Life Alternate » Climate

California Contaminated Water Supply

Wispa — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 10:22:53 +0000

We may think Contamination of the water Supplies is just something that happens in undeveloped countries. This is something you`ll unfortunately say is wrong if you happen to live in Barstow, California.

This little town is the unfortunate recipient of contaminated water and have been warned not to use the supply. The toxin present is Perchlorate which can occur naturally and often be present in water supplies.

In industrial use it can be used for such things are rocket fuel, missiles, matches, flares and other explosives.

For human health Perchlorate can affect the thyroid gland which helps maintains your body’s metabolism. In children the thyroid plays an important role for growth.

The contamination may be natural or it just might have been a spill from a nearby military base. Wherever the origin the pollutant has caused enough concern for the Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger to declare a State of Emergency in the County.

Clean uncontaminated water supplies are becoming more rare everyplace around the world and it is quite possible that many of us are now drinking from sources that can be unsafe.

Mount Everest not Immune from Pollution

Wispa — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 07:05:46 +0000

The highest mountain in the world is feeling the effect of pollution caused by human industrialization.

Standing tall in the Himalayas, Mount Everest is being contaminated from toxic pollutants emitted by industries from around the world. Scientists have found dangerous levels of Arsenic and Cadmium in the snow and soil.

The mountains here are the source of water for large populations that live downstream.

The towering white mountains already have to contend with “Black Carbon”. This is layers of soot from burning fossil fuels that settle on the snow. This has an effect of increasing the melting of the snow and thus flushing the toxins downstream to the town and villages.

While a more comprehensive study is needed to see just how contaminated the area is, it seems clear that Scientist expect to find the Roof of the World is not immune from the effects of human destruction.

Tuvalu The Death of a Nation

Wispa — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 09:06:41 +0000

Out in the Pacific Ocean exist the tiny nation of Tuvalu. It’s 11,000 population live on nice coral islands scattered across and area of 1/2 million square miles. Tuvalu may also be the first nation in modern times to become geographically non-existent.

Image: moyak.com

Climate change, Global Warming or just natural events – Whatever you may want to call it, the fate of the island nation is most likely sealed.

The highest point on the island is 4.6 meters with most of the land just 1 meter above seal level. That may seem like quite a large rise in seal level to cover the islands but long before that waves and tidal surges will make life impossible for the inhabitants. The daily high tided along with the storms already bring flooding and water bubbling up around the island.

The catastrophe is going to affect the whole nation and for the people it is not just as simple as driving to another town or state to clear the danger. Long before the end is near some of the population will have emigrated. Maybe those people will be integral parts of the community, like medical, education or just fishermen. Whatever their job and with the population being just 11 thousand, every person leaving will start to create fractures in the nation. Long before the water covers the island the life of the people will become unsustainable.

Ian Fry the is the Tuvalu delegate to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark.

From: The Wonk Room – Tuvalu To Obama And The Senate

Island and low lying areas of countries around the world are at long term risk and what we do about it is up to you. Leaving the solution to the bickering and deal making of politicians may come up with a solution, but it will also be too late.