The crisis will require a complex package of policy responses over the short to long term
Food aid Seeds Fertilisers Export Bans Free trade
BioFuels Agricultural Investment GM Crops Sustainabiity
Interactive VIDEOS on the food crisis from China, Egypt, Scotland and the Phillipines.
INTERACTIVE Global food crisis
People in the South West are more likely to live into their mid 70s than those living elsewhere in England and Wales, official data shows.
The cost of cleaning-up the UK's ageing nuclear facilities, including some described as "dangerous", looks set to rise above £73bn, the BBC has learned.A senior official at the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority said the bill would rise by billions of pounds. Nineteen sites across the country, some dating from the 1950s, are due to be dismantled in the coming decades.
The last two decades of the 20th century produced mounting evidence that climate change posed significant risks to society. At the beginning of the 21st century, climate change has become a defining issue of our time. The importance of this issue is underscored by its magnitude and complexity: it is a global problem with wide geographic and economic disparity between the largest sources of the problem and those who will experience the greatest impacts. Many solutions often run counter to powerful entrenched interests and long-held patterns of individual behavior. All of this is happening amidst a global community that is increasingly connected by flows of information, people, commerce and environmental change. This collection brings together some of the world’s leading scientists and organizations and presents the essential knowledge underlying the issue of climate change.
There are going to be 19 cities with over 20 million people in the 21st century.
The world produces enough food to ensure every person a healthy and productive life, yet more than 800 million people suffer from chronic malnutrition, while large numbers of others suffer from obesity. The UN’s Millennium Development Goals seek to reduce the percentage of hungry people by half by the year 2015. Considering the plentiful resources available and the terrible consequences of starvation, hunger and malnutrition, it is a very modest commitment. Political leaders of virtually every country have endorsed the goal. But these same leaders are doing very little to build a strategy or to implement required change.
The noise maps on this site have been produced by Defra to meet the requirements of the Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006, and are intended to inform the production of noise action plans for large urban areas, major transport sources, and significant industrial sites in England.
Two Asian countries reeling from the horror of tens of thousands of people probably dead and hundreds of thousands more made destitute and homeless.
And two governments, one a military junta and the other a Communist oligarchy, both traditionally suspicious of outside intervention.
But what a contrast between the different ways they are handling their situations.
A massive search and rescue operation is under way in south-western China after one of the most powerful earthquakes in decades.
Troops have arrived in Wenchuan county at the epicentre, which was largely cut off by the quake - but heavy rain is hampering rescue operations.
Barcelona has begun the unprecedented move of shipping in drinking water as the region experiences its worst drought in at least 60 years.
China kills more than 8,500 in one region (Financial times) http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/06c839fc-1ff2-11dd-80b4-000077b07658,dwp_uuid=9c33700c-4c86-11da-89df-0000779e2340.html?nclick_check=1
* Thousands feared dead as strong quake hits China (New York Times) http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/13/world/asia/13china.html?_r=1&partner=MOREOVERNEWS&oref=slogin
* Thousands feared dead in China Quake (LA Times) http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-chinaquake13-2008may13,0,6114570.story
* Frantic search for 900 buried schoolchildren as massive China earthquake kills 7000 (Daily Mail) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=565912&in_page_id=1811
* In Pictures – China earthquake (BBC News) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7396502.stm
* ‘Buried teenages crying for help’ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7396650.stm
* China earthquake kills thousands (The Guardian) http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/may/12/china?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront
* At least 7,000 are killed in China earthquake http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3917473.ece
* Red Cross on Death toll (BBC News video) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7396786.stm
* China Earthquake – News and Videos about China Earthquake (iReport) http://www.ireport.com/ir-topic-stories.jspa?topicId=21421
o Thousands dead in Chinese Quake (BBC News) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7396400.stm
o China kills more than 8,500 in one region (Financial times) http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/06c839fc-1ff2-11dd-80b4-000077b07658,dwp_uuid=9c33700c-4c86-11da-89df-0000779e2340.html?nclick_check=1
o Thousands feared dead as strong quake hits China (New York Times) http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/13/world/asia/13china.html?_r=1&partner=MOREOVERNEWS&oref=slogin
o Thousands feared dead in China Quake (LA Times) http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-chinaquake13-2008may13,0,6114570.story
o Frantic search for 900 buried schoolchildren as massive China earthquake kills 7000 (Daily Mail) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=565912&in_page_id=1811
o In Pictures – China earthquake (BBC News) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7396502.stm
o ‘Buried teenages crying for help’ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7396650.stm
o China earthquake kills thousands (The Guardian) http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/may/12/china?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront
o At least 7,000 are killed in China earthquake http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3917473.ece
o Red Cross on Death toll (BBC News video) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7396786.stm
o China Earthquake – News and Videos about China Earthquake (iReport) http://www.ireport.com/ir-topic-stories.jspa?topicId=21421
A landslip described as "the worst for 100 years" has destroyed more than 400 metres (1,312 ft) of Dorset's World Heritage Jurassic Coast.
