Global News Summary 9 July 2009
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Captain, crew and ship seized by Nigerian militants
Five crew members, their captain of an oil tanker are being held against their will after armed men boarded the tanker near Escravos. 13 crew members were ordered ashore. A statement released from the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said three Russians, two Filipinos and an Indian were being held. They claimed the reason behind their actions was due to the crew disregarding earlier warnings they had given to stay away from the Niger Delta. The action itself is claimed to be a further warning to others.
New plan to cut CO2 emissions – add lime to the sea
During a climate change conference held in Manchester, a new plan to stop or even reverse the accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere was unveiled. The latest idea from scientists working on climate change is to put lime in the oceans. During the conference, scientists explained how this could help curb one of the side effects of CO2 emissions - rising acidity levels in the ocean. However, as the plan stands it is highly illegal to pour substances in the ocean, essentially polluting it. The idea is the brainchild of Tim Kruger, a former management consultant, who explained that the lime would react with the CO2 in the water and convert it into bicarbonate ions. This would decrease acidity levels whilst allowing the sea to absorb more CO2, thus reducing global warming.
Costa Rica is the happiest nation
In a recent report from the New Economics Foundation, Costa Rica has been named the happiest place in the world. The independent research group has collated the results with the aim of building a new economy, “centred on people and the environment”. As well as happiness, factors such as ecological footprint and life expectancies of each country were included in the assessment. Out of the 143 countries that were surveyed, nine out of the top 10 positions were taken by Latin American nations. Britain ranked 74th while the United States was 114th. The survey showed that most developed countries were lower down in the results.
Is this the end of the Great Barrier Reef?
Marine scientists now believe that the Barrier Reef will be unrecognisable within 20 years. The life forms inhabiting the Reef will shrink or disappear completely due to the warmer waters. Scientists fear that the damage is already done and there is no hope of protecting the inhabitants. Those attending the meeting were warned that by 2030 to 2060 the world will see the extinction of coral reefs. The meeting also described the effects the loss of the reef will cause; the Great Barrier Reef is worth $4.5 billion (£2.8bn) a year to Australians and the loss will hit livelihoods, economies and ecosystems.
Increased help for male fertility with ‘synthetic’ sperm
On 7 July, scientists claimed they had grown synthetic human sperm from embryonic stem cells for the very first time. This latest development has raised the prospects of advances in male fertility treatment. The team, working at Newcastle University, is headed up by Professor Karim Nayernia. He said it is potentially possible to grow new reproductive cells from stem cells allowing men who make none of their own to become fathers.
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China abandons the G8 summit
The Chinese President, Hu Jintao, was forced to make a quick change of plan this week when he had to leave the G8 economic summit being held in Italy. The President was called back to China to address the ethnic violence taking a hold of north-western China. During the violent demonstrations over the weekend more than 1,000 people were left injured and 156 people dead. Eventually the chaos was calmed in Urumqi, the capital of Chinas Xinjiang region, by anti-riot squads and huge numbers of soldiers. Curfews in major districts of the capital are in place to try and control any further violence.
Banned from climbing Uluru
Uluru, formerly Ayers Rock, attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Currently tourists are permitted to walk on the rock, but local aboriginal tribes have placed signs around the area to try and stop people from climbing it. A draft management plan published on 8 July could put a complete ban on visitors walking on the rock for cultural, environmental and safety reasons. The plan is for Uluru and the surrounding area to become national park land.
Turtles cause runways to shut at JFK Airport
On 8 July John F Kennedy Airport in New York was shut down briefly due to a large number of turtles making their way onto the runway tarmac. 78 turtles from a nearby bay had gradually crawled onto the runway causing flights to stop. The ground crew herded the turtles and returned them all to the brackish water further away from the airport. The friendly intrusion interrupted flight schedules and caused delays to passengers of up to an hour and a half.
New prison for Nigeria – paid for by Britain
Currently British officials are negotiating with the Nigerian government over the building of a new prison. The aim is to take hundreds of Nigerian prisoners currently serving time in England and Wales back to Nigeria to finish their sentences. The investment of millions of pounds of the British taxpayers’ money is said to be essential as Nigerian prison conditions are so poor the prisoners could object to the transfer on the grounds of basic human rights. By building this new prison, Britain could potentially transfer 400 prisoners under an agreement made with Nigeria and reduce the £27,700 a year cost to keep them.
2010 World Cup preparations threatened by talks of strike
Thousands of construction workers involved with the preparations for 2010 World Cup in South Africa are threatening to go on strike if a pay increase of 13% is not met. Up to 35 construction projects including stadiums, a high-speed train link running from Johannesburg International Airport to both the city and the capital, Pretoria and also the upgrading of host cities such as Durban could be affected. The World Cup is due to kick off on 11 June 2010. Before the threats of strike, the project was set to finish ahead of schedule.
Bottle water banned in Bundanoon, Australia
Environmental concerns have resulted in an Australian town, Bundanoon, deciding to take a vote concerning the possible ban of bottled water. It would be the first town in the world to take such action and initiate this type of ban. The argument started when the town’s residents were made aware of the resources used in extracting and then packaging the bottle water, along with the waste that is produced after the product has gone. More than 350 residents took part in the vote with only one resident voting against the ban.
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