Indonesia's devastating earthquake-tsunami combo last week has left 70,000 people homeless in the city of Palu, CBS News reported Thursday.
The death toll has climbed to more than 1,420 people since Friday, when the 7.5 magnitude earthquake and the 18-foot tsunami it triggered struck the island of Sulawesi.
<p>
Amid the widespread ruin, survivors are struggling with no power, as well as dwindling food and drinking water supplies. But the Indonesian military arrived Thursday with supplies and to aid with recovery efforts, CBS News said.
</p><p>
Search and rescue efforts to recover dead bodies and survivors are ongoing. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies <a href="https://www.efe.com/efe/english/portada/red-cross-needs-22-37-million-to-help-quake-hit-indonesia/50000260-3767168" target="_blank">said Monday</a> it is appealing for $22 million to help Indonesia.
</p><p>
<span></span>Roughly 20 countries have offered help, with aid from the UK and Australia arriving Thursday, according to <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/indonesia-earthquake-tsunami-latest-updates-181003060041729.html" target="_blank">Al Jazeera</a>.
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="d73c9" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="LEP4GE1576663058"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1047857933009211392" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Today the joint search and rescue continues in #Sulawesi. @palangmerah teams are recovering dead bodies - here a nu… https://t.co/iVfL13CNZB</div> — IFRC Intl. Federation #RedCross #RedCrescent (@IFRC Intl. Federation #RedCross #RedCrescent)<a href="https://twitter.com/ifrc/statuses/1047857933009211392">1538663774.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>
The disasters were particularly dangerous due "a combination of plate tectonic in the region, the shape of the coastline, vulnerable communities and a less-than-robust early warning system," geologist Anja Scheffers of Southern Cross University explained in <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-indonesias-tsunamis-are-so-deadly-104158" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.
</p><p>
In Petobo, a village of roughly 500 people, the massive earthquake "turned the ground to quicksand and literally swallowed the village," NBC's Janis Mackey Frayer <a href="https://twitter.com/TODAYshow/status/1047820439827992578" target="_blank">reported</a>.
</p><p>
This phenomenon, called "liquefaction," is when soil loses strength and stiffness in response to an earthquake, thus losing its ability to support homes and other structures.
</p><p>
The sheer force of the temblor literally shifted the landscape.
</p><p>
"I was swept away, holding onto a palm tree. When it finally stopped, I found myself 3 kilometers away in the next village," a survivor told <a href="https://twitter.com/GMA/status/1047808243223805954" target="_blank">ABC</a>.
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="45b46" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="GD98JS1576663058"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1047820439827992578" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">[email protected] reports from Indonesia, where the death toll is approaching 1,500 after a devastating earthquake https://t.co/3crqgflOfp</div> — TODAY (@TODAY)<a href="https://twitter.com/TODAYshow/statuses/1047820439827992578">1538654835.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>
The island was hit by another natural disaster on Wednesday, when Mount Soputan erupted and spewed ash 19,700 feet in the sky and prompted evacuation orders for those living nearby the volcano, the
<a href="https://apnews.com/a277ea8d5aef4b058ea7a582f7982b89" target="_blank">Associated Press</a> reported.
</p><p>
A government volcanologist said the eruption might have been triggered by Friday's earthquake but the link is not conclusive.
</p><p>
"It could be that this earthquake triggered the eruption, but the direct correlation has yet to be seen," Kasbani, the head of Indonesia's Vulcanology and Geology Disaster Mitigation agency, told online news portal Tempo (via the
<a href="https://apnews.com/a277ea8d5aef4b058ea7a582f7982b89" target="_blank">Associated Press</a>).
</p><p>
Indonesia is located on the so-called "Ring of Fire" region of the Pacific and regularly experiences seismic and volcanic activity.
</p>
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More than 600 homes have been destroyed by lava flows from Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii since erupting more than a month ago, Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim told Reuters.
<p style="">
Kim said that Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, has never destroyed so many homes before in such a short period of time. The mayor's seaside home in Vacationland was one of the many residences consumed by lava.
</p><p style="">The ongoing damage caused by the volcanic activity has vastly exceeded the 215 structures ravaged by lava during all 35 years of Kilauea's last eruption cycle that began in 1983.
</p><p style="">
Geologist Scott Rowland, a volcano specialist from the University of Hawaii at Manoa, told Reuters that Kilauea's current eruption is the most destructive in the U.S. since the eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington state in 1980.
</p><p style="">
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
<a href="https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/status.html" target="_blank">warned</a> Friday that "vigorous eruption of lava continues from the lower East Rift Zone fissure system."
</p><p style="">
USGS tweeted that the volcano has spewed at least 45,400 Olympic-sized pools of lava since May 3, or enough to cover Manhattan Island 6.5 ft deep and fill 11.3 million average dump trucks.
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed" style="">
</p><div id="605af" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="YIBZYV1576662871"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1004817496149352448" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">How much #KilaueaEruption #lava since May 3?
113,500,000 cubic meters (4,008,200,000 cubic feet)
OR enough to:
fill… https://t.co/tjnIdWpHdb</div> — USGS Volcanoes🌋 (@USGS Volcanoes🌋)<a href="https://twitter.com/USGSVolcanoes/statuses/1004817496149352448">1528402134.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p style="">
On Thursday, Gov. David Ige and Mayor Kim signed a <a href="http://records.hawaiicounty.gov/Weblink/1/doc/93626/Page1.aspx" target="_blank">Letter of Agreement</a> releasing $12 million to support the county's response to the active volcanic eruption.
