Loads of Money

The billionaire owner of TCI Fund Management paid himself $690m (£574m) for last year. This is equivalent to £1.5m per day (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/nov/30/sir-chris-hohn-paid-himself-equivalent-of-over-15m-per-day-this-year). £1.5m is 15,000 times the avarage UK salary. This amount 'takes the mickey', coming as it does, in the middle of a cost of living crisis. Some disabled folk currently can't afford the electricity, to recharge their wheelchairs. One has to wonder how much tax was paid on this Fund Manager's annual 'salary'? It's really just legalised gambling with other folk's money.

Highs and Lows

Everyone knows bats use ultrasound (high frequencies) to echolocate and, in some cases, catch night-flying insect prey. Recent studies, however, show they also use low frequencies to communicate with eachother (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/nov/29/bats-are-the-death-metal-singers-of-the-animal-world-research-shows). Bats have thick structures in their larynx (windpipe) called ventricular folds. These are used to produce low frequency calls, said to be similar to those employed by death metal pop artists and Tuvan (Mongolian) throat singers.

Bum's Rush?

Colorectal (Bowel) cancer is the third most common cancer. It seems likely that a plant-based diet can cut men's risk of this disease (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/nov/29/plant-based-diet-reduce-bowel-cancer-risk-in-men-research). A very substantial study, in BMC Medicine, recruited almost 80,000 US-based men and over 93,000 women to self-report their daily consumptions of particular foods and drinks. Self-reporting is always a bit dubious, as it relies on honesty, memory and accuracy. Men with a diet rich in vegetables, whole grains, nuts and legumes (peas and beans), had a 22% cut in their bowel cancer risk. No such link was evident, however, in women. Some men may have been more likely to eat large amounts of meat, making the contrast with vegetable-eating counterparts stronger? Ultraprocessed food, based on plants or fungi, are likely to increase bowel cancer risks. Women might have been more attracted to these marketed 'alternatives', perhaps 'contaminating' the positive effects of vegetable-based diets. Encouraging both men and women to have healthier diets must improve their health and reduce 'greenhouse gas' emissions!

Polluters Get EU Freebies!

The Environmentalist mantra is 'that the polluter should pay'. That doesn't appear to happen in the European Union (EU), where they are given free carbon permits (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/29/big-polluters-given-almost-100bn-in-free-carbon-permits-by-eu). The World Wide Fund for Nature analysed the costs of the free carbon permits, given by the EU, to 'energy intensive sectors' from 2013-2021. The energy intensive sectors were steel, cement, chemical and aviation. These sectors are, of course, major producers of 'greenhouse gas' emissions. Over the nine years in question, the free carbon permits totalled nearly 100 billion euros (£86bn). These permits were issued with no conditions. They were not required to reduce their carbon 'footprints' or energy useage over time. Even more weirdly, some polluters were able to add billions to their profits by selling unused permits. This EU scheme seems very poor value for money. The EU's energy intensive sectors are, however, a powerful bunch, with many employees and considereable political clout. Politicans always seem willing to use tax payer money to keep such sectors 'sweet'.

Politics and 'I'm a Celebrity: Get Me Out of Here'

'I'm a Celebrity: Get Me Out of Here' is a long-running British ITV programme. A largely obscure collection of people, are given money to gather in a televised 'camp' in the Australian 'jungle'. Here, the 'participants' are given various demeaning tasks (like eating various animal genitals) and eventually whittled down to winners by audience 'votes'. I'm not too keen on this programme. I guess I'm a bit squeamish about, even dead animals (now live insects can't be consumed), being exposed to such a generally awful bunch of 'humans'. It turns out, however, that even the 'voting' is meaningless (https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/nov/27/matt-hancock-im-a-celebrity-tiktok-votes-jungle). At least one participant apparently employed Public Relations campaigners to recruit young folk, mainly on TikTok. The recruits were then actioned to repeatedly 'vote' (online and by telephone) for 'their' favoured candidate'. One person can vote for the same individual several hundred times. Meaninglessness upon meaninglessness!

Water, Water Everywhere?

