NowPublic's Top 10 Environment Stories and Coverage of 2009

by Amy Judd | December 15, 2009 at 05:43 pm

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NowPublic has had a lot of great Environment stories during 2009, and what follows is a list of just 10 areas of coverage.

From the wildfires in Australia to the storms and Earth Day, this year has been a busy one for our Environment. As the year closes with the Copenhagen Summit, no doubt 2010 is only going to get busier and filled with more Environmental events.

Let's look at the top 10 stories or groups of stories and see what we came up with. (These are in no particular order). The selections were based on page views, reporting, and media attached to the stories.

Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant in Brazil causes mass blackout:

On November 10, millions of people in Brazil lost power when the hydroelectric dam lost its entire hydroelectric output:

The Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant in Brazil, the largest in the world has stopped working, causing a blackout in Brazil in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and parts of Paraguay are also experiencing problems.

Sydney Dust Storm Turns Sky Red:

Sydneysiders woke up today and find the sky has turned red. A huge dust storm blanketed Sydney, reducing visibility to few meters in some places.

The Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival:

In early April, Japan bloomed with their fabulous Cherry Blossom Festival:

In Japan, the Cherry blossom has a very particular and important meaning since the cherry tree is botanically a native of the Japanese Isles.

Alaska Blob: Floating Arctic Goo:

Although it turned out to be marine algae, for a while many thought that this giant blob of oily biological material was in fact alive.

No one has ever seen anything like it, which is prompting some concern for local fisherman and residents. It looks pitch black against the white of the Arctic ice, and when it touches ice, it discolors and will hang off it because it is so sticky.

Australia Wildfire coverage:

Early 2009 saw the worst wildfire disaster in Australia in 25 years with temperatures at 117 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas.

John Brumby, the premier of Victoria state where the deadly fires raged, said he had accepted the prime minister's offer to send troops to help thousands of exhausted volunteer firefighters.

The animals were also affected when the fires raged, most of all the koalas, who struggled to run from the flames. A family who took a photo of a baby koala sitting in a bucket on their property became an instant internet hit and a symbol of the heat that the country was battling.

The koala, dubbed "Star," came down from her tree in a garden and seemingly begged for water on a house's verandah. Wildlife officials have come to her aid, and she's now doing well in an animal infirmary.

World Wildfire coverage:

Unfortunately, 2009 saw many fires raging across the planet, with some of the worst in the LA area, but BC also battled its own flames.
NowPublic staff and members came together to provide premium coverage of all the wildfires, complete with photos, videos and maps.
A selection of some of our wildfire stories:
Station Fire in Los Angeles Update: LA Fire Map
Los Angeles Fires Map: 2009 California Wildfires Visualized
La Canada Fires Grow: Station Fire Update, Map, Evacuations
La Canada, Rancho Palos Verdes, Station Fires Spreading (map)
Angeles National Forest Wildfire: Morris, Azusa Brush Fire
Hemet Fire: 1000 Acres Still Burning
La Canada Flintridge City Station Fire in LA Grows to 300 Acres
Glenrosa and Rose Valley Fires Contained - Terrace Mtn Evac Order
Raging BC Wildfire - Okanagan - Forces 5000 to Flee
Santa Barbara Jesusita Fire Under Control, but 1200 Evacuated
Myrtle Beach Wildfires Cause State of Emergency in South Carolina

Michaelle Jean eats raw seal heart to show solidarity for seal hunt:

Canadian Governor General ate a piece of a raw seal heart during a trip to the Canadian Arctic to show solidarity to the Canadian seal hunt.

Anti seal hunting groups in Canada and abroad have called this gesture a slap in the face of the EU, which recently banned all products made of seal. The International Humane Society has met this gesture with dismay.

Invasion of the Jellyfish:

A new exhibit at the National Aquarium in Baltimore explored the mystery and the beauty of the jellyfish.

Jellies have survived some 650 million years and are the largest of the plankton family. The title of the exhibit "Jellies Invasion" isn't a marketing catchphrase but a warning of the damage being caused around the world by increasing populations of Jellies

London's 2012 Cyclepath:

NowPublic member Beaulieu has been monitoring the Greenway Cyclepath in London and how it is being cleaned up, or not being cleaned up, before the big event.

They assured me that it would look wonderful. But, this is what it looks like. The Cycle Path from Hell looks like the beginnings of a motorway. I thought they would make the path more attractive to cyclists. Perhaps they may make the path green (after all it is called the Greenway, or even red. What it needs now is a Service Station. Let's hope it will be a Cycle Path from Heaven but it looks like it has a long way to go.

Weather Stories Coverage:

2009 has been a year of storms, hurricanes, typhoons, flooding and snow. NowPublic responded with excellent coverage of all weather disasters, and what follows is just a small selection of them.

Tropical Storm Ida Hitting US East Coast, Still Powerful.
Hurricane Ida Projected Path: Photos and Info
40 Dead in El Savador Flooding - Hurricane Ida
Hurricane Rick's First Victim in Los Cabos
Tropical Storm Patricia is Heading to Los Cabos
Philippines Flooding: 60 Dead as Tropical Storm Kestana Hits
Six Flags Under Water as Flooding in Atlanta Continues
Thousands Struggle With Aftermath of Hurricane Jimena
6.8 Earthquake in Okinawa, Japan. Tsunami Warning Cancelled.
Typhoon Morakot Due to Hit Taiwan Tonight
Nor'easter Pounds New York - Schools Closed As a Snow Day