Entries by Sarah Haughn

Information flow obstructed: Millions in flooded India lack safe drinking water

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PATNA, India – The current irony of eastern India is that while water is pouring from the sky, people are almost dying of thirst. Reuters reports that the Indian government has decided to investigate a possibly negligent response to the crisis, after pleas from victims of the monsoon-stricken areas. At least 3 million people have […]

IBWA testimony suggests bottled water is a way of life

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WASHINGTON – The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) recently testified before Congress, suggesting that bottled water is an indispensable component of the American lifestyle. President and CEO of IBWA, Joe Doss, spoke before the U.S. Senate, Environment and Public Works Committee, Subcommittee on Transportation Safety, Infrastructure Security and Water Quality’s hearing on the quality and […]

Everglades are one step closer to restoration, almost

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WEST PALM BEACH, Florida – The state of Florida is buying 300 acres of land in the Everglades from U.S. Sugar, but the process has slowed due to financing uncertainties. A project set for signing in November, the sugar swap is now reaching into 2009. The proposal grants Florida the land after seven years. The […]

CSRwire turns spotlight on Circle of Blue

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CSRwire’s new monthly series profiling selected member organizations has chosen Circle of Blue as its first feature. CSRwire, a news initiative committed to promoting corporate social responsibility, calls Circle of Blue’s reportage “accessible, relevant and personal.” “With a mainstream media that often lacks the resources and time for in-depth reporting, their value is immeasurable. Watching […]

FLOW: Documentary humanizes international water politics

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Described as water’s Inconvenient Truth, recently released documentary For the Love of Water (FLOW) takes important steps toward provoking public discussion around the crisis threatening one of humanity’s most critical resources. “The film questions the very nature of water and our relation to it,” says director Irena Salina. “It shows how local action can challenge […]

Wasting away: Effluent water bolsters urban agriculture, but poses serious health risks

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Farmers cope with water pollution in their efforts to feed millions by Sarah Haughn Circle of Blue Cities above and below the equator rely on the fruits of urban agriculture, literally. According to a new report, many farmers use human sewage to irrigate that agriculture. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) estimates that 800 million […]

Sewer Insolvency: Possible Alabama bankruptcy filing largest in history

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BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Jefferson, the state’s most populous county, is considering filing for bankruptcy to alleviate its $3.2 billion sewer debt. Governor Bob Riley is currently talking with creditors, AP reports. If Jefferson does file, it would “double the previous record for a municipal bankruptcy.” According to bankruptcy expert Jack F. Williams, when a county […]

Bronx water-filtration plant a fiscal sinkhole?

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NEW YORK – The completion date has been extended by six years for a project to construct a ten-story deep water-filtration plant in the Bronx. The project’s original budget of $660 million seems small change when compared to its current price tag of $2.8 billion. According to the AP, the plant’s slow going can be […]