Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Single-use plastic waste on UK and Channel Island beaches ‘up by 9.5% last year’

admin — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 06:00:16 +0000

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

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.

Non-violent protesters should not have to disavow motives at trial, study says

admin — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 05:00:17 +0000

Academics say UK defendants should be able to explain reasons for their actions and not have to express remorse

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.

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.

What does Maga-land look like? Let me show you America's unbeautiful suburban sprawl | Alexander Hurst

admin — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 05:00:15 +0000

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

Trump administration may fire more than 1,000 EPA scientists and scrap research office, Democrats say

admin — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 01:45:58 +0000

The potential layoffs listed in documents reviewed by Democrats are part of the White House'’s broader push to shrink the federal government

The Environmental Protection Agency (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.

GB Energy needs full £8.3bn of funding or it will disappoint, government told

admin — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 00:01:09 +0000

Thinktank’s warning follow reports that Labour is considering cuts to budget of company it set up to drive renewable power

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.

More than 150 ‘unprecedented’ climate disasters struck world in 2024, says UN

admin — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 00:01:09 +0000

Floods, heatwaves and supercharged hurricanes occurred in hottest climate human society has ever experienced

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.

Samantha Harvey and Téa Obreht shortlisted for inaugural Climate fiction prize

admin — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 00:00:09 +0000

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’

Samantha Harvey and Téa Obreht are among the writers in the running for the inaugural Climate fiction prize.

White House sparks uncertainty over fate of two major California national monuments

admin — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 20:26:42 +0000

New White House fact sheet has removed references to Chuckwalla and Sáttítla national monuments

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The White House is fueling speculation over plans to eliminate two large national monuments in California established by former president Joe Biden.

French hunter, 81, on trial for killing endangered bear that attacked him

admin — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 17:18:55 +0000

Brown bear charged at André Rives in the Pyrenees and dragged him several metres before he shot and killed it

An 81-year-old French hunter has gone on trial accused of killing an endangered bear that attacked him in the Pyrenees.

The brown bear is a protected species in the mountain range, which separates France and Spain.

Destructive dust and Trump cuts: five things to know about latest US storms and tornadoes

admin — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 16:35:15 +0000

Meteorologist Eric Holthaus on growing concern of dust storms and why recent storms were a preview of future