disasters

BP = Biodiversity Perishes

Posted by Willie — 1 May 2010 at 5:25pm - Comments

Gulf of Mexico oil slick: the view from space © NASA

The Gulf of Mexico is in the news right now, because of a catastrophic oil spill. You will probably already have seen the pictures. We’ve already pointed out that this is yet another example of the impact our global dependency on oil is having, and how BP in particular, are at fault for their relentless pursuit of the black stuff. They’ll seemingly stop at nothing to fill up oil barrels.

The images we most associate with oil spills are of the impact on wildlife: sea otters in Prince William Sound , or seabirds in Shetland, covered with oil. It’s a dramatic and easily understood impact on our seas’ biodiversity.

Article tagged as: BP, disasters, fossil fuels, oil spill, USA

BP Deepwater: oil slick hits the Gulf Coast

Posted by jossc — 30 April 2010 at 3:14pm - Comments

Gulf Coast disaster: Seabirds surrounded by oil booms © Sean Gardner/Greenpeace

America woke up to what could be one of the biggest environmental disasters in its history this morning as crude oil from the wrecked BP rig Deepwater Horizon started to wash ashore along Louisiana's Gulf coast.

The 5,000 square kilometre slick threatens to devastate fisheries, wildlife refuges and bird sanctuaries. Louisiana is most at risk, but Mississippi, Alabama and Florida are also in danger.

Article tagged as: BP, disasters, fossil fuels, oil spill, USA

BP rig disaster exposes its high risk investment strategy

Posted by jossc — 29 April 2010 at 3:17pm - Comments

Ships work to contain the oil spill © Sean Gardner/Greenpeace

Will they never learn? Today the Gulf coast of the southern US is facing environmental catastrophe. Over 200,000 gallons of crude oil a day is leaking from the wellhead of the destroyed BP rig Deepwater Horizon, creating a giant slick visible from space.

Article tagged as: BP, disasters, fossil fuels, oil spill, USA

Bhopal Disaster - 20 years on

Last edited 3 December 2004 at 9:00am
Bhopal survivor Ruby

Bhopal survivor Ruby

Twenty years have passed since the world's worst industrial disaster took place in Bhopal, India. On Dec 3rd 1984, toxic gas leaked from the poorly maintained and understaffed Bhopal plant owned by Union Carbide, killing up to 20,000 people and leaving 120,000 chronically ill to date. The survivors have never received adequate compensation for their debilitating illnesses. To this day the polluted site of the abandoned factory bleeds poisons daily into the groundwater of local residents. Dow Chemical now owns Union Carbide.

Ruby was born a couple years before the Bhopal disaster. Living in the shadow of the worse industrial disaster, that one night has shaped Ruby's entire life fighting for justice for the victims in Bhopal. Here is her story:

My name is Tahira Sultan, but people affectionately call me Ruby. I am 22 years old, and I was born in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh. I am a happy-go-lucky person and usually keep everyone around me in splits of laughter. I have spent all 22 years of my life here in Bhopal. At present, I am studying for my Masters in Science in Biotechnology.

Article tagged as: bhopal, disasters, toxics

Twenty years on - Bhopal justice must begin

Last edited 2 December 2004 at 9:00am
2 December, 2004

Indian government initiates clean up survey - Greenpeace demands Dow must pay

On the 20th anniversary of the world's worst industrial disaster which resulted in nearly 20,000 deaths (1), the federal government in the Bhopal area has called for a survey of the site to access the extent of the contamination. Greenpeace is calling on Dow Chemicals to take responsibility for the disaster by funding the clean up of the still highly contaminated site and to aid the thousands of people still suffering the effects of the accident.

Article tagged as: bhopal, campaign for justice in bhopal, chemicals, disasters, dow chemical, india, press releases, toxics, union carbide

Heaviest rain in South Korea for 37 years

Posted by bex — 19 July 2001 at 8:00am - Comments
Climate change: English country floods

Climate change: English country floods

The death toll in South Korea from the heaviest rain in 37 years rose to 40 on Monday as rescue workers sifted through the wreckage left by the downpour. The rain, which was most severe in the area of the capital, Seoul, followed months of unprecedented drought and triggered floods and landslides.

Article tagged as: climate change, disasters, flooding, impacts, landslides, precipitation, south korea