More bushfire news this week with no end in sight. Also, animals bear the brunt of our actions in the face of climate change and waste pollution. Let’s hope that these animals help us spread the message that we need to change the way we live on this planet NOW! There is no planet B.
NSW bushfires endure
There has been no relief for the bushfires burning across NSW this week. Already, over 680 homes have been destroyed this season and six people have been killed. The NSW Premier, Gladis Berejiklian said “the entire coastline is on fire”. Smoke has significantly worsened air quality resulting in the closure of schools and a renewed call from firefighters to increase funding for the Rural Fire Service.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/dec/06/australia-fires-five-bushfires-merge-north-of-sydney-as-conditions-forecast-to-worsen
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/12/05/australian-firefighters-say-cant-perform-miracles-sydney-suffers/
NSW dust hits NZ
Glaciers in New Zealand are turning red, not from the smoke of bushfires in NSW but from dust. Due to the drought in Eastern Australia, clouds of dust are being blown all the way across the Tasman to New Zealand and settling on its alps. It is likely that this dust has been carried across the sea by the smoke which has also settled in NZ, creating a haze similar to that in Sydney at the moment.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-06/glaciers-in-new-zealand-turn-red-from-australian-dust/11773458
Coal power is on its way out!
Coal power is quickly becoming financially inviable due to a wave of insurance companies refusing to provide insurance for coal projects. It began with the UK but American, German and now Australian companies such as Suncorp and QBE have all pledged to stop insuring coal projects or restrict their services. This is all part of a global Unfriend Coal campaign which is a collaboration of 13 organisations.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/02/coal-power-becoming-uninsurable-as-firms-refuse-cover
Dead plastic whale
A sperm whale has been found dead on a beach in Scotland with 100kg of rubbish in its stomach. The whale had ingested large amounts of netting, rope, plastic and packaging and while, it was not clear if this was the cause of death, it serves as a reminder that our careless consumption of plastic and other items has horrific consequences for our marine ecosystems. We need to stop force feeding our oceans with rubbish!
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-03/sperm-whale-found-with-100kg-of-garbage-and-plastic-in-stomach/11759544
Polar bears flee melting ice
A Russian town has had a visit from 50 polar bears searching for food. As the amount of sea ice reduces every year, the polar bears are unable to head north to hunt seals, instead venturing into towns to find food. The WWF along with volunteers from the town have established a patrol and the town is currently in lockdown.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-06/an-influx-of-polar-bears-has-shut-this-russian-town-down/11773654
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/polar-bear-invasion-ryrkaypiy-wwf-russia-climate-change-a9235511.html
There has been no relief for the bushfires burning across NSW this week. Already, over 680 homes have been destroyed this season and six people have been killed. The NSW Premier, Gladis Berejiklian said “the entire coastline is on fire”. Smoke has significantly worsened air quality resulting in the closure of schools and a renewed call from firefighters to increase funding for the Rural Fire Service.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/dec/06/australia-fires-five-bushfires-merge-north-of-sydney-as-conditions-forecast-to-worsen
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/12/05/australian-firefighters-say-cant-perform-miracles-sydney-suffers/
NSW dust hits NZ
Glaciers in New Zealand are turning red, not from the smoke of bushfires in NSW but from dust. Due to the drought in Eastern Australia, clouds of dust are being blown all the way across the Tasman to New Zealand and settling on its alps. It is likely that this dust has been carried across the sea by the smoke which has also settled in NZ, creating a haze similar to that in Sydney at the moment.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-06/glaciers-in-new-zealand-turn-red-from-australian-dust/11773458
Coal power is on its way out!
Coal power is quickly becoming financially inviable due to a wave of insurance companies refusing to provide insurance for coal projects. It began with the UK but American, German and now Australian companies such as Suncorp and QBE have all pledged to stop insuring coal projects or restrict their services. This is all part of a global Unfriend Coal campaign which is a collaboration of 13 organisations.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/dec/02/coal-power-becoming-uninsurable-as-firms-refuse-cover
Dead plastic whale
A sperm whale has been found dead on a beach in Scotland with 100kg of rubbish in its stomach. The whale had ingested large amounts of netting, rope, plastic and packaging and while, it was not clear if this was the cause of death, it serves as a reminder that our careless consumption of plastic and other items has horrific consequences for our marine ecosystems. We need to stop force feeding our oceans with rubbish!
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-03/sperm-whale-found-with-100kg-of-garbage-and-plastic-in-stomach/11759544
Polar bears flee melting ice
A Russian town has had a visit from 50 polar bears searching for food. As the amount of sea ice reduces every year, the polar bears are unable to head north to hunt seals, instead venturing into towns to find food. The WWF along with volunteers from the town have established a patrol and the town is currently in lockdown.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-06/an-influx-of-polar-bears-has-shut-this-russian-town-down/11773654
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/polar-bear-invasion-ryrkaypiy-wwf-russia-climate-change-a9235511.html