Ramblings of a 70-year old

Thursday, December 1, 2022

COP15, the December nature summit in Montreal, cautions about a human driven mass extinction looming ahead

Described as the lesser-known equivalent of the climate crisis, humans do have a “once-in-a-decade" chance to fix it. In other words, it is necessary to apply brakes to the destruction of life-sustaining ecosystems. It seems global wildlife populations have plummeted nearly 70 percent in just 50 years. The result is mindboggling – experts say an unprecedented one million species are now at risk of disappearing off the earth forever. International talks are coming up in Canada next week. Its aim would be to strike a global biodiversity treaty in order to apply brakes on the nature crisis. It could be similar to the historic Paris Agreement that tackled climate breakdown. Former French diplomat Laurence Tubiana, integral to the Paris deal, said protecting climate and life-sustaining nature are "inseparable challenges, but our global governance system has splintered them." A mass extinction looms – and we have a 'once-in-a-decade chance' to fix it. The December nature summit in Montreal proposes to reverse wildlife decline by 2030, as well as to protect 30 percent of land and sea. There would be a global biodiversity goal to "direct targets, laws, policies and funding at all levels and regions, much like the Paris Agreement has started doing for climate action.” That is what Ms Tubiana says.

Professor Alexandre Antonelli, director of science Kew Gardens explains – “The climate and nature crises are "intertwined." Biodiversity is absolutely critical to our lives and we losing it at an accelerating speed." Each country has its own interests and draws battle lines over things like pollution and cash. The previous global plan to stop species extinction and habitat destruction did not help and the world failed to achieve a single 2020 target. Professor Alexandre Antonelli cautions - "It is absolutely essential that we get it right this time." Otherwise, we may "reach a tipping point, after which it may be impossible or extremely hard to revert the loss of nature." The death of the Amazon rainforest is the best example. It regulates the world's climate and provides vital water to nearby industries and megacities. However, humans have chopped down nearly 18 percent of the forests. Once it reaches 25 percent, the rainforest will stop producing water and turn into a dry savannah. Instead of absorbing climate-heating carbon dioxide, the new ecosystem would begin to unleash it. Campaigner Ruth Davis cites a drought in Argentina in 2017-18, exacerbated by deforestation in the Amazon. It inflicted $4.6bn loss to the economy of one of the biggest agricultural producers in Latin America.

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) to modernize the New Jalpaiguri (NJP) railway junction

According to sources of the Indian Railways, the New Jalpaiguri (NJP) is one of the 204 stations of the country identified for an upgrade. This would translate into excellent features for passenger comfort. This station is the largest of this region and the busiest of the NFR zone. Work has started on shifting of ticket counters along with the parcel and RMS offices. Shifting of the existing parking area is also on the cards. The tentative plan is to finish the work by 2025. That is what the chief public relation officer of NFR informed. NJP, located on the southern end of Siliguri, is among the top 100 stations of India in terms of railway bookings. After the upgrade, the station with its new infrastructure would have the capacity to handle over 70,000 passengers per day. At present, it handles as many as 36,000 passengers on any average day. The introduction of modern amenities would provide an airport-like feel and comfort to passengers. Centre plans NJP railway junction revamp. The station also has the narrow gauge track of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR), which is on the list of UNESCO world heritage sites. There will now be new foot over-bridges, separate arrival, and departure lobbies.

The business community of this region, including stakeholders of the tourism industry have welcomed the announcement by the NFR. These would give a boost to the local economy and contribute to development of the tourism sector. This happens to be a major industry in the region and is the third major decision made by the Centre to improve infrastructure for better connectivity in the region. A few weeks earlier, the Union minister of road transport and highways initiated the work of a 13-kilometre-long, four-lane road to connect the northeast and northwest ends of Siliguri via Darjeeling More. There are plans on the anvil for the expansion of the Bagdogra airport.

Tuesday, November 29, 2022

England on alert - the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) warns flooding from heavy rainfall could double in the next three decades

This is a wakeup call for England. The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) cautioned that many properties could face risk of flooding from heavy rainfall. This could double in the course of the next three decades and the government has to tackle the issue on priority. The NIC says hundreds of thousands homes and businesses are already in high danger of flooding from so-called "surface water flooding" from heavy rain. The situation is serious. Rains are intensifying due to climate change and is growing. Therefore, unmanaged developments risk putting many more properties at high risk of this sort of flooding by 2055. Hence, the government has to increase investment in relevant areas. Two of these are river pollution and drought. These have dominated public discussion about water recently. The commissioners say, "But we risk ignoring a problem that can literally drop out of the sky at any moment." The head of the Environment Agency warned a failure to adapt to climate breakdown will threaten all aspects of life in Britain. English properties at risk of flooding to double in next 30 years without urgent investment, government warned. Delays in action on adaptation would mean our children would have to bear the burden.

The nature of adaptations could be to plant trees to keep cities cooler in the face of heatwaves, or develop more heat-resilient crops. Incidentally, nature of flooding from heavy rain varies from place to place. Widespread flooding in London in July 2021 damaged more than 1,500 properties, as well as health infrastructure and public transport. Another issue is concreting of roads. Concrete increases the risk of flooding because it prevents rainwater from reaching natural drains like streams. Instead, the rainwater flows down the street and into gutters. The NIC calls for adequate investment over the next 30 years to tackle risks associated with heavy rainfall.

