Balkan countries unite in a war on waste
Trash activists from former war-torn countries formed some of the world’s largest cross-border civic movements against rubbish and pollution Balkan countries once divided by war, nationalism and religion have been quietly uniting to confront a common foe: rubbish. Under the rubric of the Let’s Do It campaign, Albanian and Kosovar activists jointly cleared their border […]
The best and worst of worlds in my Kenya
Paula Kahumbu: When will we learn that wildlife conservation is part of wealth creation and not an obstacle to it? Three days spent in Samburu Reserve to celebrate World Elephant Day with 91 children from Kenya’s poor neighbourhoods, slums and rural areas were probably the most moving experience of my life. A team of staff, […]
Super funds and fossil fuels: Scott Morrison should study the facts | Simon Sheikh
Scott Morrison should know better than to chastise superannuation funds who choose to protect their members’ savings from the decline of coal and fossil fuels Scott Morrison added another track to his greatest hits album this week with his suggestion on the Ray Hadley talkback radio show that some superannuation funds are avoiding investing in […]
Investors controlling $13tn call on G20 leaders to ratify Paris climate agreement
Investors say countries that move first will attract investments and call for regulators to force disclosure of climate-related risks A group of 130 institutions that control US$13tn of investments have called on G20 nations to ratify the Paris agreement this year and accelerate investment in clean energy and forced disclosure of climate-related financial risk. Countries […]
Fisherman hands in giant pearl he kept under the bed 10 years ago
Enormous pearl thought to have come from a giant clam could be the biggest in the world and, if authenticated, is estimated to be worth more than $100m A fisherman in the Philippines has kept what might be the largest natural pearl ever found hidden in his home for more than 10 years. The enormous […]
Swimming with dolphins could end as 'self-gratifying selfies' pose threat
In Hawaii, large numbers of visitors disturb nocturnal spinner dolphins, which continue moving while they snooze The federal government is proposing a ban on swimming with dolphins in Hawaii – a move that may crush the dreams of many tourists, but will allow the marine mammals to finally get a good day’s sleep. The proposed […]
Microplastics should be banned in cosmetics to save oceans, MPs say
Environmental audit committee calls for ban after hearing that microbeads harm marine life and enter the food chain Cosmetics companies must be banned from using plastic microbeads in scrubs, toothpaste and beauty products because of the marine pollution they are causing, say a group of MPs. Members of the environmental audit committee have called for […]
Storms devastate monarch butterflies' forest habitat in Mexico
Rain cold and high winds destroy 133 acres of trees west of Mexico City March storms killed 7% of monarchs and added to habit loss by tree-felling Storms earlier this year blew down more than a hundred acres of forests where migrating monarch butterflies spend the winter in central Mexico, killing more than 7% of […]
Flint's tainted water may have led to rashes and hair loss, investigation finds
Results come from water sampled during time when Flint’s supply was taken from source later deemed to be corroding pipes and leaching lead A months-long government investigation bolsters claims of residents in Flint, Michigan, that the city’s lead-tainted water led to a breakout of rashes and hair loss for residents. Though the investigation stopped short […]
Puerto Rico officials struggle to translate Zika virus fears into action
A quarter of the population may have the disease by the end of mosquito season, but efforts to control it have been thwarted by apathy and misinformation Every time it rains in San Juan, Dr Brenda Rivera-García walks around her home emptying containers of standing water, probably wearing long sleeves, and almost certainly wearing mosquito […]