The world we inhabit is a miracle of billions of years of evolution as life has unfolded in its full beauty and diversity, writes Grant A. Mincy. But human activities - deforestation, mining, urbanisation, pollution, climate change - are tearing away at the functioning fabric of the living biosphere. A mass extinction is under way, and it must be halted, and reversed. But how?
… Change Ecocide Evolution shroom-cut.jpg The world we inhabit is a miracle of billions … climate change - are tearing away at the functioning fabric of the living biosphere. A mass extinction is …
Mainstream climatologists predict a 15% fall in rainfall over the Amazon if it is stripped of its rainforest. But the 'biotic pump' theory, rooted in conventional physics and recently confirmed by experiment, shows that the interior of a forest-free Amazon will be as dry as the Negev desert. We must save the Amazon before it enters a permanent and irreversible dessication.
… Without its rainforest, the Amazon will turn to desert Peter Bunyard | … predict a 15% fall in rainfall over the Amazon if it is stripped of its rainforest. But the 'biotic pump' theory, rooted in …
Peru is in hot competition with Brazil to be the main focus of Amazonian deforestation, writes Clément Doleac. A neoliberal government desperate to hand over the country's forests, oil, gas, minerals and indigenous lands for corporate exploitation is unafraid to break national laws, turn a blind eye to air and water pollution, and respond to any challenges with overwhelming violence.
… with chainsaws: deforestation in Peru and the future of the Amazon Clément Doleac | 5th October 2015 … Peru is in hot competition with Brazil to be the main focus of Amazonian deforestation, …
An encounter with a Colombian shaman led Peter Bunyard on a spiritual journey into and beyond the living, breathing, transpiring Amazon rainforest, providing key insights into the essential role of the great tropical forests in the workings of Gaia. He emerged re-energised from his visions - and inspired to redouble his efforts to save our wondrous planet.
… The Shaman's cure: a Gaian awakening Peter … on a spiritual journey into and beyond the living, breathing, transpiring Amazon … rainforest, providing key insights into the essential role of the great tropical …
Last night's speech on Britain's energy choices by former environment secretary Owen Paterson's caused widespread outrage long before it was delivered. But what exactly did he say on the night? Read on, and be surprised to discover that it makes excellent sense - in parts.
… Keeping the lights on Owen Paterson | 16th October … was delivered. But what exactly did he say on the night? Read on, and be surprised to … excellent sense - in parts. As a member of the Cabinet for four years I supported …
Repulsing the logging invasion of Tasmania’s wet eucalypt forest by Paul Kingsnorth
… World Society Archive_77.jpg Repulsing the logging invasion of Tasmania’s wet … forest by Paul Kingsnorth It’s raining in the Styx Valley, but Lee barely seems to notice. He wants to show me the forest. We’re walking downhill through the …
The tree-clad hills of Spain's Sierra de Huelva retain their beauty, wildlife and traditions, writes Jan Nimmo, who has speant a decade exploring the area on horseback. Just one thing is missing: the throngs of people that once inhabited and managed the land.
… Travels with Chaparro - a letter from the Sierra Jan Nimmo | 22nd March 2014 Ethical … Forests jan_chaparro_ribera_jan_nimmo.png The tree-clad hills of Spain's Sierra de Huelva retain their beauty, wildlife and traditions, writes …
Farmers on Palawan are being tricked into giving land away to palm oil companies with local government support, writes Rod Harbinson. Under the palm oil company 'leases' the farmers lose all rights to their land, never receive any money, and are saddled with 25 years of debt. Those who resist the land grabs are now in fear for their lives following the murder of a prominent campaigner.
… support, writes Rod Harbinson. Under the palm oil company 'leases' the farmers lose all rights to their land, never receive any money, and are …
Over 18 million people live off the natural bounty of the The Mekong Delta, writes Tom Fawthrop - the source of huge annual harvests of fish, rice, fruit, and one of the world's most productive ecosystems. But now huge dams threaten to strangle the Mekong river and the abundant life it supports, while the world sits idly by.
… strangulation? Hydropower threatens to kill the mighty Mekong Tom Fawthrop | 27th March … Over 18 million people live off the natural bounty of theThe Mekong Delta, writes Tom Fawthrop - …
A letter from Energy Secretary Amber Rudd leaked to The Ecologist shows that she misled Parliament by promising the UK was 'on course' to deliver on its renewable energy targets - when in fact there is a delivery shortfall in 2020 of almost 25%. Her plan to fill the gap relies on more biofuels, buying in green power and 'credits' from abroad - everything but wind and solar.
… from Energy Secretary Amber Rudd leaked to The Ecologist shows that she misled Parliament by promising the UK was 'on course' to deliver on its renewable energy targets - when in fact there is a delivery shortfall in 2020 of …
Traveling in the US by boat and train visiting solar laboratories and environmental groups, Keith Barnham found many successful community initiatives in renewable electricity, and brings news of progress towards the ultimate renewable challenge: a solar fuel that could eventually replace gasoline in cars, trucks, buses, trains and aircraft.
… Goodbye gasoline: we can Get It From The Sun Keith Barnham | 21st July 2016 Comment … Fuels Oil solar-leaves-cut.jpg Traveling in the US by boat and train visiting solar … and brings news of progress towards the ultimate renewable challenge: a solar fuel …
In the battle to save America's real wild west of unlogged forests, grizzly bears, mountain goats, Bull trout, free flowing streams and roadless wilderness, a single person stands out, writes Jeffrey St Clair, for her dedication, courage and remarkable success: Arlene Montgomery of Friends of the Wild Swan, Montana.
