Latest news with #TheDustBowl
Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
8 worst environmental disasters on Earth that are caused by humans
Our planet has been shaped by various human activities that have largely contributed to make Earth a better planet for survival. But some human activities are the reason for environmental disasters that can be clearly seen today. Over the years, various human activities have led to environmental disasters that continue to impact not only the ecosystem but also our planet as a whole. Ranging from oil spills and nuclear accidents, these disasters highlight the results of neglecting environmental responsibility. Therefore, it is important to understand these events that can be a learning from our mistakes to stop the damage in to a report by Treehugger, here are the 10 worst environmental disasters caused by humans. From the Dust bowl to Flint water crisis: 8 major environmental disasters caused by humans The Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone The Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone is one of the largest human-caused environmental disasters which was primarily caused by excess of nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers, sewage and industrial runoff flowing to the Mississippi River where the nutrients trigger massive algae blooms which consume oxygen in the water and created 'dead zones' where the marine life cannot survive and it also disrupted the fisheries, damaged the ecosystem and threatened the local economies that were dependent on fishing and tourism. Thus, the Gulf Dead Zone is an example of how agricultural and industrial pollution can devastate our environment. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Source: Treehugger The Great Pacific Garbage Patch The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is an accumulation of plastic waste which is floating in the North Pacific Ocean that was created entirely by the activities of humans. It was formed by ocean currents that we know as gyres and this patch contains an estimated 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic. It is a vast stock of plastic that harms marine life, disrupts the ecosystem and enters the food chain as well. The patch is growing larger each year due to global plastic consumption and poor waste management . Source: Treehugger The Dust Bowl The Dust Bowl was a devastating environmental disaster that happened in the central United States which was caused by poor farming practices and severe drought. When the drought struck, high winds swept up the dry topsoil that created massive dust storms which choked the sky, ruined crops and forced thousands of families to abandon their land and migrate to a new place for survival. This human-caused disaster has damaged ecosystems and has also triggered an economic and humanitarian crisis. Source: Treehugger Three Mile Island Accident The Three Mile Island accident which happened in 1979 was the worst nuclear power plant disaster in the history of the U.S. which was caused by a combination of mechanical failure and human error where a partial meltdown at the Pennsylvania plant released the radioactive gases into the atmosphere by sparking widespread public fear and raising serious concerns about nuclear safety. Though the radiation release was limited, the accident had lasting effects environmentally, politically and socially. Source: Treehugger Love Canal Disaster The Love Canal disaster in Niagara Falls is one of the most infamous examples of toxic waste mismanagement where a chemical company had buried over 20,000 tons of hazardous waste in the ground which was later covered and sold for residential development. Over a period of time, the toxic chemicals began seeping into basements and yards by causing severe health problems like birth defects, cancer and chronic illnesses. Source: Treehugger Tennessee Valley Authority Coal Ash Spill In December 2008, a containment wall at a TVA power plant in Kingston collapsed which released over 1 billion gallons of coal ash slurry that is a toxic mix of heavy metals and waste from coal-burning into nearby rivers, homes and land. It covered hundreds of acres, destroyed property and severely contaminated water sources. It was caused by poor waste storage practices and it became one of the worst industrial spills in U.S. history. Source: Treehugger 2017 California Wildfires California wildfires in the year 2017 were among the most destructive in the state's history which led to the burning over 1.3 million acres of land, destroying thousands of structures and claiming dozens of fires released massive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere and resulted in long-term damage to forests, air quality and communities. These disasters highlighted how climate change, poor land management and infrastructure issues can combine to affect the environment on a devastating scale. Source: Treehugger Flint Water Crisis The Flint Water Crisis is a major human-caused environmental disaster in Flint, Michigan. In a cost-cutting move, the officials switched the city's water source to the Flint River without proper treatment. Over 100,000 residents were affected with serious health issues. Though less explosive than Chernobyl or Bhopal, Flint's slow-burning impact marks it as one of the world's worst modern environmental injustices. Source: Wikipedia Also read: Global Warming vs. Climate Change: Know what is the real difference, causes and steps for controlling
