Ralph Martin
@ralphmartin.bsky.social
Indigenous ally and committed to organic agriculture, ecology, reducing waste and minimal consumption
“Latest ingredient, Epyrifenacil, breaks down to smaller forever chemical called trifluoroacetic acid (Tfa) … 4 of 5 pesticides proposed for approval this year have active ingredients that break into Tfa … not filtered out of water with most filtration methods” www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Trump officials set to approve ‘forever chemical’ as pesticide ingredient
Critics say that fifth Pfas Trump’s EPA has proposed for approval this year would put food and water supply at risk
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:27 PM
“Latest ingredient, Epyrifenacil, breaks down to smaller forever chemical called trifluoroacetic acid (Tfa) … 4 of 5 pesticides proposed for approval this year have active ingredients that break into Tfa … not filtered out of water with most filtration methods” www.theguardian.com/environment/...
“A solar power plant installed in Umuolu, enabling remote riverine community to rely entirely on clean energy. There are no oil spills and no tensions about who will be employed by the energy company. Residents fish and farm the land, which is how it should be” www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
My father, Ken Saro-Wiwa, died fighting for a clean Nigeria. Thirty years on it’s time to stop sucking on the dirty teat of the oil cash cow | Noo Saro-Wiwa
In 1995, as one of the Ogoni Nine, he was hanged after protesting against Shell’s oil pollution. With education and a move towards renewable energy, we can honour his legacy
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:11 PM
“A solar power plant installed in Umuolu, enabling remote riverine community to rely entirely on clean energy. There are no oil spills and no tensions about who will be employed by the energy company. Residents fish and farm the land, which is how it should be” www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
“Israeli troops opened fire unprovoked on civilians racing to reach food handouts at militarised distribution points of US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fndn” … “I feel like they’ve destroyed all my pride in being an Israeli – in being an IDF officer” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Israeli soldiers speak out on killings of Gaza civilians
IDF soldiers tell documentary of opening fire unprovoked and arbitrary designations of who was an enemy
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:49 PM
“Israeli troops opened fire unprovoked on civilians racing to reach food handouts at militarised distribution points of US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fndn” … “I feel like they’ve destroyed all my pride in being an Israeli – in being an IDF officer” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
“The current plans are to dig and pump more than double the amount of fossil fuels compatible with a 1.5C world. And 77 per cent more than the 2C threshold that countries in Paris agreed to stay ‘well below’” www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/10/o...
A decade since Paris: why Canada is still running in place
As the governments of the world arrive in Brazil for the 30th annual climate gathering, let's take stock of what’s happened globally, and here at home in Canada.
www.nationalobserver.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:35 PM
“The current plans are to dig and pump more than double the amount of fossil fuels compatible with a 1.5C world. And 77 per cent more than the 2C threshold that countries in Paris agreed to stay ‘well below’” www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/10/o...
"She developed growing pots ideal for transplanting, fibre mats with standard and customizable spacing and hole sizes, sheep tea pouches to enrich water, soil-amending wool pellets and pelletizing services for sheep and alpaca producers ... also a felted lambing jacket" farmtario.com/livestock/fr...
From fleece to fertile ground | Farmtario
Lindsey Weber turns Canadian wool into sustainable, biodegradable weed suppression and horticulture alternatives to plastic, boosting farm sustainability and revitalizing Canada’s wool industry.
farmtario.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:08 PM
"She developed growing pots ideal for transplanting, fibre mats with standard and customizable spacing and hole sizes, sheep tea pouches to enrich water, soil-amending wool pellets and pelletizing services for sheep and alpaca producers ... also a felted lambing jacket" farmtario.com/livestock/fr...
