If It's Not One Plague, It's Another!

The extreme heat and drought in the US West provides ideal conditions for the hatching of grasshopper eggs. Swarms of these insects are now devouring all the vegetation on farms and ranches (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/04/grasshopper-swarms-us-west-drought). This is highly predictable, as the environmental conditions force the grasshoppers to fly in search of food. They become just like the proverbial locust!

Do We Need Special Clothing For Extreme Weather Events?

Comedian Billy Connolly once said "There's no such thing as bad weather. Just the wrong clothing". There's an element of truth in his quip but a simple change of clothing won't enable us to deal with extreme weather events. The thing about extreme weather events is that they are extreme. Such events are rarely unpresidented, if one goes back far enough in time. Manmade global heating has, however, made extreme weather events much more frequent. Some climate scientists now feel that no location is safe from the recent kind of extreme heat events plaguing Western USA and Canada (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/01/nowhere-is-safe-say-scientists-as-extreme-heat-causes-chaos-in-us-and-canada). There has been intense focus on the little town of Lytton in British Columbia, where temperatures reached almost 50 degrees Centigrade. The devastating effects of prolonged extreme heat in Seattle and Portland have also been newsworthy. Extreme weather events are not, of course limited to extreme heat. The events can be droughts, extreme rainfall, flooding, mudslides, hailstones, hurricanes etc etc. The worried climate scientists appear to be recognising, however, that climate change is happening more quickly than they predicted. It's hard to think of the extreme temperatures in the Western US and Canada as having any benefits. They do, however, forcefully bring home the message, that there is a collective need to do something urgently about 'greenhouse gas' emissions. Environmental problems in more remote areas of the globe seldom have such traction. A word of warning. We took centuries to get into the present mess. Even if urgent action is taken now, it will be decades (at best), before weather patterns become more predictable. Extreme weather events will still occur but they will, hopefully, become less frequent.

Seeing the Changes 1591

In Loughor, Common cudweed (Filago vulgaris) was in flower. In Bynea, Nipplewort (Lapsana communis); Marsh mallow (Althea officinalis) and Bristly ox-tongue (Picris echioides) were blooming.

Meet the New Boss!

I have always appreciated The Who's 'Won't Get Fooled Again' track, in spite of its pessimistic takehome message. The song basically argues that political systems don't change, even when there is an apparent major upheaval. It also suggests that the people generally get whipped up, rebel and then find themselves back in the same old s**t. There is, however, one thing I don't understand about modern politics. That is the apparent attraction (in many countries) of candidates, who claim they are not really politicians. Most people wouldn't seek medical advice from someone who said he/she wasn't a doctor. I expect they would refuse treatment from a non-surgeon or non-dentist. You wouldn't get your car fixed by a non-mechanic. Even estate agents (realtors), who are not especially admired folk, get entrusted with house sales. People, however, seem to happily vote for 'non-politicians' (even though most are anything but). Voters even give them a free pass on actions and statements, that would normally make anyone unelectable. Many, in electorates, don't expect even a fleeting acquaintance with truthfulness. Why is it?

Replace the Cockerel By a Beaver?

Citizen Zoo has received permission for the reintroduction of beavers into marshland around Tottenham area of London (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/02/beavers-set-to-be-released-london-urban-rewilding). In the UK, beavers were hunted to extinction some 400 years ago. These rodents were killed for their fur and oil. It is now generally recognised that beavers can be beneficial in riverine environments. They increase biodiversity and reduce the risk of flooding. Perhaps the football club should rename themselves Tottenham beavers?

Men At Work

The UK government has always been quick to trumpet its 'green credentials'. Its aspiration for carbon zero! Its intention to improve biodiversity! It was much more muted about its move to reduce the legal protections on many animal species, to facilitate the actions of house and road builders (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/02/red-squirrels-and-pine-martens-could-lose-protection-in-uk-review-say-experts). Experts think that animals, like Mountain hares; newts; Pine Martens; Red squirrels; Slowworms; Vipers; Viviparous lizards and Water voles, will all lose protections in areas. They may not be deemed to be 'rare or underthreat' enough. The move should come as little surprise. We already know how keen the PM is to don a hi-vis jacket and a safety helmet. And didn't he say something rather unkind about newts some years back?

Sensible Caution or Kill-Joys?

Some UK doctors are urging their government not to abandon all Covid19 pandemic-related restrictions on the 19th of July (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/03/ministers-urged-to-keep-some-covid-restrictions-after-19-july-due-to-alarming-rise-in-cases). The doctor's advice is linked to the recent surge of delta variant cases in the country. This seems partly due to the delta variant's greater transmissibility. It is also likely, however, to be partly a consequence of changed human behaviour. More travel has been allowed, as well as greater mixing and spectators into some sporting events. There will be intense pressures on the government to dispense with all limitations on their self-specified 'freedom day'. The fact that fewer infected people are finishing up in ICU's in hospitals is frequently cited as a reason not the delay 'release'. Out will go social distancing and requirements for mask wearing? It has also been suggested that double-vaccinated people will then be able to freely holiday in Europe, without quarantine requirements. There does not appear, however, to have been any statements about a) the time since their second jab (immunity takes time to develop) and b) what happens if they take children with them (there are record numbers of Covid19 infections in schoolchildren. This is a cohort not yet approved for vaccination in the UK). All the 'planning' seems to be 'back of the envelop' stuff. It seems likely that total 'freedom' on July 19th, will come with too high a cost.