Lots of 'medical' advice recommends that people drink eight glasses (2 litres) of water each day. Nobody is precisely sure where this advice originated. Purveyors of overhyped and overpriced bottled water are unlikely to be unhappy at this 'directive'. Two litres of water per day may, however, actually be excessive for some folk (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2022/nov/24/eight-glasses-of-water-a-day-excessive-for-most-people-study-suggests?amp). A recent study in Science used more than 5,500 subjects. Living in 23 countries, subjects were between 8 days and 96 years of age. Individuals in the trial were given deuterium (a harmless radioisotope of hydrogen)-labelled water to drink. The presence of the isotope enabled the rate of the body's turnover of water to be precisely determined. Water turnover turned out to be highly variable. Some folk needed only between 1.5 and 1.8 litres per day. Drinking excess water is a waste for these people. Many people get a relatively high proportion of their water from the food they eat, reducing the need to also 'down' glasses of water! People with high energy expenditure do, however, need to drink more water. The study suggested that a wide range of water intakes could be healthy. One size does not fit all. I must admit something of a bias. My children always tell me I drink too little water. I have never, however, inspite of running ocassional marathons in hot climates, suffered from dehydration. I have also found it weird that some students feel they can't attend a one hour lecture, without bringing a bottle of water with them! I'm not anti-water (about 85% of my body mass) but everything in moderation surely?

Welcome Blows Against Ivory, Shark's Fin Soup and Dodgy Pets

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) met in Panama on the 25th November. It rejected a proposal to recommence the Ivory Trade. The same Cites meeting also agreed protections to 90 species of shark, reducing their chances of being killed to make Shark's fin soup. Species of songbirds, turtles, lizards and frogs, threatened by the illegal pet trade, were also given new protections (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/26/sharks-songbirds-and-species-depleted-by-pet-trade-given-extra-protections). Giving protections to an additional 500 species of animals by Cites is most welcome. True conserving of species biodiversity will only come, however, from properly protecting substantial areas of land and sea, as well as their complex ecologies. Cites only focuses on designated species.

Seeing the Changes 1731

Two White saddle (Helvella crispa) fungi side-by-side in Penclacwydd.

Reigning Cats?

The European wild cat (Felis sylvestris) is Britain's rarest Mammal, being found in only a few remote areas of Scotland. Wild cats haven't been seen in England since the 16th Century. The Vincent Wildlife Trust is now exploring the possibility of reintroducing this animal to a secluded woodland in Devon/Cornwall (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/25/wildlife-trusts-consider-reintroducing-wildcats-to-england). The Trust is looking for expert help. Wild cats are unsociable, except briefly,when mating or rearing young. These hunters need lots of space for establishing home ranges. The woodland location would also have to have sufficient, viable populations of potential prey (small mammals and birds) resilient enough to cope with losses. The introduced Wild cats would also have to be effective hunters. There might be competition with other predators like foxes and birds of prey. There is also the problem of domestic cats. Domestic cats readily hybridise with wild cats. There is evidence of this genetic contamination in the Scottish populations. Reintroduction of the Wild cat to southern England (if it happens), isn't going to be an easy option.

About of Much Use to Planet Earth as a Giant Asteroid?

Phoebe Weston provides an account of the thousands of years of damage to the Earth's biodiversity by humans (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/25/cop15-humans-v-nature-our-long-and-destructive-journey-to-the-age-of-extinction-aoe). Weston points out that humans are now suspected of causing, by their unsustainable hunting, the pre-Pleistocene extinction of megafauna (large mammals and birds). Our species then appears to have turned in multiple locations to agriculture and animal domestication, to deal with the consequent food shortages. Agriculture and domestication have had, however, further negative impacts on biodiversity. Weston reiterates that 'humans treated nature as an inexhaustable resource for too long'. This was (and is?) especially true of the folk involved in the so-called European expansion. Indigenous peoples mostly tended to live within the limits set by nature. Around 90% of indigenous populations were, however, destroyed in the European expansion. Exploitation has become the name of the game. Weston hopes Cop15 (in Canada) will alter our understanding of the history of human impact on biodiversity, producing better and more effective protections. This, however, may be an optimistic 'reading of the runes'. The reason that the modern era is dubbed the Anthropocene is that humans are currently causing a mass species extinction. Indeed, the cumulative impacts of human activity are probably worse than that of the giant asteroid strike that wiped out the dinosaurs (and many other species). Changing the attitudes of humans in time to prevent environmental collapse, ain't going to be easy. Self-interest always seems to trump collective responsibility/ stewardship.

