Category: Archive

Shorebird numbers crash: survey alarm

admin /9 April, 2008

One of the world’s great wildlife spectacles is under way across Australia: as many as two million migratory shorebirds of 36 species are gathering around Broome before an amazing 10,000-kilometre annual flight to their northern hemisphere breeding grounds.

But an alarming new study has revealed that both these migrants and Australia’s one million resident shorebirds have suffered a massive collapse in numbers over the past 25 years. 

A large scale aerial survey study covering the eastern third of the continent by researchers at the University of New South Wales has identified that migratory shorebirds populations there plunged by 73% between 1983 and 2006, while Australia’s 15 species of resident shorebirds – such as avocets and stilts – have declined by 81%. The study is published in the scientific journal Biological Conservation.

It is the first long-term analysis of shorebird populations and health at an almost a continental scale and reveals a disturbing trend of serious long-term decline.

Related story: Australian Seabird Rescue hosts premiere of Sharkwater. 

Monsanto turns its sights on milk

admin /5 April, 2008

From Vanity Fair

Monsanto already dominates America’s food chain with its genetically modified seeds. Now it has targeted milk production. Just as frightening as the corporation’s tactics–ruthless legal battles against small farmers–is its decades-long history of toxic contamination.

by Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele May 2008

Gary Rinehart clearly remembers the summer day in 2002 when the stranger walked in and issued his threat. Rinehart was behind the counter of the Square Deal, his “old-time country store,” as he calls it, on the fading town square of Eagleville, Missouri, a tiny farm community 100 miles north of Kansas City.

The Square Deal is a fixture in Eagleville, a place where farmers and townspeople can go for lightbulbs, greeting cards, hunting gear, ice cream, aspirin, and dozens of other small items without having to drive to a big-box store in Bethany, the county seat, 15 miles down Interstate 35.

Everyone knows Rinehart, who was born and raised in the area and runs one of Eagleville’s few surviving businesses. The stranger came up to the counter and asked for him by name.

“Well, that’s me,” said Rinehart.

As Rinehart would recall, the man began verbally attacking him, saying he had proof that Rinehart had planted Monsanto’s genetically modified (G.M.) soybeans in violation of the company’s patent. Better come clean and settle with Monsanto, Rinehart says the man told him—or face the consequences.

Drought kills US Forests

admin /5 April, 2008

Bob Berwyn – Original URL

Evidence is growing that drought conditions are killing Colorado’s aspens at an unprecedented rate.

More than 56,000 acres of aspens have recently died in the state, according to a paper published by a group of Forest Service scientists last year. Nearly 10 percent of the aspen stands in the San Juan National Forest have been affected, witth mortality increasing at a rapid rate.

An intense drought in the early 2000s was the likely trigger for the startling decline in the health and vigor of one of Colorado’s signature trees, said James Worrall, one of the primary authors of the study.

“I didn’t feel comfortable making the direct link between climate change and aspen decline,” Worrall said. “But it’s safe to say, if the climate change predictions turn out to be true, we’re going to see more aspen problems,” Worrall said. The tree’s range could shrink significantly, especially on south-facing slopes.

It’s conceivable, but not likely, that aspens could spread to new areas in response to climate change, Worrall said. Limiting factors would be soil conditions, as well as the presence of existing aspen stands. The trees rarely sprout from seeds. Almost all reproduction comes from new chutes growing from health root clusters, so any spread would be very slow.

China opposes Japanese plan in Bangkok

admin /5 April, 2008

By Ying Lou and Adam Satariano – Bloomberg

April 4 (Bloomberg) — The United Nations postponed discussion of Japan’s plan for cutting pollution after China and other developing nations opposed it during climate change negotiations in Bangkok.

The industry emission limits will be debated at a UN conference in August, instead of in June, according to an agreement reached by the UN. Japan, supported by the U.S., wants industries including utilities, steelmakers and cement producers to adopt technology that would slash output of greenhouse gases blamed for climate change.

China favors national targets for rich nations, which caused the buildup of heat-trapping gases. Alfred Wills, an official from the South African government, today told the meeting he was “a little concerned” developed nations were not setting national goals. Wills was speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 developing nations, including China and India.

New solar cells replace silicon

admin /5 April, 2008

NEW YORK – Silicon cells have been the mainstay of the solar photovoltaic industry, but advances in competing technologies could give those manufacturers a toehold in the rapidly growing renewable power market. Last week, researchers at the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory said they had achieved a new efficiency record for one Continue Reading →

Irrigators tell government to butt out

admin /5 April, 2008

The Murray Darling Basin’s biggest irrigation company, Murray Irrigation Ltd, has been called on to halt sales of water to governments until a satisfactory policy outcome has been reached with the Federal Water Minister, Penny Wong. The chairman of the Murray Valley Community Action Group (MVCAG) Lester Wheatley says if governments continue to take water Continue Reading →