The earth movement blocked a stretch of beach between Lyme Regis and Charmouth at 2031 BST on Tuesday.
A Coastguard spokeswoman said the site was "still rumbling" when crews left for the night. It was too dark to see but work resumed at first light.
Boulders "the size of cars" are still at risk of falling onto the beach.
The area is part of 95 miles (153 km) of Dorset and east Devon known as the Jurassic Coast, with rocks recording 185 million years of the earth's history.
FILM CLIP available
INTERACTIVE site with calculator
Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (formerly the Department for Trade and Industry)
Energy Group deals with energy-related matters from production to supply. It is committed to delivering the Government’s policy goals of safe, secure and sustainable energy supplies and ultimately a low-carbon economy, through competitive and independently regulated energy markets.
Energy is essential in almost every aspect of our lives and for the success of our economy, but we face two long-term challenges:
CLICK on Energy review report in 2006
SCROLL DOWN to The energy challenge. Energy review report 2006
In search box type
Allerdale population... PDF's and Excel files appear
The United States (US)—contrary to reports of 100 percent access to safe water and sanitation in international surveys—has a complex landscape of low-income water problems. Also, during the late-20th century, the US has had a declining role in international water programs providing infrastructure and monitoring to support access and sanitary conditions. This has contributed to limited international awareness of low-income water programs in the US, and has limited US awareness of low-income water issues. On the one hand, these trends reflect dramatic historical improvements in water and sanitation during the 20th century, for the poor as well as those better off, and this has relevance for international programs. Close inspection indicates that the US has significant geographic areas of low-income water problems that warrant attention, and a study of comparable problems and approaches would be of benefit locally and internationally. This
The government is considering plans which could transform West Cumbria into "Britain's Energy Coast".
It is claimed the plan, put forward by regeneration bosses, business leaders and MPs, could create 16,000 jobs and a £700m boost to Cumbria's economy.
It includes the creation of business parks, an academy for nuclear skills, a new hospital and major improvements to transport links and housing.
Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling is considering the plan.
A volcano has erupted in southern Chile, scattering ash over the surrounding area and forcing more than 4,000 people to leave their homes.
The eruption of the Chaiten volcano caught local authorities by surprise, as experts say it has been dormant for at least 450 years.
News Stories
One dead as Chilean volcano spews ash for third day http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKN0434134120080504
Chaiten volcano erupted, hundreds evacuate http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/national_world&id=6119658
Town evacuated as volcano erupts (Sky) http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1314939,00.html?f=rss
Tourists and locals flee Chaiten http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23638788-5013605,00.html
Hundreds of Chileans flee volcano (CBS News) http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/02/world/main4068577.shtml
Volcano blows its top in Chile (Newsround) http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_7380000/newsid_7381700/7381752.stm
Chile volcano prompts evacuation (includes video clip) – BBC News http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7381652.stm
In Pictures: Chile Volcano erupts – BBC News http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7381702.stm
Eruption at Chaiten Volcano, Chile (The Volcanism Blog) http://volcanism.wordpress.com/2008/05/02/eruption-at-chaiten-volcano-chile/
Satellite Image of Chaiten (The Volcanism Blog) http://volcanism.wordpress.com/2008/05/04/satellite-image-of-chaiten-2-may-2008/
Chaiten Update – 3rd May (The Volcanism Blog) http://volcanism.wordpress.com/2008/05/03/chaiten-update-3-may-2008/
Chile Volcano Erupts, village evacuated (The Guardian) http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/7498036
Chilean town nearly deserted after Chaiten volcano erupts, spews ash http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/03/news/Chile-Volcano-Eruption.php
Thousands flee as Chilean volcano erupts (Telegraph) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/chile/1924533/Thousands-flee-as-Chaiten-volcano-erupts-in-Chile.html
Photographs – Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/islachiloe/2459659127/
Chaiten Volcano Photos http://fiveprime.org/hivemind/Tags/chaiten,volcano/100/250/Recent
Chaiten Volcano – Flickr – a good set of photographs http://www.flickr.com/photos/guano/2460298398/
Videos:
Chaiten Volcano – clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6btWVddhkaY
Volcano forces villages to be evacuated http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wm-SiMJmWo4
Locals stay put as volcano erupts http://video.news.sky.com/skynews/video/?&videoSourceID=1314947&flashURL=/feeds/skynews/latest/flash/volcano_p6299.flv
Death toll rises in devastating Burma Cyclone (ABC News) http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/05/2234974.htm
Hundreds feared dead in Myanmar Cyclone http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/05/04/myanmar.cyclone/?iref=hpmostpop