Digital Only?

In the UK, 40% of people over 75, never use the internet. The Digital Poverty Alliance concludes that some older people are consequently being increasingly frozen out of shopping/delivery services, paying for parking; buying rail and air tickets, getting medical services, banking, contacting suppliers of services and even socialising. The switching of companies/organisations to 'tech only', was clearly accelerated by the Covid19 pandemic lockdowns. Most don't offer alternatives (https://www.theguardian.com/money/2022/nov/26/britons-digital-banking-shopping-parking). This is clearly a problem for many older folk. It seems important to add that people too poor to buy the technologies, some folk with disabilities, people fearing online fraud and residents in digital 'blank spots' are also at a considerable disadvantage in the brave, new digital world. Companies/organisations should have to offer non-tech solutions. They should not be allowed to charge significantly more (as is often the case) for these alternatives.

Birder's Bonus 220

I don't thinks it's my imagination. The only species that currently comes to my Loughor garden bird feeders is the House sparrow (Passer domesticus). Gone are the days of Blue tits, Great tits, Chaffinches, Green finch and even the occasional Spotted woodpecker.

Precision Fermenting Our Way Out of the Environmental Crisis?

George Monbiot is enthusiastic about the Reboot Food project (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/24/green-technology-precision-fermentation-farming). Reboot Food advocates using precision fermentation. Here microbes in vats replace much of food production by traditional agriculture. Monbiot is especially keen on processes, where bacteria 'feed' on hydrogen or methanol. Both these substrates can be made, using electricity generated by solar panels. The only materials used, are water, carbon dioxide and tiny amounts of fertiliser (it's, in some ways ,comparable to plant photosynthesis). The generated 'flour' product is 60% protein. This is a value higher than that for any plant source (e.g. soya). Precision fermenting requires only a tiny fraction of the land needed for any agricultural process. For example, 150,000 times less land is needed than is required for beef or lamb production. This technology also uses much less water and generates a fraction of the carbon dioxide, typical of traditional agriculture. There is also no danger of spillover of waste into the environment, as is seen from intensive pig and poultry farms. Widely adopting precision fermenting, would consequently free up vast tracts of agricultural land. Here, natural biogeochemical cycles could be restored and biodiversity maintained. As precision fermenting can be done anywhere, adopting this food production technology, could also break the current extreme dependence of many nations on food shipped from distant lands. Shipping generates lots of 'greenhouse gases'. These currently food-dependent nations (in the Middle East; North Africa; Horn of Africa and Central America), have lots of sunlight to power precision fermenting. Monbiot points out a number of potential objections to this food production technology. These include the 'yuk factor', at the thought of feeding on microbial products. Humans, however, already do this for wine, beer, cheese and yoghourt. There is also a danger of the technology being used to produce unhealthy ultraprocessed foods. Gene editing can be used to counter this 'need' to copy existing foods. Perhaps the most difficult issue to overcome is simnple neophobia (worries about the new). Monbiot, however, sees Reboot Food as a real chance for humans to save 'their' planet. Lots of vested interests seem likely, however, to resist its introduction.

Harrying the Hen Harrier?

The Hen harrier was driven to extinction in the South of England. This bird of prey had the temerity, to occasionally kill and eat game birds. these included commercially valuable Red grouse. The Hen harrier consequently became persona non-grata of land owners and their gamekeepers. There's now a plan to reintroduce captive-bred Hen harriers to Salisbury plain (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/23/hen-harriers-to-be-bred-in-captivity-and-released-on-to-salisbury-plain). Attitudes to raptors have changed to a degree in recent times. There's still evidence, however, that some gamekeepers are more than prepared to break the law by shooting or poisoning such birds. The reintroduced Hen harriers are likely to have a difficult time, especially initially.