“340-sq-mile lake is receding as its primary source, Colorado R., dries amid ongoing drought and over-reliance for drinking or ag water. Patches of dried Salton Sea bed are now exposed, and contaminated from pesticide chemicals and nutrients in fertilizers” www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
California’s drying Salton Sea harms the lungs of people living nearby, say researchers
Experts suspect that dust from the sea contains endotoxic bacteria membranes caused by fertilizer runoff
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:26 AM
“340-sq-mile lake is receding as its primary source, Colorado R., dries amid ongoing drought and over-reliance for drinking or ag water. Patches of dried Salton Sea bed are now exposed, and contaminated from pesticide chemicals and nutrients in fertilizers” www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
“I did not start this hike intending to talk about climate, but it is untenable, the effect we are having ... I see the glaciers dwindling. I see that there is supposed to be a glacier here, but there is nothing. And that scares me.” www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
She left her desk job and walked 3,541 miles from Mexico to Canada: ‘Give yourself permission’
Jessica Guo hiked 30 miles a day, becoming the first woman to continuously hike two historic US trails in a calendar year
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:12 AM
“I did not start this hike intending to talk about climate, but it is untenable, the effect we are having ... I see the glaciers dwindling. I see that there is supposed to be a glacier here, but there is nothing. And that scares me.” www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
“At Cop26 in Glasgow a fresh round of pledges cut projected temperature rises further but only to 2.7C. At this Cop nations will need to revise their targets again – but with temperatures climbing faster than expected, those revisions have to be urgent and deep” www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
Amid squabbles, bombast and competing interests, what can Cop30 achieve?
Climate summit in Brazil needs to find way to stop global heating accelerating amid stark divisions
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:00 AM
“At Cop26 in Glasgow a fresh round of pledges cut projected temperature rises further but only to 2.7C. At this Cop nations will need to revise their targets again – but with temperatures climbing faster than expected, those revisions have to be urgent and deep” www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
“63 loads from 3 cutblocks of > 90% old-growth forest - almost certainly contained old growth. Remaining 362 lorry loads of whole logs from 22 cutblocks in Skeena region that were more than 80% old growth, meaning that it was “likely” they contained old growth. www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Drax still burning 250-year-old trees sourced from forests in Canada, experts say
Exclusive: report by Stand.earth says subsidiary of power plant received truckloads of whole logs at biomass pellet sites
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:19 PM
“63 loads from 3 cutblocks of > 90% old-growth forest - almost certainly contained old growth. Remaining 362 lorry loads of whole logs from 22 cutblocks in Skeena region that were more than 80% old growth, meaning that it was “likely” they contained old growth. www.theguardian.com/business/202...
“The river’s biodiversity would also suffer if blasting destroys these rare rapids, where endangered fish gather, turtles breed and river dolphins feed” www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
Upstream from COP30, Brazilians push back at plan to blow up a river for soybeans’ sake
A rocky stretch of the Tocantins River stands in the way of expanding agribusiness, so Brazil wants to blast it. Locals aren’t sure that’s a good idea
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:28 PM
“The river’s biodiversity would also suffer if blasting destroys these rare rapids, where endangered fish gather, turtles breed and river dolphins feed” www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
“Andrew Holness, Jamaica’s PM, estimates damage there equivalent to 1/3 of country’s GDP … In northern, temperate countries, gravest dangers from global heating are largely seen as in the future, but in some parts of the world they are, undeniably, unfolding now” www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on worsening extreme weather: the injustice of the climate crisis grows ever clearer | Editorial
Editorial: The increasing ferocity and frequency of tropical storms imposes an unbearable burden on countries including Jamaica
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:41 AM
“Andrew Holness, Jamaica’s PM, estimates damage there equivalent to 1/3 of country’s GDP … In northern, temperate countries, gravest dangers from global heating are largely seen as in the future, but in some parts of the world they are, undeniably, unfolding now” www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
“Gates's argument to align all funding to current “data-based analysis” of improvements in human welfare, while it might sound rational, introduces in the face of non-linear systemic change a profound irrationality, prompting us to ignore the greatest threats” www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
I wish we could ignore Bill Gates on the climate crisis. But he’s a billionaire, so we can’t | George Monbiot
Money talks – and his essay denouncing ‘near-term emissions goals’ at Cop30 mostly argues the case for letting the ultra-rich off the hook
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:29 AM
“Gates's argument to align all funding to current “data-based analysis” of improvements in human welfare, while it might sound rational, introduces in the face of non-linear systemic change a profound irrationality, prompting us to ignore the greatest threats” www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
“Net worth of 10 richest US billionaires grew by $698bn in past year, is almost 10x annual amount required to end extreme poverty worldwide … Wealth seems to scramble certain cognitive functions, particularly those related to empathy and perspective” www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
I wish we could ignore Bill Gates on the climate crisis. But he’s a billionaire, so we can’t | George Monbiot
Money talks – and his essay denouncing ‘near-term emissions goals’ at Cop30 mostly argues the case for letting the ultra-rich off the hook
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:28 AM
“Net worth of 10 richest US billionaires grew by $698bn in past year, is almost 10x annual amount required to end extreme poverty worldwide … Wealth seems to scramble certain cognitive functions, particularly those related to empathy and perspective” www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
“So far, in 2025, Greenland and Antarctic ice mass are at record lows and may be passing tipping points, potentially committing the planet to meters of sea-level rise ... Atlantic meridional overturning circulation is weakening, threatening major climate disruptions” academic.oup.com/bioscience/a...
