The Channel Islands Co-operative Society launches plan to help bees

May 15th, 2012 by The Channel Islands Co-operative Society Limited

The Channel Islands Co-operative Society has launched Plan Bee, which is an initiative to support and grow the Channel Islands’ bee population.

Primary schools across Guernsey and Jersey have received information leaflets and packets of wildflower seeds which, when planted, will help to feed the bee populations of both islands.

Besides producing honey and beeswax, bees pollinate about one third of the food crops that humans rely on globally. Without bees many foods wouldn’t be produced.

A bee visits an apple tree blossom on 27 April 2012 (click image to expand - ©RLLord)

Pollination is vital for many plants, including many fruits and Continue reading

Fish responding to climate change

May 8th, 2012 by Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership

(click on report cover to go to MCCIP website)

The Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership (MCCIP) launched its latest Report Card at the World Fisheries Congress in Edinburgh.

It focuses on how climate change is affecting the fish and shellfish we find in our seas, providing both opportunities and threats, and what the social and economic consequences could be.

Key findings in the 2012 MCCIP Report Card include: Continue reading

Delicious food from the spice trail served on Liberation Day

May 5th, 2012 by Sarah Griffith

(click image to download PDF file of flyer to your computer)

During Guernsey’s Liberation Day festivities on 9 May 2012 from 12 pm to 5 pm Bridge2Haiti and Bridge2SriLanka are giving you the opportunity to follow the spice trail by serving delicious food outside The Albion House Tavern and Town Church, St Peter Port. Continue reading

Royal Society report frames global challenge facing humanity

May 2nd, 2012 by The Royal Society

(Please click report cover to go to download page)

Consumption levels between developed and developing nations must be rebalanced alongside a stabilisation of the world’s population by voluntary methods, according to a new report from The Royal Society.

The most developed and the emerging economies must stabilise consumption levels, then reduce them, to help the poorest 1.3 billion people to escape absolute poverty through increased consumption.

Alongside this, education and voluntary family planning programmes must be supported internationally to stabilise global population.

The new report, People and the Planet, is the result of a 21 month study by the Royal Society, the UK’s 350 year-old national academy of science, on the issues around global population. Continue reading

WorldWatch Institute’s State of the World 2012 outlines what is needed for global sustainable prosperity

April 30th, 2012 by Worldwatch Institute

(click on book cover to go to publisher's website)

Over the last 50 years, the world’s middle and upper classes have more than doubled their consumption levels, and an additional one to two billion people globally aspire to join the consumer class.

The planet cannot maintain such increases in resource demand without serious consequences for both people and ecosystems, concludes the Worldwatch Institute in State of the World 2012: Moving Toward Sustainable Prosperity.

The book, the 29th in a series that Worldwatch began in 1984, stresses that we must act quickly to redefine our understanding of the “good life” and redouble our efforts to make that life sustainable. Continue reading

strawberries and blueberries may slow cognitive decline in women

April 27th, 2012 by Wiley-Blackwell

Organically grown strawberries on sale at the Sausmarez Manor farmers' market in May 2008 (click image to expand - ©RLLord)

Blueberries and strawberries, which are high in flavonoids, appear to reduce cognitive decline in older adults according to a study, Dietary intakes of berries and flavonoids in relation to cognitive decline, published in Annals of Neurology, a journal of the American Neurological Association and Child Neurology Society.

The study results suggest that cognitive aging could be delayed by up to 2.5 years in elderly who consume greater amounts of the flavonoid-rich berries. Continue reading

Well fed with delicious food at the Fresh Friday Market in St Peter Port

April 20th, 2012 by Richard Lord

The Fresh Friday Market in Market Square, St Peter Port enjoyed a successful second week although the weather was more variable with moments of bright blue sky interspersed with short showers.

Armelle Hodkinson of L'Escalier serves a Dutch customer at the Fresh Friday Market in Market Square, St Peter Port (click image to expand - ©RLLord)

Besides the delicious food sold, one of the pleasures of food markets is the banter that occurs and the comaraderie that develops between regular customers and vendors. Continue reading

Delicious food at first weekly Fresh Friday Market in St Peter Port

April 13th, 2012 by Richard Lord

Guernsey food sellers participated in the first Fresh Friday food market held in Market Square, St Peter Port from early morning to mid-afternoon on 13 April 2012.

The new market will be a weekly affair although not all food sellers are able to participate in the market every week.

Food vendors were happy with sales at the first Fresh Friday Market in Market Square (click image to expand - ©RLLord)

The market had peaks of activity at 11 am and again around lunchtime.  There was live music as people stood or sat on benches in the sunshine eating delicious food.

Victoria McKenzie with her daughter Jessica sold large numbers of cakes to Market Square visitors (click image to expand - ©RLLord)

Victoria McKenzie cupcakes at Cake sold very quickly.  By midday she had very few left. They were made with Castel free range eggs and Guernsey butter. Continue reading

US Intelligence expresses concern for future global water security

March 22nd, 2012 by Office of the Director of National Intelligence

(click on cover image to go to report download page)

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (USA) has published a report on Global Water Security.

According to a US intelligence assessment, during the next 10 years, many regions will experience water challenges – shortages, poor water quality, or floods – that will increase the risk of instability and state failure, and increase regional tensions.

Between now and 2040, fresh water availability is unlikely to be able to keep up with demand unless there is more effective management of water resources.

As a result of demographic and economic development pressures, North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia will face major challenges coping with water problems.

Water problems will hinder the ability of key countries to produce food and generate energy, posing a risk to global food markets and hobbling economic growth. Continue reading

Multiple ocean stressors may cause enormous economic losses by 2100

March 21st, 2012 by Stockholm Environment Institute

Climate change alone could reduce the economic value of key ocean services by up to $2 trillion a year by 2100, a new study shows – but so many threats are converging on the oceans at once, that a global, integrated approach is urgently needed.

The study, Valuing the Ocean, is the work of an international, multi-disciplinary team of experts coordinated by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI).

(click on draft Executive Summary cover to go to download page)

The preliminary Executive Summary released on 21 March 2011 sends a strong message to world leaders preparing for the Rio+20 Earth Summit in June 2012: that protecting the oceans must be a priority in global sustainability goals. Continue reading