Steve Tooze
@rebelhack.bsky.social
Recovering former Murdoch tabloid hack working off the bad karma by campaigning for an oligarch-free media. I'm pouring energy into mass movement mobilisation to tackle the climate crisis - before it tackles all of us
Costa Rica is living proof that nature conservation policies are NOT a hippy-dippy waste of money and resources. They are a pragmatic way to boost an economy, make its people happy and inspire the rest of the world.
April 13, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Costa Rica is living proof that nature conservation policies are NOT a hippy-dippy waste of money and resources. They are a pragmatic way to boost an economy, make its people happy and inspire the rest of the world.
Costa Rica is one of the happiest countries in the world! It often ranks #1 or very close to the top in the Happy Planet Index which measures wellbeing, life expectancy and life satisfaction.
April 13, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Costa Rica is one of the happiest countries in the world! It often ranks #1 or very close to the top in the Happy Planet Index which measures wellbeing, life expectancy and life satisfaction.
The education system has a strong focus on pride in nature and protecting the country’s rainforests, so younger generations understand their role as guardians of nature.
April 13, 2025 at 6:50 PM
The education system has a strong focus on pride in nature and protecting the country’s rainforests, so younger generations understand their role as guardians of nature.
Clean water and air from revitalised ecosystems and forests, combined with universal healthcare and education, has seen child mortality fall by 70% and life expectancy leap from 74 to 80+ years since 1980.
April 13, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Clean water and air from revitalised ecosystems and forests, combined with universal healthcare and education, has seen child mortality fall by 70% and life expectancy leap from 74 to 80+ years since 1980.
Money from booming ecotourism cascaded through the country. Jobs as park rangers, guides and eco-lodge staff lifted rural communities out of poverty.
And the government put money in the pockets of landowners for conserving forests rather than cutting them down for timber and cattle pastures.
And the government put money in the pockets of landowners for conserving forests rather than cutting them down for timber and cattle pastures.
April 13, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Money from booming ecotourism cascaded through the country. Jobs as park rangers, guides and eco-lodge staff lifted rural communities out of poverty.
And the government put money in the pockets of landowners for conserving forests rather than cutting them down for timber and cattle pastures.
And the government put money in the pockets of landowners for conserving forests rather than cutting them down for timber and cattle pastures.
As Costa Rica’s rainforests rebounded, tourism boomed. Millions of visitors began flocking to the country every year to marvel at its lush forest cover, volcanoes and wildlife reserves.
Ecotourism now accounts for ~8% of GDP and is one of the country’s largest sources of foreign income.
Ecotourism now accounts for ~8% of GDP and is one of the country’s largest sources of foreign income.
April 13, 2025 at 6:50 PM
As Costa Rica’s rainforests rebounded, tourism boomed. Millions of visitors began flocking to the country every year to marvel at its lush forest cover, volcanoes and wildlife reserves.
Ecotourism now accounts for ~8% of GDP and is one of the country’s largest sources of foreign income.
Ecotourism now accounts for ~8% of GDP and is one of the country’s largest sources of foreign income.
Costa Rica is one of the only countries in the world with no army! They abolished it in 1948, meaning they could spend their money on education, healthcare and environmental protection instead.
April 13, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Costa Rica is one of the only countries in the world with no army! They abolished it in 1948, meaning they could spend their money on education, healthcare and environmental protection instead.
Political unity was one of the key factors. Politicians of all parties buried their hatchets and agreed that the drive to conserve Costa Rica’s biodiversity transcended all other matters.
April 13, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Political unity was one of the key factors. Politicians of all parties buried their hatchets and agreed that the drive to conserve Costa Rica’s biodiversity transcended all other matters.
But Costa Rica’s leaders launched a national nature rescue plan in the 1980s and 1990s.
Landowners were paid to preserve existing forests, plant trees and grow back deforested areas.
Today, more than half of Costa Rica is covered in forests and it's one of the most biodiverse nations on Earth.
Landowners were paid to preserve existing forests, plant trees and grow back deforested areas.
Today, more than half of Costa Rica is covered in forests and it's one of the most biodiverse nations on Earth.
April 13, 2025 at 6:50 PM
But Costa Rica’s leaders launched a national nature rescue plan in the 1980s and 1990s.
Landowners were paid to preserve existing forests, plant trees and grow back deforested areas.
Today, more than half of Costa Rica is covered in forests and it's one of the most biodiverse nations on Earth.
Landowners were paid to preserve existing forests, plant trees and grow back deforested areas.
Today, more than half of Costa Rica is covered in forests and it's one of the most biodiverse nations on Earth.
Nature was in deep trouble in Costa Rica in the 1980s. Over 75% of the country’s forests had been destroyed for cattle farming and farming. Animals were vanishing and ecological collapse loomed.
April 13, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Nature was in deep trouble in Costa Rica in the 1980s. Over 75% of the country’s forests had been destroyed for cattle farming and farming. Animals were vanishing and ecological collapse loomed.
They want you to think that protecting nature will make us all poorer, sicker and sadder.
It's a lie - as Costa Rica proves.
The Central American country’s extraordinary push to protect its rainforests and nature made its people happier, healthier and wealthier. Here’s how. 🧵
It's a lie - as Costa Rica proves.
The Central American country’s extraordinary push to protect its rainforests and nature made its people happier, healthier and wealthier. Here’s how. 🧵
April 13, 2025 at 6:50 PM
They want you to think that protecting nature will make us all poorer, sicker and sadder.
It's a lie - as Costa Rica proves.
The Central American country’s extraordinary push to protect its rainforests and nature made its people happier, healthier and wealthier. Here’s how. 🧵
It's a lie - as Costa Rica proves.
The Central American country’s extraordinary push to protect its rainforests and nature made its people happier, healthier and wealthier. Here’s how. 🧵
The corrupt and murderous politicians are only the symptoms. The root cause are the billionaire oligarchs and their global disinformation apparatus. That's who we need to target.
February 7, 2025 at 3:50 PM
The corrupt and murderous politicians are only the symptoms. The root cause are the billionaire oligarchs and their global disinformation apparatus. That's who we need to target.
If you wondering what to do about the endless bait and switch nonsense from the Muskrat and his Orange attack dog...
January 23, 2025 at 8:16 PM
If you wondering what to do about the endless bait and switch nonsense from the Muskrat and his Orange attack dog...
Bluesky now has over 10 million users, and I was #6,149,513!
September 20, 2024 at 9:12 PM
Bluesky now has over 10 million users, and I was #6,149,513!