No. 145, Aug. 13, 2020
Hello Revelator readers, Wildlife rehabilitators are worn thin these days. More people are outside due to COVID-19, which means they're also calling in perceived animal emergencies to rescue centers. This renewed attention to nature stresses rehabbers' limited resources, but it also provides an opportunity to educate people about animal behavior and to save lives. It's Shark Week — for better or worse — and our latest op-ed reveals a previously unrecognized threat to numerous shark species. Researchers have dubbed it the Informal Blue Economy. Seventeen years ago the Japanese town of Kamikatsu famously declared it would go waste-free by 2020. Now that that year has arrived, how did it do? Pretty well, it turns out, but there were still some things the town couldn't accomplish. The experience shows what works and what systemic changes we still need. For species that rely on wind, climate change won't be a breeze. New research reveals how plants that depend on wind for pollination or seed dispersal may face challenges as warming temperatures force species to shift their ranges. Dive deeper: A group of sharks is called a shiver. What do you call a collection of articles and essays about sharks and related conservation issues? We call it good reading. Subscriber bonus: The Wild 5 Here are five more stories we're watching this week. 1. "E.P.A. to Lift Obama-era Controls on Methane, a Potent Greenhouse Gas" (The New York Times) 2. "Quoting 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' Judge Strikes Down Trump Administration Rollback of Historic Law Protecting Birds" (The Washington Post) 3. "The Oil Spill at Mauritius Is a Disaster. And It Could Soon Get Worse" (NPR) 4. "Forest Fires Are Setting Chernobyl's Radiation Free" (The Atlantic) 5. "Sewer Pipes Carrying Dirty Water Will Be a Key Part of National Western Center's Clean Energy Future" (The Denver Post) What should we cover next? Our stories rely on insight from experts, frontline activists and readers around the world — especially these days, when so much damage is being done behind the scenes, out of the public eye. We want to hear from you, so please drop us a line anytime. Coming up: More sharks! (Don't worry, it's not bad news. This time.) Also coming soon, a look at how some cities are preparing for sea-level rise and the summer's best books about climate change. Look for our latest links in next Thursday's newsletter — or follow us on Twitter and Facebook for headlines as they go live. As always, thank you for reading — and stay safe. | 
