation worsens during this month of October, when the abrupt fall of the level of the Amazonian rivers is forecast, as in 2010. Scientists already predict that it could be the greatest drought in the history of the planet's lung .
Sandra Díaz, Argentine biologist, Nobel Peace Prize winner: "The window of time to reverse the deterioration of nature is closing. 40% of vegetation is at risk of extinction".
EL PAÍS, 04 OCT 2023 Synopsis
Despite the loss of biodiversity and global warming due to the action of man and his economic models, the scientist maintains a certain optimism. "The outlook is clear: there is still time to reverse some of the future consequences, but the window of opportunity is closing fast," she said in an interview with America Futura from Argentina. "There is irreversible damage already underway, which we cannot avoid, but sufficiently rapid, decisive and massive action could prevent some of the most dramatic consequences."
Diaz refers to the IPBES (Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services) World Report, which shows that the vast majority of indicators of the state of nature are declining, and to Kew Gardens, the London botanical garden, which maintains that there is a very significant proportion of plants at risk of extinction, almost 40%, according to the report.
For her, man's relationship with nature should be marked by balance and the search for the common good, that humans use the soil for the development of all and not abuse it for the benefit of a few. He also believes that the responsibility lies not only with decision-makers but with all social actors, who must exert pressure. "It is necessary to build power to move towards other models," he believes.
One of the strongest since 1949: Typhoon Saola devastates southern China
El Universal Newspaper 2 Sept. Synopsis:
Typhoon Saola made landfall in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong early this Saturday, while violent winds hit nearby Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macau, leaving at least one dead and a trail of destruction and flooding in many areas.
It became a severe typhoon as it made landfall in the city of Zhuhai with winds slowing to about 160 km/h, officials said. China's meteorological bureau predicted that Saola "could become the strongest typhoon to make landfall in the Pearl River Delta since 1949."
The Venezuelan Foreign Minister rejected the interference of the United States (US) in the territorial dispute with Guyana, and its pretensions to "lead us to a war for natural resources".
La iguana sept. 23 2023 Synopsis
"The Southern Command intends to create a military base in the territory under claim, with the purpose of creating a spearhead in aggression against Venezuela and consolidate the dispossession of our energy resources", he said during his speech at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly.
Likewise, the Secretary General of the OAS, Luis Almagro, supports Guyana in a dispute that takes away even Venezuela's water, since new oil concessions in progress reach the exclusive economic zone of the state of Delta Amacuro and annul Venezuela's exit to the Atlantic.
On the other hand, Venezuela rejected a communiqué issued by the Secretariat of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) on the territorial dispute with Guyana, pointing out that the Caricom document "manipulates the reality of the arguments presented by the Venezuelan State in just and necessary defense of its security and territorial integrity".
CEPAL: Climate change will significantly affect economic growth in countries in our region
CEPAL sept. 20233 Synopsis
In its 75th edition, which corresponds to 2023, "the Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean", prepared by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, CEPAL analyzes the macroeconomic consequences of climate change on the economies of Latin America and the Caribbean.
The estimates presented in Chapter II of the report suggest that, as a result of the intensification of climate shocks, the gross domestic product (GDP) of six countries in the region will be highly exposed to the risks of climate change in year 2050, which could be between 9% and 12% lower than that corresponding to a trend growth scenario.
To compensate for these economic losses alone would require exceptionally large additional investments, ranging from 5.3% to 10.9% of GDP per year.
The unknown glacial cooling that drove humans out of Europe for 200,000 yr.
RT 2 sep 2023 Synopsis:
A big freeze previously unknown to science drove early humans off the European continent for 200,000 years, but they adapted and returned, new research shows. Ocean sediments examined from 1.1 million years ago show that average temperatures suddenly dropped by more than 5°C, in many areas of Europe, well below freezing, even in the temperate Mediterranean, said the scientists involved.
Japan to allocate $137 million for fishermen suffering losses due to Fukushima water spill
RT 2 sep 2023 Synopsis:
The Government of Japan will allocate more than 137 million dollars in subsidies to support its fishing industry, in view of the losses it could suffer from the discharge into the Pacific Ocean of treated water from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant.
Tepco filters the water through its Advanced Liquid Processing System, which reduces most radioactive substances to acceptable safety standards, except for tritium and carbon-14, which are difficult to separate from water, emit low levels of radiation, and excessive consumption may pose a risk.
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Hurricane Otis leaves at least 27 dead and extensive damage as it passes through the state of Guerrero and the city of Acapulco in Mexico.
BBC News World, October 26, 2023 Synopsis: The category 5 storm hit the tourist city with maximum sustained winds of 260 km/h and gusts of up to 315 km/h, one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded in the Mexican Pacific, especially affecting the hotel sector.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. "What Acapulco suffered was very disastrous. It has no precedent in the country in recent times."
Otis was as unexpected as it was exceptional due to the way in which it intensified in a few hours, going from a tropical storm to a category 5, at which point the telephone, internet and much of the electrical service were damaged, including the collapse of 50 towers. of high tension, which reduced the population's possibilities to prepare. caused in the affected area. In addition, Otis caused damage to public hospitals and 600 patients had to be transferred.
Chaos in the center of Madrid on the rainiest day in its history: rafts on the roads, cuts in the Metro and a 'geyser' in the middle of Goya Street.
