Breaking Waves: Ocean News

How a monk and a Hippo joined forces to tackle Bangkok’s plastic pollution

admin — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 05:00:06 +0000

Desperate to restore the Chao Praya River to a pristine state, an abbot in the Thai capital began recycling in his temple. Now he has a floating ally in his efforts to clean up the river

Photographs by Lauren DeCicca

“Once upon a time this river was filled with fish; now, nothing swims in it any more,” says Wat Chak Daeng temple’s abbot, Phra Mahapranom Dhammalangkaro, as he looks out over Bangkok’s Chao Praya River.

Norfolk Wildlife Trust revives endangered species: the local pub

admin — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 05:00:05 +0000

Restoration of Pleasure Boat Inn on edge of Hickling Broad makes charity the first wildlife trust to own a pub

It was a much-loved endangered species that desperately needed saving, but it was still a surprise when the Norfolk Wildlife Trust stepped in to revive it.

The nature conservation charity has become the first wildlife trust to own a pub after restoring the Pleasure Boat Inn on the edge of Hickling Broad, a national nature reserve in the Broads national park.

Australia news live: cooling tower likely source of Melbourne legionnaires outbreak, chief health officer says

admin — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 00:02:59 +0000

Follow the day’s news live

Large English vineyards mark boom year as output and investment soars

admin — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 23:01:44 +0000

Though tiny compared with rivals, English wine trade is thriving as climate crisis fuels flood of new capital from investors

The largest English vineyards increased their revenues by 15% last year, as wine investors respond to the climate crisis by planting more vines.

While the UK still languishes well down the list of the largest wine-producing nations, below countries such as Uzbekistan and Tunisia, the industry’s output has soared in recent years, rising by 77% last year to 161,960 hectolitres, equivalent to 21.6m bottles.

Australians shunning petrol-powered cars for hybrid vehicles as bowser prices rise

admin — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 15:00:37 +0000

Trend also reflects concerns over range and a lack of charging infrastructure affecting purely electric vehicles, experts say

How dumpster diving went from taboo to trendy: ‘It’s a treasure hunt’

admin — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 13:00:33 +0000

As Americans worry about inflation and ‘no planet B’, some look to the trash for answers

When Annemarie Cox drives around San Diego, she scans the urban landscape for one thing that the rest of the population likely ignores: dumpsters. Where other people see trash, she sees possibilities – quirky secondhand clothes, collectible antiques, even family heirlooms and photographs that have been casually discarded.

Cold showers and ‘farmers’ hours’: how readers stay cool in a heatwave

admin — Sat, 03 Aug 2024 13:30:02 +0000

Air conditioning isn’t always enough to keep you safe – but people across the US have hacks to handle extreme heat

Another heatwave is sweeping much of the US this week, with millions under heat advisory. The blistering and potentially life-threatening temperatures come as much of the western US faces devastating wildfires and the north-east endures “apocolyptic” floods.

Ecologist taking on MoD to protect skylarks says he has faced threats and assault

admin — Sat, 03 Aug 2024 12:00:03 +0000

Campaigners say rare grassland on former firing range in Essex was mowed, killing the birds and their chicks that nest on the ground

The song of the skylark has filled poets’ hearts for centuries, from Shelley’s “blithe spirit” to Wordsworth’s “ethereal minstrel”. But there is little that is poetic about a row over the birds that has blown up in Colchester.

Charity appeals for people to stay away from dolphin in Thames

admin — Sat, 03 Aug 2024 08:42:34 +0000

Rescue body says dolphin spotted on Thursday may be further disoriented by human interference

People have been urged to stay away from a dolphin spotted in the River Thames.

The common dolphin had been seen several times near Putney Bridge, south-west London, on Thursday, and had appeared to be “struggling with the tide”, but had not been seen since.

‘This is climate change’: Scottish beach eroding by 7 metres a year

admin — Sat, 03 Aug 2024 06:00:08 +0000

Centuries-old Montrose golf links falling into the sea and town at risk of flooding as coastal erosion accelerates

A beach in north-east Scotland is eroding rapidly owing to climate change, leaving a town at risk of flooding and its centuries-old golf links crumbling into the sea.

The Dynamic Coast report in 2021 studied the rate of erosion at Montrose and predicted that 120 metres would be lost over 40 years, an average of 3 metres a year.