Thoughts On - An Earth.org Special Message - Donald Trump, One Year On

 Hi Everybody,

                        I hope that this is not classed as copyright infringement, as it is not meant to be. I received the email from Earth.Org and thought it was so important that I decided to add it to my website in full as I received it. I hope that the source is shown in full at the end.

From Earth.org

Welcome back, readers. A year ago today, climate denier Donald Trump was sworn in at the 47th President of the United States. In this special edition of our newsletter, we look at how the Trump administration has reversed decades of progress on climate, and what this means for the US and the rest of the world.

ONE YEAR OF TRUMP

How the US reversed climate progress, at home and abroad 2025 was a pivotal year for US climate policy. Since assuming office for his second term, Donald Trump has taken sweeping actions to reverse America’s environmental agenda and withdraw from international commitments. These moves have fundamentally altered the nation’s role in the global fight against climate change, a crisis the President has dismissed as a “con job”. Unleashing fossil fuels A long-time defender of planet-warming fossil fuels, Trump’s focus has been on strengthening ties with the industry in spite of the countless climate commitments the US has made at home and on an international level. From a former fracking executive taking the reins of the Energy Department to an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) packed with political appointees who formerly lobbied for the chemical and fossil fuel sectors, Trump has surrounded himself with the right people to execute his anti-climate agenda. On day one, Trump declared a “national energy emergency”. It came despite the fact that the US had hit record production levels under the previous administration and was currently producing more oil than any other nation in history. The move allowed the administration to reverse many of the Biden-era environmental regulations and open up more areas to oil and gas exploration. And that is exactly what followed. The Trump administration has moved to maximize oil and gas development in Alaska, reversing Biden-era restrictions on the 23-million-acre National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and reopening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for drilling. He is now looking to take his “drill, baby drill” mantra abroad, having recently unveiled plans to extend his reach to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. In April, Trump signed a series of executive orders aimed at reviving a dying coal industry by expediting leases and streamlining permitting for coal mining on federal land. This contradicts global trends, with nearly 60 countries having drastically scaled back their plans for building coal-fired power plants since the Paris Agreement was passed in 2015. The US itself retired or announced the retirement of hundreds of coal plants. Aside from being the dirtiest type of fossil fuel, coal is widely seen as an uncompetitive and unsuitable energy source, costing significantly more than renewables like wind and solar. Trump has frequently targeted those renewable sources, missing no opportunity to spread falsities about clean energy. He has called wind turbines “pathetic and so bad” and falsely claimed they are killing people. He also frequently asserts that wind is “the most expensive form of energy,” ignoring data showing it is significantly cheaper than fossil fuels in both manufacturing and electricity generation.

A group of coal miners clap as President Donald Trump signs executive orders on the coal industry on April 8, 2025. Photo: The White House/Flickr.

As part of the plan to prioritize fossil fuels, the administration has blocked billions of dollars in funding earmarked for clean energy projects across the US. Several lawsuits were filed in response; many are still ongoing, leaving affected organizations in limbo and unable to carry out their work. The Trump administration is also going after state laws addressing polluting forms of energy, like California’s cap-and-trade system and climate superfund laws in New York and Vermont. Lowering accountability for polluters Trump has also rolled back dozens of environmental rules, including national air quality standards for particulate matter, limits on wastewater discharges for oil and gas extraction facilities, and regulations on power plant emissions and vehicle pollution. He also took aim at electric vehicles, halting the distribution of unspent government funds intended for vehicle charging stations under the $5-billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Fund. This month, the EPA announced it will no longer calculate the monetary benefits of air pollution rules in terms of healthcare savings or avoided deaths. Going forward, rules for fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, and ozone will exclusively prioritize the costs to industry. In a statement reported by media, the agency said it “absolutely remains committed to our core mission of protecting human health and the environment” but “will not be monetizing the impacts at this time.” The decision has drawn sharp criticism from environmental and public health advocates. “The idea that EPA would not consider the public health benefits of its regulations is anathema to the very mission of EPA,” said Richard Revesz, the Faculty Director of the Institute for Policy Integrity at New York University School of Law.

