Latest Stories from Jamie
Is burning trash really the lesser evil of waste management?
A significant number of trash incinerators are operating across the US. Proponents of this type of waste management proclaim it environmentally preferable to landfill, but how much of a lesser evil is it β if at all? A proverbial βsteaming pile of garbageβ has no redeemable qualities, but there is a notable upside to be gleaned from real-life trash incineration. For well over a century now, parts of the US have...
Study lays bare Metaβs intrusive data gathering for targeted ads
Facebook has anything but a clean record when it comes to the intrusive data gathering of its consumers. Now, data watchdog Consumer Reports has revealed that tens of thousands of companies send Facebook data on single users. Your phone isnβt actually listening to you, donβt worry about turning your mic settings off. When youβre sent targeted ads for something overly specific, itβs far more likely that youβve been ingratiated into a...
Big Oil to be fined for methane emissions following new climate law
Under a new climate law introduced by the Biden administration, US oil and gas companies will soon have to pay a fee for methane emissions that exceed a certain threshold. Could this be an effective deterrent for repeat offenders? Itβs a poorly kept secret that methane is an ecological scourge on our planet. In-fact, the gas is responsible for a quarter of recorded climate warming linked to greenhouse gas emissions. Within...
This giant ancient ape became extinct because of climate change
An ancient species of great ape, named Gigantopithecus blacki, was driven to extinction hundreds of thousands of years ago. Scientists believe climate change is mostly to blame for putting the giantsβ favourite fruits out of reach during dry seasons. Between witnessing entire regions becoming upended by extreme weather and warnings of impending, irreversible changes from eco scientists, weβre hardly lacking for reasons to mitigate climate change. Nevertheless, hereβs another for...
Opinion β AFCONβs fossil fuel affiliation will further damage Africa
As the Africa Cup of Nations kicks off in the Ivory Coast, yet another tournament will ultimately serve to fill the pockets of those already destroying the continent. While the self-confessed obsessed (like myself) will happily take all the football we can get, at times there is a bigger picture to consider beyond sporting merit. Though Iβve no personal connection to the Africa Cup of Nations - the biennial tournament...
OpenAI alleges the New York Times tricked ChatGPT into plagiarism
In what is due to be a definitive case for the future of generative AI, the New York Times is suing OpenAI for training ChatGPT using its articles without permission. The defendant alleges that the media outlet tricked its AI model specifically to produce answers verbatim. The landscape of generative AI may not look so lawless in 2024, if the New York Times can win its landmark case against OpenAIβs...
Can wooden wind towers make renewable energy even cleaner?
Eradicating carbon-intensive materials from the production of wind turbines, like steel, Swedish start-up Modvion is creating easy-to-assemble alternatives from wood. Is this the way forward? Solar maybe the current undisputed king of the renewable energy farmyard, but wind is a close runner-up. Thereβs a global consensus that any chance of achieving the terms of the Paris Agreement will rely on drastically increasing renewable forms of energy. Specifically, wind and solar reportedly...
The taxman is coming for your resale side hustle
Those looking to make a buck through resale platforms including Vinted, eBay, and Depop will now have their earnings taxed by HMRC. Can we have anything at this point? So, you wish to supplement your national insurance contribution, rent, road tax, pension, student loan, and eye-watering living expenses with a simple side hustle? How embarrassing. The UKβs greedy hand will soon extend to resale apps like Vinted, eBay, and Depop as...
Climate Defiance group pledge solely to fight βcowardsβ of US politics
βWe do not do petitions. We do direct action,β is the opening gambit of Climate Defianceβs website. The eco activist outfitβs MO is political disruption, and it has its eye on the 2024 US election. With the next US presidential election scheduled for November 2024, the nationβs eco-activists are upping the ante to ensure ecological reform is high on the agenda of candidates. One such group, which sprung to life in...
Five ecological wins for the planet in 2023
While many of our ecological efforts need escalating, and fast, we donβt want to end the year pushing the typical doom and gloom rhetoric. Here are five positive stories to take into 2024. In what has been another tumultuous year for climate change news, here are some positive milestones to top up your sanity reserves. With fossil fuel conglomerates plotting for incessant gas and oil expansion, and corporate entities driving infinite...
