Climate Thoughts with Brian

Tag: environment

Thousands of people across the country protest against sewage pollution

Pictures of Scarborough Surfers Against Sewage Protest credit @torysmasher In over 50 locations across the country, people gathered today to express their outrage at the ongoing sewage pollution of waterways, rivers and the coastline around the UK. Organised by Surfers Against Sewage, these ‘Paddle Out Protests’ aim to protest against the sewage pollution by the…
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Review of ‘The Response: A Story of Fire and Flood in Britain’s New World of Extremes’, by David Shukman

‘We’re not remotely ready to deal with the worsening conditions that are confronting us now, let alone those still to come.’ David Shukman’s book ‘The Response: A Story of Fire and Flood in Britain’s New World of Extremes’ opens with the stark message that the UK is far away from being resilient to the rising…
Read more: Review of ‘The Response: A Story of Fire and Flood in Britain’s New World of Extremes’, by David Shukman
Politicians and public attend Climate Emergency Briefing in York

Credit Sophia Chen Chris Packham: ‘You must listen to the science. Because if you don’t, then things go wrong and lives are lost.’ A dynamic and purposeful viewing of the National Emergency Briefing took place in York yesterday to a packed Tempest Anderson Hall. Over 850 screenings have now taken place around the country, from…
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Review of ‘Climate Wayfinding: Healing Ourselves and the Planet We Call Home’ by Katharine K Wilkinson

Wilkinson’s book crackles with purpose and the potential of what might be possible. It reminds us that there is a ‘we’ at the heart of this journey and that we are bound and bonded by a common framework of humanity. ‘Climate Wayfinding’ is a book which encourages- even demands- time for reflection; time for strengthening…
Read more: Review of ‘Climate Wayfinding: Healing Ourselves and the Planet We Call Home’ by Katharine K Wilkinson
NOT A SINGLE COMPLETED WATER COMPANY PROSECUTION FOR POLLUTION INCIDENTS IN LAST FIVE YEARS

In yet another exclusive on pollution incidents, Channel 4 revealed last night (Wed 6th May) that the Environment Agency has not completed a single prosecution of a water company for any pollution occurring in the last five years, despite almost 2 million sewage discharges. None of the completed prosecutions relate to the thousands of serious…
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Review of ‘The Fate of the World: A History and Future of the Climate Crisis’ by Prof Bill McGuire

‘Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time; And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death.’ Shakespeare’s words, from over 400 years ago, seem shockingly relevant today, as we face an existential climate crisis, but we witness no…
Read more: Review of ‘The Fate of the World: A History and Future of the Climate Crisis’ by Prof Bill McGuire
CHANNEL 4 NEWS EXCLUSIVE: KING’S PRIVATE ESTATE TRIED TO SELL TOXIC LAND TO COUNCIL

Image supplied by Channel 4 Channel 4 News has uncovered the King’s private estate tried to sell land contaminated with toxic illegal waste in Wigan to the local council. In January, Channel 4 News revealed the 25,000-ton site, dubbed UK’s “most dangerous illegal waste dump”, was on land largely owned by the Duchy of Lancaster…
Read more: CHANNEL 4 NEWS EXCLUSIVE: KING’S PRIVATE ESTATE TRIED TO SELL TOXIC LAND TO COUNCIL
Review of ‘The Visual Life of Climate Change’ by Saffron O’Neill

‘The Visual Life of Climate Change’ is an enthralling exploration and evaluation of the efficacy of climate related images and challenges the reader to be more critical of the ideologies and narratives posed by any image. O’Neill makes the early point that, ‘Images are not simply facile illustrations accompanying the ‘serious’ work of textual communication,…
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Review of ‘Green Thinking- Unlearning Outdated Ideas in Science, Economics and Politics’ by Natalie Bennett

In ‘Green Thinking’, Natalie Bennett calls for a deep, transformative, ‘breaking the chains’ moment, to move us away from outdated ideas which promote harmful outcomes. It challenges assumptions and models and really is a ‘breakthrough book’- the transformative model that we need for the 21st-century. She argues that, ‘We are in the Age of Shocks-…
Read more: Review of ‘Green Thinking- Unlearning Outdated Ideas in Science, Economics and Politics’ by Natalie Bennett
RSPB offers new advice for feeding garden birds to prevent the spread of diseases

The results from the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch were published today and with over 9.4 million birds counted by some 650,000 of us, the RSPB is asking for the public’s help more to arrest the decline of certain species. Although there were not too many dramatic differences in the ‘top spot’ of birds which are…
Read more: RSPB offers new advice for feeding garden birds to prevent the spread of diseases