Water Insecurity is Becoming Critical for the Arab Region

A combination of nature and human activity have left many countries in the Arab region facing the possibility of severe water shortages in the near future. In some cases the water use exceeds the natural recharge rate by more than one and a half times.

A combination of population growth, lack of pricing policy reforms, an increases in household incomes, droughts and in many cases the absence of adequate water treatment facilities has greatly reduced the availability of water suitable for consumption and agricultural purposes throughout the Arab region. In some cases water use is as much as 1.5 times higher than the natural recharge rate.

According to the World Bank the Middle East and North African regions are by far the driest and most water scarce regions in the world. The global per capita average water availability is close to 7,000 cubic meters per capita, per year. The regional average for the Middle East and North Africa is 1,200 cubic meters per year. Throughout this region, however, the averages ranges between 1,800 cubic meters per person in Iran to less than 200 cubic meters per person in Jordan, West Bank/Gaza, and Yemen. The regional average of available water per capita, per year is expected to plummet to only 500 cubic meters by 2025.

 

Agriculture in the region accounts for approximately 5 – 20% of the GDP yet consumes up to 90% of the available water supply, in many cases through the use of illegal wells. Yemen for example, is considered to be one of the worlds most water scarce countries; approximately 80% of the ground water supply is consumed by agriculture and in 2009 authorities discovered 494 illegal wells throughout the country.

Direct and indirect affects of climate change is expected to further complicating the problem. Some of the possible affects will be loss of coastal zones, more severe droughts and desertification, and increased groundwater salinity; this could potentially lead to an increase in epidemics and infectious diseases.

Following an assessment of the progress that is being made to combat the situation in the region Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director, said::

"Climate change is likely to aggravate these trends. Thus it is in the interests of nations across the region to constructively engage in the climate change negotiations as countries look to Mexico and the UN climate convention meeting later in the year,"

 

Richmond Va: No Welcome Mats for Westboro Baptist Church Hate Group

Recently, representatives of the Kansas based Westboro Baptist Church visited Richmond Virginia to picket outside of the Holocaust Museum, Hermitage High School and other Jewish sites around the area carrying signs and chanting "God Hates Jews" and "God will destroy you."

In what could be described as a shinning moment for Richmond the group was met by counter-protestors at every turn, hundreds came out to voice their disapproval of the teachings of the church. As one young man so eloquently stated: "you can't come to Richmond to spread hate and expect not to be answered"

As the group arrived at the Virginia Holocaust Museum in Shockoe Bottom, they found themselves facing as many as 400 counter protesters. Executive director of the Virginia Holocaust Museum, Jay M. Ipson, (A Holocaust survivor) invited the members of Westboro Baptist Church inside to talk; his invitation was declined with a member of the group saying they did not come here to negotiate. Ipson later told reporters that he invited them in because if they wanted to hate him they should at least get to know him first. He went on to express his pride and gratitude to the counter protesters by telling the Richmond Times Dispatch:

"I feel like I'm 25 feet tall, this community is standing behind one another in love, not in hate."

 

 

Counter protesters came from many walks of life including 28-year old Iraq war veteran Nathan Cox of Mechanicsville, who played rock music through a megaphone to drawn out the group. The group is known to protest at the funerals of American soldiers killed in action, Cox told reporters that he first heard of the group while still serving in Iraq.

Although the Westboro group never picketed at Virginia Commonwealth University VCU students, faculty and staff took to the campus with their own anti-hate rally carrying signs with such slogans as “God Loves All People,” and “God Hates Morons”. The VCU rally that focused on inclusiveness was also joined by several faith-based and community organizations from around Richmond. The group was also met by opposition and increased police presents when they held an anti-gay protest at Hermitage High School.

It seems that the visit from the group has only served to give the people of Richmond a chance to stand together and speak out and their message was clear: Hate groups such as this one are not welcome.

 

 

Kentucky Mom Pleads not Guilty to Murder in the Death of Newborn

20 year old Ashley Cox pleaded not guilty to murder charges that resulted from allegedly giving birth in a restroom at the Roederer Correctional Complex in La Grange, Kentucky where she was visiting her Boyfriend.

