U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Garry Welch/Released

Happy New Year, everyone!

Best wishes for 2012. Hopefully it will not be the year of environmental catastrophe that 2011 was. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t hold my breath, even if it would slightly reduce my own personal CO2 output.

Let’s have a quick rundown of the stresses and bad headlines that dominated eco-news in 2011.

Firstly:

• The global population reached 7 billion.

• The second worst nuclear incident in history occurred in Fukushima as the result of a catastrophic tsunami.

• Greenhouse gases rose to record levels, Arctic sea ice went down and global temperatures went up.

It was marked on the ground by unparalleled extremes of heat and cold in the US, droughts and heat waves in Europe and Africa and record numbers of weather-related natural disasters.

–Guardian

While Russia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Pakistan suffered extreme weather in 2010, North American took the cake in 2011, with bills well exceeding $40bn US (over $50bn, according to some sources) in the United States alone. Flooding, tornadoes, drought, blizzard conditions and Hurricane Irene hammered the USA this past year.

Read more about the US’s record breaking environmental troubles in 2011 here.

In Asia and Australia it was devastating floods that caused the most damage, panic and loss of life, while Somalia and the Horn of Africa suffered its worst drought in 60 years. There were also plenty of major earthquakes around the world to shake things up.

But don’t worry too much – there was some good news too. Read more about that and all about 2011, the year of environmental records, in the Guardian.

photo by Martin Cathrae (Flickr CC)

2.3bn yen ($29 million/ €22 million) in victims’ aid for the March 11 tsunami, which devastated communities on the northeastern coast of Japan, has been diverted to the country’s whaling industry.

This discovery has sparked outrage from environmentalist groups like Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd and could further damage Japan’s international reputation.

Junichi Sato, executive director for Greenpeace Japan, is quoted in the Independent:

Not only is the whaling industry unable to survive without large increases in government handouts, now it’s siphoning money away from the victims of the 11 March triple disaster, at a time when they need it most. This is a new low for the shameful whaling industry and the callous politicians who support it.

Whaling boats left southern Japan on another ‘scientific expedition’ on Tuesday, with the purpose of harpooning 930 minke whales.

–From AP:

The protesters say whale research does not require killing the animals, and Japan’s scientific program amounts to commercial whaling in disguise because surplus meat is sold. Whale meat, however, is not widely eaten in Japan.

In related news, Japan’s Institute for Cetacean Research have requested that a US court block the activities of Sea Shepherd activists.

Read more about that story from Reuters here.

photo by dymidziuk.janusz (Flickr CC)

Four major power companies warned that the post-Fukujima backlash against nuclear power in Germany country could result in future winter blackouts. These blackouts would ostensibly occur if Germany decides to decommission all its nuclear power stations.

The companies claim that solar and wind power could not meet demand in the case of insufficiently windy or sunny weather.

Chancellor Angela Merkel recently signaled she would support closing all of Germany’s 17 nuclear power stations by 2022.

Seven nuclear power stations have been off-grid ever since Merkel announced in the immediate aftermath of the Fukushima disaster a “three-month moratorium” on her controversial decision last year to extend the lives of the plants.

–Guardian

So far the German grid has coped with the loss of these 7 plants. Germany notably still relies on coal for the largest share of its energy (42%) with nuclear supplying 22.3%, followed by renewables at 16.5% and natural gas at 13.6%.

Read more on that story in the Guardian.

Merkel may simply be trying to win back votes that are being lost to the Green Party, which historically beat her governing CDU coalition in local elections for the city-state of Bremen.

Meanwhile in Japan– the country most affecting German nuclear policy despite its being located across the globe – utility company Tepco confirmed meltdowns of two more reactors at Fukushima Daiichi power plant following the earthquake and resultant tsunami that rocked the north-east of the country on March 11^th.

Tepco claims the melted fuel rods in these reactors were covered with water and did not reach dangerous temperatures.

Both the energy company and the Japanese government are receiving criticism over keeping this information from the public. Like Germany, Japan has backed away from nuclear power since the disaster and is looking more towards renewables, though not to the extent of its European counterpart.

