Dr Heddle's Science News http://heddle.posterous.com A space for news and media resources about the environment, philosophy, and other cool stuff about science posterous.com Fri, 20 Apr 2012 09:52:00 -0700 BBC News - 'Huge' water resource exists under Africa http://heddle.posterous.com/bbc-news-huge-water-resource-exists-under-afr http://heddle.posterous.com/bbc-news-huge-water-resource-exists-under-afr
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Wed, 11 Apr 2012 22:19:00 -0700 BBC News - Philippines sends second ship amid China stand-off http://heddle.posterous.com/bbc-news-philippines-sends-second-ship-amid-c http://heddle.posterous.com/bbc-news-philippines-sends-second-ship-amid-c
12 April 2012 Last updated at 04:02 GMT

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Philippines sends second ship amid China stand-off

A handout photo shows a Philippines Navy warship docked at the naval headquarters in Manila 11 December, 2011 The Philippines' largest warship is in a stand-off with Chinese vessels in the South China Sea

The Philippines has sent a second ship to a stand-off with two Chinese ships in the South China Sea, even as both sides pledged diplomacy.

A coast guard boat will join the country's largest warship at the Scarborough Shoal, navy commander Vice-Admiral Alexander Pama said.

A foreign affairs spokesman said the Philippines will continue negotiations with China.

Both claim ownership of the shoal off the Philippines' northwestern coast.

"What is important is that we are talking to them to reach a diplomatic solution. The diplomatic solution should be fair and workable," Raul Hernandez of the Philippines' foreign affairs department told reporters.

The Philippines said its warship, the Gregorio Del Pilar, found eight Chinese fishing vessels at the shoal when it was patrolling the area on Sunday.

In a statement, the Philippines said that its navy boarded the ship and found a large amount of illegally-caught fish and coral.

Two Chinese surveillance ships then apparently arrived in the area on Tuesday, placing themselves between the warship and the fishing vessels, preventing the navy from making arrests.

The Philippines summoned Chinese ambassador Ma Keqing on Wednesday to lodge a protest over the incident. However, China maintained it had sovereign rights over the area and asked that the Philippine ship leave the waters.

Disputed seas

The stand-off comes as the Philippines prepares for joint naval exercises with the United States from the 16 to 27 April near the disputed area.

Six countries claim competing sovereignty over areas in the South China Sea, which is believed to contain huge deposits of oil and gas.

Along with China and the Philippines, they are Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan.

China's claim includes almost the entire South China Sea, well into what the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea recognises as the 200-mile-from-shore Exclusive Economic Zones of other claimants.

That has led to occasional flare-ups and to competition to occupy islands, reefs and sandbars.

Map locator

Fishing resoures

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Wed, 29 Feb 2012 01:18:05 -0800 Polyfusing http://heddle.posterous.com/polyfusing http://heddle.posterous.com/polyfusing

P34

Green Tigers had fun with turning used plastic bags into plastic fabric by doing a little bit of research and design. The The students experimented with different temperatures with the irons,and once they got the plastic fusing, they started experimenting with colour and texture. Here are some of the results. They were pretty excited! Next we will start sewing the plastic fabric into reusable shopping bags.

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Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:37:00 -0800 News update from WFFT http://heddle.posterous.com/news-update-from-wfft http://heddle.posterous.com/news-update-from-wfft RT: Director General arrived, and it seems he is not happy with our work. We are currently surrounded by armed DNP, who will be camping on site for further intimidation. The Director will be returning tomorrow. Tweeted by Edwin Weik WFFT

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Tue, 21 Feb 2012 03:44:00 -0800 Latest news from Wildlife Friends of Thailand http://heddle.posterous.com/latest-news-from-wildlife-friends-of-thailand http://heddle.posterous.com/latest-news-from-wildlife-friends-of-thailand According to Tweets from WFFT today Edwin Weik who runs WFFT fears the worst, and that this time the 'bad guys' will win Tonight Edwin will attend hearings in the elephant poaching in the National Parks that sparked all this harassment Today, officials gathered at the village where WFFT is located but at 10:30 they left without twking further action, Edwin wondered if some legal action is starting to have an effect WFFT plan to sue DNP for the illegal removal of the animals. For an empassioned and heartwrenching video of Edwin talking about the events, see the link http://www.wfft.org/wildlife-trade/day-5-dnp-raid/

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Mon, 20 Feb 2012 04:02:00 -0800 Animal Activist: Intimidation won't shut me up | Bangkok Post: news http://heddle.posterous.com/animal-activist-intimidation-wont-shut-me-up http://heddle.posterous.com/animal-activist-intimidation-wont-shut-me-up
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Here is an article from the bangkok post on the situation at WFFT

