S.O.S.: Amazon is in a Drought

S.O.S.: The Amazon is in a Drought

By~Nichole Rose

Brazil’s rivers have hit an all time low, leaving 38 already impoverished communities at the mercy of emergency aid. This is approximately 62,000 people. Thousands of boats are stranded on dry river beds. The drop in water level has exposed banks of sand and rock, preventing the river from being navigable. The communities depend heavily on the river to transportation and fishing. The fish are dying due to the shallower, warmer water.

The Rio Negro River, a large black water river that runs through the Amazon dropped on Sunday to 45 feet. The Brazilian Geological Service states this is the lowest it has been since record keeping began on the river in 1902.  Last year, the area received a widespread flood that raised the level to the Rio Negro River to a record high of 98 feet.

"I've worked in the region about 30 years and never seen anything like the last few years. This has everything to do with climate change." said Rosival Dias, a coordinator with the Amazonas Sustainable Foundation environmental group who has visited affected areas.

The Brazilian Government announced that they are giving $13.5 million for emergency aid along with 600 tons of food that must be carried by plane.

All 33 Chilean Miners Rescued Without a Hitch ~Nichole Rose

It was like clockwork on October 12th and 13th for the rescuers at the head of the Chilean mine where 33 men were trapped since August 5, 2010. The process of rescuing these men one by one continued into the night till the last miner was rescued at 2200. Taking precautions by greasing the wheels between descents of the Fenix 2 capsule for the smooth assent of another miner, the rescuers are victorious and miners are grateful. The process was smooth and went without a hitch.

The Fenix 2 is on display today in the nation's capitol, Santiago at the opening of a public exhibit outside the presidential palace.

Reports that the miners were terrified and requested to leave the mine the day it collapsed are being investigated. Some of the men heard loud cracking and creaking sounds that signaled the miners to evacuate three hours before the collapse. Permission was denied to the miners for evacuation by their owners and managers of San Esteban Mining Company. These allegations are being looked into and the miners are being questioned one by one.

The miners have banded together for a silent vow so that they may write a book together and share the profits equally among the 33 of them. So hope is futile for interviews regarding the first two weeks of the collapse in the mine. All will be disclosed in the future proposed book.

Chilean Miners See The Light Today! ~Nichole Rose

After months of darkness and half a mile into the Earth, Chilean miners will finally be rescued today.  A capsule will be lowered into the shaft and rescue the men one by one.  Each trip could take between eleven to sixty minutes. The rescuers have run four test runs to make sure the capsule and the drilled pathway is smooth and safe.

The relatives of the miners have made a tent city heartily named Camp Hope. The relatives are very excited to see their loved ones rise from the Earth. They are waiting with homemade food and champagne. Also 1400 journalists have flooded into the area to broadcast the rescue from the first miner to surface to the last miner to emerge. The rescuers say that to rescue all the men will take about 48 hours. CNN is expected to cover the rescue throughout the night.

The Chilean president, Sebastian Pinera, arrived on site of the mine today as well. He has made the rescue his number one priority, sparing no expense or technological innovation. This has increased his popularity considerably.

What is interesting is the miners are not debating on who would be first to go up the shaft but who shall be the last.   The Chilean miners have already reached the record of being trapped underground for the longest period of time but the importance is in the last individual to emerge to hold the actual record.