El Mundo, Es. Oct 19, 2023 Synopsis:
From 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Madrid 112 managed 271 files related to the storm
As Meteored's expert meteorologist explains, the centenary Madrid-Retiro station breaks its record for maximum precipitation in a day in its entire history. Or what is the same, it has never rained as much in the center of the city as this Thursday, with rainfall of 104 liters/square meter. "It has surpassed the previous absolute record for rainfall in one day, which was the 87 liters per square meter that fell on September 21, 1972... But the storms will continue to affect the central area,"
"It is raining inside the Metro", was published on the networks, several of its lines were affected and parks and green areas were closed, as well as runways at its airport.
Climate change has caused the displacement of more than 40 million girls and boys in recent years.
Statista, October 12, 2023
Synopsis:
As detailed in a new UNICEF report, between 2016 and 2021 it is estimated that 43.1 million displacements of children related to weather catastrophes were produced. Storms and floods represented 40.9 million - 95% - of the children's displacements registered during this period.
In addition, between 2016 and 2021, droughts caused approximately 1.3 million children's displacements and forest fires, 0.8 million.
Scientists discover microplastics in clouds and humans inhale them.
RT 28 September 2023 Synopsis
A Japanese team led by Hiroshi Okochi, a professor at Waseda University, determined that large amounts of microplastics end up being ingested or inhaled by humans and animals. The tiny particles were detected in the lungs, heart, blood, placenta and feces. The results of the research have been published in the journal Environmental Chemistry Letters.
Considering that ten million tons of these small pieces of plastic end up in the ocean and find their way into the atmosphere, it is likely that microplastics have already become a component of the clouds, polluting through "plastic rain" not only the environment, but almost everything we eat and drink.
The accumulation of microplastics in the atmosphere, especially in the polar regions, could lead to major changes in the ecological balance of the planet, with a consequent loss of biodiversity.
"Airborne microplastics degrade much faster in the upper atmosphere than on the ground due to strong ultraviolet radiation, and this degradation releases greenhouse gases and contributes to global warming," Okochi said.
Madrid predicts record rainfall never seen since 1972 and asks citizens not to leave home
EFE September 3 Synopsis
Madrid.- The Madrid City Council asked citizens to remain at home and not leave their homes "unless strictly necessary", especially in the afternoon, given the red alert throughout the region due to rains that could be torrential. and leave up to 120 liters per square meter this Sunday.
California sues five oil giants for contributing to climate crisis
RT September 17, 2023 Synopsis
The state of California has filed a lawsuit in San Francisco Superior Court against Exxon Mobil, Shell, BP, ConocoPhillips and Chevron, as well as the American Petroleum Institute (API), for misleading the public for decades about the impact of their activities on climate change.
The lawsuit also claims that the oil giants misinformed the public about the real danger posed by fossil fuels to the environment and "aggressively" promoted the use of hydrocarbons, knowing the associated dangers.
As a result, the companies "damaged or destroyed natural resources" and "created, contributed to, or helped generate statewide climate change-related damages" in California.
"Climate solutions" for Latin America to overcome the challenge of adapting to the environmental crisis.
CAF September 2023 Synopsis
CAF's Economy and Development Report (RED) proposes global measures on how to mitigate warming and find solutions in nature without forgetting that the planet has already changed. And will continue to do so.
In Latin America, one of the regions that emits the least greenhouse gases, extreme weather events went from an average of 28 per year between 1980 and 1999 to 53 per year in the last two decades. The study indicates that the average temperature until 2040 will be around 1°C higher than between 1985 and 2014. Less rainfall is also expected in northern South America, the Caribbean, Central America, part of the Amazon, northeastern Brazil, central and southern Chile and southern Argentina. This will translate, they say, into arid climates throughout the continent, with the exception of the coasts of Peru and Ecuador.
With a land area that represents 16% of the world's total, the region is home to an enormous variety of the world's known species: 33% of mammals, 35% of reptiles, 41% of birds and 50% of amphibians. .
Likewise, the report reflects how in Colombia, for example, awareness of how climate change affects is very present in the population. Nine out of ten Colombians demand stricter climate policies, according to a survey by the European Investment Bank. 94% of Colombians say they feel the effects of climate change in their daily lives, and 67% say that it affects them a lot.
BMW CEO warns of "colossal risk" in EU combustion vehicle restriction
Spain News sep. 5, 2023 Synopsis:
Last February, the European bloc approved a ban on the sale of new diesel and gasoline cars and vans as of 2035, in order to reduce harmful CO2 emissions. In the face of this, the CEO of German automaker BMW, Oliver Zipse, has warned that these European Union (EU) plans he sees as a "colossal risk" for the European automotive industry in the face of growing Chinese competition in the electric vehicle sector
N.R. Actually, many of the major vehicle manufacturing countries, irresponsibly and placing the interests of a handful of shareholders above those of more than 8 billion inhabitants of the planet, have ignored the agreements that have been taken to eliminate the manufacture of internal combustion cars.
Thus we see how the manufacture of electric cars last year in the United States was only 5.3% of the total manufactured, or in Spain it was 4.4%, to mention just a few examples.
Petrobras to increase production to 3.1 million barrels per day with 11 new rigs
El Universal 07/09/2023 Synopsis:
Brazil's state-owned oil company Petrobras announced Thursday that it will install 11 new platforms to produce oil in the pre-salt area until 2027, which should increase the company's production to 3.1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day. The pre-salt area is located in deep waters of the Atlantic Ocean, under an extensive layer of salt, where Brazil has gigantic hydrocarbon reserves that are just beginning to be explored.
N.R. This news explains by itself that in the agreements reached, both in the recent Amazon forum, in the last BRICS meeting, and in the meeting of the 77 + China, the issue of fossil fuels was conspicuous by its absence.
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