Feeding the Ducks Worldwide

Biodiversity, Conservation, Habitat, News articles, UK No Responses »
May 202010

By Grace Howe

A visit to your local duck-pond can present a few surprises now that new cross- breeds and non-domestic wildfowl have fully integrated themselves into British wetlands.

National Trust conservationists, who manage parks such as Osterley Park and the vast expanses of Hampstead Heath in London, are raising concerns about the number of species now vying for space and shelter within the diminishing lake and pond areas of Britain.

A mallard duck

Most commonly seen in wildfowl parks across London now is the large red South African mallard duck, a relation to our very common British mallard. Although the birds cause intrigue for onlookers, with their beautiful red, black and tawny markings, they are felt to cause a hazard when it comes to feeding time. The South African mallard is up to four times the size and three times the height of its British counterpart, with a neck and body length of a goose. It can also reach for food far quicker than any other species commonly seen and can move quickly on land - where our water-bound ducks have not yet adapted their waddling manner for, despite the competition. We are used to seeing and feeding the common African black duck and the Asian white–faced whistling duck, yet these birds have posed little threat as they require roughly the same space and maintenance as our domestic breed.

Conservationists believe that these new species have been breeding in Britain for nearly three years but have only recently produced a sustained population growth that enables them to infiltrate our local city parks and be seen by the public.

Anine Akhtar, head of nutrition at the Wildfowl and Wetlands centre in Barnes, commented that “the problem here is not about conserved areas, because here we can ensure that all species receive adequate care and food. But in unmanaged areas such as local ponds and council-owned parks, there is the threat that the larger birds will take over. They take over space, nutrition, and water space.”

When asked if these changes are attributable to global warming influences and changes to the British climate, he said: “It is more a result of travelling and smuggling birds unfortunately, although the warmer winters here have certainly changed how all species of plant and wildlife breed, even within the last ten years.”

If you see these birds around, make sure you’re looking out for their less glamorous cousins.

Posted by GraceHowe at 6:43 pm Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

School meals in the UK

Food, Health, News articles, UK No Responses »
May 202010

By Smitha Peter

According to United Nations Convention, every child has a right to not to go hungry and provision of free school meals is a way to address this problem. But how effective is the school meal program in UK at present? “More than one million children living in poverty don’t qualify for free school meals as per current policy and 39% of those who are eligible won’t take them,” said Professor Martin Caraher, Centre for Food Policy, City University in his lecture on the topic ‘Food Poverty and Inequality: The growth of hunger in the UK’.

Healthy school meals have the capacity to reduce dietary inequalities. Image credit: Henrique Dante de Almeida

Current policy excludes secondary school children from working house holds with a low income. This means around 60% of secondary students living in poor household are not eligible for free school meals. At the same time many children who are eligible won’t take it because of the issues related to stigma and availability of low priced unhealthy food.

The Low Income Diet and Nutrition Survey by Food Standard Agency reveal that children from low income families eat more fast food and processed meat than those from richer background. They often eat inadequate level of iron, folate and vitamin D.

The Survey also observed that 36% of low-income population cannot afford to eat balanced meals, 22% report reducing or skipping meals and 5% do not have enough money to eat for a full day. Local variation in food prices makes the existing situation worse.

Providing free school meals to all children from households earning below £20,000 a year would cost an extra £1.53 billion a year. However, it can reduce the cost of health related diseases and can increase work place productivity in long run. At present child poverty costs the health care system £2 billion a year.

Children currently eligible for free school meals:

  1. Children whose parents are getting
    • Income support
    • Income-based jobseeker’s allowance
    • Income-related employment and supporters allowance
    • Support under part VI of immigration and asylum act
    • The guarantee credit of pension credit
  2. Children whose parents are workless, with an annual income of £16,190 or less
  3. Primary school children from working house hold with an income below £16,190

Children who are not eligible:

  1. Secondary school children from working households with a low income
  2. Primary school children whose parents have a household income over £16,190
Posted by Smitha Peter at 6:38 pm Tagged with: , , , , , ,

Lost butterflies of England

Biodiversity, England, News articles, Science No Responses »
May 202010

By Smitha Peter

A recent study by Natural England on threats to biodiversity revealed that the country is losing more than two animals and plants a year. A region-wise list of lost species of England published in the Guardian, based on the study; shows an interesting fact- six out of eight regions listed have lost a butterfly/moth species. This includes Marsh fritillary, Scotch argus and Chalkhill blue.

Marsh fritillary. Image credit: Julio Reis

The report warns that almost one third of the butterfly species across England is in decline. According to the European red list report for the European commission, intensive farming, climate change, forest fires and expansion of tourism are the major threats for the habitat.

