Malnourished Up by 44 million in 2008

[At least] 15 percent of the world population is [severely] malnourished

Food and Fuel Crisis Will Increase Malnourished by 44 million

The number of malnourished people has reached nearly 1 billion, or about 15 percent of the world population, an increase of about 5 percent (44 million) in 2008 caused by high food and fuel prices, the World Bank said.

Food prices are much higher than before and show no sign of declining to previous years levels.

Hunger persists. A severely malnourished 4-year-old in Ethiopia is typical of thousands of children around the world whose health and lives are devastated by lack of adequate food. image credit: Sven Torfinn/Panos Pictures. Image may be subject to copyright.  Caption: Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP)

“While people in the developed world are focused on the financial crisis, many forget that a human crisis is rapidly unfolding in developing countries. It is pushing poor people to the brink of survival,” said World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick. “The financial crisis will only make it more difficult for developing countries to protect their most vulnerable people from the impact of rising food and fuel costs.” More…

Related Links:

• Food Prices (Index page)
• Poverty Index

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Chemical Leak Forces Mass Evacuation

About 2,500 flee chemical leak in western Pa.

PETROLIA, Pa. (AP) — A corrosive liquid overflowed from a tank at a chemical plant in western Pennsylvania on Saturday, evaporating into a toxic cloud that snaked along the ground and forced about 2,500 people to flee. At least three residents were believed to suffer respiratory problems.

A material called oleum, similar to sulfuric acid, leaked from a tank at the Indspec Chemical Corp. plant in Petrolia, about 40 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, plant manager Dave Dorko said.

Authorities were concerned about the potential for respiratory damage and skin burns, said Freda Tarbell, spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Authorities went door to door to warn the 2,500 people living within 3 miles to evacuate. Tarbell said residents were cleared to return home early Sunday after officials from the federal Environmental Protection Agency monitored the air and determined that no acid remained.

About 250 people went to shelters in nearby Karns City, North Washington and Bruin on Saturday. Red Cross officials said they expected to shelter only 50 to 100 people overnight.

Dorko said all 30 employees of the plant, which produces a bonding agent for the tire industry, were evacuated and no injuries were reported. Authorities said three residents were taken to hospitals with apparent respiratory problems, but it was unclear whether the problems were related to the leak.

The dense cloud was reported moving slowly west Saturday night, close to the ground. No further evacuations were planned, but residents in the path were told to remain inside, to close doors, windows and vents, to shut down any system that draws air from the outside, and to put out any fires in fireplaces.

The plant will remain closed until the cleanup is completed.
Information from: Butler Eagle, http://www.butlereagle.com
Copyright author, or respective news agency.

Norbert Makes Landfall in Mainland Mexico

Norbert Made Landfall in Mainland Mexico after Battering Baja California Sur with Heavy Rains and 166kmph Winds

Hurricane Norbert: JSL2 enhancement satellite image –  Still frame  dated Oct 12, 2008 at 07:30UTC – Source: NOAA/SSDSI

NORBERT MADE LANDFALL AND IS NOW INLAND AND WEAKENING OVER MAINLAND MEXICO

• Source: NHC
• Forecaster: Pasch
• Date and Time: October 12, 2008 at 06:00UTC
• Hurricane warning: A hurricane warning remains in effect for the coast of mainland Mexico from Topolobampo northward to Guaymas.
• Tropical storm warning: A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the coast of mainland Mexico from south of Topolobampo southward to Altata.
• Current Location: At 0600UTC the center of Norbert was located inland near latitude 27.1 north,longitude 108.6 west or about 65 105 km east-northeast of Huatabampo Mexico.
• Category and Wind Speed: Maximum sustained winds have decreased to 120 Km/hr, with higher gusts.  Norbert is a category one hurricane on Saffir-Simpson scale [and on FEWW Hurricane Scale.] Rapid weakening is likely as Norbert Moves over the mountainous terrain of Mexico.
• Direction: Norbert is moving toward the northeast at 33 km/hr and this general motion is expected to continue today.  On this track the center of Norbert will continue moving over northwestern Mexico overnight and during the day on Sunday.  The remnants of Norbert will likely move into the southwestern united states Sunday Evening.
• Wind Force Extent: Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 85 km from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 280 km.
• Estimated minimum central pressure: 987mb (29.15 inches).
• Rainfall: Norbert is expected to produce rainfall accumulations of 10 to 15 cm over portions of northwestern Mexico, with possible isolated amounts of up to 25 cm.  These rains could result in life-threatening flash floods and mud slides. Norbert or its remnants could produce rainfall accumulations of 2 to 5 cm over portions of the southwestern united states through Sunday morning.

Cumulative Wind History

This graphic shows how the size of the storm has changed, and the areas potentially affected so far by sustained winds of tropical storm force (in orange) and hurricane force (in red). The display is based on the wind radii contained in the set of Forecast/Advisories indicated at the top of the figure. Users are reminded that the Forecast/Advisory wind radii represent the maximum possible extent of a given wind speed within particular quadrants around the tropical cyclone. As a result, not all locations falling within the orange or red swaths will have experienced sustained tropical storm or hurricane force winds, respectively. Source: Caption and Image: NHC/NOAA