"If you don't have childcare, you don't have a working economy."

A reality Canadian policy makers refuse to accept as they recklessly continue to pursue Reaganomics and drive up unemployment to 5.8% in November.

Fortunately I snuck this awesome plaid shirt in before I put my wardrobe on a sustainability diet! I’ll just wear this all year 😜

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I bought an unsustainable amount of in 2023. According to The Hot or Cool Institute, we must transition to a sufficiency wardrobe to achieve our climate goals. In 2024, I’m going to try Tiffanie Drake’s Rule of 5 - I commit to not buy more than 5 clothing items for all next year. Who’s with me?

Read the report here: hotorcool.org/wp-content/uploa

I think a simple change in nomenclature could help Mastodon incredibly. Servers is an inaccurate term and instance is unfamiliar and vague. Both create tension for new users.
Why not simply call Mastodon instances what they are: Communities.
Ask users which Mastodon community they'd like to join. Have community rules, community policy, and community leaders. Not server rules, instance moderators and administrators.

Let me start. Everyone is welcome at our community, thecanadian.social

A Christmas Message from the President of Ireland

"...may I express my gratitude to the migrants who now call Ireland their home. Their presence enriches our culture, contributes to our society, bringing as they do experiences, traditions, and perspectives that make us stronger as a nation.'

telescoper.blog/2023/12/24/a-c

“‘I wish it need not have happened in my time,’ said Frodo.
‘So do I,’ said Gandalf, ‘and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.’”

Detailed NASA analysis finds Earth and Amazon in deep climate trouble

Disturbingly, their findings indicate that a 2°C increase could be reached between 2041 and 2044 (under higher and lower emission scenarios, respectively) in comparison with the preindustrial period (1850-1900). The planet is currently at 1.15°C (2.07°F) above 19th century levels, with most of this warming occurring since 1975.

news.mongabay.com/2023/12/deta

#MassExtinction #pollution #ecology #environment #climate #Nasa

Revealed: Ads Urging Canadians to Oppose Climate Laws Paid for by Gas Industry

“Voice of Energy” is a new ad campaign and website featuring photos of diverse and well-dressed young people, explainers making the case for natural gas while downplaying its massive contribution to climate change, and videos urging viewers to join in an effort to “protect” the fossil fuel against laws restricting new gas hookups in buildings

desmog.com/2023/12/21/revealed

#canada #pollution #ecology #environment #climate

Vaccinating livestock against common diseases is a form of direct climate action, say researchers

Diseases with high mortality levels, such as classical swine fever or avian influenza, mean farmers need to use more resources and raise additional animals to maintain food production. This will cause the generation of more greenhouse gas emissions

phys.org/news/2023-12-vaccinat

#MassExtinction #pollution #ecology #environment #climate #farmers

The link between climate change and a spate of rare disease outbreaks in 2023

The temperature-sensitive pathogens that caught U.S. communities off guard are a grim preview of the future

Scientists have warned that climate change would alter the prevalence and spread of disease in the U.S., particularly those caused by pathogens that are sensitive to temperature

grist.org/health/the-link-betw

#USA #US #MassExtinction #pollution #ecology #environment #climate #health

A thread of ten of my favorite papers that were published in 2023. I'm mostly interested in ecology & evolution, fungi, macroinvertebrates, biodiversity.

#ecology #evolution #fungi #macroinvertebrates #biodiversity

Aquatic insects in restored streams need more rocks to lay their eggs
sciencedaily.com/releases/2023

Likening it to providing more runways at busy airports, researchers at North Carolina State University found in a new study that adding protruding rocks to restored streams can help attract female aquatic insects that lay their eggs on the rock bottoms or sides.

#ecology #aquatic #insects #nature

Updated Red List highlights freshwater fish decline, overlooks Alberta species

climate change on freshwater systems impacting at least 17 per cent of these species

Nearly 200 species found in Canada are featured in the Red List

pentictonherald.ca/spare_news/

#MassExtinction #pollution #ecology #environment #climate #Alberta #canada

‘Tis the season to remember that all of Santa’s reindeer are female.

You see, males drop their antlers after the Autumn mating season, so since the world’s most celebrated reindeer are always depicted with spectacular antlers, we must assume that Ol’ Saint Nick’s entire intrepid team - including Rudolph - are female. #science #Christmas

One of the world’s longest-running experiments has been going for 144 years!

In 1879, botanist William Beal wanted to study how long buried seeds would remain viable. He buried bottles w different seeds in a secret spot on Michigan State's campus.

Every 20 yrs, a small group scientists dig up the bottles & seeds continue to germinate 🌱 (My husband @DavidLowry is the one on the right).

The paper from their last dig is now out so this #science story is back in the news. usatoday.com/story/news/nation

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Qoto Mastodon

QOTO: Question Others to Teach Ourselves
An inclusive, Academic Freedom, instance
All cultures welcome.
Hate speech and harassment strictly forbidden.