Over 350 dead as cyclone pounds Myanmar http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSBKK1919620080504?feedType=RSS&feedName=top News
Myanmar cyclone kills at least 351 http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/newsmlmmd.c3d3441dc4f2f005fe9687f85725a30b. 811.html
Cyclone leaves at least 350 dead in Burma (Guardian) http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/may/05/burma.naturaldisasters
Aid effort for cyclone-hit Burma http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7383573.stm
Burma cyclone damage assessed http://www.itv.com/News/Articles/Burma-cyclone-damage-assessed-249930073.html
Burma Cyclone - Eyewitness Reports http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7383821.stm
Images
Nargis Cyclone http://www.flickr.com/photos/tza/2463807874/
Cyclone Nargis map http://www.flickr.com/photos/chanmyasoe/2463112092/
In Pictures: Burmese Cyclone (BBC News) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7382836.stm
In Pictures: Burmese clean up http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7383733.stm
Videos:
ITN – Burma Cyclone Video http://itn.co.uk/videos/a8d2efc7f141912790b8bc7bd8b035a4.html
Cyclone batters Myanmar’s main city Yangon http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4NjDAKLxo4
Hundreds die in Myanmar Cyclone http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUcL1mHYYMo
Burma Must allow agencies in (Video from the BBC) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7382685.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7384041.stm
The death toll from a devastating cyclone that hit western Burma on Saturday has now climbed to 3,939 people, state television says.
West Lakes Renaissance is private-sector led but with the full commitment of the key public partners - Cumbria County Council, Allerdale, Barrow and Copeland Borough Councils and NWDA.
West Lakes Renaissance is the dynamic urban regeneration company leading the economic revival of Furness and West Cumbria.
Over the next 10 years we will invest £200 million into a series of exciting projects; create 5,000 new jobs; encourage substantial private sector investment; and open up new and exciting opportunities for businesses and the proud communities we serve.
Our aim is to build on the area’s reputation as a world-leader in the nuclear, maritime and manufacturing industries to create a diverse, knowledge-based economy revolving around skills and business growth.
Examining Affordability of Houses in Cumbria using StreetValue and Paycheck PDF
This is the latest version of The Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), based on the premise that deprivation is made up of separate dimensions, or 'domains' of deprivation. Within the IMD, these domains are made up of a number of indicators which cover aspects of deprivation as comprehensively as possible. The IMD 2007 contains seven domains of deprivation, each of which is now outlined.
The Income domain measures people who are on a low income. Income deprivation is one of the most important aspects of deprivation. The indicators in this domain are made up of the counts of people in families in receipt of means tested benefits.
This domain measures employment deprivation conceptualised as involuntary exclusion of the working age population from the world of work.
This domain identifies areas with relatively high rates of people who die prematurely or whose quality of life is impaired by poor healthy or who are disabled, across the whole population.
This domain captures the extent of deprivation in terms of education, skills and training in a local area. The indicators fall into two sub-domains: one relating to education deprivation for children / young people in the area and one relating to lack of skills and qualifications among the working age adult population.
The purpose of this domain is to measure barriers to housing and key local services. The indicators fall into two sub-domains: 'geographical barriers' and 'wider barriers' which also includes issues relating to access to housing, such as affordability
This domain measures the incidence of recorded crime for four major crime themes, representing the occurrence of personal and material victimisation at a small area level.
This domain focuses on deprivation with respect to the characteristics of the living environment. It comprises two sub-domains: the 'indoors' living environment which measures the quality of housing, and the 'outdoors' living environment which contains two measures about air quality and road traffic accidents.
Outputs for the IMD 2007 are given at the level of Super Output Area (SOA). SOAs are geographically defined areas that have been designed for the collection and publication of small area statistics.
To enable comparisons to be made between the level of deprivation in different SOAs, each one has been ascribed an overall national rank for 2007, determined by the aggregation of the 7 domains of deprivation outlined above. There are 32,482 SOAs in England, with the most deprived given a rank of 1 and the least deprived ward given a rank of 32,482. The overall rank of an SOA can as such be used to show how it compares to all the other SOAs in the country as regards to level of deprivation.
The North West of England, has an area of 14165 square kilometres and with 6.9 million inhabitants has the second largest population of the United Kingdom's regions and is three times more densely populated than the European average. Our economy is larger than five European member states - Republic of Ireland, Finland, Luxembourg, Portugal and Greece.
The North West has 5 sub-regions:
