Chris Infotainment

Throughout my time with UNICEF, I have encountered countless children and families whose lives have been profoundly affected by natural disasters. In Vietnam, during my recent visits, I witnessed the aftermath of powerful typhoons that left entire communities in ruins. In many areas, all that remained were long trails of mud—soft silt hardened into pale streaks—marking where homes and livelihoods once stood. Everything had been swept away. Clean water disappeared, along with food, health, education, and protection services, which were disrupted for days or even weeks. On fences and bare branches left behind by the storms, parents carefully laid out their children’s schoolbooks to dry—pages soaked, torn, and caked with mud. In the eyes of the children, there was a blankness filled with confusion, a reflection of the bewilderment and fear that disasters leave behind. In recent months, northern and central Vietnam has experienced heavy flooding. Mountain passes have collapsed, and en...

Professor flees country over death threats Stands by calls for 4WD ban on beaches A leading ecologist has been forced to flee his home country following a wave of death threats after calling for restrictions on four-wheel-drive (4WD) access to popular beaches. Professor Thomas Schlacher, from the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, has long argued that heavy vehicle traffic is causing irreversible damage to fragile marine habitats. His concerns sparked a national debate earlier this year when he proposed limiting 4WDs on stretches of sand that support vulnerable bird species and other coastal wildlife. Professor Schlacher expected opposition from motorists, but was not prepared for the hostile backlash that followed. The abuse began online, with one comment asking: "How many college professors can we bury on a beach?" The threats escalated, culminating in an anonymous note left in his letterbox that read "we know where you live," accompanied by a ...

Impact of the Recent Floods in Central Vietnam Torrential rains and landslides that began on November 16 have caused significant damage in central Vietnam, with at least 14 people reported dead or missing. The Vietnam Disaster and Dyke Management Authority, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, has confirmed the extent of the disaster. Heavy Losses in Khanh Hoa Province Khanh Hoa province, which includes the popular tourist destination Nha Trang, has suffered the most severe losses. Nine individuals are either dead or missing, with seven confirmed deaths and two still unaccounted for. A tragic incident occurred on Khanh Le Pass, which connects Nha Trang to Da Lat, when a mountain slide struck a sleeper bus carrying 32 passengers. This single event resulted in six fatalities. In Da Nang City, three people are missing, while one person is missing in Quang Tri Province and another in Hue City. The case in Quang Tri involves a truck driver who drove onto a flooded spillwa...

A massive pile of illegally dumped waste has been discovered in a field near Kidlington in Oxfordshire, forming what appears to be a towering mountain of refuse. The site, which has drawn significant attention from local authorities and environmental organizations, features a waste heap that stretches at least 60 meters in length and reaches a height of 10 meters. This alarming accumulation of trash has raised serious concerns about its impact on the surrounding environment and the financial burden it may place on local councils. Local authorities have expressed worry over the potential costs associated with removing the waste, as they warn that the expenses could surpass their available budget. In addition to the financial implications, there are growing concerns about the environmental risks posed by the dump’s proximity to a nearby river. Experts suggest that the presence of such a large amount of waste could lead to contamination of water sources, posing a threat to both wildlife...

Nguyen Van, a resident of Da Nang, describes the floods as something that has become like an office worker: arriving every Monday, leaving by the weekend, allowing people to clean up, and then returning the following Monday. On October 22, after seeing forecasts of heavy rains that could flood streets and cut off access to markets, the 35-year-old stocked her fridge with enough provisions for a week. However, the rain never came. As days passed, she and her husband gradually cooked through their supplies, and she laughed at her over-cautiousness. Then, just as they relaxed, the skies opened, pelting the city with rain and causing floodwaters to rise along with their worries about running out of food. By the afternoon of October 28, water had poured down their alley and quickly flooded their home. They only had time to move electronic items to the attic and grab four sets of clothes. For the first three days, the water stubbornly remained nearly two meters deep. Her husband, Jonatha...

Changing Weather Patterns in the Himalayas Clear skies, calm winds, and a panoramic view of Himalayan peaks draped in snow – that is what autumn hikers on Mount Everest have come to love. But that seems to be changing. Meteorologists say that the monsoon now stretches into autumn, which is traditionally mountain tourism season. During this delayed tail end of the monsoon, they have recorded at least one episode of extreme rainfall almost every year for the past decade, with mountain weather becoming dangerous. Last weekend, a shock blizzard stranded hundreds of tourists near the eastern face of Everest for days in freezing temperatures at an altitude of more than 4,900m (16,000ft). Nearly 600 trekkers were guided to safety by the end of Tuesday, according to Chinese state media. One person had died from hypothermia and altitude sickness, but the others were reportedly in good condition. This was on the Tibetan side, but something similar had unfolded on the Nepal side, where a South...

