Red Peril

One of two dust storms that turned the air red in Sydney, Australia last week--this is the famous Opera House. Australia has had a decade of drought, and Sydney the worst air pollution in 70 years. Writes the Guardian: "It followed major dust storms this year in northern China, Iraq and Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, east Africa, Arizona and other arid areas. Most of the storms are also linked to droughts, but are believed to have been exacerbated by deforestation, overgrazing of pastures and climate change."