From another article in the Guardian:

The prime minister, Naoto Kan, will unveil plans at the G8 summit in Deauville, France, to require all new buildings to be fitted with solar panels by 2030, the Nikkei business newspaper said.

According to the US Government Energy Information Administration, Japan is the 3^rd larges consumer of nuclear energy. Data from 2008 details Japan’s energy use as follows: Oil 46%, coal 21%, natural gas 17%, nuclear 11%, hydro 3%, other renewables 1%.

photo by Save the Children (Flickr CC)

Japan’s meteorological institute issued a tsunami alert after a quake measured at 7.1 struck the country’s northeast Thursday night – the same part of the country which suffered from the massive 9.0 quake and resultant tsunami in March.

The earthquake was first believed to be 7.4, but was later downgraded to 7.1 by the U.S. Geological Survey, and the tsunami warning has since been lifted.

Nonetheless, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center cautioned:

Earthquakes of this size sometimes generate local tsunamis that can be destructive along coasts located within 100km of the earthquake epicenter.

28,000 people are dead or still missing in Japan after the disaster in March. Please see this post on how to help victims.

Read more on BBC News and see the below video from NTN24 for more. Note that there is no longer a tsunami alert in effect.

The title of this post has two meanings because there are two categories of help. There are still many animals stranded in or facing terrible and dangerous conditions in the areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami. There are also many who have been left behind in the exclusion zone surrounding the damaged nuclear reactor in Fukushima. These animals need help. Organizations like the IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) offer that help by providing emergency relief.

There is also another way: by giving to the organizations that use trained rescue animals to help find disaster victims and save lives.

The Search Dog Foundation in the U.S. rescues unwanted dogs and partners them with firefighters and rescue workers. These dogs have been deployed to Japan and performed invaluable, life-saving roles in the disaster effort.

See this gallery of canine rescue teams in Japan.

Also check out this IFAW video on their latest emergency rescue efforts in Japan.

Additional links:

Wet Nose Animal Aid (UK)

Kinship Circle Animal Rescue

In May a government safety review of nuclear plants in the UK will be released, taking account of the events at Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan. For more on this story see this article from BBC News.

photo by Windgeist (Flickr CC)

In Germany, where nuclear power is always especially controversial, the issue has sparked political action of late.

From Deutsche Welle:

The governing CDU/FDP coalition has now put a hold on plans to extend the lifespan of Germanys’ reactors. Particularly aging reactors like the one in Neckarwestheim in the state of Baden-Württemberg will probably shut down earlier than previously expected.

Check out this video report from Deutsche Welle for more:

Also see the Guardian’s data blog for comprehensive list of nuclear incidents and accidents around the world.

photo by DigitalGlobe-Imagery (Flickr CC)

Japan is struggling to cope with a difficult tsunami/earthquake relief effort in the face of cold temperatures, food shortages, power outages and nuclear crisis.

Please refer to this post for a list of links for aid agencies to donate to the relief effort.

From the Guardian’s previous live blog (no longer being updated):

The country faces an increasingly desperate humanitarian crisis caused by the direct effects of Friday’s huge earthquake and resultant tsunami, one made worse by freezing weather. The official death toll has now hit 4,255 deaths, with 8,194 people registered as unaccounted for. Survivors, many of them homeless, are struggling with a wave of cold weather forecast to last well into this week, with night time temperatures dipping to -5C in some places.

A 30 km no fly zone has been established over the nuclear plant at Fukushima along with a 20 km exclusion zone on the ground. All six reactors at Fukushima Daiichi are at varying levels of crisis.

According to the Guardian’s latest live blog on the continuing disaster:

• Reactor 1 – partial core meltdown
• Reactor 2 – risks potential meltdown
• Reactor 3 – explosion, fire and is leaking radiation
• Reactor 4 – fire with dropping water levels
• Reactor 5 – heat rising in spent fuel pool
• Reactor 6 – heat rising in spent fuel pool

An additional 4 reactors at Fukushima No. 2 plant are in successful cold shutdown.

