A(i)nt nothing to worry about Bittersweet celebrations Europe hard hit by drought

Journalists at Euronews.green recognise that eco-anxiety, climate doom and environmental existential dread is affecting many people, including themselves. “There’s a lot to be worried about when it comes to the climate and nature crises, but when a sense of hopelessness becomes the overarching emotion, apathy begins to creep in too,” according to the report. So, in a bid to counter this phenomenon, it is publishing positive environmental news stories. “It’s our job to be truthful and accurate in our reporting, not trying to downplay the severity of the situation or greenwash reality. But it’s also our job to show that there is hope.” One of their stories is about how pesticides kill bees (which has terrible knock-on effects) but the good news is a new study has found that “ants can protect crops from damage just as well as harmful pesticides, at lower costs” and their tunnels also aerate the soil, helping plants suck up oxygen.

Queer people in Singapore are elated after plans were announced to decriminalise sex between two men. The prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, made the announcement on Sunday to repeal section 377A of the penal code, which carries a jail term of up to two years for “any act of gross indecency” between men. Although the announcement is a cause for celebration for LGBTQ people, some hold mixed views about the alteration of the law, especially since heterosexual marriages are the only kinds of unions that are recognised by the law. Authorities still intend to protect the law that defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. As the prime minister stated: “Many national policies rely upon this definition of marriage — including public housing, education, adoption rules, advertising standards, film classification. The government has no intention of changing the definition of marriage, nor these policies.”

Europe is experiencing the worst drought in at least 500 years. The climate, which is affecting energy, water sources, vegetation and safety, has reportedly placed 47% of Europe under a drought warning. The Global Drought Observatory, which released the data, said some of the most affected countries were France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Belgium and the United Kingdom. The data show that European Unions forecasts for harvests, compared with the average for the last five years, have dwindled to 16% for grain maize, 15% for soybeans and 12% for sunflowers. “We are currently noticing a wildfire season sensibly above the average and an important impact on crop production. Climate change is undoubtedly more noticeable every year,” said the research commissioner, who added that although the drought had been present all year, it worsened during the month of August.