Human damage to biodiversity is leading us into a pandemic era. The virus that causes COVID-19, for example, is linked to similar viruses in bats, which may have been passed to humans via pangolins or another species. Environmental destruction such as land clearing, deforestation, climate change, intense agriculture and the wildlife trade is putting humans…
Medics pay price as researchers say half of Indonesia could be infected with coronavirus
Indonesia has added a grim new statistic to its COVID-19 fatality rates that are already among the highest in the world — a high ratio of doctor deaths amid warnings the country’s health system may not be able to cope with an “Italy-level outbreak”. At least seven Indonesian doctors and one nurse have died of…
We Stand with Jeremy Corbyn
“In defence of decency, and for the future of socialism in Britain and around the world.” We, members of the Progressive International, stand with Jeremy Corbyn as a genuine internationalist and inspiration to progressive forces around the world. Jeremy Corbyn has been a champion of decency and an ally to all movements fighting racism, colonialism,…
Indigenous Traditions Show How to Prevent Fires
How should we tackle the wildfires devastating California? By learning from and adapting the practices of the region’s Indigenous people, says Jackie Fielder. The Indigenous woman running for a California state Senate seat who we profiled last December explains what this would look like to AJ+ producer Hangda Zhang. Indigenous practices are key to fire prevention “I’m proposing an…
Role of Malaysian banks in PNG deforestation highlighted
Malaysian banks have been urged to apply more regulations on finance for forest clearance in Papua New Guinea. Environmental justice NGO Global Witness has released a new report into international financing of deforestation. It said six companies associated with destruction of the world’s main forests received US$44 billion in finance over the past six years. These include…
To Avoid Conflict, Responses to Climate Change in Oceania Must Heed Customary Actors and Institutions
Considering how vulnerable Pacific Island countries (PIC) are to the conflict-prone effects of climate change, it is surprising that so little attention has been focused on the region. To address the conflict potential of the effects of climate change, as well as of adaptation and mitigation policies and technologies, policymakers must draw upon research related to…
Plantain (Plantago major): Why It’s an Herb and Not a Weed, Uses, Benefits and More
Plantain is a common garden herb with healing properties. Although many people refer to plantain as a weed, it’s actually an edible medicinal herb with a number of health benefits. You can use plantain leaf as a poultice for insect bites, a plantain tea to improve digestion or soothe bronchitis, or a healing plantain salve for…
Philippines passes law requiring students to plant 10 trees if they want to graduate
A new Filipino law requires all graduating high school and college students to plant at least 10 trees each before they can graduate. The law formalises a tradition of planting trees upon graduation, which is also hoped to simultaneously combat global climate change. The proponents of the law say the legislation could result in as many as 525…
An uneasy alliance: Indigenous Traditional Knowledge enriches science
An article I published last year in The Conversation and republished in Smithsonian Magazineabout Indigenous Traditional Knowledge and western science touched a nerve among some readers. My article discussed examples of Indigenous peoples having detailed knowledge of animal behaviour, coastal ecology and historical events that have only recently been “discovered” or verified by western scientists. Although the article was…
The vast majority of animals in the wildlife trade are not protected
As elephants, rhinos, and tigers capture the spotlight, thousands of other species are being traded into potential oblivion. Anecdotally, international trade in all 10 crocodile skink species, which come from New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Indonesia, seems to be on the rise. Yet no one has any idea how many of these lizards are…
Yes We ARE Nature 