A Federal election in September, violence in Egypt and Syria, Obama proposes immigration reforms and appoints John Kerry his new Secretary of State, deaths and damage are being tallied in Tasmanian/Victorian fires and Queensland floods. What has piqued your sociopolitical media interests lately? Please share your bouquets and brickbats.
disasters
Quakers Hill nursing home fire
Anyone concerned about family members at the Quakers Hill Nursing Home can call 1800 227 228 for information.
From latest bulletins it seems a fire alarm sounded at about 5am and despite fast firefighting response (6 minutes according to the radio) the fire had become massive. As of the 8:30am bulletins police are advising that 9 people have died and that 20 more people are being treated for burns injuries.
Thread: US Tornados
DEADLY tornados and flash floods flattened buildings and overturned vehicles yesterday as major storms churned through the south of the US, with the death toll surpassing 220 people.
Quicklink: Disasters prove value of sign language interpreters
Natural disasters in Queensland and New Zealand have highlighted the value of sign language interpreters.
Some good news from Japan
Two tsunami survivors found nine days later in Ishinomaki City; the ‘Fukushima 50’ volunteers are gradually stabilising the reactor crisis.
Japan earthquake and tsunami
Authorities are projecting around 1000 deaths. I don’t think any of our regular commenters live in Japan, nor anywhere in the northern Pacific likely to be tsunami-affected, but I’m sure we must have lurkers there. I wish you all safe. Please use this as an open thread on any news.
LIBERATE
Things are moving so fast around Northern Africa and the Middle East right now. History in the making.
Update: I’m designating this as an open thread on the uprisings and the attempts to suppress them.
Open Thread – Christchurch Earthquake
Today Christchurch was hit by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake. This is an open thread for discussions of the Christchurch Earthquake. Any NZ feminists/ commenters who want to check in and let us know they are okay, please do.
Finding people, helping out, donations: please see Sarah Robot’s extensive links.
WA and QLD brace for more severe weather
It’s seasons like this that got our ancestors started with the thunder god worship.
Victorian storms & floods
Check in, if you’ve got power! Watch out for those tricksy flash floods, and when do we get a week free of natural disaster dangers please?