Situation Report

Last year, California’s cities were required to cut their water usage by up to 35%. Photograph: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

More than 2.5 billion people don’t have access to basic levels of fresh water for at least one month each year – a situation growing ever more critical as urban populations expand rapidly

theguardian.com - by Katherine Purvis - July 29, 2016

Water stress – where the human or ecological demand for water is not met – is caused by a variety of factors. . . .

. . . As the urban population grows, so too does the number of people living in settlements that are not connected to a formal piped water supply. . . .

. . . As freshwater supplies dry up, many cities are engaged in a race to the bottom as they turn to groundwater – with some underground aquifers now so overexploited that water is extracted much faster than it is recharged.

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The Bosphorus bridge was blocked off by military units.  Getty Images

The Turkish Government states that elements of the Turkish army are attempting an uprising, security forces are taking action to contain it, and some buildings are under blockade.

CLICK HERE - U.S. Department of State - Turkey Travel Warning

CLICK HERE - Messages for U.S. Citizens | Ankara, Turkey - Embassy of the United States

CLICK HERE - Embassy of the United States - Ankara, Turkey - Emergency Message for U.S. Citizens: Incirlik Air Base and Adana Airport Information, July 16

CLICK HERE - Incirlik Air Base - Home Page

CLICK HERE - Incirlik Air Base - News

CLICK HERE - Incirlik Air Base - Facebook

peerj.com

Pujhari S, Rasgon JL. (2016) Zika virus: A newly emergent vector-borne public health threat in the Americas. PeerJ PrePrints 4:e1781v1 https://doi.org/10.7287/peerj.preprints.1781v1

Abstract

Zika virus is a newly emergent mosquito-borne flavivirus. Once almost ignored epidemiologically, recent major outbreaks and links to neurological birth defects have focused attention on this neglected pathogen. We review the discovery, biology and symptomatology of Zika virus, what is known and not known about the mosquitoes that transmit the virus, conspiracy theories currently hampering control efforts, and potential avenues of Zika control. It is likely that Zika virus is here to stay in the Americas, so a thorough understanding of the complete epidemiological transmission cycle and potential effects on the human population will be critical for managing this new disease in the coming years.

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thenextsystem.org

CLICK HERE - REPORT - The Next System Project: NEW POLITICAL-ECONOMIC POSSIBILITIES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY (22 page .PDF report)

The Next System Project is an ambitious multi-year initiative aimed at thinking boldly about what is required to deal with the systemic challenges the United States faces now and in coming decades. Responding to real hunger for a new way forward, and building on innovative thinking and practical experience with new economic institutions and approaches being developed in communities across the country and around the world, the goal is to put the central idea of system change, and that there can be a “next system,” on the map.