The 2025 state of the climate report: a planet on the brink
We are hurtling toward climate chaos. The planet's vital signs are flashing red. The consequences of human-driven alterations of the climate are no longer
academic.oup.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:23 AM
“So far, in 2025, Greenland and Antarctic ice mass are at record lows and may be passing tipping points, potentially committing the planet to meters of sea-level rise ... Atlantic meridional overturning circulation is weakening, threatening major climate disruptions” academic.oup.com/bioscience/a...
“So far, in 2025, atmospheric CO2 at record level, likely by sudden drop in land carbon uptake partly due to El Niño and intense forest fires … Global fire-related tree cover loss reached all-time high, with fires in tropical primary forest up 370% over 2023” academic.oup.com/bioscience/a...
The 2025 state of the climate report: a planet on the brink
We are hurtling toward climate chaos. The planet's vital signs are flashing red. The consequences of human-driven alterations of the climate are no longer
academic.oup.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:21 AM
“So far, in 2025, atmospheric CO2 at record level, likely by sudden drop in land carbon uptake partly due to El Niño and intense forest fires … Global fire-related tree cover loss reached all-time high, with fires in tropical primary forest up 370% over 2023” academic.oup.com/bioscience/a...
“Currently, 22 of 34 planetary vital signs are at record levels … Population, livestock, meat consumption, and gross domestic product are all at record highs, with an additional approximately 1.3 million humans and 0.5 million ruminants added weekly” academic.oup.com/bioscience/a...
The 2025 state of the climate report: a planet on the brink
We are hurtling toward climate chaos. The planet's vital signs are flashing red. The consequences of human-driven alterations of the climate are no longer
academic.oup.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:19 AM
“Currently, 22 of 34 planetary vital signs are at record levels … Population, livestock, meat consumption, and gross domestic product are all at record highs, with an additional approximately 1.3 million humans and 0.5 million ruminants added weekly” academic.oup.com/bioscience/a...
“Book for every mother in Gaza who rocked her baby while ceiling shook. For the women who gave birth in shelters, in the dark, with no medicine. For the mothers who lost a child and kept living – because they had no choice. Because there were others to protect.” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
‘For the women who gave birth in the dark’: a portrait of motherhood in Gaza
Diana Shams wrote a book because ‘no one explains how to carry your baby through fire, hunger and fear – and still sing to her at bedtime’
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:03 AM
“Book for every mother in Gaza who rocked her baby while ceiling shook. For the women who gave birth in shelters, in the dark, with no medicine. For the mothers who lost a child and kept living – because they had no choice. Because there were others to protect.” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
"Holding people below ground without daylight for months on end has “extreme implications” for psychological health. It’s very hard to remain intact. It also affects physical health, impairing basic biological functions from circadian rhythms needed for sleep" www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Israel’s underground jail, where Palestinians are held without charge and never see daylight
Exclusive: Detainees at Rakefet include nurse deprived of natural light since January, and teenager held for nine months
www.theguardian.com
November 8, 2025 at 11:46 PM
"Holding people below ground without daylight for months on end has “extreme implications” for psychological health. It’s very hard to remain intact. It also affects physical health, impairing basic biological functions from circadian rhythms needed for sleep" www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
The new federal budget dropped this week, and absent was any new money for building retrofits. Also this week: Premier Doug Ford further gutting environmental legislation. Where does this leave the City of Toronto? www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/07/n...
