The Environment This Month – September 2017

Welcome back for another round up for The Environment This Month.

September saw a series of devastating storms in the south east United States and Caribbean. People are still recovering from their losses, if they ever can. In Puerto Rico, it is estimated they will be without power for 6 months. Much of this could have been avoided if politicians and corporations, world wide, didn’t work so hard to deregulate industry. It is industry that is the leading contributor to climate change. Yet, average people, many of whom were affected by this month’s storms vote for this kind of leadership. You have to wonder what they are thinking, when they’re the ones surest to lose.

Let’s take a look at what’s going on…

What began as a story about flooding, environmentalist groups say, has become about preventable environmental disaster.Coastal Houston is the site of a large concentration of chemical plants, refineries, superfund sites and fossil fuel operations. Some have suffered damage from Hurricane Harvey, releasing toxic compounds into the environment, and environmentalists, in turn, are pointing the finger at politicians and industry leaders who have sought to ax regulations.

Houston: From flooding to environmental disaster | myfox8.com

But, we should all take heart, as well as note and action, that there are still bastions of hope. Those bastions are often found with the youth, and it’s no different in Alaska…

A group of youth activists, impatient with the state’s response to global warming, formally petitioned Alaska Gov. Bill Walker’s administration Monday to adopt new limits on greenhouse gas emissions, saying that unchecked pollution is threatening their futures.

Alaska youth environmental group asks state to start regulating greenhouse gas emissions – Alaska Dispatch News

Sadly, many question why it’s necessary to be prepared and do the right thing before there is a problem. This article from the New York Times explains why it is more than necessary, and those who continue to vote against regulation need to pay most attention. This is something that will affect them, and those affects are devastating…

Officials in Houston are just beginning to grapple with the health and environmental risks that lurk in the waters dumped by Hurricane Harvey, a stew of toxic chemicals, sewage, debris and waste that still floods much of the city.

A Sea of Health and Environmental Hazards in Houston’s Floodwaters – The New York Times

There’s more…

The surprising economics of recovering from Harvey, Irma, Maria and the storms to come.

Hurricane Maria, Irma, Harvey Damage: The Hidden Costs | Fortune.com

Hurricane Maria adds to damage caused by Irma on Turks and Caicos | World news | The Guardian

Photos of the Damage Left by Hurricane Irma in Florida – The Atlantic

Please also read this article that rounds up all the information on these super storms to get a better idea of the threat they pose to everyone, in one concise nugget.