Britain is poised to expand its coal mining industry, despite fears that the move will lead to a rise in climate change emissions and harm communities and the environment. Read more here.
News
Since Kyoto was Ratified
According to Joseph D’Aleo: “Since Kyoto was ratified emissions worldwide increased 18.0%, emissions from countries that signed the treaty increased 21.1%, emissions from non-signers increased 10.0% and emissions from the U.S. increased 6.6%.”
First Photographs of Trapped Whales
On Saturday I reported that 200 whales are trapped in ice in the Canadian Arctic.
Today I received photographs of one of the groups of Narwhal trapped in one of the 11 open holes.
The photographs were taken by Brian Koonoo.
Climate Activist Seeks Damage in The Hague
THE International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague is an independent, permanent court that tries persons accused of the most serious crimes of international concern, namely genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
According to Mitchell Anderson writing at Desmog a class action lawsuit was filed last week in the ICC against national governments refusing to act on reducing carbon emissions. The suit was filed by climate activist Danny Bloom who is asking for “US$1 billion dollars in damages on behalf of future generations of human beings on Earth – if there are any”.
Are you thinking this is sure to go nowhere?
Well, remember in September a UK jury cleared six Greenpeace activists of criminal damages accepting defence arguments that they had a “lawful excuse” when they vandalised the chimney stack because the carbon dioxide emissions from the Kingsnorth power plant are harmful to the environment of the Hoo Peninsula. Under the UK’s Criminal Damage Act 1971 damage is condoned if it will prevent even greater damage.
Furthermore, the head of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, Dr James Hansen, flew to the UK to be an expert witness in the trial in support of the activists.
Based on past form, Dr Hansen and many other high profile scientists with impeccable credentials will be lining up to support Mr Bloom.
US Court Blocks Oil-Drilling Program for Arctic
The U.S. Minerals Management Service did not properly consider the risks of oil spills, disturbance to migrating whales, disruptions to the traditional hunting lifestyle of Inupiat Eskimos and other potential harms from Shell’s program to drill. Read more here.
Inuit to Cull 200 Stranded Whales
LAST Sunday Inuit from Baffin Island, in the Canadian Arctic, discovered about 200 whales trapped in ice near Pond Inlet. In the Arctic open water is starting to freeze-over with the onset of winter.
Yesterday the Inuit started culling the whales, known as Narwhal, apparently on the advice of their elders and in the belief that otherwise the animals would die a slow death from starvation and/or suffocation.
The Narwhal, Monodon monocerus, also known as ‘unicorns of the sea’, have a bizarre spiral tusk extending from their head which can be up to three metres long. The species is not considered endangered and the normal hunting quota for the Baffin Island community is 130 Narwhal each year.
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD has worked in industry and government. She is currently researching a novel technique for long-range weather forecasting funded by the B. Macfie Family Foundation.