Australia’s bushfires have killed over a billion wild animals and may have driven hundreds of unique species to extinction, according to estimates by biodiversity scientists. The fires have been burning since September and have killed 29 people and destroyed over 3,000 homes. At least 18.6 million hectares or 72,000 square miles (an area one…
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The wealth gap is widening to unprecedented levels around the world, according to the World Social Report, with more than 70% of the population living in countries where disparities are increasing. Countries such as Argentina, Brazil and Mexico are now part of that list of places where rich people are getting richer as poor people…
Read full postPolicies to preserve and develop urban green space could help city-dwellers reconnect with nature and help to meet sustainability targets, according to research from the University of Exeter. The Environment International report found people who live in more built-up areas and spend less of their time in nature are less likely to take actions…
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To help predict global warming, scientists have two methods at their disposal: looking back at what temperatures were like when the atmosphere had comparable levels of greenhouse gases (through the study, for example, of ice-cores), and looking forward, using ‘models’ whereby supercomputers simulate future climate scenarios based on data that is available to us today.
Read full postEDITORIAL Dear Readers, When The Hourglass newspaper was launched last autumn, there was a desperate need for climate reporting in the press. Since then we’ve seen significantly more reporting, however, perhaps somewhat predictably given the slow erosion of democracy in Britain over the last decade, some news outlets have embraced climate reporting with a…
Read full postEmail us at hourglass@rebellion.earth STAR LETTER Building bridges As a visitor to Britain from Brasil, I have found a copy of The Hourglass in the parish church in Launceston. I read this with interest, taking particular notice of the front- page story about the deaths of environmental defenders. It made me upset and angry…
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Nature is in trouble – and her cries are largely falling on deaf ears. Yes, there are vast numbers fighting the good fight, being nature’s voice in this bizarre, worrying time. Inevitably, there are also vast numbers who aren’t, can’t, won’t… Those who need a little more encouragement to the idea that nature is essential,…
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Have you heard this said before? ‘Global leaders were driven by a primitive fear that the present ambient warm weather is somehow caused by humanity; and that fear – as far as I understand the science – is equally without foundation.’ That is the view of a resident in No.10 Downing Street. Yes, the…
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Having worked in the film industry for two years I’ve seen first-hand how wasteful it can be. Stars and crew jetting over the globe, poor waste management. Assistants sent off in diesel cars to the same supermarket three times a day. Set build materials being scrapped and thrown away. Sometimes not even making it into…
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