On April 20, 2010, there was an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig (owned by BP) igniting a fireball whose flames were visible from 56 km away. The rig sank, causing the largest offshore oil spill in United States history.
The oil from the ruptured well is still flowing out into the ocean as of June 2010. A number of attempts to staunch the flow were either unsuccessful or have met with only limited success. BP has said that measures to fully curtail the flow are unlikely to succeed until possibly August 2010.
The spill has the potential to cause massive damage to the ecosystem of the gulf coast and waters. The oil could affect oxygen levels in the water, cause devastation to the food chain and seafood industries, and to life along hundreds of miles of coastline. It could take decades for the ecosystem to recover. This distaster is said to be the largest oil spill ever in the Gulf of Mexico and US history.
A proposal is coming out this Thursday that may lift the global ban on commercial whale hunting for some countries, legalising commercial whale hunting for the first time in 24 years. Sign the petition to protect the ban, and save the whales.
The fate of the proposal will be determined mostly by the world's reactions to it - and according to insiders, many governments are planning to stand aside and allow commercial whaling to resume. An outcry is needed now to ensure they stand strong to save the whales.
Avaaz has launched a last-moment petition to show our leaders their people want to protect whales, not hunt, kill, and sell them. The petition will be sent to the delegates to the International Whaling Commission every time we raise another 100,000 signatures -- sign here and forward this message:
A strong international consensus has opposed whaling for decades -- but for just as long, Japan, Norway, and Iceland have continued to hunt whales, ignoring the global ban on whaling or exploiting a loophole by claiming their expeditions were "scientific research." Now they could be rewarded by a "compromise" proposal, in which their commercial whaling would be made legal.
Worse still, a number of other countries are watching the process closely -- with rumored plans to start their own whaling programs if the proposal goes through. If Japan, Norway, and Iceland can hunt whales and sell their meat, others will ask "if them, why not us?"
It's time to save the whales - again. Click below and forward this message to oppose the legalization of commercial whale hunting:
Forty years ago, whales were on the brink of extinction. But thanks to a global social movement, the world banned commercial whaling in 1986. The ban is one of the environmental movement's great triumphs.
Today, whales still face many threats: not just the whalers' harpoons, but also climate change, destruction of ecosystems by overfishing and pollution, and nets intended for other fish. A renewed wave of commercial whaling could devastate these extraordinarily intelligent and social cousins of humanity. This is no time to move backwards.
With hope,
Ben, Ricken, Paula, Iain, David, Luis, and the whole Avaaz team
Iceland Volcano Erupts
A volcano in Iceland has erupted, leaving airplanes in the UK stranded as they cannot fly due to the ash in the air. The volcano under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier had been dormant for 200 years until it erupted. There is so much happening in our world just this year alone: tidal waves, earthquakes and tsunamis.
China Earthquake
A few days ago there was an earthquake in western China where the death toll has risen to around 791 and many more missing. This is the worst earthquake in two years with the magnitude being 7.1 and 4 000m above sea level. Dog teams are working hard to find the missing inside buildings that have crumbled including schools. About 15 000 homes have collapsed and the locals are taking refuge in the hills, not trusting their homes in case there's another earthquake.
To see if there is something you can do to help, contact the Gift of the Givers in South Africa.
Earthquake in Chile
The Chile earthquake occurred off the coast of the Maule Region on February 27, 2010, at 03:34 local time, rating a magnitude of 8.8 on the moment magnitude scale and lasting for about three minutes. The earthquake was felt in the capital Santiago at Mercalli intensity scale VII (Very Strong). Tremors were felt in many Argentinean cities, including Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza and La Rioja. Tremors were felt as far north as the city of Ica in southern Peru. Tsunami warnings were issued in 53 countries, and one was recorded with amplitude of up to 2.6 m high, in the sea at Valparaíso, Chile. President Michelle Bachelet declared a "state of catastrophe". She also confirmed the deaths of at least 723 people. Many more have been reported missing.
Seismologists estimate that the earthquake was so powerful that it may have shortened the length of our day by 1.26 microseconds and moved the earth's axis of rotation by 3 inches.
Despite Chilean president Michelle Bachelet's statement that Chile did not need international aid, leaders of many countries and intergovernmental organizations, including the United Nations and European Union, have responded to the earthquake. Argentina, the United States, United Kingdom, People's Republic of China, Singapore, Haiti, and Pakistan were among the countries that responded earliest following the quake. Appeals for humanitarian aid were issued by the UK-based Oxfam, Save the Children and others.
We will keep you updated on any organisations in South Africa that are helping, as well as ways in which you can help!
Helping Haiti
Worldwide, teens are doing what they can to help Haiti. In Montreal, Cananda, teens brought in loose change to send off to the country and in Arizona a school held a book and bake sale to raise funds. Bonaire in the Carribbean collected clothes and others have sent money to the "Students For Haiti" programme through the World Food Programme.
There are so many ways in which you can help Haiti, here are a few suggestions:
You and your friends can hold a bake sale at your school or have a yard sale to raise funds.
Raise awareness, tell your friends about what is happening
These are just a few examples of how you can help, and although it sounds cheesy, it's true, every little bit counts! So get in there and make a difference!
Sing a song for Haiti
Chester See is an up and coming singer who put this song for Haiti on Youtube recently, check it out!
Worse still, a number of other countries are watching the process closely -- with rumored plans to start their own whaling programs if the proposal goes through. If Japan, Norway, and Iceland can hunt whales and sell their meat, others will ask "if them, why not us?" 
