When Did They Come to the UK? 1. The European Rabbit

The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) was probably introduced to Britain by the Romans around 2000 years ago.

Port Talbot in a Storm

The shutting down of the last blast furnace at the Port Talbot steelworks is a major change. Replacing the blast furnaces, by a single electric arc furnace will mean the location will only be able to recycle by melting scrap steel. Marked reductions in numbers of workers required and emissions will both be consequences. Fairly obviously, local air quality will be improved. The UK will also be able to point to a major decline in 'greenhouse gas' emissions. The decline in employment is, however, a considerable challenge for the area. Shops and other businesses, as well as, former employees will feel the financial pressures (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/sep/30/port-talbot-steel-town-braces-for-shutdown-of-its-last-blast-furnace). Cleaning up former 'dirty' industries, generally leads to job losses. There's a real need, in Port Talbot, to provide training and new employment opportunities for people. Perhaps providing training for installing home insulation, heat pumps and solar panels would be good and appropriate legacy?

Old King Coal?

A brief history of coal use in Britain, from the Romans to the modern day is presented (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/sep/30/the-deep-history-of-british-coal-from-the-romans-to-the-ratcliffe-shutdown). There's no doubt, that the British use of coal, 'kick-started' the Industrial Revolution. This, of course, led, in time, to the present 'greenhouse gas'-mediated climate emergency. The account finishes with a brief reference to today's closure of Nottinghamshire's Ratcliffe-on-Soar, electricity generating plant. This is Britain's last-remaining coal-fired plant (https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/sep/30/end-of-an-era-as-britains-last-coal-fired-power-plant-shuts-down). This closure might come as a surprise. It's probable that most UK residents believed the country's coal-fired electricity generating plants had been decommissioned years ago! And, of course, Yorkshire's mammoth Drax power station continues the tradition of pumping out carbon dioxide, by burning wood pellets. The country is reducing its emissions but the pace of decline has been slow.

Cheap and Mundane to Magical: An Advertiser's Wet Dream?

Joel Snape explores the lucrative world of electrolyte supplements (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/sep/30/the-electrolytes-boom-a-wonder-supplement-or-an-unnecessary-expense). Electrolytes are charged components of 'salts', dissolved in water. They are essential components of all living organisms. Some have very specific roles, such as producing nerve impulses. Snape notes that many people can now be persuaded to buy electrolyte supplements in bottles; sachets and powders. Sales, for example, of 'flavoured and functional water', are currently around $50bn a year (and set to double shortly). That type of water doesn't actually hydrate (restore the water balance) any more effectively than tap water. The vast majority of people get all the electrolytes they need, from a normal diet. If such folk add supplements, the excess is removed in the urine. The only healthy people, who would ever need electrolyte supplements are participants in Ironman triathlons or obsessive 'gym bunnies'. Sick folk, with diarrhoea (such as someone with a cholera infection), will also benefit from electrolyte supplementation. From an advertiser's viewpoint, electrolyte supplements have two huge benefits. Firstly, water and the provided salts (such as sodium chloride) are very cheap. Secondly, people seem to be easily convinced that taking an expensive supplement, confers on them some of the attributes of elite sportsmen/women. Cholera victims are rarely mentioned by salesfolk, as they don't have the same cachet. As a bonus, all the 'medical' claims about the benefits of particular electrolytes, are broadly true. It's just not the case you generally need a supplement to get them.

Heatpumping Out Da Gas!

The UK's draughty, gas-heated private homes make a very substantial contribution to the country's 'greenhouse gas' emissions. The incoming Labour government is consequently keen to encourage a 'home upgrade revolution'. They hope to encourage home owners to replace their gas boilers with heat pumps. To do this, they have to counter the many myths linked to these devices. Heat pumps, work like a refrigerator in reverse. They extract heat from the air, using a refrigerant-style liquid, before using it to boil water in an internal tank. Heat pumps are expensive to buy and fit but they can, contrary to some claims, be appropriate for most homes. Heat pumps also work efficiently in countries with winters much colder than those encountered in the UK. They're much more efficient than gas boilers and the costs associated with running them (they use electricity) are similar (and falling) (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/sep/28/heat-pumps-future-hot-air-labour-home-upgrade). The UK has already reached a milestone, with 250,000 certified heat pumps being installed in its buildings. It needs, however, many more to be fitted. Generous financial subsidies for older buildings and specifying heat pumps for new-build housing, seem the best ways of achieving this.

