The Stream, May 10: Water-Related Terrorism On the Rise, Analysis Finds

The Global Rundown

A new analysis finds that water-related terrorism rose by 263 percent from 1970 to 2016. U.S. President Donald Trump signs a disaster declaration for Oahu and Kauai, Hawaii, following devastating floods and landslides.  After drought stunted Argentina’s soy crops, heavy rains complicate harvesting. Flooding caused by seasonal rains has killed 132 people in Kenya since March. California expects to see below-average hydropower production this summer. Canadians build tiny homes as part of a protest against the Trans Mountain Expansion pipeline project.

“We feel like it’s a matter of life and death. We’ve depended on this land for tens of thousands of years. That’s the risk that we’re facing with the pipeline. And the uncertainty is whether our kids are going to be able to drink this water in 50 years.” –Kanahus Manuel, an activist who helped launch Tiny House Warriors, a group that plans to build tiny houses along the route of a proposed Canadian pipeline expansion. The homes are part of indigenous-led protests in British Columbia, where residents feel that the pipeline will upset the environment. The Guardian

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By The Numbers

132 Number of Kenyans who have died since March in flash floods caused by seasonal rains. Tap water service in the capital Nairobi has been inconsistent despite the rains, prompting the government to launch a task force examining why the city’s main dam has not filled up. The New York Times

5 to 15 percent Amount that Argentina’s soy yields could be cut due to heavy rains that are swamping fields. The county’s soy crop was already devastated by drought that lasted from November through March. Reuters

Science, Studies, And Reports

Using the Global Terrorism Database, a team of researchers from Florida International University discovered that water-related terrorism has risen by 263 percent from 1970 to 2016. The researchers identified 675 water-related incidents in 71 countries, and found that water infrastructure was the most common target of water-related terrorism. New Security Beat

California’s electric grid operator has released a report predicting below-average hydropower production in that state this summer due to diminished water supply. The water content of California’s mountain snowpack was only 51 percent of average as of April 2. Reuters

On The Radar

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a disaster declaration for Kauai and Oahu, two Hawaiian island that sustained heavy damage from landslides, mudslides, and floods in April. The declaration will allow the state to fund emergency work and repairs to public facilities damaged by the disaster. Honolulu Star Advertiser

Kayla Ritter

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