Toxic Sludge

New Zealand: Contaminated Soil, Air, Water

“Unsustainable industrial and farming activities [have resulted] in chemical contamination of soil, air and water. Arsenic, copper, DDT, dieldrin and lead are the lethal legacy of decades of unsustainable agriculture. Successive governments have advocated for the use of toxic pesticides in New Zealand. [Administrator] Officials assured New Zealanders these pesticides were safe, even in the face of evidence that showed otherwise. Some persistent pesticides, like endosulphan, are still allowed, creating the contaminated sites of the future.” ~ Green Party of Aotearoa NZ

Toxic Sludge. Photo Credit: NZ Greens

Worsening Signs of Planetary Stress

Cyprus: The Sun-Baked Island of Love

Cyprus government ordered emergency water rationing yesterday to deal with the crippling four-year drought. Cyprus has a population of about 800,000; however, about 3 million tourists flock to the island each year.

“A goat walks along the sun-baked bed of Cyprus’s largest reservoir at Kouris, March 20, 2008. Cyprus announced on Monday emergency water cuts to deal with a crippling drought.” Photo Credit: EUTERS/Stringer [Image may be subject to copyright.] See FEWW Fair Use Notice!

The water reserves on the drought stricken popular tourist island are depleting (down to 10.3 percent full) and the two desalination plants, working at full capacity, cannot meet the growing demand. The rainfall in Cyprus has decreased by about 20 percent in the past 35 years and has reached minimal levels since 2003.

In the past 48 hours the temperatures on the island rose to 34 degrees Celsius, (93.2 Fahrenheit), some 14 degrees higher than normal for the season. Original Report: Drought-hit Cyprus starts emergency water rations

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