Climate change, ecology, nature, environment, eco-friendly politics, non-profit projects, human rights, preservation, wildlife... all that we care about.
Oceans cover over 70% of the Earth’s surface. They contain the greatest diversity and abundance of life on this planet and absorb 80% of climate change heat. So, it’s really a wonder to learn that less than 1% of that great blue ecosystem is protected.
Conservation International is doing something about that. This awesome group has [...]
Earlier today, a helicopter spotted another oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. The 13 people on board did escape, though one was injured. Now, there’s a mile-long oil slick and it’s still growing.
The oil slick is at least 100 feet wide and was spotted near the rig, which is owned by Houston-based Mariner [...]
Many laptop computers, mobile phones and other electronic equipment used around the world contain minerals mined in conflict zones such as the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Similar to the blood diamond scenario, which gained some attention from the 2006 Hollywood film of the same name, and more lately by Naomi Campbell’s well-publicized appearance in International Criminal [...]
Another offshore oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico.
The rig is located west of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion/spill site that started back in April and is approximately 80 miles south of Vermilion Bay, located along Louisiana’s central coast. The explosion was reported by a commercial helicopter company early this morning. Since [...]
We disinfect everything all the time and not always wisely.
While many of us are naturally immune against these invisible enemies, aka bacteria, others are born with a deficient immune system that does not allow them to live outside of a sterile room. For them, the battle against germs is a daily struggle as they are [...]
The parliament of Catalonia voted to ban bullfighting in July, a move that enraged Spain’s bullfighting community and drew accusations of Catalan nationalist motivations rather than concern for animal welfare.
Well, plainly both nationalism and animal welfare played their parts in the ban – apparent by the fact that groups from both camps participated in the [...]
Today, a man entered the Discovery Channel Headquarters near Washington, D.C. and held 3 people hostage at gunpoint. The man also had canisters strapped to his body that were suspected to be explosives of some kind.
After several hours of negotiations, one thing led to another and the gunman ended up shot to death by the [...]
Several people were taken hostage at gunpoint today at the Discovery Channel’s headquarters in suburban Washington, D.C.
The man was wearing canisters strapped to his body; whether they actually pose a threat or not remains to be seen, but FBI bomb technicians and the SWAT team were on scene to deal with the problem. Despite the [...]
Early this morning Greenpeace activists occupied a Cairn Energy exploratory oil rig in the Arctic Ocean off of the coast of Greenland.
Four Greenpeace activists, who are also expert climbers, avoided Greenland police and the Danish navy to climb the rig and suspend themselves in tents. The activists’ behavior has caused a temporary shut down of [...]
Many think that the environmentalists are overstating the case, and that golf is hardly in the same league as the other pollutions strangling Japan.
I don’t get animal rights activists’ crusade against circuses. The animals are fed well and their lives are in less danger in comparison to their natural environments. They look happy while performig. An hour spent in a circus is also a rare occasion to look at wild animals. Why do some people want to ban [...]
In the wake of a summer that spawned harsh heat waves and forest fires in Europe; and catastrophic floods in China, Pakistan and elsewhere in Asia, climate debate is back in the news.
Debate about the significance or even existence of anthropogenic global warming featured prominently the headlines last winter during the UN climate conference in [...]
Last month it was reported in the Telegraph how clever baboons in South Africa have learned to recognize the door-locking signal ‘beep’ before deciding whether or not to break into cars parked at a popular tourist spot in Cape Town.
This month the buzz is that baboons are raiding the vineyards of Cape Town’s wine country [...]
When you look closely then nature has weapons to deal with a lot of what mankind throws at it.
According to legislation passed in 2002 by the Social Democratic-Green Party coalition, all nuclear power stations in Germany are to be decommissioned by 2022.
However, according to a recent television interview, current German Chancellor Angela Merkel of the Christian Democratic Union plans to extend this deadline by another 10-15 years.
From a report in Deutsche Welle:
The chancellor, [...]
