Blogging the End of the World™
From Calculated Risk: The graph shows weekly claims and continued claims since 1971. The four week moving average is at 646,750. Continued claims are now at 6.14 million – the all time record. … Unemployment Claims: Continued Claims at Record Technorati Tags: financial collapse
One of the world’s rarest species of amphibians has been airlifted to safety from Montserrat in a last-ditch attempt to save it from extinction See also: A billion frogs on world’s plates, accelerating amphibian extinctions and Fungus devastates ‘chicken’ frog. By Jessica Aldred and agencies Conservationists have rescued a number of critically endangered "mountain chicken" […]
WASHINGTON, DC, April 21, 2009 (ENS) – Atmospheric concentrations of two of the most potent global warming gases rose last year, according to a preliminary analysis for the annual greenhouse gas index compiled by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, which tracks data from 60 sites around the world. At the end of […]
Europe’s Common Fisheries Policy has failed and a completely new fishing management system is needed, the European Commission has admitted. By Bruno Waterfield in Brussels A new Brussels position paper highlighted severe problems with fisheries and urged a complete rethink of a key European Union policy. EU officials have been forced to admit that, despite […]
SEATTLE, Washington, April 21, 2009 (ENS) – Three pesticides – carbaryl, carbofuran, and methomyl – jeopardize the existence of protected salmon and steelhead, the National Marine Fisheries Service said in a formal biological opinion released Monday. All three of the pesticides assessed are neurotoxins. Exposure either immediately kills salmon or impairs their feeding, predator avoidance, […]
In Masai Mara, one of Africa’s most treasured parks, researchers have found significant, in some cases catastrophic, declines of wild grazing animals. In fifteen years six of seven hoofed animals—giraffes, warthogs, hartebeest, impala, topis and waterbucks—showed declines. The study published in the British Journal of Zoology confirms what has long been expected: wildlife populations in […]
BOULDER, Colorado, April 21, 2009 (ENS) – Many of the greatest rivers in some of the world’s most populous regions are losing water, according to a new study of stream flow in 925 large rivers. Led by scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the study indicates that the reduced flows are associated with […]
From Calculated Risk: Voit released quarterly reports today for CRE in Las Vegas, San Diego and Orange County. The reports show the vacancy rates are up, and lease rates (falling rents), net absorption, transactions and construction are all down. It appears new construction has all but stopped. Here are a couple of graphs for Orange […]
During ten years surveying small mammal populations in Bolivia’s cerrado, Dr. Louise Emmons with the Smithsonian Institute found that the mammals were suffering precipitous declines, even local extinctions. After ruling out the usual suspects—local fires, rainfall, and flooding—Emmons formed a novel hypothesis regarding the decline. Could a sudden lack of nighttime dew caused by the […]
By Becky Kramer, The Spokesman-Review ROSE LAKE, Idaho — Even near death, tundra swans are graceful. Snowy necks arch and flex as the birds — victims of lead poisoning — gasp for breath. Wings rise and fall in rhythmic sweeps, but the birds are too weak to take flight. Their cries are soft, trilling sounds. […]