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Suppressing climate research Trump’s aggressive rollback of climate action took direct aim at science. In the past year, his administration has erased scientific data and slashed billions of dollars in funding for climate research. In the early months of 2025, tens of thousands of federal workers were abruptly fired from agencies such as the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the EPA, the National Science Foundation, the Forest Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Many of these employees were engaged in vital climate-related research and conservation work, as well as providing essential services like weather forecasting and wildlife monitoring. The administration has also signaled intentions to dismantle key research centers, including the Colorado-headquartered National Center for Atmospheric Research, which provides critical data on air quality, tools to improve aircraft safety, wildfire mitigation strategies, and forecasts for droughts, extreme precipitation events, and tropical cyclones. Another target is NOAA’s Mauna Loa Observatory, which has been collecting essential data on climate change, atmospheric composition, and air quality since the 1950s.

The Mesa Laboratory of the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado. Photo: Wally Gobetz/Flickr.

The White House also terminated funding for the US Global Change Research Program, the federal body responsible for producing the nation’s most comprehensive climate reports on the impacts of rising global temperatures. It also shut down climate.gov, NOAA’s primary public-facing website for climate science, and axed NOAA’s Billion Dollar Weather and Climate Disaster dataset, which has provided vital information for first responders, the insurance industry, and researchers to plan recovery efforts and assess weather-related risks. The cuts extended to international climate efforts as well. In February, the administration pulled the US out of global discussions regarding an upcoming global climate change assessment carried out by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). President Trump also ordered federal scientists at NOAA and the US Global Change Research Program to cease all work related to IPCC climate assessments, effectively ending US involvement in one of the world’s most critical climate evaluation efforts. Retreating from the international stage Earlier this month, the White House announced that the US will withdraw from 66 international bodies, conventions and treaties, including key climate treaties, deemed “contrary to the interests” of the country. The list comprises 35 non-United Nations organizations and 31 United Nations organizations – many of which conduct pivotal work on climate change. These include the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the world’s most authoritative scientific body on climate change, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the global authority providing technical and policy advice to drive conservation, and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UFCCC), the primary global treaty for coordinating international climate action. The announcement drew strong criticism from experts, world leaders, and the scientific community, who warned that the US will be left behind as the rest of the world embraces the energy transition, shifting away from costly and polluting fossil fuels to cleaner and more affordable renewables like solar and wind. The decision was just the latest in a series of moves aimed at retreating the US from international climate commitments. Over the past year, the US has exited the Paris Agreement, withdrawn from the board of the Loss and Damage fund for developing nations, and abandoned the Just Energy Transition Partnership, a flagship global climate financing program by rich nations to help developing countries quit coal. It also derailed international negotiations for a global shipping carbon levy and actively obstructed talks for a global plastic treaty, which ultimately collapsed in August after the US and several petrostate allies opposed mandatory caps on plastic production. For the first time, the US also did not send any representatives to the COP30 climate talks in Brazil.

World leaders and delegates attend the opening session of the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) in the Brazilian Amazon. Photo: UN Climate Change/Zô Guimarães via Flickr.

Domestic climate financing efforts have also been gutted. Contributions to the Biden-era US International Climate Finance Plan, which leveraged multilateral and bilateral institutions to assist developing countries with climate mitigation and adaptation, were abruptly halted. Similarly, $4 billion in US pledges to the Green Climate Fund – the world’s largest fund dedicated to global climate action –were rescinded under Trump’s administration, further weakening the nation’s role in addressing the global climate crisis. Dismantling environmental justice programs The Trump administration dismantled federal environmental justice initiatives, prioritizing economic deregulation over investments aimed at addressing pollution and inequality in underserved communities. One of its most significant actions was the termination of the Justice40 program. The program was designed to direct federal investments to disadvantaged communities disproportionately affected by pollution hazards, wastewater, climate change impacts, and high energy costs. The EPA also shut down all 10 of its regional environmental justice offices, which had been instrumental in addressing pollution issues in low-income, historically marginalized, and disadvantaged communities. Experts warned that the move would leave “those living, working, studying, and playing near polluting industries, smog-forming traffic, and contaminated waterways and soil, with little support from the very agency they rely on to enforce protective laws.” The administration also engaged in a widespread campaign to remove, edit, and restrict access to critical data tools used for monitoring environmental, climate, public health, and demographic information. These tools were essential for identifying and addressing the needs of marginalized communities, leaving advocates and researchers with limited resources to track and address systemic environmental injustices. Rolling back animal and nature protections The Trump administration moved to roll back key protections under the Endangered Species Act, which has safeguarded plants and animals since the 1970s and is credited with preventing the extinction of hundreds of species. One significant change was the elimination of the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s “blanket rule”, which automatically provided protections for species listed as “threatened.” The law has been credited with preventing the extinction of hundreds of species. Trump also ordered the removal of key protections to allow commercial fishing in parts of the nearly 500,000-square-mile Pacific Island Heritage National Marine Monument, located about 750 miles west of Hawaii. Home to protected and endangered species, including turtles, whales and Hawaiian monk seals, the area has long been off-limits due to its ecological significance. The administration argued that marine protected areas put American commercial fishermen at a disadvantage, despite evidence from studies showing that these areas benefit both marine ecosystems and fishermen by allowing overfished species to recover.

