In the world of politics, wars, tragedies and scientific breakthroughs, it is easy to see why ecology is not top priority for the general public. To remedy this, we have compiled some news that concern everyone and make you think. Here are a few stories that you may find engaging.
Cougar Kills Mountain Biker
Two cyclists in Seattle encountered a cougar. The normal procedure in such an event is to try and intimidate the big cat by yelling and trying to appear larger than you are. The idea behind this is to make the animal perceive you as a threat, rather than food. While the two mountain bikers did indeed follow the correct procedure, the cougar in question was particularly aggressive and it killed one and maimed the other. The cougar was later shot and killed. Sergeant Ryan Abbott from King County stated that the cyclists did everything they were supposed to do, but that there was something wrong with the cougar.
It is worth noting that attacks on humans are rare. Unprovoked animal attacks usually occur in cases of famine, or sickness. Cougars have been known to pounce on livestock before, but killing a person in Washington has not happened in years. Experts believe that animal attacks are becoming more frequent due to cities expanding and wildlife territories constantly decreasing.
Plastic Reaches The Far Corners
We often disregard the impact plastic has on the environment, as many countries use the seas of the world as a dumping ground for their waste. The results are in: plastic has been reported at Point Nemo. Point Nemo gets its name from Latin, meaning ‘no one’ and it is the body of water furthest away from any land. We would go as far as to say that it in the back of the beyond.
There is a considerable amount of microplastics per cubic meter, and it is not an exaggeration to say that this is cause for concern. The microplastics have been discovered by two yachts participating in an elite Volvo Ocean Race. The yachts have a filtration system that can collect samples of ocean water. The amount of plastic pollution found kept increasing as the race went on.
Decarbonized Costa Rica
To end on a high note, here is a piece of good news: the president of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado, plans to completely eliminate and ban fossil fuels. If his plan succeeds, and there is no reason it shouldn’t, Costa Rica is on its way to become the world’s first completely decarbonized country. We sincerely hope that this pioneer-like effort by president Alvarado will pave the way for other countries in the world towards using renewable and clean energy, like solar and wind power.