The report, which is scheduled for official release next year, is the most comprehensive rundown to date of the impacts of climate change on our planet and our species.
“The worst is yet to come, affecting our children’s and grandchildren’s lives much more than our own,” the report warns.
Millions of people worldwide are in for a disastrous future of hunger, drought and disease, according to a draft report from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which was leaked to the media this week.
“Climate change will fundamentally reshape life on Earth in the coming decades, even if humans can tame planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions,” according toAgence France-Presse, which obtained the report draft.
The report warns of a series of thresholds beyond which recovery from climate breakdown may become impossible,The Guardiansaid. The report warns: “Life on Earth…
Two kitten siblings being rescued by the HSUS in Texas after Hurricane Harvey forced a sudden mandatory evacuation of the area.Anthony Rathbun/HSUS via AP Images
The past few years have shown how suddenly natural disasters and other emergencies can upend our lives. Take, for instance, recentsevere hurricanesand wildfires, the early 2021deep freeze in Texasor the ongoing worldwide Covid-19 crisis. Families everywhere have seen how crucial it is to have disaster plans in place for their loved ones.
Animal lovers have always been aware that human beings aren’t the only ones in need of disaster preparedness plans, and in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina, the rest of society caught on. Within a year of that disaster, Congress passed the PETS Act, mandating that state and local response agencies receiving federal funds…
Irish Council Against Blood SportsMullingar, Ireland
JUN 24, 2021 —
Fur farming will finally be banned in Ireland in 2022, it has been confirmed.
On 22 June 2021, the government approved the ban, with Fianna Fáil tweeting: “Ban on fur farming in Ireland. A key commitment in the Programme for Government, the ban will come into effect next year.”
Earlier in the day, the Irish Independent reported that Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue sought “approval from his ministerial colleagues to implement a prohibition on fur farming in Ireland within a short timeframe.”
The owners of the three remaining fur farms in Counties Laois, Kerry and Donegal are set to receive compensation for closing down and demolishing the hellholes where an estimated 120,000 mink are cruelly caged every year and gassed to death at six months of age.
Speaking outside Government Buildings, Minister McConalogue said that fur farming “really has become outdated”.
“It’s no longer appropriate to our time,” he stated. “It is something that societal views have changed towards and indeed it is something that the government’s views have very much changed as well.”
Of course, fur farming has never been appropriate to any time. It shamefully involves confining animals to cages where they can be seen repeatedly pacing back and forth and jumping against the bars, cruelly denying them their ability to express natural behaviours and pulling them out squealing and thrown into a gassing box where they spend their last moments desperately trying not to inhale poisonous Carbon Monoxide.
Mink are semi-aquatic and highly evolved physiologically to hold their breath. They are able to detect a lack of oxygen in their blood and are prone to hypoxia, which means they can suffer particularly during gassing.
The upcoming fur farming ban follows long-running campaigns by several groups (including an ICABS campaign over more than 20 years), protests, petitions, political lobbying, a statement from Veterinary Ireland backing a ban and a RED C opinion poll which showed that an 80 per cent majority in Ireland want fur farming banned.
Among those calling for a ban were over 400 from the worlds of film, television, theatre, radio, sport, literature and music. The list of high profile personalities, compiled by Irish actor Rachel Pilkington, includes Oscar-nominated actors Saoirse Ronan, Ruth Negga and Stephen Rea, Oscar-nominated directors Lenny Abrahamson and Jim Sheridan, Emmy award-winning director Emer Reynolds, Olympic medallist Sonia O’Sullivan, former international rugby player Alan Quinlan, musicians Sharon Shannon, Damien Dempsey, Mundy, Don Mescall, Mary Coughlan, Josh Gray and Brian Kennedy, author Cathy Kelly, comedians Deirdre O’Kane and PJ Gallagher and many more.
This week’s development comes two years after the then government pledged to ban the practice.
In June 2019, prior to the current government coalition, former Agriculture Minister Michael Creed (Fine Gael) agreed that “the farming of mink is counter to good animal welfare” and that “it is considered timely to commence the phasing out of the industry in Ireland.”
