.Σκοτώνουν τους αργυροπελεκάνους

ΤΑ ΝΕΑ, 22 Φεβρουαρίου, 2011

Δύο ισχυρά πλήγµατα δέχτηκαν µέσα σε µία εβδοµάδα οι αποικίες του αργυροπελεκάνου σε δύο από τα µεγαλύτερα εθνικά πάρκα της Ελλάδας. Στη λίµνη Βιστωνίδα βρέθηκαν 28 νεκρά πουλιά χτυπηµένα από λαθροθήρες, ενώ στον Αµβρακικό Κόλπο άγνωστοι τα έδιωξαν και στη συνέχεια κατέστρεψαν τις φωλιές και τα αυγά τους. Οιεπιστήµονες τονίζουν την ανάγκη να ενταθούν τα µέτρα προστασίας του παγκόσµια απειλούµενου είδους πουλιού, την ώρα µάλιστα που το 10% του πληθυσµού του ζει στην Ελλάδα. Διαβάστε περισσότερα...

Serengeti World Heritage Site in Grave Danger as Tanzanian Government Moves Forward With Highway

Justmeans, February 13, 2011

Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete directly contradicted his own government's study by claiming that a planned highway in the Serengeti National Park will not be the environmental disaster conservationists and scientists are claiming it to be. Speaking to the World Bank, President Kikwete gave the green light to the controversial highway project, saying that the "road to the south would not solve transport challenges of communities living on the northern side of the park." He once again claimed that "no tarmac road will be built through the Serengeti"-- an oft-cited statement designed to distract from the real issue at hand. Read more...

Climate science vs. climate economics

Grist, February 09, 2011

As I see it, there are two incommensurate stories being told about climate change. I'm not talking about the largely fake debate between those who say climate change is happening and human-driven (scientists) and those who say it isn't (the GOP). I'm talking about two different ways of envisioning what we can expect in a climate-changed future, both of which exist among people who take climate change seriously. Sometimes they take up residence in the same head! Like, er, mine. But they don't fit together very well. One comes to us from science, the other from economics. Read more...

Arctic Roamers: The Move of Southern Species into Far North

Yale 360, February 14, 2011

Grizzly bears mating with polar bears. Red foxes out-competing Arctic foxes. Exotic diseases making their way into once-isolated polar realms. These are just some of the worrisome phenomena now occurring as Arctic temperatures soar and the Arctic Ocean, a once-impermeable barrier, melts. Read more...

Ecuadorian Judge Hits Chevron with $8.6bn Ruling

Environmental Leader, February 15, 2011

Chevron has been slapped with an $8.6 billion penalty, in what is suspected to be the largest environmental fine in history – and the amount could double.
An Ecuadorian judge yesterday ordered Chevron to pay $8.6 billion to clean up oil pollution in the country’s rain forest, the Wall Street Journal reports. This includes $5.4 billion to restore polluted soil and $1.4 billion to create a community health system, plus $860 million to plaintiff coalition the Amazon Defense Front. Read more...

Read also: Chevron's Ecuador Fine `Unenforceable,' Analysts Say

H&M Unveils Recycled and Organic Fashion

Environmental Leader, February 11, 2011

H&M will debut a range of environmentally friendly fashion this spring, the retailer has announced.
The Conscious Collection, for men, women and children, is made from sustainable materials including organic and recycled fibers, H&M said. The collection will be on sale in all H&M stores from April 14.
Items in the collection will include blouses, tunics, T-shirts, dresses, skirts, blazers and trousers. These will be made from organic linen, polyester recycled from PET bottles and textile waste, and Tencel – which H&M describes as a “silky, renewable material produced with minimal environmental impact”. Read more...

Metal Toxins in LED Products

ENN, February 11, 2010


LED lighting is the newest, most efficient form of lighting to hit the markets. It blows away even the most efficient compact fluorescent bulb, and is therefore, a much more expensive option. However, the benefits to the environment from LED's efficiency come with another environmental cost. A new study from the University of California (UC) Irvine shows that LED bulbs contain lead, arsenic, and a dozen more potentially hazardous substances. Read more...

New Zealand scientists record 'biodiversity breakdown'

BBC News, February 4, 2011


Scientists in New Zealand say they have linked the modern-day decline of a common forest shrub with the local extinction of two pollinating birds over a century ago. They say the disappearance of two birds - the bellbird and stitchbird - from the upper North Island of the country has lead to a slow decline in common plants, including the forest shrub New Zealand gloxinia.
Ship rats and stoats imported into the country around the year 1870 are blamed for the birds' demise.
The researchers claim the study, published in the journal Science, offers rare experimental proof of a breakdown in a local ecosystem. Read more...

Nepal climate loan hit by opposition storm

BBC News, February 3, 2011

A loan to be provided by multilateral banks to help Nepal fight the impacts of climate change has kicked off a controversy after it invited criticism from civil societies and non-government organisations. They say it is not fair to burden an already climatically vulnerable country like Nepal with loans in the name of dealing with climatic changes. There are also some supporters of the loan, mainly from few government ministries who argue that the money is good for the country in the long run. But even within the government's administration, there are conflicting positions. Read more...

Brazil Approves Construction of the Belo Monte Dam Project

ENN, February 2, 2011


The proposed Belo Monte Dam in northern Brazil would be the third largest hydro-electric dam in the world in terms of electrical output. The dam would be 3.75 miles long and generate over 11,000 megawatts, which could power up to 23 million homes. Government officials say that the dam is an essential step in supplying energy to the nation's growing population. However, the project is rife with environmental conflicts. The project requires the clearing of 588 acres of Amazon jungle, the displacement of over 20,000 indigenous people, flooding a 193 square mile area, and drying up a 62 mile stretch of the Xingu River. Read more...

Sea Census Locates 1200 New Marine Species in World's Oceans

ENN, January 26, 2010

A newly concluded Census of Marine Life, covering most of the world's seas and oceans, has discovered over 1,200 new species of sea creatures. The ten year study, completed in October, 2010, was composed of 3,000 scientists from 80 countries, including a few from Israel, and cost $370 million USD. The study was the first of its kind to make a thorough census and categorization of sea creatures, ranging from the smallest micro-biological specimens to the largest fish and mammals. Read more...