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Nepal
PM Resigns After Gen Z Protests
Youth–led protests across Nepal against a short-lived social media ban forced Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to resign and left at least 22 people dead and hundreds injured. Today, protesters set fire to government buildings, police stations and the houses of politicians in Nepal’s capital of Kathmandu. The government had blocked 26 platforms on September 4th, triggering mass demonstrations that began peacefully in Kathmandu before turning violent. Security forces used tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets and, in some cases, live fire, drawing condemnation from rights groups. Though the ban was lifted and an inquiry promised, crowds have kept mobilizing, demanding Parliament’s dissolution and fresh elections. The largely non-partisan movement, voiced anger over corruption, nepotism, and weak job prospects.
This map depicts cities where major protests have taken place in Nepal. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: The Hindu
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Ethiopia
GERD Hydroelectric Dam Opens
Ethiopia has inaugurated Africa’s largest hydroelectric dam on the Blue Nile, as the $5bn Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) project continues to create tensions with downstream neighbors Sudan and Egypt. Sudan and Egypt have opposed the dam’s construction from the start in 2011, arguing the project violates water treaties dating back to the British colonial era and poses “an existential threat.” Egypt, for instance, fears the GERD could restrict its water supply during periods of drought. Despite potentially benefitting from better flood management and access to cheap energy, Sudan has joined Egypt’s calls for legally binding agreements on the dam’s filling and operation. In 2020, Ethiopia began incrementally filling the reservoir while arguing that the dam would not significantly harm downstream countries
This map depicts the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Blue Nile. Click on the map to learn more.
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World
Warm Oceans Threaten Food Web
A new study in Nature Microbiology indicates rising ocean temperatures threaten to severely impact populations of Prochlorococcus, microscopic organisms responsible for “5% of all global photosynthesis,” with their productivity potentially falling by 37% worldwide under extreme climate conditions. The research reveals these tiny marine microbes can only tolerate water temperatures up to 86°F (30°C) before their reproduction rates crash dramatically, contrary to scientists’ previous expectations. The scientists found these organisms multiply most efficiently in water between 66°F-84°F (18.8°C-28.8°C), but above 86°F, cell division rates plummet to just one-third of optimal levels. Climate models predict tropical and subtropical ocean temperatures will exceed this threshold within 75 years.
This map depicts cruise tracks, overlaying temperature. Researchers cataloged Prochlorococcus abundance using SeaFlow continuous flow cytometry along the path of the lines. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: Which country contains the largest known reserves of lithium?
A: Bolivia
As of 2023, Bolivia holds the largest known reserves of lithium, a silvery-white metal used increasingly in electric batteries. An estimated 23 million tons of lithium are stored in the South American nation, the majority of which lies beneath the Salar de Uyuni salt flat. However, Bolivia only contributes less than 1% of global lithium output. A lack of infrastructure, personnel, and appropriate technology has challenged the development of Bolivia’s lithium industry, as well as opposition from local communities. The lithium extraction process is significantly damaging to the environment, not limited to depleting water resources, habitat destruction, and pollution. Bolivia is part of what’s known as the “Lithium Triangle”, a region of the Andes rich in lithium reserves that is encompassed by Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile.
Source
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Q: What Caribbean country is home to the Western Hemisphere’s largest hot lake?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.
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