</p><p style="">
<span></span>"This is an ongoing emergency and we're in the early stages of damage assessment, but we do know that costs for overtime, equipment and materials are mounting. Police, fire, public works and civil defense employees have been working overtime, and some of the equipment and materials needed to keep evacuation routes open and safe have been costly," said Gov. Ige in a statement. "This funding will help the county continue to protect the health, safety and welfare of area residents."
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image" style="">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xNzk5NTIxNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MzMzMTg5M30.CRV5XuGT-SGRRSLFMUgiQhHocZqFVo8E8M2B04MYvDE/img.jpg?width=980" id="14bb4" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="bffaf0d8eb03d711b11230ef0da72556" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="add caption...">Governor Ige (left) releases $12 million to County of Hawaiʻi for disaster response</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit..."><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/govhawaii/" target="_blank" title="Go to Governor David Y. Ige's photostream">Governor David Y. Ige</a> / Flickr / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0</small>
</p><p style="">
Kim expressed appreciation for the assistance.
</p><p style="">
"We have had tremendous support from the governor and his departments from the get-go. This is helping us focus on the critical tasks of making life better for our people affected by the eruption," he said.
</p><p style="">
The funding could be used for emergency supplies and temporary shelter-related goods and services, but is not intended for long-term infrastructure repairs or for private purposes such as the repair or rebuilding of private dwellings.
</p><p style="">
"Today's agreement provides initial financial support, and I am committed to providing additional assistance to the County of Hawai'i as new needs and specific projects are identified," Ige noted.
</p>
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Like many other plant-based foods and products, CBD oil is one dietary supplement where "organic" labels are very important to consumers. However, there are little to no regulations within the hemp industry when it comes to deeming a product as organic, which makes it increasingly difficult for shoppers to find the best CBD oil products available on the market.
<p>Here you can learn about the importance of organic hemp oil, why it's better for the environment, and which CBD companies actually make trustworthy products with sustainable farming processes. origins which weigh heavily on many consumers who want to buy a product that's produced in the best way possible for not only themselves to ingest, but for the environment as well through sustainable farming methods. </p><h2>What Is CBD Oil?</h2><p>First things first, CBD stands for cannabidiol, and it's a cannabinoid found within cannabis sativa plants. This plant compound is believed to have many potential benefits, and it is primarily derived from hemp plants via a CO2 extraction process. </p><p>Since CBD is extracted from industrial hemp, which contains only trace amounts of THC (the psychoactive component in cannabis plants), this means that CBD won't make you feel high like marijuana, which has much higher levels of THC that causes psychoactive effects. Instead, the effects of CBD are much more subtle and promote a general sense of calm and relaxation in most users.</p><h2>What Makes a CBD Oil Organic?</h2><p>In terms of organic labels, perhaps the most important (and prominent) certification comes from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This government organization has been labeling foods as "organic" for many years, but what exactly does this certification entail? Essentially, a label indicating that a product is "USDA Organic" or "Certified Organic" means that at least 95% of the ingredients are obtained from organic sources.</p><p>For a crop to be considered organic by the USDA, it must be grown without the use of industrial solvents, irradiation, genetic engineering (GMOs), synthetic pesticides, or chemical fertilizer. Instead, farmers rely on natural substances and <a href="https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2012/03/22/organic-101-what-usda-organic-label-means" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">mechanical, physical, or biologically based farming</a> techniques to cultivate healthy and organic crops.</p><p>Before the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, no hemp-derived products could be dubbed as "certified organic" since the hemp plant and its extracts were still categorized as a Schedule I Controlled Substance. However, it's still difficult for CBD companies to obtain a USDA certified organic label for their products due to the legal grey area that still surrounds CBD extracts. </p><p>Because of these challenges, and due to the fact that industrial hemp has only recently become an agricultural crop, very few CBD oils are USDA certified organic. Rather, many CBD products contain hemp extracts from plants that were grown in organic conditions but may not be federally certified.</p><h2>What are the Best Organic CBD Oil Brands?</h2><p><em>Each product featured here has been independently selected by the writer. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.</em></p><em><br></em>
<h2>Why Organic Hemp Oil Matters</h2><p>Hemp is a unique plant, not only for its rich cannabinoid content, but also for its ability to absorb a wide variety of components in soil. But this trait poses great risks when it comes to the creation of CBD products derived from hemp.</p><p>Because hemp has a high capacity for compound uptake, this means that the plants can retain <a href="https://www.remedyreview.com/industry/lab-test-results/" target="_blank">harmful chemicals like pesticides</a>, heavy metals, and other residual solvents. This is especially true when it comes to synthetic chemicals that are more toxic to humans, and difficult to remove once they have been absorbed by the hemp plant.</p><p>Organic farming practices help reduce the risk of hemp crops absorbing harsh chemicals that may later end up in CBD oil after extraction. When you're taking CBD as a wellness supplement to help alleviate your symptoms or improve your overall well-being, the last thing you want is to ingest compounds that might negatively outweigh the benefits of CBD. This is an important reason to look for third party lab test results when shopping for CBD products since these certificates of analysis can show the full cannabinoid and terpene profile of a hemp extract, as well as test results that search for the presence of any residual solvents.</p><p>In addition to creating a better end product, organic farming practices are also better for the environment. Sustainable and organic farming methods may <a href="https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/organic-foods.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">reduce pollution, conserve water, reduce soil erosion, increase soil fertility, and use less energy</a>. The use of natural pest deterrents as opposed to chemical pesticides is also better for nearby animal populations and ecosystems.