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Mon, 20 Feb 2012 03:20:00 -0800 Recent attacks on NGO’s in Thailand | Wildlfe Friends Foundation Thailand http://heddle.posterous.com/recent-attacks-on-ngos-in-thailand-wildlfe-fr http://heddle.posterous.com/recent-attacks-on-ngos-in-thailand-wildlfe-fr

Here is the link to sign the petition. At the time of posting this we only need 2000 more signatures to reach 20,000.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/urgent-plea-for-rescued-thai-wildlife/

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Mon, 13 Feb 2012 01:55:00 -0800 Chief Raoni cries after Brazilian president Dilma approves construction of a hydroelectric plant http://heddle.posterous.com/chief-raoni-cries-after-brazilian-president-d http://heddle.posterous.com/chief-raoni-cries-after-brazilian-president-d
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Mon, 13 Feb 2012 01:54:00 -0800 Brazil to build controversial Belo Monte hydroelectric dam in Amazon rainforest | Environment | The Guardian http://heddle.posterous.com/brazil-to-build-controversial-belo-monte-hydr http://heddle.posterous.com/brazil-to-build-controversial-belo-monte-hydr
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Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:13:00 -0800 Monsanto forced out of Costa Rica http://heddle.posterous.com/monsanto-forced-out-of-costa-rica-11141 http://heddle.posterous.com/monsanto-forced-out-of-costa-rica-11141

Monsanto forced out of Costa Rica

COSTA RICA TRANSGENICS ALERT

Central American Alliance for Protection of Biodiversity

Biodiversity Network CR

20 September 2004

Monsanto the company responsible for more than 90% of industrial releases of transgenic organisms in the world has decided to withdraw its request to release genetically modified corn (maiz) in Costa Rica and to pull out of the country. Environmentalists in Costa Rica are still working to strengthen the campaign for an GMO-free country.

Members of the National Commission on Biosafety say that Monsanto s withdrawal is a success for social groups that have been leading a campaign against the expansion of transgenic crops in Costa Rica. Staff of the Biotechnology Department of the State Plant Health Service believe the government can no longer stand up for companies, when faced with the persistent claims and demands of the public that opposes this kind of biotechnology. They say it would be good if the companies responded to the many invitations for an open debate made by numerous social groups.

Isaac Rojas, President of the Costa Rica Federation for Environment Conservation, welcomed the self-criticism of the National Commission on Biosafety. He said the public sector (State) cannot and should not continue to legitimize and defend biotec companies nor transgenic products. It is time that the corporate sector show its face and enter into a process of public debate.

Fabián Pacheco, a spokesman for the Social Ecology Association, said It was to be expected that Monsanto would choose to go to other countries where conditions are less critical and more permissive. and added This kind of evasive attitude shows that the companies do not have technical arguments to prove that GMOs are safe and that the precautionary principle is not being violated.

The Biodiversity Network CR calls on all parts of the ecological movement and peoples organisations of other countries in the region to be alert. Monsanto is leaving Costa Rica, but it will go to other countries where it can sell its transgenic crops without much noise, to avoid polemics and open debate and adverse effects on its economic interests. Beware!


For further information: fabian@cosmovisiones.com, gavitza@racsa.co.cr

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Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:13:00 -0800 Monsanto forced out of Costa Rica http://heddle.posterous.com/monsanto-forced-out-of-costa-rica http://heddle.posterous.com/monsanto-forced-out-of-costa-rica

Monsanto forced out of Costa Rica

COSTA RICA TRANSGENICS ALERT

Central American Alliance for Protection of Biodiversity

Biodiversity Network CR

20 September 2004

Monsanto the company responsible for more than 90% of industrial releases of transgenic organisms in the world has decided to withdraw its request to release genetically modified corn (maiz) in Costa Rica and to pull out of the country. Environmentalists in Costa Rica are still working to strengthen the campaign for an GMO-free country.

Members of the National Commission on Biosafety say that Monsanto s withdrawal is a success for social groups that have been leading a campaign against the expansion of transgenic crops in Costa Rica. Staff of the Biotechnology Department of the State Plant Health Service believe the government can no longer stand up for companies, when faced with the persistent claims and demands of the public that opposes this kind of biotechnology. They say it would be good if the companies responded to the many invitations for an open debate made by numerous social groups.

Isaac Rojas, President of the Costa Rica Federation for Environment Conservation, welcomed the self-criticism of the National Commission on Biosafety. He said the public sector (State) cannot and should not continue to legitimize and defend biotec companies nor transgenic products. It is time that the corporate sector show its face and enter into a process of public debate.

