So Here We Are

Welcome to another month of what's going on with this weird and wonderful planet of ours. One thing that sticks out is the number of species in the news, both for coming and going. It therefore seemed apt to lead with the eerie meeting depicted in the winner of Australian Geographic's Nature Photography award for 2026.  Environment 'Ethereal Encounter'  A swordfish and turtle off the Pilbara coast. Matt Deakin's winning entry for the 2026 Australian Geographic Nature Photography award The Ugly Australia's new Environmental Protection Agency is not off to a good start: approving a coal mine extension to 2055 Chemical regulations have been eased in the UK . The decision is being challenged. Australian government shelves plans for packaging standards cutting plastic waste. Under Trump's aggressive ostrich stance, NOAA recently announced it would no longer release the annual Arctic Report Card. Fortunately, others will . The Bad A concerning number of  wildlife ...

Welcome to what's been going on over August. For an introductory image, I thought I would post this cartoon with a message commemorating the life and work of writer and activist Wendell Berry . Vale Wendell Berry. The stories about 'climate hushing' this month suggest some won't like this sentiment, but most will. I did not know of him until recently, but a number of people whose opinions I respect have been mourning his passing, and the sentiment conveyed seems appropriate to the theme of this blog. So, what *has* been happening?  Environment The Ugly: When expert studies are commissioned, adopting their recommendations might escape consideration.  Thus, as rising seas have the predictable effect on coastal erosion , isolated remediation efforts by local councils and governments continue to have the same ineffective and destructive outcomes as was predicted fifty years ago . The Bad: Bushfires, algae, and now bird flu: inhabitants of Kangaroo Island are feeling un...