“The government will now proceed to bring forward a Bill which will be drafted in conjunction with the Attorney General’s Office,” he stated. “The Government Bill will provide for a phased basis for the ban for existing operators. The Government Bill will make it illegal for any new fur farms to be established. Phase out arrangements will be put in place for the small number of current operators to allow for an orderly wind down of the sector and to allow time for employees to find alternative opportunities.”
Fianna Fáil had previously “agreed to back the proposal to introduce a ban on the farming of mink for the production of fur in Ireland”.
This came after the introduction to the Dail of the “Prohibition of Fur Farming Bill 2018” by Solidarity/People Before Profit TDs Paul Murphy, Mick Barry and Ruth Coppinger and majority political support for a ban. Along with Fianna Fáil, other parties which gave their backing to a ban were Sinn Féin, Labour, Independents 4 Change, the Green Party, the Social Democrats and Aontú.
A big thank you and well done to all who campaigned for a ban.
A discussion of weather and climate of the Inland Northwest.
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
We are forecasting the hottest day ever in Spokane history
A heat wave like no other is becoming increasingly likely. Prepare NOW!
The biggest heat wave to ever strike the Inland NW on record is becoming increasingly likely. What makes this event unique?
All time record high temperatures are in jeopardy for several locations
And this is during June (our peak heat season is late July through early August)
100+ degree temps will last for several days
Mild overnight lows in the mid 60s to upper 70s will provide little to no relief at night
Occurring during a period of severe to extreme drought
Fire danger increasing to record levels next week and as we near the 4th of July (for this early in the season)
The Climate Prediction Center’s latest Risk of Hazardous Temperatures product shows our region in a high risk of Excessive Heat through next Friday, July 2nd. Don’t be surprised by future outlooks extending this out further.
What is going to cause the excessive heat? A very strong ridge of high pressure (record setting for late June by some model solutions). Here is one ensemble solution showing the strong ridge centered right on top of us on Sunday.
12z GFS model of 500mb heights, winds, and temperatures valid 2 AM PDT Sunday, June 27th 2021
Strong high pressure in late June spells trouble! Why? The lower atmosphere continues to warm as the ridge persists over the region as the late June sun angle brings an abundance of solar radiation towards the Earth’s surface which continues to warm things up each day. Here is one model prediction of near surface temperature anomalies from this Thursday through the following week (June 24-July 3rd).
Note the large area of warmth that persists into early July over the northwest US and southwest Canada. So it looks like this heat wave will be around for awhile, but how hot will it get? Our current forecast is calling for all time records to be threatened beginning Monday.
NWS Forecast High Temperature for Monday, June 28th (issued June 23rd) as compared to current all time records.
And if we don’t break the all time records on Monday, we will probably have another shot on Tuesday and Wednesday! Here is our current forecast as of June 23rd for Tuesday.
NWS Forecast High Temperature for Tuesday, June 29th (issued June 23rd)
It is worth noting that a few models (especially the GFS) want to take the heat up another notch, suggesting temps near or above 110F for Spokane and near 120F for Moses Lake. Spokane
Meteogram of forecast raw model temperatures for GEG (Spokane International Airport) through Wednesday, June 30th, 2021
Moses Lake
Meteogram of forecast raw model temperatures for Moses Lake through Wednesday, June 30th, 2021
While these values are not currently forecast, it does have our attention. The record for the state of Washington and Idaho is 118 degrees at Ice Harbor Dam, WA and Orofino, ID so we will be watching for this potential closely. What other impacts are expected? As mentioned in a previous blog post, here, our region is currently experiencing severe to extreme drought over much of Eastern Washington into the Idaho Panhandle. The unprecedented heat is not good news for the region. Wheat and hay crops are already starving for soil moisture, and this upcoming heat will only make the soils drier than they currently are.
And what about fire danger? Fuel moisture is expected to dry out considerably, reaching record low values for late June. Fuel moisture comes in different sizes, but all are measures of how dry the grass, twigs, branches, and timber are. Forecast 100 hour (branch size) dead fuel moistures based off model data from the NWCC (Northwest Interagency Coordination Center) are shown below. Red is observed, while blue is the forecast. The bottom gray line is the minimum value on record. The plot below is for NE Washington but the same idea applies to other areas of Central and Eastern Washington into the ID Panhandle. As you can see the red line has dipped near the minimum value several times since mid-May (likely due to the drought). The blue forecast line is expected to drop fuel moisture to record lows for this time of year.
