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Archive for January 24th, 2014
First New Species of River Dolphin Discovered in a Century
Posted by National Geographic: Brian Clark Howard on January 24th, 2014
National Geographic: A suspected new river dolphin species has emerged in Brazil, and scientists warn that it is highly endangered.
River dolphins (also known as botos) are among the rarest, and most endangered, dolphins in the world. Three of the four known species are listed as "threatened" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The discovery of a wholly new species-the first such find in a century-is thus exciting news for biologists and conservation officials.
Scientists led by Tomas...
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George Monbiot: Anglers are our allies against unsustainable industrial fishing
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on January 24th, 2014
Guardian: Here are some figures that should be highly disruptive to the way that governments make decisions about how they treat our seas.
Total value of landings by commercial fishing fleets in the UK as a whole: £770m.
Total spending by sea anglers (recreational rod and line fishers) in England alone: £831m.
Yes, surprising as it seems, fishing for a hobby appears to generate more value than fishing commercially.
The same report, produced for the Westminster government last year, found that sea...
Climate change could jeopardize future Winter Olympic games
Posted by Hill: Laura Barron-Lopez on January 24th, 2014
Hill: Climate change could get in the way of future Olympic Winter Games, a new study finds.
If the globe continues to warm at its current rate -- and measures aren't taken to mitigate climate change -- the report concludes that only six out of the last 19 locations that hosted the winter games will be cold enough to hold them by the end of the century.
The report was conducted by the University of Waterloo and Austria's Management Center at Innsbruck.
"It is clear that the cultural legacy of...
Republican Senators urge Obama to move on Keystone XL pipeline
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on January 24th, 2014
Reuters: All 45 Republican U.S. Senators urged President Barack Obama on Friday to end delays and approve the northern leg of the Keystone XL pipeline that would connect Canada's tar sands with refiners at the Gulf of Mexico.
The letter was timed ahead of the president's annual State of the Union speech on Tuesday, although it is unknown if Obama will make a reference to Keystone.
"Given the length of time your administration has studied the Keystone XL pipeline and the public's overwhelming support...
Water Companies Can’t Monitor All Chemicals, There’s Too Many
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on January 24th, 2014
National Public Radio: The fact that a second contaminant in West Virginia's drinking water eluded detection for nearly two weeks - despite intense testing of the water - reveals an important truth about how companies test drinking water: In most cases, they only find the contaminants they're looking for.
Freedom Industries earlier this week revealed it had spilled two chemicals, not just one. The second chemical is PPH, a mixture of polygycol ethers. It was combined with first contaminant - 4-methylcyclohexanemethanol,...
Report on rail risks stir up Keystone XL debate
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on January 24th, 2014
Associated Press: A government warning about the dangers of increased use of trains to transport crude oil is giving a boost to supporters of the long-delayed Keystone XL pipeline.
U.S. and Canadian accident investigators are urging their governments to impose new safety rules on so-called oil trains, warning that a "major loss of life" could result from an accident involving the increasing use of trains to transport large amounts of crude oil.
Pipeline supporters said the unusual joint warning by the U.S. National...