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Reposted by Chris McDermott

The New Yorker @newyorker.com · Aug 11

How did 3M’s “forever chemicals” end up in all of us? The inside story of the corporate scientists who discovered—then helped to conceal—the dangers of its chemicals.

How 3M Discovered, Then Concealed, the Dangers of Forever Chemicals

The company found its own toxic compounds in human blood—and kept selling them.

www.newyorker.com

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Reposted by Chris McDermott

Human Rights Index 💙 @humanrightsindex.bsky.social · Aug 6

You can’t ban defiance!

✊🏼✊🏾📢⚖️

A seagull stands defiantly on top of a circular sign that shows a silhouette of a bird with a red slash through it, indicating "no birds allowed." The scene is humorous and ironic, as the seagull perches calmly above a sign that clearly forbids its presence. In the background, a soft sky fades into the horizon with buildings and trees below.

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Reposted by Chris McDermott

Union of Concerned Scientists @ucs.org · Aug 8

A nearly Connecticut-sized, oxygen-depleted area of ocean is decidedly abnormal. But the last 4 decades of annual measurements and failed efforts to stop chemical pollution flowing off midwestern farms and into the Gulf made this week’s announcement entirely predictable.

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Reposted by Chris McDermott

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · Aug 6

“We’re being treated like animals… I’m brown. If I go out they can stop me every day just cuz of my skin color.”

What are we doing? 🇺🇸 (from @rokhanna.bsky.social )

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Reposted by Chris McDermott

Union of Concerned Scientists @ucs.org · Aug 6

Sadako Sasaki was two when the atomic bomb hit Hiroshima. She was 12 when she died of leukemia caused by radiation. In her hospital bed, she folded 1,000 paper cranes for peace.

Today, we fold cranes in her memory & to build a safer world free from the threat of nuclear weapons. #CranesForOurFuture

A black-and-white photograph of a young girl, Sadako Sasaki, is centered against a soft, pastel-colored background featuring gradients of blue, yellow, and green. Large, bold black text at the top reads: “For Sadako and all children harmed by war.” In the bottom right corner, there is a black origami crane icon next to the text: #CranesforOurFuture.

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Chris McDermott @chrismcdermott.bsky.social · Aug 5

Methane 101: Understanding the Second Most Important Greenhouse Gas - EcoWatch

Methane is the second most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide and is responsible for around one-third of current global heating.

www.ecowatch.com

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Reposted by Chris McDermott

Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · Aug 4

There are historical cases, going back hundreds or thousands of years, of humans reacting quickly to climate change. And then there is the current case of humans both causing the climate change and refusing to react to it.
www.wired.com/story/kerr-c...

The Texas Floods Were a Preview of What’s to Come

Mounting evidence shows no US state is safe from the flooding that ravaged Texas’ Kerr Country.

www.wired.com

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Chris McDermott @chrismcdermott.bsky.social · Aug 4

“The fossil fuel industry was sent a powerful message by the court in this case — the health, well-being, affordability, and prosperity of our communities matters more than the industry’s profits and the hollowness of its fear mongering.” ~ Dawn Wells-Clyburn, executive director of PUSH Buffalo

New York Finalizes Rule for New Buildings to Be Electric - EcoWatch

New York is now the first state to require new buildings to be built entirely electric, without hookups to fossil fuels including gas.

www.ecowatch.com

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Reposted by Chris McDermott

Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · Aug 2

A university scientist who discovered alarming levels of toxic chemicals in a lake in southeastern Louisiana was abruptly removed from her research position this week without explanation

University sidelines scientist who exposed toxic metals in Lake Maurepas

The SELU scientist who discovered alarming levels of toxic chemicals in Lake Maurepas was abruptly removed from her research position without explanation.

lailluminator.com

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Reposted by Chris McDermott

Alt USAID/ USAID Forever @altusaid.altgov.info · Aug 2

www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...

Vast supplies of U.S. aid remain stranded, despite State Department promises

More than 60,000 metric tons of food have languished in warehouses in the United States and around the world — with expiration dates nearing on some items.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Chris McDermott @chrismcdermott.bsky.social · Aug 2

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Scientists slam Trump administration climate report as a ‘farce’ full of misinformation

Experts say the report being used to justify the mass rollback of climate regulations has many claims based on long-debunked research

www.theguardian.com

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Chris McDermott @chrismcdermott.bsky.social · Aug 1

“We found an average of seven different pesticides per butterfly, including multiple insecticides that are highly toxic to insects.” ~ Staci Cibotti, lead author of the study and pesticide risk prevention specialist @xercessociety.bsky.social

Mass Die-Off of Western Monarch Butterflies Linked to Pesticides, Study Finds - EcoWatch

A new peer-reviewed study has linked pesticides as a likely cause to a mass die-off of Western monarch butterflies that occurred in 2024.

www.ecowatch.com

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Reposted by Chris McDermott

Union of Concerned Scientists @ucs.org · Aug 1

This made us laugh… and cry. If you felt it too, here’s one way to help two agencies in the bunker 👇

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Chris McDermott @chrismcdermott.bsky.social · Aug 1

“What makes our discovery groundbreaking is not just its greater depth – it’s the astonishing abundance and diversity of chemosynthetic life we observed... this community thrives like a vibrant oasis in the vast desert of the deep sea.” ~ Mengran Du, IDSSE, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Deepest-Known Animal Communities Found Almost Six Miles Below Sea Level - EcoWatch

