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PICKS are stories from many sources, selected by our editors or recommended by our readers because they are important, surprising, troubling, enlightening, inspiring, or amusing. They appear on our site and in our daily newsletter. Please send suggested articles, videos, podcasts, etc. to picks@whowhatwhy.org.
UN Warns Against ‘Vampiric’ Global Water Use (Maria)
The author writes, “A United Nations report has warned of a looming global water crisis and an ‘imminent risk’ of shortages due to overconsumption and climate change. The world is ‘blindly traveling a dangerous path’ of ‘vampiric overconsumption and overdevelopment,’ the report says. Its publication comes before the first major UN water summit since 1977. Thousands of delegates will attend the three-day gathering in New York which begins on Wednesday. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres says water, ‘humanity’s lifeblood,’ is being drained by ‘unsustainable water use, pollution and unchecked global warming.’”
Chris Christie: ‘The Circus Continues’ on Trump Calling for Protests Over Potential Arrest (Reader Jim)
The author writes, “Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) on Sunday said “the circus continues” in response to a question about former President Trump claiming he’ll be arrested on Tuesday in connection with an alleged hush-money payment to adult-film star Stormy Daniels — and also urged his supporters to protest.”
More Chairmen Named ‘Mike’ Than Women Committee Leaders in Congress (Dana)
From Newsweek: “Despite holding 29 percent of the seats in today’s Congress, women have only 17 percent of committee leadership positions (both chairs and ranking members.) In fact, in the 118th Congress, the chairs of House committees include more men named Michael than women of any name.”
Drone Strikes, Sabotage, Shelling: Russia’s War on Ukraine Comes to Russia (Russ)
From The Washington Post: “More than a year after President Vladimir Putin unleashed his invasion, Russia’s war in Ukraine is also being fought on Russian soil, and Moscow is scrambling to protect its borders. The war Putin expected to win quickly now encroaches daily on the lives of Russian citizens, with frequent reports of fires, drone attacks and shelling.”
A Mass Wave of Army Refusal Offers a Transformative Moment for Israel (Gerry)
The author writes, “For the first time in two decades, a new movement of Israeli army refusers has emerged in opposition to the far-right government, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, as it advances a slew of anti-democratic legislation. The proposed laws, described as a ‘judicial coup’ by opponents, will severely weaken the country’s courts, giving the ruling coalition almost unlimited power. … Against this imminent threat, thousands of Israeli soldiers and reservists have made public statements announcing their intent to refuse army service should the government’s legislation pass.”
Climate Journalism Needs Voices From the Global South (Laura)
From Eos: “As the climate crisis intensifies and the global impacts of rising temperatures increase, climate journalists are faced with mounting pressure to both report facts accurately and convey the depth and scope of the communities affected. With researchers from the Global North dominating funding and garnering more media attention, reporters worldwide scramble to better represent scientists and stakeholders from affected regions. A new Global South Climate Database could bolster efforts toward more accurate, equitable climate news coverage. The database connects journalists with experts from communities that are the most affected by climate change.”
Summer 2023’s Hot Tick-Borne Flu Disease to Fear: Babesiosis (Sean)
The author writes, “Just when you thought we didn’t have enough deadly diseases or fungi to worry about, another one rears its head: Babesiosis, a severe and sometimes fatal disease carried by ticks, everyone’s least-favorite discreet arachnid enemies. Once considered extremely rare, the CDC now reports that there’s been a drastic (ahem) uptick of the disease in the Northeastern United States.”
The Puerto Rico Gravity Anomaly: What Is Happening Beneath the Deepest Trench in the Atlantic? (DonkeyHotey)
From IFLScience: “On the boundary of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean is the Puerto Rico Trench, the deepest in the Atlantic Ocean. Kilometers above it, the ocean’s surface is dipped slightly, pulled by an anomaly of Earth’s gravity. If you drop an object there, it will fall slightly faster than elsewhere on the planet or in the surrounding area. Meanwhile navigation equipment can be thrown off by the anomaly, causing false readings for sailors in the area. So what is causing the gravity anomaly, and are there any others like it?”
