Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ
@monikamerkes.bsky.social
We must transition to clean energy and a plant-based food system, as well as protecting and restoring ecosystems. Animals, People, Planet – we're all connected. #PublicHealth #CovidIsNotOver #FactsMatter #democracy #auspol #vegan. Melbourne, Australia
Reposted by Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ
Real reindeer don’t belong in shopping centres. Bright lights, loud crowds and long transport hours cause fear and stress, no permit can stop that. They’re sentient beings.
Community pressure is working to stop this. If you see reindeer used as “entertainment”, speak up and contact management.
Community pressure is working to stop this. If you see reindeer used as “entertainment”, speak up and contact management.
December 1, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Real reindeer don’t belong in shopping centres. Bright lights, loud crowds and long transport hours cause fear and stress, no permit can stop that. They’re sentient beings.
Community pressure is working to stop this. If you see reindeer used as “entertainment”, speak up and contact management.
Community pressure is working to stop this. If you see reindeer used as “entertainment”, speak up and contact management.
December 1, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Reposted by Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ
Africa's forests have switched from absorbing to emitting carbon, new study finds
phys.org/news/2025-11... via @physorg_com
phys.org/news/2025-11... via @physorg_com
Africa's forests have switched from absorbing to emitting carbon, new study finds
New research warns that Africa's forests, once vital allies in the fight against climate change, have turned from a carbon sink into a carbon source.
phys.org
November 29, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Africa's forests have switched from absorbing to emitting carbon, new study finds
phys.org/news/2025-11... via @physorg_com
phys.org/news/2025-11... via @physorg_com
"There Can Be No Information Integrity Without Scientific and Political Integrity" #climate
drilled.ghost.io/there-can-be...
drilled.ghost.io/there-can-be...
There Can Be No Information Integrity Without Scientific and Political Integrity
I'm just back from COP30 in Belém and it is making me feel crazy to watch so many climate advocates and reporters declare the final text coming out of it a victory. It's true that the final text inclu...
drilled.ghost.io
November 27, 2025 at 5:56 AM
"There Can Be No Information Integrity Without Scientific and Political Integrity" #climate
drilled.ghost.io/there-can-be...
drilled.ghost.io/there-can-be...
... And not just in America. #auspol
How we beat back the corporate takeover of America:
1. Break up corporate monopolies
2. Continue building union power
3. End Citizens United and get big money out of politics
Let’s keep working to unrig the system.
1. Break up corporate monopolies
2. Continue building union power
3. End Citizens United and get big money out of politics
Let’s keep working to unrig the system.
November 26, 2025 at 10:22 PM
... And not just in America. #auspol
Reposted by Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ
The president of the United States is insane. Full stop.
November 25, 2025 at 8:35 PM
The president of the United States is insane. Full stop.
Reposted by Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ
Israel’s two-year assault on Gaza has left a catastrophic death toll that is even worse than most official estimates, according to European researchers. A study released on Tuesday estimates that “the current violent death toll” in Gaza is between 99,997 and 125,915.
Gaza Death Toll From Israeli Genocide “Likely Exceeds” 100K, Study Finds
The new research also found that Israel’s war led to a precipitous plunge in life expectancy in the Gaza Strip.
truthout.org
November 26, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Israel’s two-year assault on Gaza has left a catastrophic death toll that is even worse than most official estimates, according to European researchers. A study released on Tuesday estimates that “the current violent death toll” in Gaza is between 99,997 and 125,915.
... about the climate impact of dogs: they can thrive on a plant-based diet and reduce their paw-print .. . #climate
Recycling is easier than going vegan, but it’s also a lot less effective.
People Dramatically Misjudge the Climate Impacts of Their Actions, Research Shows
Recycling is easier than going vegan, but it’s also a lot less effective.
buff.ly
November 26, 2025 at 9:44 PM
... about the climate impact of dogs: they can thrive on a plant-based diet and reduce their paw-print .. . #climate
Reposted by Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ
A Compassion in World Farming report says feeding grain to farmed animals wastes enough food to feed billions of people annually. 🌾
#grain #farming #farmanimals #factoryfarming #foodwaste
#grain #farming #farmanimals #factoryfarming #foodwaste
Factory Farming Branded World’s Biggest Food Waster in New Report
A new report from Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) argues that the industrial use of grain to feed farmed animals is squandering enough food to nourish billions of humans each year…
veganfta.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:02 AM
A Compassion in World Farming report says feeding grain to farmed animals wastes enough food to feed billions of people annually. 🌾
#grain #farming #farmanimals #factoryfarming #foodwaste
#grain #farming #farmanimals #factoryfarming #foodwaste
"Australia’s new National Food Council: lots of industry reps, at the cost of health and environment" No surprise there. #auspol
theconversation.com/australias-n...
theconversation.com/australias-n...