A 'Rainchester' Sanctuary?

England's Manchester, is notoriously rainy. It even has its own 'Rainchester' website, that tracks its precipitation. Sounds unpromising? The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has gardens, open to the public, throughout England. An RHS survey, found that conditions in its many gardens, would become hotter and drier, at least over the next decade. This applied to every RHS location, except the Bridgewater garden in Manchester (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/sep/29/the-uk-will-get-hotter-and-drier-for-plants-except-in-manchester). In Southern England, some plants are stressed by the changing climate. This is leading to the RHS (and other gardeners) changing both their plants and horticultural practises. A likely consequence is that the RHS will conserve oaks; birches and beeches in a Bridgewater arbortetum. These typically 'English' trees could thrive there, whilst the changing climate threatens their survival elsewhere. There are sometimes advantages to be wetter than other locations.

Seeing the Changes 2096

Autumnal weather. Conical brittlestem (Psathyrella conopilus) and Gymnopilus junonius fungi in Loughor. A second blooming of Common toadflax (Linaria vulgaris) in Bynea.

Still 'On a Wing and a Prayer'?

Chris Whitty (England's Chief Medical Officer) has notes that a future pandemic 'as big as Covid19 is inevitable'. This 'relevation' was made at the country's incredibly drawn-out Covid19 inquiry. A future pandemic is clearly always 'on the cards'. What was more striking, however, was his view that the UK's relative lack of Intensive Care Units (ICUs) was a 'political choice' (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/sep/26/future-pandemic-as-big-as-covid-is-inevitable-says-whitty). On a per capita basis, the UK has fewer ICUs than other developed countries. Buildings, beds and equipment can be supplied relatively quickly (although that wasn't the case in the pandemic). The training (and retention) of specialist nurses and doctors, however, takes much longer. The UK appears to have developed an aversion to paying for emergency provisions. Being not continually in use, seems to count against them. A reflection of the UK's World War 2 'on a wing and prayer' ethos?

England 'Capitulating' To the Virus?

Omicron is the fifteenth letter of the Greek alphabet. England is currently in the grip of omicron subvariants of Covid19. This (we are in danger of running out of Greek letters?), is a clear illustration of how rapidly this virus has adapted to counter the medical defences of its relatively 'new' human hosts. Hospital admissions for Covid19 infections, as well as data from sentinel 'spotter' laboratories confirm that this virus is maintaining its hold on the population (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/sep/26/covid-on-the-rise-as-experts-say-england-has-capitulated-to-the-virus). British immunologists are advocating a wider vaccine booster 'roll out'. They also suggest an increase in testing for the virus. These changes could slow down infection rates and/or reduce the incidence of disease in vulnerable cohorts. They will not, however, to stop Covid19 becoming a 'fact of life' in English populations, like seasonal influenza. Regular updates, for the latest viral versions, will be required far into the future. Easy access to tests for infection are difficult and costly to obtain. It's almost as if the recent pandemic has faded from public consciousness?

The Earth's Climate History

Emily Judd, lead author on a paper in the journal Science, detailing 485 million years of the Earth's climate history, makes some interesting points (https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/09/19/earth-temperature-global-warming-planet/). Her paper notes that our planet has, for most of its history, been warmer than it is currently. So, why worry about current global heating? They also record that swift and dramatic shifts have been associated with many of our world's 'worst moments'. Mass extinctions of over 90% of species present are evident at those times. Anthropogenic (human-caused) climate change, is very fast. The current temperature increases have occurred since the start of the Industrial era. The Earth's temperature may fluctuate over geological time, but this is often bad news for the dominant life forms of the time.