BBC News
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'I love my country': Ken Burns on showing the dark parts of US history
Ahead of his upcoming PBS documentary, The American Revolution, acclaimed film-maker Ken Burns tells BBC special correspondent Katty Kay about his unique approach to chronicling US history, from war and conflict to baseball and jazz. Titles like Brooklyn Bridge, Prohibition and The Dust Bowl may conjure visions of classroom lessons and by-the-book recitations of facts, but portraying historical events in an approachable – and enthralling – way has become US documentarian Ken Burns's trademark. Since the 1980s, he has brought history and culture to audiences in a way that textbooks simply cannot. Burns's body of work has earned him two Academy Award nominations, two Grammy Awards and 15 Emmy wins. At his home in Walpole, New Hampshire, US, the acclaimed documentary-maker tells BBC special correspondent Katty Kay that, like most creatives, he has more ideas than he knows what to do with. "Your head might be filled with 40 or 50 topics, as my head is always filled up, but when one [topic] drops down to your heart, you realise it's firing on all cylinders," Burns tells Kay. Those topics have ranged from jazz to baseball, and from the granular, such as a chronicle of Leonardo da Vinci's life and work, to the expansive, like 2009's The National Parks: America's Best Idea. "I don't want to tell you stories about what I know," he says. "I'd rather share with you a process of discovery. So, I dive into things that I don't know enough about." His next area of exploration is the 18th Century: his six-part, 12-hour series, The American Revolution, is due to air on PBS on 16 November. The debut coincides with the 250th anniversary of the American War of Independence, which began in the 13 colonies of British America in 1775 and continued for many years, culminating in the founding of a United States of America. "The American Revolution is one of the most important events in human history," Burns told PBS ahead of special screenings for students and teachers across the US. "We went from being subjects to inventing a new concept, citizens, and set in motion democratic revolutions around the globe." On the subject of history, Burns says he does not subscribe to the popular view that it is always doomed to repeat itself, deferring to the opinion of the 19th-Century Spanish-American philosopher George Santayana. "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it," was Santanya's comment, in reference to the Holocaust. "It's [a] lovely phrase you'd wish would be true," says Burns. He also points to the famous quote that is attributed to US author Mark Twain: "History doesn't repeat itself, but it does often rhyme." Burns doesn't gloss over the uncomfortable parts of US history, pointing out that, for him, being patriotic doesn't mean erasing the past; for instance, the fact that Benjamin Franklin owned slaves. "He knew it was wrong, and he kept doing it," Burns says. "At the beginning, growing up, I had a kind of idealised version of my country. I love my country. I don't know anyone who loves their country more than me. I make films about the US, but I make films about us." Burns tells Kay that he believes it can take time for a story's significance to be understood. "I've been interviewing Obama about his administration, and the longer I wait to do that film, the better it will be, because of the perspective that the passage of time will give," Burns says. When asked about the breadth of his work, which ranges from biographies of single individuals to global events, Burns says that he can be laser-focused on the task at hand. As Burns wraps up The American Revolution and the forthcoming Obama project, he says that he has more than enough material to last beyond "the 2030s" – and, in particular, he has his eyes set on a history of the US's Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). More like this:• It took nearly 60 years for Brooke Shields to overcome her imposter syndrome• 'I was born to be an actor': Twice-knighted Derek Jacobi on nearly 70 years on the stage and screen• Expect to 'age out' of your career, says Vera Wang – she's had at least four "Somebody asked of Duke Ellington, who is certainly our most prolific [composer, with] maybe 22…, 2,300, 2,400 compositions, what the most important one is. He said, 'The one I'm working on now.' And to me, that's how we feel." Influential with Katty Kay airs on Fridays at 21:30 ET on the BBC News channel. -- For more Culture stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