Thousands of mollusks and worms have been discovered by a Chinese submersible in the Mariana Trench, almost six miles below sea level.

www.ecowatch.com

Chris McDermott @chrismcdermott.bsky.social · Jul 31

“Oil and gas development in these fragile ecosystems would have devastating impacts on biodiversity, communities, land rights and the global fight against climate change.” ~ Anna Bebbington, research manager @earth-insight.org

Pristine Forest and Endangered Gorilla Habitat at Risk as Half of DRC Opened to Bids for Oil and Gas Drilling: Report - EcoWatch

The Democratic Republic of the Congo plans to open 306 million acres of tropical forest and gorilla habitat to oil and gas drilling.

www.ecowatch.com

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Reposted by Chris McDermott

Peter Terpstra (Kesang Neljor) @peter-terpstra.bsky.social · Jul 31

Cooper's Hawk
(Astur cooperii)
Seward Park, Seattle, US

#Aves #Birds #Nature #Hawks #Photography

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Chris McDermott @chrismcdermott.bsky.social · Jul 30

“Every child deserves the chance to grow and thrive. Yet over 190 million children under the age of 5 are affected by undernutrition... This robs them of the chance to live to their fullest potential.” Catherine Russell, executive director ‪ @unicef.org , @fao.org

Global Hunger Fell Overall in 2024, but Rose in Africa and Western Asia as Climate and Conflict Threaten Progress: UN Report - EcoWatch

World hunger fell overall last year, but continued to rise in most of Africa and western Asia, according to a new report.

www.ecowatch.com

Chris McDermott @chrismcdermott.bsky.social · Jul 28

“We are stretching the limits of how much ecological damage we can get away with." ~ ‪@lewisakenji.bsky.social , @footprintnetwork.bsky.social

Earth Overshoot Day Reaches Record for Earliest Date - EcoWatch

For 2025, Earth Overshoot Day fell on July 24, the earliest it has been since the event was first calculated in 2006.

www.ecowatch.com

Reposted by Chris McDermott

Union of Concerned Scientists @ucs.org · Jul 28

Federal investments in science have been an engine driving the development of life-saving technologies such as early warning systems for tsunamis & storms, diagnostic tests and vaccines, the early internet & cell phones. But the Trump admin’s budget proposal could take this engine out of commission.

The Great American Engine Stall: Science Budget Cuts Threaten US Innovation

The biggest casualty? Climate science.

blog.ucs.org

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Chris McDermott @chrismcdermott.bsky.social · Jul 25

“For centuries, we’ve mapped mountains, forests, and oceans. But these fungi have remained in the dark, despite the extraordinary ways they sustain life on land.” @tobykiers.bsky.social , @spun.earth

Earth’s Underground Fungi Networks Need Urgent Protection: Study - EcoWatch

The underground fungi networks that help sustain Earth’s ecosystems are in need of urgent conservation action, according to SPUN.

www.ecowatch.com

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Reposted by Chris McDermott

Kate Aronoff @katearonoff.bsky.social · Jul 24

I wrote about the EPA dismantling greenhouse gas regulations, the International Court of Justice’s climate ruling and the limits of belief newrepublic.com/article/1982...

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Chris McDermott @chrismcdermott.bsky.social · Jul 24

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling supports the obligation of UN member states to tackle the climate crisis and outlines the consequences they could face if they fail to do so.

UN’s Top Court Rules That ‘Clean, Healthy’ Environment Is a Human Right - EcoWatch

In a landmark finding, the UN’s top court stated that a “clean, healthy and sustainable environment” is a human right.

www.ecowatch.com

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Chris McDermott @chrismcdermott.bsky.social · Jul 23

“Teams are not fully functional right now because we have lost so many people... There was no efficiency in this – they just slashed it with an ax.” ~ Bobbie Scopa, retired firefighter with the USFS for 45 years

Firefighter Shortage Across U.S. Poses ‘Dangerous’ Risks as Peak Wildfire Season Ramps Up - EcoWatch

More than 25% of USFS firefighting positions are vacant, creating shortages as extreme conditions lead to wildfires across the country.

www.ecowatch.com

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Chris McDermott @chrismcdermott.bsky.social · Jul 22

“No one voted to turn on their kitchen faucet and serve their family tap water laced with toxic chemicals.” ~ Erik Olson, senior strategic director of health @nrdc.org

PFAS Levels in Tap Water for 73 Million People in U.S. Exceed EPA Thresholds: NRDC Report - EcoWatch

New map data from NRDC finds widespread toxic levels of PFAS "forever chemicals" in the tap water for over 73 million people in the U.S.

www.ecowatch.com

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Chris McDermott @chrismcdermott.bsky.social · Jul 18

“Unless further thwarted by counterproductive federal proposals, the northeast will see an increasingly diversified clean energy portfolio... minimizing the reliance on aging, inefficient fossil fuel power plants to serve peak demand.” @acadiacenter.bsky.social

Renewables Helped Prevent Blackouts on New England's Hottest Day This Summer - EcoWatch

Renewable energy sources such as solar helped keep power on in New England during peak demand on the hottest day this summer.

www.ecowatch.com

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