Daily News Recap (4-22-15)

Compiled by Holly Henrichsen
Assistant Web Content Manager

If carbon emissions are not cut by 2030, the effects could be disastrous. According to CNN, an increase of droughts, rising sea levels, mass extinction, and the food we eat would be harder to produce [if carbon emissions keep rising]. If humans warm up the world more than 2 degrees Celsius, or 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit, the world would up the odds of climate catastrophes. United Nations have gathered leaders and policy experts for this year, to try to hammer out a new international agreement on climate change to stay under the 2 degree Celsius benchmark and to see if the world is on the right track.
-Eryka Villarreal

Pope Francis is planning to use one of the highest forms of papal expression to promote climate action to save the planet as a moral and religious imperative. According to USA Today, Vatican officials have outlined what the document will say and are scheduling its release for a maximum global impact with the Roman Catholic Church’s 1.2 billion members.
-Allie Ibarra

More than 500 rescued people from the Middle East and Africa were brought ashore by the Italian coast guard early today. According to BBC News, the amount of people trying to escape the war in the Middle East and Africa has grown rapidly in recent months leading to large numbers of people drowning in unsafe vessels, such as Sundays disaster that led to 850 migrant deaths. Greece, Italy and Spain are working on a common position for an emergency European Union summit tomorrow.
-Reynaldo Leanos Jr.

More protests demanding justice were planned in Baltimore today as supporters of the death of Freddie Gray wanted an explanation of why and how Gray died while he was in police custody. According to USA Today, the Justice Department says they have opened into an investigation for the death of Gray, who died of spinal injuries he suffered during an arrest. Officer Garrett Miller says Gray was stopped after fleeing unprovoked upon police presence and had a pocket knife clipped to his pants pockets. Gray’s lawyer says the knife was legal and police probably had no right to pursue and detain Gray. The U.S. Justice Department says the arrest is being reviewed and based on information, the Justice Department has officially opened this matter and is gathering information to determine whether any prosecutable civil rights violation occurred. A protest was set for later this evening in front of the Western District police station where Gray was taken after his arrest. A rally at City Hall was planned for tomorrow.
-Eryka Villarreal