US President Donald Trump signs a proclamation to unleash American commercial fishing in the Pacific Ocean, on April 17, 2025, in the Oval Office. Photo: The White House/Flickr.

It wasn’t a good year for national parks either. Since Trump took office, the National Park Service has lost 24% percent of its permanent workforce. According to the New York Times, over 90 national parks reported problems between April and July, stemming from staff cuts and a hiring freeze that affected roles ranging from cleaners to rangers and visitor center staff. The cuts undermined essential park services and maintenance during a time of increased visitation. In June, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced plans to rescind a Clinton-era rule that prohibits road construction, reconstruction, and timber harvest on nearly 59 million acres of the National Forest System. It followed a March executive order and a memo issued by Rollins in April, which laid the groundwork for a major increase in industrial logging across federal forests. Green groups warned that timber and mining activities would pollute air and drinking water and strip away essential habitats for wildlife such as California condors, grizzly bears and wolves of the Yellowstone area, native salmon and trout in the Pacific Northwest, migratory songbirds of the Appalachian hardwoods. Written by Martina Igini

Copyright (C) Martina Igini of Earth.org. 

Thank you for your time and patience for reading this. I do not know if the links in the document work, as they were just cut and pasted from the email. Please contact Earth.org. for any clarification.

Ivor Cogdell

THoughts On - Obsidian Notes for RPG's and Wargaming - Updated.

 Hi  Everyone,

                      Today's topic is about a free PC, Mobile and probably LINUX app called "Obsidian". You may have seen it on YouTube before, as it has been out for a while. It is used for taking notes on both mobile devices and PCs.

 It has a wide range of core functions and community add-ins (some paid for), which allow you to customise the setup to suit your needs. All of your notes are stored on your own device in a folder called a vault, in plain text "Markdown" format. All text editors should be able to read the .md format, so if Obsidian goes kaput, you still have all of your data in a readable format on your local hard drive, which would not be the case in many other note taking apps. 

 Obsidian supports Python programming with editors, cut and paste snippets of code where they are needed, and the code font themes can be changed to suit your wishes.

                       Inside of your text, you can link notes together with [[note name 1]],  [[Author List]], [Daily notes]] etc. Just press on the highlighted entry to go to that note. You can change the colours of the tabs and highlights.  Headings, highlights, bullet points, strike-through, auto-numbered lists, bold, and italic are all easy to implement as you type.  Tags can be used for sorting content. Tables can be added with ease. Graphics are available. The latest development to come online is the database. I have not delved into that system yet.

There are plenty of YouTube tutorials showing how particular features and functions are set up. YouTubers have tailored the Obsidian system plug-ins for their needs, including Step-by-step walk-throughs. 

For instance, Mike of "Sly Flourish's "Return of the Lazy Dungeon Master" books and blog, uses Obsidian for his weekly tips and Adventure planning broadcasts. He has converted all of his paid-for "Patreon materials" to markdown format, including hyperlink indexing of books, so that they can seamlessly be ported over into your "Vault" and be used straight away.

You can use them for world-building notes, linking plot ideas and baddies together. Wargame Club scores and games that individuals play. GM information can be amended on the fly.  It is ideal for recording inspiration when you are on the move, swapping files from mobile to PC. Planning strategies, recording troop movements. journaling results to give to players. 

The Obsidian developer community are frequently adding new functionality to the app, giving it great expansion potential. Mind mapping visuals are also included. 

I am just a novice at using it, but I am sure you will find it of great use in your gaming and wider hobbies.

Regards,

Ivor Cogdell

Red Alert Board 5 - 2026

 Red Alert Board 5 - 2026

 Hello everyone,

            This is where I will post my wild weather reports and general climate change information that I hear about for 2026. Sources are shown where known.

6 Jan 2026 - Confirmation that 2025 was the hottest and sunniest year for the UK since records began in 1884. Average temperatures reached 10.09 °C. 

Source: Government figures.

10 Jan - Folkestone, UK - The concrete seafront promenade was destroyed in a storm when large waves washed away its foundations and scattered them along the beachfront.

Source: YouTube.