Sewage Release: An All-Weather Sport

The organisation, Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) give evidence in a report, that the UK's privatised water companies release raw sewage into coastal waters, when it's not even raining (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/24/water-companies-dumping-sewage-during-dry-weather-sas-report-finds). As a special dispensation, UK water companies were allowed to release sewage from their treatment plants, when there was a serious risk of flooding. This is the case, of course, when there is torrential and chronic rain. The water companies have even been trusted to self-report such events (there is, anyhow, little chance of agencies catching and prosecuting them). The privatised water companies have always appeared much more focused on rewarding their shareholders and CEO's than spending money on updating their installations. If what SAS claim is true, it's very clear confirmation that the water companies will do anything to save themselves money. They really don't care about human health or the environment.

Is a Gardening Organisation the Right Body for Encouraging an Appreciation of Biodiversity in English Schools?

Any attempt to improve the knowledge of and appreciation of biodiversity and nature in English schools, must be welcomed. However, the partnership, between the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS); the Natural History Museum (NHM) and the Department for Education has several odd features (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/23/schoolchildren-in-england-to-learn-about-biodiversity-in-new-rhs-project). RHS is basically a gardening organisation. Gardeners have been responsible for many introductions of many problematic alien species into the UK. It's actually a bit worrying that an anticipated awards ceremony for participants is tentatively scheduled for the Royal Chelsea Flower Show. Encouraging bioiversity isn't simply becoming more effective gardeners. The NHM is very good on species identification. It's uncertain how much time, however, its operatives would have to spend on the masses of specimens collected from the proposed school-associated 'nature parks' across England. Mapping the anticipated bidiversity in these 'green spaces' (especially, if newly-created), also may not prove to be especially meaningful in a UK-wide sense. It also seems more than a little 'Londoncentric'.

England and Wales Give Up on the Environment?

The Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is supposed to look after farming and ecology interests in England and Wales. That Department is now facing a further £500m in real term cuts, after the recent Autumn statement (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/nov/22/defra-facing-500m-real-terms-cut-after-autumn-statement). To carry out its duties, DEFRA has to employ agricultural, disease, ecological, pollution and legal expertise. Competence doesn't come cheap especially, in an organisation already 'cut to the bone'. It's inevitable that pollution of rivers and sea will worsen. The spread of economically-devastating diseases, like bird 'flu, Bovine TB and Ash dieback, will intensify. The 'green and pleasant land' just became the 'wild West'! Monitoring will be perfunctory and polluters will hardly ever pay.

Alzheimer Update

Alzheimers is a neurodegenerative disease. It's currently the 7th biggest killer of humans on this planet. After years of little progress on the treatment of this condition, there is now at least a glimmer of hope. Japanese pharmaceutical company, Eisai, and US Biotech, Biogen have developed an antibody treatment for Alzheimers (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/nov/22/treatment-for-alzheimers-lecanemab-dementia-research). The antibody treatment, lecanemab, has now been given to almost 2000 early onset Alzheimer patients. A press release (the study hasn't yet been published, so details are sparse), suggests that lecanemab slows cognitive decline in such individuals. If the data 'stands up', this will be the first treatment, benefiting early onset Alzheimers. Perhaps it will become a preventable condition?

Human Meddling Often Comes Back to Bite Us

Some examples of humans meddling with nature, with problematic consequences (often for our own species) are detailed (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/22/what-happens-when-humans-meddle-with-nature-aoe). A first example, involved Indian vultures. They were poisoned, as a result of eating cow carcasses, treated with diclocfenac. Diclocfenac is an anti-inflammatory drug, formerly given to cattle in South Asia. Removal of the vultures, caused a surge in feral dog numbers (there was extra meat). There was a consequent increase in human rabies cases, following dog bites. A second example is provided by Mao Zedong's ordering the slaughter of Chinese House sparrows. Mao believed this would increase the availability of rice and grains to people. Actually, insect pests are a major part of the Sparrow's diet. Pests consequently surged, resulting in crop damage, famine and about 45 million human deaths. A third case, involved the chytrid fungus that ripped through the amphibian populations of Panama and Costa Rica in the period 1980 to 1990. About 90 species of amphibians became extinct. This was followed by an 8-year spike in malarial deaths in the region. This was due to mosquito populations thriving in the absence of frogs, toads and salamanders. The mosquito is, of course, a vector for the malarial parasite. Fourthly, losses of Mangroves from coastal areas greatly increased damage caused by the 2004 Asian tsunami. Fifthly, we now have a situation, where the loss of Honey bees (by overuse of pesticides) in China, now requires many fruit trees to be pollinated by hand. The account finally notes that loss of coral reefs which reduces the protection of coastal poperties around the world. One can add to this, the case of the Mongoose. This animal was introduced to the sugar cane fields of Hawaii, to deal with rat infestations. The trouble is that the Mongoose is diurnal (active in daylight), whereas rats are nocturnal (mainly active at night). The Mongoose consequently fed on endangered, ground-nesting birds, like the Nene goose. Rats thrived amongst the sugar cane. Humans are sometimes more trouble than they are worth!

