Seeing the Changes 1633

More blooms in Gorseinon. Alien Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus); Spring vetch (Vicia lathyroides) and Hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium).

What Have the UK Government Got Against Energy Efficiency?

The UK's government has been eventually forced, kicking and screaming, to levy a 'windfall tax' on the excess profits of North Sea oil and gas companies. The Chancellor felt so bad about this, he simultaneously offered them a 91% tax break to facilitate the location and development of new reserves. The tax break will result in between £2.5bn and £5.7bn being handed back to 'big oil'. Alternatively, a £3bn energy efficiency programme could have been used to permanently upgrade 2.1m UK homes (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/may/31/sunak-uk-oil-subsidy-could-have-insulated-2m-homes-says-thinktank). The energy efficiency programme would simply involve insulating the lofts and walls of homes, making their occupants less reliant on gas for heating. At present prices, such insulation would cut an average of almost £350 a year from home energy bills. We don't need more oil and gas, we just need to use our currently available energy more efficiently! Increased oil and gas extraction from the North Sea and leaky home insulation will combine to massively elevate UK 'greenhouse gas' emissions. What planet do they live on?

It Fluttered That Way?

The UK only has around 58 species of butterfly. These attractive, pollinating insects have been, however, challenged by a combination of intensive farming and climate change (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/may/29/the-guardian-view-on-british-butterflies-declining-beauty). Intensive programmes of care for particular endangered species of butterflies by volunteers in small, defined areas had been extolled as conservation successes. It appears that such exercises are now failing. Climate change is making it very difficult for butterfly numbers to recover after disastrous years. The losses of these highly visible species are one of the most obvious expressions of 'insectaggendon' in the UK.

'Pruning' NHS Research?

All clinical research costs money (directly but also in terms of providing support staff, such as doctors, nurses and administrators). It also generally has to recruit patients (who have to be cared for). As the UK's medical services start to emerge from the Covid19 pandemic, government says that efforts must be made to focus NHS resources on a small number of well-designed, clinical trials (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/may/30/medical-research-stalled-as-nhs-focuses-on-small-number-of-trials-experts-say). The move is well-intentioned. There have been claims that using varied experimental designs, has stopped data from studies being combined in meta-analyses. It has also been claimed that some research simply duplicates existing studies. This can be a problematic issue as the scientific method relies on the ability to replicate results. A number of NHS clinical trials were essentially 'frozen', when the pandemic was underway. This was to allow the stretched resources to be directed to medical care or to research concerned with the viral infection. Some important research was done here. Trials established the benefits of treatment with dexamethasone; eliminated from contention some of the more bizarre treatments for Covid19 infections etc. Some scientists are concerned, however, that the proposed 'pruning' exercise will add to the backlog of currently 'stalled' medical research. It could even result, they feel, in some important trials being scrapped. Although there are dangers in pruning exercises, ensuring that clinical research is well-designed and focussed is also important. A major problem is that the process could become a 'bidding war' between different medical specialisms. Research on cancer and childhood conditions have always been favoured over, for example, mental health and care of the senile. Letting politically-linked individuals choose which areas to favour, could be problematic and unfair.

A Right Royal Greenwash?

The Queen's Green Canopy scheme is being sold as one way of celebrating Elizabeth's 70 years of 'service' in her platinum jubilee. The scheme will annoint 70 ancient woodlands and 70 really old trees across the UK, for the jamboree. It will be paid for, by corporate sponsorship. Some environmentalists have pointed out that some of the sponsors have very questionable links (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/may/30/queens-jubilee-tree-planting-sponsors-linked-to-deforestation). For example, MacDonalds (of hamburger fame), stand accused of deforestation in Brazil. Her banking interest sponsors, support the Drax electricity power station that burns 'biomass fuel' (of very questionable environmental benefit). Unkindly, some environmentalists suggest the Queen's Green Canopy scheme is simply an opportunity for corporate 'greenwash'. They never appear to miss such 'open goals'.

