Planet Watch
Obama and the KXL-TPP contradiction
Obama nixed the Keystone XL pipeline a day after announcing he will sign the Trans-Pacific Partnership—which includes mechanisms for challenging the KXL cancellation.
Tag: climate destabilization
Afghanistan
UN sees decline in Afghan opium: Pyrrhic victory?
The UN notes a sharp drop in opium cultivation in Afghanistan after years of big increases—but due to drought and desertification, not government eradication efforts.
Planet Watch
Retreat on Arctic drilling —push to open ANWR
The Interior Department announced the cancellation of two pending Arctic offshore lease sales—as Alaska's governor makes a new push to open the ANWR to oil companies.
The Amazon
Brazil: indigenous activists disrupt fracking auction
Indigenous leaders and activists interrupted an auction of oil and gas exploration blocs in Rio de Janeiro, seizing the stage to discuss climate change and indigenous rights.
Greater Middle East
Syria war prompts ‘doomsday’ seed bank withdrawal
An Aleppo-based seed research center, forced by the war to flee to Beirut, has made an emergency request for seed stock from a "doomsday" vault on a remote Arctic island.
The Andes
Colombia: worst drought in recorded history
Colombia is suffering the worst drought and forest fires in its history, partially due to weather phenomenon El Niño, with water rationing instated across the country.
Greater Middle East
Istanbul: proletarian districts declare ‘autonomy’
Working-class districts of Istanbul, following the lead of rebel Kurds in Turkey's east, are declaring "autonomy" from the state—amid ongoing street clashes with security forces.
Iran
Control of water behind Iran nuke deal?
Following years of drought, Iran has quietly sought help from the US in managing a severe water crisis during the same period that US-Iran nuclear talks were underway.
Iraq
Mass protests shake Baghdad regime
Tens of thousands took to the streets of Baghdad to protest economic conditions and corruption. The demonstrations are bringing together Sunnis, Shi'ites and leftists.
Planet Watch
Four Corners haze: harbinger of climate change
Federal authoriites approved an expansion of coal-mining and burning in the Four Corners area—as NASA has detected a massive methane plume over the region.
East Asia
China allows first pollution suit under new law
A court in China ruled that a lawsuit against ConocoPhillips China and China National Offshore Oil for a 2011 oil spill can proceed under a new law allowing NGOs to directly sue polluters.
Planet Watch
Ice Age fears: don’t believe the hype
Russia Today trumpets specious claims of a new Little Ice Age—convenient propaganda for Putin to go on exploiting Arctic oil without worrying about global warming.