Tag: environment
environmentInvasive species threaten Antarctica; climate change and visitors boom blamed
Antarctic tourists and scientists may be inadvertently seeding the icy continent with invasive species, a new study says. Foreign plants such as annual bluegrass are establishing themselves on Antarctica, whose status as the coldest and driest continent had long made it one of the most pristine environments on Earth.
With a global, comprehensive agreement still elusive, we need a new climate change 'road-map'
* By Lord Julian Hunt. The main aim of the UN climate summit at Durban, which concluded unsuccessfully on Friday/Saturday morning, was to produce an agreement about targets for emissions by developed countries, and longer term commitments from developing countries.
End of intense La Niña cycle anticipates return to average rainfall in Chile
The most intense La Niña climate pattern since 1975 is coming to a close in Chile, after it cooled water temperatures off the Pacific coast of South America and left a troubling drought in its wake.
Aquaculture more efficient than livestock production, says WorldFish Centre
WorldFish Centre and Conservation International (CI) have revealed a comprehensive analysis exploring the environmental impact of the world's major aquaculture production systems and species and gives an unprecedented global assessment of trends and impacts. The results from the two-year study show that aquaculture is more efficient than other forms of animal protein production such as livestock.
Antarctica visitors drop 8.3% in 2010/11 and 25% fall for 2011/12 season, forecasts IAATO
The total number of visitors to Antarctica during the 2010/11 season, and traveling with IAATO member-operators, was 33,824. This includes those traveling on traditional expedition ships, yachts, larger cruise-only vessels as well visitors participating in land programs. The overall seasonal results reflect a decrease of 8.3% last year’s total of 36,875 passengers.
“Fish pedicure” in the UK fuels health and animal welfare concerns
One of the fastest-growing beauty treatments in Britain, fish pedicures – during which tiny toothless carp smooth down feet by eating dead skin – has come under new scrutiny from health experts and animal rights campaigners, reports the Sunday UK media.
South Georgia marine biodiversity richer than the Galapagos Islands
Sea spiders the size of dinner plates and two-meter-long ribbon worms that eat prey several times their own size were among the 1,400-plus species cataloged by the British Antarctic Service in a comprehensive study of marine life around South Georgia Island.
“Eco-fascism” or fundamentalist environmentalism joins political jargon
Campaigns in extreme defence of Nature and the environment can turn into a sort of “eco-fascism” unable to solve the home problems for millions or modify the consumerism paradigm of modern societies, warns a new academia discussion publication in Argentina.
Ecological disaster in Tristan da Cunha: penguins and lobster at risk plus threat of rats
A race to rescue up to 20,000 endangered northern Rockhopper penguins from an oil spill in an isolated South Atlantic British island group was under way this week after a cargo ship ran aground.
Chevron appeals 9.5 billion USD fine from an Ecuador court
US oil giant Chevron has launched a legal appeal against a 9.5 billion US dollars fine by an Ecuador court for polluting much of the country's Amazon region.
