Tag Archives: Chronicles

New Book Chronicles the Inspiring Battle to Save Siberian Tigers

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Amur tiger, also known as Siberian tiger, explores Russian waters

Tamim Ridlo/Shutterstock

tigers between empires
Jonathan C. Slugt, Allen Lane (UK). Farrar, Strauss, Giroux (USA)

The Siberian tiger is an extraordinary creature, characterized by its “black and orange striped body.” It lets out a roar reminiscent of a “terrible tide,” especially during the harsh winters of Russia’s Far East. Specifically, we refer to the Amur tiger, whose habitat includes the Amur River basin, one of Asia’s most expansive basins. This river delineates the eastern boundary between Russia and China, and it is the dynamic interaction between these two empires and their Tiger’s Pot properties that constitutes the essence of Surat’s captivating new book, Tigers Between Empires: The journey to save the Siberian tiger from extinction.

Historically, more than 3,000 tigers roamed this vast area of northeast Asia. Facing numerous threats, the Soviet Union was pioneering in 1947 by being the first nation to enact legal protections for tigers. Though tiger populations initially rebounded, large carnivores uniquely reflect the dynamics of human politics. The collapse of the Soviet Union led to poverty in remote regions and a return to trapping for survival. By the close of the 20th century, tigers faced severe challenges on both sides of the border, as hunting, logging, and prey poaching decimated their numbers. Their existence was often equated with a sign of an underdeveloped civilization.

Amidst this landscape, New Englander Dale Mikel arrived to oversee the Siberian Tiger project. In 1992, he found himself in Russia’s Primorye region, bordering the Sea of Japan—a land filled with pristine forests and rich ecosystems. Mr. Surat, who has dedicated decades to this area, serves as a remarkable guide, offering detailed and emotive descriptions of this unique environment. As I read, I felt a surge of longing to experience it myself. There, cliffs adorned with Korean pines and oaks meet the sea, as tigers wander along the shores.

As a field biologist, Surat recognizes the resilience of those engaged in the project. Alongside dedicated Americans, many Russians willingly venture into the wilderness, often skiing for weeks while tracking tigers. The narrative interweaves human and tiger stories, drawing us into the lives of characters like the magnificent Olga, the courageous Severina, and the orphaned Zolushka. Changing perceptions can be just as vital as scientific endeavors. In a poignant moment, a farmer shares how he refrained from shooting Olga, inspired by the narrative he heard from Mikel, reflecting the possibility of coexistence when he viewed her as an individual.

In a climate of growing nationalism, this project and its accompanying book highlight the powerful outcomes that cross-border cooperation can yield. For three decades, Americans and Russians collaborated, motivated by a shared goal, achieving extraordinary results. At the time of its inception, little was known about the Amur tiger, yet their dedication and innovative approaches have rejuvenated chances for this majestic animal.

Years later, in 2022, Mikel departed from Russia after serving in the project for 30 years. Foreign-run NGOs are now unwelcome in the country. However, upon his departure, the protected Amur tiger habitat had expanded to six times its initial size, and the wild tiger population had reached 500—double the total from the mid-20th century. Stability is not guaranteed, and nothing can be taken for granted. Yet, such prospects offer a refreshing optimism for our current world.

Adam Weymouth is the author of lone wolf, shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford Award.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

CO2 Chronicles: A Compelling New Book Urging Action on Carbon Dioxide Narratives

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Florian Gaertner/Photothek via Getty Images

A Shared Narrative2: It’s Everything
Peter Brunnen (Allen Lane)

Carbon dioxide influences our perceptions. Emissions from power stations, vehicle exhausts, and the burning of natural habitats contribute to our planet’s increasing warmth. These realities are compelling lawmakers and decision-makers to confront climate change earnestly.

CO2, comprised of one carbon atom bonded to two oxygen atoms, is essential for life on Earth. However, the escalating levels of CO2 are now exacerbating global warming and threatening life itself. This contradiction is a central theme explored by Peter Brannen in A Shared Narrative2: Planetary Experiments, a meticulously researched and persuasive read.

Brunnen, a science journalist known for his previous work on the extinction events of Earth’s history, now tackles a monumental task: elucidating the carbon cycle (CO2) and its implications, a topic often overlooked in educational settings, while revealing the fascinating stories that span our planet’s history.

It’s easy to overlook the periodic table. It’s also simple to disengage readers with mundane discussions about air movement. Yet, Brunnen artfully revitalizes this narrative, emphasizing CO2‘s significance for all living beings. He vividly depicts events from millions of years ago, like the “Snowball Earth,” and the 56 million-year phase when the planet was “held captive by ice,” compelling readers to visualize these extraordinary, yet unimaginable, realities.

We learn in school that wood consists of carbon. However, Brunnen expands on this, discussing elements such as “mushroom psychedelics, pepper spices, and coffee caffeine.” While many authors might stop there, Brunnen elaborates: Carbon exists in “your eyeball, bougainvillea petals… blue whale baleen, fat, and brain… your tub scum, lion’s mane.”

