When you take an interest in reducing humanity’s impact on the biosphere, it becomes apparent that there are simply too many humans. It is generally accepted that the planet can support only 2 billion people by natural means. The equation is simple: sun’s energy enters the biosphere and is converted to stored energy (by plants), …
Continue reading Stop making babies – Save the planet
Category:Living
How to save the planet …
I had to post this because we decided to follow the three initial proposals about 10 years ago. We’re about 80% of the way there, but wish a few more of you would join in. 🙂 Carbon myths Recycling and banning plastic bags are all very well, but they won’t save the planet. Instead, we …
Continue reading How to save the planet …
Japan’s primitive view of capital punishment is slowly changing, in the face of death
Japan hanged 3 men, bringing the number of executions in the country this year to 9. Although most of the world is against capital punishment, Japan is one of the very few industrialised countries to retain the death penalty and a recent poll suggests that fewer than 10% of Japanese people oppose the death penalty. …
Continue reading Japan’s primitive view of capital punishment is slowly changing, in the face of death
Humans not as smart as monkeys …
Well the headline is cheeky, but highlights the similarity between humans and other primates. Findings, published in Current Biology, suggest we may have under-estimated the intelligence of our closest living relatives. Research suggests chimpanzees have an extraordinary photographic memory that is far superior to ours. Young chimps outperformed university students in memory tests devised by …
Continue reading Humans not as smart as monkeys …
Another euthanasia for love
A 77-year-old Italian man shot dead his wife as she lay in hospital because he could not stand to see her suffer. The man shot his 82-year-old wife, who had Alzheimer’s disease, three times in full view of medical staff. His wife had been diagnosed eight years ago with the degenerative and irreversible brain disorder, …
Continue reading Another euthanasia for love
Nature’s Investment Bank – marine habitats
The Nature Conservancy has published a report Nature’s Investment Bank, which examines four marine protection areas in Fiji, Indonesia, Philippines and the Solomon Islands, to assess what constitutes a successful community conservation scheme that provides sustainable economics. Research into four successful schemes showed that getting villagers involved in protection projects reduced harmful overfishing and protected …
Continue reading Nature’s Investment Bank – marine habitats
Addicted
I’m addicted, you’re addicted, we’re all addicted. But not addicted to love, sadly. We might like to think that we’re immune, but facing the truth, we must own up that our addictions are open secrets. Let’s touch a few bases to see where addiction might be in our lives. From personal to popular, from body …
Continue reading Addicted
Lower stress and lower calories to live longer, again
New research again supports the notion that eating less and having lower stress are significant factors in extending longevity. In a study detailed in the journal Nature, US scientists from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, exposed nematode worms were exposed to 88,000 chemicals in turn and mianserin, an antidepressant drug, extended lifespan by …
Continue reading Lower stress and lower calories to live longer, again
Weight influences self-esteem in young children because of social pressure
A study Girls shout out! Under ten and under pressure, published by Girlguiding UK and eating disorders charity beat, found girls associated being overweight with being bullied and sad, while families and friends make them feel happy and good about themselves. Girls as young as seven believe being slim and attractive will mean you are …
Continue reading Weight influences self-esteem in young children because of social pressure
Making sense of the right to carry weapons
The US Supreme Court is to consider Americans’ right to bear arms for the first time in nearly 70 years. It has agreed to rule on whether a ban on handguns by the city of Washington, DC (since 1976) complies with the Second Amendment of the US Constitution. The U.S. Supreme Court has announced it …
Continue reading Making sense of the right to carry weapons