Southeast Asia
According to the World Wildlife Fund, between 1997
and 2011, many new species of plants and animals, including the
ruby-eyed pit viper (Trimeresurus rubeus), were identified in
the Greater Mekong, a region that spans Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar,
Thailand, Vietnam, and the province of Yunnan, China. Of the species
discovered in 2011 alone, there were 82 plants, 21 reptiles, 13 fish, 5
amphibians, and 5 mammals.
Europe
Human trafficking has become a serious problem in “the entire European Union,” says a report in The Moscow Times. People
are sold for sexual exploitation, forced labor, and even “illegal trade
in human organs.” Traffickers take advantage of poverty, unemployment,
and gender inequality.
New Zealand
Researchers who investigated TV watching by
children and adolescents concluded that excessive viewing is “associated
with increased antisocial behavior in early adulthood.” Their findings,
say the researchers, support the recommendation that children should
watch “no more than 1 to 2 hours of quality programming per day.”
Alaska
Nearly all “Alaska Native villages” are located on
coasts or near rivers, and 86 percent of these villages are affected by
flooding and erosion. Reports indicate that rising temperatures are
delaying the formation of protective shore ice, leaving villages more
exposed to autumn storms.
World
Despite huge investments in clean-energy
technologies, such as wind and solar power, “the average unit of energy
produced today is basically as dirty as it was 20 years ago,” says Maria
van der Hoeven, executive director of the International Energy Agency.
