Climate Appeasement?

Vulcanologist Bill McGuire (University College London) has just published a book 'Hothouse Earth' (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jul/30/total-climate-meltdown-inevitable-heatwaves-global-catastrophe). Most climate experts maintain that humans still have a little time left to drive down 'greenhouse gas' emissions to avoid a 'perilous, all-pervasive climate breakdown'. McGuire says we have zero chance of doing this. He also claims that many climate scientists are much more scared about the future, than they will publically admit. He calls this 'climate appeasement'. McGuire notes that we can already see what's happening now with global heating having reached just over one degree Centigrade above pre-Industrial levels! Global heating, he claims, could easily get to 3 degrees Centigrade above pre-Industrial levels. This really would be extremely serious. At the same time, a UK Member of Parliament (MP) of the current ruling party, is being paid almost £47k a year for his second job with Texas-based Linden Energy (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jul/31/tory-mp-mark-pritchard-linden-energy-climate-fossil-fuel-firm). That US fossil fuel company also concludes it's virtually impossible to avoid a 2 degrees Centigrade 'warming', by 2050. Their conclusion is 'why bother trying' but let's extract and burn more gas. Gas the claim is cleaner than coal and oil. True but it still generates substantial 'greenhouse gas' emissions. I guess some people (including the MP recruited to push Linden's line) will take the money, no matter how tainted. I can see why McGuire is somewhat pessimistic.

Seeing the Changes 1683

In the very dry dunes behind Oxwich beach, Stone bramble (Rubus saxatillis) was in fruit. Many of the usual butterflies (e.g. skippers) were absent but Common blue (Polyommatus icarus); Holly blue (Celastrina argiolus); 6-Spot burnet moth (Zygaena filipendulae); Speckled wood (Pararge aegeria tircis) and Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) were spotted.

Arboricidal Maniacs

Mature trees effectively remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it away for decades. They also replenish our supply of oxygen as well as making flooding less likely. Trees also provide shade, especially in hot urban areas. It's consequently sad to read of recent spates of tree killing. In one notable example, in Poole, Dorset (deepest England), mature trees were actually poisoned (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jul/30/poisoned-oaks-slain-sycamores-whos-behind-britains-tree-murders). Mature Oak and Sycamore trees were killed (advice on how to do this, is available online) after being drilled and having herbicide (e.g. 'Roundup') poured into the hole. It's strongly suspected that these protected trees were killed to improve people's views from their properties (increasing their values) and/or to facilitate development on adjacent land. In Wales, sapling Cherry trees, donated by the Japanese people, were recently simply broken off by vandals. Sadly, people who carry out these crimes are rarely prosecuted when the 'victim' trees are on public land. Getting caught is much more likely, if a tree is on the offender's property. There should be stronger punishments to deter this highly antisocial behaviour. We need our trees.

Heart to Heart

Genetic cardiomyopathy is an inherited heart muscle defect (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/jul/29/genetic-heart-conditions-could-be-cured-first-time-defining-moment). More than quarter of a million people in the UK suffer from cardiomyopathy. This condition can cause sudden death. Probably most of the 12 UK people under 35 who die from an undiagnosed heart condition have the genetic defect. in other cases, Cardiomyopathy produces progressive heart failure. In mouse studies this inherited condition can be rectified by gene editing. Base and prime genetic editing can switch off the faulty genes, allowing normal heart muscle function. The change occurs after a single injection. The British Heart Foundation have now given a £30m grant to a team of scientists from the UK, US and Singapore, to develop this treatment for human patients. If it works it would be a real 'game changer'.

Seeing the Changes 1682

Flowers of Langland. Bell heather (Erica cinerea); Common toadflax (Linaria vulgaris) andBroad-leaved everlasting pea (Lathyrus latifolius) were all in bloom.

A Suitable Spike Position?

Researchers at London's Francis Crick Institute think they've identified a specific area of Sars-CoV-2 spike protein that would be a good candidate for a pan coronavirus vaccine (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/27/uk-scientists-take-promising-step-towards-single-covid-and-cold-vaccine). The S2 subunit of the Sars-CoV-2 spike protein appears to be less subject to mutations than other regions. The S2 subunit is also shared by the Common cold virus. If a vaccine can be raised, producing antibodies against this region, if could offer protection against all the Covid19 variants and the Common cold!

Pure Guano!

Gulls appear to have been singled out on warning signs on Scottish beaches for their contribution to water pollution. These warnings ask people not to feed the gulls as this will only encourage the birds to defaecate (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jul/27/gull-poo-pollution-warnings-on-scottish-beaches-out-of-proportion-say-experts). Fairly obviously, a vast variety of fish, birds and mammals (including pet dogs) crap into the seas surrounding our coasts. Water companies even pump raw sewage out into these locations, when it rains hard. The contribution made by gull guano must be a relatively minor contribution. Salty sea water is also a pretty good disinfectant. The warnings do seem to be 'over the top'.

Not To Be Sniffed At!

