The Human Imprint

Third of freshwater fish threatened with extinction

The Telegraph reports that freshwater fish are the most endangered group of animals on the planet, with more than a third threatened with extinction, according to a report being compiled by British scientists. Follow the link to find out more.

UK launches woodland carbon code

BBC News reports that the UK Forestry Commission has published guidelines for schemes that plant trees in order to absorb carbon. The Woodland Carbon Code is designed to address some of the criticisms levelled at carbon offsetting projects. Follow the link for more.

Beer sales slump by largest amount in 14 years

The Telegraph reports that: "According to the The British Beer & Pub Association 2 billion pints were consumed in April, May and June 2011, a fall of 9.8pc on the same three months in 2010, a period that was boosted by World Cup fans stocking up on cans to drink at home while watching the games. The 9.8 per cent fall is, however, the biggest quarterly fall seen in Britain since 1997, when the trade body started collecting detailed data and has hastened an already rapid decline in sales of beer, as it steadily falls from favour in many British households. During the period, sales in supermarkets and shops fell 15 per cent and pub sales fell 4.5 per cent". Follow the link to read the full article.

Cornish pasties join protected list

Cornish pasties have gained protected status. From now on only pasties made in Cornwall can claim to be "Cornish pasties". It is the latest addition to more than 1,000 foodstuffs around Europe granted the EU status of Protected Geographical Indication

India named world's most depressed nation

Check out this thought provoking article in The Independent.

Green algae in China

Check out the photos in National Geographic of  7,700 square miles of algae bloom.

McDonald's serves record 325m customers at UK stores

The Telegraph reports that McDonalds has now recorded more than five years – 21 quarters – of unbroken sales growth in Britain. This means that it is the most successful fast food chain the UK has ever seen. During the second quarter of 2011 it served 325m customers in Britain, the equivalent of everyone in the country visiting nearly twice a month, a record number of visits in a three-month period. "Much of the growth has come from longer opening hours. A third of the country's 1,200 outlets are now open for 24 hours a day on at least a couple of days of the week, with a quarter of the restaurants open 24 hours a day, seven days a week".

Retail food sales fall by highest amount since 1980s

Sales volumes in supermarkets – the number of products that people paid for at the tills – dropped by 4.2 per cent in June compared to the year before, official figures from the ONS show. This is the biggest fall since the ONS started collating the figures in 1988. Spiralling food prices were blamed for the decline in sales volumes. The ONS said that food prices rose by 5.8 per cent above inflation in June, meaning that consumers had to cut back on the amount they bought to make ends meet. Inflation currently stands at 4.2 per cent. The increase in food prices in June was the highest for over two years.

The figures came as a survey by Which?, the consumer group, showed that a third of all Britons have cut back on their weekly shop due to rising prices on supermarket shelves. Over 80 per cent of shoppers are worried about the rising cost of food, while four in ten consumers have changed their shopping habits and are visiting discount supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidi more often than they were previously. Shoppers are increasingly switching to cheaper brands, buying ‘value’ packs and shunning organic food. Almost four in ten shoppers said that they are less likely to buy organic meet, and 43 per cent said that they are cutting back in organic fruit and vegetables. Only 8pc of adults in the nationwide Which? survey said that they have not noticed increases in food prices over the last year.

The food sector accounts for almost half of all retailing in the UK. For every one pound spent, 42 pence is spent in a supermarket, the ONS said. Despite the fall in sales volumes, the value of sales in supermarkets – the amount of money taken through the tills – increased by 1.3 per cent over June. 

Source: The Telegraph

Spanish eggs linked to Salmonella outbreak

The Independent reports on the recent Salmonella outbreak linked to Spanish eggs. 136 cases have been reported

Waterfalls flow upwards in extreme winds

Check out the video from BBC News on the weather events in Sydney, Australia.