Toronto battles Ford — and now feds, too — on climate
Some experts say Ottawa’s budget leaves climate action in cities like Toronto hanging, with no new money for retrofits, EV adoption or green infrastructure.
www.nationalobserver.com
November 8, 2025 at 10:56 PM
The new federal budget dropped this week, and absent was any new money for building retrofits. Also this week: Premier Doug Ford further gutting environmental legislation. Where does this leave the City of Toronto? www.nationalobserver.com/2025/11/07/n...
… “Some 30 ships per month have shifted from mainstream shipping to the Russian or Iranian market, adding that the fleet now represents 18.2 per cent of global oil tanker tonnage” www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
Shadow fleet activity off Singapore highlights ‘Wild West’ of sanction-evading oil transfers
British expat documents transfers between oil tankers from his Singapore apartment
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 8, 2025 at 10:48 PM
… “Some 30 ships per month have shifted from mainstream shipping to the Russian or Iranian market, adding that the fleet now represents 18.2 per cent of global oil tanker tonnage” www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
“The mangrove has pores that allow it to breathe through the roots,” Mr. Pires said. “We won’t be able to save them if the oil reaches them. They’re gone, it’s over.” www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
A Brazilian town braces for change as offshore oil drilling begins
Battle over oil project that has raised hopes and concern looms large as COP30, the annual UN climate conference, begins in the Amazon this week
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:55 PM
“The mangrove has pores that allow it to breathe through the roots,” Mr. Pires said. “We won’t be able to save them if the oil reaches them. They’re gone, it’s over.” www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
“So far, we haven’t seen anything positive about the project,” said Cacique Edmilson dos Santos Oliveira, who represents all 68 Indigenous chiefs of the Oiapoque region. “It’s as if we don’t exist. They’re not seeing the Indigenous peoples” www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
A Brazilian town braces for change as offshore oil drilling begins
Battle over oil project that has raised hopes and concern looms large as COP30, the annual UN climate conference, begins in the Amazon this week
www.theglobeandmail.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:54 PM
“So far, we haven’t seen anything positive about the project,” said Cacique Edmilson dos Santos Oliveira, who represents all 68 Indigenous chiefs of the Oiapoque region. “It’s as if we don’t exist. They’re not seeing the Indigenous peoples” www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...
“UAE has also hired RSF fighters as mercenaries for its interventions in Yemen, Libya and elsewhere. But the main deal that keeps the war in Sudan going is Darfur’s gold in exchange for the weapons that the UAE sources from all over the world” www.therecord.com/opinion/colu...
Another day, another massacre in Sudan
A look at how this civil war is being allowed to ‘spiral out of control.’
www.therecord.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:17 PM
“UAE has also hired RSF fighters as mercenaries for its interventions in Yemen, Libya and elsewhere. But the main deal that keeps the war in Sudan going is Darfur’s gold in exchange for the weapons that the UAE sources from all over the world” www.therecord.com/opinion/colu...
“Ineos’s €4bn petrochemical plant would cause 410 deaths once operational, compared with the 300 permanent jobs the company says will be created” www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Pollution from Ineos’s Antwerp plastic plant ‘could cause more deaths than jobs created’
Lawyers challenge €4bn Project One development, saying emissions and health impacts vastly underestimated
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:37 AM
“Ineos’s €4bn petrochemical plant would cause 410 deaths once operational, compared with the 300 permanent jobs the company says will be created” www.theguardian.com/business/202...
“Sharp line between mass of trees inside scheme, home to hundreds of elephants, giraffes, buffalo and other wildlife, and expanse of scrub beyond it, where charcoal burners and subsistence agriculture have devoured forest … money wasted but some good projects” www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘There is no money’: As carbon markets collapse, what happens to the forests they promised to protect?
After it was found most offsets did not represent real carbon reductions, the money dried up. But successful schemes such as Kasigau in Kenya now face a stark future
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:35 AM
“Sharp line between mass of trees inside scheme, home to hundreds of elephants, giraffes, buffalo and other wildlife, and expanse of scrub beyond it, where charcoal burners and subsistence agriculture have devoured forest … money wasted but some good projects” www.theguardian.com/environment/...