By Rhishja Larson •
July 31, 2009
In a move praised by environmentalists fighting to protect vulnerable species, thousands of restaurants across the UK and Ireland have taken 69 fish off their menus.
The Compass Group, world’s largest contract caterer, is setting an example in addressing fisheries’ sustainability and helping to reduce demand for over-exploited fish. According to today’s Guardian, the 69 species on the Marine Conservation Society’s (MCS) “Fish to Avoid” list will no longer be served at 6,500 outlets across the UK and Ireland supplied by Compass.
Head of conservation at MCS, Simon Brockington, in the same article, praised the company’s decision, calling it a “crucial step in ensuring the long-term survival of vulnerable fisheries.”
Currently, a decision on whether or not to offer “official advice” to consumers on eating ethically is under consideration by the government’s Food Standards Agency. If the agency moves forward with the decision, it will encourage consumers not to buy or eat endangered fish,as well as direct them to the MCS and the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).
By Rhishja Larson •
July 29, 2009
Smooth snakes are to be released in Devon, where they have not been seen for over 50 years.
Ten smooth snakes (Coronella austriaca) will be collected, under license, from several populations in Dorset, and released at one of the RSPB’s heathland nature reserves, under a project organized by Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, East Devon Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust and the RSPB, with support from Natural England, according to The Mid Devon Star.
Conservationists have found the East Devon heaths to be in “superb condition.” This made it possible for a site with “excellent quality of heath” to be chosen for the smooth snakes - a site that will provide the best opportunity for the species to expand into a much wider range.
By Rhishja Larson •
July 28, 2009
The Hazel Dormouse, once widespread throughout the UK, is now vulnerable to regional extinction. Fortunately, an ongoing reintroduction plan is helping to increase the numbers of Britain’s only native dormouse species.
Loss of hedgerows and fragmentation of woodland habitat has nearly wiped out the Hazel Dormouse from Britain. But, thank to the PTES’ Hazel Dormouse Biodiversity Action Plan, this species is being reintroduced to the wild.
At the latest dormouse release organized by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES), 11 male and 14 female Hazel Dormice were released “somewhere in Warwickshire.” These young dormice were comprised of animals from wild animal parks and several private breeders, ensuring genetic diversity in the new population. They have been microchipped to enable ongoing monitoring.
For the first two weeks, the dormice will live in large cages as they become accustomed to their new surroundings, receiving food and water daily. Then, the cage doors will be open and the little mammals will be able to explore the surrounding woodland on their own, and eventually live independently.
By Andrew Williams •
July 23, 2009
A UK company has launched a new device that allows users to cut-off their water supply at the flick of a switch, drastically reducing wasteage and giving a significant boost to water conservation efforts.
Instead of scrabbling around looking for the stopcock, the new Surestop device allows users cut supply instantly, saving water loss, and consequent damage, whilst giving householders direct control over water consumption.
Now the company hopes to expand into areas crippled by drought, where water conservation is a pressing priority.
By Jake Richardson •
July 21, 2009
Huw Irranca-Davies, the British Fisheries Minister has joined a list of actors, celebrities and activists demanding the Japanese restaurant Nobu stop serving the endangered bluefin tuna on their menus.
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., within the Renault-Nissan Alliance, announced today that it will be building two European plants to manufacture its advanced lithium-ion batteries - each plant manufacturing a projected annual capacity of 60,000 units. With agreements between Nissan and Purtugal and the United Kingdoms, the Renault-Nissan Alliance makes significant stepes towards producing batteries for its European Zero Emission Mobility Program.
By Susan Kraemer •
July 16, 2009
Just in time, too.
As climate change brings an increase in drought areas and rising sea levels we have to find a solution to soil salinity if our civilization is to survive.
Previous civilizations dependant on irrigation of dry soil have failed. The gradually increased salinity in irrigated dry soil has ended civilizations even though they solved the engineering and logistic problems of designing, building, and maintaining irrigation systems, but neglected the long-term effects of salinization.
We’ll have no choice but to learn to farm in salty water, as the next few centuries’ climate change dries up growing areas from California, Florida and the Middle East, to Africa and China and Australia - - and as seawater increasingly infiltrates crops on low-slung island nations.
So the research findings of a group of scientists from the University of Adelaide in Australia and Department of Plant Sciences at the University of Cambridge, UK. attempting to learn to grow crops in saltwater is very good news.
The team has succeeded in keeping salt out of the leaves of the first plant species tested:
By Lisa Wojnovich •
July 16, 2009
Researchers at the University of York have recently come up with a method of recycling that seems like it fell from the pages of a science fiction novel. They want to turn discarded television screens into components for biomedicine.
A new hydrogen-powered car, whose designs will be “open source” and posted for free use on the web, was unveiled today in London. The company behind the Riversimple urban car claim the new model proves hydrogen automotive technology is ready for roll-out now rather than in 10 years’ time.
The open-source approach means entrepreneurs around the world could download the designs and manufacture the two-seater prototype locally for free.
The car, which drove in to the launch event, is capable of a 50mph top speed, 0-30mph acceleration in 5.5 seconds, and has a 240 mile range. The car’s backers say it has greenhouse gas emissions of 30g/km CO2, less than a third of the latest hybrid petrol cars such as the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight.
The lightweight Smart car-size vehicle uses hydrogen in a modest 6kW fuel cell, and – in the case of this prototype – uses hydrogen converted from natural gas. Hydrogen can also be created from water using electrolysis and potentially even from bio-fuels.
By Jennifer Lance •
May 27, 2009
Today was the end of the year awards ceremony at my daughter’s school. A seventh grade boy, whom I love dearly, read a persuasive essay he had written about why they should have physical education class for 60 minutes a day every day. His arguments ranged from health to curricular requirements, and the crowd of parents cheered his speech.
Unfortunately, recent studies in Europe have concluded physical education in schools makes no difference at all.
By SolveClimate •
May 15, 2009
Written by Stacy Feldman. Originally published May 14, 2009, at SolveClimate
Solar photovoltaics (PV) in the UK will be as cheap as grid-sourced fossil fuels much sooner than expected, a new study by Solarcentury finds.
For homeowners, PV will cross the “grid parity” mark in 2013. For commercial customers, it will occur around 2018. The magical parity date for PV is generally assumed to be 2020 in [...]
