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World
Vaccination Timeline Reaches 2023
A recent report by the Economist’s Intelligence Unit (EIU) shows that for many regions, it will take years before a majority of the adult population receives the vaccine for COVID-19. Most major economies in Latin America are expected to achieve widespread coverage by mid-2022, while most countries in Asia are expected to take until the end of next year to achieve the feat. Even in the region’s advanced economies, vaccinations are starting up slower than elsewhere. Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam will start their campaigns in late February and are expected to arrive at majority immunization by mid-2022. Only Asia’s city states and Taiwan are expected to have vaccinated 60-70% of their adult populations by the end of 2021. According to the EIU, most European nations as well as the U.S., Israel, and the Gulf states are on this trajectory as well, however problems with supplies and distribution of the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines could cause some delays. In many of the world’s developing nations, including many in Africa, the vaccination timeline is expected to extend into 2023.
This map depicts the global timeline for majority populations to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. Click on the map to learn more.
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Brazil
Compensation for Dam Disaster
Brazilian mining giant, Vale, is expected to pay $7 billion in compensation to victims and to repair the environmental damage caused by the Brumadinho dam collapse in January of 2019. The disaster killed 270 people, with 11 people still missing. Brazilian prosecutors have charged 16 people, including Vale’s ex-president Fabio Schvartsman, with intentional homicide and environmental offenses, alleging they knew and hid the risk of the dam collapse. The government announced the $7 billion compensation is only an estimate, and the company may be forced to pay more if necessary. The Brumadinho dam disaster is Brazil’s worst industrial accident to date; millions of tons of toxic waste flowed into surrounding communities and waterways, destroying the entire village of Córrego do Feijão. The collapse was not the first disaster linked to Vale. In 2015, a mining dam operated by the company collapsed in Mariana, killing 19 people.
This map depicts where the dam collapsed and the flow of mining waste that damaged and contaminated communities, farms, and waterways. Click on the map to learn more.
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Graphic Source: Yahoo News
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World
Amplifying Ocean Soundscape
Human-produced sounds are becoming louder and more prevalent in the oceans and are compromising the hearing ability of marine animals, according to a new paper published in Science. While sounds from shipping activity, resource exploration, and construction have significantly increased the anthrophony (human-produced sounds), the biophony (sounds produced in marine ecosystems) have decreased due to hunting, fishing, and habitat degradation. While visual and chemical cues of human activity in the ocean can dissipate within hundreds of yards, audio cues travel thousands of miles and have been found to disrupt marine communication techniques. Recent research has revealed these audio cues not only impact large marine mammals, which have been known to change migration routes to avoid sounds, but also affect the behavior of small species including zooplankton and jellyfish. Scientists recommend coordinated and ambitious policy and technology solutions to mitigate marine noise.
This map depicts the increasing levels of human-produced noise in the global ocean. Click on the map to learn more.
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Q: With an estimated 840 unique languages spoken, which country claims the title of having the most living languages?
A: Papau New Guinea
The Pacific-island nation of Papau New Guinea is home to less than 9 million people speaking more than 800 unique languages–more than twice the number spoken across the European continent. Most languages in Papau New Guinea are considered indigenous, rather than imported or immigrant languages. An estimated 7,117 languages are spoken globally. While more than half the world’s population speaks only 23 languages, an estimated 40% of languages are considered “endangered” by linguists, meaning they are spoken by fewer than 1,000 people.
Source
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Q: Under colonial rule until 1975, which country in South America was the most recent to gain independence from a European colonial power?
Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in Monday’s DailyGeo.
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