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Hans Zomer @hanszomer.bsky.social · 2d

“Wealth and empathy often move in opposite directions.
Studies show that as people grow wealthier, they’re less likely to act altruistically.”

studyfinds.org/rich-people-...

Research Suggests Rich People Tend To Act More Unethically – But Why Is That?

Do rich people really act meaner? Studies link wealth to less empathy and more “dark triad” traits.

studyfinds.org

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Hans Zomer @hanszomer.bsky.social · 2d

"Plant just one #tree in your #garden and it’s the beginning of something potentially far greater than you could envisage."

www.irishtimes.com/life-style/g...

We need more garden trees - and now is the perfect time to plant them

An hour’s work in mid to late Autumn will result in a lifetime of joy

www.irishtimes.com

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Hans Zomer @hanszomer.bsky.social · 13d

At a time when #football seems to have become all about money, it’s important to celebrate the social side of the game.

How football can unite across borders:

www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa...

Borders divided this West African community. Soccer is reuniting it.

A century ago, colonial borders divided the Borgu people between Benin and Nigeria. Today, soccer is reuniting them.

www.csmonitor.com

Hans Zomer @hanszomer.bsky.social · 21d

"At its core, our failure to take effective measures to halt climate chaos is caused by a fundamental lack of understanding of how our health, happiness and prosperity are entwined with a healthy environment."

www.irishtimes.com/special-repo...

Failure to close climate action gap could cost us €26bn – imagine what that might achieve

Heavy EU fines loom unless the State cuts environmental emissions by 2030. How are we doing so far?

www.irishtimes.com

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Reposted by Hans Zomer

David Ho @davidho.bsky.social · Sep 9

I have an old bike jersey whose zipper needs repair. The quote for the repair is more than the cost of a new jersey, but I'm going to repair it because I want to live in a world where we repair things.

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Hans Zomer @hanszomer.bsky.social · Sep 1

“Everything in the built environment — everything that you see around you — has an end of life,” said Krieger. “And we need solutions besides waste or landfill, incineration or something without value.”

edition.cnn.com/style/wind-t...

#upcycle

Wind turbines are tough to recycle. This firm wants to transform them into micro homes | CNN

Sitting inside the minimalist-chic interior of Nestle, you’d never guess its former life.

edition.cnn.com

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Reposted by Hans Zomer

GAP Ireland @gapireland.bsky.social · Aug 23

“If everybody in Ireland did a #2MinuteBeachClean per month, that would be more than 100,000 tonnes of litter removed from our ocean this year.”

Joanne Hunt in today’s @irishtimes.com

#buyanewspaper

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Hans Zomer @hanszomer.bsky.social · Aug 17

"If we're going to solve problems like #climatechange, we need a far more #equitable society - whereby far more money, which is currently going to the highest earners, in fact goes to benefit wider society and wider societal needs."

- Dr Ciarán O'Carroll quoted on RTÉ:
www.rte.ie/news/2025/08...

Podcast: Climate change 'has arrived' on dinner plates

The cost of your weekly shop is increasing due to the accelerating impact of climate change across the globe, an expert has warned.

www.rte.ie

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Hans Zomer @hanszomer.bsky.social · Aug 10

Italy and the Vatican strike a deal to develop a vast solar farm to generate electricity to meet Vatican City’s needs and turn it into the world’s first carbon-neutral state.

www.euronews.com/green/2025/0...

Vatican strikes solar farm deal to become first carbon neutral state

A controversial radio site north of Rome is set to become a solar farm as the Vatican pushes its green transition.

www.euronews.com

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Hans Zomer @hanszomer.bsky.social · Aug 10

France and Italy slap fines on fast fashion firm #Shein for “misleading and/or deceptive environmental messages and claims”.

www.euronews.com/business/202...

#fastfashion #greenwashing

Italy hands fast fashion retailer Shein €1 million greenwashing fine

The decision comes after France fined the retailer €40m in July over fake discounts and misleading environmental claims.

www.euronews.com

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Hans Zomer @hanszomer.bsky.social · Aug 9

Lots of inspiration to be found in these examples of local environmental action!

www.irishtimes.com/environment/...

@irishtimes.com @irishenvnet.bsky.social

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Hans Zomer @hanszomer.bsky.social · Aug 6

"Outdoor spaces like this are vital in providing a natural first line of defence against flooding."

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Chelsea garden promoting flood resilience opens in Wallingford

The garden, which includes a a smart rainwater tank, opens at Howbery Business Park in Wallingford.

www.bbc.com

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Reposted by Hans Zomer

IrishCycle.com @irishcycle.com · Aug 1

Cycling instead of driving has €1.40-€1.52 per km economic benefit in cities on island of Ireland irishcycle.com/2024/03/05/c...

Cycling instead of driving has €1.40-€1.52 per km economic benefit in cities on island of Ireland

— Walking and cycling on the island of Ireland saves the HSE and NHS nearly €100 million per year. Cycling instead of driving has an economic benefit of between €1.40-€1.52 per km in cities o…

irishcycle.com

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Hans Zomer @hanszomer.bsky.social · Jul 30

“Mahi G’s song “Heatwave,” which was produced in collaboration with Greenpeace India, dropped in June, just as the country was reeling under soaring temperatures.”

grist.org/arts-culture...

