Good enough for an Indian

A NYT article discusses the cloud still hanging over the tragedy in Bhopal, India, where toxic fumes escaped and killed about 4,000 people immediately and an estimated 15,000 since. On the 25th anniversary of the event, the author claims “the site still has not been cleaned up, because Dow Chemical, which since acquired Union Carbide, refuses to accept any responsibility.”

The families of the dead got an average of $2,200; the wounded got $550; a Dow spokeswoman explained, that amount “is plenty good for an Indian.”

Always the sharks: Are shark attacks increasing? Swim at Your Own Risk always has new reports, mostly from Australia and Florida. Maybe it’s been like this decades, but I’ve never before followed the reports.

Japan and oil: The International Energy Agency (an energy advisory) says this about Japan and oil consumption:

the average new vehicle sold in Japan in 2030 will have to attain on average 85 miles per gallon. Even small motorcycles cannot get close to that level of efficiency in everyday use today. Those 2030 Japanese vehicles will have to be plug in hybrids and Japan will have to build electrical capacity to handle this demand.

Posted in Animal World, Enviro.