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IEDRO INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL DATA RESCUE ORGANIZATION April 2009 volume 6 issue 4 Earth Day Celebrate with us April 22 International Data Rescue News about us The International Environmental Data Rescue Organization (IEDRO) is an initiative to collect weather information from countries with plentiful and important historical weather data who need help to convert these data into usable digital format. IEDRO received the 501 (c)(3) non-profit status from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on April 12, 2005. Now, in less than four years into the work of data rescue, we have been able to make headway in 11 countries. They are Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Senegal, Tanzania and Zambia in Africa; and Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Chile and Uruguay in the Americas. IEDRO is at the forefront for environmental management. We actively search for historical weather data and convert these important data into digitized format for meaningful access by institutes and organizations that use them for the betterment of local and international societies. INTERNATIONAL DATA RESCUE NEWS April 2009 “Your Planet Needs You. UNite to Combat Climate Change” EARTH DAY April 22, 2009 On April 22 the world celebrates Earth Day. The first Earth Day on April 22, 1970 was a pivotal moment in the history of the environmental movement not only creating a day to act, reflect and celebrate but spurning the creation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1972. Earth Day was born in response to the lack of action on environmental issues like air quality and water pollution. In his Earth Day message, the UN Environment Programme’s Under-Secretary General and Executive Director Achim Steiner states, “Today, intelligent management of the planet has to be a fundamental issue taking center stage, as the international community faces the twin challenges of dealing with the most serious global economic crisis since the 1930s, and negotiating an equitable and definitive agreement on climate change in Copenhagen in December” (UNEP 2009). For many of us making changes to how much we drive and consume, reducing our carbon footprint are valuable ways to celebrate Earth Day. From the increasing participation in each year’s celebration of Earth Day, it is clear that there is a growing interest in environmental stewardship. The theme for the 2009 World Environment Day on June 5 “Your Planet Needs You. UNite to Combat Climate Change” is a prompt to all of us that we need to mobilize our efforts on an international scale. Earth Day is an opportunity to promote “an enhanced understanding of the challenges we all face in safeguarding our own survival and that of future generations” (UNEP, 2009) and energize grassroots action into a united international initiative. IEDRO is committed to being a part of the action. 2 INTERNATIONAL DATA RESCUE NEWS April 2009 Everyday is Earth Day at IEDRO OUR HOPE : A WORLD PREPARED FOR CLIMATE ADAPTATION WHERE ALL CITIZENS BENEFIT FROM THE RESCUE OF CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL DATA. IEDRO works around the world in partnership with volunteers and organizations to save valuable environmental data and fill in the gaps of the world’s climate data bank. We can only move forward and meet the challenges of an evolving climate with complete data - both current and historical. Over the years people have flocked to live on the shores of oceans, rivers and lakes without having to think about future risks of rising water lines. The catastrophe of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans showed western developed nations a nasty glimspe of climate-related disasters. Two years after the storm, the clean up in New Orleans was still ongoing. It continues today. In 2007 it was estimated that 1 in 25 people in New Orleans remained homeless; a rate of homeless ness higher than when the disaster first occured. If this can happen in a wealthy developed nation, what happens in a country where the infastructure is either non-existent or simply unable to cope? It becomes a humanitarian disaster that relies on international aid to try and stem the flow of hunger, disease and homelessness. While waiting for international response and relief, people die. Children are the most vulnerable. So what if we told you that the best response was not in fact a response, but a proactive effort? And what if we told you that you could join the effort? JOIN OUR TEAM go to www.IEDRO.org to find out how you can be a part of data rescue. Climate Events and Disease Outbreaks in IEDRO Project Countries The number of people hit by climate-related disasters worldwide (including developed countries) could rise 50% within six years, to reach 375 million a year by 2015 (Oxfam, 2009). Cholera Outbreak in Malawi Escalates “39 people have died from cholera with more than one thousand cases recorded ” Medecin Sans Frontieres (January, 2009). With no safe access to water and seasonal flooding the outbreak that began in November 2008 in Lilongue has spread to a third of the country. By April 4 there were nearly 2000 meningitis deaths (ECHO, 2009). The World Health Organization (WHO) states that up to 10% of cases will die within 48 hours of initial symptoms, despite early diagnosis and treatment. (WHO, 2009). Flooding in Dominican Republic Persistent rains of medium intensity cause floods in north and central areas, leaving one person dead and 1,530 evacuated. An unknown number of people are missing and hundreds of homes damaged. Lack of Rain Threatens Power in Chile Early in 2009 severe drought causes an agricultural emergency in 50 rural areas, with the added possiblity of electricity rationing in March. “La Niña” causes persistently cold water in the Pacific Ocean coupled with high atmospheric pressure. Rain-bearing fronts are unable to get to central and southern areas of the country. The lack of rain is disastrous for water levels at both hydroelectric dams and reservoirs. Persistent