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Alien invaders catch the US on the back foot; Whales are granted a reprieve – for the next 12 months at least; Scientists enter an unusual alliance to monitor some disturbing trends in the Arctic; and an initiative to fix the health and environmental hazards plaguing many South African homes.
For years, the United States has been struggling with a deadly invader. Last week authorities had some bad news to report.
The Asian carp is a fish species alien to the US. It has a voracious appetite and a history of chocking off the food supply for other fish in its wake. It's been gradually making its way up the Mississippi towards the Great Lakes, and if it gets there, it could spell doom for the region's unique ecosystem – as well as it's multi-billion-dollar fishing industry.
Last week, authorities made a chilling discovery: An Asian Carp was fished out of a waterway close to Lake Michigan – behind the last line of defense aimed at holding the intruders at bay.
Report: Kateri Jochum
A heavily billed show-down between pro- and anti-whaling nations ended more in a fizzle than a bang last week. Conservationists claim a tactical victory.
For now, the 25-year-old ban on commercial whaling remains in place after the defeat of a controversial compromise-proposal to overturn the moratorium in return for whaling nations making fewer kills. Niki Entrup was at the meeting and DW spoke to him after the International Whaling Commission conference to get his take on the outcome.
Interview: Niki Entrup / Nathan Witkop
For scientists to maintain their credibility, they have to be seen to be independent. That's why they're often wary of interest groups with agendas that could compromise their perceived objectivity. So a lot of people were surprised to hear about a joint venture between the respected Leibniz Institute for marine sciences at Kiel University and an environmental lobby group.
The scientists announced they would be heading up to the Arctic with Greenpeace. Together they aimed to look into the effects of ocean acidification from rising levels of carbon dioxide. Deutsche Welle went along to find out why this time, scientists and NGOs were in the same boat.
Report: Irene Quaile
Low-cost housing has boomed since the end of apartheid, unfortunately many constructions are poorly desingned and leading to health and environmental problems.
Millions of people around the world have been glued to TV sets these past couple of weeks following the soccer World Cup. For audiences in host-nation South Africa, the most common venue is their home. Low-cost housing has boomed since the end of apartheid – thanks to social housing programmes – unfortunately many constructions of have been of poor quality. They're causing health and environmental hazards, which are affecting the nation's poorest, hardest. A partnership program between Germans and South Africans aims to changes this. It's called Enerkey.
Report: Richard Fuchs
