UC Santa Barbara Geography / Earth Gate / Weekly News
from Earthweek - A Diary of the Planet
Week Ending Fri, 4 Jul 2008
Spain May Grant Apes Near-Human RightsEarthweek - July 4, 2008
A resolution heading to the Spanish parliament would grant rights to protect our non-human brothers from inhuman treatment.
Northern Mexico Drought: Bears 'Oso' ThirstyEarthweek - July 4, 2008
A protracted drought parching much of northern Mexico has driven more than 30 black bears into residential areas of Monterrey in search of food and water.
Iraq-Iran Sandstorm: NASA Image of the WeekEarthweek - July 4, 2008
When the MODIS sensor orbiting on NASAs Terra satellite passed over the Persian Gulf region at midday on July 2, it captured the image to the right that shows the extent of the latest sandstorm stretching from central Iraq to southwestern Iran.
Second Chilean Volcano Erupts South of SantiagoEarthweek - July 4, 2008
Southern Chiles Llaima volcano reawakened from a six-month slumber, spewing lava that could threaten several nearby villages.
Japan To Spare Humpbacks For Another YearEarthweek - July 4, 2008
The International Whaling Commission ended a contentious annual meeting in Chile with Japan offering to not hunt humpback whales for at least the next 12 months.
Atlantic 'Alps' Receive European ProtectionEarthweek - July 4, 2008
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) announced that a long stretch of an undersea mountain range between Iceland and the Azores will become one of the largest protected marine areas in the world.
Three Tropical Cyclones Churn Northeastern PacificEarthweek - July 4, 2008
Three storms developed over the Pacific waters off Mexico, including the first named hurricane of the northeastern Pacific basin so far this season.
Peruvian Quake Wrecks Homes and Injures 39Earthweek - July 4, 2008
A 5.5 magnitude earthquake that struck the central Peruvian province of Oxapampa on Monday evening left 39 people injured and more than 100 homes destroyed.
String of Tremors Causes Quake Fears in Middle EastEarthweek - July 4, 2008
Swarms of tremors that have jolted southern Lebanon and northern Israel since January have geologists in both countries warning that the region could be about to experience a major seismic event.
Powerful Quake Jolts Indian IslandsEarthweek - July 4, 2008
A sharp 6.6 magnitude earthquake rocked a wide area of the Bay of Bengal from Indias Andaman Islands to southern Bangladesh on Friday evening, June 27.
Global Temperature ExtremesEarthweek - July 4, 2008
The world's hottest and coldest temperatures of the week.