Rain in Mozambique The surrounding areas of the towns of Chókwè, Xai-Xai, Chibuto, in the province of Gaza, and Inharrime, Inhambane and Maxixe, province of Inhambane, all in the southern region of Mozambique, face localized flooding due to the persisting rains and increased water levels in the river basins (Noticias, 2009). Drought Affects Kenya March 17, 2009: Abbas Gullet, secretary-general of the Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS), states that with the failure of the rains, the humanitarian crisis worsens. With no rainfall for 18 months things are desperate and food must be imported to keep 10 million people from starvation. Kenya’s drought suffering neighbors will be of little help. Tanzanian Drought Reduces Harvest 240,000 people are in need of immediate food relief. A poor harvest due to drought prompted Tanzania to stop issuing food export permits. Security at the border posts increases to monitor and prevent the export of food. Meningitis Ravages Niger A US $6.2 million aid package is approved by the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) to fight meningitis in Niger and Nigeria. With nearly 30,000 suspected cases to date in 2009, they are the the two most heavily affected West African countries (ECHO, 2009). Floods in Zambia In March the worst flooding in 40 years hits with the Southern province worst hit. Twenty thousand homes are affected and five thousand destroyed. Malaria, diarrhea, lack of food and waterborne cholera are immediate risks beyond displacement. continued on page six 4 Billions of people face shortages of food and water. Experts warn that there will be an increased risk of flooding (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: IPCC 2007). Sea levels are also projected to potentially rise by 28-43cm. Global warming will likely influence the intensity of tropical storms. GLOBAL EVENTS WMO Celebrates World Health Day On 7 April 2009, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) joined the World Health Organization (WHO) and its international partners in celebrating World Health Day. World Health Day 2009 focuses on the safety of health facilities and the readiness of health workers who treat those affected by emergencies. Health centres and staff are critical lifelines for communities hit by disasters - treating injuries, preventing illnesses and caring for people’s health needs. An already fragile health system is unable to meet the immediate and ongoing needs of a disaster. Without functioning clinics and hospitals there are serious short- and long-term public health consequences. Weather, climate and water information play a critical role in preventing disasters, preparing communities and saving lives. Early warning of meteorological, hydrological and climate hazards can significantly improve a community’s ability to weather the storm. The WMO and the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services of its 188 members, work to integrate early warning systems into emergency prevention, preparedness, management and response. Flooding in Burundi April rain-induced floods displace over 8,000 people north of Bujumbura, the Burundian capital. At least 1,200 houses and crops are damaged or destroyed. Red Cross and Meteorologists to Improve Africa Disaster Response In March 2009, the International Red Cross began a partnership with the African Center for Meteorological Application in Development (ACMAD) to improve climate change disaster prediction and response. The Red Cross will have inside access to weather prediction and data produced by ACMAD. In a cooperative exchange of expertise, the partnership will work to mitigate the increasing challenges of climate change. 5 INTERNATIONAL DATA RESCUE NEWS April 2009 Meteorological Events in IEDRO Project Countries continued: Agricultural Emergency in Uruguay Uruguay declared an “agriculture emergency” last month, due to the worst drought in decades which is threatening crops, livestock and the provision of fresh produce. The worsening drought is pushing up food and beverage costs causing Uruguay’s consumer prices to rise at the fastest annual pace in more than four years in January. Two mild earthquakes in Nicaragua Just before noon on March 31, 2009, Nicaragua experienced two earthquakes measuring 5 and 4.1 on Richter scale (Nicaraguan Institute of Territorial Studies, INETER 2009). The towns of La Dalia, Barrio Nuevo, San Lucas and San Pedro de las Canas were the most affected. Though there were no immediate reports of casualties, 28 houses were damaged and 81 people affected. 1970’s to mid 1980’s. Rainfall had declined by twenty to fifty percent. The drought caused starvation that extended from Senegal to Ethiopia. By the time the rain began falling again, 1.2 million people had died. Two decades later some climate scientists suggested that here may be a connection between industrial air pollution from North America and Europe. Not all climate scientists were convinced of the proposed relationship. But at the very least studies like this can arouse the debate. Senegal: The Human Cost of Drought Senegal experienced severe droughts in the early IEDRO NEWS MARCH 2009 IDRN CORRECTION Page 6: Global Events EARTH HOUR 8:30 p.m. May 28, 2009 The opening sentence of the article incorrectly referred to “Earth Day” instead of “Earth Hour.” It should have read, “In 2007, in Sydney, Australia, 2.2 million homes and businesses turned off their lights for one hour on the first Earth Hour.” We sincerely apologize for any confusion this error may have caused. 6 IEDRO INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL DATA RESCUE ORGANIZATION International Environmental Data Rescue Organization, Ltd. 901 Main Street, Deale, Maryland 20751 U.S.A. Phone: 410-867-1124, Fax: 410-867-9259 IEDRO is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Email: admin@iedro.org Website: www.IEDRO.org Board of Directors Chair: Janet F. Sansone Executive Director: Dr. Richard Crouthamel International Data Rescue News IDRN Managing Editor: Kate Blackburn Published Bi-Monthly; Six Issues Annually