The small coastal settlement of Waihi Beach experienced floods on Tuesday resulting from long rains recorded in the area. However, the residents and holidaymakers in the area blamed the flooding on inadequate drainage system for floods and the development of a new hilltop sub-division. According to Meteorological spokesperson, the nearby weather station recorded a high of 50ml of rain in duration of 24 hours. A holidaymaker at the beach reported that it was the fourth time he was experiencing flooding despite the fact that he had elevate his tent 20 cm above ground level.
A resident at the beach blamed the flooding on the development of the overlooking Maranui Estate subdivision. The resident explained that the area had vast farmland that drained a lot of water but since the development of the subdivisions, water collects in one area. According to Murray Craig, the chairperson for Waihi Beach Community, the hailstorms were not expected and that is the reason the area as worst hit. Craig confirmed to the residents that he was looking into reports submitted by the council on issues related to the four creeks of the beach. This week’s flooding was the worst even though firefighters were able to pump the waters into the ocean to avoid further damages. A fire official also reported that there is significant increase in the number of fire events. The flooding has affected the hospitality industry with some guest relocating to safer places as the creeks through the property run to capacity. The reports had it that even the fire station was affected by the floods, with water pouring through light fitting and walls.
Searing sun and drought shrivel corn in Midwest. New York Times. 5/7/12. Davey, Monica.
The wide stretch of the Midwest faces rising temperatures in addition to inadequate rainfall, which is now compromising of the production of corn in the nation. Reports have it that farmers in Missouri and some parts of Illinois have already lost hope on their farms. Officials have reported extreme drought conditions in some parts of the five corn-growing states including Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. The remaining states also experience such conditions to a relatively lower extent.
The drought will greatly affect the supply of corn into the market and out pressure on other commodities. Crop insurance agents on the other hand are also keen on the issue since they will be required to make compensation based on the losses. The authorities compare the intensity of the drought to the one experienced in 1988, when the production of corn shrunk significantly. According to a farmer in Illinois, the month of June experienced no rainfall resulting into drying of cornfields. The loss is even worse to farmers without insurance as the weather condition continues to prove less promising. The panic is on the rise as signaled by increasing corn prices on the Chicago Board of Trade.
Meteorological experts maintain that the outcome of the nation’s corn crop, the largest in the globe, remains oblivion until late summer. Even though this might provide hope, some important corn belts have been cleared by hottest and driest conditions in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Western Iowa. Some areas have benefited from irrigation, even though it is proving expensive due to the intensity of the drought. The adverse effects of weather have rendered corn unable to pollinate. However, soybeans found in the Midwestern region are more resilient and able to pollinate.
World’s urban waste mountain a ‘silent problem that is growing daily’. The Guardian.6/6/12. Tran, Mark.
According to a World Bank report, there is a steep increase in the amount of waste generated by urban dwellers within the last decade especially in the cities found in developing countries. The report provided the data for municipal solid waste management by country and region. The report revealed that China leads in growth of solid waste overtaking the US as the world’s leading waste generator in 2004. The most interesting part is that the growth rates correspond to increase in GDP and rate of urbanization. The report also estimates that the amount of municipal solid waste will double from the current 1.3 billion to 2.2 billion by 2025, thereby increasing the cost of solid waste management by more than 50% over the same period.
The report also brings in perspective the importance of the municipal in solid waste management since it provides the most important services to the cities. It is also worth noting that garbage collection and disposal is the biggest source of employment in developing nations. The authors of the report posses that integrated solid waste management plan is essential for a better future. This requires consultation with all the stakeholders affected in order to come up with a workable plan. The report concludes with emphasis on the challenges surrounding municipal solid waste management that requires redress in order to mitigate the problems of climate change.