For an informative, up to date look at the nuclear crisis check Greenpeace’s Twitter feed.

photo by DigitalGlobe-Imagery (Flickr CC)

Japan has suffered greatly in recent days after a 9.0 earthquake struck the north of the country and triggered a tsunami which destroyed countless homes and likely killed over 10,000 people. Millions have been left without electricity, while food and water scarcity as well as lack of heat are threatening parts of northern Japan.

Most of the media, however, has been gripped by the explosions and resultant radiation leaks at three reactors at a Japanese nuclear power plant called Fukushima Daiichi in Fukushima prefecture. The nuclear safety crisis that Japan now finds itself in the grip of is perhaps the only aspect to the earthquake/tsunami disaster that still seems to be getting worse rather than better.

Even Tokyo is reporting radiation levels at 20 times their normal rate, according to the Japan Times, though this poises no immediate risk. Meanwhile Ibaraki prefecture, nearby to Fukushima, reported levels at 100 times normal and levels in Saitama spiked up to 40 times normal.

Check the Guardian’s live blog for more information, including how European countries like Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Poland have reacted to the disaster in terms of their own nuclear programs.

For a simple clear and eye-opening look at atomic power, watch Rachel Maddow explain nuclear power plants and meltdowns:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

photo by DigitalGlobe-Imagery (Flickr CC)

In addition to Google Person Finder’s 2011 Japan Earthquake service and ShelterBox’s aid program for victims, several other organizations are mobilizing to help those affected by the recent tsunami and earthquake in northern Japan. Japanese authorities have upgraded the quake to a 9.0 on the Richter scale.

I have been keeping up to date on the situation via the Guardian’s live news blog, where it was posted that Save the Children has set up a fund for Japan’s earthquake/tsunami victims. You can access Save the Children’s UK earthquake/tsunami site here and the US version here.

Yahoo News has also provided a list of other organizations working on the relief effort in Japan.

Click on any of the names below to make a donation:

AMERICAN RED CROSS

GLOBALGIVING

SALVATION ARMY

AMERICARES

CONVOY OF HOPE

INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS

Japan is reeling from one of the worst earthquakes in recorded history and the resultant tsunami and flooding.

The quake measured at 8.9 on the Richter scale, causing severe damage and massive floods in the northeast of the country. Aftershocks continue to affect the nation while other pacific countries, particularly Oceanic islands, the Philippines and Indonesia are preparing for tsunamis.

Though it’s early days yet, there are ways being set up to aid victims of the earthquake and tsunami.

Google Person Finder has set up a page for the 2011 Japan Earthquake for people to post messages looking for lost loved ones or to let others know that they are OK.

From BBC News:

The Person Finder was developed to solve a problem common in the aftermath of many catastrophes when many different agencies are on the ground giving aid and gathering information about victims.

One way to donate to aid tsunami and earthquake victims is via the organization ShelterBox, which “provides emergency shelter and lifesaving supplies for families around the world who are affected by disasters at the time when they need it the most.”

See the Guardian News blog for live updates on the earthquake and tsunami in Japan:

Japan earthquake – live updates

Image by Clearly Ambiguous (source: Flickr)

Last night the Merapi volcano on Java erupted again, killing at least 2.  This brings the death toll to 38  since the first eruption of the volcano earlier this week.

Last week alone, with the tsunami hitting the shores of several Indonesian islands and with the eruption of Merapi, at least 450 people were killed. 300 people are still missing in the regions where the tsunami reached Indonesia. Rescue workers are having a hard time to look for survivors due to bad weather conditions and lack of adequate equipment.

Image by David Rydevik (source: Wikimedia Commons)

Last Monday we reported an earthquake of 7,5 on the Richter scale hit south of Sumatra. Yesterday Java’s Merapi volcano erupted, killing 25 people. Then a tsunami hit the western part of Indonesia, killing at least 113 people, many more still reported missing.

