New Energy Technologies company in Maryland, USA, introduces prototypes in November 2011 of MotionPower strips, designed like speed bumps to receive kinetic energy transferred from rolling vehicles through pavement, which can then power street lights and even homes.

http://www.france24.com/en/20111113-us-company-sees-potential-kinetic-energy-capture
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2011/11/09/speed-bumps-can-harvest-electricity-from-slowing-cars/

As published on November 19, 2011, US researchers find that the pumping of groundwater from the High Plains aquifer in the central part of the country has reduced stream flows, endangering native fish and their aquatic ecosystems as well as affecting entire land areas adjoining the waterways.  

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-11-great-plains-river-basins-threatened.html
http://oregonstate.edu/ua/ncs/archives/2011/nov/study-finds-great-plains-river-basins-threatened-pumping-aquifers
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/eco.158/full


At least 100 elephants die at the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, with thousands more threatened as record high temperatures in November 2011 and irregular rainfall patterns affect the country.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201111180028.html
http://www.eyewitnessnews.co.za/Story.aspx?Id=77738