The Money’s There But Extracting It Will Be a Challenge?

The world's poorer countries estimate they need 1 trillion dollars a year to enable them to cut their comparatively modest 'greenhouse gas' emissions, as well as to cope with extreme weather events. Most of the emissions are/have been produced by richer nations. The extreme weather events are consequently largely also due to them. Oil Exchange International has calculated that five times this amount per annum, could be found by taxing the rich and cracking down on fossil fuels (https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/sep/24/rich-countries-could-raise-5tn-of-climate-finance-a-year-study-says). They advocate, for example, a levy on shipping and frequent fliers. Brazil has suggested a 2% annual wealth tax on billionaires. The rich, however, are not easily parted fron 'their' money. They like their lavish life-styles. They also have the political influence, to largely avoid having to compensate for their massive emissions.

Going, Going…….?

Global heating inevitably releases more melting ice into the oceans. Just increasing sea temperature, also causes thermal expansion of the water. These combine to increase sea level, posing existational challenges, especially to small islands and coastal areas. Impacts of sea level rises can be delayed but not undone. Many atolls will disappear. The small island nations aren't keen to evacuate their homelands. They appear to be putting their trust in a UN General Assembly special session discussing their plight (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/sep/24/low-lying-pacific-islands-sea-level-rise-un-meeting). I, as they say, "wouldn't hold my breath". Over decades, the UN has repeatedly issued stark warnings on the planetary consequences of the climate emergency. There's never been any sign of unanimity or urgency, in the responses elicited to date from their collection of nations.

Crossing the Threshold

The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research has revealed that the Earth has breached 7 of its 9 planetary boundaries (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/sep/23/earth-breach-planetary-boundaries-health-check-oceans. Causing most concern is ocean acidification. Much of the excess carbon dioxide emitted by burning coal; oil and gas is dissolved in the extensive waters of the seas. This produces carbonic acid and lowers the pH (increases the acidity) of their waters. Acidification is close to its critical threshold, posing a threat to marine ecosystems and global liveability. The worst acidification is currently seen in the Southern and Arctic Oceans. Ocean acidification has occurred in previous geological eras, leading to mass extinctions of prominent lifeforms. Let's hope we're are not heading for a repeat performance.

Even the Swedes?

In 2018, the Swedish government imposed a tax on flying. The intention was to curb the 'greenhouse gas' emissions from jet engines. Now, they have just cut these taxes, in spite of admitting that emissions will climb (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/sep/19/sweden-cuts-flying-tax-emissions). Flying by jet is a major source of climate-altering emissions. Weirdly, jet fuels are, on a global basis, untaxed (unlike petrol and diesel for cars). The Swedish tax change is clearly retrograde but it seems certain the national carrier has been pointing out the penalty impacts on them and not other airlines. We need to get to a situation where taxes on passengers and fuel, are designed to limit air travel. We need international agreements and actions. Leaving the possibility of undercutting by budget airlines isn't a viable option!

Fussy Eating In the Genes?

A University College of London study recruited 2,400 sets ot twins. The sample, naturally included both homozygous (identical) and heterozygous (non-identical) pairs. Both twin's parents completed questionnaires on their eating habits at 16 months, as well as 3, 5, 7 and 13 years of age. The study revealed that fussy eating (self-limiting the range of foods the children were willing to eat or even try) peaked around 7 years of age. Differences between identical and non-identical twins, suggested a strong genetic involvement (between 60 and 70+%). This study is likely to reassure parents, that they are not responsible for their children's fussy eating habits (https://www.theguardian.com/food/2024/sep/20/fussy-eating-in-children-largely-down-to-genetics-research-shows). One has to comment that this kind of questionnaire report has limitations. It would not have been difficult for the parents to deduce (even if they hadn't been informed of this) that the study was about the relative contributions of nature and nurture to fussy eating. Some parents might not be totally 'honest' in their replies. Apparently, eating as a family and watching what others eat, are will reduce fussy eating.

