Here are some of the latest headlines regarding water and the environment:

Brazilian Indians take hostages at Amazon dam site: Brazilian native Indians on Sunday took 100 workers hostage at the construction site of a hydroelectric plant which was built on top of an ancient burial site in the southern Amazon region.

Plastiki Completes Epic Plastic Journey: The journey of Plastiki, a 60-foot boat made out of 12,500 recycled plastic bottles came to an end today after travelling from California to Australia. The mission of the voyage was to bring attention to the effect plastic waste is having on the health of the Pacific Ocean.

Plastiki captain David de Rothschild

China water warning as oil spill hits Yellow River: After a pipeline burst in China, officials are trying to contain the damage but traces of oil have already been detected in the water supply that millions depend on.

Officials fear floods, strained reinforcements: More from China- “After more than 700 flooding deaths and some of the season’s worst downpours yet to come, senior officials are warning that the flood reinforcements of thousands of aging reservoirs in the country are strained to their limit.”

Do Cleaning Products Cause Breast Cancer?: A new study links the use of conventional cleaning products with higher risk of breast cancer. Yet another reason to clean green http://www.bluegranola.com/2009/10/31/clean-green/

Here are some of the latest headlines regarding water in the world today.

Countries Blame China, Not Nature, for Water Shortage: In light of a severe drought along the Mekong River basin, which is a water source for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, residents of these countries are lashing out at China, the owner of dozens of dams that might be causing the shortage. While scientific evidence shows that the drought is caused by low rainfall, China is still the target for its neighbors’ complaints.

Critics Seek to Halt Ethiopian Hydro Project: Activists are petitioning to stop the construction of what could be the biggest dam in Africa. This $1.7 billion project promises economic development, but others say that the Gibe 3 Dam in Ethiopia will severely affect local tribes who depend on the natural order of the river’s ecosystem.

2010 Stockholm Water Prize Awarded to American Water and Public Health Expert: Rita Colwell, winner of the Stockholm Water Prize, “discovered that cholera-causing bacteria can go dormant, then later revert to an infectious state. Therefore, bodies of water frequently store the bacteria, even absent an outbreak of the disease.These findings counteracted the conventional wisdom held that cholera could only enter the environment due to release of sewage.”

More Than $5 Billion Promised to Rebuild Haiti: Over 50 countries and organizations will donate a total of $5 billion to Haiti in an effort to meet water, food, and shelter needs of citizens.

Turkish Mayor Acquitted on Misconduct Charges… For Giving Citizens Free Water: A progressive Turkish mayor has been providing free water to citizens, rewarding those who conserve the resource, providing affordable health care, and making public transportation free. However, this got him into big trouble with the government and corporations who are trying to privatize water, thus profiting economically by limiting people’s right to this natural resource.

Here are the latest headlines regarding water pollution, natural disasters, and acrobatics….

Chinese Farms Generate More Water Pollution than Factories, Government Report States: The Chinese government released its first report on pollution this week in a surprising act of transparency. The official survey revealed that agricultural pollution poses a greater threat than factories.

With James Bond-like agility, a protester sneaks on board a Japanese whaling vessel in an attempt to stop further killing of marine species in the Oceania region.

Rising threats in Haiti as rain season nears

This video outlines one non-profit’s mission to the “Plastic Vortex,” an area 400 miles west of California that is home to a staggering amount of pollution which threatens marine life. This floating garbage patch spans approximately 3,500 miles—about the size of Texas. Project Kaisei, the organization that has been leading voyages to the area to conduct studies and find ways to turn the plastic waste into fuel, says that the pollution is made up of plastic particles from containers, bottled water and even children’s toys.

And here’s Edward Norton who has more to say on the subject of marine pollution:

Once again, the latest in water news:

Terrible flooding in Machu Picchu, Peru this week has left thousands of tourists stranded.

American helicopters have been airlifting citizens out of danger, but what will happen to Peruvian locals who are now homeless and vulnerable to the elements?

This video outlines the efforts made by the Chinese government to curb the effects of a drought that is effecting three million people in the southwest region.

Newport, Rhode Island, a popular tourist destination, suffers the same problems as many other old cities– water pollution caused by deteriorating sewage systems and urban storm runoff. Watch the video here.