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Barely a week after Typhoon “Juan” (International name Megi) left the country, a new tropical storm might enter the country on Saturday. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), a storming over the Pacific Ocean has turn to a tropical depression and might enter the country this weekend.

Northern Luzon was hit by super typhoon a few days ago and must now prepare for the arrival of Katring since it is expected to take the path similar to Juan. Magat Dam in Isabela has started to relase water since it is only capable of holding 193 meters water level. Ambuklao Dam and Binga Dam have started to open gates in preparation to the threat of water level increase that Typhoon Katring might bring.

PASASA said that the tropical depression was 2,400 kilometers east of the country as of Thursday. Juan is considered as one of the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines in years and is under the category-5 typhoon similar to hurricane Katrina that hit America in 2005. Juan was recorded to have a gustiness of 260 kilometers per hour.  Reming with a gustiness of 320 kph hit the country in 2006 and Sening with a gustiness of 275 kph hit the country in 1976.

Juan has claimed the lives of 19 people according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and management council (NDRRMC) as of 1 p.m. Thursday. A total of 1,015,895 people (211,149 families) were affected by the storm. 23,127 persons are still in 170 evacuation centers.

The rainy has come late in the Philippines this year. This is due to delayed effects of the El Nino phenomenon that has brought the worst drought the Philippines has encountered. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical services administration (PAGASA) has forecasted that the country is expected to get more rains during the last quarter this year and the first quarter of 2011.

The country has been experiencing rain but it is less than expected during the rainy season. There are still hot days in between days with rain showers. Though this is better than having rains with a magnitude like Ondoy where a month’s worth of rainfall was brought down in just a couple of hours. Last September 26, 2010, marks the first year anniversary of the horrific typhoon where hundreds of lives were lost and the damage to properties were massive. It took months in the several areas for the flood water to dissipate.

You may blame global warming but the only thing responsible for the massive flooding last year. Man made activities such as land pollution is also another factor. Pervious leaders failed to plan for the drainage system decades ago. The current governments said that the country is more prepared if in case another typhoon as strong as Ondoy hits the country. But are the preparation enough?  Steps have to be made to fight global warming on a global scale.

The planet is getting warmer. The temperature for the last five years has been the hottest in History. Some people believe that human activity is the main culprit for the planet’s rising temperature while some choose to ignore the signs. I am not a scientist but I know that the climate is changing and it is changing rapidly based on the worldwide abnormal weather behavior in the last few years. Storms are getting stronger. The amount of rainfall has increased in some countries and has decreased in others. Last year the Philippines was hit by Typhoon Ondoy (International name Ketsana), and the amount of rainfall has caused massive flooding in several urban cities. Marikina City was severely hit and according to residence, it hasn’t rain like that in the last 40 years.

Just this year, 14 million Pakistanis had to be evacuated away for their homes due to massive flooding. 12 inches (300 millimeters) was poured in one 36-hour period and is considered as the heaviest monsoon rains in Pakistan. 2007 IPCC report has said that Pakistan is expected to experience greater flooding this century and rains have grown heavier in the last 40 years over North Pakistan

China is also experiencing the worst floods in decades. The recent floods have claimed the lives of 1,100 people while 600 people are still missing. According to the 2007 IPCC report, a 33 percent increased in the amount of rainfall in Northwest China since 1961 was recorded. Nationwide flooding in China has also increase significantly since 1950 and is still forecast the flooding would be more frequent this century.

In the Iowa United States, three nights of rain has caused hundreds of people to evacuate their home.  International climate panel also projects stronger rainfall this century in the United States (except for states located in the Southwest of the country)

This year Russia has experience the hottest summer ever recorded where Moscow temperature s has reached as high as 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius). Massive wildfires erupted that has cause toxic smog to blanket Moscow for six days.

Just recently a large mass broke off from Greenland’s Petermann Glacier. It estimated that ice mass could hold enough amount of water to fulfill the tap water supply requirements of the whole of United States for 120 days. Melting of the large of miss is causing the 60 percent accelerating rise in Sea levels worldwide.

There are still a lot of people out there who doesn’t believe that Global warming is true. Some believe that the Human activities are not the cause for the increase in the Planet’s temperature and that it is natural occurrence for the temperature to rise. I believe otherwise. I think that the planet has limits. Humans are taking away too much from the planet and in return the only thing that we give is pollution. Humans have to take responsibility. We couldn’t simply say that all the carbon emission from cars or coal plants doesn’t affect the planet.  It would cause a lot for government to switch to environment friendly source of energy but they should start now before it is too late. World leaders shouldn’t ignore signs. Climate change is happening now and it is happening at an alarming rate.

The Winter Olympics is scheduled to begin on February 13. The unusual warm temperatures in Cypress Mountain, is causing problems for the organizers of the Winter Olympics. Snow has to be transported to the venue using 300 dump trucks and helicopters for places with higher elevations. Tim Gayda, the vice president of organizing committee VANOC, is still optimistic that their contingency plans are would solve their current problems. He is still firm that the relocation of any events is not necessary and event would take place at Cypress Mountain. This warm weather has been caused by the El Niño phenomenon.

Training for several events such as freestyle and snowboarding had to be conducted in the Alpine venue of Whistler where snow is not a problem. The only problem is that it is located two hours to the north and causes problems for British and Australian Athletes. Accommodation is a problem in the Athletes Villages in Whistler because there all rooms are taken by other competing athletes.