“Many of the grass varieties cultivated for animal feeding are not butterfly friendly. The farming techniques based on monoculture with little plant diversity worsen the situation,” says Malcolm Bridge of Butterfly Conservation, one of the prominent insect conservation societies in Europe. Loss of grass land habitat has severely effected species like Marsh fritillary.

“It is difficult to reintroduce a butterfly species once its habitat is destroyed in a particular region. The butterfly colonies are usually located far apart. So even if the habitat is recreated, butterflies may not be able to travel back,” he added. Reintroduction of woodland butterflies like Pearl- bordered fritillary often faced this problem.

Wood white. Image credit: Clemens M. Brandstetter

Butterflies play an important role as pollinators in the ecosystem. They are often regarded as an indicator of a healthy environment. The population movement of butterflies are often analysed to get information about the changes in climatic conditions.

Here is some interesting information about the butterflies wiped out from different parts of England.

Yorkshire and Humberside/ East Anglia- Marsh fritillary butterfly

It is a charming butterfly with orange, brown and yellow chequered markings on wings. They live in colonies and occupy different types of habitat including hillsides, moor land, and meadows. The mating ritual of the Marsh fritillary is interesting. After mating, the male seals the genital opening of the female with a substance to prevent another male mating with her. They might be the first species discovered the use of ‘chastity belt’.

East midlands- Wood white butterfly

The Wood White is a delicate butterfly with a very slow flight. The males have a black spot at the tip of the forewings which is greatly reduced in the female. This butterfly lives in discrete colonies and can be found in wood lands and meadows.

West midlands- Chalkhill blue butterfly

Chalkhill blue. Image credit: www.entomart.be

The males are pale sky blue in colour, while females are chocolate brown. They live in groups and can found roosting communally in grass stems at hillsides. As the name suggest, they inhabit areas with chalk or lime rich soil. Food includes nectar from a variety of sources and minerals gathered from soil and animal droppings.

North West-Scarce crimson and gold moth

They are small in size with pink, yellow and grey shades in wings. The preferred habitat is costal dunes with plenty of wild thyme, the larval food plant. They are very active during warm weather, especially in June and August.

North East-Scotch argus butterfly

Scotch argus is a dark brown butterfly with a row of black eye spot on each wing. They are found in tall grass lands and are fond of sunshine. During sunny days males fly restlessly in search of a mate, while females spend their time basking. Their main food plant is blue moor grass.

Reference: http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/index.php

Posted by Smitha Peter at 5:04 pm Tagged with: , , , , ,

Frogspawn levels under threat from changing temperatures

Articles, Conservation, Environment, Habitat, Location, News articles, UK No Responses »
May 202010

By Smitha Peter

Frogs are often treated as environmental indicators because of their extreme sensitivity to changes in the ecosystem. According to the American Museum of Natural History website, scientists have recorded a major decline in the frog population around the world during the last fifty years as a result of habitat destruction, chemical pollution and climate changes.

Image credit: LiquidGhoul

A recent study on the timing of frogs spawning in the UK indicates that the future of these delicate creatures is at risk in the changing climate as they are genetically adapted to the local climatic conditions. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, used more than 50,000 records to find out how frogs are responding to variation in temperature across different parts of the UK.

During warmer years, frogs spawn in early spring to maximise the survival chance of offspring with a longer period for their development. The new study revealed that frogs in the warmer South West region spawn up to seven days earlier than those in the colder Northern region of UK. This shows that they are well adapted to their local environment.

However, this makes them more vulnerable to the temperature changes caused by global warming. It has been predicted that the temperature will raise by up to 1.7C in North East and 3 C in South West between 2050 and 2070. As a result, the frogs in the Southern part need to spawn about 30 days earlier, which is very unlikely to happen in this short time period. Otherwise they should move to further North to find favourable conditions. It is impossible for most of the frog population in the South as the English Channel acts as a a total barrier to any Continental migration.

According to the Woodland Trust, the resource for records utilised in the study, a large number of the UK’s wildlife species may face similar challenges.

Posted by Smitha Peter at 2:04 pm Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

Climate Change is centre stage in the election campaign for a night

Audio/podcast, Climate change, Discussion/debate, Science, UK No Responses »
May 202010

By Charlotte King and Laura Husband

Climate change and the environment did not feature highly in the General Election, with the economy taking centre stage. But at least some of the public must feel concerned about the environment, having voted in the first green MP in British Political history, leader of the Green Party, Caroline Lucas.

Simon and Ed did not agree on a few things.