Getting Down to Basics

It looks as if Jack Monroe was right. She has maintained, for some time, that the food price increases have greater impact on the UK's poorest, than the 9% 'headline' figure for 'the cost of living crisis' suggests (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/may/30/pasta-bread-and-crisps-among-biggest-uk-food-price-increases). The Office for National Statistics (ONS) collected data on the lowest cost, everyday food products from 7 large UK supermarket chains. The ONS found that, in a year, the cost of pasta had increased by 50%, crisps by 17%, bread and minced beef by 16% and rice by 15%. Some foods like potatoes and pizzas (expensive to cook?) have actually reduced in price over the same period. People patronisingly claim that the poor don't know how to budget or to cook cheap, healthy meals. That's appears to be hardly the point, when many can neither afford to buy the food items nor to pay for the energy to cook it.

Having Your Cake...?

I'm not 'armed with a cake'. A man in Paris' Louvre museum, however, clearly was. He was disguised as an elderly woman. But leapt out of a wheelchair and attempted to smear the famous Mona Lisa portrait with gateaux (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/30/mona-lisa-smeared-cake-suspected-climate-protester). It's been claimed that the cake-smear attempt was 'an apparent climate-related publicity stunt'. Fortunately, the painting (behind glass) was completely unharmed. Let's hope, in the future, we will be able to say the same about our planet!

Seeing the Changes 1632

More critters in Bynea. The male Oedemera nobilis beetles were out in force. The Mullien moth (Cuculia verbasci) larvae were doing a pretty good demolition job.

Seeing the Changes 1631

A few more flowers. Tutsan (Hypericum androsaemum) in Loughor and Hedgerow cranesbill (Geranium pyrenaecum) in Oystermouth.

Fifty Up!

The Stockholm United Nations conference and the Rio Earth summit both took place in 1992. Consequently, we can't claim to have not had advanced warnings about the planet's impending environmental issues (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/may/29/observer-view-70-years-warnings-environment). The Stockholm UN conference was the first world forum that focused on the environmental issues, already known to sections of Science, for some 20 years. The conference reiterated our need to actually care for the Earth's oceans, land and forests. That Stockholm conference ultimately led to the setting up of the UN's Environment Programme. The Rio Earth summit attempted to get all nations to commit to environmentally responsible approaches to economic growth (rather than assuming the Earth was limitless). It was followed by conventions on climate change, biodiversity and forestry. These two 50-year old events clearly focused attention, leading to meaningful benefits. Their science, however, has been/still is hotly resisted by a well-financed array of commercial, religious and political interests. Clearly, insufficient progress has been made in the intervening 50 years since Stockholm and Rio. Our human population is poised to reach 8 billion. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is higher than it has been for millennia. Climate change is current and rampant. Millions of species are imminently threatened with extinction. Plastics and dangerous chemicals get everywhere. Passive acceptance/apathy, however, is wholly inappropriate. People and institutions need to be firmly held to account. No more procrastinating!

Mint Imperial?

The UK currently uses a strange mix of Imperial (e.g. miles per hour and pints of beer) and metric (e.g. price per kg of food) measures. Its PM reportedly wants to add fervour to the celebration of Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee, by allowing returns to Imperial measures (https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/may/28/boris-johnson-set-to-bring-back-imperial-measurements-to-mark-platinum-jubilee). The PM apparently sees bringing the UK inline with the US, Myanmar and Liberia (the only countries where Imperial measures are still used on a daily basis), as a vote-getter. Perhaps people, concerned about the 'cost of living crisis', will feel happier that the petrol (gasolene) they can no longer afford, is in gallons? Perhaps price increases of potatoes sound less scary in pounds and ounces than they do in kilograms? Nostalgia rules, OK?

With a Built-In Loophole?

