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Kabul Zoo No Sanctuary for Animals |
Down in Kabul's southwestern area of Deh Mazang, the zoo is a cool green oasis amid the dust and debris of the war-ravaged city. But all is not as it seems. The animals are apparently up in arms at the conditions they live in, and the zookeepers are angry too. The increasing numbers of visitors to the 10 hectare stretch of land mean the 34 species of animals, including foreign species mostly donated by China, are subjected to ever more indignities. full story |
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Argentinean Ancient Forests
Trashed for GE Soya Plantations |
Bulldozers are currently clearing the forests of South America at an alarming rate. In Argentina areas of forest the size of a soccer pitch disappear every three minutes. The rate of disappearance rises to every ten seconds in countries like Paraguay and Brazil, as latest Government figures for deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon show. "Companies are failing to act responsibly, and the Argentinean Government stands by while rampant deforestation continues." full story |
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First Global Bird Map Shows
Complex Diversity Patterns |
The first full map of where the world's birds live shows that the pattern of bird diversity is much more complicated than previously thought. The new findings are drawn from the most complete and detailed picture of bird diversity yet made, based on a new global database of all living bird species. Published in the current issue of the journal "Nature, the map will help to focus conservation efforts.
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Antarctic Ice Shelf Collapse
Linked to Global Warming |
The collapse of a huge ice shelf in Antarctica in 2002 has no precedent in the past 11,000 years, according to a study to be published today that points the finger at global warming. Measuring some 3,250 sq km in area and 220m thick, the Larsen B iceshelf broke away from the eastern Antarctic Peninsula in 2002, eventually disintegrating into giant icebergs. full story |
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Greenpeace Reveals Biotech Giant Monsanto
Application for Global Pig Patent |
Greenpeace researchers have uncovered patent application from the biotech giant Monsanto which, if granted, would give the company world-wide control over breeding of pigs and their off spring. Greenpeace warns that Monsanto's aggressive patent practices covering gm crops and normal seeds threaten biodiversity, endanger world food security and ruin the livelihoods of farmers and calls for the patent applications to be withdrawn. full story |
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Bush Endorses 'Intelligent Design' |
President Bush waded into the debate over evolution and ''intelligent design" yesterday, saying schools should teach both theories on the creation and complexity of life. In a wide-ranging question-and-answer session with a small group of reporters, Bush essentially endorsed efforts by Christian conservatives to give intelligent design equal standing with the theory of evolution in the nation's schools. full story |
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Medical Examiner Confirms
First Electrocution by Taser |
An Illinois coroner became the first to determine that shocks from a Taser weapon were the primary cause of death of a human being, though the controversial devices have been implicated in scores of fatalities across the country. A '04 Amnesty International report on Tasers found more than 70 mortalities involving Tasers in the US and Canada since '01. The Arizona Republic has found 140 such incidents from '99 to present. full story |
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Report Shows Toxic Chemicals
Prevalent in Americans' Bodies |
The most worrisome news, from the Environmental Working Group, shows that even in utero, babies have an average of 200 chemical contaminants in their bloodstreams. The most prevalent chemicals in the newborns were mercury, fire retardants, pesticides and the Teflon chemical PFOA recently characterized as a likely human carcinogen by the EPA's Science Advisory Board. full story |
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