Tumours As Complexes?

The Institute of Cancer Research and the Royal Marsden NHS Trust, London plan to target non-cancerous cells in tumours in the search for new therapies (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/nov/22/scientists-reveal-new-lines-of-attack-to-raise-cancer-survival-rate). It's apodictic that cancer cells result from mutations. These cells grow in their own way, but the tumour's environment includes a mesh of unmutated cells, recruited from surrounding tissues. These form 'nests' in various parts of the body. The nests can 'seed' the development of secondary tumours. One consequent strategy might be to find ways of stopping cancer cells instructing other cells to come and support them. Lots of new treatment possibilities could then open up in cancer therapy. We might even become less dependent on chemotherapy and radiation treatment, with their unpleasant side-effects.

Copping Out?

Bill McGuire (Emeritus Professor at University College London) says the 'takeaway message' from Cop27, is that these climate conferences just aren't working (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/20/big-takeaway-cop27-climate-conferences-arent-working). It has taken 27 gatherings, often in locations only reachable for most, by 'greenhouse gas'-spewing airtravel, for that to become self-evident. As McGuire points out, not one of the Cop meetings has resulted in a clear mandate for actually reducing 'greenhouse gas' emissions. What they have actually done, is to provide numerous politicians with photo opportunities. McGuire also notes that Cop27 had circa 6000 'delegates' from petrochemical interests. These annual jamborees thus enable these 'delegates' to twist the arms of world leaders to favour coal, oil, gas interests (e.g. about the urgent 'need' to exploit gas reserves in the Congo Basin or classifying natural gas as 'green'). McGuire proposes replacing Cops with smaller permanent bodies, looking at specific issues, such as deforestation. He opines that these must be appropriately representive and the 'teams' might occassionally come together. This is not a bad idea but perhaps we should go further? At the moment, companies and countries, who greatly add to global heating, largely get a free pass. We may need a body to strongly advocate sanctions for such folk. Simple 'naming and shaming' is likely to be insufficient. Proper financial penalties are needed.

One Love?

News that team captains, at the Qatar Soccer World Cup, who wanted to wear a 'One Love' armband, have been forced by the threat of FIFA sanctions to abandon this move, confirms one thing. That's simply that FIFA's 'one true love' is cash, dollars, dosh, moolah or readies (https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2022/nov/21/world-cup-2022-armband-row-in-qatar-before-england-wales-and-us-enter-fray-live). FIFA knew about the 'culture' of Qatar before awarding them the competition. FIFA's own approved armband 'Football Unites the World' rings more than a bit hollow.

What Did They Expect?

Cop27 has essentially resulted in no progress on the fundamental challenge of agreeing more rapid cuts to 'greenhouse gas' emissions. Keeping '1.5 alive' is not an option (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/20/cop27-agrees-to-historic-loss-and-damage-fund-to-compensate-developing-countries-for-climate-impacts). Such a lack of progress is hardly remarkable, as many of the represented countries have vested interests in maintaining the extraction (and burning of 'their' coal, oil and gas). Cop meetings require unanimous agreements, so mandatory reductions in the use of fossil fuels, were never likely to happen. One also has to remember that petrochemical companies (and other 'greenhouse gas' speciual agents) send numerous 'delegates' to Cop meetings. These petrochemical companies also use tiny fractions of their enormous profits, to 'buy' preferred treament from politicians and others. Reports that a 'Loss and Damage Fund' (where developed nations 'might' help poorer countries heavily impacted by climate change) has been agreed, is treated as a 'win'. Even this agreement, however, leaves bags of scope for reneging by industrialised countries. Industrialised nations have found excuses in the past and will find them again!