These rhetorical flourishes may risk overwhelming the reader, yet Brunnen delivers a cogent and artful case. The highest praise I can offer this book is that it frequently inspires a childlike awe—a feeling we often take for granted, much like the subjects that permeate our daily lives.

However, this isn’t merely a children’s book. In addition to the planet and its inhabitants, Brunnen draws on historical insights to urge immediate action, advocating for a transition away from fossil fuels.

His analysis draws careful parallels between our current CO2 emissions and those that precipitated the last mass extinction, a theme he reiterates throughout his work, articulating a growing urgency as he approaches his conclusions. “We can’t escape this dilemma,” he asserts. He critiques the notion of carbon capture and storage as merely a stopgap, arguing that it serves only to mitigate our current lifestyle without addressing the root cause. “In summary, we’re in deep trouble,” he writes.

Assuming no actions are taken and trends continue, he warns that companies may only awaken to their environmental impact after it’s too late, likening such reactions to misguided efforts.

This prevailing attitude, he observes, is common in “some climate circles,” and demands correction. “Sticking to the current path will undoubtedly lead to severe climate disaster, and regardless of how successful changes may be, we must explore all options to avoid catastrophe,” he states.

Decision-makers aiming to steer society away from fossil fuels would benefit immensely from engaging with this book.

Chris Stokell Walker is a technology writer based in Newcastle, UK

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Exhibition Chronicles the Evolution of UK Privacy Rights: From Floppy Disks to Vaccine Cards

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Four decades ago, a 4-drawer filing cabinet was necessary to house 10,000 documents. Now, it only requires 736 floppy disks to hold the same volume of files. The cloud allows for the storage of 10,000 documents without occupying physical space.

With the evolution of data storage comes a transformation in the information landscape. This evolution poses challenges related to the storage, transfer, and proper utilization of individuals’ personal data.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) organized an exhibition at the Manchester Central Library this week, showcasing 40 items that demonstrate the evolution of data privacy. Each item illustrates how access to information has changed over the past four decades and how data has become pivotal in major news events.

John Edwards, a member of the intelligence committee, expressed his appreciation for the exhibition, emphasizing the importance of human influence in data-related matters. He highlighted the significance of understanding terms like data controller, data processor, and data subject.

The exhibition features various items, including Pokemon toys, floppy disks, Tesco Club cards, modems, Millennium bug brochures, soccer shirts, and Covid vaccination cards. It also showcases how ICO interventions have brought about societal changes, such as ending the construction industry’s “employment denial list” and implementing public food hygiene assessments for restaurants.

One of Edwards’ favorite exhibition items is the spiked lawn aerator shoes, symbolizing an early enforcement action in the 1980s against a company selling customer information obtained from shoe sales.




My favourite item at the exhibition by Intelligent John Edwards is the spiked grass aerator shoes. Photo: Christopher Tormond/The Guardian

The 40th pedestal at the exhibition remains unused, inviting the public to suggest objects that have influenced the data landscape. Edwards emphasized the personal and subjective nature of privacy, stating that each individual has unique expectations and experiences.

The ICO was founded as a UK data protection regulator near Manchester 40 years ago and now oversees new data protection laws. The regulatory landscape has undergone significant transformations since its inception.




NHS Covid Vaccination Card. Photo: Andy Rain/EPA

According to Edwards, individuals now have a significantly larger amount of personal data worldwide compared to when the ICO was established. The constant flow of data worldwide illustrates the extensive data environment we now exist in.

Edwards highlighted the challenge of keeping pace with the rapid changes in technology and data usage. The ICO regulates a wide range of entities, from small schools and GP surgeries to large social media companies, requiring continuous adaptation to address privacy implications.

Reflecting on the future, Edwards acknowledged the uncertain geopolitical landscape, emphasizing the potential impact of quantum computing and advanced AI technologies on data handling and privacy in the coming years.

Source: www.theguardian.com

The podcast chronicles the real-life tale of the whale featured in Free Willy.

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IIt’s ’90s week in Podcastland! At least, you’d think so, judging by the nostalgic homage to children’s entertainment from decades past. There’s an entire series dedicated to the fictional purple dinosaur Barney, and investigative news stalwarts Serial Productions literally digs deep into an important subject: What happened to the whale in Free Willy?

For a bit more extreme retro nostalgia, there’s also the Audible star’s new Agatha Christie adaptation, with Game of Thrones’ Peter Dinklage playing Poirot in Christie’s first novel, The Case in Stiles. Himesh Patel and Harriet Walter co-star as Hastings. Does the fact that they started at the beginning of the Christie canon mean they intend to publish all the books? We certainly don’t disagree.

But if that thought strikes fear into your time-pressed mind, don’t worry. For those who want to immerse themselves in a long-running show without digging through their entire back catalogue, we’ve rounded up the best listens. You can take inspiration from the proliferation of 1990s podcasts, but wait 30 years for retro, nostalgic podcasts before listening to the highlights.

