Entries by Kayla Ritter

The Stream, August 25: China Commits to Cutting Smog by 15 Percent

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The Global Rundown China pledges to cut air pollution in several northern cities by 15 percent each year. A Russian tanker sailed an Arctic sea route without an icebreaker for the first time. The main provider of water and sanitation services in Puerto Rico lost the ability to borrow money, putting the island’s water infrastructure […]

The Stream, August 24: High Levels of Arsenic Discovered in Pakistan Drinking Water

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The Global Rundown Millions in Pakistan may be exposed to water with unsafe levels of arsenic. Alaska’s permafrost is on the verge of thawing, which would release large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. Residents in Washington State take a stand against mining along the Green-Toutle River. Greenland’s Lake Catalina could release up to 9 […]

The Stream, August 23: River Pollution Turns Dogs Blue in Mumbai

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The Global Rundown A manufacturing company in Mumbai, India is accused of dumping untreated industrial waste and dyes into a river, which turned local dogs blue. More than 100 people are rescued in Kansas City, Missouri after ten inches of rain deluge the city. Tourism and development threaten the regrowth of Belize’s coral reefs. If […]

The Stream, August 22: Global HotSpots Edition

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The Global Rundown Researchers claim that a Saudi-led military coalition is responsible for Yemen’s cholera outbreak. Thousands of civilians flee Tal Afar, Iraq as the Iraqi government begins retaking the district from ISIL. The Red Cross prepares to fix the Tabqa dam near Raqqa, Syria, which was damaged by Islamic State militants. Violent incidents targeting […]

The Stream, August 21: South Asia Monsoon Floods Affect 16 Million

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The Global Rundown Aid workers struggle to reach millions affected by floods in South Asia. Floodwaters submerge Kaziranga National Park in Assam, India, killing more than 200 animals. Researchers warn that other African cities are at risk of landslides similar to the one in Sierra Leone. Climate change prompts farmers in northern India to experiment […]

The Stream, August 18: U.S. National Park Service Repeals Ban on Disposable Water Bottles

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The Global Rundown The United States National Park Service reverses its ban on plastic water bottles. Crops that produce a thick layer of leaf wax may be more resilient during droughts, a new study finds. As crops wither due to drought in Sri Lanka, young farmers leave the countryside in search of new job opportunities. […]

The Stream, August 17: Mudslide Devastates Sierra Leone

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The Global Rundown A mudslide in Freetown, Sierra Leone washes away at least 100 homes and claims the lives of over 400 people. Scientists predict that climate change will increase the frequency of harmful algal blooms in lakes and reservoirs around the United States. Flash floods damage U.S.-owned mining operations in Indonesia. A global rainfall […]

The Stream, August 16: Millions of Americans Exposed to Unsafe Drinking Water in Past Decade

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The Global Rundown The EPA estimates that 63 million United States citizens have been exposed to unsafe drinking water within the last decade. The UN Migration Agency and the Government of Japan launch a water purification facility in Sierra Leone. Torrential monsoon rains in South Asia leave more than 200 dead. A case study in […]

HotSpots H2O, August 15: UN Security Council Highlights Link Between Conflict and Famine

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The Global Rundown The UN Security Council called on the UN Secretary-General to provide early warning when a conflict could lead to famine. India and Pakistan move closer to resolving a dispute over the Indus Waters Treaty. Residents slowly return to Mosul, Iraq, despite the city’s destruction. Aid agencies prepare for post-election violence in Kenya, […]

The Stream, August 14: U.S. and Mexico Finalize Colorado River Water-Sharing Agreement

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The Global Rundown The United States and Mexico finalize a water-sharing deal for the Colorado River. Drought in Ethiopia jeopardizes the lives of pastoralists as millions of livestock die or fall ill. Alberta, Canada is facing its most severe water shortages since 2001. New research shows that cholera vaccines are effective for adults but provide […]

The Stream, August 11: Rising Sea Levels Pose Imminent Risk to Alaska Towns

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The Global Rundown Coastal towns in Alaska call for help as sea levels rise and federal funding falls. Climate change is shifting the timing of annual river floods throughout Europe. A fire cut off power to water pumps in deluged New Orleans, Louisiana raising concerns of further flooding. A study in Montreal, Quebec found that […]

The Stream, August 10: Incomplete Drought Recovery May Be New Global Norm

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The Global Rundown Rising rivers in Venezuela have forced hundreds from their homes. The United Kingdom braces for a month’s worth of rain in a single day. Incomplete drought recovery may be the new global norm, according to research by the Carnegie Institution for Science. The Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be “above average,” […]