Breaking Waves: Ocean News https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-waves/index.php en Devon businesses fear losses as tourists put off by outbreak of parasitic disease https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/devon-businesses-fear-losses-tourists-put-outbreak-parasitic-disease <p>Residents told cases could continue for up to two weeks as businesses hit by cancellations ahead of half-term</p> <p>Cases of an illness caused by a microscopic parasite in a Devon harbour town could continue for a further two weeks, experts said, with businesses predicting thousands of pounds of losses as school half-term approaches.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/devon-businesses-fear-losses-tourists-put-outbreak-parasitic-disease" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 17 May 2024 10:56:12 +0000 admin 95754 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Looking for lichen: Church of England launches search for life on gravestones https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/looking-lichen-church-england-launches-search-life-gravestones <p>Church asks people to record species found in local graveyards, which can provide good habitat for complex life form</p> <p>The still calm of graveyards invites visitors to think about the dead, but now the Church of England is asking people across the country to look for surprising signs of life within them.</p> <p>Graves are a haven for lichen, with more than 700 of the 2,000 British species having been recorded in English churchyards and cemeteries so far. According to surveys by the church, many sites have well more than 100 species on the stonework, trees and in the grassland.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/looking-lichen-church-england-launches-search-life-gravestones" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 17 May 2024 10:00:36 +0000 admin 95755 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org High levels of weedkiller found in more than half sperm samples, study finds https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/high-levels-weedkiller-found-more-half-sperm-samples-study-finds <p>Glyphosate found in samples from French infertility clinic raising questions about controversial chemical’s impact on fertility</p> <p>More than 55% of sperm samples from a French infertility clinic contained high levels of glyphosate, the world’s most common weedkiller, raising further questions about the chemical’s impact on reproductive health and overall safety, a new study found.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/high-levels-weedkiller-found-more-half-sperm-samples-study-finds" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 17 May 2024 10:00:35 +0000 admin 95756 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Week in wildlife – in pictures: amorous frogs, battling stallions and an overaffectionate jaguar https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/week-wildlife-pictures-amorous-frogs-battling-stallions-and-overaffectionate-jaguar <p>The best of this week’s wildlife photographs from around the world</p> <p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2024/may/17/week-in-wildlife-in-pictures-amorous-frogs-battling-stallions-and-an-overaffectionate-jaguar">Continue reading...</a></p> Fri, 17 May 2024 07:00:31 +0000 admin 95753 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org UK government adviser on disruptive protest accused of conflict of interest https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/uk-government-adviser-disruptive-protest-accused-conflict-interest <p>John Woodcock, whose review proposes bans for protest groups, has lobbying links to firms in arms and fossil fuel sectors</p> <p>Activists have accused the government’s independent adviser on political violence of a conflict of interest, after it emerged that he had lobbying links to companies that would benefit from curbs to protesting.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/uk-government-adviser-disruptive-protest-accused-conflict-interest" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 17 May 2024 05:00:29 +0000 admin 95751 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Tokyo battles surge of destructive raccoons that went from pet to pest https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/tokyo-battles-surge-destructive-raccoons-went-pet-pest <p>Hotline set up in Japan’s capital to report sightings of raccoons, which became popular as pets after success of 1970s TV anime series</p> <p>Having <a href="https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/general-news/20220517-27555/">won the battle</a> to tackle Tokyo’s population of giant, ravenous crows, the city’s authorities are now embroiled in an even tougher campaign: to rein in another animal menace, the North American raccoon.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/tokyo-battles-surge-destructive-raccoons-went-pet-pest" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 17 May 2024 04:42:24 +0000 admin 95752 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Environmental Defenders Office did not breach funding rules while opposing Santos gas project, review finds https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/environmental-defenders-office-did-not-breach-funding-rules-while-opposing-santos-gas- <p>Tanya Plibersek ordered investigation after judge accused law firm of ‘subtle coaching’ of Tiwi Island traditional owners during legal challenge</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/environmental-defenders-office-did-not-breach-funding-rules-while-opposing-santos-gas-" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Fri, 17 May 2024 02:10:00 +0000 admin 95750 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Union urges Labour not to ban new North Sea licences without plan for jobs https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/union-urges-labour-not-ban-new-north-sea-licences-without-plan-jobs <p>Unite launches bid to persuade Keir Starmer to invest more in north-east Scotland</p> <p>The UK’s oil and gas workers risk becoming “the coal miners of our generation,” Unite’s general secretary, Sharon Graham, has warned, urging Labour not to ban new North Sea licences without a clear plan to safeguard jobs.</p> <p>Unite is launching a billboard campaign in six Scottish constituencies aimed at persuading Keir Starmer to commit more investment to north-east Scotland, the centre of the offshore oil and gas industry.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/union-urges-labour-not-ban-new-north-sea-licences-without-plan-jobs" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 16 May 2024 23:01:21 +0000 admin 95749 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org Biden proposes end to new leases in US’s largest coal-producing region https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/biden-proposes-end-new-leases-us-s-largest-coal-producing-region <p>Republicans opposed to plan from Bureau of Land Management affecting Powder River Basin area of Wyoming and Montana</p> <p>The Biden administration on Thursday proposed an end to new coal leasing from federal reserves in the most productive coal mining region in the US as officials seek to limit climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions from burning the fuel.</p> <p>The Bureau of Land Management proposal would affect millions of acres (millions of hectares) of federal lands and underground mineral reserves in the Powder River Basin area of Wyoming and Montana.</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/biden-proposes-end-new-leases-us-s-largest-coal-producing-region" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 16 May 2024 19:41:19 +0000 admin 95747 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org What are Labour’s six pledges and how likely is their success? https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/what-are-labour-s-six-pledges-and-how-likely-their-success <p>Commitments range from cutting NHS waiting times to delivering economic stability – and are united by a lack of detail</p> <p><a href="https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org/breaking-wave/what-are-labour-s-six-pledges-and-how-likely-their-success" target="_blank">read more</a></p> Thu, 16 May 2024 16:56:09 +0000 admin 95743 at https://www.worldoceanobservatory.org