Australia’s new National Food Council: lots of industry reps, at the cost of health and environment
It’s a missed opportunity to think differently about how we can ensure all Australians have access to enough healthy and sustainably produced food.
theconversation.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:24 AM
"Australia’s new National Food Council: lots of industry reps, at the cost of health and environment" No surprise there. #auspol
theconversation.com/australias-n...
theconversation.com/australias-n...
Reposted by Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ
Deadly H5 bird flu detected on remote Australian island.
The deadly H5 strain has been found on sub-Antarctic Heard Island, officials say, though it doesn’t “substantially” raise the risk to Australia. Heard Island sits over 4,000 km southwest of Perth and 1,700 km north of Antarctica.
The deadly H5 strain has been found on sub-Antarctic Heard Island, officials say, though it doesn’t “substantially” raise the risk to Australia. Heard Island sits over 4,000 km southwest of Perth and 1,700 km north of Antarctica.
Bird flu confirmed in elephant seal population at Heard Island
The federal government says testing confirms the presence of avian influenza in samples collected from southern elephant seals on Heard Island — a sub-Antarctic Australian external territory.
www.abc.net.au
November 25, 2025 at 5:50 AM
Deadly H5 bird flu detected on remote Australian island.
The deadly H5 strain has been found on sub-Antarctic Heard Island, officials say, though it doesn’t “substantially” raise the risk to Australia. Heard Island sits over 4,000 km southwest of Perth and 1,700 km north of Antarctica.
The deadly H5 strain has been found on sub-Antarctic Heard Island, officials say, though it doesn’t “substantially” raise the risk to Australia. Heard Island sits over 4,000 km southwest of Perth and 1,700 km north of Antarctica.
Reposted by Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ
Earth Is Getting Darker
as Earth is reflecting less sunlight, with most dramatic dimming occurring in Northern Hemisphere
This means N Hemisphere to continue warming faster than global average and see more intense and prolonged summers in years ahead
www.discovermagazine.com/the-earth-is...
as Earth is reflecting less sunlight, with most dramatic dimming occurring in Northern Hemisphere
This means N Hemisphere to continue warming faster than global average and see more intense and prolonged summers in years ahead
www.discovermagazine.com/the-earth-is...
The Earth Is Getting Darker, Which Could Mean Hotter Summers in the Future
Learn the surprising reasons why Earth has grown darker over the last 20 years, which include volcanoes, clouds, and cleaner air.
www.discovermagazine.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Earth Is Getting Darker
as Earth is reflecting less sunlight, with most dramatic dimming occurring in Northern Hemisphere
This means N Hemisphere to continue warming faster than global average and see more intense and prolonged summers in years ahead
www.discovermagazine.com/the-earth-is...
as Earth is reflecting less sunlight, with most dramatic dimming occurring in Northern Hemisphere
This means N Hemisphere to continue warming faster than global average and see more intense and prolonged summers in years ahead
www.discovermagazine.com/the-earth-is...
Reposted by Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ
Province that has no plan to deal with the #longCOVID destroying the healthcare workforce turns to AI to hallucinate a world in which that problem has a solution that doesn't involve facing reality.
November 23, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Province that has no plan to deal with the #longCOVID destroying the healthcare workforce turns to AI to hallucinate a world in which that problem has a solution that doesn't involve facing reality.
Reposted by Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ
My cultural awakening: Chicken Run turned me vegetarian
My cultural awakening: Chicken Run turned me vegetarian
Aardman’s tale of a group of plucky hens standing up to their pie-making masters was a favourite in our house, and – I realised – incompatible with my taste for burgers
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:27 AM
My cultural awakening: Chicken Run turned me vegetarian
Reposted by Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ
Our exhausted earth holds undesirable health consequences for us. independentaustralia.net/environment/...
The silent mineral deficiency no one talks about
Once rich with magnesium and life, Australia’s soils are running on empty — and so are we.
independentaustralia.net
November 23, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Our exhausted earth holds undesirable health consequences for us. independentaustralia.net/environment/...
At a global level, legally prohibiting (and enforcing) the use of behavioral economics and neuroscience research for training AI models ... Good luck!
www.noemamag.com/the-case-for...
www.noemamag.com/the-case-for...
The Case For AI ‘Datarails’ | NOEMA
We must prevent AI models from learning about human weaknesses by banning certain data from their training sets.
www.noemamag.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:05 AM
At a global level, legally prohibiting (and enforcing) the use of behavioral economics and neuroscience research for training AI models ... Good luck!
www.noemamag.com/the-case-for...
www.noemamag.com/the-case-for...
