The Stream, November 30: Rising Sea Levels Threaten Thousands of Historic Sites on U.S. East Coast
The Global Rundown
Hydropower projects in the Balkans increase by 300 percent, endangering rivers and wildlife. Rising sea levels along the U.S. East Coast threaten historic sites such as the White House and early colonial settlements. The Red Cross moves to provide fuel for pumping water and sanitation in desperate Yemeni cities. A tropical cycle kills more than a dozen people and floods thousands of homes on the Indonesian island of Java. TransCanada is ordered to run the Keystone pipeline at reduced pressure following a large oil spill in South Dakota earlier this month.
“They divert water through pipelines away from the river and leave behind empty channels where rivers had been. It is a catastrophe for local people and for the environment. For many species of fish and insects like dragonflies and stoneflies, it is the end.” –Ulrich Eichelmann, director of the RiverWatch NGO, in reference to the rising number of hydropower projects across the Balkans. Nearly 2,800 new dams have created, with a range of Slovenia to Greece, posing dangers to local ecosystems. The Guardian
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By The Numbers
750,000 liters Amount of diesel fuel that the International Committee of the Red Cross is buying to help provide the Yemeni cities of Hudaydah and Taiz with water for the next month. A total of nine cities in Yemen are now without clean water due to a blockade on fuel and other commercial imports. BBC
19 Latest death toll after a cyclone devastated the Indonesian island of Java on Tuesday. Several rivers overflowed, causing roads and thousands of homes to be submerged. Reuters
Science, Studies, And Reports
New research shows that more than 13,000 archaeological and historical sites along the U.S. east coast may be wiped out by the end of the century due to rising sea levels. Thousands more sites, including the White House and the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, may be forced to relocate in the years beyond. The Guardian
On The Radar
A U.S. pipeline regulator has ordered TransCanada to operate the Keystone pipeline at a 20 percent pressure reduction in the wake of a large spill in South Dakota two weeks ago. There is currently no timeline for when the pipeline, which began operating again on Tuesday, will return to full capacity. Reuters
In context: Water and climate safety, finance security, drive Keystone XL conflict.
Kayla Ritter is a recent graduate of Michigan State University, where she studied International Relations and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. She is currently based in Manton, Michigan. Kayla enjoys running, writing, and traveling. Contact Kayla Ritter
