WWF releases report on avoiding the next zoonotic disease pandemic

Humans must address environmental issues now if they wish to avoid future pandemics, WWF International stated in a report released last week. Top drivers of new zoonotic diseases include wildlife trade and consumption, deforestation and loss of natural ecosystems to agriculture. COVID-19’s devastating costs include the lives of 370,000 people in over 200 countries between December 2019 and May 2020 and an economic impact in the trillions. People are still trying to pinpoint COVID-19’s exact origins, but scientists believe it is a zoonotic disease, meaning one that wildlife transmits to humans. Scientists have linked the novel coronavirus to a disease prevalent in horseshoe bats. Related: Orcas threatened by highly contagious respiratory virus, CeMV  “We must urgently recognize the links between the destruction of nature and human health, or we will soon see the next pandemic,” said Marco Lambertini, director general of WWF International. “We must curb the high risk trade and consumption of wildlife , halt deforestation and land conversion as well as manage food production sustainably.” This goes for the whole world, from pangolins in Asia to brown bears in the EU’s Carpathian Mountains. According to the report, COVID-19: Urgent Call to Protect People and Nature , new zoonotic diseases are emerging at a frightening rate. WWF calls on governments to halt the high-risk wildlife trade, introduce new policies to eliminate deforestation, protect food security in vulnerable communities, recognize Indigenous peoples’ land and water rights and commit enough dollars to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity’s post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework . The organization also urges governments to halve their production and consumption footprints and to adopt a One Health approach that acknowledges the links between the health of humans, animals and the environment we share. “Deforestation and ecosystem conversion are squeezing wildlife — and with it viruses — out of their natural habitats and closer to humans,” said Anke Schulmeister-Oldenhove, senior forest policy officer at WWF EU. “Forests can be our ‘antivirus,’ they protect us from pandemics and we need to protect them. New legislation should also protect human rights, especially those of Indigenous peoples and local communities.” + WWF Image via Volodymyr Hryshchenko

More here:
WWF releases report on avoiding the next zoonotic disease pandemic

Lost jobs and the collateral damage of climate change

A look at the links between the environment and employment — and why that relationship could get much messier in a climate-constrained world.

More here:
Lost jobs and the collateral damage of climate change

MIT researcher links Monsanto’s Roundup to autism, predicts HALF of U.S. children will be autistic by 2025

A shocking statistic recently released by MIT scientists predicts that Monsanto’s Roundup weed killer will cause one out of every two children born in the United States to be diagnosed with autism by the year 2025. The active ingredient in the pesticide, glyphosate, has been linked to to autism – and the report shows that the popular increase in Roundup use since 1990 directly correlates with the rise of Autism. Read on for a deeper look into this harrowing prediction , and what it could mean for our future. READ MORE > Permalink | Add to del.icio.us | digg Post tags: autism , autistic children U.S. , child with autism , Inhabitots , MIT , MIT Research , Monsanto causing autism , Monsanto Roundup , monstanto

Original post: 
MIT researcher links Monsanto’s Roundup to autism, predicts HALF of U.S. children will be autistic by 2025

Quote of the Day: David Suzuki on the Occupy Wall Street Movement

Photo: environmentnorth via Flickr / Creative Commons The Occupy Wall Street protests are poised to spread worldwide during its fourth week. Many observers are making the links between financial malfeasance , government corruption ,

See the original post:
Quote of the Day: David Suzuki on the Occupy Wall Street Movement

How to Build a DIY Solar Dehydrator (Video)

Image credit: Paul Wheaton Earlier today I posted an appeal from Paul Wheaton for funding for his latest video project . but if you’ve yet to check out one of his practical, permaculturist back-to-the-land videos—from rocket mass stoves through tiny houses to

More: 
How to Build a DIY Solar Dehydrator (Video)

Reusing, recycling and upcycling links – and a video

It’s been a while since I’ve featured some of the wonderful reusing, recycling and upcycling links I’ve spotted recently.

Go here to read the rest: 
Reusing, recycling and upcycling links – and a video

How can I reuse or recycle Ariel Gel Dosing Devices?

Granny Cain emailed about Ariel Gel Dosing Devices: Enough!! I now have enough dosing devices for each child in a classroom…. but what to do with them

View post:
How can I reuse or recycle Ariel Gel Dosing Devices?

Fab recycled projects: bird feeders, storage bags, pot racks & more

It’s been a few weeks since I shared some links so here are some of my favourite sightings and emails from the last month: First up, it has to be Scott’s coke can and chopsticks bird feeder – as always, a fab recycled item with very fun how-to instructions.

Here is the original post: 
Fab recycled projects: bird feeders, storage bags, pot racks & more

Recycled into Jewellery – more beautiful items made from rubbish

With all the buy-stuff events coming up over the next couple of months – and because it’s generally wonderful and inspiring, I thought it was high time we had another look around the world of upcycled jewellery – the stuff people are making by reusing and recycling random things that would otherwise be headed for landfill.

Originally posted here:
Recycled into Jewellery – more beautiful items made from rubbish