Jim Smith

October 7, 2011

Judge grants go-ahead for exploration activity at Alaska's Pebble Mine

On September 26, a Superior Court judge held that Alaska is not required to give public notice before granting exploratory permits for the Pebble Mine project, an ambitious plan to exploit a massive reserve of gold and copper near Bristol Bay. The judge also held that Alaska may grant the permits without first studying the potential impacts of mining exploration. Opponents to the mining project cite a high risk of adverse environmental effects, including discharge of mining chemicals into the Bristol Bay salmon habitat, while proponents tout the project's enormous potential for creating jobs and reviving Southwest Alaska's economy.

Source:

Becky Bohrer, Judge sides with Alaska in Pebble Mine lawsuit, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Sep. 28, 2011, http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9Q1INVG0.htm.

Record 80% depletion of Arctic ozone creates "ozone hole"

According to scientists, colder-than-average temperatures in the Arctic over the past year caused the ozone losses. Chlorofluorocarbons, chemicals released by appliances such as refrigerators and microwaves, collect in the upper atmosphere and deplete the ozone layer at a high rate during periods of cold weather.

Source:

Richard Black, Arctic ozone loss at record level, BBC, Oct. 2, 2011, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15105747.

Swiss parliament approves plan to phase out nuclear power by 2034

On September 26, Switzerland's upper house of parliament, the Council of States, endorsed a gradual shutdown of its nuclear reactors. The lower house approved the plan in June. The Cabinet must now put forth a detailed plan for decommissioning the country's five nuclear plants, which supply forty percent of Switzerland's energy needs.

Source:

Associated Press, Swiss plan to phase out use of nuclear power gains full backing in parliament, Wash. Post, Sept. 28, 2011, http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/swiss-plan-to-phase-out-use-of-nuclear-power-gains-full-backing-in-parliament/2011/09/28/gIQAvscf4K_story.html.

Flash floods devastate parts of Cambodia

Flooding along the Mekong River in Cambodia has killed at least 150 people and damaged 904 schools, 361 Buddhist temples, and 670,000 acres of rice fields. This devastation, however, does not surpass the level experienced in 2000, when 374 people died in flash floods.

Source:

Associated Press, Cambodia says 150 killed in worst flash floods in more than a decade, Wash. Post, Oct. 2, 2011, http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/cambodia-says-150-killed-in-worst-flash-floods-in-more-than-a-decade/2011/10/02/gIQAtDzSEL_story.html.

Research shows rapid melting of two ice shelves in Canadian Arctic

New research indicates two ice shelves in the Canadian Arctic have greatly reduced in size. The Serson Ice Shelf, which encompassed almost 80 square miles three years ago, has almost entirely disappeared, and the Ward Hunt Ice Shelf has experienced substantial melting. Scientists say that such rapid ice shelf loss reflects the growing influence of climate change and warmer average temperatures in the Arctic.

Source:

Charmaine Noronha, Canadian Arctic Nearly Loses Entire Ice Shelf, ABC News, Sept. 30, 2011, http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/canadian-arctic-loses-entire-ice-shelf-14640899.