</p><h3>Organic vs. Natural</h3><p>While there are only a select few companies offering certified organic ingredients in their products, almost every brand in the CBD market creates "natural" products. The term "all-natural" or "plant-based" does not mean that a product is organic, and since hemp oil is a natural derivative of hemp plants, these products are often referred to as all-natural. However, there are some synthetic CBD oils that should be avoided because they are chemically constructed and may produce unwanted side effects that are not caused by naturally derived CBD extracts.</p><h2>What are the Benefits of Organic CBD Oil?</h2><p>There's a long list of potential CBD oil health benefits, and some of the most common wellness advantages include:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2503660/" target="_blank">Chronic pain relief</a></li><li><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4604171/" target="_blank">Anti-anxiety effects</a></li><li>Better sleep</li><li><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/inner-source/201901/cbd-oil-mental-health-should-you-take-it-too" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Improvements in mood</a></li><li>Internal balance and regulation</li></ul><p>When dealing with pain, inflammation, sleep issues, and mental health struggles, it can be hard to find sufficient treatment options. The use of certain prescriptions can cause unwanted side effects, yet they are often the only solution for patients with these medical conditions. In search of other therapies, people have started to flock towards CBD oil as an alternative remedy for a variety of conditions. However, it should be noted that CBD products are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and you should seek your doctor's advice before using CBD if you have a serious medical condition.</p><h2>Look at the Labels Before You Buy CBD Oil</h2><p>When you go online to buy CBD oil, you'll quickly realize there is an overwhelming number of brands that are saturating the market. It can be difficult to determine which products are truly as good as they make themselves out to be. Always look for up-to-date third-party lab tests so you know you are getting a great product, and don't hesitate to contact the brand if you have any additional questions. And if you're intent on purchasing 100% organic CBD oil, it's best to look for certified products or brands that are held to strict regulatory standards.</p><p><strong>Melena Gurganus </strong>is the Reviews Editor at EcoWatch. She is passionate health and wellness and her writing aims to help others find products they can trust. Her work has been featured in publications such as Health, Shape, Huffington Post, Cannabis Business Times, and Bustle.<br></p>
Spruce
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY4NjI3OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyOTM2NzgzOX0.axY0HjeqRctJsR_KmDLctzDpUBLBN-oNIdqaXDb4caQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="774be" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8379f35b1ca8a86d0e61b7d4bfc8b46e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="spruce organic cbd oil" data-width="710" data-height="959" /><p>As one of the best brands in the business, Spruce CBD is well-known for its potent CBD oils that feature many additional beneficial phytocannabinoids. This brand works with two family-owned, sustainably focused farms in the USA (one located in Kentucky and one in North Carolina) to create its organic, small product batches. The max potency Spruce CBD oil contains 2400mg of full-spectrum CBD extract, but the brand also offers a lower strength tincture with 750mg of CBD in total.</p>
$89
CBDistillery
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDcwMjkzNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMTU4OTM4Nn0.ypRdeDSBcE87slYrFfVrRwtJ2qGIK6FD5jBB4pndTMo/img.jpg?width=980" id="b473b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9930b53c9d58cb49774640a61c3e3e75" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="cbdistillery cbd oil" data-width="1244" data-height="1244" /><p>All of the products from CBDistillery are <a href="https://ushempauthority.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">U.S. Hemp Authority Certified</a>, and for good reason. The company only uses non-GMO and pesticide-free industrial hemp that's grown organically on Colorado farms. Its hemp oils are some of the most affordable CBD products on the market, yet they still maintain a high standard of quality. CBDistillery has a wide variety of CBD potencies across its product line (ranging from 500mg to 5000mg per bottle) and offers both full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD oils to give customers a completely thc-free option.</p>
$35
FAB CBD
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY4NjIyNS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2NDIwOTEyMn0.MlTjz096FJ0ev_-soK7_Z-FeQeJczWoeh9Qi9SSkHsY/img.jpg?width=980" id="04b26" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="76aa4862f44603242e318982acea6646" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="fab cbd oil" data-width="800" data-height="800" /><p>For an organic CBD oil that has it all, FAB CBD offers plenty of variety for any type of consumer. All of its products are made with zero pesticides and extracted from organically grown Colorado industrial hemp. FAB CBD oil comes in five all-natural flavors (mint, vanilla, berry, citrus, and natural) and is also available in four strengths (300, 600, 1200, and 2400mg per bottle).</p>
$39
NuLeaf Naturals
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDY4NjIxOS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NzExNTgyMX0.D6qMGYllKTsVhEkQ-L_GzpDHVu60a-tJKcio7M1Ssmc/img.jpg?width=980" id="94e4a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3609a52479675730893a45a82a03c71d" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="nuleaf naturals organic cbd oil" data-width="600" data-height="600" /><p>As an industry-leading brand, it comes as no surprise that NuLeaf Naturals sources its CBD extract from organic hemp plants grown on licensed farms in Colorado. The comany's CBD oils only contain two ingredients: USDA certified organic hemp seed oil and full spectrum hemp extract.</p><p>NuLeaf Naturals uses one proprietary CBD oil formula for all of its products, so you will get the same CBD potency in each tincture (60mg per mL), but can purchase different bottle sizes depending on how much you intend to use.</p>
$38.50
Charlotte's Web
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDcwMjk3NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MzQ0NjM4N30.SaQ85SK10-MWjN3PwHo2RqpiUBdjhD0IRnHKTqKaU7Q/img.jpg?width=980" id="84700" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a2174067dcc0c4094be25b3472ce08c8" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="charlottes web cbd oil" data-width="1244" data-height="1244" /><p>Perhaps one of the most well-known brands in the CBD landscape, Charlotte's Web has been growing sustainable hemp plants for several years. The company is currently in the process of achieving official USDA Organic Certification, but it already practices organic and sustainable cultivation techniques to enhance the overall health of the soil and the hemp plants themselves, which creates some of the highest quality CBD extracts. Charlotte's Web offers CBD oils in a range of different concentration options, and some even come in a few flavor options such as chocolate mint, orange blossom, and lemon twist.</p>
$60
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By Zachary Toliver
Sometimes humans forget that animals have feelings, too, and cause them to suffer. Just consider some Florida beachgoers who were filmed taking photos of and selfies with an injured hammerhead shark, who an expert says most likely died after the incident.