100 hour fuel moisture (%) for NE Washington. Red is observed, Blue is forecast from model data
Safety tipsSo what can you do to stay safe during this heat wave? Here are some suggestions
Drink plenty of fluids and wear light colored clothes
Check on and take care of those vulnerable to heat (children, those with chronic medical conditions, elderly, pets)
Stay inside during the hottest times of the day (afternoon and early evening)
Maggie Caldwell, Earthjustice, (347) 527-6397, mcaldwell@earthjustice.org Andrea Zaccardi, Center for Biological Diversity, (303) 854-7748, azaccardi@biologicaldiversity.org Bonnie Rice, Sierra Club, (406) 640-2857, bonnie.rice@sierraclub.org
New Montana Trapping Policies Could Cause Collateral Damage to Threatened Animals
BOZEMAN, Mont.— Citing the risk to other imperiled animals, Earthjustice sent a notice of intent to sue the state of Montana today for implementing new laws permitting snaring of wolves and expanding trapping seasons to reduce the wolf population.
These new laws increase the likelihood that grizzly bears and Canada lynx, both federally protected under the Endangered Species Act, may be injured or killed by snares and other traps set for wolves.
Earthjustice sent the notice on behalf of the Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Clearwater, Humane Society of the United States, International Wildlife Coexistence Network, Sierra Club, Western Watersheds Project, Wilderness Watch, and Wolves of the Rockies.
“The Montana legislature and governor’s policies on wolf management are not about hunting, they are state-sponsored eradication the likes of which we haven’t seen since the 19th century,” said Ben Scrimshaw, Earthjustice attorney. “Traps and snares frequently capture, injure, and kill non-target animals, and to increase this activity in known grizzly and lynx habitat is going to result in a lot of dead federally protected wildlife.”
“Montana’s expansion of strangulation snares and other traps is an appalling attack on the wolf population, but many other imperiled animals will also die,” said Andrea Zacccardi, a senior attorney at the Center. “These unscientific and aggressive laws threaten to kill various native wildlife, including federally protected grizzly bears and Canada lynx.”
“The cruelty of strangling neck snares and steel-jawed leghold traps has no place in the twenty-first century,” said Nichols Arrivo, an attorney for the Humane Society of the United States. “These barbaric and indiscriminate devices will inevitably turn dogs, grizzly bears and Canada lynx into casualties of Montana’s egregious war on wolves.”
“Montana’s unwarranted, extreme new laws aimed at annihilating the wolf population are a sharp departure from the state’s historically more reasoned, science-based approach to wildlife management,” said Bonnie Rice, senior campaign representative for the Sierra Club. “The proliferation of strangling neck snares across Montana’s landscape will not only injure and kill countless wolves, but also threatened species including grizzly bears and lynx, as well as domestic pets.”
“Montana’s new anti-wildlife laws recall the anti-predator hysteria that led to the near extirpation of wolves from the lower 48 states in the early 1900s,” said Jocelyn Leroux, Washington and Montana director for Western Watersheds Project. “These laws completely ignore science and agency professionals, codify the use of cruel and senseless wolf extermination measures, and will catch countless federally protected grizzly bears and Canada lynx in the crosshairs.”
“Montana’s legislature has declared a war on wolves and other wildlife that imperils even our wildest places,” said George Nickas, executive director of Wilderness Watch. “Citizens don’t have to sit back and let it happen. This notice sends the message that we won’t.”
“It was clear to us 10 years ago the Montana state management of wolves was based on special interest and irrational hatred,” said Marc Cooke, president of Wolves of the Rockies. “The time is now to protect Montana wolves from commercialization and state management for future generations.”
Background
Approved in May, Montana’s Senate Bill 314 could lead to the slaughter of more than 85% of the state’s wolves. The law pushes the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission to authorize hunters and trappers to kill an unlimited number of wolves through baiting, trapping and night hunts using night-vision scopes and spotlighting.