23 Jan - Sicily, Italy, was hit by a large wave, causing flooding in the town due to a storm surge. A train was derailed, and beach roads were washed away.

Source: YouTube.

24 Jan - Please see my Thoughts On the Earth.org special email regarding Donald Trump's first year.

https://tearsfromthefront.blogspot.com/2026/01/thoughts-on-earthorg-special-message.html

Written by Earth.org Editor-In-Chief,  Martina Igini. Copyright (C) 2026.

This catalogue, in part, lists some of the things he has done while in office.

Please contact Ms Igini at Earth.org for any further information.

Source: Earth.org. Copyright (C) 2026.

26 Jan - Miskeny, Sicily: A mountainside plateau was cut off when part of its summit gave way, burying the only road leading to the summit and triggering a mile-long landslide. It dropped about 150 feet into the lower area. The sandy ground was saturated after the storm passed through the area. Over 500 residents have had to be evacuated. There are fears of more landslides to come on the plateau.

Source: YouTube.

There was extreme heat in Australia, rising to 49 °C in some parts.  Elizabeth reached 45.6 °C, 48.6 °C at Wudinna, and 49.5 °C at Ceduna. There is a danger of fire breaking out in the very dry bush. Overnight temperatures average 30 °C. It has been the hottest day in Australia since 1999. They applied special tactics at the zoo to help keep the animals cool; ice blocks and showers were used in their cages.

Source: 9 News Australia.

27 Jan - Cairhbridge, County Down, N.Ireland - 10 cm of rain fell in 24 hours, with 81 mph winds. In Fermannah, one woman was put in the hospital when a tree fell on her car. Power cuts in Belfast, flooding in Dublin. More is expected in the coming days. Flooding also occurred in the Somerset Levels and Cornwall.

28 Jan - White Barrow, Dartmoor, UK - 105 mm of rain fell due to Storm Chandra. A lorry driver was swept away in the flood and died. 5 giant 1000-litre-per-second pumps have been put into action to remove water from the moors.

31 Jan - Louisiana, USA - There was a snowstorm on Interstate 40, the biggest in years. Power lines are down, and 125,000 people are without power.

5 Feb - Perthshire in Scotland has had the wettest January in the last 100 years; four times the normal amount of rain has drenched the population. (IC - "They must have developed webbed feet by now").

Source: YouTube - The Scottish  Detectorist.

Piedmont, Italy, has had large snowfalls, 4 feet in Monte Servierno, among the upper slopes. There is a Grade 4 avalanche warning; it is -22 °C. and 70 km/h winds are blowing. Alpine rescue issued a red alert. 1.5 metres of snow have fallen in just 3 days.

14 Feb - Lake Powell, Colorado, USA - It has been suffering a catastrophic drought for the last 20 years. It's lost a depth of 36 feet in 2024. The loss is accelerating. 142 feet above "Dead Pool" level, where the Colorado River does not flow at all. 10% of all vegetables are at risk. Upper basin states and lower basin states are suing each other. Can it be reversed through wet years? A climate disaster that keeps getting worse. Plans to evacuate cities are now being drawn up.

The River Trent in Leicestershire has overflowed its banks in places; more rain and snow are forecast.

Cosensa, Italy - An embankment on the Crati river gave way and is flooding the area, including housing and agriculture. A road has been completely destroyed. The river rose over 40 cm in an hour. 10 people have been cut off and will need to be rescued.

    Piedmont,  Italy - They have had large snowfalls. 4 feet in Monte Srevino's upper slopes. Grade 4 avalanche warnings. -22c, flooding in places.70 km/h winds.1.5 metres in 3 days.

17 Feb - Oklahoma, America - Three separate wildfires are raging; 145,000 acres destroyed. Four firefighters were injured.                                

21 Feb - New York, USA - A blizzard was expected to bring at least 30 inches of snowfall.

1 March - Inverness, Scotland - Scottish engineers have built a tidal system that generates free power for Inverness.

SOURCE: University of Edinburgh/ Orbital Marine Power.

8 March - Iceland is expecting another volcanic eruption in the near future. Scientists state that the magma chamber is at its maximum level so far. Earthquakes have been occurring near the Barrabunga crater, but it is possible that it could be tectonic plates moving. For further information, go to the Iceland weather pages.

Naples - Italy - Carbon  Dioxide levels continue to rise, coming from vents beneath the houses in Naples. Roads have been destroyed, seawater boiling in places - this is being monitored by the coastguard. Ground swelling in the area has stopped, which could be a bad sign, not a good one, meaning that it is now at the breaking point. Campi Flegrí and Mount Vesuvius now have a direct magma connection, scientists have confirmed. 