<p>On a beach near West Palm Beach, Florida, a group of people pulled a <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/sharks">shark</a> out of the water in an attempt to remove a fish hook from a fin. This was their first mistake, as sharks, and especially their gills, should always be kept in the water. But the incident wasn't over yet.</p><p>Not understanding sharks' needs or not considering this one's well-being, the crowd unfortunately turned the event into a photo op. Shark activist and educator Leigh Cobb, who filmed the incident, is heard in her video screaming at the people to put the animal back in the water. Eventually, they did push the shark back into the <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/oceans">ocean</a> but not before likely doing some deadly damage.</p><p>"[Great hammerhead sharks] don't survive after being taken out of the water," Cobb <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/hammerhead-shark-dragged-shore-beachgoers-die-expert/story?id=53019844">told ABC News</a>. She noted that high stress levels (which could result from having a crowd of people tugging at the shark) can cause an irreversible lactic acid buildup—which often leads to death.</p><p>"[That shark] will die within two weeks," she said. "Absolutely no doubt about it."</p><p>Given that hammerheads rarely come this close to shore, it's suspected that the shark was lured in with fish blood—known as "chumming." Because of human activities like <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/overfishing">overfishing</a> and the <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/shark-fins">shark fin</a> soup industry, hammerhead sharks are an <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/endangered-species">endangered species</a>. The last thing they need is the stress of being used in selfies.</p><p>The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is aware of the video and has asked for any information about the incident.</p><p><strong>Animals Are Not Ours to Use as Props!</strong></p><p>If there's any chance that your photo is going to hurt a living being, it's not worth taking it. Yet time and time again, we've seen animals routinely injured, exploited, and killed because of human vanity. <a href="https://www.peta.org/blog/selfie-obsessed-crowd-beats-sea-turtle-pulled-ocean/" target="_blank">Turtles have been beaten by crowds</a>, <a href="https://www.peta.org/blog/shark-killed-for-selfies-hard-rock-hotel/" target="_blank">sharks have been dragged from the ocean to die</a>, and <a href="https://www.peta.org/blog/baby-tigers-social-media-photos-stolen-mothers/" target="_blank">baby tigers are torn away from their mothers</a>—just so that people can take photos with them.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="b5145" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="O4UUJY1576662323"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="747803004477202433" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Animals are not selfie props. Sea turtle recovering after beaten by selfie-taking tourists. https://t.co/qdF3YzJL5W https://t.co/cbx7inpalK</div> — PETA (@PETA)<a href="https://twitter.com/peta/statuses/747803004477202433">1467125104.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>All these victims were thinking, feeling individuals who, just as we would be, were terrified when intruders pulled them from their homes and physically abused them—sometimes to death.<br></p><p><strong>What You Can Do</strong></p><p>Help us stop this <a href="https://www.peta.org/blog/dear-everyone-animals-are-not-selfie-props/" target="_blank">trend of deadly ignorance</a> by sharing this story with your friends, family and social media followers. Let them know that animals' lives are worth so much more than Instagram likes or heart reactions.</p><p>Remember, if you see something, say something. If you ever witness someone endanger or mistreat an animal, call the police immediately. If the authorities don't respond, <a href="https://www.peta.org/issues/companion-animal-issues/companion-animals-factsheets/spot-animal-abuse/" target="_blank">contact PETA</a> for help.</p>
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On Tuesday, a trial over Minnesota's $5 billion lawsuit against manufacturer 3M Company—the biggest environmental lawsuit in state history—was set to begin with jury selection.
But on that very same day, the Maplewood-based manufacturer agreed to an $850 million settlement, finally putting an end to eight years of litigation over the water pollution case.