… Saving the wild Rockies Jeffrey St. Clair | 26th July … Conservation Law USA u-valley-cut.jpg In the battle to save America's real wild west of … success: Arlene Montgomery of Friends of the Wild Swan, Montana. If you wanted to …
New research shows that wind and solar can meet 80% of Germany's power demand, with biogas and hydropower providing the balance, writes Keith Barnham. And if Germany can do it, so can other countries, many of them even more easily - with no need for fossil fuels or nuclear power. COP21 should raise its ambitions and commit to a 100% renewable electricity future, everywhere.
… fuels, goodbye nuclear. We can 'Get it from the Sun' - all of it! Keith Barnham | 30th … demand, with biogas and hydropower providing the balance, writes Keith Barnham. And if Germany can do it, so can other countries, many of them even more easily …
Forest communities are fighting increasing incursions onto their land by US oil companies. Now the Belizean government is seeking to reverse a court ruling preventing them allowing oil exploration, logging or mining. Robin Llewellyn reports from Belize
… are fighting increasing incursions onto their land by US oil companies. Now the Belizean government is seeking to reverse a court ruling preventing them allowing oil exploration, logging or …
As Paris prepares for COP21 in Paris, Marc Brightman finds that the city is in the grip of a benign but ignorant authoritarianism that is ready to trample on much-loved green spaces like the Bois Dormoy, reclaimed from dereliction by the multicultural local community, which represent real solutions to the global problems of food, climate, the future of our cities, and our place in nature.
… for COP21 in Paris, Marc Brightman finds that the city is in the grip of a benign but ignorant … to trample on much-loved green spaces like the Bois Dormoy, reclaimed from dereliction by …
Turkey's Gezi Park protestors are finding common cause with Kurdish communities, writes Rosa Wild. Both are suffering from Erdogan's annihilation of land, forests, parks and cities in pursuit of economic growth. A new eco-democratic resistance is taking root.
… and conservative, run deep. But Gezi and the Kurdish movement stand on the same side in AKP's divided nation and people keep coming to protest. The protest camp has been here for several …
How did Germany do it? No, not its World Cup victory - how did Germany engineer Europe's highest penetration of renewable energy, plus fast-dropping electricity prices? Keith Barnham explains - and says the UK could do the same, and better!
… Germany's renewable revolution shows the way Keith Barnham | 26th July 2014 Comment … prices? Keith Barnham explains - and says the UK could do the same, and better! Football fans, impressed …
Despite outrage in the US over ‘fracturing’ techniques used to extract shale gas and new evidence its greenhouse gas footprint may be higher than that of coal, the UK has given the go-ahead to companies here to begin drilling. Tom Levitt reports from the centre of this potential unconventional gas boom near Blackpool
… emissions have been found to escape during the fracturing process to extract shale gas Despite outrage in the US over ‘fracturing’ techniques used to … footprint may be higher than that of coal, the UK has given the go-ahead to companies …
Venezuela is set to hand over 12% of the nation's territory in the upper reaches of the Amazon rainforest to mining corporations, writes Lucio Marcello, with 150 companies from 35 countries poised to devastate the army-controlled 'special economic zone'. But resistance is growing, and a counter-proposal aims to protect the area's precious biodiversity, indigenous cultures and water resources in a new South Orinoco Mega Reserve.
… Saving the Venezuelan Amazon: mega-nature reserve? Or … Venezuela is set to hand over 12% of the nation's territory in the upper reaches of the Amazon rainforest to …
Current oil price volatility is a symptom of the end of cheap oil, writes Nafeez Ahmed, and it's destablising the entire global economy. The answer is a major shift to renewables - but the the International Energy Agency, which should be leading the transition, is in the grip of nuclear and fossil fuel interests. Instead the leadership must come from us, the people!
… Energy market madness is the death spasm of the oil age - renewables now! Nafeez Ahmed | … Current oil price volatility is a symptom of the end of cheap oil, writes Nafeez Ahmed, and …
The practical evidence suggests agroforestry in the UK has got something to offer both commercial farmers and smallholders alike. The challenge now, says Ed Hamer, is how to encourage sceptical farmers that planting trees across farmland is a good idea
… Investigations istock_000002151884large.jpg The practical evidence suggests agroforestry in the UK has got something to offer both … commercial farmers and smallholders alike. The challenge now, says Ed Hamer, is how to …
Western consumers are inadvertently driving the Sumatran elephant to extinction by eating, washing and wearing - in cosmetics - the derivatives of a fruit that is destroying the animal's last remaining forest habitat. Jim Wickens reports
… Western consumers are inadvertently driving the Sumatran elephant to extinction by eating, washing and wearing - in cosmetics - the derivatives of a fruit that is destroying the animal's last remaining forest habitat. …
All but one of the candidates in next week's Copeland by-election are backing a massive new nuclear power station in the constituency that would cost us tens of billions of pounds. Only the Green Party's Jack Lenox is resisting the spin, hypocrisy and outright lies that his rivals have swallowed whole. Here he explains why this risky, unaffordable white elephant must be scrapped.
… opposing nuclear power, and voting Green, is the only rational choice Jack Lenox Green … Finance sellafield2-cut.jpg All but one of the candidates in next week's Copeland … a massive new nuclear power station in the constituency that would cost us tens of …
Financed by the World Bank, the Kenya Forest Service has intensified its illegal campaign of evictions, arson, beatings and arrests of the Sengwer forest people of the Embobut forest, Dean Puckett reports from the Cherangani Hills. And behind the violence lies the lure of hard cash - from the prospect of selling the forest's carbon to international financiers.
… evicted, beaten, imprisoned - paid for by the World Bank Dean Puckett REDD Monitor | 7th … Change Finance embobut1-cut.jpg Financed by the World Bank, the Kenya Forest Service has intensified its …