Link Blog
Interesting news in my local town, a new cobalt and nickel processing facility for lithium-ion batteries. Fredericktown’s history is largely based upon lead mining in the 1800s. Mine LaMotte was the beginning of that. The area also has rich deposits of cobalt and other elements. So they’ll be doing both mining and processing.
Mixed feelings. On the one hand, this will, no doubt, be a new source of local pollution. They claim that the goal is “to supply clean, domestic and ethically sourced battery metals, free from child labour and human rights abuses that it sees as currently plaguing the cobalt supply chain.” But, you know, the reality will be that there will be toxic by-products.
That said, I have an iPhone and numerous devices that use these batteries. We really should be sourcing materials locally when possible. It’s irresponsible and unethical to turn to other countries for materials for devices we’ll be using if those materials are available here. The facility is about 5 miles from my place and is surrounded by various farms. Will be interesting to see how it develops.
Missouri Cobalt close to finishing key facility for cobalt, nickel production
The Pillars of Creation are set off in a kaleidoscope of color in NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s near-infrared-light view.
Mylissa Farmer’s water broke 17 weeks into her pregnancy and the fetus was dying inside her, but she couldn’t legally get an abortion in the state.
The US and other developed countries are hustling to avoid a collision with developing nations at the United Nations COP27 conference early next month.
Ministers are pressing ahead with a dual crackdown on climate protests and strike action, a controversial move that followed a day of direct action in London.
Government to unveil crackdown on climate activism and strike action | The Guardian
Since 1970, the scientists find that the population of fresh water species has plunged by 83%, and the population of wildlife species over all has fallen 69%.
Major shipping delays and backlog of vessels after region experiences lack of rainfall in recent weeks
Barges stranded as Mississippi River water levels reach critical low | US news | The Guardian
Many homes are now uninsurable and climate collapse will only make that problem worse.
The uninsurables: how storms and rising seas are making coastlines unliveable | The Guardian
California accounts for roughly 95% of the nation’s processed tomato production and about 35% of global production.
“They want crime because they want to take over what you got. They want to control what you have. They want reparations because they think the people that do the crime are owed that.”
Alabama Sen. Tuberville equates descendants of enslaved people to criminals : NPR
Native Land Digital, an Indigenous-led nonprofit based in Canada has created a searchable map of Native territories, languages and treaties.
What Native land are you on? This map shows Indigenous tribes' past territories : NPR
Bee bus stops first appeared in the Dutch city of Utrecht. Now the UK is planning for more than 1,000 and there is growing interest across Europe and in Canada and Australia
Buzz stops: bus shelter roofs turned into gardens for bees and butterflies | Bees | The Guardian
Jon Stewart’s not holding back in this interview with Arkansas Attorney General, who fought for legislation denying anyone under 18 access to gender-affirming treatments.
I’ve harvested pawpaws once from a few trees on the side of a gravel road. Amazing. A soft banana/mango flavor and texture. Planted a few in my forest garden and waiting for them to grow.
How America’s most enigmatic fruit is making a comeback | The Guardian
Heartbreaking. I don’t know how to process the scope of this kind of suffering. Climate emergency future.