Fabián Pacheco, a spokesman for the Social Ecology Association, said It was to be expected that Monsanto would choose to go to other countries where conditions are less critical and more permissive. and added This kind of evasive attitude shows that the companies do not have technical arguments to prove that GMOs are safe and that the precautionary principle is not being violated.

The Biodiversity Network CR calls on all parts of the ecological movement and peoples organisations of other countries in the region to be alert. Monsanto is leaving Costa Rica, but it will go to other countries where it can sell its transgenic crops without much noise, to avoid polemics and open debate and adverse effects on its economic interests. Beware!


For further information: fabian@cosmovisiones.com, gavitza@racsa.co.cr

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Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:18:00 -0800 Thai police undercover wildlife slaughterhouse - The Nation http://heddle.posterous.com/thai-police-undercover-wildlife-slaughterhous http://heddle.posterous.com/thai-police-undercover-wildlife-slaughterhous
Home » breakingnews » Thai police undercover wildlife slaughterhouse

Thai police undercover wildlife slaughterhouse

February 6, 2012 5:27 pm

Bangkok police discovered a slaughterhouse that specialized in butchering and stuffing tigers, zebras, elephants, crocodiles and wild buffalo, an anti-trafficking group said Monday.

Police raided the site in the capital’s Yannawa district Saturday and interrupted four men in the process of chopping up a 400-kilogram male tiger, FREELAND director Steven Galster said.

"We suspect some of the animals were bred in, or laundered through, private zoos in Thailand," he said.

Eight people were arrested.

Colonel Norasak Hemnithi, nature crime police commander, vowed to pursue the head of the operation.

Police believe the stuffed wildlife was destined for China.//DPA

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Mon, 19 Dec 2011 04:18:00 -0800 BBC News - In pictures: Rwanda's poo-powered prisons http://heddle.posterous.com/bbc-news-in-pictures-rwandas-poo-powered-pris http://heddle.posterous.com/bbc-news-in-pictures-rwandas-poo-powered-pris
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The future for Patana?

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Sat, 17 Dec 2011 15:41:00 -0800 BBC News - UK fishing fleets get higher fish quotas but less time at sea http://heddle.posterous.com/bbc-news-uk-fishing-fleets-get-higher-fish-qu http://heddle.posterous.com/bbc-news-uk-fishing-fleets-get-higher-fish-qu
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Wed, 14 Dec 2011 06:07:00 -0800 YouTube http://heddle.posterous.com/youtube-47838 http://heddle.posterous.com/youtube-47838

You cant watch this with out feeling something wonderful. Bless David Attenborough. He is my hero.

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Wed, 14 Dec 2011 06:07:00 -0800 YouTube http://heddle.posterous.com/youtube http://heddle.posterous.com/youtube

You cant watch this with out feeling something wonderful. Bless David Attenborough. He is my hero.

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Wed, 14 Dec 2011 02:40:00 -0800 BBC News - From war to peace: Sierra Leone eyes bird-watching money http://heddle.posterous.com/bbc-news-from-war-to-peace-sierra-leone-eyes http://heddle.posterous.com/bbc-news-from-war-to-peace-sierra-leone-eyes
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Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:35:00 -0800 Kyoto Protocol: Canada Withdrawing From Climate Change Agreement http://heddle.posterous.com/kyoto-protocol-canada-withdrawing-from-climat http://heddle.posterous.com/kyoto-protocol-canada-withdrawing-from-climat

Canada made good Monday on speculation that surfaced two weeks ago regarding the country's intentions to withdraw from the Kyoto Protocol.

Speaking at a news conference in Ottawa, Canada's minister for the environment, Peter Kent, said the decision would save the nation some $14 billion in penalties that would accrue for failure to meet emissions targets agreed to by a previous government in the 1997 pact -- the first international accord aimed at reducing global emissions of planet-warming gases.

"As we have said, Kyoto -- for Canada -- is in the past," Kent said, according to a wire transcript forwarded by the environment ministry. Kent had just returned from global climate talks in Durban, South Africa. "As such," he continued, "we are invoking our legal right to formally withdraw from Kyoto."

Canada's conservative government under Stephen Harper, who assumed the title of prime minister in 2006, has long been hostile to the Kyoto agreement, which was ratified by Liberal Party Prime Minister Jean Chrétien in 2002.

The Harper government has charged its predecessors with never making any real attempts to comply with Kyoto's emissions limits. It has also issued concerns, shared by the U.S. and other developed countries, that Kyoto's emissions rules apply only to rich nations, leaving up-and-coming polluters like India and China off the hook.

