Ricardo Torres
Professor Kubal
Social Movements
02/08/2014
Democracy Now
The first news story I came across discussed the potential threat of water consumed in North Carolina due to one of the worst coal ash spills in recorded history. Duke energy the company responsible for the event has stated that the water is safe to drink; however, new findings in experiments and tests done by the water keeper alliance have concluded otherwise. The water keeper's alliance claims there are levels of arsenic in the river seven times higher than the federal safe standards allow. Duke energy estimated eighty two thousand tons of coal ash spilled into the river and this continued into the following week despite their best efforts to quell the catastrophe. The river is depicted with mounds of ash piled up and dried along the banks with a vivid image of Duke Energy right beside the river. The images show the level of devastation caused by the spill and give a good glimpse to its severity.
In Syria the operation set to save besieged citizens in Homps is beginning. The government forces and those fighting in the rebel resistance agreed to cease fire during the process of extracting the civilians. U.N. Spokesperson Farhan Haq said this would allow the delivery of much needed aid to those still left in the city such as food, water, and medical kits. The fighting that has escalated has left many innocent civilians in the crossfire with no means of protecting or defending themselves, let alone stocking up on much needed goods to survive of. This cease fire should allow the U.N. enough time to address this issue. The Assad Regime is being accused of torture maiming and sexual crimes against children while government forces are said to be the most responsible, rebel groups are also committing these atrocities.
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