Alexi Duggins
TV Deputy Editor-in-Chief

This week’s picks

Peter Dinklage in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Photo: Murray Close/Lionsgate

Mysterious incident at Stiles
All episodes now available on Audible
Peter Dinklage plays Hercule Poirot in this brilliantly cast adaptation of Agatha Christie’s debut novel. Rob Delaney, Harriet Walter, Jessica Gunning and Himesh Patel are joining the cast of the high-budget, immersive production. Dinklage’s Poirot transforms from a gritty force of nature into a wise and luminous soul in the story of the murder of a matriarch at the country estate where his Belgian detective friend Captain Hastings is recuperating from World War I. It covers a wide range of things. Alexi Duggins

good whale
Wide range of weekly episodes available
For an iconic investigative series like “Serial,” the whale from the ’90s movie “Free Willy” isn’t an obvious topic. But this fascinating series shows how, from his unhealthy years in captivity to becoming a Hollywood star, the PR-driven campaign to actually free him, and, sadly, how extremely difficult it was. We delve deep into the story of what happened to this creature, right down to how it turned out. Get used to it. advertisement

quilt
Wide range of weekly episodes available
Queer Britain, the UK’s first LGBTQ+ museum, has partnered with the producers of podcast The Log Books to produce this moving new series. Hosts Tash Walker and Adam Zumis travel around the UK collecting stories, starting with a trans woman in her 70s in Norfolk who sheds tears as she looks at an old photograph. Holly Richardson

generation barney
Wide range of weekly episodes available
Can a giant purple dinosaur provide a generation with much-needed solace during turbulent times? He certainly revolutionized children’s television in the 1990s, giving young viewers their first superstar. Host Sabrina Herrera, like any good children’s TV character, is full of joy as she tells the story of a dinosaur that provoked the hatred of outraged parents. Hannah Verdier

lady mafia
Weekly episodes widely available
Sarah King developed a reputation as the “female Bernie Madoff” after allegedly amassing large sums of money through loan sharks and spending them on jewelry, cars and extended stays at the Wynn Resort in Las Vegas. Now, Michelle McPhee gets her lawyer to tell her side of the story and why she doesn’t think he’s a fraud. HV

There’s a podcast for that

Alex Cooper interviews presidential candidate Kamala Harris on Call Her Daddy. Photo: Call Daddy/Reuters

this week, Rachel Aroesti We choose the 5 best podcasts Can be soaked or soakedfrom Radio 4’s classics to Alex Cooper’s $60 million show.

please call her dad
Most podcasts, no matter how popular, feel like cult concerns. Their intimate banter and free-spirited vibe give the impression that they exist outside of mainstream cultural conversation. Even Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy, the second most listened to pod on the planet, has an upscale club vibe. But every once in a while, Cooper pulls off a headline-grabbing cut-through feat. The show, popular for its sex-positive take on femininity, has been in the news in recent months for interviews with Katy Perry (about her disastrous comeback) and Kamala Harris (about family life and campaigns). A must-listen episode for anyone looking to stay on top of the zeitgeist.

nymphet reunion
If you’ve ever been baffled by the endless reboots of TikTok’s aesthetic or confused by the latest (like, 10-minute-old) trends, Nymphet Alumni is here to help. The trio of hosts Biz Sherbert, Sam Cummins, and Alexi Alario explore cutting-edge fashion and hyper-online phenomena (from “mogging” to Mormonism in an unashamedly literate yet never approachable way). (down to style). Sometimes they name trends themselves (see: Brockett, a fusion of soccer shirts and samba-meets-girly-girl attire), or look back at the 20th-century fashion roots of various revivals. Immerse yourself in the feeling of understanding the modern world, even if it’s just for an hour.

off menu
Some podcasts succeed regardless of, or sometimes in spite of, their guests, while others rely heavily on the energy of the celebrities who participate. At this point, Ed Gamble and James Acaster are consummate professionals when it comes to eliciting dream meal-based jokes from their interview subjects, but they’re adamant about the off-menu episodes that are truly worth listening to. It includes a guest with eccentric tastes and the resulting spiral of hysterical callbacks. Highlights include Victoria Coren-Mitchell’s dinner party sandwich, Ivo Graham and Yeo Valley yoghurt, Nicola Coughlan’s Robbie Williams wrap and The Inbetweeners star Joe Thomas’ unparalleled madness, ‘Soft Touch’ and Buried Contains lamb.

desert island disc
Few podcasts can trace back decades of archives, let alone ones that date back to the 1940s. But that’s what you get when you convert Britain’s longest-running radio show into a podcast. Desert Island Discs currently has 2,482 episodes, and its taste-based premise has proven to be an influential template for modern podcasts (see the aforementioned Off Menu and many others). The back catalog alone is a fascinating cultural chronicle, featuring some very famous guests, as well as many forgotten guests.

good one
The old adage that analysis destroys comedy has now been completely debunked by critical forces that are more likely to take stand-up seriously. And Good Ones, a “podcast about jokes” by Vulture’s Jesse David Fox, certainly takes its comedy very seriously. Featuring guests such as John Early, Alex Edelman, Jack Whitehall, and Joel Kim Booster, Fox dives deep into the technique and background behind the routines and sketches. I talk about over two hours of post-mortems on my stand-up shows. It might be a bit too intense for serious listening, but it’s a thrilling and insightful peek behind the curtain, so be patient.

Why not try it…

Source: www.theguardian.com