Although the Indonesian authorities did alert the population on Monday for the dangers of a possible tsunami following the 7,5 magnitude earthquake, they revoked the alarm soon after. The tsunami eventually did reach the western part of Indonesia, with 3-meter high waves breaking on the shores of several islands. 400 homes where washed away in the process. Rescue teams are currently trying to reach the area, facing bad weather and aftershocks from the earthquake in their efforts to find the missing and help the injured.

photo by Luluk (Flickr CC)

An earthquake with a magnitude of 7,5 on the Richter scale hit south of Sumatra earlier today, in the area of the Mentawi islands. A tsunami alarm was issued shortly after the earthquake to warn local population, but the alarm has been revoked in the meantime. There is currently no report of damages or casualties caused by the earthquake.

Peruvian glacier; photo by sdpuckett (source: Flickr Creative Commons)

I didn’t know a tsunami could occur in a lake. I didn’t know a falling piece glacier could cause a tsunami either. But that’s just what happened in the Peruvian Andes when an ice block broke from the massive Hualcan glacier and plunged into a lake, creating a 23-meter tsunami. The resulting rush of water flooded several towns and resulted in at least one death.

The governor of the region that includes the area where the tsunami occurred blamed the disaster on climate change. He may have a point.

From a report in the Guardian:

It was the latest evidence that glaciers are vanishing from Peru, which has 70% of the world’s tropical icefields. They have retreated by 22% since 1975, according to a World Bank report, and warmer temperatures are expected to erase them entirely within 20 years.

Check out this video report on the glacier-tsunami incident in Peru from ITN:

Glacier triggers Andes tsunami

by Graham Land

—

Lead image by LizMarie (source: Flickr)

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons. By: Oliver Spalt.

This year, we’ve already seen earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, and volcano eruptions. Even with warning systems in place, people still fall victim to nature’s wrath. Perhaps they were unprepared or tried to play the hero. Most likely, they were misinformed or simply didn’t know what to do during such an event. I have compiled some basic information on what to do when severe weather or forces of nature are heading your way. Check it out:

Earthquake
As soon as you are aware that an earthquake may happen, turn off and unplug all appliances (or as many as you can) before it hits. This includes water, gas, and the stove. Keep away from windows, mirrors, hanging objects, fireplaces, and any heavy furniture or appliances. You will also want to take cover under a table or desk that is next to an inside wall. If there are no tables or desks, simply position yourself next to an interior wall (preferably near any structural strong points). Keep your head and neck covered and do not move until the quake is over.

If you find yourself in a vehicle during an earthquake, do not attempt to drive through or away from the earthquake. Stop the car and simply wait it out. Do not stop on a bridge, overpass, or underpass. Also, do not stop near any telephone poles or wires, signs, trees, large buildings, or anywhere that something could fall on top of your car.

For those of you who happen to be outside when an earthquake hits, look for a safe, open area away from buildings, trees, and anything that might fall on you. A field, hill, or wide open parks are good areas to start with. Do not try to hide under a bridge or seek shelter near a building, as these things could potentially crumble or collapse. Once you find a wide open space, stay there. Do not move unless you feel a sinkhole forming or are in direct danger from the quake itself.

If you live near a volcano, evacuate immediately. You will need to either get to higher ground or on a hillside opposite of the volcano. You can find more information on volcano procedures further down the article.

Image Source: Stock.Xchng. By: Katman1972.

Hurricane
To prepare your home for a hurricane, board and/or tape all the windows with plywood and alligator tape (do not use duct tape!). Bring all outside items indoors or make sure they are tied down and extremely secure if they cannot be moved otherwise. You can shelter yourself on the first floor of your home or even in the bathtub. Do not go outside during a hurricane. When all seems calm and quiet outside, beware—it may only be the eye of the storm passing by and then the hurricane will continue.

Sometimes, a hurricane may be so bad that it could destroy your home and everything inside it—including you. Unless told to evacuate, you will have to decide for yourself if you should stay in your home or try to head for safer ground.

Tornado
When a tornado warning is issued, head to shelter immediately—even if you don’t see a tornado yet. The best possible shelter is a specially designed underground tornado shelter or room. However, most people aren’t so fortunate to have these, but luckily there are other options.