I have said it before, and I will say it again. If you live in Naples. GET OUT NOW. 

THE GOVERNMENT MUST EVACUATE NAPLES IMMEDIATELY.

25 April - Lake Mead, USA. The Hoover Dam has stopped being able to generate hydro-power as the water level has dropped too low to support it. Los Angeles is in stage 4  water management mode. Crop losses are expected to be around $7 billion. This has been caused by a long drought and too much overuse of water resources. This year, the winter meltwater dispersed into the soils before it reached the waterways.

8th May - Franklin, USA - A tornado has struck this community, causing devastation over a wide area. There was little visible warning, as the tornado was obscured by a rainstorm that hid its familiar funnel shape. People hid in barns or storm shelters, and others in the church. Houses and churches were hit; some were flattened or had roofs ripped off. At least one bell tower was ripped off the roof.

Scientists report that Africa is being ripped apart by plate tectonics, one along Ethiopia and the east coast and one down the central axis. The eastern one is predicted to form another sea, but it will take quite a while to form.

10 May - Cooga Basin, South Africa - Flooding in river areas. Roads have been washed away. Severe rainstorms have caused landslides.

11th May - Rio Grande, USA - The Elephant Butte Dam is at 12% of its normal capacity.

Update - 15 June 2026, now at 9.6%.  Three very low years in a row. It is expected to be at 2% by August. The last time it was this low was in 1954. The dam is still releasing water for those downstream, to Kobayo, then to Hatch. 

25th May - London, UK - Broke a new temperature record for May, 34.8 °C.  It is not even summer yet.

30th May - A YouTube excerpt from "WE SAW WHAT AI DATA CENTRES DON'T WANT YOU TO SEE"

There are over 300 AI Data centres in Texas, with another 100 planned to be constructed in the future. The Texas Starlink AI Data Centre currently uses up to 10 fossil-fuel gas turbines to power it, with 50 more planned for the expansion phase. An 80-gigawatt power station would be able to power 60 % of the homes in Texas, but it will power just one of the Data Centers. 

These gas-fired power plants emit nitrogen oxides and nitrogen dioxide, with particulate matter in the size of 2.5 micrometres, which is detrimental to people's health. No public consultation took place before construction began, or since. It will be at least 2028 before any data centres are connected to any renewable energy sources. The power stations are operating under a temporary power licence. Legislation and oversight are currently lagging ten years behind. 

Drone footage taken from nearby properties shows some of the turbines glowing with the heat generated. They raise the local thermal footprint by two degrees centigrade, adding to the overall heat island in the locality. This does not include the temperatures and cooling needed for the actual graphics cards on the PC motherboards. It should be in a closed loop, but no system is perfect. Water usage in the area could rise by 9%. This is at a time of critical drought in the State of Texas and beyond. 

To see the full YouTube episode, click the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p426fSlYH4

SOURCE: PBS Terra and Floodlight News.

Host / Story Editor - Joe Hanson .Ph.D.

Writer / Story Producer Editor - Mimi Schifman

Creative Director - David Schulte

Cinematographer - April Kirby 

Editor / Animator - Steven Simone

Producer Evan Simon

Producer Thomas Fernandes

Executive Producer- Amanda Fox

Coordinating Producer (PBS North Carolina): Nicole Eure

Executive Producer (PBS North Carolina): Rachel Raney

Executive in charge (PBS): Maribel Lopez

Director of Programming (PBS): Gabrielle Ewing

Assistant Director of Programming (PBS): Mike Martin

Fact checker: Sruthi S. Balakrishnan, PhD.

Stock Video/images: Shutterstock, Storyblocks, Motion ~Array Artists.

Music: APM, Artist.

A PBS North Carolina and Spotsen production in collaboration with Floodlight for PBS Digital Studios. (C) 2026 PBS. All Rights Reserved.

Updated Story - Utah - The Stratos Data Centre is in the planning stages; it will be twice the size of Manhattan and will double the state's energy use. Citizens are fiercely fighting the plan, citing energy use and the shrinking Great Salt Lake. 73 billion gallons will be needed to cool the Data Centre by 2028. The State's Republican leadership has demanded it be scaled down.

SOURCE: The Guardian Newspaper.

More than 100 UK data centres plan to use gas turbines to generate their power. The UK government has said its aim is to triple the number of Data Centers we have by 2030!

