Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves/index.php en Indigenous and environmental leaders in Ecuador say they are facing state intimidation https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/indigenous-and-environmental-leaders-ecuador-say-they-are-facing-state-intimidation <p>Critics say referendum on rewriting country’s eco-friendly constitution is president’s latest pro-extractivist move</p> <p>Indigenous and environmental leaders in Ecuador say they are facing a wave of state intimidation ahead of a national referendum next month on whether to rewrite the world’s only constitution that recognises the rights of nature.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/indigenous-and-environmental-leaders-ecuador-say-they-are-facing-state-intimidation" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 16 Oct 2025 16:00:46 +0000 admin 101553 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Brazil to ask countries to quadruple biofuel use, leak suggests https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/brazil-ask-countries-quadruple-biofuel-use-leak-suggests <p>Exclusive: Document sets draft pledge for leaders gathering at climate conference to increase usage of controversial fuels</p> <p>Brazil will ask countries to quadruple the global use of controversial biofuels despite concerns from environmental experts, the Guardian has learned.</p> <p>A leaked document seen by the Guardian sets out a draft pledge for world leaders gathering at the climate conference next month in Brazil to increase the use of biofuels in the next decade by four times compared with 2024 levels.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/brazil-ask-countries-quadruple-biofuel-use-leak-suggests" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 16 Oct 2025 15:07:14 +0000 admin 101552 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org The 2025 Aussie Bird Count is about to start. Here’s how to take part – and why you should https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/2025-aussie-bird-count-about-start-here-s-how-take-part-and-why-you-should <p>Week-long count by citizen scientists around Australia gathers crucial data on our unique birdlife and is now in its 12th year</p> <ul> <li> <p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p> </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/2025-aussie-bird-count-about-start-here-s-how-take-part-and-why-you-should" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 16 Oct 2025 14:00:46 +0000 admin 101551 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Major airlift evacuations in Alaska after remnants of typhoon decimate villages https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/major-airlift-evacuations-alaska-after-remnants-typhoon-decimate-villages <p>Weekend storm devastated two villages and displaced more than 1,500 people in the south-western part of the state</p> <p>Authorities in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/alaska">Alaska</a> are staging a major evacuation operation, relocating hundreds of people in one of the “most significant” airlifts in the state’s history, after a storm decimated two villages along the south-west coast over the weekend.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/major-airlift-evacuations-alaska-after-remnants-typhoon-decimate-villages" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 16 Oct 2025 13:54:27 +0000 admin 101550 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org A surge of visitors to Yosemite overwhelms a skeleton crew: ‘This is exactly what we warned about’ https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/surge-visitors-yosemite-overwhelms-skeleton-crew-exactly-what-we-warned-about <p>As the US government shutdown enters its third week, concerns mount over how the nation’s public lands will fare</p> <p>Cars and RVs surged into Yosemite national park throughout the weekend, as visitors from around the world came to enjoy the crisp autumn weather, undeterred by a lack of park services and the absence of rangers.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/surge-visitors-yosemite-overwhelms-skeleton-crew-exactly-what-we-warned-about" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 16 Oct 2025 12:00:02 +0000 admin 101549 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Labour ministers met fossil fuel lobbyists 500 times in first year of power, analysis shows https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/labour-ministers-met-fossil-fuel-lobbyists-500-times-first-year-power-analysis-shows <p>Lobbyists attended 48% more meetings than Tories, as Labour accused of giving them ‘backstage pass’ </p> <ul> <li> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2025/oct/16/china-spy-case-cps-keir-starmer-uk-politics-latest-news-updates">UK politics live – latest updates</a></p> </li> </ul> <p>Government ministers met representatives from the fossil fuel industry more than 500 times during their first year in power – equivalent to twice every working day, according to research.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/labour-ministers-met-fossil-fuel-lobbyists-500-times-first-year-power-analysis-shows" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 16 Oct 2025 10:50:45 +0000 admin 101547 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Experts urge UK to ban cigarette filters to protect health and environment https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/experts-urge-uk-ban-cigarette-filters-protect-health-and-environment <p>Researchers say filters do not reduce toxicant exposure and are major contributor to plastic waste crisis</p> <p>Cigarette filters do not work and are a major source of plastic pollution that should be banned by the UK government, experts have said.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/experts-urge-uk-ban-cigarette-filters-protect-health-and-environment" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 16 Oct 2025 10:35:09 +0000 admin 101548 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Bird migration is changing. What does this reveal about our planet? – visualised https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/bird-migration-changing-what-does-reveal-about-our-planet-visualised <p>Bird migrations rank as one of nature’s greatest spectacles. Thanks to GPS tracking, scientists are uncovering extraordinary insights into ancient and mysterious journeys – and new threats that are reshaping them.</p> <p>Bird migrations rank as one of nature’s greatest spectacles. Thanks to GPS tracking, scientists are uncovering extraordinary insights into ancient and mysterious journeys – and new threats that are reshaping them.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/bird-migration-changing-what-does-reveal-about-our-planet-visualised" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 16 Oct 2025 08:00:00 +0000 admin 101546 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Wage war on nature to build new homes: that’s Labour’s offer, but it’s a con trick | George Monbiot https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/wage-war-nature-build-new-homes-s-labour-s-offer-it-s-con-trick-george-monbiot <p>The government’s new planning bill is tearing down environmental protections to benefit developers. This nation of nature lovers won’t stand for it</p> <p>Crucial to the government’s war on nature is the “cauldron principle”. If a species is to be blamed for “holding up development”, it must be one you might find in a witch’s cauldron. The culprits are never dormice, otters, water voles, nightingales, turtle doves or orchids, widely considered cute or beautiful. They are bats, newts, snails and spiders.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/wage-war-nature-build-new-homes-s-labour-s-offer-it-s-con-trick-george-monbiot" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 16 Oct 2025 05:00:58 +0000 admin 101545 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org ‘When I pass piles of fishing nets, I see piles of money’: a one man recycling revolution on the Cornish coast https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/when-i-pass-piles-fishing-nets-i-see-piles-money-one-man-recycling-revolution-cornish- <p>Determined to find a solution to the discarded plastic nets, Ian Falconer found a way to convert them into filament for 3D printing, for use in products from motorbikes to sunglasses</p> <p>Ian Falconer kept thinking about the heaps of discarded plastic fishing nets he saw at Newlyn harbour near his home in Cornwall. “I thought ‘it’s such a waste’,” he says. “There has to be a better solution than it all going into landfill.”</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/when-i-pass-piles-fishing-nets-i-see-piles-money-one-man-recycling-revolution-cornish-" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 16 Oct 2025 04:00:57 +0000 admin 101544 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org