Category: Uncategorized

This video shows herald of the winter fungi in Finland.

Many fungi don’t survive frosty winter weather. However, there are exceptions to this. As the Dutch Mycological Society wrote (translated):

December 9, 2015 – The herald of the winter is a mushroom that appears late in the autumn. Usually the first specimens won’t come out until after the first frost. So late in the year, there are few people looking for mushrooms; and that is unfortunate, because herald of the winter fungi are beautiful to see. The best time to look for them has come. Knowledge of habitats is a requirement.

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All type of Moroccan lights are just fantastic. I created a small collection with different type of traditional lanterns, street lights, lights I had seen at the hotels and restaurants

“World leaders at the climate summit today presented a joint statement in support of new partnerships for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions from deforestation while promoting forest restoration and sustainable rural development.”   wwf.panda.org

GR:  Until we achieve effective population control, deforestation will continue.

“So there are more than 300 years of massive fossil fuel burning by the so-called West to account for. And while this historical responsibility still played a significant role at Kyoto in 1997—resulting in emissions cuts that were only legally binding for industrialised countries—it has gradually been pushed into the background. Now in Paris it seems almost forgotten. But the fact that about 80% of historical carbon emissions have to be attributed to the developed countries cannot simply be wished away.” – Prof Steffen Böhm

Even if the world celebrates a Paris climate deal on December 11, the process will still have to be regarded as failure. Let me explain why.

The basic reason is that the unequal distribution of carbon emissions is not even on its agenda. The historical responsibility of the West is not on the table, nor is a method of national carbon accounting that looks at how the…

African Civet, Zambia

Found only in sub-Saharan Africa, this small mammal is about 16 inches tall (40 cm) and 30 inches long (76 cm).

Although the population of this weasel relative is not officially endangered, they are difficult to observe.  In addition to being nocturnal and solitary, they are prey to many African stalkers including leopards and lions.  The species has also suffered from habitat loss.  I have seen far more shining sets of civet eyes on nighttime safaris, than the actual animal.

An omnivorous  hunter, Civettictis civetta eat plants and animals including vertebrates, invertebrates, and carrion.  The African civet, unlike other civets, is also semiaquatic.  More info here.

Named for their musky gland secretion, both genders secrete civet, used for marking territory.  For hundreds of years this mammal has been hunted by humans for their secretion, used as a basic ingredient in perfumes (including Chanel No. 5).  Fortunately…

Today’s demonstrations are in response to climate change. We want to show our leaders that we want them to take steps to stop global warming. We must also ask our leaders to change the human activities that are causing climate change.

1. We want them to block corporate control over our government and the decisions it makes.
2. We want them to end international sales of weapons and begin to encourage peace and a focus on life style and resource use.
3. We want them to discourage unsustainable resource harvests.
4. We want them to encourage human rights and equality.
5. We want them to speak out for wild animals and natural ecosystems.
6. We want them to call for restoring the damaged lands and seas.
7. And finally, we want them to oppose gender inequality and overpopulation.

We know that even if we stopped burning fossil fuels today, activities causing climate change would continue. Farming, deforestation…

The BBC reports  Earth’s trees number ‘three trillion’

The figure is eight times as big as the previous best estimate, which counted perhaps 400 billion at most.

Read story at Earth’s trees number ‘three trillion’ – BBC News