Laura McDonald
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Laura McDonald
@lmdigitalmedia.bsky.social
Comms & Digital Media Freelancer | Sci & Water & Dig Literacy | Full Time Student M.Ed. | BA Journalism & GC Int Studies | Ex mandarin 🏄🏻‍♀️ DM Open
New research from Aus National Uni.

The Black Summer fires highlight disasters are not “great equalisers”. They widen existing inequalities… uneven recovery will deepen social and economic divides. theconversation.com/new-research...

@climateanalytics.org @unccd.bsky.social @undrr.bsky.social
New research shows Black Summer’s megafires left lasting scars far beyond property damage
The study found poorer communities, renters and women carried the heaviest burdens long after the Black Summer fires were put out.
theconversation.com
September 21, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Stockholm International Water Institute #WorldWaterWeek
DW’s Stuart Braun interviews:
💧UNESCO Chair Water Econ Prof Quentin Grafton
💧Euro Enviro Bureau’s water expert Sergiz Moroz
💧UK Environment Agency Chairman Alan Lovell
💧DigDeep.org CEO George McGraw
⬇️ www.dw.com/en/global-wa...
Global water crisis could cost trillions – DW – 08/25/2025
A growing water deficit driven by heat and drought is set to devastate local and national economies, resulting in food insecurity, displacement and political upheaval.
www.dw.com
August 26, 2025 at 10:31 AM
The Politics, and Geopolitics, of AI - TIME

There’s Gen Al, Al and everything a country needs to power it.

Perhaps the variables will save us from racing ahead too fast?

#unintendedconsequences

time.com/7308605/poli...
The Politics, and Geopolitics, of AI — TIME
apple.news
August 11, 2025 at 3:47 PM
These kids. Just wow. I really do hope communities in river basins across the world are taking notice of the possible!
#klamath #Oregon #California #riverruns
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/inter... After America’s biggest dam removal, 15 teens journey down a sacred river - Washington Post
15 teens. 300 miles. One mighty ancestral river, running free.
The removal of four dams finally made a descent of the Klamath possible. These Indigenous kayakers became the first to attempt it.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 9, 2025 at 2:05 PM
“It highlights the importance of the continued work that’s needed to ensure physical constraints are removed and policy or rule changes made to enable water for the environment to get where it’s needed, when it’s needed,” Dr Finn said.
#MDBA #BasinPlan #Science
www.dcceew.gov.au/cewh/resourc...
www.dcceew.gov.au
July 24, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Been a bit busy with teaching. BUT if you care about the ocean warming and river flow activity driving the habitat destruction off the coast off South Austalia’s beaches. Visible to
the public as DEAD SEAHORSES on the sand DO READ: policybrief.anu.edu.au/darling-rive...
Darling River's decline due to excessive water extractions, not only drought - ANU Policy Brief
While the Darling River's drying is associated with climate change, increasing irrigation water extractions have exacerbated the challenge.
policybrief.anu.edu.au
July 24, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Reposted by Laura McDonald
As generative AI takes on more of filmmaking’s creative processes, Hollywood screenwriters and a new class of tech disruptors are navigating the uncertain future of storytelling.
AI can write a scene. It can pitch a movie. So what happens to the screenwriters?
As generative AI reshapes Hollywood, screenwriters like Billy Ray, Paul Schrader, Bong Joon Ho and Todd Haynes, along with a new class of tech disruptors, are navigating the uncertain future of storytelling.
www.latimes.com
July 17, 2025 at 1:46 PM
3/ And who did the “independent” review? It was @kpmgaustralia.bsky.social A classic desktop review.

Method: a random sample of 20 projects, with nine projects selected for “on-farm verification”

Source: www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/defaul... pg 2
July 17, 2025 at 2:24 PM
2/ What was the program exactly?

It was about water use efficiency.

According to @DCCEEW

$103.8m invested, 2010-17, with 12 rounds of funding.