<p>
The lawsuit was originally filed by Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson back in 2010, claiming 3M contaminated the state's water supply from 1950 until the early 2000s by dumping millions of pounds of waste into the ground and the Mississippi River from the production of <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/ewg-pfcs-drinking-water-2436908585.html" target="_blank">perfluorochemicals</a>, or PFCs, that the company used in its lines of nonstick products such as Scotchgard. </p><p>The manufacturing conglomerate "knew or should have known" the toxic <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/chemicals">chemicals</a> posed a risk to <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/drinking-water">drinking water</a>, harmed wildlife and human health long before stopping its production in 2002, officials said.</p><p>The Minnesota Department of Health <a href="http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/hazardous/topics/pfcshealth.html" target="_blank">says</a> higher levels of PFCs in a person's body are associated with higher cholesterol, changes to liver function, reduced immune response, thyroid disease, and kidney and testicular cancer.</p><p>Under the settlement, 3M will provide an $850 million grant aimed at improving "water quality and sustainability." <br></p><p>The money will be paid for projects that safeguard drinking water in the East Metro. </p><p>"This money is dedicated to fixing the problem," Swanson <a href="https://www.twincities.com/2018/02/20/minnesota-3m-reach-settlement-ending-5-billion-lawsuit/" target="_blank">said</a> at a news conference in Minneapolis. "This was hard-fought litigation."</p><p>The company denies any wrong-doing and insists it disposed the chemicals legally at the time. The settlement does not require an admission of liability. </p><p>"We are proud of our record of environmental stewardship, and while we do not believe there is a PFC-related public health issue, 3M will work with the state on these important projects," John Banovetz, 3M's chief technology officer, said in a statement to the <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/3m-agrees-to-pay-850-million-to-settle-minnesota-water-contamination-lawsuit-1519167944?mod=e2tw" target="_blank">Wall Street Journal</a>. </p><p>As <a href="https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/02/19/focus-on-minnesota-3m-as-longawaited-water-pollution-trial-to-begin" target="_blank">Minnesota Public Radio</a> reported, many Minnesotans and folks around the U.S. were eagerly awaiting the trial to begin, as it could have "set a precedent as 3M faces at least two dozen lawsuits related to PFCs around the country." <br></p><p>News of the agreement was celebrated by <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/erin-brockovich">Erin Brockovich</a>, famed environmental activist and fighter for clean water. </p><p>"This pathetic polluter knew the evidence against them was damning ... and they settled!" she wrote on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ErinBrockovichOfficial/posts/10160047398315494" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. "There isn't enough money in the world to compensate for the lives they have damaged ... or the costs consumers face nationwide to clean up their pollution. 3M fought for almost a decade ... spending hundreds of millions on lawyers to dodge their way around the law ... but today became their day of reckoning!"</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="75a02" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="DANEP11576661713"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="747608011192025088" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Lawsuit Filed Against 3M for Dumping Toxic Chemicals Into the Tennessee River https://t.co/o8yLHwjXLN @americanrivers @rivernetwork</div> — EcoWatch (@EcoWatch)<a href="https://twitter.com/EcoWatch/statuses/747608011192025088">1467078614.0</a></blockquote></div>
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As six large wildfires and several smaller fires burn across Southern California, firefighters, first responders and everyday Americans are stepping up—and risking their lives—to rescue fellow citizens, homes, buildings and animals from the blazes.
About 5,700 firefighters are battling the region's brushfires around the clock in intense heat and grueling conditions.
<p>
Some come from nearby states, such as Genesee Dennis from the Seaside Fire Department in Oregon who is putting out the Creek Fire with colleagues.
</p><p>
"We just do it. And us going through a 24-hour shift is nothing compared to folks losing their homes," Dennis told CBSLA.
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="4f56b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="NM5SMP1576662338"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="938955033357574144" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Take a moment to give some thought and thanks to firefighters who are out there every day keeping people safe. Some… https://t.co/kF0cWimsLH</div> — FOX 32 News (@FOX 32 News)<a href="https://twitter.com/fox32news/statuses/938955033357574144">1512699299.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p style="">
The Los Angeles Police Department touted that their motto "To Protect and Serve" applies in many ways. The department posted an image of an officer in a respirator carrying a cat as smoke billowed from behind.
</p><p style="">
"For some it might just be a cat," the tweet said. "But to others it's a friend, a loved one, a companion."
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="f1f31" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="LATBDA1576662338"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="938574653085302785" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">For some it might just be a cat. But to others it’s a friend, a loved one, a companion. The #LAPD has a motto, “To… https://t.co/VFbusBfRM8</div> — LAPD HQ (@LAPD HQ)<a href="https://twitter.com/LAPDHQ/statuses/938574653085302785">1512608609.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>
Other Californians have braved harrowing conditions to save animals. In the video seen above, a man steps into the scorching Ventura County highway to rescue a wild rabbit.
</p><p>
The clip has since gone viral with many on social media calling the man a hero.
</p><p>
"If you need your faith in humanity restored just watch this video of a man saving a wild bunny from the #LAFires," one person
<a href="https://twitter.com/robbystarbuck/status/938673314876100608" target="_blank">tweeted</a>.
</p><p>
Several locals also banded together to save a horse trapped in a ditch as fires raged in Sylmar, California.
</p><p>
"A veterinarian tranquilized the horse, others began moving furniture out of a garage and LA County fire freed up a small crew to help with the rescue," Gina Silva, a reporter with Fox 11, wrote on
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BcVZT4JjMb4/?taken-by=ginasilvaworld" target="_blank">Instagram</a>.
</p><p>
"They all tore down the wall to free the animal. The horse was then immediately transported to a nearby animal hospital."