#India #climate #art #creativeclimateaction

This Indian rapper is spitting bars about climate justice, caste, and Indigenous rights

In her latest single, Mahi G spotlights the outdoor workers vulnerable to extreme heat

grist.org

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Hans Zomer @hanszomer.bsky.social · Jul 30

“Social media platforms “amplified conspiracy theorists while sidelining vital emergency information.”

www.euronews.com/green/2025/0...

#disasters #aid #climate

Study: Social media boosts climate conspiracies over emergency alerts

The study says the influence of high-profile conspiracy theorists during climate disasters is drowning out emergency response efforts.

www.euronews.com

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Reposted by Hans Zomer

Daniel Mulhall @danmulhall.bsky.social · Jul 27

This is a good summary @news.rte.ie of the humanitarian situation in #Gaza.
www.rte.ie/news/2025/07...

What defines a famine and can it be avoided in Gaza?

The United Nations and NGOs are warning of an imminent famine in Gaza, a designation based on strict criteria and scientific evidence. But how is it arrived at?

www.rte.ie

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Hans Zomer @hanszomer.bsky.social · Jul 26

"Surveys show that the increasing number of extreme climate events, including floods, wildfires and hurricanes, has not raised awareness of the threats posed by climate change.
Instead, people change their idea of what they see as normal."

www.theguardian.com/news/2025/ju...

#climatepsychology

‘Boiling frog’ effect makes people oblivious to threat of climate crisis, shows study

Research shows people’s response to binary data could drive more effective ways of communicating gravity of crisis

www.theguardian.com

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Hans Zomer @hanszomer.bsky.social · Jul 23

New research confirms what many are experiencing firsthand:
#Climate extremes are causing global food price spikes.

Diminishing harvests have ripple effects markets and public health, and heightening the risk of social unrest.

www.weforum.org/stories/2025...

www.euronews.com/green/2025/0...

www.weforum.org

Hans Zomer @hanszomer.bsky.social · Jul 21

The 2026 #FIFA Men’s #WorldCup is set to be the most environmentally destructive in history.

A new study predicts that the 2026 World Cup will generate more than 9 million tonnes of CO2e; nearly double the emissions generated by previous World Cups.

www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Fifa again under scrutiny for World Cup’s increased carbon footprint

The 2026 tournament will feature more teams and more air miles travelled than ever, casting doubt upon ambitious climate goals

www.theguardian.com

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Hans Zomer @hanszomer.bsky.social · Jul 20

"I saw the unbelievable thinness of our planet's atmosphere. In that moment, I was hit with the sobering realisation that that paper-thin layer keeps every living thing on our planet alive."

www.ladbible.com/news/us-news...

#clinatechange #biodiversity #space #astronaut

Astronaut who spent 178 days in space shares the big 'lie' he realised after looking at the Earth

Find out what Ron Garan witnessed in space and how it changed his perspective after coming to Earth

www.ladbible.com

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Hans Zomer @hanszomer.bsky.social · Jul 20

“Who are the electric cars going to be for? Europeans, Americans, not us. Our carbon footprint is much smaller. - But it's our water that's being taken. Our sacred birds that are disappearing."

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

#lithium #mining #climatechange

The rise of green tech is feeding another environmental crisis

The world's race to decarbonise has led to the rise of electric cars - and with it, soaring demand for lithium, which is required for the batteries

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Hans Zomer

Irish Doctors for the Environment @irishdocsenv.bsky.social · Jul 19

If individual motorists spend over €10,000 a year, imagine the true cost to society — in infrastructure, pollution, health, and wasted space.

We urgently need to break our dependency on cars as the default mode of transport. Everything else is a distraction — or worse, deliberate deflection.

Irish drivers spend average of €10,373 to keep their car on road each year

Irish drivers can expect to spend an average of €10,373 annually to keep a petrol or diesel car on the road this year, a new study has revealed.

m.independent.ie

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Hans Zomer @hanszomer.bsky.social · Jul 15

Stunning photos of the 2025 Women’s Euros:

www.bbc.com/sport/footba...

Euro 2025: Sporting photos of the group stage

A selection of some of the most striking photographs taken aat Euro 2025 during the group stage.

www.bbc.com

Hans Zomer @hanszomer.bsky.social · Jul 14

“#China’s afforestation campaign has evolved.
Where early phases may have prioritized optics and metrics, recent years show signs of adaptive learning — improved species selection, better integration with local water systems and mixed-use landscapes….”

www.forbes.com/sites/scottt...

Why China’s ‘Great Green Wall’ Might Not Be The Ecological Victory It Seems—A Biologist Explains

With 30 million hectares of land already wrapped in green, China’s Great Green Wall is yet to slow down the growing desertification from the Gobi. Here’s why.

www.forbes.com

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Hans Zomer @hanszomer.bsky.social · Jul 14

There are some 38 species of #ladybirds in Ireland. “But our knowledge in the Republic is still a bit, well, spotty."

You can help change that: If you see one in your town, submit your sighting to the national Ladybird Atlas 2025:
www.irishtimes.com/life-style/p...

#citizenscience

Calling all ladybird spotters: help fill in the picture on these charismatic little bugs

Data on the species in the Republic is spotty, but that’s about to change

www.irishtimes.com

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