According to police Cox gave birth in a restroom at the facility, she then stuffed toilet paper into the infant’s mouth causing her to suffocate. Cox allegedly placed the infant in a trash can and covered her with paper.

After allegedly hiding the body, Cox told prison officials that she had a miscarriage and Oldham County EMS then transported her to Baptist East Hospital in Louisville. While examining Cox doctors found that she had not had a miscarriage but rather gave birth to a full term infant. Hospital staff informed prison administrators of their findings and the Kentucky State Police were called in to search for the newborn. The infant's body was found at 4:29pm and Oldham County Coroner Brett Donner pronounced the death at 4:42.

An autopsy revealed that the infant was alive at birth and according to the arrest warrant had no "medical abnormalities". Cox was charged with murder and concealing the birth of an infant, she is currently being held on $2.5 million bond in the Oldham County jail.

Cox is the mother of a two year old daughter and prior to her arrest reportedly worked at a day care center. Cox's sister told reporters that the family was unaware of the pregnancy.




 

20 year old Ashley Cox pleaded not guilty to murder charges that resulted from allegedly giving birth in a restroom at the Roederer Correctional Complex in La Grange, Kentucky where she was visiting her Boyfriend.

 

According to police Cox gave birth in a restroom at the facility, she then stuffed toilet paper into the infant’s mouth causing her to suffocate. Cox allegedly placed the infant in a trash can and covered her with paper.

After allegedly hiding the body, Cox told prison officials that she had a miscarriage and Oldham County EMS then transported her to Baptist East Hospital in Louisville. While examining Cox doctors found that she had not had a miscarriage but rather gave birth to a full term infant. Hospital staff informed prison administrators of their findings and the Kentucky State Police were called in to search for the newborn. The infant's body was found at 4:29pm and Oldham County Coroner Brett Donner pronounced the death at 4:42.

An autopsy revealed that the infant was alive at birth and according to the arrest warrant had no "medical abnormalities". Cox was charged with murder and concealing the birth of an infant, she is currently being held on $2.5 million bond in the Oldham County jail.

Cox is the mother of a two year old daughter and prior to her arrest reportedly worked at a day care center. Cox's sister told reporters that the family was unaware of the pregnancy.

Toyota Slows Production in the Wake of Recalls

Toyota announced today that they have planned what they are calling non-production days at 2 US plants located in San Antonio, Texas and Georgetown Kentucky.

The Georgetown plant is scheduled for 1 non-production day on February 26, with an additional 3 non-productions days possible in March and April. The Georgetown plant builds the Toyota Camry, Avalon and Venza and employs about 6,850 people.

The San Antonio plant, which builds the Tundra pickup truck and employs 1,850 people, is scheduled for 2 non-production weeks, the weeks of March 15 and April 12. During the down time the San Antonio plant will be installing new equipment that will allow them to built the Tacoma pickup, the new equipment was originally scheduled to be installed on the weekends during the month of March.

The Huntsville, Alabama plant will also experience some non-production days, the Huntsville plant make V-8 engines for the Tundra pickup truck and the slowdown will coincide with the San Antonio plant. About three hundred employees are expected to be affected.

Toyota plans to pay the workers for the non-production days and provide them with additional training.

Toyota announced the slow down in response to growing inventory as they attempt to deal with recalls. Over the past 5 months Toyota has recalled more than six million cars in America alone and 8.1 million worldwide. They also stopped sales of eight models, including the Camry and Corolla in the United States. Toyota officials believe the total cost of the recall could reach $2 billion. According to CNN Money Toyota spokesman Mike Goss said:

"We don't want inventory to build up for our dealers, we can't keep sending vehicles to dealers until they can start moving those vehicles."

The recalls are expected to take a toll on Toyota’s reputation as the safety leader, Toyota announced that January sales were down by 16% from last year and they expect to see a decrease in sales of about 80,000 vehicles in North America alone as a result of the recalls.

Meanwhile, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that they will be launching a probe to determine how and when Toyota became aware there was a safety issue with the recalled models. According to federal law automobile manufacturers have 5 days from the date they discover a safety defect to notify the NHTS and begin an immediate recall. David Strickland, Administrator for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said:

"Our top priority is safety and we expect that all manufacturers address automotive safety issues quickly and in a forthright manner,"