Violence against animals
The story about a zookeeper who punched a kangaroo in the Central West of NSW has gone viral this week. People are asking why a person so experienced with animals would use violence against one, particularly a member of a native species. Others are worried about the dog who was being held by the roo just before the punch. The man's employer, Taronga Zoo, said it "strongly opposes the striking of animals and does not support the practice of using dogs to hunt, as this can result in negative welfare for both species", but has not fired the perpetrator.
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One thing is being missed in the row over who was in danger and who was threatening whom. The dogs were only confronting the kangaroo because a bunch of men wanted to kill a pig. The lesson is clear: if you are genuinely concerned about the welfare of your dog, don't put him or her in danger among wild animals and guns. And if, like the vast majority of Australians, you are opposed to cruelty to animals, leave the rifles and dogs at home and take a camera instead.
Ashley Fruno
PETA Australia Associate Director
Cold, hard look at climate
Each year in recent years the Bureau of Meteorology and the CSIRO have got together to publish a report on the state of our climate. In October, the report for last year was issued. It makes sobering reading. Following are the key points from the report. The full report can be seen by googling “State of the Climate 2016”.
Australia
- Australia’s climate has warmed in both mean surface air temperature and surrounding sea surface temperature by around 1°C since 1910.
- The duration, frequency and intensity of extreme heat events have increased across large parts of Australia.
- There has been an increase in extreme fire weather, and a longer fire season, across large parts of Australia since the 1970s.
- May–July rainfall has reduced by around 19 per cent since 1970 in the southwest.
- There has been a decline of around 11 per cent since the mid-1990s in the April–October growing season rainfall in the continental southeast.
- Rainfall has increased across parts of northern Australia since the 1970s.
- Oceans around Australia have warmed and ocean acidity levels have increased.
Globally
- Global average annual carbon dioxide (CO2) levels are steadily increasing; they reached 399 parts per million (ppm) in 2015, and the annual value for 2016 is almost certain to be higher than 400 ppm. Current levels are likely the highest in the past two million years. (Ancient climate information is gathered from such things as tree rings, ice cores and the like.)
- 2015 was the warmest year on record since reliable records began in 1880. The past 15 years are among the 16 warmest years on record.
- Globally averaged ocean temperatures and heat content are increasing. Observations reveal this warming extends to at least 2000m below the surface.
These are the key predictions:
- Australian temperatures are projected to continue increasing with more extremely hot days and fewer extremely cool days.
- The number of days with weather conducive to fire in southern and eastern Australia is projected to increase.
- Winter and spring rainfall is projected to decrease across southern continental Australia, with more time in drought.
- Ongoing greenhouse gas emissions mean further warming of ocean temperatures.
- Sea-level rise and ocean acidification around Australia are projected to continue.
Hopefully Australian and world leaders will take note of all this and do whatever is necessary to lower our greenhouse gas emissions to leave our children and grandchildren a world as wonderful as it now is.