Breaking Waves: Ocean News

UK car industry hails plan for Prius-style hybrids to stay on sale after 2030

admin — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 11:01:18 +0000

Government to ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars but will relax rules that force firms to sell more electric vehicles every year

Shropshire Wildlife Trust raising funds to buy 50-acre nature-rich site

admin — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 11:00:41 +0000

Betchcott Hill has glorious views across the county and a mix of habitats home to curlew, cuckoo and lapwing

One of the most scenic and nature-rich spots in western England could be protected for ever in a boost for the curlew, cuckoo, lapwing and snipe that nest there.

Betchcott Hill has views across much of the county and its mix of grassland, wet flushes, woodland and heath sings with the calls of endangered birds in spring.

Skiing, wool baubles, ice-cream: how Antarctic scientists celebrate Christmas

admin — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 08:00:40 +0000

From the Flask glacier to King George Island, intrepid researchers expect good cheer, snow and penguins

Many of us will not get a white Christmas this year, but a group of scientists are guaranteed one while carrying out research on the Antarctic peninsula.

While ice and good cheer are expected, their yuletide activities will be very different from those back home. Dr Kate Winter, of Northumbria University, and colleagues will be deploying instruments on Flask glacier to study the way that meltwater affects how quickly glaciers flow into the ocean.

Dissecting the world’s rarest whale – in pictures

admin — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 05:00:37 +0000

Conservationists and scientists in New Zealand were astonished to find the world’s rarest whale washed ashore in South Island in July. As only the seventh spade-toothed whale identified, and with none ever seen alive, this month saw the first dissection of a complete specimen

El Salvador overturns metals mining ban, defying environmental groups

admin — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 21:14:03 +0000

President Nayib Bukele pushed for the legislation that will grant government sole authority over mining activities

El Salvador’s legislature has overturned a seven-year-old ban on metals mining, a move that the country’s authoritarian president, Nayib Bukele, had pushed for to boost economic growth, but that environmental groups had opposed.

More than 100 charges brought over Sydney asbestos mulch crisis after major NSW EPA investigation

admin — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:00:23 +0000

Prosecution of three companies and one director relate to 26 sites, including Rozelle parklands. They have denied the alleged offences

Revealed: Thames Water diverted ‘cash for clean-ups’ to help pay bonuses

admin — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:20 +0000

Exclusive: UK’s biggest water company assessed risks before cutting back on cost of environmental work, investigation shows

Thames Water intentionally diverted millions of pounds pledged for environmental clean-ups towards other costs including bonuses and dividends, the Guardian can reveal.

The company, which serves more than 16 million customers, cut the funds after senior managers assessed the potential risks of such a move.

My sewing group makes reusable produce bags - cutting back on plastic and textile waste

admin — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 14:00:18 +0000

Read more from My DIY climate hack, a series on everyday people’s creative solutions to the climate crisis

Single-use plastic bags are not only wasteful, they cause serious damage to the environment and our health. Anne-Marie Bonneau, 56, is on a mission to put more reusable produce bags into the world.

Burt, the giant crocodile from Crocodile Dundee, dies aged 90

admin — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:25:05 +0000

The reptile, who later became Australia’s answer to Paul the octopus, ‘passed away peacefully’ in Darwin

Burt, the giant crocodile that featured in hit Australian comedy Crocodile Dundee, has died.

Crocosaurus Cove, an aquarium and exhibition space in Darwin, Australia, where Burt was housed, announced the news on social media, saying that the crocodile “passed away peacefully” and was “estimated to be over 90 years old”.

Gaza war victims take legal action against BP over oil supply to Israel

admin — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 13:00:15 +0000

Palestinians accuse UK firm of breaching human rights laws by piping oil allegedly used by Israeli army

Palestinian victims of the war in Gaza are taking legal action against BP for running a pipeline that supplies much of Israel’s crude oil.

The claimants have sent the British oil company a letter before claim, alleging it is breaching its stated commitments to human rights under international law.