Tag: ecology

Crude capitalism: How oil greases the wheels of the world market

New book exposes the power of oil – from colonialism, to post-Soviet Russia, to the current climate crisis Adam Hanieh Nearly four decades ago, a large team of scientists from around the world launched a major global research programme called the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP). Their goal was to study the connection between human activities and… Read More Crude capitalism: How oil greases the wheels of the world market

Dilip

Certainty

Even if our brains are not up to the task of appreciating all the connections that relate to quality of air, water, nutrients, soils, etc., these things are still vitally important. In other words, we would be tragically foolish to imagine living without insects, plankton, microbes, fish, birds, etc., and the uncountable and unknowable interrelationships between… Read More Certainty

Dilip

Honduran anti-mining activist who fought to save rivers is killed

The group had suffered threats and harassment for years amid efforts to preserve the Guapinol and San Pedro rivers, and the Carlos Escaleras nature reserve, amid the growing presence of mining and hydro-electric companies. TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras Reuters —  An environmental activist who protested mining and hydro-electric projects in northern Honduras in an effort to preserve tropical forests and rivers… Read More Honduran anti-mining activist who fought to save rivers is killed

Dilip

Climate protesters are taking action against Big Oil. UK courts are handing them prison terms akin to rapists and thieves

Kara Fox, CNN As right-wing rioters attacked communities with racist violence across parts of the UK last month, 22-year-old climate activist Cressie Gethin sat in a prison cell. Her crime? Organizing a disruptive protest against new government-granted licenses to drill for oil — a planet-heating fossil fuel — in the North Sea. In late July,… Read More Climate protesters are taking action against Big Oil. UK courts are handing them prison terms akin to rapists and thieves

Dilip

China-Xizang Himalayan Forum: The cynical ‘sinicisation’ of Tibet

The delegates invited, the agenda unveiled… indicate China’s efforts to convert Tibet (renamed recently as Xizang) into the fulcrum of sub-regional initiatives as well as to expand China’s influence… over a period of time, 7.5 million Han Chinese have come into Tibet, drastically altering the demographics of the region and making Tibetans a minority in… Read More China-Xizang Himalayan Forum: The cynical ‘sinicisation’ of Tibet

Dilip

Japan’s 450°C solution to tackle the rising challenges of plastic waste

With the use of its cutting-edge HICOP (High-efficiency Oil Production) technology, Japanese firm Environment Energy hopes to process 20,000 tons of plastic per year and turn plastic trash into crude oil. The enormous environmental hazards associated with the accumulation of plastic wastes is no longer unknown to the public. Globally, as much as one million… Read More Japan’s 450°C solution to tackle the rising challenges of plastic waste

Dilip

Land loneliness

To survive, we are asked to forget that our lands and bodies are being violated, policed, ripped up, silenced, sacrificed Kelsey Day Igot the news naked in the New River, in the backwoods of Appalachia. Water slashed against my skin. The river was closed in by curtains of green, oak trees rippling on both sides… Read More Land loneliness

Dilip

Revealed: wealthy western countries lead in global oil and gas expansion

The US and the UK among countries with low dependence on fossil fuels criticized for ‘hypocrisy’ on climate pledges A surge in new oil and gas exploration in 2024 threatens to unleash nearly 12bn tonnes of planet-heating emissions, with the world’s wealthiest countries – such as the US and the UK – leading a stampede… Read More Revealed: wealthy western countries lead in global oil and gas expansion

Dilip

‘Extinct’ trees found in Tanzania sparks hope for ecosystem recovery

RYAN TRUSCOTT In July 2023, botanist Andrea Bianchi was driving in the Nguru Mountains of eastern Tanzania when the broad pods on a tree growing in a maize field near the road caught his eye. He pulled over and found not one but two Millettia sacleuxii trees, a species scientists had feared was extinct. Thousands of their… Read More ‘Extinct’ trees found in Tanzania sparks hope for ecosystem recovery

Dilip

Crisis at Tres Fronteras: how criminal syndicates threaten Amazon’s future

At the lawless triple border between Brazil, Colombia and Peru, drug trafficking, illegal logging and gangs jeopardise the ecological and social fabric of the rainforest Bram Ebus The area of the Amazon where Brazil, Colombia, and Peru meet – referred to as Tres Fronteras (triple frontier) – brims with wildlife and natural resources. It is also… Read More Crisis at Tres Fronteras: how criminal syndicates threaten Amazon’s future

Dilip