Invertebrate Passions 29. Waterskaters

Waterskaters (these are in Sikkim, NE India) mate on the water. They respond to vibrations.

The Answer Lies In the Lipids?

It used to be claimed that one only needed to determine the amounts of 'good' and 'bad' blood cholesterol to determine an individual's health risks. A study published in the journal Nature:Medicine, however, suggests that the picture is more complex (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/sep/20/new-blood-test-could-help-identify-childrens-health-risks-study-shows). Workers at King's College London advocate a simple, broader lipid screen of children's blood. They maintain that this would make it easier to identify young folk at risk of Type 2 diabetes, as well as liver and heart disease. These acquired health conditions, are linked to diet and becoming overweight. Cutting down their incidence, would have considerable benefits. It would not only benefit the children themselves but reduce pressures on over-stretched health services. Prevention and more screening seem 'no-brainers'.

Invertebrate Passions 28. Sorita leptalina moths

Sorita leptalina moths, in Sikkim (NE India), are strikingly sexually dimorphic.

Invertebrate Passions 27. Small blue butterfly (Cupido minimus)

The scientific name of the Small blue butterfly, Cupido minimus, reflects romance and their size.

Seeing the Changes 2095

At Rye Harbour Natural History Park, noted lots of alien Slipper limpet (Crepula fornicata) shells. Also Horned poppy (Glaucium flavum) and Sea kale (Crambe maritima).

Invertebrate Passions 26. Six-spot burnet moth (Zygaena filipendulae)

Toxic, day-flying, Six-spot burnet moth (Zygaena filipendulae) males pounce on the female, as she emerges from her cucoon.

Invertebrate Passions 23. Rhagnonycha fulva beetles

Rhagnonycha fulva beetles have an orgy in the UK summer.

Let the Train Take More Strain?

The UK's privatised rail system is currently very expensive, over-complicated and under-utilised. For internal travel, however, it generates much less climate changing 'greenhouse gas' (and microplastics?) emissions than transport by car, bus or plane. It's been suggested that giving folk the opportunity to purchase (at a reasonable price) unlimited rail travel cards would have multiple benefits (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/sep/19/campaigners-call-for-unlimited-climate-card-uk-rail-pass). A similar, short duration scheme was trialled in Germany. In addition to reducing emissions from cars (many of which are damaging to human health), it had a marked beneficial effect on congestion in cities. Renationalising the UK rail system and offering unlimited travel rail cards seem like 'no-brainers'.

Invertebrate Passions 25. Robberfly (Pamponerus germanicus)

Robberflies, on Welsh beaches, are no more subtle in their matings.

Invertebrate Passions 24. Indian Robberflies

Predatory Sikkim Robberflies treat their mate almost like a prey item.

Subsidising Destruction?

Earth Track estimate that world governments spend a total of at least $2.6tn (£2tn) a year on subsidies, driving global heating and/or destroying nature. These subsidies directly work against the 2015 Paris climate agreement and Kunming-Montreal agreement to halt biodiversity loss. Governments offered subsidies to, e.g., facilitate deforestation; increase fossil fuel consumption; promote overfishing and projects (like mining) that increased water pollution. When adjuseted for inflation, the annual world total of environmentally-harmful subsidies increased by more $800bn, since a 2022 analysis (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/sep/18/spending-subsidies-environment-deforestation-pollution-fossil-fuels-aoe). Clearly, government subsidies leading to environmental damage are increasing. There's no sign that most governments have started to recognise they can't continue to accelerate the destruction of human-friendly living conditions, in order to bring in wealth. They seem to be slow learners?

Invertebrate Passions 22. Phyllobius pomaceus beetles

Even Stinging nettles don't put Phyllobius pomaceus beetles off mating.

Invertebrate Passions 21. Orange tip butterfly (Anthocharis cardamines)

A tip for Orange tip butterfly males: 'You can find females on spring Cuckoo flowers'.

Draining Away?