The UK's apparent 'U-turn' on applying a windfall tax (or 'Energy Profits Levy') on the excessive, unearned profits of the North Sea oil and gas companies seems to have a built-in loophole (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/may/29/loophole-could-let-north-sea-oil-and-gas-giants-slash-uk-windfall-tax-bill). The 'temporary' tax was supposed to bring in circa £5bn, ear-marked to help fund people dropping into fuel poverty (where at least 10% of their income is spent on electricity and gas). The petrochemical giants will be able to reduce their tax 'burden', by claiming they are making investments. Shell and BP accountants will be able to reduce taxes (the companies already receive many financial perks). The arrangement appears to be a smoke and mirrors job, designed to distract from 'partygate'.

Seeing the Changes 1630

More flowerings in Bynea. Noted Ribbed melilot (Melilotus officinalis); Pineapple mayweed (Chamomilla suaveolens) and Scarlet pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis).

Emit Now: Rewild Later?

'Rewilding' is the restoration of natural ecosystems. It's one potential counter to climate breakdown. Eleanor Salter says that, although many people are enthusiastic about rewilding, some 'environmentally-motivated' land purchases by the super-rich and big companies, have been dismissed as 'greenwashing' (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/may/28/rewilding-greenwash-land-schemes). Salter believes that, to be really beneficial, rewilding has to produce a reduction in current atmospheric carbon, rather than balancing them at net zero. In the case of the super-rich individuals and big business, 'rewilding' land is often bought and trees planted, to 'offset' the landowner's carbon emissions from other activities. In the UK, such offsetting is 'supercharged', Salter thinks, by government 'green' subsidies, like the environmental land management schemes for ex-farmland. The current system, in effect, dispenses impunity for corporations and the super-rich. These landowners can emit as much as they like (e.g. by encouraging space tourism or making extensive concert tours), so long as they plant sufficient trees later. Salter believes that local people and democratic institutions are really needed to develop genuinely effective rewilding of the environment. She thinks, ofsetting should only be encouraged for activities like steel-making.

Monkeypox and Pets

Monkeypox patients, in the UK, have been advised to avoid contact with their pets for at least 21 days (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/may/27/monkeypox-patients-contact-pets-uk). The Monkeypox virus can also infect other animals, especially rodents. Infected pets could, in theory, spread the virus to other members of a household. Monkeypox virus had not actually been seen in any pet Mammals in the UK. It's not, however, certain that a local vet would immediately recognise the condition, if you took your pet hamster, mouse or rat to him/her.

Seeing the Changes 1629

My recent very unimpressive record of moth trappings in my Loughor garden continued. The total catch last night, consisted of 3 Treble lines (Charanyca trigrammica) and one Figure of eight (Diloba caeruleocephala).

Funny Thinking?

I sometimes think that a) sections of the populace are too easily seduced by lazy arguments and/or b) 'economic' claims have a disproportionate impact on decision making. The reasons for my concerns are, I think, displayed in three recent very different articles. First, we have the major petrochemical company, Shell, expressing concerns about the UK government's 'windfall tax' (or whatever they choose to call it). Shell claim this tax on their enormous, unearned profits is 'a threat to investment in North Sea oil and gas, as Britain attempts to ramp up domestic energy supplies' (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/may/27/shell-windfall-tax-north-sea-oil-gas-investment). It should, of course, be obvious, that ramping up North Sea oil and gas extraction would exacerbate global heating and climate change. Perhaps, 'leaving it in the ground' is a better option? Second, we have Hamilton Nolan (a writer in New York City), observing that a substantial number of Americans seem keener on gun ownership than people's lives. The basic argument (exploited by gun manufacturers) seems to be that Americans need guns to protect themselves from Americans with guns. This is in spite of the fact more Americans are killed by their own guns than by being shot by strangers. The Second Amendment was designed for times more than 200 years ago. Perhaps, it's fortunate that the atomic bomb hadn't been invented in 1776 (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/may/27/columbine-gun-violence-america-gun-control). Everyone appears convinced that massacres of primary school children will never lead to even the slightest of tightening of gun control laws (e.g. not selling just anyone semi-automatic rifles). The third example is an account by Harry Ferguson (University of Birmingham), commenting on the response to murders of 2 small children in the UK by their parents/and the parent's partners. Ferguson points out that new 'plans' to more effectively protect children from such attacks, take little account of the social worker's needs (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/may/27/social-workers-star-arthur-review-children-abusers). Ferguson notes that, after these 2 cases, some social workers have been attacked in the media for 'not doing their jobs'. Some have even, after physical attacks, had to change where they live. Ferguson also points out that a) UK social workers currently have very heavy case loads; b) they have difficulty dealing with aggressive 'parents' and c) the Covid19 pandemic made dealing with cases more difficult. I must admit that these widespread examples of illogicality don't fill me with optimism about the human ability to deal with serious problems.

