By Clarissa Toll and Marion Gil |Asst. News Editor and News Editor|
Forty percent of China’s arable land degraded
Much of China’s farmable land has suffered degradation, due to the growing population and spreading urbanization, reducing the country’s ability to provide food for its almost 1.4 billion population.
China has already outlined plans to fight against pollution, which include creating more connected farmland by 2020 as well as strengthening the monitoring of arable land and passing legislation to protect farmland.
Scotland wins in the energy department
Scotland produced enough wind energy to support over 3 million homes in October. These levels of renewable energy came around the same time in which some of the U.K.’s nuclear reactors were being temporarily shut down by EDF Energy for maintenance.
“In August the U.K. set a new record for wind power generation, with wind accounting for 17 percent of national demand,” stated a Climate Progress article.
Mamas can’t drink
A recent hearing in the U.K. could make taking medication and the refusal of Cesarian sections criminal actions for pregnant women.
While the appeal does set out to make drinking during pregnancy illegal, the action was put forth by the National Organization for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome U.K., an organization that supports families with children who have Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS).
Allergies are gonna suck
According to The Washington Post, airborne allergens have increased due to climate change. A study released by the University of Massachusetts states that grass pollen may double in the next century due to increased levels of carbon dioxide and ozone in the air.
The study observed Timothy grass, a large human allergen producer, and concluded that when both concentrations of carbon dioxide and ozone are increased, pollen production expands.
Pot for one, and one for all
Oregon and Alaska joined other states such as Colorado and Washington in the legalization of marijuana on Nov. 4.
In light of the recent states to legalize marijuana, the anti-pot group, Smart Approaches to Marijuana, has promised to increase their measures to thwart legalization efforts.
According to the Los Angeles Times, election organizers are planning to work towards legalizing the substance in California during the 2016 elections.
Foster mother sentenced to life for killing 2-year-old
Two years ago, Alex Hill, a two-year-old girl, was killed by her foster mother after being taken from her parents who were deemed unfit to raise her.
Hill’s father admitted that he smoked marijuana after he put his daughter to bed, something that is against Texas child welfare policy, while Hill’s mother suffers from frequent seizures. These two factors caused child welfare services to deem Hill’s parents unfit to care for her.
Two years after the murder, Small was sentenced to life in prison for the murder.
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