If you are in a building with a basement, go to the basement immediately. Take cover under a heavy table if you can. Also, stay away from windows and protect yourself with some kind of cushion, such as a mattress or sleeping bag. Keep in mind where objects are on the floor above you (such as the stove, refrigerator or television)—you’ll want to avoid hiding directly under these objects, as they could fall through a damaged floor.

Image Source: Flickr. By: Rachel_R.

If you are in a vehicle or mobile home, get out and find proper shelter immediately. Tornados can easily pick up or destroy cars and trailers; so you will definitely not want to be in one if a tornado is heading your way. Do not take shelter under a bridge or overpass, as they can collapse or make perfect wind tunnels; and don’t hide in a ditch because they are vulnerable to flooding.

If you are outside or in a vehicle and nowhere near a shelter, find a stationary object and watch the path of the tornado. If it moves left, head to your right. If it moves right, head to your left. If it appears that it’s not moving at all, it may be coming straight for you. Regardless of which way it’s moving, you need to get out of its path. Find proper shelter and stay there until the storm passes.

Tsunami
Rule number one of surviving a tsunami is to head inland and away from the coast. Do not stay home. Do not go to the beach to take pictures. Do not hide at your friend’s house. The second thing you will want to do as you head inland is to make for higher ground. Head up hill, up a mountain, or (as a last resort) up a very strong and sturdy tree. If you are trapped and cannot head inland or up a tree, find the most solid and structurally sound building you can and get to the highest floor you can—even if it means going on top of the roof.

If you find yourself swept away by the tsunami, do not try to swim with it or against it. Your best bet is to find and grab onto something that floats—such as wood, a raft, or debris that may be in the water with you. Once you have made it to safer ground, do not head home or to the beach—or anywhere near the tsunami –until officials tell you it’s safe to do so.

Volcano
Unless you are told to evacuate (by radio, phone, or whatever means), the best possible thing to do during a volcano is stay inside a good, strong structure and keep all windows and doors closed.

However, if you do have to evacuate, head for higher ground. Since lava, mud flows and everything else that comes with a volcanic eruption flows downwards, your best bet is to make sure you are above all the flows until they pass. You can also expect debris, ranging from volcanic ash to red-hot rocks. Dodge the larger debris if you can, or shield yourself below the ridgeline of hills or behind the hill on the opposite side of the volcano. If you cannot dodge or shield yourself from the rocks: turn so you are facing away from the volcano, crouch down low and protect your head with your arms, a backpack, or anything nearby that will help.

To avoid inhaling any of the poisonous volcanic gases, you can breathe through a respirator, mask, or moist piece of cloth and get away from the volcano as quickly as possible. Those gases can kill you in less than a minute if you inhale too much of them.

Despite all of this information, there is one very important thing to remember: Nature is extremely unpredictable. Sometimes, things happen that no amount of survival training or preparations can ready you for. Sometimes, Nature is angrier than predicted or expected. And sometimes, events can happen without proper warning. The information in this article is for basic survival purposes only. Do not ignore help provided by local medical services or reports distributed by local news and weather stations.

For more information on what to do during these—and other—events, plus how to prepare for them, check out these links:

Geology.com – How to Survive an Earthquake
WonderHowTo.com – Survive Disaster
How to Survive a Hurricane
How to Survive a Hurricane (#2)
wikiHow – Disaster Preparedness
wikiHow – Weather Safety

By Heidi Marshall

Photo by Heinz Albers (source: Wikimedia Commons)

Tropical Cyclone Tomas hit Fiji’s northern islands Monday evening (local time) with winds of up to 275 km/h (170 mph) and heavy rain showers. Currently, there is no immediate report of extreme damage.

The Category 4 storm is supposed to be the heaviest cyclone to hit the islands in the past twenty years, and it’s the second-most destructive on a five-point scale. As it heads northeast, it is expected to reach its peak force during the night of Monday to Tuesday and sideswipe the main island, Viti Levu.

Predictions suggest that the cyclone will cause floods due to the heavy rains and tsunami-like waves at the shores of the island.

