By Gavin Hudson •
April 21, 2008
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Following are the top international environmental news for during the week of April 13 - 20. See an archive of top international environmental news here.
Asia
Two “Extinct” Species Discovered
First there was Swinshoe’s softshell turtle, and then the Javan Elephant. Is this more commonplace than we might believe?
Frankly, no. Despite the occasional hubbub over an animal science has lost track of– say, the Coelacanth– we’ve witnessed something extraordinary. Swinshoe’s turtle was previously believed to be extinct in the wild, with only three remaining in captivity, and therefore every one of these 300-pound turtles is a critical find.
Continue reading: Environmental Graffiti. Hot in media: Stumble Upon.
By Joshua S Hill •
October 25, 2007
Whenever you see a study that is described as a "first of its kind," be wary. Don’t be wary of the warning being given, but be wary of those who are going to use the newness factor of the study to attempt to discredit you. They will claim it hasn’t been proved and therefore isn’t viable as evidence.
According to research which looked at temperatures in 10 million year intervals, four of the past
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By Gavin Hudson •
September 14, 2007
A report released Wednesday from the World Conservation Union (IUCN) predicts an 80% population decline of the most common type of gorilla, the Western Gorilla, from 1980 levels by 2046. The 2007 Red List of Threatened Species finds "commercial hunting and outbreaks of the Ebola virus have virtually extirpated gorillas from a great deal of otherwise intact forest" where they were previously thought to thrive.
"What’s immediately needed if we are to halt the
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In my first exploration of the issue of by-catch in commercial fishing, I looked at the devastating effects of fishing not simply for the "target" species, but on those animals who are unlucky enough to be caught in the lines, traps, hooks, and nets not meant for them. In this second part, I further explore this issue and take a look at how the dolphins, sea turtles, and seals - animals for whom
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By Ryan Thibodaux •
March 20, 2007
St. Matthew Island. Photo: Dave KleinWelcome to another edition of Uncle Ryan's story time…
Editor's note: Red, Green and Blue is Green Options' weekly take on politics and the environment from both sides of the aisle. Ryan Thibodaux represents the progressive position. Jimmy Hogan's conservative take on this issue is available here.
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful uninhabited Alaskan paradise called St.
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New Scientist has a fascinating article on the impact of humans on the Earth and what exactly might happen to the environment if we were to suddenly disappear tomorrow. Their research goes into great detail explaining everything from light pollution to species rebound to building decomposition.
It's an interesting read and the most sobering message it communicates is that nothing is forever. Even after only 100,000 years (a blip on the Earth's time
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