The Sunderbans in the delta of the Ganges in West Bengal plans to introduce home stay in order to improve tourism

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee is keen to introduce home stay in a big way. She looks at this as a development tool for the proposed Sunderbans district. This would be carved out from the districts of North and South 24-Parganas. The delta consists of 54 small islands. Here job opportunities are limited and main means of livelihood are fishing and crab hunting. In order to generate alternative livelihood for these people, the Bengal government plans to exploit the region’s tourism potential. It wants to do this through homestays with financial support from the administration. The chief minister, during a public meeting, said “I am trying to bring tourists here…. I have inaugurated nine jetties today (Tuesday) to explore river connectivity so that tourists can come.” She went on to advise residents to set up homestays. This is a facility gaining popularity with tourists in north Bengal. Her advice was - “Take one room in your home and turn it into a homestay accommodation so that tourists can stay. This will help local youths to earn a living.” Mamata advocates for homestay to boost Sunderbans tourism.

She described home stay as gharoa hotel and assured - “They (tourists) can spend a night at your home. We will give you money so that a bio-toilet is installed as well as a cot and a television set. Tourists will pay you for lodging and food in the way they pay for staying in big hotels.” She added that “this is one of the many initiatives that I have planned for you.”

Monday, November 28, 2022

UNESCO want to assign endangered status to the Great Barrier Reef, Australia does not agree

In the words of UNESCO, climate change and the warming of the oceans have affected the Great Barrier Reef GBR, the world's biggest coral reef ecosystem. Hence, it is in danger. Frequent bleaching events pose a threat to the reef. There have been four incidents of bleaching over the last seven years and the first this year during a La Nina phenomenon. This typically brings cooler temperatures. Bleaching happens when the water warms, the corals lose the colorful algae living in their tissues and turn white. The UNESCO report recommended shifting the Great Barrier Reef to endangered status. It was the outcome of a 10-day mission in March to the reef off Australia's northeast coast that was added to the World Heritage list in 1981. However, Australia does not agree. Its environment minister said her government would lobby against this recommendation by a UN panel. Australia argues against Great Barrier Reef's recommended endangered status. The GBR contributes to the economy of Australia. Its heritage status attracts tourists and in case of an endangered tag, it could lose the heritage status. Prior to COVID-19, it attracted two million tourists every year and provided employment to thousands of people.

Officials from the UN cultural agency and the International Union for Conservation of Nature reported that in the absence of an "ambitious, rapid and sustained" climate action, the GBR is in peril. Environment minister Tanya Plibersek said the new centre-left Labor party government that has come to power has already addressed several of the report's concerns, including action on climate change. She said the new government has legislated to commit Australia to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 43 percent below the 2005 level by 2030. The previous government had committed to a reduction of 26 percent to 28 percent by the end of the decade. As managing director Anna Marsden said - "The Great Barrier Reef is a wonder, she's got her challenges, but she's definitely not on her last legs in any case."

Police in Alberta, Canada, chase ostriches escaped from their enclosure, one of the birds killed when hit by a car

Police usually chase criminals and those who break the law. Very seldom, they have to chase huge birds. This has actually happened in Canada. The ostriches escaped from their enclosure and the police had to give chase. The animals tried to evade the police. It was a joint effort of the Taber Police Service, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as they tried to herd the ostriches. All of the escaped ostriches belonged to the same person. The police wanted to ensure that the animals' owners could safely capture them. Even non-police persons tried to grab the animals because they posed a danger to traffic on the road. It was a difficult task and a passenger in a vehicle did reach out to grab one of the animals by its neck but was not able to retain his grip. The ostrich fell to the ground but it ran away. Animal websites recommend grabbing an ostrich by its neck is necessary. That will prevent it from pecking. This is the advice of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Ultimately, it was possible to capture most of the escaped animals and efforts were on to secure the ones that remained free. Ostriches attempt to evade police after escaping Canadian enclosure. A moving car hit one of the ostriches and it became a casualty.

At times, RCMP has to involve in capturing horses and cattle but does not expect to respond to ostriches on the loose. As RCMP media relations officer Cpl. Troy Savinkoff says - "Ostrich certainly is something that we're very much less familiar with, and I can confirm that particular investigator who received their first report did not anticipate chasing ostriches during that shift.” Incidentally, ostriches are the fastest-running bird in the world. They have the ability to travel continuously at speeds of 30 to 37 miles per hour and can sprint up to 43 miles per hour. The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute has provided this information.

Sunday, November 27, 2022

International Space Station to grow tomatoes, SpaceX will carry the seeds

After the aborted first attempt, SpaceX is carrying a fresh haul of supplies to the International Space Station ISS. The seeds on board the mission include an assortment of dwarf tomato seeds apart from a range of science experiments. There will also be treats for the astronauts on the space station. Some of these are ice cream and Thanksgiving fare like spicy green beans, cranberry apple desserts, pumpkin pie and candy corn. The broad plan is to install the solar arrays outside the floating laboratory during spacewalks. The tentative dates are November 29 and December 3 and they will give the space station a power boost. SpaceX has been working hand in hand with NASA and has undertaken more than two dozen resupply missions to the ISS over the past decade. It was part of a multibillion-dollar deal with NASA. This year happens to be the busiest year to date for SpaceX, with more than 50 operations so far. These include two astronaut missions. SpaceX launches tomato seeds, other supplies to International Space StationThere are a number of health-related items on board. One of these is the Moon Microscope Kit. It is a portable handheld microscope for astronauts to collect and send images of blood samples to flight surgeons on the ground for diagnostics and treatment.

Incidentally, nutrients are a key component for maintaining good health in space. However, the astronauts seldom get fresh items and have to survive with prepackaged meals during their six-month stays in low-Earth orbit. Astronauts have already grown and tasted different types of vegetables like lettuce, radishes and chiles on the International Space Station. Now, they could add some dwarf tomatoes — specifically, Red Robin tomatoes — to their list of space-grown salad ingredients. This experiment is part of an effort to provide continuous fresh food production facilities in space. The tomatoes are expected to be ready for their first taste test in the spring. Half of each tomato harvest will be frozen and returned to Earth for analysis.