Hello hello hello! Hope you are all well :)
Here is the wrap-up of eco-news for this week (and spoiler alert - lots of big wins and positive stories!)
Win for Bundjalung elder fighting development plans
Mickey Ryan has won a court case alleging that a development application for 430 residential plots on the NSW north coast was invalid as no species impact statement was completed. Ryan had previously raised concerns about the development on sacred Bundjalung land but was entirely ignored. He is now seeking to have the land formally recognised for its heritage value.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-15/bundjalung-elder-wins-battle-to-stop-housing-development-lismore/12253058
Youth climate activists take up human rights fight with Clive Palmer
A youth activist ground, Youth Verdict, is challenging Clive Palmer on the basis of having their human rights abused. The group is fighting against Palmer’s company building a mega coal mine in Queensland, arguing that their rights to life, the protection of children and the right to culture have been disregarded. The group has been met with cynicism from politicians but are determined to pursue legal action as a means of saving the planet from a destructive fate.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-13/youth-activists-challenge-clive-palmers-waratah-coal-mine/12239570
School climate strikers continue campaigning online
On Friday, the Schools Strike 4 Climate group held a huge four hour livestream to mark the one-year anniversary of the mass school strikes around the world. The live streamed featured conversations with scientists and industry experts as well as music performances and speakers from the schools climate strike movement. The online event replaced plans for a huge day of nation-wide striking calling on the government to declare a climate emergency.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-15/climate-kids-organise-protest-from-home-during-coronavirus/12244112
https://www.schoolstrike4climate.com/live
New research on the environmental havoc wrecked by domestic cats
A study published in the journal Wildlife Research has found that domestic cats kill an estimated 230 million native birds, reptiles and mammals every year in Australia. While the blame for the killing of native wildlife is often placed on feral cats, researches are urging people to also acknowledge the destruction caused by pet cats and are calling on cat owners to keep their pets inside at night if we want to protect wildlife in urban environments.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/15/keep-pet-cats-indoors-say-researchers-who-found-they-kill-230m-native-australian-animals-each-year
UK shifts to pedestrian and cycling spaces amid COVID-19
The increased need to practise social distancing as lockdown restrictions ease in the UK has meant that cities are looking to increase space for walking and cycling. The mayor of London announced this week that large parts of the city would be closed to vehicles creating one of the largest car-free areas in the world. While the changes are intended to be temporary responses to coronavirus, experts are hoping that this will lead to a more long-term re-greening of cities and will allow pedestrians and cyclists to reclaim the streets.
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-52689372
Here is the wrap-up of eco-news for this week (and spoiler alert - lots of big wins and positive stories!)
Win for Bundjalung elder fighting development plans
Mickey Ryan has won a court case alleging that a development application for 430 residential plots on the NSW north coast was invalid as no species impact statement was completed. Ryan had previously raised concerns about the development on sacred Bundjalung land but was entirely ignored. He is now seeking to have the land formally recognised for its heritage value.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-15/bundjalung-elder-wins-battle-to-stop-housing-development-lismore/12253058
Youth climate activists take up human rights fight with Clive Palmer
A youth activist ground, Youth Verdict, is challenging Clive Palmer on the basis of having their human rights abused. The group is fighting against Palmer’s company building a mega coal mine in Queensland, arguing that their rights to life, the protection of children and the right to culture have been disregarded. The group has been met with cynicism from politicians but are determined to pursue legal action as a means of saving the planet from a destructive fate.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-13/youth-activists-challenge-clive-palmers-waratah-coal-mine/12239570
School climate strikers continue campaigning online
On Friday, the Schools Strike 4 Climate group held a huge four hour livestream to mark the one-year anniversary of the mass school strikes around the world. The live streamed featured conversations with scientists and industry experts as well as music performances and speakers from the schools climate strike movement. The online event replaced plans for a huge day of nation-wide striking calling on the government to declare a climate emergency.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-15/climate-kids-organise-protest-from-home-during-coronavirus/12244112
https://www.schoolstrike4climate.com/live
New research on the environmental havoc wrecked by domestic cats
A study published in the journal Wildlife Research has found that domestic cats kill an estimated 230 million native birds, reptiles and mammals every year in Australia. While the blame for the killing of native wildlife is often placed on feral cats, researches are urging people to also acknowledge the destruction caused by pet cats and are calling on cat owners to keep their pets inside at night if we want to protect wildlife in urban environments.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/15/keep-pet-cats-indoors-say-researchers-who-found-they-kill-230m-native-australian-animals-each-year
UK shifts to pedestrian and cycling spaces amid COVID-19
The increased need to practise social distancing as lockdown restrictions ease in the UK has meant that cities are looking to increase space for walking and cycling. The mayor of London announced this week that large parts of the city would be closed to vehicles creating one of the largest car-free areas in the world. While the changes are intended to be temporary responses to coronavirus, experts are hoping that this will lead to a more long-term re-greening of cities and will allow pedestrians and cyclists to reclaim the streets.
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-52689372