Infantile Infantino

The outburst by FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, on the eve of Soccer's World Cup, is just plain weird. Most people would find it difficult to see any parallels between being discriminated against, for having red hair in school, and the atrocious (and often fatal) treatment of the 'Guest Workers' who constructed Qatar's stadia. Qatar also, of course, manages to simultaneously powerfully discriminate against women, a variety of gender identities and faiths (https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/19/fifa-gianni-infantino-world-cup-qatar). One has to remember that the 4-yearly Soccer World Cup is primarily a money-making exercise. FIFA is not an alternative, spreading brotherly love, to the United Nations. Perhaps of more concern to Infantinno ought to be the last minute ban on selling alcohol in the stadia? I suspect that the producers of 'Bud' are not going to be very happy about this, given their substantial 'sponsorship'. FIFA's ability to attract future sponsorship, might well be damaged by this ban. Holding the event in our winter (to keep down the temperatures to which players and fans are exposed), has been a major problem for participating teams. Air conditioning stadia is inevitably a further boost (along with airtravel by players, officials and fans, use of mountains of concrete for building venues and accommodation et cetera), to the Earth's 'greenhouse gas' emissions. Sport, never has been separate from politics! FIFA's 'money-grubbing' might well help destroy our planet.

Ratching Up the Blame Game

Black mould in his home, caused the death of a young boy, Awaab Ishak, in Rochdale, Lancashire. The Head of the involved Housing Association has subsequently been forced to resign. It appears, however, that, rather than doing something about prevailing unacceptable environmental conditions for poor tenants, the UK government is more intent on creating 'escape clauses' for dodgy landlords (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/nov/19/uk-tenants-face-blame-for-causing-toxic-mould-and-deadly-hazards-under-new-rules). The UK government is looking to 'overhaul' its Housing, Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). Environmental Health Inspectors carrying out HHSRS checks will be instructed to consider detailed 'behavioural factors' by the tenant. Tenants will be blamed for black mould (and other things), if their property is not judged to be properly heated and ventilated. Renters could be sanctioned for not running extraction fans or regularily openning their windows. They can even be accused of using insufficient heating for their poorly-insulated house/flat. The proposed new HHSRS rules will sanction people for exposing themselves to 'excessively low temperatures'. They suggest that people can do this, out of 'ignorance' or from a desire to 'reduce carbon emissions'. Presumably, the HHSRS haven't heard that energy costs are currently rocketing. Some people already have to choose between eating and heating. They are also implying that concern about a climate crisis is only a weird affectation. Whilst it is true that some tenants don't look properly after properties, slum landlords are a much more likely cause of poor living environemts. The proposed new rules give dodgy landlords a 'get out of jail' card.

Seeing the Changes 1730

In Bynea, six of the usual suspects still in bloom in mid-November. In Loughor, Winter heliotrope (Petasites fragrans) was being more timely.

Not Only Water That's Being Released from the Ice

The Earth's glaciers are rapidly disappearing. Scientists studying surface meltwaters from 10 glaciers (in Europe, North America and the Greenland icecap), found ten's of thousands of bacteria in each millilitre (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/17/microbes-melting-glaciers-bacteria-ecosystems). The scientists consequently estimate that hundreds of thousands of tonnes of bacteria are being released by the melting glaciers. This means that unique microbial ecosystems are also vanishing before our eyes. The released bacteria could fertilise downstream ecosystems. These organisms should be checked, however, for potential pathogens. We may also be 'missing tricks', as some unique bacterial species might be used to develop new antibiotics. Other species may prove to have roles in breaking down problematic chemicals. Grab 'em while we can!

We'd Like Some of That!

Since the beginning of the Industrial revolution, developed countries have aimed to maximise their rate of economic growth. Growth has been popular, as it increases living standards; extends life expectancy; improves medical care and generates a more educated and better fed population. Larry Elliot points out that hardly remarkably currently poorer countries dream of these benefits. The problem is that increasing economic growth in poorer countries, would inevitably result in a higher use of limited resources and exert additional pressures on an already stressed environment (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/17/growth-addiction-climate-crisis-economic-policies). Elliot suggests that, with the right economic policies, we could concomitantly fight poverty and global heating. He feels that the developed world should adopt strategies, that encourage poorer countries to meet their anti-poverty goals in ways, that are least harmful to the environment. This may well involve providing finance and technology transfer. Otherwise, poorer countries will be tempted to exploit petrochemical resources (like gas in the congo basin), build roads and increase their vehicle traffic etc. Economic growth cannot occur in all the countries of the world indefinitely. It does, however, in democracies, attract votes. People are never keen to get poorer.

