Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves/www.knowaste.com en Single-use plastic waste on UK and Channel Island beaches ‘up by 9.5% last year’ https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/single-use-plastic-waste-uk-and-channel-island-beaches-95-last-year <p>Litter such as crisp packets and bottle tops are polluting the coast at the rate of nearly two items a sq metre, conservation charity report finds</p> <p>Single-use plastic waste increased on UK and Channel Island beaches last year with items such as crisp packets and bottle tops polluting the coast at the rate of almost two items a sq metre, according to data from beach cleanups.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/single-use-plastic-waste-uk-and-channel-island-beaches-95-last-year" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 19 Mar 2025 06:00:16 +0000 admin 99316 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Non-violent protesters should not have to disavow motives at trial, study says https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/non-violent-protesters-should-not-have-disavow-motives-trial-study-says <p>Academics say UK defendants should be able to explain reasons for their actions and not have to express remorse</p> <p>Protesters charged with non-violent offences should not be forced to disavow their motives when defending themselves at trial or seeking mitigation on their sentences, academics have said.</p> <p>In a challenge to the current approach to protest trials, a study argues courts should allow defendants to explain the reasons for their actions as a defence, and respect their integrity as a mitigating factor.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/non-violent-protesters-should-not-have-disavow-motives-trial-study-says" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 19 Mar 2025 05:00:17 +0000 admin 99314 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org What does Maga-land look like? Let me show you America's unbeautiful suburban sprawl | Alexander Hurst https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/what-does-maga-land-look-let-me-show-you-americas-unbeautiful-suburban-sprawl-alexande <p>I drove 2,000 miles with a French friend across my home country – and saw the endless nowhere land that is the crucible of Trumpism</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/what-does-maga-land-look-let-me-show-you-americas-unbeautiful-suburban-sprawl-alexande" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 19 Mar 2025 05:00:15 +0000 admin 99315 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Trump administration may fire more than 1,000 EPA scientists and scrap research office, Democrats say https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/trump-administration-may-fire-more-1000-epa-scientists-and-scrap-research-office-democ <p>The potential layoffs listed in documents reviewed by Democrats are part of the White House'’s broader push to shrink the federal government</p> <p>The<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/epa"> Environmental Protection Agency</a> (EPA) plans to eliminate its scientific research office and could fire more than 1,000 scientists and other employees who help provide the scientific foundation for rules safeguarding human health and ecosystems from environmental pollutants.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/trump-administration-may-fire-more-1000-epa-scientists-and-scrap-research-office-democ" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 19 Mar 2025 01:45:58 +0000 admin 99313 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org GB Energy needs full £8.3bn of funding or it will disappoint, government told https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/gb-energy-needs-full-83bn-funding-or-it-will-disappoint-government-told <p>Thinktank’s warning follow reports that Labour is considering cuts to budget of company it set up to drive renewable power</p> <p>The government risks “disappointing voters” hoping for cheaper energy bills in the next decade if it cuts the £8.3bn budget for GB Energy, a thinktank has warned.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/gb-energy-needs-full-83bn-funding-or-it-will-disappoint-government-told" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 19 Mar 2025 00:01:09 +0000 admin 99311 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org More than 150 ‘unprecedented’ climate disasters struck world in 2024, says UN https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/more-150-unprecedented-climate-disasters-struck-world-2024-says-un <p>Floods, heatwaves and supercharged hurricanes occurred in hottest climate human society has ever experienced</p> <p>The devastating impacts of the climate crisis reached new heights in 2024, with scores of unprecedented heatwaves, floods and storms across the globe, according to the UN’s World Meteorological Organization.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/more-150-unprecedented-climate-disasters-struck-world-2024-says-un" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 19 Mar 2025 00:01:09 +0000 admin 99310 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Samantha Harvey and Téa Obreht shortlisted for inaugural Climate fiction prize https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/samantha-harvey-and-t-obreht-shortlisted-inaugural-climate-fiction-prize <p>The Orbital and Morningside authors join Abi Daré, Roz Dineen and Kaliane Bradley in the running for the £10,000 award, for inspiring ways to ‘rise to the challenges of the climate crisis with hope and inventiveness’</p> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/nov/13/samantha-harvey-interview-booker-winning-novel-orbital">Samantha Harvey</a> and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/tea-obreht">Téa Obreht</a> are among the writers in the running for the inaugural Climate fiction prize.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/samantha-harvey-and-t-obreht-shortlisted-inaugural-climate-fiction-prize" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Wed, 19 Mar 2025 00:00:09 +0000 admin 99312 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org White House sparks uncertainty over fate of two major California national monuments https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/white-house-sparks-uncertainty-over-fate-two-major-california-national-monuments <p>New White House fact sheet has removed references to Chuckwalla and Sáttítla national monuments</p> <ul> <li>Never miss global breaking news. <a href="https://app.adjust.com/1jb08op7">Download our free app to keep up with key stories in real time</a>.</li> </ul> <p>The White House is fueling speculation over plans to eliminate two large <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/07/biden-national-monuments-california">national monuments in California</a> established by former president Joe Biden.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/white-house-sparks-uncertainty-over-fate-two-major-california-national-monuments" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Tue, 18 Mar 2025 20:26:42 +0000 admin 99309 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org French hunter, 81, on trial for killing endangered bear that attacked him https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/french-hunter-81-trial-killing-endangered-bear-attacked-him <p>Brown bear charged at André Rives in the Pyrenees and dragged him several metres before he shot and killed it</p> <p>An 81-year-old French hunter has gone on trial accused of killing an endangered bear that attacked him in the Pyrenees.</p> <p>The brown bear is a protected species in the mountain range, which separates France and Spain.</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/18/french-hunter-81-on-trial-for-killing-endangered-bear-that-attacked-him">Continue reading...</a></p> Tue, 18 Mar 2025 17:18:55 +0000 admin 99307 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Destructive dust and Trump cuts: five things to know about latest US storms and tornadoes https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/destructive-dust-and-trump-cuts-five-things-know-about-latest-us-storms-and-tornadoes <p>Meteorologist Eric Holthaus on growing concern of dust storms and why recent storms were a preview of future</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/destructive-dust-and-trump-cuts-five-things-know-about-latest-us-storms-and-tornadoes" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Tue, 18 Mar 2025 16:35:15 +0000 admin 99306 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org