Recognizing the Heroes and the Urgency of Climate Action Super Typhoon Ragasa has not only tested the resilience of Hong Kong but also brought to light the courage and dedication of its unsung heroes. Among them are the sampan captains who risked their lives to rescue people swept out to sea, the anonymous workers in boilersuits who worked tirelessly to clear fallen trees and restore normalcy, and the staff at cha chaan tengs who continued serving hot meals to hungry residents despite the chaos. These individuals have shown remarkable bravery and commitment, often putting their own safety aside to help others. However, their heroism raises an important question: Do we bear any responsibility for placing their lives in danger? The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as stronger typhoons, rising sea levels, and storm surges, are clear indicators of climate change. If we fail to take meaningful action to address this global crisis, our admiration for thes...

The Growing Threat of Rare-Earth Mining to the Mekong River The Mekong River, a vital lifeline for millions across Southeast Asia, is facing an alarming environmental crisis due to the unchecked expansion of rare-earth mining in Myanmar. This activity is releasing toxic metals into the river system, posing severe risks to ecosystems, food security, and water supplies across the region. Ecologists have raised urgent concerns about the potential for a major ecological disaster if action is not taken soon. Myanmar has emerged as the world's largest source of heavy rare-earth elements, which are essential for producing high-tech products such as wind turbines, electric vehicles, and medical devices. These minerals are primarily mined in Shan State, where ongoing civil conflict has created a volatile environment that allows for little regulation. Recent findings by Thailand’s Department of Pollution Control revealed dangerously high levels of arsenic in the Kok River, a tributary of ...

Understanding Ocean Upwelling and Its Critical Role Ocean upwelling is a natural process where deep, cold water rises to the surface, driven by wind patterns. This phenomenon plays a crucial role in marine ecosystems by bringing nutrient-rich water from the ocean depths to the surface. These nutrients fuel the growth of algae and plankton, forming the base of the marine food web. In regions like the Gulf of Panama, this process is vital for sustaining biodiversity and supporting local economies. Every year, between December and April, northerly winds generate an upwelling that brings cold, nutrient-laden waters to the surface. This cycle has been a reliable feature of the region’s oceanography for over 40 years, with historical records showing that it typically begins as early as January 20 and lasts for around 66 days. During this period, sea surface temperatures drop significantly, reaching lows of 19°C (66.2°F) or even 14.9°C (58.8°F). However, this year, the pattern has deviated ...

The Toba Supereruption and Human Survival 74,000 years ago, the Toba supereruption occurred, one of the most catastrophic events in Earth's history. This eruption, which took place in what is now Indonesia, had global implications for living organisms. As an archaeologist specializing in ancient volcanic eruptions, I find it remarkable that humans managed to survive this massive event, which was over 10,000 times more powerful than the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption. The Toba eruption expelled an astonishing 672 cubic miles (2,800 km³) of volcanic ash into the stratosphere, creating a massive crater approximately 1,000 football fields long. The scale of this eruption would have led to dark skies, blocking sunlight and potentially causing years of global cooling. In areas near the volcano, acid rain contaminated water sources, while thick layers of ash buried animals and vegetation. Despite these extreme conditions, humans managed to endure. The question remains: how did Homo sap...

A Global Challenge: The Plastics Crisis Throughout history, each generation has faced its own environmental challenges. Older generations dealt with lead in fuel and paint, while earlier ones encountered asbestos in construction materials. Before that, coal dust and industrial toxins affected entire communities. Now, our era is marked by a new, pervasive threat—plastic. Its widespread use has transformed the planet into a dumping ground, with plastic clogging rivers, seas, and landscapes. This material does not degrade easily and has broken down into microplastics that now enter our food chain and even our bodies. Plastic is not biodegradable, and its mass production, driven by corporate interests and unchecked capitalism, continues to harm ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. For many years, it seemed as though there was little hope of reversing this trend. However, recent developments have sparked renewed optimism. The United Nations is currently negotiating a global plastics tr...