</p><div id="82634" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="46GO7U1576662339"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0;
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BcVZT4JjMb4/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif;
font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;
word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">Gina Silva on Instagram: “Horse Rescue. Early this morning we came across this horse that got stuck in a small crevice as it was running away from the #CreekFire in…”</a></p>
</div></blockquote></div><p>
In Ventura County, a group of five friends used garden hoses to beat back flames at homes owned by people they've never met.
</p><p>
"For us, this is our community," John Bain, one of the group members, told the
<a href="http://beta.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-socal-fire-friends-save-homes-20171207-story.html" target="_blank">Los Angeles Times</a>. "I consider this our home. When something like this happens … you can sit around for things to get better or you can try to go out there and do something."
</p><p>
<span></span>Evacuation centers and animal shelters are housing people and pets displaced by the fires. <a href="http://beta.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-southern-california-wildfires-live-l-a-unified-offering-free-meals-friday-1512696896-htmlstory.html" target="_blank">The Times</a> reported that Los Angeles Unified school officials have opened centers where students affected by wildfires can pick up free meals.
</p><p style="">
It's clear that in times like these, when Mother Nature is at her worst, humanity can be at its best.</p>
<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="f5447" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="MKVK0Q1576662339"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="937996998816309249" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">5 friends from Camarillo banded together and went to Ventura to do what they can: help try stop homes from catching… https://t.co/h8LliLevIk</div> — Marcus Yam 火 (@Marcus Yam 火)<a href="https://twitter.com/yamphoto/statuses/937996998816309249">1512470886.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p>
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NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik's view of the fires from the International Space Station. Randy Bresnik / Twitter
California is reeling from an especially bad year of wildfires, from the wine country fires in the North during October to the out-of-control flames currently raging across the South.
In fact, the Golden State has been experiencing a higher frequency of intense wildfires in recent years, with 13 of the largest 20 wildfires in state history breaking out since 2000.
<p>
"Our, if you want to call it, seasons have been elongated by upwards of 40-50 days over the last 50 years and continues to do so," Cal Fire Deputy Chief Scott McLean told <a href="http://abc7news.com/calfire-wildfire-season-elongated-by-upwards-of-40-50-days/2743755/" target="_blank">ABC7 News</a> this week. "We had the five years of drought. A lot of trees died, over 102 million trees died."
</p><p style="">
So does the SoCal blaze have anything to do with <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change">climate change</a>?
</p><p style="">
Experts say that a mix of conditions is stoking the flames, but a direct link to global warming is still unclear.
</p><p>
However, you can definitely blame the fast-moving blazes on unusually forceful Santa Ana winds, with gusts that have blown between 50 to 80 miles per hour. A color-coded system showing the strength of the winds was "purple" or "extreme" on Thursday—that's completely uncharted territory.
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="3bd5e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="AJS5ZC1576662340"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="938911554795274240" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Today’s pass over SoCal unfortunately doesn’t look any better. The fires east of Camp Pendleton and in Baja are vi… https://t.co/14FNPAD8oj</div> — Randy Bresnik (@Randy Bresnik)<a href="https://twitter.com/AstroKomrade/statuses/938911554795274240">1512688933.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>
John Abatzoglou, an associate professor of geography and climate at the University of Idaho, told <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/12/what-climate-change-did-and-didnt-have-to-do-with-the-socal-fires/547712/" target="_blank">The Atlantic</a> that the Santa Ana winds are becoming more prevalent or moving later in the year. The Santa Ana winds commonly occur in Southern California between October and March.
</p><p>Climate change's effect on the Santa Ana winds is uncertain, but a <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2006GL025808/full" target="_blank">2006 study</a> in the journal Geophysical Research Letters "suggested that warming could shift the winds' season leading to larger areas burned by fires," as <a href="http://time.com/5054060/southern-california-fires-cause/" target="_blank">TIME</a> wrote. <span></span></p><p>
Another unusual condition occurring in the region is the lack of rain. The state's wet season should have started by now but “much of the southern half of California is pitching a shutout in terms of rainfall to date," Abatzoglou further explained. That's a characteristic of a weak La Niña in the tropical Pacific, which is causing cooler global temperatures but preventing storms from making landfall in Southern California, he said. </p><p>Other scientists have tied California's fires to rising temperatures and years of epic <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/drought" target="_blank">drought</a> that dried tree canopies, grasses and brush that spark wildfires.
</p><p>
<span></span>"There's a clear climate signal in these fires because of the drought conditions connected to climate change," Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA, told <span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><span></span><a href="https://insideclimatenews.org/news/18102017/california-wildfires-global-warming-drought-wind-climate-change-fire" target="_blank">InsideClimate News</a>.
</p><p>
The years 2014, 2015 and 2016 have been the <a href="http://www.noaa.gov/stories/2016-marks-three-consecutive-years-of-record-warmth-for-globe" target="_blank">third, second and first</a> hottest years on record to date, and each of these years hosted its own record-breaking fire in the state.
</p><p>
"As long as there's fuel to burn, your chances of having large fires increases when you increase temperatures. It's that simple," added Park Williams, a bioclimatologist at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University.
</p>
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California Wildfires: Death Toll Rises to 23, 'Worst Air Quality Ever Recorded' in Bay Area
12 October 2017
Climate
www.youtube.com
Firefighters continue to battle the unprecedented wildfires ravaging Northern California.
As of Wednesday, the fast-moving blazes—aided by high winds and low humidity—have burned nearly 170,000 acres and destroyed at least 3,500 homes and commercial structures since the outbreak started Sunday.