Many companies are trying to do something to help the environment these days. Maybe their factories are all solar powered. Maybe their workers help to restore wildlife habitat. Or maybe their delivery trucks are making the switch to EV. Whatever the case may be, it’s a growing phenomenon (and hopefully not the latest passing trend).
Jumping [...]
‘The Performance’ is a disturbing, but important film about animal abuse in China’s zoos, circuses and animal parks.
In conjunction with a new report by Hong Kong-based Animals Asia, ‘The Performance’ exposes the cruel treatment of animals such as black bears, big cats, monkeys and elephants for the entertainment of live audiences, who are unaware of [...]
Projected astronomic growth in transport and wind energy development during the next 20 years threaten the already imperiled Baltic sea, according to a new report by the WWF.
The report, entitled ‘Future Trends in the Baltic Sea’ warns that almost all maritime activity is projected to expand over the next two decades, which will add enormous [...]
Environmental and animal-welfare groups are urging the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to persuade the World Health Organization (WHO) to act against the eating of whale meat.
These groups say that whale meat is highly contaminated with mercury and should not be eaten. But whaling nations say they already have health guidelines in place.
For the past weeks, [...]
The 50 or so seals that have been found dead in England and Scotland, marked by strange corkscrew wounds, are thought to have been killed by boat propellers.
Researchers examined bodies of 12 dead seals recently found in Norfolk, England and found that the seals were probably killed by a certain type of boat propeller called [...]
Know any female scientists? 90% of 18-24 year olds in the UK don’t, according to a recent poll by the Royal Society.
Sure, everyone knows who Albert Einstein is – well, the poll shows that almost half do, anyway – but few can name French/Polish chemist and physicist Marie Skłodowska Curie. What about primatologist Jane Goodall? [...]
The battle between polar bears and barnacle geese hearkens a dismal new era for fauna worldwide, who are forced by climate change to make unfortunate adjustments
Nothing jerks the animal lover’s tears more than images of emaciated polar bears struggling in melting glacial water as global warming alters their icy habitat. Higher temperatures push these [...]
A volcano which has lain dormant for 400 years has erupted on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
The volcano, called Sinabung, erupted on Saturday and Sunday, sending a giant cloud of ash and smoke into the skies and causing thousands to evacuate their homes.
From an AFP report:
From the crater, it shot smoke and volcanic ash 1,500 [...]
Although the Mediterranean sea covers only one per cent of the world’s marine areas, it contains some six per cent of its marine species. Some of the world’s most endangered species, can be found in the Mediterranean. Fish stocks are down to 20 per cent of natural levels in some areas and the Mediterranean is [...]
Illegally smuggled, abandoned and/or maltreated exotic pets get a second chance at life thanks to a unique animal hospital in Munich, Germany.
Germany’s largest reptile rescue home takes in crocodiles, iguanas, snakes, turtles and more, giving them veterinary care and a suitable living environment. Many are seized in customs while being smuggled into the country as [...]
The Loggerhead Sea Turtle is exposed to a wide array of threats throughout its life-cycle, both when
using beach areas and while at sea.
A study in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology – aka Satan’s Bible – is providing insight into how different species react to environmental contamination.
Scientists studying the effects of the 1986 disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Ukraine on local populations of insects, birds and mammals have found that species’ success in terms [...]
Last night marked the premier of an awesome new series on Animal Planet, starring none other than Ric O’Barry and his son, Lincoln. Sound familiar? Well, they should. O’Barry was the lead activist in the award-winning film, The Cove, and he and his son are continuing their mission to save the dolphins.
The new three-part series, [...]
Sticking your fist or head into the mouth of a declawed, de-toothed lion or tiger isn’t very impressive.
In Chinese zoos, animal parks and circuses the abuse of animals is widespread. Bears, monkeys, elephants, wolves and big cats are among the animals who are routinely beaten into submission and forced to do absurd tricks for the [...]
Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), aka the widespread disappearance of honeybees, is a worrying and mysterious threat to the European honeybee population, which we are dependent on for much of our food supply.
Honeybee colonies pollinate many monoculture crops such as fruits, nuts, vegetables, flowers, seeds, beans and spices. If we lose them, the farming economy suffers, [...]
