Environment
EnvironmentRussia forced to evacuate Arctic base because of melting ice field
A Russian drifting Arctic research station is to be evacuated because the ice field around it is melting, the environment ministry in Moscow reports. The evacuation order plan to be drawn up within three days for North Pole 40 and its staff of 16 is already operational.
Chile investigates alleged case of blast-fishing close to a major Humboldt rookery
The bodies of sea lions, cormorants and penguins were discovered on Sunday littering a seven mile stretch of beach in Punta de Choros, northern Chile, is the proximity of the Humboldt Penguin Nature Reserve. Fisheries officials and police are investigating since there are serious suspicions that the deaths were caused by local fishermen using explosives to increase catches.
The Arctic eight-member Council has accepted China and India as ‘observer states’
New emerging powers including China and India have been accepted as “observer” states in the eight-nation Arctic Council and a new deal was signed to improve oil spill response to safeguard the fragile eco-system of the region, as Canada begun its chairmanship.
Solar activity at its 11-year peak; major flares could impact Earth over the weekend
Between Sunday and Monday, and within a 24 hour period, the sun has let lose three major flares, all in the X range. Solar flares are rated on a scale with X flares being among the largest possible. The latest flare erupted Monday night and registered as an X3.2, which is so far the most powerful solar flare of 2013.
US environmentalist donates 15.000 hectares of pristine Patagonia land for a national park
US millionaire and environmentalist Douglas Tompkins who has dedicated his life to promoting the beauty and wildlife of Patagonia will be donating one of his several estancias of pristine land to the Perito Moreno National Park in the extreme south of Argentina.
Monsanto wins leading soybean seed replicating case to the relief of biotechnology industry
In a decision that drew sighs of relief from the biotechnology industry, the US Supreme Court ruled that an Indiana farmer violated agribusiness company Monsanto Co’s patent for a type of soybean. The court agreed unanimously with Monsanto that Vernon Bowman, 75, had performed an end-run around the law when he used the company’s patented soybean seeds without seeking a licence.
FAO suggests farming and feeding on insects can address global food insecurity
While insects can be slimy, cringe-inducing creatures, often squashed on sight by humans, a new book released by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) says beetles, wasps and caterpillars are also an unexplored nutrition source that can help address global food insecurity.
Falklands’ denies political impact of Argentine South Georgia scientific cruise
News this week that Argentina had decided to undertake fisheries research in the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) is not connected in any way to the Falklands, Acting Governor Sandra Tyler-Haywood has assured.
Winning design to replace Brazil’s destroyed Antarctic base was presented in Rio
The Brazilian Navy announced in Rio the winning proposal for the new Antarctic research base Comandante Ferraz which in February last year was destroyed by fire with the loss of two lives and damages in excess of 12 million dollars.
Falklands/South Georgia dispute placed by Argentina under the CCALMR umbrella
The Buenos Aires media is reporting a potential incident situation in South Georgia waters which could erupt into something more complicated from the moment the Argentine research vessel ‘Eduardo Holmberg’ has been involved in scientific activities in a zone which last year was declared by the UK as a Maritime Protected Area, MPA, and which Argentina does not recognize since it considers it ‘an area in dispute’.