Update 28 June - More facts and figures about Data Centres in my post - "Google is liable for its AI lies"

 https://tearsfromthefront.blogspot.com/2026/06/thoughts-on-google-is-now-liable-for.html

25th May - It is 34.8' C in London, a new heat record for May.

SOURCE: BBC News.

23rd June - France experienced its hottest night, with readings at 30 locations and average temperatures of 21.6 'C (70.9'F). The previous record was 21.4 °C, set on July 25, 2019. Britain’s Met Office warned on Monday that a four-day heatwave could push temperatures above 39 °C (102 °F) in parts of the country, easily breaking the June record of 35.6 °C (96 °F) set in 1957 and 1976.

Sadly, at least 40 ⁠people have drowned in France while swimming in unsupervised areas to seek relief from the heatwave gripping the country and other parts of southern Europe.

SOURCE: Al Jazeera.

Storms in London generated 29,000 lightning strikes; at least one home was struck and burnt to the ground. The heat warning alert lasts for another two days.

SOURCE: BBC News.

The UK power grid was stressed over its maximum capacity on the 23rd June, during the heatwave. It went over the safety limits multiple times. We were on the brink of a blackout. This was kept from the public at the time; it is suspected to be for political reasons.

There are 431.6 parts per million of atmospheric CO2 in the air today. That is 81.6 ppm above the safety level of 350 ppm, which we passed in 1990. There was a 24.0 ppm increase in the last ten years.

The Real Ice Project Company is trying to determine whether it is possible to reinforce the Arctic ice sheet by flooding the surface in winter with water pumped from beneath the ice, and whether this lasts longer during the summer melt season. If that works, they would try to expand the operation.

SOURCE for both items: The Guardian Newspaper.

24th June - Birmingham, UK  33. C, 91'F, 43% humidity, wind 4 mph.

25th June - Gosport UK - 36.1 'C, A new record. West Sussex 35.8 'C, previous record was 35.6 'C. Pershore, Birmingham, UK hit 34.1 'C UK 33. C, 91'F, 65 % humidity, wind 4 mph.

26 June: New heat record broken three days in a row, in Surrey, 36.9 °C. Norfolk, UK - 37.7'C

27th June - 332 UK MPs voted to make it law to cut carbon emissions by 90% by 2040. All we have to do now is see that they stick to it, because words are cheap and promises are easily broken.

SOURCE: Greenpeace.

Cockcrow Heathland Wildlife Bridge - A wildlife bridge has just been completed in the UK, connecting two habitats, Ockham Common and Wisley Common, that have been divided by the A3 and M25 motorway for 50 years. It is 60 m long and 30 m wide, built in modular sections and moved into place by crane, then covered with a waterproof protective layer. It is now being used by small mammals, deer, foxes, sand lizards and bats. There is a dedicated pedestrian walkway on one side of it. They have provided shelter against predators all the way along it, including fallen trees, sand, stone and boulders, as well as transplanted heathland. It cost GBP 3.2 million, which was small compared to the overall cost of the upgrade scheme that was taking place in the area to prevent accidents. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8AEJqRkTR0

SOURCE:  https://www.youtube.com/@LeaveCurious

29 June - 41.1 'C in the Cheque Republic, twice in a row.

The Carafran Valley, Scotland, is being repopulated with trees after the land was bought with local donations in 2000, and all of the sheep, goats, and deer were removed after it was fenced in. Trees native to the area, identified from old peat samples, were planted; some seeds were brought from the Lake District. After twenty years, the seeding is self-sustaining, as birds distribute seeds throughout the area. They have now bought an adjoining valley and are going to do the same there. The plan is to keep expanding the project.

https://bordersforesttrust.org/wild-heart/carrifran-wildwood

https://www.rewildingbritain.org.uk/rewilding-projects/reviving-the-wild-heart-of-southern-scotland

30 June - Ocean temperatures reached record levels today.

4 July - Wildfires are growing in France  (2025 heat-related deaths reported), in Spain, 1000 excess deaths; Seville and Portugal are on Orange alert. Europe is warming twice as fast as other areas, due to a fluctuating Jet stream. The USA is suffering 82'F at night, with a "heat dome" in operation. 101'f in the New York area. It has also endured the coldest winter in 65 years in White Plains.

Update - Drought in the Loire Valley: it is close to drying out.13 are dead, and 19 are missing. Hillsides are left bare. Nothing has been seen like it in 60 years. The River Seine has been used as a water source for firefighting planes, dumping water onto the flames in Fontainebleau. It could be weeks before it is put out.  Source: WION.

Testing the cyclone data.

1) Find the weather data from many countries.