<p>
The confirmed death toll has risen to 23, with
285 reported missing. Thousands have been forced to flee due to
<a href="http://sonomacounty.ca.gov/Public-Safety/Santa-Rosa-Fire-Evacuations/" target="_blank">mandatory evacuations</a>.
</p><p>
A forecast of of high winds on Thursday could deteriorate conditions.
</p><p style="">
"We're not going to be out of the woods for a great many days to come," Cal Fire director Ken Pimlott said at a news conference yesterday.
</p><p>
California's
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/california-drought-2028825947.html" target="_blank">drought</a>-busting <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/is-california-drought-over-2357191646.html" target="_blank">rains</a> from last winter led to "explosive vegetation," as Pimlott said, and a hot and dry summer left the brush and other vegetation tinder-dry, stoking the flames.
</p><p>
While the cause of the infernos has yet to be determined, some scientists have said that
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/" target="_blank">climate change</a> may play a role.
</p><p>
"It's very clear that the increasingly hot summers are the product of climate change," Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, told
<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/western-wildfires/drought-heat-worsened-humans-help-fuel-california-fires-n809571" target="_blank">NBC News</a>.
</p><p>
Alex Hall, a climate researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles, also told the
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/11/climate/caifornia-fires-wind.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur" target="_blank">New York Times</a> that global warming may at least be making the winds drier.
</p><p>
"That is a pretty key parameter for fire risk," he said.
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
</p><div id="4e5a3" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="DRHFRZ1576662044"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="918343596696203264" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">#PartrickFire [update] west of Napa (Napa County) is now 9,523 acres and 2%. #SouthernLNUComplex… https://t.co/wCFj90gYOQ</div> — CAL FIRE (@CAL FIRE)<a href="https://twitter.com/CAL_FIRE/statuses/918343596696203264">1507785150.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p></p><p>
The region's main utility, Pacific Gas & Electric, has
<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/12/at-least-23-dead-hundreds-missing-as-winds-fan-california-wildfires.html" target="_blank">acknowledged</a> that gale-force winds downed some of their power lines.
</p><p style="">
"These destructive winds, along with millions of trees weakened by years of drought and recent renewed vegetation growth from winter storms, all contributed to some trees, branches and debris impacting our electric lines across the North Bay," company spokesman Matt Nauman told the
<a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/10/10/pge-power-lines-linked-to-wine-country-fires/" target="_blank">Mercury News</a>. </p><p style="">"In some cases, we have found instances of wires down, broken poles and impacted infrastructure. Where those have occurred, we have reported them to the CPUC and CalFire. Our thoughts are with all those individuals who were impacted by these devastating wildfires."
</p><p>
The wine country fires have released devastating
<a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/air-pollution" target="_blank">air pollution</a>.
</p><p>
"We are reporting the worst air quality ever recorded for smoke in many parts of the Bay Area," Tom Flannigan, a spokesman for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District,
<a href="http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/10/10/wildfires-have-created-worst-air-quality-ever-recorded-for-smoke-in-bay-area/" target="_blank">told the East Bay Times</a>. "This is similar to what you see in Beijing, China in bad air days there."
</p><p>
<span></span>The air pollution could even <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/10/11/air-pollution-california-fires-equals-years-worth-traffic-analyst-says/756602001/" target="_blank">equal a year's worth of traffic</a>, Sean Raffuse, an air-quality analyst at the Crocker Nuclear Laboratory at University of California in Davis, said. Raffuse estimates the fires have produced about 10,000 tons of fine particulate matter, about the same amount generated by the state's 35 million vehicles.
</p><p>
<span></span>California Gov. <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/jerry-brown" target="_blank">Jerry Brown</a> declared a state of emergency for the affected areas as well as for Orange County in the southern part of the state.
</p><p>
The National Weather Service has also issued Red Flag Warnings, the highest alert, for much of Northern California.
</p><p class="media-headline ">
<strong>Fire Weather Warnings/Watches</strong>
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-proxy-image">
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1yFb10tX5BPvSXtBWgOF1eZDVGE8&ll=37.46612720745065,-120.41184614843752&z=5"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vbWVkaWEucmJsLm1zL2ltYWdlP3U9JTJGbWFwcyUyRmQlMkZ0aHVtYm5haWwlM0ZtaWQlM0QxeUZiMTB0WDVCUHZTWHRCV2dPRjFlWkRWR0U4JmFtcDtobz1odHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnd3dy5nb29nbGUuY29tJmFtcDtzPTM2MSZhbXA7aD1kZjZmNjgzYzQ3NWQ3OThiZDA2Yjc2OGFhZjQ4OTUzNDU3OTkwODY4N2Q2NGRkMzQ3MDc2YmI0ZjMwYmY3NTMzJmFtcDtzaXplPTk4MHgmYW1wO2M9NjE1MDU3NzgxIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2NTEzMTUzMn0.w0kRLgTALlgS_mO0wZFDsVyQwtcGM4LoHh0d-F1fAow/img.jpg" id="90828" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="89089be4d0a38d68650b1045cfc4ecdc"></a>
</p>
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By Reynard Loki
The friendship between the U.S. and France goes way back—all the way to 1775, when France secretly began sending supplies to the Americans during the Revolutionary War. In fact, France was the first ally of the new U.S. (Of course, it helped that France was pretty angry at Great Britain over the territory it lost during the French and Indian War).
