Tuesday, September 14, 2010

China Facing Water Shortage Crisis

Click to read full story from CNN

Beijing, China (CNN) -- China can't dam or divert water quickly enough to keep up with its thirsty population, and the shortage has reached crisis levels in Beijing and other areas.

In northern China this month, farm fields have developed cracks up to 10 meters (32.8 feet) deep. Farmers in Chifeng city have had to delay harvests to avoid injury, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported. According to the Chifeng's hydrological bureau, 62 percent of the city's 51 reservoirs have run dry, Xinhua said. More than 250,000 people are short on drinking water.

In southwest China's Guizhou province in August, a drought affected more than 600,000 people and nearly 250,000 heads of livestock, according to Xihua. Parched soil in rice fields was covered with cracks.

Beijing's water shortage will soon reach 200 million to 300 million cubic meters, even as the city waits for a new diversion of water from southern China, according to state-run media.

Hundreds of other Chinese cities face varying levels of water shortages and deteriorating water quality, even as industries continue to pollute water.

Students Shown Porn At School Presentation

NORTH HUNTINGDON, Pa. --Norwin High School seniors who were expecting a presentation from a Central Blood Bank rep got a surprise Friday when they saw pornography instead.

Channel 4 Action News' Bob Mayo reported that the Norwin School District sent parents a letter. It said "a few pornographic pictures that were on the representative's flash drive were briefly viewed" while preparations were being made to show the students a PowerPoint presentation.

"It was hardcore male pornography that was put up on the screen when the flash drive was put in. They tell me it lasted about 30 seconds, which is a long time," said attorney Peter J. Payne, who has been hired by parents of several students who attended the presentation.

Payne said he will be pursuing some form of civil action against Central Blood Bank.

"The parents are outraged. Every parent that I've talked to is very concerned. We're still talking about the senior class, but these kids are 17, 18 years old at the most," said Payne.

Student Ethan Dobranski described the sexually explicit images as "frontal male nudity, and there was one with, like, two people in there, but it was, like, from the back."

"That's what popped up, but I don't think he realized that was on there at the time, and he was truly embarrassed for what happened," student Dan Jones said. "He was just shocked. He, like, put his hand on the stage and covered his head. He was so ashamed of himself for having that."

"He just looked like a deer in the headlights," student Zach Hutchins said. "I don't think he realized what was on there. It was shock. He was kind of ashamed too."

The school district's letter called the incident "inexcusable" and said the North Huntingdon Police Department and the Westmoreland County District Attorney's office have been contacted for an investigation.

American Imprisoned in Iran For Over A Year To Be Set Free


JMC Ministries Response
Written By Miranda Caverley

We can only pray that the 2 men also will be released but we know God can make a way. There are still countries like Iran and North Korea who have continually falsely imprisoned people or imprisoned people on very minor charges for years. While here in the the U.S when people cross our borders illegally we greet them with open arms and even give them the right to stomp and burn our nations flag. Why aren't we standing up for Americans who are being imprisoned for accidentally crossing borders in other countries that are not properly marked and they don't know they have done anything wrong until they are imprisoned for over a year and we have to send "former" U.S Presidents to try and wheel and deal with these communist countries to save the lives of our own people? If people can stand up and protest and yell about illegal immigrants needing to be given rights in our country, why can't we protest and yell to try and help our own citizens who are being imprisoned for the same crimes illegal immigrants here have committed willingly and on purpose?

The lives of 2 American Citizens still hang in the balance we must pray that God will make a way some how for these men to be released and be able to return home the the U.S as soon as possible. Our world is in utter chaos we must continue to pray for all who are imprisoned in these communist/socialist countries that God comfort them and give them strength and have faith that He will make a way for them to be free.

GP&E Donating 100 Million Dollars To Help Victims Of Massive Gas Explosion in California

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said Monday it was establishing a $100 million fund for the victims of a huge gas pipeline explosion that left at least four dead.

The money was intended to help victims meet their day-to-day needs and would be provided with no strings attached, said Chris Johns, president of PG&E.

"It is very important that this community know that there are funds, enough funds, to be able to rebuild their lives and this community," Johns said.

The news of the fund came as residents began returning to the ruined hillsides of their suburban San Francisco neighborhood Sunday after Thursday's pipeline blast and fire destroyed at least 37 homes and damaged dozens of others.

One of the returning residents, Patrick Yu, says he has nightmares and headaches since a fireball from the natural gas explosion caused his ceiling to crash down next to him while he slept.

Authorities said Sunday that the death toll is likely to climb in the massive natural gas explosion that rocked San Bruno, Calif., as the coroner examines additional remains found over the weekend. Officials have so far confirmed four deaths in the explosion and fire.

The tragedy has prompted California regulators to order the utility, Pacific Gas and Electric, to survey all its natural gas lines in the state in hopes of heading off another disaster

Returning residents, meanwhile, were wearing wristbands that show police they live in the area.

Yu said he crouched in the doorway after the blast, thinking he was in the middle of an earthquake. When the shaking subsided, he found that the heat had warped the door so much he had to pull with all his strength to get out of the bedroom.

The 62-year-old learned Sunday that his house had been red-tagged, meaning it has extensive damage and will require closer inspection before authorities can declare it safe.

"I have lots of memories in that house," Yu said. "Lots of stuff you can't replace."

A few blocks away, houses have collapsed into black and white debris on ground, with a smell like charcoal in the air. All that remain standing is a row of brick chimneys, while across the street, some homes are undamaged.

Pat and Roger Haro fared better. They and their dog, Rosie, have been living in a hotel room since Thursday after fleeing their home with the clothes they were wearing, dog food, water and an iPad.

When they returned, their home was marked with a green tag — indicating less damage than others with yellow or red tags — and their electricity was still off.

"Once I saw the house was still there then I felt a whole lot better," Pat Haro said. "I think we'll be a tighter community."

Investigators were still trying to confirm just how many people died.

The remains of at least four people have been found, and authorities have said four are missing and at least 60 injured, some critically. Two people reported missing after blast were located Sunday, city spokeswoman Robyn Thaw said.

San Mateo County Coroner Robert Foucrault said they're still trying to confirm whether some of the remains they found are human and identify victims.

At a church service at St. Robert's Catholic Church on Sunday morning, the Rev. Vincent Ring conducted a prayer for the victims.

"We turn to God and we ask for mercy upon all our brothers who are hurting so badly, whose lives have changed so drastically and whose help is so badly need from us," Ring said.

Local and federal officials are probing the cause of the explosion that blew a segment of pipe 28 feet long onto the street some 100 feet away, creating a crater 167 feet long and 26 feet wide.

Husband Saves Wife and Unborn Babies Life By Sacrificing His

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JMC Ministries Response
This is a heart wrenching story and the cause of it all was because a young woman was taking her sweater off and had her friend take the wheel. At the scene of the accident they also found illegal drugs in the vehicle of the young woman's vehicle that caused this horrible accident.

The scripture that first came to our mind was when Jesus said
John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

By this one persons foolish decision 3 people are now dead, and she is in jail. We need to pray for his young woman that she will be awakened that she desperately needs to change her life. That she would come to know the love of Jesus Christ and may be saved. And that God will comfort the grieving family of this husband who paid the ultimate price to save his family.