So what are the three main party’s views on the big issues of the environment and climate change today? Laura Husband and Charlotte King went to the Climate Change debate hosted by the Guardian a week before the General Election to find out: In order of appearance in the first piece of audio, here’s what Greg Clark from the Conservatives, Ed Miliband from the Labour Party and Simon Hughes from the Liberal Democrats had to say on some major climate change issues.

Expanding Heathrow

Expanding London’s Heathrow airport has been a hotly-contested issue. Labour’s general consensus has been ‘for’ the airport, the Liberal Democrats ‘against’ the airport and the Conservatives against but in favour of an airport elsewhere.

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Will the Tory-Lib Dem alliance increase air travel to and from the UK? Picture credit: Axwel on Flickr

Climate Skeptics

A number of climate skeptics have spoken out against the existence of man made climate change following the controversial emails sent by a climate scientist from the University of East Anglia stating that some of the tree data was a ‘trick.’ There are also members of the three main parties who admit to being skeptical about climate change. So how do the three main parties deal with climate change skeptism?

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Greg had to defend the Tories

Present climate change policy

Prior to the general election, Labour’s carbon emissions policy was to reach a 34 per cent reduction against 1990 levels by 2020. But did the other main parties think this was realistic or indeed enough?

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Peak Oil

Peak oil is the point in time when there is no more petroleum in the ground to be extracted. There is uncertainty about when peak oil will be reached, what to do in the mean time and what to do when it is finally happens among the major parties.

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Have we reached peak oil or is it yet to come? Image credit: Chad Teer

Commentator at the Guardian George Monbiot asks how we will reduce fossil fuel consumption, in particular oil.

Whether to use the UK’s entire quota of oil before it runs out or whether to save some of it is a dividing question among the major parties.

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George Monbiot wrote the book 'Heat'. Image credit: JK the Unwise

Climate modeling

There is debate among scientists about how to measure climate change, and different models produce varying degrees of environmental change. A physicist questioned the model the politicians have been working with and suggests they should be using an alternative, which would be more accurate.

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Posted by Charlotte King at 12:40 pm Tagged with: , , , , , ,

Hold homeopaths to account

Alternative therapies, Articles, Editorial, England, Features, Health, Homeopathy, Human sciences, International, Medical research, National, Opinion/analysis, Policy, Public health, Science, UK No Responses »
May 202010

By Paul Rodgers

If it were up to me, magic would work. Much of my teens were spent in an imaginary land full of elves and dwarves, steeped in the lore of Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and games such as Dungeons & Dragons. Who could resist the idea that waving a wand or drinking a potion could solve life’s problems?

As an adult, though, I found that magic doesn’t work, and science does. Yet the NHS, an institution that should be a bastion of science, continues to spend millions of pounds a year – for remedies, staff and the upkeep of four specialist hospitals – on homeopathy, a practice with no scientific basis whose origins lie in Renaissance alchemy. At best, homeopathy is an expensive placebo, but in leaching scarce resources from treatments that are effective, and by distracting patients from seeking proper medical care, it causes real harm. That kind-hearted Britons are being encouraged to give money to pay for a group of homeopaths to go to Haiti to treat earthquake victims is scandalous.

Let’s be clear. Homeopathy is not the same as herbalism, which has some scientific merit. Its main principle, that “like-cures-like”, dates back to Paracelsus, a 16th century physician, astrologer and occultist who believed that if you suffered from, say, stomach cramps, the cure should be something that causes stomach cramps. The problem – obviously, you might think – was that this “cure” often made things worse. Two centuries later, Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician, realised that diluting the like-cures-like medicines reduced their toxic effects, though not, he claimed paradoxically, their efficacy.

And so homeopathy was born. Minute doses of the active ingredients are diluted so much that your chance of finding even one atom of it in your pricey sugar pills could be as low as one in a trillion. Exotic explanations for this vary widely, often involving the sort of pseudoscientific gobbledygook that is the stock in trade for Star Trek scriptwriters. One common idea is that water can “remember” which active ingredient used to be present (though apparently it forgets the myriad other contaminants that have been removed). As David Colquhoun, a professor of pharmacology at University College London, put it: “If homeopathy worked, the whole of chemistry and physics would have to be overturned”. Even some of the purveyors of these snake oils don’t have much faith in them. Paul Bennett, the professional standards director at Boots, one of the country’s biggest homeopathic retailers, admitted in November that “I have no evidence before me to suggest that they are efficacious.”