More Climate Breakdown Litigation

In the last 50 years, a glacial lake in Peru has increased to 34 times its initial volume. There is consequently now a very serious danger of a devastating outburst flood from lake Palcacoche. In 2017, judges in Hamm, Germany, agreed to consider a lawsuit against Germany's largest electricity provider, RWE (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/may/27/peru-lake-palcacocha-climate-crisis-lawsuit). A Peruvian farmer and guide sued RWE for 17,000 euros. He wanted this as a contribution to the expensive remedial work, needed to attempt to prevent an outburst from lake Palcacoche. RWE is Europe's largest emitter of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a major caused of global heating. Rather obviously, Germany is a long way from Peru. The fact that German judges have recently visited Peru to assess the level of damage suggests, however, that 'out of sight, out of mind' may not function as an effective defense for very much longer. Polluters should pay. It will be difficult, however, to work out a fair contribution for RWE.

Seeing the Changes 1628

Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum) in flower in Gorseinon.

Could Oil and Gas Become 'Stranded Assets'?

Existing oil and gas projects, currently worth $1.4tn, would lose their value, if the world actually slashed carbon emissions. Most of these losses would be born by individual people, in the US and UK, via their pensions, investment funds and share holdings. Worryingly, the size of these potentially 'stranded assets' is more then $680bn. This is greater than the $250-500bn of mispriced sub-prime housing assets, that triggered the 2007-2008 financial crisis (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/may/26/people-in-us-and-uk-face-huge-financial-hit-if-fossil-fuels-lose-value-study-shows). In the US and UK individuals own respectively 86 and 75% of what could become stranded oil and gas assets. This compares with China, where the government owns 80% of that country's fossil fuel assets. Consequently, it's individuals in rich nations who will disproportionately face huge financial losses, if climate action devalues fossil fuel assets. Possibly the reason why the 'pledges' of these countries are so much more impressive than their actions?

Direct Action by Herring Gulls?

The Dorset police failed (under political pressure?) to properly investigate the illegal poisoning of a White-tailed eagle in their English county. Subsequently, the police authority even decided to largely disband their Environmental Crimes Unit. Herring gulls appear to be showing their displeasure with this turn of events. A pair have made a nest and laid eggs on the roof of a police squad car in Bridport (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/may/27/protected-gulls-roost-on-roof-of-dorset-police-car ). The Herring gull is a protected species. This means that the squad car must remain out of commission, until the birds have finished roosting. That will teach the Dorset police!

Going to the Wall?

The Wall lizard has flourished on the Spanish island of Ibiza (along with clubbers). Twenty years ago, Ibiza had no snakes. At this time, however, importing Olive trees became suddenly trendy (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/may/27/snakes-or-lizards-stark-game-of-survival-ibiza-aoe). Some of the imported Olive trees had snakes secreted away in their branches. Horseshoe whipsnakes and Ladder snakes, now found on Ibiza, eat Wall lizards. The Ibiza population of Wall lizards has crashed QED.

Seeing the Changes 1627

Spotted a Bee orchid (Ophrys apifera) on the Bynea/Penclacwydd border. Never seen them there before!

