Will Namibia’s Newfound Wealth of Groundwater Serve People or Mining?

By James Anderson, Alertnet. About 0.16 cubic mile of groundwater, at least 100 times the amount of renewable freshwater in Africa, lies below the continent’s driest country: Namibia. The battle is on for access to the newfound water by the population versus the water utilities and mining industry.

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Who Will Speak For Jeju Coral?

By Staff, Save Jeju Now. A South Korean naval-base project for U.S. missile defense warships on Jeju Island threatens to destroy one of Earth’s last great soft coral reefs, numerous endangered species, and centuries-old sustainable communities. The leadership of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress (WCC) taking place near Jeju has refused to criticize the naval base or grant the villagers access to an information display booth. In addition, WCC speaker Imok Cha, who supports the conservation of Jeju, was denied entry into Korea. (Videos)

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Cuba’s Cholera Outbreak Over in Two Months

Press Release from Cuban Ministry of Public Health, Granma, Cuba Debate. With epidemiological vigilance, public education, and appropriate treatment, Cuban public health workers completely ended in two months what might have become a major cholera epidemic and limited a cholera outbreak to three deaths and 417 cases. (English|Spanish)

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With MINUSTAH Up for Renewal, ‘Legal Bandits’ on Rampage

By Dady Chery, Haiti Chery. Dr. Serge L. Bernard, Professor and Vice-Chair of the board of directors of the University of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, was shot dead by five gunmen on motorcycles around midday on Friday August 31, 2012, within sight of police. Dr. Bernard is the latest victim of the traditional Spring-to-October insecurity that has preceded the renewal of MINUSTAH’s mandate every year since 2005.

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