Thank god Türkiye got COP31, Australia doesn't deserve it
Talk about entitlement!
substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:53 AM
Evidence-based journalism? Why is there no mention of #methane in this article? Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas as harmful as CO2. Meat and dairy consumption has to go down too if we want a liveable planet. But that's an inconvenient truth.
theconversation.com/what-do-we-k...
theconversation.com/what-do-we-k...
What do we know about climate change? How do we know it? And where are we headed?
Cimate scientists are more certain than ever that humans are changing the climate – but there are signs of hope on the horizon.
theconversation.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Evidence-based journalism? Why is there no mention of #methane in this article? Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas as harmful as CO2. Meat and dairy consumption has to go down too if we want a liveable planet. But that's an inconvenient truth.
theconversation.com/what-do-we-k...
theconversation.com/what-do-we-k...
"Hungarian Parliament Votes to Ban Production & Sale of Cultivated Meat" ... because meat and dairy consumption is an important part of the “European way of life”. Better change your diets, otherwise you might not have any way of life in a few decades.
vegconomist.com/politics-law...
vegconomist.com/politics-law...
Hungarian Parliament Votes to Ban Production & Sale of Cultivated Meat - vegconomist - the vegan business magazine
On November 18, the Hungarian parliament voted to ban the production and sale of cultivated meat products. The motion passed with 140 votes in favor, 10
vegconomist.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:46 AM
"Hungarian Parliament Votes to Ban Production & Sale of Cultivated Meat" ... because meat and dairy consumption is an important part of the “European way of life”. Better change your diets, otherwise you might not have any way of life in a few decades.
vegconomist.com/politics-law...
vegconomist.com/politics-law...
"... the way Australia calculates forest cover obfuscates the impacts of ongoing deforestation ..." #biodiversity #climate
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Researchers say real impact of deforestation being hidden in Australia’s official figures by ‘sleight of hand’
Report commissioned by conservationists suggests some recorded new growth is misclassified or otherwise not equivalent to losses in species-heavy forests
www.theguardian.com
November 19, 2025 at 9:53 PM
"... the way Australia calculates forest cover obfuscates the impacts of ongoing deforestation ..." #biodiversity #climate
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
'The bee-sting puffy lips, frozen brows and taut necks ...'
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Plastic surgeons wrestle with requests for ‘Mar-a-Lago face’: ‘You’re going to look like Maleficent’
The puffy, artificial look is rising in popularity - thanks to Maga elite such as Kristi Noem and Matt Gaetz
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 10:17 PM
'The bee-sting puffy lips, frozen brows and taut necks ...'
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted by Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ
Beef and dairy can never be "net zero".
But that doesn't stop the industry aggressively pushing its greenwash, including through its 72 delegates (lobbyists) at the Belém climate COP: www.theguardian.com/environment/...
But that doesn't stop the industry aggressively pushing its greenwash, including through its 72 delegates (lobbyists) at the Belém climate COP: www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Another one bites the dust. Two weeks after JBS settled a false advertising lawsuit with the NYAG to stop making "net zero" claims, Tyson has just settled in D.C. about its own "net zero" claims. There is no such thing as low-emissions or carbon-neutral cattle.
aldf.org/article/tyso...
aldf.org/article/tyso...
Tyson Foods Agrees to Stop Making 'Net-zero' and 'Climate-smart Beef' Claims
Lawsuit alleged Tyson Foods falsely claimed it will be net-zero by 2050 and marketed its industrial beef products as “climate-smart”
aldf.org
November 18, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Beef and dairy can never be "net zero".
But that doesn't stop the industry aggressively pushing its greenwash, including through its 72 delegates (lobbyists) at the Belém climate COP: www.theguardian.com/environment/...
But that doesn't stop the industry aggressively pushing its greenwash, including through its 72 delegates (lobbyists) at the Belém climate COP: www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Thank you @geoffrussell.bsky.social for telling me with so many compelling words that I'm contributing to the Utility Death Spiral. 🤔
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Utility Death Spiral
Pakistan teaches us all an example about electricity grids
substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Thank you @geoffrussell.bsky.social for telling me with so many compelling words that I'm contributing to the Utility Death Spiral. 🤔
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Reposted by Monika Merkes PhD Ⓥ
Last year it was ok to eat diseased salmon, so this year, maybe it’s “would Sir & Madam like antibiotics with that diseased salmon? “
Intensive salmon farming - a pox on the waterways
Intensive salmon farming - a pox on the waterways
November 16, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Last year it was ok to eat diseased salmon, so this year, maybe it’s “would Sir & Madam like antibiotics with that diseased salmon? “
Intensive salmon farming - a pox on the waterways
Intensive salmon farming - a pox on the waterways