Now, almost 250 years later, President Trump has ruffled some French feathers by pulling the U.S. out of the Paris agreement, signed by nearly 200 nations to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. But newly minted French president Emmanuel Macron wasn't about to let Trump's pullout ruin a good friendship—something that was made abundantly clear when the two leaders met in Paris last week.
<p>By many accounts, Macron is a true optimist. Perhaps his youth has something to do with his lack of negativity; at 39, he is France's youngest leader since Napoleon, and the first to be born after 1958. His predecessor and former boss Francois Hollande said Macron "radiated joy" when he worked for him, an odd statement considering Hollande's dour disposition. (The Telegraph's William Langley once called the ex-president "a politician with the <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/francois-hollande/10565968/francois-hollande-julie-gayet-valerie-trierweiler-carla-bruni-france.html" target="_blank">personality of bread mold</a>.")</p><p>"An almost preternaturally sunny demeanour, combined with his winning way with words, has been the new president's <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39912104" target="_blank">magic formula</a>," wrote Hugh Schofield, the Paris correspondent for BBC News. He also noted that Macron's "resplendent" personality was going to be "tested like never before."</p><p>Well, Macron may have just aced the Trump test. And he did it by launching a charm offensive that allowed him not only to forcefully address their main point of contention—Trump's controversial withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement—but to get Trump to soften his <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/">climate</a> stance, something no other politician, American or otherwise, has yet accomplished.</p><p>In a Sunday interview with the French newspaper <em>Journal du Dimanche</em>, Macron said he <a href="http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/342255-macron-on-trump-meeting-we-spoke-in-detail-about-what-could-allow" target="_blank">pressed Trump</a> on the possibility of bringing America back into the agreement.</p><p>"<a href="https://apnews.com/8869ae306b2c4505b71284a8dca2ca0e/Macron:-My-charm-offensive-may-soften-Trump's-climate-stance" target="_blank">Donald Trump listened to me</a>," Macron said, according to AP. "He understood the reason for my position, notably the link between climate change and terrorism." The French president added, "He said he would try to find a solution in the coming months. We spoke in detail about what could allow him to return to the Paris deal."</p><p>During a joint news conference after the meeting, Trump said "something could happen with respect to the Paris accord ... We'll see what happens. But we'll talk about that in the coming period of time. If it happens, that will be wonderful. If it doesn't, that's okay, too."</p><p>Perhaps France—and for that matter, Europe—has found a "Trump whisperer" in Macron, who also said during his interview Sunday that he believes Trump left the country with a "better image of France than upon his arrival." (Angela Merkel, take note.)</p><p>"Our countries are friends, so we should be too," Macron said, adding his belief that after their meeting, the two leaders gained a "better, intimate knowledge of each other."</p><p>When they met, Trump and Macron shared a seemingly never-ending handshake. Hopefully, they'll soon be shaking hands to celebrate America's reentry to the Paris agreement. To Monsieur Macron, we say, <em>Bonne chance!</em></p><p><em>Reposted with permission from our media associate <a href="http://www.alternet.org/environment/did-macron-just-convince-trump-reenter-paris-agreement" target="_blank">AlterNet</a>.</em></p>
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We probably can't blame the earthquake that hit California's Napa Valley this weekend on climate change. But it's one more thing that the beleaguered residents of the so-called "Golden State" have to deal with. And while we can't do much to address the fact that the state sits on geographical fault lines, other issues have a human element.
With its spate of natural disasters, some spurred by human action, California isn't looking like such a "Golden State."
The magnitude 6.0 earthquake, which occurred early Sunday morning, is the largest to hit the state since 1989's Loma Prieta quake. It injured several hundred people.
The earthquake is understandably dominating the headlines coming out of California, while the fallout from the state's record drought is being reported almost daily.
In East Porterville in the rural San Joaquin, several hundred homes have no tap water because their wells have dried up. That's due to an exceptionally low flow in the Tule River, which fills the wells.
Volunteers and county workers are delivering bottled water provided by the county to these homes, but those deliveries are only a stop-gap solution. The area's high poverty rate makes it difficult for residents to affordable ongoing solutions, such as digging new wells.
Tulare County has been hearing from residents about their diminished water supply since February, but the trickle of calls has become a gusher. The Fresno Bee reports that nearly 1,000 people are now impacted by the dry wells.
“I grew up here. I’ve never seen this many people out of water,” Tulare County District Five Supervisor Mike Ennis told the Fresno Bee.
Up in the state's northwest corner in Trinity County, already threatened by salmon die-offs due to low water flow in the Salmon and Klamath rivers, a wildfire that started late Sunday afternoon is threatening homes in Weaverville. About 200 homes were evacuated as crews worked to build containment lines that had about 25 percent of the fire under control by this morning. But local officials said they were concerned about gusting winds and dry conditions causing the fire to flare up again.
The Redding, California newspaper the Redding Searchlight reports that four other wildfires are currently burning tens of thousands of acres in the area as well.
TckTckTck, the Global Call for Climate Action reports:
High temperatures and drought in the American West, both linked to climate change, lead to the dry conditions and tree deaths that enable more frequent and intense wildfires. The American wildfire season is getting longer, and the number of very large fires has doubled in California and many other states since the 1970s.
Climate change is fueling bigger wildfires in California. Photo credit: U.S. Department of Agriculture via TckTckTck
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