Environment

Climate change still a ‘race against the clock’: UN climate chief

by Marlowe HOOD BONN, Germany (AFP) — Even after the world sealed a historic climate deal in Paris, the UN’s climate chief is worried humanity won’t be able break its fossil fuel habit in time to avert catastrophe, she told AFP Thursday. “My concern is whether the transformation is going to happen fast enough to avert the worst impacts,” Christiana Figueres said, referring to the global shift from carbon-polluting fossil fuels to green energy. “Greenhouse […]

James Bond star Daniel Craig speaks out against landmines

James Bond star Daniel Craig appeared at the World Humanitarian Summit in Turkey on Monday, May 23 to speak out against landmines. Craig spoke before business leaders, aid groups and donors in Istanbul for the world’s first Humanitarian Summit and called on government to do more to clear landmines. The summit is an attempt to develop a more coherent response to what the U.N. Chief Ban Ki-Moon has called the worst global humanitarian situation since […]

Indonesian birds face extinction due to pet trade: study

JAKARTA, Indonesia(AFP) — Thirteen species of Indonesian birds, including the country’s symbolic Javan Hawk-eagle, are at serious risk of extinction mainly due to the pet trade, a wildlife watchdog warned Wednesday. The vast Indonesian archipelago is home to a dizzying array of birds and keeping them as pets has long been part of the national culture, with birdcages a common sight outside homes and shops across the country. However increasing demand for some species as […]

Baby elephant born in Dallas zoo

DALLAS, United States (Reuters) — The Dallas Zoo has added a baby elephant to its family and have released new video on Tuesday (May 24) of the little guy collapsing in a heap of hay. A male African elephant calf was born on May 14 to Mlilo ( ma-LEE-lo), who was one of several elephants rescued from drought plagued Swaziland earlier this year. The baby elephant, who hasn’t been names, measures three feet tall (91 […]

Over a third of North American bird species in danger: scientists

Reuters — More than a third of all North American bird species are at risk of becoming extinct unless significant action is taken, scientists who are part of a tri-nation initiative said in a report released last week, adding that ocean and tropical birds were in particular danger. The study, compiled by the North American Bird Conservation Initiative and the first of its kind to look at the vulnerability of bird populations in Canada, the […]

Pawikan natagpuang patay sa Mamali, Mati City, Davao Oriental

MATI City, Davao Oriental — Green Sea turtle  na pawikan ang natagpuan ng isang mangingisda sa karagatan ng Sitio Dakab, Barangay Mamali, Mati City, Davao Oriental na wala ng buhay kahapon, Mayo 23. Ang nasabing pawikan ay may lapad itong 2.5 feet, 4.5 feet na haba at ang timbang ay hindi bababa sa 100 kilo. Ayon kay Brgy. Chairman Johnny Bardon, nakita ang pawikan na palutang-lutang sa dalampasigan ng naturang sitio at agad naman itong ini-report ng […]

‘Now or never’ to save Barrier Reef: scientists

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australia’s Great Barrier Reef could be beyond saving in five years without “now or never” funding to improve water quality as climate change ravages the World Heritage-listed site, scientists warned Thursday. The world’s biggest coral reef ecosystem is under pressure from not only climate change, but farming run-off, development and the coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish. The biodiverse side off the Queensland state coast is also suffering its worst bleaching in recorded history […]

80 percent of world’s city dwellers breathing bad air: UN

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — Over 80 percent of the world’s city dwellers breathe poor quality air, increasing their risk of lung cancer and other life-threatening diseases, a new World Health Organization (WHO) report warned Thursday. Urban residents in poor countries are by far the worst affected, WHO said, noting that nearly every city (98 percent) in low- and middle-income countries has air which fails to meet the UN body’s standards. That number falls to 56 […]

Colourful jellyfish wows ocean researchers

  Reuters — Colorful jellyfish were captured on camera at a depth of 3,700 meters (12,139 feet) on April 24 in waters off south-east Asia. Stunning footage showed two luminous creatures swimming in the dark waters around the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument, east of the Philippines. The footage was captured by a remotely operated vehicle “Deep Discoverer” which holds 20 LED lights and nine video cameras. In an operation running from April 20 to […]

Bison officiallly designated national mammal of U.S.

Reuters — President Barack Obama on Monday (May 9) officially designated the American bison as the national mammal of the United States, elevating the stature of the once almost extinct mammal to highlight its cultural and economic importance. The American bison, the majestic, wooly creature that roamed the Great Plains by the millions before it was hunted to the brink of extinction in the late-1800s, will now share the rarefied air enjoyed by other national […]