It's All Oil-Related?

David Wearing (University of Sussex) offers some interesting insights pertinent to the seemingly strange decision to choose Qatar as a location for Soccer's World Cup. He points out that the resultant 'sportswashing' benefits both Qatar and the 'West' (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/16/sportswashing-qatar-west-world-cup-regime). Wearing opines that the public here are repeatedly fed the line that, there is a basic tension between Qatar's enlightened rulers and the 'conservative culture' of their population. We are told that this accounts for their attitudes to women's rights, homosexuality and the lethal exploitation of foreign workers. Wearing points out, however, that Qatari authoritarianism sits within a much wider system of power, violence and exploitation. In recent history, the British colluded with local elites in an attempt to ensure the West had continued access to the region's oil reserves. That system persists to this day. A World Cup, of course, is (and has already been, via the construction) also a very major booster of 'greenhouse gas' emissions. Oil built the 'country' and powers the World Cup. Quite puts me off watching Wales (but I might manage a glance at the TV).

An Earth Not 'Designed' for 8 billion Humans

John Vidal (former Guardian Environment editor) highlights the truism that 'runaway climate change' is a consequence of both overconsumption by individuals and an excessive world human population (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/15/population-8-billion-climate). Vidal notes that rich folk (with their frequent flying, space tourism and overconsumption) individually generate a much higher proportion of the 'greenhouse gases' than their poorer bretheren. Getting them to change their behaviour is clearly important. It will not, however, stop the planet continuing to heat at an alarming rate. Every human directly and indirectly generates carbon dioxide. This will be the case, even if we all adopt a vegan diet; dramatically reduce travel; power our buildings/ transport with only renewable energy sources; effectively insulate all buildings; never become involved in wars; cease having International 'Sporting' events et cetera, et cetera. The human species was once only a relatively minor component of the Earth's biota but has now become an agent capable of terraforming the entire planet (as did the bacteria billions of years ago!). Eight billion people is clearly way too many. Effective contraception is needed to ensure that every birth is an actual choice. In spite of this, much of the recent Western coverage is from countries concerned about their declining birth rates. Worried that this could impact on their 'economies' and result in a lessened ability to cater for their aging populations (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/16/latvia-baltic-population-demographic-crisis).

Human Fertility: Crisis, Which Crisis?

Somewhat contrary news items. An article in Human Reproduction Update re-raises the spectre of a human fertility crisis. Between 1973 and 2018, there was a decline in the average sperm count of circa 50%. This occurred in 53 countries, distributed across the entire globe (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/nov/15/humans-could-face-reproductive-crisis-as-sperm-count-declines-study-finds). On the same day, the United Nations decided the world's human population had reached 8 billion (https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/15/world/world-population-8-billion.html). It also seems likely that the human population will reach 9 billion, mainly driven by birth rates in 6 African countries. In spite of declining sperm counts, human fertility seems to be in relatively rude health. Populations are falling in some countries largely, it seems, as consequences of human choice rather than declining fertility. In actuality, the greater the world's human population, the less likely we will be to effectively counter both catastrophic climate change and biodiversity loss.

Why Are Humans Obsessed with Being 'Unique'?

Humans have repeatedly claimed to be the only animal capable of doing X and Y. They maintained they were the only beast capable of making and using tools. It now transpires that many other vertebrates do this. Humans also suggested that only they could interpret their image in a mirror. Again, not true. Our species then claimed to be the only animal that used 'language'. Not true, either. Still, we are the only beasts who point out 'interesting' objects to members of our own species. This also seems unlikely to be a unique property of our species (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/nov/14/cool-leaf-study-records-chimp-showing-off-object-in-human-like-way). One has to strive to avoid anthropomorphism ('humanising' actions), when interpreting the behaviour of other species. A video record of adult chimpanzee appears to have an adult primate showing off a leaf to his mother in a very 'human-like' way. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, looked at Chimpanzees in Uganda's Kibale National Park. The animal in question removed and 'groomed' a leaf, before making repeated attempts to 'show' it to his mother. The leaf wasn't a food item. It actually seems very unlikely that humans have a specific skill or attribute distinguishing them from the rest of the animal kingdom. Something that works for one species, can always work for another. Humans, however, seem obsessed with not being dismissed as 'mere animals'.

