January, 07 2020, 11:00pm EDT
Jakarta Floods Indicate a Decade of Harsher Climate Impacts
The climate decade has begun, marked by floods in Jakarta and surrounding areas in Indonesia which colours the turn of the year towards 2020.
According to the Indonesian Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), the flood was caused by the highest daily rainfall since 1996, and the highest annual rainfall since 1856. At least 60 people were killed and hundreds of thousands of others have been displaced.
The flooding is also bound to result in huge economic losses, especially for those who are already facing challenges within the agricultural sector.
Jakarta, Indonesia
The climate decade has begun, marked by floods in Jakarta and surrounding areas in Indonesia which colours the turn of the year towards 2020.
According to the Indonesian Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), the flood was caused by the highest daily rainfall since 1996, and the highest annual rainfall since 1856. At least 60 people were killed and hundreds of thousands of others have been displaced.
The flooding is also bound to result in huge economic losses, especially for those who are already facing challenges within the agricultural sector.
"We are deeply sorry for the victims. Not only to the victims of the floods that just happened, but also farmers who experienced crop failures this year due to the dry season which was longer than usual. In all these scenarios, it is always the poor and the marginalised that are hit the hardest," lamented Sisilia Nurmala Dewi, Team Leader for 350.org in Indonesia.
"This should be a reminder of the importance of climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts which need to be an important agenda for Indonesia's development. All citizens can play a role in demanding policies and governance that are aware of climate risks and actively take action to prevent climate crisis. Disincentives to the coal industry that contributes significantly to the climate catastrophe must be enforced while economic incentives for renewable energy need to be boosted. This is a form of development that protects people from environmental disasters."
These forecasted figures in terms of losses and victims are anticipated to rise, considering the extreme weather forecast in the form of heavy rain accompanied by lightning and gale-force winds, and will continue until mid-January. The frequency of extreme weather conditions will also continue to increase with rising global temperatures.
350 is building a future that's just, prosperous, equitable and safe from the effects of the climate crisis. We're an international movement of ordinary people working to end the age of fossil fuels and build a world of community-led renewable energy for all.
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President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly offered the number-two Pentagon job to a secretive billionaire investor with close ties to the military-industrial complex, potentially introducing additional conflicts of interest to an incoming administration that is set to be rife with corporate executives and lobbyists.
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It's not yet clear whether Feinberg intends to accept Trump's offer to serve as deputy defense secretary, but news of the choice prompted speculation that Feinberg could be elevated to the top Pentagon spot as Fox News host Pete Hegseth—the president-elect's nominee for the role—faces skepticism from senators amid new details of the sexual assault allegations against him.
Citing an unnamed person familiar with his thinking, Politicoreported that Feinberg is expected to accept the job offer. Feinberg would also have to be confirmed by the Senate.
The Washington Post, which first reported Trump's offer on Tuesday, noted that the private equity billionaire is a major donor to the president-elect and has "investments in defense companies that maintain lucrative Pentagon contracts." The Post observed that Cerberus "has invested in hypersonic missiles" and "previously owned the private military contractor DynCorp."
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If he accepts the president-elect's offer, Feinberg would join a number of conflict-of-interest-ridden nominees for high-level positions in the incoming Trump administration.
Jeff Hauser, executive director of the Revolving Door Project, characterized Trump's Cabinet picks so far as "chaotic evil" and warned that their conflicts of interest could bring horrible consequences for the American public.
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