Tag Archives: World Wildlife Fund

Victory for Tribes, Waterways, and Planet as Pebble Mine Denied Permit

“Sometimes a project is so bad, so indefensible, that the politics fall to the wayside and we get the right decision.”

By Andrea Germanos, staff writer for Common Dreams. Published 11-25-2020

Photo: Brandon Hill/NRDC

Environmental campaigners stressed the need for the incoming Biden White House to put in place permanent protections for Alaska’s Bristol Bay after the Trump administration on Wednesday denied a permit for the proposed Pebble Mine that threatened “lasting harm to this phenomenally productive ecosystem” and death to the area’s Indigenous culture.

Continue reading

Share Button

As Planet Heats Further, Even Davos Elite Warns Humanity Is ‘Sleepwalking Into Catastrophe’

“Sleepwalking? Nah,” remarked Naomi Klein, decrying the “Davos Class” policies of global deregulation, privatization, unending consumption, and growth-worship. “Pretty sure your eyes were wide open.”

By Jessica Corbett, staff writer for Common Dreams. Published 1-16-2019

Dusk, looking north at the chimney and main buildings of the Fawley Power Station. Photo: Jim Champion/CC

Ahead of the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland next week—which convenes the world’s wealthiest and most powerful for a summit that’s been called both the “money Oscars” and a “threat to democracy”—the group published a report declaring, “Of all risks, it is in relation to the environment that the world is most clearly sleepwalking into catastrophe.”

While WEF has made a habit of recognizing the threat posed by the human-made climate crisis in its Global Risks reports—for which it has garnered some praise—author and activist Naomi Klein was quick to challenge the narrative presented in the latest edition (pdf), pointing out that many of the polices pushed by the very people invited to the exclusive event have driven the global crisis. Continue reading

Share Button

Humanity ‘Sleepwalking Towards the Edge of a Cliff’: 60% of Earth’s Wildlife Wiped Out Since 1970

“Nature is not a ‘nice to have’—it is our life-support system.”

By Julia Conley, staff writer for Common Dreams. Published 10-30-2018

Human activity has wiped out 60 percent of animal populations around the world since 1970 according to a new study by the World Wildlife Fund. (Photo: s.imeon/Flickr/cc)

Scientists from around the world issued a stark warning to humanity Tuesday in a semi-annual report on the Earth’s declining biodiversity, which shows that about 60 percent of mammals, birds, fish, and reptiles have been wiped out by human activity since 1970.

The World Wildlife Fund’s Living Planet Index details how human’s uncontrolled overconsumption of land, food, and natural resources has eliminated a majority of the wildlife on the planet—threatening human civilization as well as the world’s animals. Continue reading

Share Button

As Climate Records Shatter, Lights Dim Worldwide in ‘Call to Switch on Our Collective Power’

Earth Hour 2016 ‘reminds us that we are also witnessing mounting momentum to change climate change’

By Andrea Germanos, staff writer for Common Dreams. Published 3-20-2016

Paris takes part in Earth Hour 2016 turning off lights at the Eiffel Tower. (Photo: Yann Caradec/flickr/cc)

Paris takes part in Earth Hour 2016 turning off lights at the Eiffel Tower. (Photo: Yann Caradec/flickr/cc)

Cities worldwide turned off their lights for an hour Saturday night to mark this year’s Earth Hour and highlight the pressing need for global climate action.

According to the Earth Hour movement’s website, 2016’s celebration—the tenth time the annual event has taken place—was the biggest ever, with an “unprecedented 178 countries and territories” taking part,” and including “1.23 million individual climate actions, from petitions to on-the-ground activities.

“Every light switch turned off represents a call to switch on our collective power and be the first line of defense for our planet as we form the frontlines of climate change,” said Siddarth Das, Executive Director of Earth Hour Global. Continue reading

Share Button