Environment

“COP21: The Road to Paris Starts in Manila” brings civil society at the forefront for the climate

Two months before countries all over the world gather in Paris to conclude a landmark agreement to curb global warming, France is taking an initiative to highlight the role of civil society in climate negotiations in the Philippines and abroad through a Climate Week in Manila. France, as the host of the 21st Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) this December, is responsible for […]

Tiny marine creatures transporting carbon to seafloor

Colonies of tiny Antarctic marine creatures are thriving in response to a reduction in sea-ice cover, according to new research. A British Antarctic Survey (BAS) report suggests the filter-feeding bryozoans may be responsible for transporting millions of tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere to polar sea beds. Their research was published on Monday (September 21) in the Cell Press journal Current Biology. A British Antarctic Survey (BAS) investigation study into biological change on the seabeds […]

Strong parent-child bond can avert substance abuse

(PIA) —  Parents should uphold strong family bond with their children to prevent substance abuse among young people. Dr. Therese Castañeda, psychiatrist at the Pototan Treatment and Rehabilitation Center, said that parents are the first line of defense for children to avert drug or alcohol abuse. “Parents should know what their children’s hobbies are, their likes, in order to maintain that open communication,” she said. She said that parents should also set as good examples […]

Costa Rica invaded by thousands of sea turtles

(Eagle News) — The shorelines of Costa Rica was invaded by thousands of sea turtles or “pawikan” to lay their eggs. In Costa Rica, the natural phenomenon was called “Aribada: which means “arrival” in Spanish. (Eagle News Service Jay Paul Carlos, Jericho Morales, MRFaith Bonalos)

New car performs record-breaking loop the loop

(Reuters) — Jaguar’s new sports car entered the record books on Monday (September 14) when it took the title for performing the largest ever loop the loop in a car ever. Guinness World Records said the Jaguar F-PACE driven by stunt driver Terry Grant successfully completed a 19.08 m tall, 360 degree circle. Grant drove the car after two months of intense preparation, with the international pro driver having to ensure his body was ready […]

NEDA to discuss impact of climate change on Philippine agriculture, economic growth

MANILA, Sep. 15 — The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) will be holding a policy discussion on the effects of climate change on the country’s agriculture sector and its relative impact on economic growth. NEDA together with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), will organize the high-level policy form and research symposium, which will be held on September 18-19, 2015 at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel, Mandaluyong […]

The lion and the eagle

QUEZON City, Philippines (September 11) – For a country that has been largely left to its own fate, the sudden spike in international interest in Zimbabwe did not come from the high unemployment figures, the food shortages, the state persecution of vendors, the lack of medicines, the lack of cash – but from a lion named “Cecil” by conservationists. Here are some quick facts about Cecil the Lion: A major tourist attraction in Hwange National Park […]

NASA releases new images of mysterious bright spots on dwarf planet

SEPTEMBER 11 (Reuters) — NASA released new images of the dwarf planet of Ceres on Tuesday and Wednesday (September 8-9) showing a set of peculiar white spots in one of the planet’s craters. The animation and stills shown by NASA on social media are made up of images from NASA’s Dawn spacecraft and are the closest yet views of the Occator crater. The photos have a resolution of 450 feet (140 meters) per pixel and […]

Ocean life triggers ice particles in clouds, scientists say

SEPTEMBER 10 (Reuters) — A team of international scientists say they’ve proved that plant life in the ocean can contribute to the formation of ice particles in clouds. These particles influence how long a cloud exists and the amount rain, hail or snow it produces. The discovery, published in scientific journal Nature, could help reduce uncertainties in global climate modelling. Organic matter from microscopic phyto-plankton is launched into atmosphere along with sea spray by the […]

Soccer clubs to help refugees

GENEVA, Switzerland, September 9 (Reuters) — The initiative from FC Porto proposing that European soccer clubs should help refugees has been adopted unanimously by the European Club Association (ECA) after the election of a new Executive Board in Geneva, Switzerland on Tuesday (September 8). As Europe struggles with a migration crisis with 380,000 people arriving in the continent by sea this year, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), European clubs have decided to […]

APEC cracks down on Illegal Wildlife Trafficking

ILOILO CITY, Aug. 31 (PIA6)  –  Anti-corruption authorities, customs bureaus and law enforcement agencies from the 21 APEC members are ramping up their collaborative efforts to combat illegal wildlife trafficking in the Asia-Pacific, coming against the backdrop of breaking global developments that have helped to serve as a rallying point for greater policy action. This development was shared by the APEC Pathfinder Dialogue II on Fighting Corruption and Illicit Trade from the ongoing APEC meetings in Cebu […]

Renewable energy produces unstable supply

ORMOC CITY, Leyte, Sept. 8 (PNA) – While the Department of Energy is pushing for the generation of clean energy from natural resources, some experts are apprehensive with the unstable power produced by variable renewable energy (VRE) such as solar and wind due to its fluctuating nature. Raul Galano, head of the Visayas Systems Operations of National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) told reporters that variable renewable energy is named as such because of […]