Not Alive?

Bill McGuire (Emeritus Professor University College of London) clearly thinks it was a mistake for the Paris Accord, to specify 1.5 degrees Centigrade above pre-Industrial levels, as a 'safe' figure for global temperature rise (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/12/climate-target-cop27-breakdown-fossil-fuel). As McGuire points out, giving an upper 'limit', gives bags of scope to 'greenhouse gas emitters'/ climate change sceptics, to haggle about the need for speed (in reductions). Actually proving that 1.5 is unattainable, only occurs when that figure is actually exceeded. By this time, it's much too late. It also removes a focus from the fact that every fraction of a degree increase in global temperature, is linked to detrimental changes in the planet's climate. McGuire opines that Cop27 must admit that the 1.5 degrees Centigrade climate target is 'dead'. 'Keeping 1.5 alive' always did seem more like a slick marketing slogan, than a realistic ambition. Although they claim to be 'worried', the 1.5 alive mantra still seems to obsess many folk (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/14/what-happened-on-day-seven-at-cop27). We can't suddenly 'turn things around' in 2030 or 2050!

The Dash for Congo Gas

Africa's natural gas, if extracted and burnt, would wipe out the Congo Basin rainforests (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/10/dash-african-gas-wipe-out-congo-basin-rainforests). This would, not only completely negate attempts to reduce 'greenhouse gas' emissions elsewhere, it would remove one of the planet's major carbon sinks. it is, however, hardly surprising that African nations are tempted to extract and burn the gas. This is especially the case when signals from Cop27 suggest that rich developed nations seem averse to using any of the poorer nations heavily impacted by climate change. Many, developed nations, indeed, seem to be using the energy cost crisis, to carry on extracting coal, oil and gas. African nations currently add little to 'greenhouse gas' emissions but are experiencing some of the worst consequences of climate change.

Where's the Beef?

George Monbiot points out that livestock farming currently consumes 50% of the world's carbon budget. In spite of this, rearing animals for food has hardly been mentioned at any of the 26 climate summits (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/09/leaders-cop27-livestock-farming-carbon-budget-governments). Monbiot notes that the two most obviously effective ways of preventing catastrophic climate breakdown are:- a) to leave fossil fuels in the ground and b) reduce animal farming. Livestock have, however, only been mentioned in three of the 26 agreements. The only action agreed was improved management with no mention of any reductions. Monbiot, not unreasonably concludes that the power of the petrochemical and farming industries is such, that attempts to limit their products have been largely unmentionable. Perhaps, this is why they have been so well-represented at Cop meetings?

Airmail Influenza

UK folk are concerned about the likely impact of bird 'flu on the availability of Christmas chicken, goose and turkey. The highly virulent H5N1 strain of the virus, is currently decimating wild bird populations. The recent outbreak has resulted in all domestic poultry being confined to quarters. 'Free range' birds and eggs are now things of the past. Devi Sridhar (University of Edinburgh) warns that, if the H5N1 strain jumps to human hosts, it could generate a new pandemic (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/09/bird-flu-mutation-h5n1-virus-strains-pandemic). Viruses are constantly mutating. Indeed, Covid19 made this jump, probably from bats to humans. A small number of people, intimately associated with poultry flocks, have apparently already been infected with bird 'flu. If H5N1 made its way into substantial numbers of humans, further mutations might well produce dangerous strains, geared to infecting our species, rather than birds. Biosecurity is currently being employed, attempting to prevent domestic poultry contacting wild bird viral vectors. Such security also needs to be 'beefed up' with a stronger emphasis on limiting passage of the bird 'flu virus to humans. Things are complicated in the UK, as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is the country's favourite (and richest) charity. Many folk have wild bird feeders in their gardens. I suspect that RSPB members would be loath to stop feeding wild birds. Because birds fly, avian 'flu is capable of reaching all areas. In spite of complaints by some bodies, biosecurity (for many organisms) should not be an optional extra.