Wake Up and Smell the Covid?

About 18% of people getting a Covid19 infection in the UK, develop anosmia (loss of their sense of smell) as a symptom. Some of this cohort later develop paraosmia, a distorting of the olfactory sense, where normally pleasurable odours smell disgusting or repulsive. A study at Reading University, identified 2-Furanmethanethiol as a chemical producing this changed sensation (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/25/scientists-identify-trigger-molecule-for-covid-related-changes-to-smell). 2-Furanmethanethiol occurs in coffee. It, unsurprisingly, smells like coffee or popcorn. Ten percent of people, developing anosmia after a Covid19 infection, found the smell of 2-Furanmethanethiol repulsive, in the condition's immediate aftermath (they had paraosmia). This rose to 47%, 6-7 months after the onset of their viral infection. The Covid19-related effects on the olfactory system appear to be progressive and long-lasting. It will be interesting to see whether perceptions of other chemicals also change. The smell of coffee is, afterall, something to which most people in the UK are routinely exposed.

Why Do We Always Get a Spate of False Conspiracy 'Theories' After a US Mass Shooting?

Mass shootings, in the US, are quickly followed by outbreaks of false conspiracy 'theories' about the gunman (it's usually a gunman), his motives and the shooting event itself. It's pedantic of me, but these 'theories' don't deserve this label. A hypothesis (a scientifically-testable explanation) is only given theory status, when the accumulated evidence convinces the major of experts, it's likely to be the best available. Conspiracy 'theories', seem to me, to be largely self-serving fabrications. The US Disinfo Defense League suggests that false conspiracy 'theories' flourish in the aftermath to shootings because they a) avoid real conversation about the issue of gun violence and b) give someone (a 'patsy') to blame (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/may/25/texas-school-shooting-false-conspiracy-theories-social-media). Following the Texas primary school shooting, there were claims the shooter was an illegal immigrant, on the run from border guards (he was born and bred in the US). Hijacked images from other people's websites were also used to falsely claim the shooter was transgender. The conspiracy 'theories' advocates appear to be simply chasing 'likes' and followers. One sometimes has to wonder if social media actually benefits the human condition. People directly affected by the shootings must be further distressed by the false conspiracy 'theories'. Speaking of which, I was astounded (I'm easily astounded) when viewing a clip from a prominent Texan politician on the BBC news. He claimed that the primary school massacre, in his state, reflected a mental health problem and had nothing to do with gun law. Mental health problems can result in people doing awful things. Most countries, however, don't arm such people with weapons of mass destruction (to recoin a phrase).

How Many More Times?

John Vidal (former Guardian Environmental Editor) opines that Monkeypox is not the disease we should be worried about (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/may/25/monkeypox-disease-climate-change). Vidal clearly believes that Monkeypox is getting much media attention because recent cases are in richer, more developed parts of the world. A Monkeypox case in Nigeria (it's common there) clearly would not be 'news'. Vidal points out that recently there have been 100 cases of tick-transmitted Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever in Iraq, with 18 deaths. There have also been more than 100 cases of Bubonic plague in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; new cases of wild Polio in Malawi and Monzambique, as well as an outbreak of a deadly strain of Typhus in Nepal, India and China. As they didn't occur in Europe or the US, these outbreaks have largely passed 'under the media radar'. Vidal thinks it very likely that climate change will exacerbate the rapid spread of viruses and other pathogens to humans and their domestic animal populations. Climate change will force humans and wild animals into increasingly closer contact. We have already seen the astronomical health and economic costs of the still rampant Covid19 and HIV pandemics. How many more pandemics can be tolerated in our inter-linked world? We clearly need effective monitoring systems for disease outbreaks and plans for dealing with new zoonoses (where a pathogen 'jumps' to another host). Both require investment. Perhaps we shouldn't get side-tracked by conditions like Monkeypox? Monkeypox is uncomfortable for those infected and a danger to the immunocompromised. It's unlikely, however, to become a pandemic.