George Monbiot notes that England and Wales have 112 Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs). These IDSs are officially tasked with draining agricultural land and flood control. Monbiot opines that most IDSs are dominated by major rural landowners. Having farming interests, they focus on draining agricultural land. Often, they do this by speeding the passage of water from its catchment area towards towns and cities. This intensifies the probability of flooding in urban locations. Monbiot also notes that IDSs are highly nepotistic (membership is passed from father to son). The boards also generally have little environmental expertise. Funding for IDSs activities (like digging, clearing vegetation and pumping), comes from local authorities. In deed, 3 Lincolnshire authorities (Lincolnshire is very flat), now give more than 50% of their council tax receipte to their IDSs. There are cases, where money inappropriately. In one case, the board travelled to Venice on a 'fact-finding' tour. IDSs also have no effective mechanisms for complaints from the misserved public (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/sep/18/more-floods-britain-system-protect-us-scandal). Monbiot believes the IDSs need to be replaced. The Dutch seem to operate more effectively. Global heating increases the probability of flooding in England and Wales. These countries can't continue afford to leave water control to 'feudal' collections self-serving amateurs. Rather obviously, the best way of limiting urban flooding is to retain the water for longer on agricultural land. This often doesn't suite farming interests. Upland and sea locality wetland creations, must clearly play a role here.

Invertebrate Passions 20. Meadow brown butterfly (Maniola jurtina)

Splendour in the grass as these Meadow brown butterflies mate.

Invertebrate Passions 19. Green mantis (Mantis religiosa)

Most people know the female mantis bites her mate's head off. Fewer, know this facilitates the transfer of sperm. The calories he provides by being eaten, also make it more likely his genes are passed to the next generation.

Over Emitting, Under Taxed and Over Here?

The Earth's richest 1% of humans, generate more climate-changing emissions, than its poorest 66%. It's, of course, the poor who tend to most suffer the consequences of global heating. Most of the excessive emissions of the rich, are consequences of their modes/frequencies of travel. Only the mega rich have superyachts. They also often use private jets for their air travel. Private jets are up to 14 times more polluting per passenger, than a commercial flight. They're also around 50 times more polluting than a train. Bizzarely, a passenger on a private jet or a commercial flight, pays far less tax than the driver of a petrol/diesel-fuelled car, making the same journey. Jet fuel isn't subject to duty. This arrangement is the opposite of 'the polluter should pay' principle. The UK's private jet use is the second highest in Europe (after France). It's also home to circa 450 superyachts, each with massive 'greenhouse gas' emissions. The charity, Oxfam, advocates applying fair taxes to UK superyachts and private jets. They estimate this could bring in around £2bn per year. It would also be an incentive to reduce emissions (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/sep/18/superyacht-private-jet-oxfam-climate-finance). Oxfam's suggestion seems equitable. The UK Treasury, however, simply say "We do not recognise these calculations". Perhaps what they are really saying, is that they are worried about scaring off the mega rich? The UK isn't alone in its attitude to the protected status of the wealthy. As already noted, France occupies top spot in the table of European private jet use. That country, to a great fanfare, brought in a 'green' law. It banned internal commercial air flights of up to 2 hours, when that journey could be completed, in the same time, by train. That law actually has had only a miniscule effect on that country's travel-related 'greenhouse gas' emissions. The key word is, of course, commercial. It seems probable that rich folk have been further incentivised to travel by private jet. This may account for France's top ranking on this measure. If the mega rich want to use highly polluting means of transport, they must be subject to commensurate taxes to pay for the privilege. Draughts, fire, flooding and illness cost money. The present arrangement doesn't incentivise anyone to make needed lifestyle changes. The middle class and the poor aren't going to change, if the rich are treated as special cases.

Invertebrate Passions 18. Lesser cockroach (Ectobius panzeri)

They might call you a Lesser cockroach but I love you!

Invertebrate Passions 17. Large white butterfly (Pieris brassicae)

The larvae of these 'Cabbage whites' are after your vegetables! It's only fair to share!