In addition, Montana House Bill 224 allows trapping-license holders to snare multiple wolves during the state’s trapping seasons, while House Bill 225 expands the wolf-trapping season by four weeks, threatening grizzly bears in their non-denning season. Costs that wolf hunters and trappers incur during this prolonged season can be reimbursed under Senate Bill 267’s bounty program.
State wildlife officials investigating a shooting complaint have brought charges against two men suspected of committing hunting violations in multiple states.
According to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, a state conservation officer investigated a shooting from the road complaint in April in Simpson County, receiving information from witnesses about a vehicle believed to have been involved in the incident.
The information led to evidence of suspected poaching activity by Sid Herring, 51, of Murfreesboro and Stefan Brownlie, 38, of Portland, Tenn., which resulted in misdemeanor charges of taking wildlife from a vehicle and illegal take/pursue a deer/wild turkey against both men.
Herring is additionally charged with third-degree criminal trespassing, discharge of a firearm/other device upon/across a public road and entry on land to shoot/hunt/fish/trap without consent.
To the editor: The Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge is seeking public comment on its recreational hunting and fishing plan in the Nulhegan Basin Division and the Putney Mountain Unit. Protect Our Wildlife, a Vermont-based advocacy group, initiated a petition to ban hounding from the Refuge. Public commentary will be accepted on the plan until July 5.
The mission of this Refuge is to protect native plants, fish, wildlife, and ecosystems, within this river watershed. Hunting with dogs is currently permitted and should concern all wildlife supporters. Hounding should not be allowed on any wildlife refuge/sanctuary where non-target animals are at risk and fragile ecosystems are threatened.
Hunting wildlife with packs of hounds endangers a multitude of species, including ground nesting birds, fawns, moose calves, pets, humans, and the hounds…
By WLBT.com StaffPublished: Jun. 23, 2021 at 7:16 AM PDT|Updated: 7 hours ago
JEFFERSON CO., Miss. (WLBT) – Jefferson County deputies have arrested and charged two men with burglary.
Investigators say Johnny Jackson and Patrick Kelly stole major appliances, including a stove, refrigerator, hot water tank, televisions, and barbecue grill from Woodburn Hunting Camp.
The camp is a cabin-like home where hunters stay when they go to the area to hunt deer.
Deputies say the deer camp’s owner recently reported missing items to Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department.ADVERTISEMENT
How to divide Lake Springfield?Create an ordinance that permits deer hunting on unleased lake property owned by the City of Springfield and CWLP and you’ll succeed.Fliers about deer hunting recently were delivered to certain lake resident homes.Others were excluded.
How safe are lake residents going to be with hunters combing the woods in search of deer? Wooded areas that are unleased parcels of land surround and/or are adjacent to lake leased properties.Too many people are packed around the lake for deer hunting to be safe. People walk dogs in the woods.Children play in the woods.Birdwatchers look for birds in the woods.
The ordinance opens a door for people who do not like nature.Which animals are next?Already there is talk about killing geese at the lake.Big yards with grass growing up to the shoreline are what geese like.Geese are not fond of yards with bushes…
Wisconsin had 1,136 wolves prior to the controversialhunting and trapping season last winter, according a preliminaryestimate released Monday bythe Department of Natural Resources.
The number represents a 5% decline from the previous winter.
The state’s population of wolves was further reduced in late February by at least 218, or 20%, during a court-mandated wolf hunting and trapping season.
The agency released the wolf population estimate as it prepares to convene the second and final meeting of its Wolf Harvest Advisory Committee on Tuesday.
However, the DNR did not providea post-hunt or early-summer wolf population estimate,critical data as it works to recommend a wolf kill quota for the state’s next scheduled wolf season in November.
Keith Warnke, DNR administratorof fish, wildlife and parks, has already stated the agency’s objective for the fall 2021wolf season is “no substantive change to the wolf population…
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![A buck emerges from the tree line near Lake Springfield with a family of deer foraging the the forest floor at Lincoln Memorial Garden in Springfield, Ill., Wednesday, February 3, 2021. [Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register]](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2021/02/03/NSJR/3398b859-0c5a-45a0-844c-1c98c31282db-ILSPR-02032021-PHOTO-Buck-01.jpg?width=660&height=458&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
