Desdemona Despair

Blogging the End of the World™

More than a million Atlantic sharks killed yearly

By Marlowe Hood 21 November 2010 (AFP) PARIS — At least 1.3 million sharks, many listed as endangered, were harvested from the Atlantic in 2008 by industrial-scale fisheries unhampered by catch or size limits, according to a tally released Monday. The actual figure may be several fold higher due to under-reporting, said the study, released […]

Confronting climate displacement: Learning from Pakistan’s floods

In July 2010, massive rain in Pakistan led to unprecedented flooding that submerged one-fifth of the country and affected more than 20 million people. While many experts believe the floods were the result of climate change, others say the science is uncertain. Regardless, most agree that natural disasters are occurring more frequently and that the […]

BP deep-cleaning Gulf coast beaches amid new worries

The Associated Press November 17, 2010 ORANGE BEACH, Ala. (AP) — With its Macondo well dead and few visitors on the coast during the offseason, BP has launched its biggest push yet to deep-clean the tourist beaches that were coated with crude during the worst of the Gulf oil spill. Machines are digging down into […]

Japan takes lead in Atlantic bluefin tuna battle

Paris (AFP) Nov 19, 2010 – Japan took centre stage Friday at talks on the future of Atlantic bluefin tuna, issuing a call for negotiators to respect science and crack down on renegade fishing. Facing declining stocks and over-exploitation of a fish prized in Japan as gourmet sashimi and sushi, Tokyo issued a sharp warning […]

Indonesia declares protected zone to save coral reefs

Nusa Penida, Indonesia (AFP) Nov 21, 2010 – Indonesia on Sunday declared the coral-rich waters around Bali — a popular scuba diving spot which is home to the giant Mola-Mola ocean sunfish — a protected zone. The 20,000-hectare (49,500 acre) area around Nusa Penida, Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Lembongan islands will be protected from destructive […]

Graph of the Day: Global Distribution of Fine Aerosol Particles, 2001-2006

Caption by Holli Riebeek and Adam Voiland9 November 2010 Of all the pollution that fills our lungs on any given day, the most dangerous is the small stuff. Aerosol particle pollution—airborne solid particles and liquid droplets—comes in a range of sizes. Particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers pose the greatest risk to human health because they […]

Plagues of roaches, rats, and bedbugs sweep Britain

Pest infestations are on the rise as cash-strapped councils phase out free extermination services By Emily DuganSunday, 21 November 2010 They spread disease, feast on our blood and destroy our clothes. And their numbers are soaring. Britain’s populations of rats, mice, cockroaches, bedbugs, wasps and moths are growing, in some cases unchecked, as more local […]

Uzbekistan warns of ‘disaster’ over Tajikistan mega-dam

By Staff WritersNov 17, 2010 Tashkent (AFP) – Uzbekistan Wednesday warned world powers of a looming environmental disaster from Tajikistan’s plan to build a huge hydro-electric dam, in a new show of tensions from the ex-Soviet neighbors. Tashkent also accused Tajikistan’s main aluminum plant, the largest in Central Asia and located near Uzbekistan’s southern border, […]

Criticism mounts as Mau evictees waste away in transitional camp

By GEORGE SAYAGIE gsayagie@ke.nationmedia.com and JULIUS SIGEI jsigei@ke.nationmedia.comThursday, October 28 2010 at 22:44 One year since illegal settlers were kicked out of South West Mau to pave the way for the forest rehabilitation, criticism is mounting over their continued stay in transitional camps. A politician is accusing the government of neglecting the evictees. The 4,985 […]

Fishing nations force EU retreat on bluefin tuna

Associated Press; Angela Doland in Paris contributed to this report18 November 2010 BRUSSELS (AP) — France, Spain and other Mediterranean nations forced the European Union to retreat Thursday from an ambitious plan to save the threatened and prized bluefin tuna. After drawn-out negotiations, the 27-nation EU abandoned a plan to seek cutbacks in fishing quotas […]

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