75 approved projects

Water savings of almost 41GL (25GL transferred back for enviro use)

Source: www.dcceew.gov.au/water/policy...
July 17, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Its taken yrs but now one of Australia’s biggest #water #frauds has seen a QLD cotton grower jailed for fraud over their claim of $8.7 M taxpayer $ under the Murray Darling Basin (states) ‘Healthy Headwaters’ program funded by Cwth. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07...
Award-winning cotton grower jailed over $8.7 million water fraud
John Norman was once lauded as the future of the farming industry. On Wednesday, the award-winning cotton grower was jailed over an $8.7 million fraud that "brought an important public water program i...
www.abc.net.au
July 17, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Reposted by Laura McDonald
I know that job situations have likely changed for many in climate research. If you are looking for a new opportunity, maybe consider our current opening for the Chief Editor at Nature Geoscience. www.nature.com/naturecareer...
Chief Editor, Nature Geoscience - New York City, New York (US) job with Springer Nature Ltd | 12840758
Job Title: Chief Editor, Nature Geoscience Location(s): New York, Shanghai, or Beijing (Internal candidates from hub locations are welcome to apply...
www.nature.com
July 7, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Reposted by Laura McDonald
The Texas tragedy comes as experts worry that children around the globe are increasingly at risk from extreme weather events because they are smaller physically, less developed psychologically and dependent on adults for support and protection.
What sets Texas floods apart: Kids died in heart-wrenching numbers
The Texas tragedy comes as experts worry that children around the globe are increasingly at risk from extreme weather events.
www.washingtonpost.com
July 7, 2025 at 8:25 PM
iPolitics, 2 July, David Suzuki exclusive interview:

“We have failed to shift the narrative and we are still caught up in the same legal, economic and political systems,”

“For me, what we’ve got to do now is hunker down.”

www.ipolitics.ca/2025/07/02/i...
‘It’s too late’: David Suzuki says the fight against climate change is lost - iPolitics
"We have failed to shift the narrative and we are still caught up in the same legal, economic and political systems," said David Suzuki in an exclusive interview with iPolitics. "For me, what we've go...
www.ipolitics.ca
July 7, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Chiefs in Ontario and Alberta condemn opposition to reintroducing First Nations safe drinking water bill
By Leanne Sanders | Karyn Pugliese
Jul 04, 2025

www.aptnnews.ca/national-new...
Chiefs condemn opposition to First Nations safe drinking water bill
Chiefs of Ontario say "it's reprehensible" for Alberta and Ontario to oppose safe drinking water legislation.
www.aptnnews.ca
July 7, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Reposted by Laura McDonald
Did Iran's internet shutdown inadvertently unmask a prolific and long-standing disinfo op? Intriguing research from Cyabra: A network of 1,300 fake social media accounts that have stirred political events around the world since the 2014 Scottish independence vote went dark during Iran’s blackout.
July 2, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Reposted by Laura McDonald
Familar to Aus Murray Darling Basin:
July 2, 2025 at 9:52 PM
28 June editorial: Aus bid to host
#COP31 on behalf small island states delayed.

The world’s major climate conference does not appreciate urgency. It’s the kind of irony that gives Australia a chance at hosting it. @thesaturdaypaper.com.au www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/2025/06/28/c...
Crooked COP
At the opening of the last Conference of the Parties, the president of Azerbaijan criticised the West for its hypocrisy over fossil fuels. There was, the conference host said, “double standards, a hab...
www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au
July 2, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Next in @theguardian.com “Age of Extinction” series is:

#PFAS in #drinkingwater in St Louis, France.

The source? The nearby airport.

#SDG6 @nhmrc.bsky.social @un-water.bsky.social #COP30 #COP31 @globalwater.bsky.social @unesco.org @ec.europa.eu
July 2, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Reminds me of a certain Aus PM.

Key climate change reports removed from US government websites

The @apnews.com reports in @theguardian.com Jul 2nd, 2025 (Syd) www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Fire up the wayback time machine folks!
Key climate change reports removed from US government websites
The national climate assessments help state and local governments prepare for the impacts of a warming world
www.theguardian.com
July 2, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Climate Comms expert Dr Genevieve Guenther explains ‘political fustration’ is the reasonable doomerism to address.

Need to say: “Yes, this is scary as hell. But we must have courage and turn our fear into action by talking about climate change” 1/2

www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘This is a fight for life’: climate expert on tipping points, doomerism and using wealth as a shield
Economic assumptions about risks of the climate crisis are no longer relevant, says the communications expert Genevieve Guenther
www.theguardian.com
June 29, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Reposted by Laura McDonald
Salt in the soil. A new map drawn. And a story that travelled far beyond the dikes. My latest newsletter is live:
joepjanssen.com/how-disaster...
How disaster reshaped Zeeland's land
How the 1953 North Sea Flood reshaped Dutch farmland and led to global change — through Kellogg’s support and the founding of ILRI.
joepjanssen.com
June 26, 2025 at 7:12 PM