Breaking Waves: Ocean News

Hawaii observatory to be evicted amid federal cuts as volcano shoots 700ft lava

admin — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 23:40:31 +0000

Hilo office, with scientists and their volcano-monitoring equipment, may have lease cancelled from Doge cuts

As Hawaii’s most active volcano shot out fountains of lava on Thursday, some of them reaching as high as 700ft, scientists from the US Geological Survey have been posting regular updates on the scale and pace of the eruptions.

Glacier meltdown risks food and water supply of 2 billion people, says UN

admin — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 23:00:42 +0000

Unesco report highlights ‘unprecedented’ glacier loss driven by climate crisis, threatening ecosystems, agriculture and water sources

Retreating glaciers threaten the food and water supply of 2 billion people around the world, the UN has warned, as current “unprecedented” rates of melting will have unpredictable consequences.

Spanish parliament vote on cutting food waste will end ban on wolf hunting

admin — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 18:46:55 +0000

Amendment brought by coalition of parties says wolves add to food waste due to remains of livestock they kill

The Spanish parliament has voted through a measure that will in effect lift the hunting ban on wolves that was imposed in 2021.

A coalition led by the conservative People’s party, with the support of the far-right Vox party and Basque and Catalan nationalists, added an amendment to a law aimed at reducing Spain’s estimated 1.2bn kilograms of food waste.

West Papuan Indigenous people call for KitKat boycott over alleged ecocide

admin — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 18:14:29 +0000

Thousands of acres of rainforest is being cleared to produce palm oil, used in popular Nestlé and Mondelēz brands

West Papua’s Indigenous people have called for a boycott of KitKat, Smarties and Aero chocolate, Oreo biscuits and Ritz crackers, and the cosmetics brands Pantene and Herbal Essences, over alleged ecocide in their territory.

Black farmers face setbacks over Trump budget cuts: ‘We are in survival mode’

admin — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 18:00:36 +0000

A consortium of Black farmers in the north-east take financial hits as harsh USDA cuts threaten their operations

For the last several weeks, Jocelyn Germany has been asking herself “is it safe for us to exist” as Black farmers?, since US Department of Agriculture cuts have put her work in jeopardy.

Germany is the farmer advocate of Farm School NYC (FSNYC), an urban agriculture education center focused on food sovereignty and social, economic and racial justice. About 85% of Farm School NYC’s funding comes from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Spring equinox temperatures hit 21C as UK records hottest day of year

admin — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 17:54:05 +0000

Warm weather brings blue skies as well as pollution warnings and high pollen count

The UK has recorded its warmest day of the year so far as temperatures topped 21C on Thursday, coinciding with the spring equinox.

The highest recorded temperature was 21.3C in both Northolt, west London, and Chertsey, Surrey, the Met Office said.

Defra asks England’s biggest landowners to come up with plans to restore nature

admin — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 16:32:25 +0000

Exclusive: Representatives of king, National Trust and others called on to work together to protect environment

Steve Reed called in some of England’s biggest landowners for a meeting on Thursday, asking them to come up with meaningful plans to restore nature on their estates.

Representatives for King Charles and Prince William were among those at the meeting, asked by the environment secretary to draft new land management plans to help meet the country’s legal Environment Act targets.

Greenpeace verdict is ‘weaponization of legal system’, advocacy groups say

admin — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 15:41:05 +0000

Campaigners condemn North Dakota jury’s ruling as Greenpeace must pay Energy Transfer at least $660m

Canada’s Marineland to rehome its whales and dolphins as it seeks a buyer

admin — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 13:00:25 +0000

Conservationists voice concern that the Ontario theme park will struggle to find suitable homes for its animals

Canada’s embattled Marineland theme park is to raise money to “expeditiously” remove animals from its grounds, including the world’s largest captive beluga population, as it looks for a buyer. But a lack of available sanctuaries in the country suggests finding a home for stranded whales, dolphins and pinnipeds will be a daunting task.

‘Don’t call it zombie deer disease’: scientists warn of ‘global crisis’ as infections spread across the US

admin — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 11:00:23 +0000

The contagious, fatal illness in deer, elk and moose must be taken seriously, say experts as it takes hold in the US and reaches other countries. While it has not infected humans yet, the risk is growing

In a scattershot pattern that now extends from coast to coast, continental US states have been announcing new hotspots of chronic wasting disease (CWD).