water defenders

Water protectors and environmental activists are meeting in Mendoza, Argentina, under the banner 'Abrazo de Mendoza' (Mendoza Embrace), in response to the growing criminalization of environmental defenders. The gathering brings together activists to denounce legal persecution and harassment faced by those defending water resources, and to coordinate resistance and mutual support among affected communities.

Environmental activists gathered at West Beach in Santa Barbara, California, for a rally in defence of the coastline. Organisers and attendees called attention to threats facing the local shore and urged stronger protection of coastal resources. The event drew local coverage, with participants stressing that community action is needed to keep the beach and surrounding waters safe from development and pollution.

A politician or official reportedly received an eight-page cease-and-desist letter in connection with criticism of data centers, underlining how politically toxic data center projects have become. Communities increasingly push back against data centers over water and power use, noise, and strain on local grids, and politicians who support or oppose them face legal and electoral pressure. The letter suggests the industry or its allies are aggressively defending against criticism.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warned the UN General Assembly that India's actions over water and disputed Kashmir could be treated as an 'act of war'. India has hit back, rejecting the accusations and defending its stance on terrorism, accusing Pakistan of sponsoring cross-border attacks. The exchange has sharply escalated diplomatic rhetoric between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.