No. 119, Feb. 13, 2020
Hello Revelator readers, President Donald Trump's proposed budget offers a clear look at his priorities, and it's not pretty. We dug into the numbers and found out just how badly health, science and environmental programs would be slashed. There's good and bad news for Madagascar's ruffed lemurs. They're the most endangered mammals in the world, but we also know how to save them. Georgetown is the latest to join the fossil-fuel divestment movement, but the university has taken things a step further. Climate refugees still don't have adequate legal protections. The international community needs to change that — here's how. Subscriber bonus: The Wild 5 Let's go a little deeper. Here are five more stories we're watching this week. 1. Unusually heavy rains created the perfect breeding conditions for locusts that have now swept across large areas of east Africa, increasing food insecurity for millions. 2. A federal judge dealt another blow to the proposed Rosemont copper mine in Arizona's Coronado National Forest by overturning the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's approval. 3. A backlog of toxic Superfund sites is growing under the Trump administration, which hasn't allocated the money necessary to clean up projects in 17 states and Puerto Rico. 4. Scientists say climate change is likely playing a role in plummeting populations of bumblebees, which are important pollinators. 5. A new bill introduced in Congress tackles the source of plastic pollution and its supply chain by requiring producer responsibility, container deposits and a halt to new production facilities. In case you missed it: If you want to know more about the fight against plastic pollution, check out this feature-length documentary that traces plastic from the gaslands of Pennsylvania to the rivers of Indonesia. What should we cover next? Our stories rely on insight from experts and readers around the world, so we always welcome your ideas and inside scoops. Drop us a line anytime. Coming up: We've got an exciting mix of stories, essays and videos coming up that tackle food waste, endangered species, threats to water and a whole lot more. Look for our latest links in next Thursday's newsletter — or follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the headlines as they go live. As always, thank you for reading. |