A study in the British Medical Journal estimates that 1 in 20 people, contracting a Covid19 infection, still had problems with their sense of smell/taste, more than 6 months later (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/27/covid-study-finds-millions-have-long-term-smell-or-taste-problems). Smell and taste are, of course, strongly-linked sensations, based in our ability to detect molecules of particular shapes. Apart from the basic detection of sweet, sour, salty etc on the tongue, the mechanisms are in the respiratory apparatus of the nose. This is a part of the body infected (and damaged) by the virus. The connection with the olfactory region of the brain may be damaged. Lots of people simply can't wake up to smell the coffee!

Another One Bites the Dust: James Lovelock

Physicist, James Lovelock, wasn't a pop star. He is credited, however, with popularising the influential Gaia hypothesis (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jul/27/james-lovelock-creator-of-gaia-hypothesis-dies-on-103rd-birthday). The Gaia hypothesis essentially views the Earth as a self-regulatory community of organisms (somewhat like single a giant, living organism). One very blunt conclusion follows. This is that it would be in 'Gaia's' interest to rid itself of human beings. Their pollutions and emissions currently make balance (viable surviving ecosystems) impossible. Lovelock died on his 103rd birthday and won't be around, to see how his hypothesis 'pans out' with respect to our species.

Using 'Our' Money to Make Climate Change Worse?

Alec Connon (of 'Stop the Money Pipeline') suggests that US banks have a major responsibility for climate change (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jul/27/looking-for-someone-to-blame-for-the-extreme-heat-try-wall-street). Connon points out that, since the 2015 Paris Accord, the 6 largest US banks (Bank of America, Chase, Citi, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo) have provided $1.4 tn of financing to the fossil fuel industries. The financing by these banks of coal, oil and gas in 2021 is actually higher than it was in 2016 (the year after the Paris Accord, to attempt to limit climate change to 1.5 degrees Centigrade above pre-industrial levels). Connon claims that these America's banks are essentially, using the money of American depositors, to make climate worse for Americans (and the rest of the world). These US banks are, of course, far from being alone in this. Many world banks essentially do the same. Money trumps emissions. Thus far, US banks have resisted demands from shareholders and investors to reduce such funding. Some of these banks have made pledges but nothing much happens. Although, in 2015, virtually all countries signed up to adopt the Paris agreement, nobody apparently told Wall Street! Banking can't get a free pass on this! Perhaps their profits should be taxed relative to the damage caused by climate change? That could be a pretty big bill!

Seeing the Changes 1681

Flowerings in Mumbles. Lots of Rock samphire (Crithmum maritum); some Lesser burdock (Arctium minus) and ocassional Small scabious (Scabiosa columbaria).

Those Costly Lockdown Blues?

Excessive alcohol intake, over extended periods, increases the probabilities of developing conditions including breast cancer, liver cirrhosis and high blood pressure (linked to strokes). Independent analyses by the University of Sheffield and the Institute of Alcohol Studies both indicate that heavy drinking habits, acquired in England's Covid19 lockdowns, will have heavy costs in terms of human health and medical provision (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/jul/26/lockdown-drinking-increase-could-cause-25000-excess-deaths-in-england). Fairly obviously, people respond differently to lockdowns in terms of alcohol intake. Some moderate drinkers may have subsequently reduced their intake. The worry seems to be, however, that former heavy social drinkers, drank even more heavily in lockdown. That cohort may have consequently become entrenched in their drinking behaviour. The more pessimistic Sheffield University study, suggests heavy drinking habits, acquired in the lockdowns will, over the next 20 years, lead to an extra 25,000 premature deaths in England. That heavy drinking is also likely to require more hospital admissions, perhaps costing the National Health Service (NHS) £5bn. This phenomenon appears to be yet another lingering cost of the Covid19 pandemic. Add it to:- Long covid, loss of education for our children, burgeoning mental health problems, collapsing legal systems and an NHS recruitment crisis, linked to 'burn-out'!

Seeing the Changes 1680

In Penclacwydd, Guelder rose (Viburnum opulus) and Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) were in fruit. The latter can be used to make Sloe gin.

Activists or Suits?

Guardian Columnist John Harris notes that a 'deep attachment to fossil fuels is still locked into (the UK's) economy and political system' (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jul/24/climate-sceptics-protest-emergency-activists). Harris believes that the 'opinions' of climate sceptics and deniers have now generally been rejected by most informed folk. The requirement to 'balance' the views of climate scientists, with denier content, has now gone. Mainstream politicians, however, have been, at best, tentative in their attempts to reduce climate change. Some have even moved to effectively ban any direct action and protest, that can be linked to climate change. Sections of the right-wing media (newspapers and 'shock jocks') are also still more than willing to attack activists, for 'their disruptive and panicky behaviour'. Conversely, Harris opines that wanting net zero, well before 2050, is an entirely logical position. He feels that fearing activism and protest will simply alienate potential supporters, is wrong. Historically, Harris notes that activism and protest have often been necessary and do work. For example, in the UK, activism and protest achieved their aims, in campaigns to abolish slavery and to give women the right to vote. When a danger is great and looming (as is climate change), you can't wait for all the vested interests to slowly (and reluctantly) get on board! As Harris puts it 'Do you trust the people in suits, downplaying this emergency or the activists, lying in roads, in an attempt to ward off catastrophe?'. I know where my money is going!

Some of My Favourite Pictures of Sikkim (NE India) Birds

Some of the very diverse birds in this region of the Indian Himalayas. The dawn chorus is also pretty spectacular!