What’s New July 2009

This page lists changes to this site for July 2009.

See below for other updates and to get notified of changes to the site.

Ocean acidification is a potentially large problem directly related to climate change resulting from ocean waters reacting with more carbon dioxide. Amongst other things, it seems to negatively affect certain plankton that help in absorbing carbon dioxide. Some of the affected sea creatures are also crucial to the food chain, so the implications could be big. Some further information, including a couple of short videos, have been added to explain this.

AIDS in Africa is said to be killing more people than conflicts. It causes social disruption as children become orphaned. It affects already-struggling economies as workforces are reduced. As an enormous continent, various regions are seeing different results as they attempt to tackle the problem. Numerous local, regional and global initiatives are slowly helping, despite significant obstacles (such as poverty, local social and cultural norms/taboos, concerns from drug companies about providing affordable medicines, and limited health resources of many countries that are now also caught up in the global financial crisis). This update includes a couple of videos on different aspects off this issue as well as some further background information on how the issue is being addressed and what problems are being faced.

A handful of fruit companies dominate the global banana trade. Combined with supermarkets on the consumer side, both end up squeezing workers who are often exploited or work under terrible conditions. Fair trade offers promise of some relief, but an entire region such as the Caribbean has had an almost unhealthy reliance and dependency on banana exports. This update provides some additional background information and links.

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