Turkish coal plants in line for public subsidies
MPs and campaigners warn new amendment could open the door to dirty, harmful coal projects with no means to demand environmental assessments Turkish coal plants are in line for eye-watering public subsidies and exemptions from environmental regulations, under an amended energy package delivered by the country’s parliament, late last week. Turkey is a member of […]
Palm oil firm accused of hiring men to kidnap smog inspectors in Indonesia
Seven people from a ministry of environment team documenting illegal forest fires were taken hostage and threatened, ministry says Up to 100 Indonesian men, believed to have been hired by a palm oil firm, took a team of official environmental investigators hostage on Friday and threatened to burn them alive, Indonesia’s environment ministry has said. […]
Wales gives cyclists legal right to propose new bike routes
A law has been passed in Wales that obliges politicians to listen to anyone who asks for safe walking and cycling routes to be built in their area To negotiate parts of the Cardiff Bay trail by bike on a sunny day is, if not an art, then at least a good test of spatial […]
Australia seeks $120m for Great Barrier Reef damage from Chinese coal ship
Federal court hears crash site was contaminated with paint particles tainted with tributyltin but carrier’s owner says cleanup cost ‘unsubstantial and unrealistic’ The Australian government is seeking at least $120m from the owners of a Chinese coal carrier that destroyed part of the Great Barrier Reef. Shenzhen Energy Transport is arguing against paying for the […]
Eagle attacks woman at Currumbin wildlife sanctuary on Queensland's Gold Coast
Worker at sanctuary suffers cuts to her face after entering eagle enclosure on Tuesday morning A wedge-tailed eagle has attacked a female staff member at the Gold Coast’s Currumbin wildlife sanctuary, leaving her with cuts to her face. The woman, believed to be in her 30s, was attacked at about 8.30am on Tuesday and was […]
City of Sydney council to divest from fossil fuels regardless of election result
Council unanimously passes motion calling for policy that would remove more than $500m from banks that invest in fossil fuels The City of Sydney council is set to divest from fossil fuels this year, regardless of the outcome of the election on Saturday, after a two-year campaign by members of the anti-fossil fuel group 350.org. […]
Only 3% of UK adults feel ashamed at wasting food, poll finds
Sainsbury’s survey shows not throwing away food is a far less popular method of trying to save money than turning off lights Only 3% of UK householders think there is a stigma attached to wasting food, while many try to save money by switching off lights or turning down the heating, instead of reducing food […]
Sellafield 'riddled with safety flaws', according to BBC investigation
Panorama programme claims there are numerous, potentially lethal safety flaws at the Cumbria nuclear plant The Sellafield nuclear site is riddled with potentially lethal safety flaws, according to a BBC investigation. The Panorama programme, broadcast on Monday night, uncovered a raft of safety issues on the site in Cumbria which stores almost all of the […]
Toxic air pollution particles found in human brains
Detection of ‘abundant’ magnetite particles raises concerns because of suggested links to Alzheimer’s disease Toxic nanoparticles from air pollution have been discovered in human brains in “abundant” quantities, a newly published study reveals. The detection of the particles, in brain tissue from 37 people, raises concerns because recent research has suggested links between these magnetite […]
Greens cannot afford to ignore economics | Letters
John Harris provides, as usual, an excellent piece on what is wrong with British politics (Politics can’t heal until politicians stand clear of the revolving door, 3 September). However, former politicians and functionaries moving to lucrative jobs in the private sector and people from the private sector moving to less lucrative but influential positions in […]