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We’ve reported that, due to ivory poaching, elephants may be facing extinction. Now it’s been discovered that rhinos are in major danger of extinction as well. Both species have body parts–ivory tusks in the case of elephants and a horn for the rhinoceros–that that are highly valued in traditional Chinese medicine.

Richard Black reports in BBC News that a rise in poaching has put some species of rhinoceros at risk of extinction. The amount of rhino horn being illegally traded increased 5 times between 2000 and 2005. Black quotes animal rights activist Simon Milledge as saying, "The main market remains in east and southeast Asia, as well as in the Middle East."
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In 1991, as a result of global warming, a 5,300-year-old corpse was discovered in the melting snow of the Alps. He became known as “Oetzi,” after the Oetz Valley where he was found. Scientists have learned a lot about what life was like in prehistoric times by studying his body. Now they’ve finally figured out how he died.

BBC News reports that Oetzi bled to death from a ruptured artery, caused by an arrow that struck him in the shoulder. He had been shot in the back, perhaps while fleeing from a fight. According to BBC News, Oetzi was 46 years old, a little over 5 feet tall, and had arthritis, as well as worms.

We haven’t announced OUR death yet, but if we don’t get more support from readers and listeners like you, we might have to very soon.

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Global warming has led to major storms in Australia, China and the Middle East, and Australia has just experienced a major drought. In the USA, it’s causing the biggest drought since the Dust Bowl of the 1930s?one that isn’t yet being widely reported in the US media.
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The subject of illegal immigration is suddenly in the news and as usual during an election season, all our candidates are equivocating about it and our elected politicians are scared to make a decision about it. But I live in two places that are totally dependent on illegal immigrants, so I know what a vital role they play in our economy.

in Texas and California, ranchers and farmers are utterly dependent on illegal workers from Mexico–in fact, they cannot survive without them. It’s not just that they work for low wages, although this is part of it?but this would change if we were willing to pay more for food (and we’re an obese nation, so maybe we should. Fast food is cheap food and that’s one of the main things that’s making us fat).
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