Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Science, Meet Journalism. You Two Should Talk. by Louise Lief | Wilson Quarterly




When I began my term as a public policy scholar at the Wilson Center last year working on the project “Science and the Media,” I ran into a journalist colleague I hadn’t seen in years. When he heard what I was doing, he said in astonishment, “Science? How did you get interested in that?”

He wasn’t the only one to react that way. It’s a symptom of the relationship — or more precisely, the lack of a relationship — between scientists and the vast majority of journalists who do not cover science that such an interest is seen as unusual.

Not only journalists view science in this way. Many in the public do too. To the majority of Americans, science is a foreign country.

I don’t have a science background, and developed an interest in the sciences through a somewhat roundabout route. Years of taking groups of editors on fact-finding/study tours to Africa, Latin America, Asia and elsewhere introduced me to landscapes and creatures in the natural world of astonishing beauty and variety, and the fascinating professionals who often took insane risks to study them, seeking to understand how things worked and why.

So for my project I decided to concentrate on the general media — the 90 percent who almost never meet scientists or write about science, and to focus on the natural world. I wanted to see what the barriers were to engagement, and to explore how these two groups might begin a conversation, and maybe even work together in mutually beneficial ways.

In the process, I discovered how much these two communities have to offer each other, far beyond the subject matter.


MORE: Science, Meet Journalism. You Two Should Talk. by Louise Lief | Wilson Quarterly

Sunday, March 22, 2015

New Report Shows That The Most Popular Weed-Killer In The U.S. Probably Causes Cancer




Spraying Monsanto’s herbicide Roundup could cause cancer, the World Health Organization said in a new report.

New Report Shows That The Most Popular Weed-Killer In The U.S. Probably Causes Cancer | ThinkProgress



Statement on WHO’s Findings that Monsanto’s Glyphosate Is ‘Probably Carcinogenic’

Organic Consumers Association
– “This latest finding, which links Monsanto’s Roundup to non-Hodgkins lymphoma and lung cancer is not the first to make these links, but it is one of the strongest indictments of glyphosate, the key ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup.
Monsanto has already rushed to attack this science, as they have attacked every credible independent scientist in the past. At what point will U.S. regulators start believing the scientists, instead of pandering to Monsanto?
Glyphosate is up for review this year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Now is the time for the EPA to take action and once and for all ban this dangerous chemical that is making people sick, and polluting our environment.
The OCA calls on the U.S. EPA to do its job: Ban glyphosate now."
Roundup is the number one herbicide used in the world. The U.S. Department of Agriculture does not test foods for glyphosate residues because it says it’s “too expensive.”

complete statement: Statement on WHO’s Findings that Monsanto’s Glyphosate Is ‘Probably Carcinogenic’






SIGN THE PETITON TO BAN ROUNDUP





Utilities experience competition, don’t like it, run crying to regulators | Grist




Power utilities are fleeing open competition and seeking security in the sweet, protective bosom of Big Government. You can see this in two concurrent trends...

Utilities experience competition, don’t like it, run crying to regulators | Grist


Monday, March 9, 2015

▶ VIDEO: Naomi Klein: This Changes Everything | News | The Guardian




Naomi Klein didn't think climate change was her issue but when she realised the close link between environmental destruction and inequality, everything changed. In Naomi's home country, the Canadian government granted virtual free rein to companies seeking oil in Alberta's tar sands, creating a boom town in Fort McMurray. Like large numbers of activists across the world, the indigenous population in Alberta protested the environmental damage. How can we connect the dots among movements around the world to tackle climate change and inequality at the same time?

This is an edited excerpt from a work-in-progress. The feature length documentary This Changes Everything will be completed and launched later this year

Naomi Klein: This Changes Everything - video | News | The Guardian


Sunday, March 1, 2015

Russian Photographer Captures The Cutest Squirrel Photo Session Ever | Bored Panda




Talented Russian nature photographer Vadim Trunov has had close encounters with squirrels before, but this is the first time we’ve seen his photos of squirrels playing or shooting photos of each other! The photographer recently published some photos he’s captured of squirrels that seem to be building snowmen or playing volleyball with nuts.
The truth is a bit different, however – it’s winter, these squirrels are hungry, and they want food! In fact, the ones with the pine cone and the nut are fighting over the winter food, which Trunov left in a clearing so he could photograph the squirrels.
Trunov takes wonderful wildlife photos whether it’s winter or summer – check out his macro nature photography as well!

more photos: Russian Photographer Captures The Cutest Squirrel Photo Session Ever | Bored Panda

macro nature photography