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SENG National Newsletter - February2015
Canadian mounties' secret memo casts doubt on climate change threat
Intelligence report identifies anti-petroleum movement as a threat to Canadian security and suggests those concerned with climate consequences occupy political fringe
The US security establishment views climate change as real and a dangerous threat to national security. But Canada takes a very different view, according to a secret intelligence memo prepared by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
The memo, stamped “Canadian eyes only”, repeatedly casts doubt on the causes of climate change – the burning of fossil fuels – and its potential threat.
Continue reading...World's biggest offshore windfarm approved for Yorkshire coast
Dogger Bank Creyke Beck project will cover 430 sq miles and is expected to generate enough electricity to power nearly 2m homes, supporting 900 jobs
Plans for the world’s biggest offshore windfarm have been given the green light by the energy secretary, with planning permission for an array of up to 400 turbines 80 miles off the Yorkshire coast on the Dogger Bank.
The project, more than twice the size of the UK’s current biggest offshore windfarm, is expected to cost £6bn to £8bn and could fulfil 2.5% of the UK’s electricity needs.
Continue reading...Privatisation of UK woodlands is happening by the backdoor | Mark Avery
Plans to build luxury holiday cabins, majority-owned by venture capitalists, in public forests put protected wildlife and their habitats at risk
Four years ago the environment secretary, Caroline Spelman, told the House of Commons that she was ditching the coalition government’s plans to privatise the Forestry Commission (FC). “I’m sorry. We got this one wrong, but we have listened to people’s concerns,” she said.
But if you go down to the woods today, you may have a big surprise, because privatisation of our woodlands appears to be proceeding by the back door.
Sea Urchin and Turban Shell Restricted Fishery
Seriolella brama (blue warehou) listed as conservation dependent
Nasa climate study warns of unprecedented North American drought | Dana Nuccitelli
We need to cut carbon pollution to avoid North American mega-droughts
California is in the midst of its worst drought in over 1,200 years, exacerbated by record hot temperatures. A new study led by Benjamin Cook at Nasa GISS examines how drought intensity in North America will change in a hotter world, and finds that things will only get worse.
Global warming intensifies drought in several ways. In increases evaporation from soil and reservoirs. In increases water demand. It makes precipitation fall more as rain and less as snow, which is problematic for regions like California that rely on snowpack melt to refill reservoirs throughout the year. It also makes the snowpack melt earlier in the year. The record heat has intensified the current California drought by about 36%, and the planet will only continue to get hotter.
SENG SA News and Events - February 2015
Four arrested for allegedly attempting to export 150 native animals to Europe
Suspects could face 10 years’ jail after wildlife including skinks, geckos, frogs and pygmy pythons was found by customs hidden in luggage and parcels
Four men are in custody in Perth accused of attempting to export more than 150 native animals from Western Australia.
The men were arrested at Perth international airport earlier this month after customs was tipped off by postal workers who noticed something amiss in packages sent from destinations including Carnarvon, Tom Price and Geraldton. All were destined for Europe.
Continue reading...Chairs’ Update February 2015 | Commonwealth Marine Reserves Review
We should be outraged by Europe slaughtering sea life in the name of 'science' | George Monbiot
While we focus our anger on Japan using ‘scientific research’ as an excuse to kill marine life, Europe is doing the same thing under our noses with electric pulse trawling, with potentially disastrous effects
One of the biggest jokes in conservation is the Japanese government’s claim to be engaged in “scientific whaling”. All the killing by its harpoon fleet takes place under the guise of “research”, as this is the only justification available, under international rules.
According to Joji Morishita, a diplomat representing Japan at the whaling negotiations, this “research programme” has produced 666 scientific papers. While we must respect Mr Morishita’s right to invoke the number of the Beast, which may on this occasion be appropriate, during its investigation of Japanese whaling, the International Court of Justice discovered that the entire “research programme” had actually generated just two peer-reviewed papers, which used data from the carcasses of nine whales.
Continue reading...Community Heritage and Icons Grants 2014-15
Greenland’s hidden meltwater lakes store up trouble
Scientists find evidence of vast ‘storage tanks’ of water deep below the melting Greenland ice sheet that could have a major effect on sea level rise, reports Climate News Network
One small mystery that surrounds Greenland’s melting ice is a little closer to being solved as scientists in the US confirm that surface meltwater can drain all the way down to fill concealed lakes under the ice.
This means that atmospheric warming can reach thousands of metres below the ice sheet − warming the glacial base and potentially increasing its rate of flow.
Continue reading...Sea Shepherd seeks access to jaws of great white sharks culled after Sean Pollard attacked
Freedom of information request by Sea Shepherd and No WA Shark Cull Inc the first attempt in Australia to use FOI to access physical objects
Environmental groups have applied to have the jaws of two great white sharks that were killed after a shark attack off the West Australian coast last year released under freedom of information (FOI) laws.
It’s the first attempt in Australia to use the FOI act to access physical objects.
Continue reading...Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Program in NSW Round Three
Public consultation: Draft EPBC Act referral guidelines for the vulnerable Tasmanian Giant Freshwater Lobster
State Party Report on the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area
State Party Report on the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area - 2015
How to eradicate grey squirrels without firing a shot | George Monbiot
In Ireland, greys squirrels are being pushed into the sea and the reds are swarming back across the land – all thanks to pine martens
Is there anything more stupid than the government’s plan to kill grey squirrels?
I ask not because I believe – as Animal Aid does – that grey squirrels are harmless. Far from it: they have eliminated red squirrels from most of Britain since their introduction by Victorian landowners, and are now doing the same thing in parts of the continent. By destroying young trees, they also make the establishment of new woodland almost impossible in many places. As someone who believes there should be many more trees in this country, I see that as a problem. A big one.
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