The Commons Science and Technology Select Committee – which reported on 22 February on its investigation into this “alternative therapy” – concluded that public funding for this hocus pocus should be cut. Even research into it should be abandoned as a waste of money. The MPs should go further. Homeopaths should be held legally responsible if they prescribe their placebos for conditions which demand proper medical attention. In Australia, two homeopaths, husband and wife, were jailed last autumn for gross criminal negligence over the death of their nine-month-old baby in 2002. The baby had severe eczema and died of septicaemia after her parents tried to treat her homeopathically. Even the placebo effect doesn’t work on babies.

Homeopaths will counter that they have several centuries worth of experience during which they’ve given their tonics to patients who have subsequently recovered. The flaw here is clear. Just because a treatment precedes a recovery does not mean it caused the recovery. Often patients seek help when their symptoms are worst, when the only way they could change is to get better. The argument that, in a free country, people should be allowed to choose what therapies they take is stronger, but only if patients are told the facts about those nostrums. And once they know that they’re getting a placebo, its effectiveness will mostly crumble. It has also been suggested that homeopathy helps GPs divert chronic time-wasters. Convenient, perhaps, but dishonest; like magic potions, lies have no place in a doctor’s black bag.

Posted by Paul Rodgers at 9:32 am Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

Bowel cancer test could save lives

Audio/podcast, Features, Health, Location, Medical research, News articles, Public health, Science, UK No Responses »
May 202010

by Joseph Milton

A polyp: a pre-cancerous growth in the bowel

A one-off five-minute procedure reduces deaths from bowel cancer by 43 per cent and decreases the incidence of the disease by a third.

If introduced nationally, it would save at least 3,000 lives every year, and save the National Health Service £28 for every person screened by removing the need for treatment, according to a study published in the Lancet.

Listen to Joseph Milton’s audio report below.

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doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(10)60551-X

Posted by Joseph Milton at 12:55 am Tagged with: , , , , ,

Interview with John Stewart

Articles, Climate change, Environment, Interview, Location, Pollution, UK, Video 1 Response »
May 192010

By Julius Goldthorpe and Jennifer Green

The possible expansion of Heathrow airport has led to worries concerning the environmental, social and political impact it would have in the UK. Arguments put forward for and against the proposed expansion have made this topic one of the most hotly debated in years.

Although a third runway at Heathrow may seem less likely since the Conservatives formed a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats, there is still a strong possibility that, in the not too distant future, the debate will resurface.

We were lucky enough to speak to John Stewart, chair of HACAN ClearSkies, regarding pollution, biofuels and the third runway.

Posted by Julius Goldthorpe at 5:12 pm Tagged with: , , ,

The refusal of an EPA in Northern Ireland

Articles, Environment, Features, N. Ireland, National, Policy, Pollution, Science No Responses »
May 172010

Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK without an independent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). An independent panel, commissioned under direct rule by Westminster, reviewed environmental governance in Northern Ireland and recommended an EPA. But devolution returned to Northern Ireland, and the Environment Minister rejected the calls for an EPA. She resigned 13 days after announcing her decision.

Ministers opt out of environmental planning

In October 2002, the European Commission highlighted Northern Ireland’s falling compliance of sewage treatment works with EU standards from 53 percent in 2000 to 35 per cent in 2001.

In response, Northern Ireland’s Planning Service recommended that the Executive pass a ban on further developments where current sewage infrastructure was inadequate.

Stormont Parliament building, Belfast, N. Ireland.

But the Minister of the Environment, then Dermot Nesbitt, issued a statement that: “Such an approach, despite the high level of environmental protection that would afforded, would have carried high risk in respect of constraints in economic growth and social progress.”

Professor Sharon Turner, an environmental law professor at Queens University Belfast, explains that: “In the 1970s, Northern Ireland started a steady decline into the Troubles. But by 2000, the European Commission had run out of patience and was no longer prepared to allow Northern Ireland – or indeed the UK – to let the situation continue.”

Review of Environmental Governance launched

In the summer of 2005, a coalition of Non-Governmental Organisations convinced the Minister of the Environment, Jeff Rooker, to put in motion a Review of Environmental Governance.

“That coalition was one of the most successful NGO campaigns I have ever seen,” says Professor Tom Burke, CBE and Chair of the Review of Environmental Governance in Northern Ireland.

Prof Turner and Gordon Bell, the managing director of Liberty IT, were the other two panel members. The independent review began in 2006.

“One factor that was really clear to the panel was that there was an overwhelming lack of confidence in the Government institutions from the people of Northern Ireland,” Prof Burke said.

Prof Burke explains that an independent EPA would allow policy to be separated from delivery and it would bring Northern Ireland into alignment with the rest of the UK.

