What’s in your tap water? Many of us wouldn’t give a second thought to what we assume to be safe, dependable drinking supplies. But the revelation – on the front of this week’s Guardian Weekly – that microplastic contamination has been found in tap water in more than a dozen countries might change that. As scientists call for urgent research on the implications for human health, Damian Carrington examines another profound consequence of a global ecosystem that is increasingly infused with plastic.
It was, of course, a week in which natural disasters dominated the news. The full extent of the damage wreaked by Hurricane Irma was only just becoming apparent as the paper went to press, with communications to many Caribbean islands still disrupted and aid organisations struggling to reach those in need. Mexico, meanwhile, was trying to cope with the aftermath of a devastating earthquake that left nearly 100 people dead. You can find out the latest on both situations by checking the Guardian’s website.
In Myanmar, a horrifying picture also formed of the mass migration of Rohingya Muslims into Bangladesh, a situation described by a leading UN official as “a textbook example of ethnic cleansing”. And as the UN security council passed a rare, unanimous resolution to ratchet up sanctions on North Korea, we profile Kim Jong-un, asking what makes the Hermit Kingdom’s secretive leader tick.
From Australia there’s the inspiring tale of the spirit walker, a man who journeyed on foot across Australia to highlight Indigenous injustices in the country. From Azerbaijan, we lift the lid on a somewhat less exemplary activity: a money-laundering scheme funnelling billions of dollars via a group of opaque British companies.
In the UK, leaked government plans for immigration after Brexit caused uproar and for the first time gave real weight to the much-stated aim of “taking back control”. In specially expanded coverage, we look at what could be major implications for EU nationals with living and working connections to Britain.
The Weekly Review takes us to the little-visited destination of Kazakhstan, where we discover why a savage sport involving a headless goat is fast gaining in popularity. We find out why a move to uncover waterways links world cities as diverse as Seoul and Sheffield. And in the Discovery pages, we hear of the disturbing spread of the hookworm parasite among poorer communities in the southern United States.
Culture meets James Murphy, the tetchy but talented force behind electro-rock pioneers LCD Soundsystem, and finds out which superstar musician told him to reform the band. And there’s a fond tribute to Walter Becker, the Steely Dan guitarist and singer who died earlier this month.
The last word goes to Matt Haig, an author who once thought social media was a driving force for good but who, after researching the field for a book on mental health, has reversed his view. As a father of young children who seemingly hold an obsession for all things digital, I’m fascinated by this subject. What are your views on the proliferation of social media in our lives? Let us know via our Reply page and we’ll print the best of your answers!
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