"While our government has taken action since 2006 to make real reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, under Kyoto Canada is facing radical and irresponsible choices if we are to avoid punishing multi-billion dollar payments," Kent said. Meeting its commitments under Kyoto, he said, would require the equivalent of "removing every car, truck, ATV, tractor, ambulance, police car and vehicle of every kind from Canadian roads."

But the move to quit the Kyoto Protocol, while not unexpected, was met with jeers from environmental groups, who say that Canada has abandoned a long-standing reputation for environmental stewardship in favor of industry and, among other things, development of a controversial and emissions-intensive oil patch in Alberta known as the tar sands.

"It's a very odd feeling to look north and see a country even more irresponsible about climate change than the U.S.," said the author and climate activist Bill McKibben, who has spearheaded protests against the development of the Alberta oil resource. "For a long time, Canada has been seen as one of those countries that solved more problems than they created. But this makes it official: the lure of wealth in the tar sands has really corrupted the government."

Megan Leslie, a member of Canada's parliament and a Halifax-based member of the New Democratic Party, told The Huffington Post in an email that Kent and the conservative government of Stephen Harper were exaggerating the impacts of Canada's participation in Kyoto -- and the penalties associated with failing to meet targets. "He's essentially created a Kyoto bogeyman who will come after your cars and bank accounts," Leslie said. "His spin was reprehensible."

"By withdrawing from the Kyoto Protocol, Canada is hiding from having to report our failures to our international partners," she added. "It's a shame that the broken promises and decades of inaction by successive Liberal and Conservative governments have led us to this point."

The Kyoto agreement grew out of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, 14 years ago. It bound more than three dozen industrialized countries to reduce emissions of certain greenhouse gases by an average of slightly more than 5 percent over 1990 levels. The protocol was to take effect only after at least 55 countries, representing 55 percent of global CO2 emissions, had ratified the document. Those conditions were fully met in 2004, and the treaty was entered into force in early 2005.

Europe has made up the bulk of the emissions reductions, and collectively, industrialized countries are on track to achieve the Kyoto goal of reducing their emissions by at least 5.2 percent over 1990 levels. But much of the decrease in emissions is attributed to the collapse of East European and Russian economies in the post-Soviet era, as well as to the current global recession, which has helped to reduce industrial output and overall energy use in many countries.

Canada's most recent inventory of greenhouse gas emissions, submitted to the United Nations earlier this year, showed that while the country had been making year-over-year reductions since 2008, its emissions are still nearly 20 percent higher than they were in 1990.

The country only accounts, however, for about 2 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. The United States, accounting for roughly 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and by far the largest per capita emitter among industrialized nations, refused to participate in the Kyoto Protocol. China recently overtook the U.S. as the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, now accounting for about a quarter of the global total.

As part of a last-minute deal in Durban, nations agreed to briefly extend the Kyoto Protocol, which was set to expire next year, until a new and broader pact that would eventually bring all nations under emissions restrictions is developed by 2015.

"We are committed to working together to address climate change in a way that is, for countries big and small, rich or poor, fair, effective and comprehensive and allows us to continue to create jobs and growth in Canada," Kent said at Monday's press conference. "Canada went to Durban in a spirit of good will. We went committed to being constructive. We went looking to reach an international climate change agreement that covers all major emitters. As we said from the outset, the Kyoto Protocol did not represent the path forward for Canada."

But Matt Horne, the director of climate change activities with the Pembina Institute, a Canadian environmental think tank, said the decision to withdraw from Kyoto was at odds with the country's long-term interests. "While there may not be formal penalties for withdrawal, there will be economic consequences," he said. "If Canada is unwilling to do its fair share by implementing made-in-Canada solutions to climate change, we are inviting made-for-Canada solutions to be imposed on us."

TWITTER REACTS TO CANADA PULLING OUT OF KYOTO PROTOCOL

Jen Collins

1 of 15

Jen Collins

This is ridiculous. The int'l community should make Canada pay the penalty anyways. http://t.co/KhlnP8e1

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Huffpostgreen@huffingtonpost.com

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Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:18:00 -0800 208 New Species Discovered In Threatened Region Of Southeast Asia http://heddle.posterous.com/208-new-species-discovered-in-threatened-regi http://heddle.posterous.com/208-new-species-discovered-in-threatened-regi
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Wed, 07 Dec 2011 06:57:00 -0800 BBC News - Brazilian Senate eases Amazon protection rules http://heddle.posterous.com/bbc-news-brazilian-senate-eases-amazon-protec http://heddle.posterous.com/bbc-news-brazilian-senate-eases-amazon-protec

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