By Murielle Ungricht

Image Source: Flickr. By: Tula_7755

Yesterday, Chile was hit by an 8.8 earthquake—one of the worst ever recorded. Homes, highways and bridges were torn apart and at least 214 people have been found dead so far. To make matters worse, that isn’t even the full extent of the damage and the death toll will most likely rise. A 15-story building in Concepcion (Chile’s second largest city) collapsed. The nation’s capital, Santiago, saw damage to parking garages, hospitals and other buildings. The airport also had to be closed due to excessive damages.

That earthquake was only the beginning. To give a further idea of how big it was: People in Sao Paolo, Brazil—some 1,800 miles (2,900 km) to the east—felt the earthquake. And then, reports came of a great tsunami. All across news websites and TV stations, there has been (and still is) non-stop coverage on the quake and tsunami. Anticipated to hit Hawaii around 4 pm (EST), the first surge actually hit shortly after 5 pm. Residents were told to evacuate the islands as the governor declared a “state of emergency” situation. This is the first time in 16 years that Hawaiians have heard the sounds of those warning sirens.

Hawaii was only the first stopping point for the quake-triggered tsunami. Fortunately for Hawaii, it was also a very short stop and the tsunami warning was cancelled. However, those damaging waves made their way across the Pacific and also hit New Zealand and Asia. While no damage has yet been reported from New Zealand, residents were evacuated from the eastern coast. Those who have been keeping track of the surges also claim they are getting progressively bigger—currently they are at 2 m (6.5 feet). Asia, however, has been hit by the biggest waves thus far. French Polynesia and the Marquesas Islands were both hit by walls of water that were 13 feet (4 m) high. There have been some minor damages, but no casualties to speak of.

Then, there is the matter of flooding in Haiti. As if the devastating earthquake that happened last month wasn’t enough, 11 people have died so far from heavy flooding. More than 60 inches (1.5 m) of water were washed into Les Cayes—Haiti’s third most populated city. Hospitals, prisons, and homes were flooded. A number of those homes also collapsed. The casualties happened as people were trying to make their way to safer ground; 5 of which happened when the flood waters overturned their vehicles.

Add on to all of this the crazy winter weather we’ve been hit by this season and it can easily be said that someone has sure made Mother Nature angry. Oh, and we can’t forget the flooding that happened in Portugal, or the landslides in Indonesia and California. Has the weather gotten crazy enough yet for you skeptics to believe that something is seriously wrong with the planet; or does there have to be thousands of casualties added on to the increasing death tolls? If the weather keeps progressing like it has been in the past few months, I hope some people will start taking it as a serious wake-up call, because things will only get worse from here on out.

By Heidi Marshall

Image capture (source: ustream.tv Chile TV live coverage)

According to Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, at least 42 people were killed during the earthquake. Death toll however is still expected to rise.

The epicenter of the earthquake was just 100 kilometers outside of Concepcion, the second largest city in the country with half million inhabitants, and right off the coast of the Maule region. In Santiago, the capital of Chile, located 320 km from the epicenter, buildings have collapsed. Witnesses say the earthquake lasted three to four minutes. Meanwhile there are already many aftershocks recorded, some with strengths of 6.2 and 6.9 on the Richter scale.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has issued a tsunami warning, the highest level of a tsunami alert, for the entire coast of Chile and Peru. A tsunami watch is in effect for Ecuador, Colombia, Antarctica, Panama, Costa Rica, Antarctica, The Philippines and French Polynesia. Other countries, such as Hawaii, have been placed under a tsunami advisory.Basically the whole Pacific base is in a state of tsunami warning. Even the west coast of the United Stated has issues a tsunami advisory, especially in California, Coastal Alaska and Washington State. In Japan, on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, a tsunami alert has also been declared.

The earthquake happened at about the same place as the heaviest of the 20th century: the Great Chilean Earthquake or Valdivia-earthquake – the strongest earthquake ever to be recorded. That earthquake, which took place on May 22, 1960 in the province of Valdivia in Chile, had a magnitude of 9.5 on the Richter scale.

By Murielle Ungricht

Additional information:
BBC News Earthquake coverage
Live coverage on ustream.tv from Chile TV
World’s biggest earthquakes since 1900 (CNN.com)