There’s a calmness to Zack Polanski that is so reassuring. The fact that he also makes a LOT of sense is a bonus #Newsnight

DOGE defunded Jane Goodall’s Tanzania project–we’re pledging $100k DOGE-driven cuts to USAID funding stalled a conservation project in Tanzania. We’ve partnered with the Jane Goodall Institute to continue reforestation.

This is a great reminder to set Ecosia as your default search engine or browser

blog.ecosia.org/doge-defunde...

Ellie Chow's MP added: “These are irreplaceable habitats, which by their very nature cannot be created anywhere else in some kind of compensation schedule.”

“We have a responsibility to protect the most important, the rarest and most in need habitats, like chalk streams, ancient woodlands, peat bogs; these jewels in the crown of our ecological heritage have their protections weakened in this bill".
Ellie Chowns, Green MP for North Herefordshire

"Ellie Chowns, a Green MP, said there was a serious legal question with the bill because although the secretary of state asserted to MPs there was no reduction in environmental protections, the reality of the legislation was that the bill was in fact a rollback of environmental protections."

"David Elvin KC, in a third legal opinion, said part three of the bill was regressive and potentially in breach of international law."

“The only possible reading is that the bill will have the effect of reducing the level of environmental protection provided.”

The areas at risk from Labour’s planning changes include cherished landscapes such as the New Forest, the Surrey heaths, the Peak District moors, and the Forest of Bowland.

The fact that the U.S. is turning inward and potentially set to decimate the science from its own space program while China is offering up its recently returned lunar samples for researchers around the world to analyze speaks volumes as to how the tides of science are going to shift.

Sometimes I wonder if Wes Anderson wants most people to like his movies or if he'd prefer an exactly equal number of people on each side.

Thames Water bonuses could be blocked by regulator Ofwat Karen Hoggan Business Reporter Getty Images Thames Water and other water companies could be prevented by the industry regulator from paying any bonuses, under rules due to come into effect next month. Environment Secretary Steve Reed said new measures would stop water companies dumping a "tidal wave of sewage into our rivers while pocketing millions of pounds of bonuses". Regulator Ofwat has been able to stop firms using customer money to fund bonuses, but the new rules mean they could not use funds from shareholders or lenders either.

Thames Water bonuses could be blocked by regulator Ofwat

Karen Hoggan Business Reporter Getty Images Thames Water and other water companies could be prevented by the industry regulator from paying any bonuses, under rules due to come into effect next month. Environment Secretary Steve Reed said…

What a delightful publication this was to read. So fascinating.

Making economic growth the overriding purpose, to which all else must be sacrificed, not only trashes ecological and social values. It's also spectacularly bad politics. Governments can't control growth, but when it dips, this government, by its own criteria, fails. A rod for its own back.

Botanic gardens are struggling to keep up with the biodiversity crisis – here’s what they can do Botanic gardens have evolved from medicinal gardens to scientific institutions, Now, they must become conservation leaders on a global scale.

Botanic gardens are more than peaceful retreats or collections of catalogued plants - they’re vital in the fight against biodiversity loss.

Great article by Samuel Brockington in The Conversation:
tinyurl.com/4yekcz84

@docbroc.bsky.social
@cubotanicgarden.bsky.social
@theconversation.com

Are they?

3️⃣ Our domestic targets are 33% too high to meet our non-legally-binding 2030 international commitment—which sends a terrible message to the world.

Yesterday felt like the first true day of Spring this year

Risks of habitat loss from seaweed cultivation within seagrass | PNAS Risks of habitat loss from seaweed cultivation within seagrass

In our academic response, published in the journal @pnas.org, we outline the risks of habitat loss from seaweed cultivation within seagrass: ow.ly/qnSe50V3AxJ

Seagrass provides a unique habitat for marine life, and absorbs CO2 at a ridiculously rapid rate.

We need to keep planting more!

@projectseagrass.bsky.social are doing fantastic work right around the UK, we need to keep supporting them.

#Republic #hypocrasy #taxcheats #anti-monarchy #abolishthemonarchy #notmyprince #notmyking

Additionally, the "Prince was accused of hypocrisy by environmental campaigners for secretly making money from an industry that currently contributes to more than 10 per cent of the UK’s total carbon emissions", despite building an extensive brand based on green innovation and environmental reform.

(("Prince William faced further criticism over his property assets after it emerged he was set to cash in to the tune of millions from a housing development on Duchy land near Faversham in Kent."))

("Last year, Prince William received almost £24m from the Duchy.

[...]

However unlike his father, Prince William has chosen not to disclose how much tax he paid last year.")

the government has raised capital gains tax (CGT) on companies from 20 per cent to 24 per cent in October’s budget."

[...]

"The tax is paid by about 350,000 people and raises about £15bn per year."

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[...] "it is likely other property owners would have been subject to a 20 per cent tax on the £16.5m which would equate to £3.3m.

In addition, future tax-free profits made by Prince William, through the Duchy, on property sales are likely to been even higher as

2/3

How Prince William may have avoided up to £3m in property taxes The Duchy of Cornwall’s financial affairs have come under increasing scrutiny amid growing calls for more transparency

"Prince William appears to have legally avoided up to £3m in property taxes since taking over from his father the Duchy of Cornwall"

[...]

"An analysis of the Duchy’s financial records since Prince William took over the £1.1bn property portfolio [...] reveals

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iPhone users are expected to delete nearly 20% of their apps and files to install this latest security patch if they, like me, only have a 64GB model. Ludicrous!

Fungi: The Web of Life Biologist and writer Merlin Sheldrake travels the globe, exploring the world of fungi and unravelling the many secrets of these essential organisms.

I have just found out that this wonderful short film is actually available on the BBC - there's nothing else quite like it www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

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We're going to run some workshops for early career researchers at a #plantscience meeting later this year. If you're an ECR, what topics would you like to see covered? What would be the most useful things to hear about for you? Reply here...

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