2) How does it compare with events today? Climate models test the event with different temperatures: one without climate change vs +1.3 °C for today and then evaluate how rare it would have been in the no-climate-change model.

    Hurricane Melissa in 2025 caused 95 deaths in the Caribbean. They found it was 5x more likely to happen now, and has increased winds and rainfall.

Legal Maters

A Peruvian farmer sued a German company (SAUL  vs. RWE) for heating up the glacier above his home town, asking them to pay for flood defences. It failed on a technicality, but the law was proven.

Source: BBC Tech.

6 July - Dams collapse in China - Major rainfall after Typhoon Maysak drowns Guangxi. 150 feet wide. 50,000 evacuated with two fatalities. 

13 July - Wildfires have broken out in the UK; multiple counties are involved in the three major incidents.

14 July - The UK has finally ratified the High Seas Treaty. The High Seas Treaty (officially the BBNJ Agreement) entered into force on January 17, 2026, becoming legally binding international law. It establishes the first legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in international waters, which cover nearly half of the planet's surface.

For a quick overview of how this landmark international agreement functions and its importance for global conservation:

https://www.wri.org/insights/high-seas-treaty-explainer

SOURCE: World Resources Institute.

17 July - Flooding in Texas. The Guadalupe River rises 25 feet in one hour. 250 rescues, 2 fatalities. More flooding is expected in the southern Hill Country. 59 counties are affected. 2300 responders are helping. There was flooding here last year. Water treatment plants and bridges are affected. 

18 July - Chongqing, China: A massive landslide from a mountain has wiped out at least 10 apartment blocks. Massive boulders came crashing down the mountainside. At least 8 fatalities and 30 people missing.It was triggered by heavy rainfall. An entire section of the cliff gave way. Some 60 people were able to be evacuated before the main avalanche happened. 18,000 cubic metres came down. No connection between this and the area of the track of Typhoon Babi.

3 August - Spokane, Washington, is on fire now. 700 structures destroyed. Vernon, British Columbia. 60, 000 people evacuated. Level 3 evacuation declared. National Guard deployed. 8,000 acres involved.  9 square miles burned. Update - In Spokane 47,000 acres are ablaze. Alamita, Greece - Sadly two people have died of heatstroke.

4 August - Three lions in a zoo, died of heatstroke in Tokio, Japan. Spain shut down its nuclear reactors, due to low water levels.

13 August - Stourbridge, Birmingham UK - Six houses were set ablaze by small wildfires after temperatures hit 38@ C. Six more houses in ~Warwickshire were destroyed, plus one in Birmingham. Some of our firefighters are in hospital. Four houses were destroyed in Stoke-on-Trent. The famous Kew Gardens in London hit 38.1 'C.

                  Rumania shut down its nuclear reactors, due to low water levels, loosing 20% of its energy production.

                The fire in Belgium has doubled in size.

25 August                               BREAKING NEWS

ANNOUNCING "THE PEOPLE'S VOICE.ONLINE" WEBSITE (That Means YOU).

It's time to put your thinking caps on. We want you to be able to communicate your ideas to the folks who matter. We aim to be a clearinghouse for the bright ideas that you have but did not think the higher-ups would be interested in. If you have a problem in your community that you think others might have a solution for, drop us a line here.

Our dedicated web form has just gone live, so you will be the first to try it out. Our contributors have top-notch experience in the water and Immigration industry, and the plan is to grow our team of experts and contacts.

https://www.thepeoplesvoice.online

Please take a look, and if you have an idea, let us know.

Thank you.

Ivor Cogdell - Website Administrator.

25 August - Southern France. A tornado has torn through the village of Pomas in south-west France, injuring 39 people and damaging hundreds of homes. They were hit by a category three tornado (European Standard measurement).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0m3npvpgdno

Source: BBC - Yang Tian.

25 August - The Trump administration is proposing to strip protections from 59M acres, 30% of US National Forests, by ending the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which would open them to road construction and timber harvesting. 

My viewpoint - This would not only destroy a carbon dioxide sink, which we desperately need at the moment, but would destroy animal habitat at the same time. It also gives pleasure to thousands of hikers. Yet again, this administration is pandering to big business.

Source: Ground News Email, with additional personal views added by me.

26 August - The collapse of a glacier wall caused devastation on the Nepall / Tibet Border. A giant wall of water engulfed a waterside village, wiping out many in the community. Concrete and metal bridges stood no chance in the onslaught. The wall of water topped many buildings and only those on higher ground stood any chance of survival. It is feared many foreign visitors may have been lost in the tragedy as well as locals. Source: USGS, BBC and YouTube.