Blue Sky: Green Grass?

People perceive green and blue colours differently. Dr Marisse Masis-Solano has devised a simple colour discrimination test. The ismy.blue test, presents the user with a graded series of hues. Each time, users are prompted, to say whether they see the screen as blue or green. There's a point in the sequence, when all users switch their labels. This point, however, varies from user to user. The results show there's a continuum (spectrum) of people in terms of their being predisposed to see blue rather than green (and vice versa) (https://www.theguardian.com/wellness/2024/sep/16/blue-green-viral-test-color-perception). These results are intriguing. They could be produced by variations in the retina's cones in the eye. They could also reflect how the brain's visual cortex interprets the input. There may be a genetic component. Irrespective, it confirms that people perceive their sensory worlds in slightly different ways. Perhaps a reason why the reliability of witness statements in law courts should be 'taken with a pinch of salt'?

Invertebrate Passions 16. Honey bee (Apis mellifera)

Honey bees use haplodiploidy in their mating. The new queen has 2 sets of chromosomes (like her mother/the workers). The male drone, however, only has one set. This seems a feature of social insects.

Invertebrate Passions 15. Holly blue butterfly (Celestrina argiolus)

Mated Holly blue butterflies will also lay their eggs on ivy, so it's 'The Holly and the Ivy'!

Invertebrate Passions 14. Garden snail (Helix aspersa)

Hermaphrodite Garden snails whip eachother into a frenzy with their calcareous 'love darts'.

Invertebrate Passions 13. Green-veined white (Artogeia napi)

Wait until you see the whites of the Green-veined white's eyes!

Invertebrate Passions 12. Great black slug (Arion ater)

These hermaphrodite Great black slugs are fertilising eachother's eggs.

Invertebrate Passions 11. Gatekeeper butterfly (Pyronia tithonus)

Gatekeeper butterflies opening the door for eachother.

Seeing the Changes 2094

On the cliffs, between the Gower's Langland and Caswell, spotted lots of Black bryony (Tamus communis) berries. Also saw a Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) hover and dive.

Invertebrate Passions 10. Gastrophysa virdula beetle

That's my female full of eggs!

Invertebrate Passions 9. Dark green fritillary butterfly (Mesoacidalia aglaja)

These Dark green butterflies mate in damp areas of South Wales and elsewhere.

Perceptions of Solutions?

George Monbiot rails against what he calls 'perceptionware'. This term refers to the plethora of 'technofixes', frequently advocated by commercial interests to counter climate change/loss of biodiversity (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/sep/12/fossil-fuel-companies-environment-greenwashing). Monbiot targets carbon capture and storage. This is the physical removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and locating it (e.g. in plastics or as a liquid) in depleted mines or oil-wells. He notes that petrochemical companies have suggested carbon capture and storage as a solution to climate-altering anthropogenic (human-mediated) 'greenhouse gas' emissions. After almost 50 years, it's hardly got beyond a trial stage. Still, governments are encouraged to invest tens of millions in it and to carry on extracting coal, oil and gas. Monbiot also notes that 'sustainable' aviation fuels are fequently floated. He thinks there's no sign that these can ever be a viable commercial alternative to the currently largely-untaxed fuels for jet aircraft. Some companies have explored the possibility of obtaining petrochemicals from algae (marine plants). The funding for this 'green development', has now largely been discontinued. One could add to the list, the idea that the solution to petrol and diesel-fuelled vehicles is simply to replace them all with EVs? Monbiot also draws attention to a Science paper, analysing the effectiveness of 1,500 'climate policies', introduced by governments around the world. That study found that only 63 had delivered significant benefits. Policies that worked, included fuel taxes; carbon floor prices; bans on damaging technologies; renewables mandates; energy efficiency mandates; strong building regulations and higher industrial performance standards. These are, of course, all the things that most commercial bodies don't want to see. They would hit profits. Monbiot thinks big companies use their expensive 'perceptionware', largely to distract from such workable solutions.