But the one exception in the support from the public for an EPA was with the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU).

“I never understood what the UFU’s problem with it was; they seemed to have an ideological view that you shouldn’t have an EPA, which was not really based on any analysis,” Prof Burke said.

Stephen Farry, an Alliance party representative, points out that the UUP, Sinn Fein, Alliance and SDLP were all in favour of an EPA. “The only party not in favour of an EPA was the DUP, and the only DUP lobby group against it was the UFU,” he said.

David Ford, the leader of the Alliance party said: “The UFU were concerned that farmers would not have their views taken into account.” He added: “Ian Paisley said these men just want to farm the way they have always farmed, but the world has changed.”

The panel on the Review of Environmental Governance were commissioned while Northern Ireland was still under direct rule from Westminster. But while working on the review for two years, the political situation changed.

Devolution granted to Northern Ireland

McGuinness, George W. Bush and Ian Paisley meeting at Stormont.

History was made on 8 May 2007 when Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness joined forces and signed a pledge to share power.

The power-sharing arrangements were Ian Paisley (DUP) as First minister and Martin McGuinness (Sinn Féin) as Deputy first minister. Peter Robinson (DUP) governed Finance and Personnel, Catriona Ruane (Sinn Féin) Education, Arlene Foster (DUP) Environment, and Michelle Gildernew (Sinn Féin) Agriculture.

The review panel knew that might be problematic for any recommendations they made. “We knew that, quite rightly, when you put the democracy back in, the democratically elected representatives want to have a say.” Prof Burke said.

Minister rejects calls for an EPA

In May 2008, Arlene Foster, the Minister of the Environment, announced that she rejects the calls for an independent EPA. She stated: “I and my party take the role of environmental governance too seriously to externalise the organisation.” She resigned 13 days after her decision.

“The Environment Minister then, went against the will of the majority,” says Lisa Fagan of Friends of the Earth (Northern Ireland).

“I believe there are underlying political and economic issues that the UFU have to answer for regarding the rejection of an EPA for Northern Ireland.” Ms Fagan said.

Tom Burke believes it was unfair to the majority of people in Northern Ireland that one institution had disproportionate power.

“If direct rule had continued, then Northern Ireland would have an EPA. Yes, I’m sure it would have an EPA,” Prof Burke said.

But he adds that this was not the only reason. “I think it was partly the shift from direct rule to Stormont, partly the terms under which portfolios are allocated inside the power-sharing peace and partly the opposition of the UFU.”

Stephen Farry spoke of how the power-sharing dynamics should not depend on the ‘lucky dip’ of which party gets what office.

“Particularly on significant and controversial matters, there should be a collective view, to ensure that all interests represented in government are buying into decisions” he said.

This decision continues to have an impact on Northern Ireland’s environment. For example, Northern Ireland Water (NIW) was granted permission to open a sewage treatment works that provides only primary treatment of sewage before it is pumped into the North Channel. By the time the plant opens, the new Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive will require any sewage works serving over 2000 people to apply secondary treatment.

Ms Foster has yet to respond to many questions sent to her regarding this matter.

Posted by Aine Gormley at 10:45 pm Tagged with: , , , , , , , ,

Pensioners defend their health and welfare state

Health, National, News articles, Protests, Public health, UK No Responses »
May 162010

By Smitha Mundasad

In defence of a state they helped to create, thousands of pensioners gathered in force to fight for protection of the welfare state at the 10410 demonstration.

“The same generation that fought fascism, the same generation that built the welfare state is now calling this demonstration,” said Bob Crow, of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers.

Protecting the NHS played a prominent part in the rally, which was organised by the National Pensioners Convention and gained support from a diverse range of public sector workers and trade unions, from the British Medical Association, and National Union of Teachers to Medway Pensioners Forum.

Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of the British Medical Association said: “Never has it been a more important time to speak out in support of the NHS, when public services are facing unprecedented financial strain.”

Commenting that the major political parties in England “seem obsessed with marketed healthcare”, he asked the crowd, “isn’t it ludicrous that while we have nationalised banks, we are privatising the NHS?”

Dr Rob Galloway, an Accident and Emergency doctor of eight years said: “Patients are not commodities, they are people. But despite that, there has been a raft of policies to commercialise the NHS which has led to inefficiencies and decreased productivity”.

This was a unique event, bringing together people from all major public sectors. “We are not in competition with each other. Those who are in competition are the ones who purchase and make a profit out of our services,” said Dot Gibson, an organiser of the event and general secretary of the National Pensioners Convention.

Posted by Smitha Mundasad at 3:52 pm Tagged with: , , , , , , ,
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