Jun 03 2011
In the Wake of Severe Tornadoes, How Communities Can Adapt to A Warm Planet
Two severe tornadoes in Western and Central Massachusetts this week killed 4 people, injured 200, and left 55,000 utility customers without power. Tornadoes in the New England state are relatively rare, and reflect the increased incidence of major storms this year. Senator John Kerry toured the devastated areas, assuring communities of federal aid. The Massachusetts storms came just a week …
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A Louisiana House Committee rejected a proposed bill that would have allowed same-sex couples to adopt children in that state. While there now exists majority national public support of gay marriage rights, gay adoption is still an issue that most Americans are still warming to. This was the second time the bill was rejected. Currently in …
The Consumer Finance Protection Bureau is set to begin regulating July 21st, but its purpose and de facto leader Elizabeth Warren are under attack. The CFPB was conceived by Warren and established under the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform legislation. Warren argues that consumers deserve at least as much protection from deceptive banking and lending practices as they do from purchasing …
In a deal brokered by Venezuela and Colombia, ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya returned to his country after a coup nearly two years ago this past Saturday. Zelaya signed an agreement on May 22nd with President Porfirio Lobo who was elected in November 2009, promising to pursue his agenda outside the electoral arena, in particular tackling issues of poverty and …
The killing of Osama bin Laden has sparked a wave of attacks in Pakistan, particularly on its border with Afghanistan. This week hundreds of “militants” reportedly crossed over the border from Afghanistan and clashed with Pakistani troops, leading to 70 people dead. Inside Pakistan, attacks by the Pakistani Taliban have also increased. Last Wednesday a suicide bomber drove a …
A Brazilian environmental agency yesterday gave final approval for the hotly contested Belo Monte hydroelectric dam project. Once completed, the Belo Monte dam will generate about 11% of Brazil’s current energy needs. It will be the world’s third largest dam at 3.75 miles long, and, if construction begins soon, will be completed in 2015. Belo Monte has been in …