                    Flash Flooding in Stourbridge, Birmingham, UK. Some homes and pubs were flooded. Individuals risked their lives by unblocking a culvert by hand to increase the drainage. First fires and now flooding. 

Source YouTube.

More to come.

Regards all,

Ivor Cogdell Copyright (c) 2026 my webpage; individual sources are shown where known.

Red-Alert-board-4

Thoughts On - Trump Attacks Venezuela. Updated.

 Hi Everybody,                                                                                                           3rd - 4th Jan 2026

                      We hear news from the other side of the pond that President Trump has just had a tizzy and commanded US forces to attack Venezuela, abducting the sitting president on the justification that they are moving drugs to the USA, which they have been doing. But the US has been blowing the boats out of the water, against International law, stop and seize, not kill them. They also swiped a couple of Venezuelan oil tankers, in part reparation for what the government is owed in the past, but I thought that was called by it's other name. piracy on the high seas?

 The Venezuelan President and first lady had been flown to New York and are being kept under guard.

                      Right off the bat. I would like to say I am not an expert in this matter, and this is only my humble opinion, whether the actions that they have taken are internationally legal or not. Could the armed forces be charged with unlawfully kidnapping a foreign head of state? Did I hear that they had been planning this move for months? So much for the Nobel Peace Prize.

                    What it will allow him to say now is that Venezuelan immigrants now pose a threat to the USA, so ICE can pick them off the streets as they please, hopefully for them with no comeback, whether that is true or not is debatable.

                    His pal "Big Bad Vlad" must be laughing his socks off right about now. There will be no more supposedly "moral high ground" for Donald to perch on when he calls him next. Not that it was making any difference. I would love to read a transcript of a few of those calls, but I don't suppose they keep them at the White House, otherwise known as the fun factory.

I am awaiting more news. Here we go - 

HEADLINE: Trump to run the country until transition.

Two points regarding that: Firstly, he cannot run the government that he has now competently, let alone take on another one that will actively be working against him. Secondly, once he does have power in there, that just means his cronies can move in and asset-strip the place as he has done with the USA, while no one is looking, or maybe he is past caring if they see or not.

Next in his sights, we hear it may be Canada or possibly Greenland. More of his allies to duff up. If you read it in a novel, you would think the plot was far-fetched. But here we are. Strange days indeed. He is totally off his trolley, but no one seems to care. Is this the beginning of the end for the USA?

Good luck, everybody,

Ivor Cogdell

Thoughts On - Panic Mode and war between the land and the sea - Update

 Hi everyone,                                                                                                              3rd Jan 2026.

 Please give a very warm welcome to JB, the first to follow me on the blog. 

                    I hope you all had a good time over Christmas. I mainly stopped is as I was coming down with a cold and did not want to spread any germs. As I type this, there is still snow on the ground, not a white Christmas here, but closer than we usually get.

                    As for the title of this post, that was me just a few moments ago, when I tried to log on here, and Google, bless their cotton socks, couldn't find it. I was doing an email to a pal and wanted to include a link to my website, so that he could take a look at my mini painting skills, or rather, lack of them

                  I typed in tears from the front, nothing, added blogspot. com that usually does the trick, still nothing. I then added quotes, zippo.  I tried searching for red alert, page, got shedloads, but none were mine. I rechecked the spelling, which was ok. 

                 I finally hit on tears from the front blogspot.com and just blogspot.com. Have they shut up shop completely? I am very glad to see that I was wrong about that.

UPDATE: 24 Jan 2026 - I typed the website title in the search engine in tonight, and it found it straight away. Since I had added a couple of posts and the viewing figures had been ok, it seems to have sparked its algorithm interest again, which I am all in favour of.

Now that I have got my breath back, did you see the Dr Who spin-off by Russel T Davies, The War Between the Land and the Sea? (No spoilers). A five-part story, released in two pairs and the final instalment. It was a quality production all around. The sets and special effects were realistic. A couple of the UNIT crew would be recognisable to fans of the show.  It features an enemy that should have been given more airtime over the years.

            Quality acting from all of the cast, giving the plot conviction and weight. At the end of each episode, I was left wondering where the storyline was going to lead next. I do like a nice plot twist, within reason. I hope they do a sequel. Now that I have written this, I can read other reviews.

For your information, the next Dr Who series is planned to show at Christmas 2026.

Regards all,

Ivor Cogdell

(C) Copyright 2026.