Earth Changes
"The WWF is formally calling for a moratorium on new oil and gas development in the Arctic," Neil Hamilton, director of the group's Arctic programme, said at a conference in northern Norway on environmental challenges in the polar region.
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©Unknown |
From a region northwest of Dubrovnik, the new fault runs northwest at least 200 km (124 miles) under the sea floor.
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©Richard A. Bennett |
This old fortress in Dubrovnik sits on top of an Eocene thrust fault which is visible in the photo. The newly discovered active thrust fault lies not far offshore. |
The planet is getting skinned.
While many worry about the potential consequences of atmospheric warming, a few experts are trying to call attention to another global crisis quietly taking place under our feet.
Call it the thin brown line. Dirt. On average, the planet is covered with little more than 3 feet of topsoil -- the shallow skin of nutrient-rich matter that sustains most of our food and appears to play a critical role in supporting life on Earth.
The latest figure from Afghanistan's National Disaster Management Authority is triple that issued by the agency five days ago.
The hardest-hit areas have been in the western province of Herat and its neighbouring provinces of Farah, Badghis and Nimroz -- all remote and mountainous regions near the Iranian border, the authority said.
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©Unknown |
Eleven people were killed and 51 injured when an overloaded bus rolled off an icy road in eastern Anhui province late Sunday near Mingguang city, Xinhua news agency said.
It said the passengers were mostly migrant workers returning home to celebrate the Spring Festival on February 7, China's most important holiday.
The driver of the bus has been arrested for carrying 72 passengers, 21 more than allowed, it said.
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©Unknown |