Planet Watch

Polar Vortex: Yes, it’s global warming!

Climate-change denialists are gloating at the "Polar Vortex"—failing to understand that it was unleashed by destabilization of the Jet Stream due to loss of arctic ice cover.

Africa

Disease, hunger fears after Somalia cyclone

Two weeks after a devastating cyclone struck Somalia’s autonomous enclave of Puntland, nomadic pastoralists are especially at risk, with much of their livestock wiped out.

East Asia

Fukushima: the greatest danger comes now…

As nuclear boosters tout a dubious WHO study finding minimal excess cancer risks from the Fukushima disaster, TEPCO's new phase in the clean-up holds even greater peril.

Greater Middle East

Did climate change spark Syria crisis?

A jet stream blockage related to climate change caused the Russian wheat crop to fail in 2010, halting exports to Syria and the Arab world, and fueling unrest and revolt.

Mexico

Chiapas cancels carbon deal with California

The government of Chiapas cancelled a controversial forest protection plan that critics said failed to address root causes of deforestation and endangered indigenous peoples. 

Watching the Shadows

Obama preparing martial law?

Changes to a regulation in the US Code titled “Defense Support of Civilian Law Enforcement” allow military commanders  to “quell large-scale, unexpected civil disturbances.”