Today’s headlines. What harm are we doing to our children, is it the end of Australia as we know it, words of wisdom from environmental champions and all the food and drink you could wave a reusable glass at.
Top of our reading list today is this article in The Guardian headlined ‘The world is failing to ensure our children have a ‘liveable planet’, report finds. It quotes extensively from a new report published jointly by WHO, Unicef and the Lancet, going on to say ‘Every country in the world is failing to shield children’s health and their futures from intensifying ecological degradation’. It for makes sobering reading.
So too does this thought provoking piece of writing in The New York Times which asks if Australia could be the first nation to file for ‘climate bankruptcy’ ending the nation as we know it. “If there’s not a major shift that comes out of this, we’re doomed,” it quotes Robyn Eckersley, a political scientist at the University of Melbourne in a strong piece of long form journalism.
As much of the UK struggles to cope with devastating floods there seems little chance of respite. The Daily Mirror and The Guardian among those warning of even more danger to come. The theme emerging each day as how it is becoming the ‘new norm’ and questions over government policy, planning and response.
By contrast, in Scotland, a debate taking place at The Gathering this morning where early Tweets suggest First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has called on more co-operation with the third sector to address the pressing emergencies facing communities, Third Force News among those covering the conference.
First Minister addresses #scvogathering – “third sector is essential to the health and happiness of people across Scotland”; promises a significant role for charities in run up to #COP26 climate summit pic.twitter.com/HAJwiD3488
— Third Force News (@ThirdForceNews) February 19, 2020
Congratulations to Sir Tom Hunter’s The Hunter Foundation and all those involved in last night’s charity dinner in Edinburgh which had Sir David Attenborough as special guest in which he argued it was not yet too late to tackle the climate emergency.
Among those attending were UK Theatre School, along with pupils from Perth Grammar, Denny High and George Heriot’s. The Edinburgh Reporter also caught some of the other VIP guests arriving on the night.
Sir Tom Hunter introducing our students on stage tonight at #nationalmuseumofScotlamd
Honoured to be performing at such an amazing event. Thank you so much @THunterF#SirDavidAttenborough@UKTheatreSchool #positivechanges #ClimateChange pic.twitter.com/olgT5VM6jz— UKTheatre School (@UKTheatreSchool) February 19, 2020
One other positive of the night … was the meal served being vegetarian.
Among the headlines is this piece from iNews and others on a Scottish based firm who has distilled what they claim to be the world’s first climate positive gin made out of … peas. It comes from Arbikie Distillery after a five year PhD studentship between its master distiller and two world leading research facilities.
Talked about heavily on social media this morning, are stories about new guidelines suggesting that workplace fridges should ensure at least one shelf is dedicated to vegans. While welcomed by vegans themselves, it has caused a stir from others. It follows a ruling last month that veganism should have the protection of the law.
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Credit: Main image, Arbikie Distillery, featuring Kirsty Black and Graeme Walker
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