Diamonds and Rust?

The rocks in Monument Valley, on the Utah/Arizona border, appear red due to the presence of iron oxides. It is now appears, contrary to earlier assumptions, that 'rust' can be stable almost 3000 km below the Earth's surface on its iron core (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/may/25/terrawatch-earth-core-rusty-atmosphere). It has also been suggested that heaps of rust, from the Earth's core, might have 'hitched a lift' back to the surface via mantle plumes. This might have accounted for the fact that the planet's atmosphere suddendly became oxygen-rich some 2.5 bn years ago. Without atmospheric oxygen, life as we know it, would be impossible.

By Temporary (?) Royal Appointment?

Kendamil is the only UK-made baby milk brand. It was used to wean Prince Louis of Cambridge. The Kendamil makers have now been given special permission by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to fly 100 truckloads of their product to the US (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/may/25/uk-baby-milk-maker-to-fly-formula-to-us-to-help-ease-shortages). Provision of baby milk in the US is normally a 'closed shop'. 95% is supplied by that country's top four producers. The FDA's temporary (until November) permission is to cover for shortages. US shortages of baby milk were caused by Abbott Laboratories, closing its Michigan facility and recalling batches of their product. The links between Abbott Laboratory baby milk, bacterial contamination and baby deaths are still being investigated.

Portuguese Man O' War Jellyfish: Neither Portuguese Nor a Jellyfish

I well remember happy days on Hawaiian beaches, bursting the bladders of washed-up Portuguese man o' war (Physalia physalia) with the thick skin on my heel. The Portuguese man o' war is a colonial assemblage, rather than being a true 'jellyfish'. Its bladder enables the colony to move on the surface of the sea. Although the sting (nematocysts) of the Portuguese man o' war can be dangerous, they have nothing like the toxicity of e.g. the Box jellyfish. Portuguese men o' war regularly wash up on the beaches of Ireland and Cornwall. They have appeared again this month around Cork and Galway, generating traditional media excitement (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WkWZdtAAkE). I wouldn't recommend my bladder bursting technique (I am now older and, perhaps, wiser) but I also would not panic on the appearance of this interesting organism.

Gold!

It's a fairly obvious reminder but people are being urged not to throw their redundant goldfish into British lakes, rivers and canals (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/may/25/shiny-but-deadly-dont-throw-goldfish-in-rivers-pet-owners-told). Although goldfish are renowned only for their short attention spans, they are actually extremely voracious and combatative fish. Introducing this alien to UK freshwater habitats, can decimate natural populations. Goldfish, could join Parrot's feather pondweed and terrapins, as inadvertent additions by jaded aquarium keepers, that went on to cause massive environmental damage.

Seeing the Changes 1626

Spotted my first Red admiral (Vanessa atalanta) of the year in Loughor.

Banking on Climate Change?

Bankers are schizophrenic folk about climate change. On the one hand, you have the first Bank of England climate stress test on the UK's 7 largest lenders. These lenders are all major banks and insurance companies. The Bank of England's stress test predicts that, without action on climate change, these lenders, by 2050, will face a combined loss of £340bn (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/may/24/uk-finance-faces-340bn-in-losses-without-action-on-climate-change). On the other hand, you have HSBC's head of responsible investing (sic) claiming, in an internal presentation to his bank, that 'unsubstantiated, shrill, partisan, self-serving, apocalyptic warnings are always wrong'. Human ingenuity will, he feels, always solve environmental problems. That head of responsible investing has since been suspended, perhaps in an attempt to make HSBC look a tiny bit 'green' (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/may/22/hsbc-suspends-head-of-responsible-investing-who-called-climate-warnings-shrill). So, is climate change sweat or no sweat for the bankers? Whatever happens, experts are confidently predicting the banks and insurance companies will survive. The survival of their borrowers, however, may be quite a different matter.