【推荐1】The number of weather-related disasters has increased by five times over the past 50 years, the latest report by the World Meteorological (气象) Organization (WMO) said on September 1. However, thanks to improved early warning systems and disaster management, the number of death from these hazards (危险) has been almost three times less.

According to the WMO, from 1970 to 2019, weather, climate and water hazards accounted for 50 percent of all disasters. Among the top 10 hazards that led to the largest loss of human life during this period were droughts, storms, floods and extreme temperatures. However, deaths fell from over 50, 000 in the 1970s to less than 20, 000 in the 2010s.

“Weather, climate and water extremes are increasing and will become more frequent and severe in many parts of the world as a result of climate change,” says WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas.

“That means more heatwaves, drought and forest fires such as those we have observed recently in Europe and North America. We have more water vapor in the atmosphere, which is worsening extreme rainfall and deadly flooding. The warming of the oceans has affected the frequency and area of existence of the most intense tropical storms.”

“Economic losses are increasing as exposure increases. But behind the statistics lies a message of hope. Improved multi-hazard early warning systems have led to a significant reduction in deaths. Quite simply, we are better than ever before at saving lives,” Taalas said.

【推荐1】Gharials are living along the river banks of India and eat fish. There was a time when they were plentiful, but that was many years ago. The population changed from about 10,000 in 1946 to fewer than 250 in 2006, which led to gharials being put in the endangered part on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list.

Gharials were in such a condition due to increased fishing in their living areas — fish were caught in large numbers — gharials sometimes couldn’t find enough food. Gharials were hunted for their skins, for use in traditional medicine and so on. Many lost their living places.

Conservation efforts began in the 1970s when the Indian government started a program that built the National Chambal Sanctuary in 1978. The next year, some gharials were put into the Chambal River. Other rivers, including the Gandaki, were added. The Gandaki River is a good place for the gharials because it has sandbanks and wetlands.

Since 2016, nests have been found every year with help from local farmers and fishermen who then help to protect gharials. “Members of the community were trained by experts to watch and help gharials, ”said Samir Kumar Sinha, head of conservation at the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI).

A 2018 survey by the WTI recorded more than 160 gharials in the Gandaki River. The organization also found 20 baby gharials. Now, the gharials are being found in other parts of India and in parts of Nepal. In fact, they are found in the Kosi River in India for the first time in 50 years. They are still endangered but now there is hope that the animals will begin to make a comeback.

【推荐2】Ways to Save the Ocean

It’s no doubt that the ocean needs our help.    1    Only through building collective power can we force states and corporations to take responsibility for the damage they’ve caused to the planet.

Still, however much we understand that reducing and recycling is not enough, small actions can help us save the ocean. With this in mind, we’ve rounded up some simple actions we can all take to save the ocean.    2    There are also other ways to save the ocean.

Commit to a plastic-free lifestyle. So, in order to help save the ocean, many people are committing to a plastic-free lifestyle. The United Nations (UN) has even encouraged the public to think about how they deal with plastic and the ways they can live without it, or replace it:    3    If you really need to use plastic, recycle it responsibly.

Turn your food waste into compost (混合肥料). Composting food waste is an easy way to reduce methane (甲烷). Not only does compost reduce methane production, it can also help you fertilize your personal garden.    4    When you go shopping, stick to a prewritten grocery list and buy unwrapped products.

    5    Try investing in energy-efficient appliances, eating locally sourced food, walking or riding a bike, conserving water, and shutting of flights when you aren’t using them. Sure, these are small actions—especially when compared to the big carbon footprints of big-name corporations—but these changes can add up.

【推荐1】Thousands of people are killed every year in natural disasters. Search-and-rescue teams often rely on technology to conduct rescue missions and help those who have been affected. Over the years, online tools and applications have been developed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of disaster aid and relief. Here are some widely used ones.

Micromappers was launched in 2013 and used in the 2015 Nepal earthquake, Typhoon Hayian in 2013 and several other disasters. The application creates a map from social media relief updates and sends it to aid organizations so that they get real-time information about disaster- stricken areas. It helps aid agencies to effectively plan rescue efforts before going into disaster zones. During the 2015 Nepal earthquake, Micromappers processed more than 60,000 images.

Google Finder is another new piece of technology which can help with disaster relief efforts. It was developed in 2010 in response to the Haiti earthquake. It is an open source web application, which is available in over 40 languages. The application allows users to post and search for the status of people affected by a disaster. During the 2015 Nepal earthquake, well over 7,500 records on the online tool were searched.

The Red Cross Emergency App has been incredibly helpful with disaster relief in the recent times. It gives survivors weather updates and safety tips. The Red Cross credits the application for saving several lives in the United States.

【推荐2】Delay Repay compensation (赔偿)

We know how annoying train delays can be, and we do our best to keep you moving. But if you arrive 15 minutes or more late at your destination because of a delay to a Southern Rail-way service, you can claim Delay Repay compensation.

How do I claim?

You need to make your claim within 28 days of your delay and include either:

●Your original ticket

●A ticket receipt (this is usually issued with your ticket)

●A copy of your season ticket

●If you are a registered Oyster Pay-As- You-Go user, a journey receipt

●For the key smartcard holders simply supply your full name, address and key card number so we can check your journey history

What compensation am I entitled to?

Donate your compensation

We have set up a partnership with both Samaritans and Railway Children, following customer feedback (反馈), giving you the option to donate to either cause if your train is delayed for 15 minutes or more. 100% of the funds raised by passengers will go to ensure that Samaritans and Railway Children can continue their life-saving and life-enhancing work. Simply apply for Delay Repay and select the charity that you would like to donate to.