XPost: alt.global-warming   
      
   'Put a big fat price on carbon': OECD chief bows out with climate rally cry   
   Fiona Harvey, The Guardian via Carbon Brief   
      
      
   An "exclusive" interview with the outgoing head of the Organisation   
   for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Ángel Gurría, in the   
   Guardian includes a warning that the environment, climate change and   
   the protection of nature must be the defining tasks of richer   
   nations. He tells the newspaper that while Covid-19 must be dealt with   
   in the short term, "the single most important intergenerational   
   responsibility is to protect the planet # We are on a collision course   
   with nature and we have to change course for future   
   generations". Following the pandemic, Gurría tells the newspaper   
   countries should aim for a green recovery with job-creating   
   environmental projects, environmental conditions to bailouts and "a   
   big fat price on carbon". In a separate piece to accompany the   
   interview, the Guardian examines one of Gurría's statements about the   
   importance nowadays of finance ministers who understand green   
   issues. "Today, if you are not green, it probably means you died and   
   no one told you," he says. The piece notes that "a new generation of   
   green-tinged and environmentally committed leaders" has emerged in   
   recent years, and they are expected to play a key role in the run-up   
   to the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. It lists Kristalina Georgieva   
   at the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde of the European   
   Central Bank and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala - who is poised to become the   
   next director general of the World Trade Organization - as examples of   
   this trend.   
      
   Separately, Climate Home News reports that the EU "has renewed its   
   push for greening a major international treaty protecting energy   
   investments". It says that France and Spain are calling for the bloc   
   to quit the Energy Charter Treaty unless it is reshaped to address   
   climate goals, while eastern European member states want "less radical   
   reform".   
      
   --   
   Earth's Magnetic Field Flipped 42,000 Years Ago. The Consequences Were Dramatic   
   ScienceAlert, 19 Feb 2021 01:38Z   
   A global period of upheaval 42000 years ago was the result of a reversal in   
   Earth's magnetic field, new research has found.   
      
     End of Neanderthals linked to flip of Earth's magnetic poles, study suggests   
     The Guardian, 18 Feb 2021 20:51Z   
     The flipping of the Earth's magnetic poles together with a drop in solar   
     activity 42,000 years ago could have generated an apocalyptic environment   
     that may ...   
      
   UK PM Boris Johnson to call on G-7 support for 100-day target to develop new   
   vaccines   
   CNBC, 18 Feb 2021 22:37Z   
   UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will call on leaders of the world's   
   largest economies to support efforts to speed up the development of new   
   vaccines.   
      
   TX Storms, California Heat Waves and `Vulnerable' Utilities   
   The New York Times, 18 Feb 2021 18:35Z   
   In California, wildfires and heat waves in recent years forced utilities to   
   shut off power to mns of homes and businesses. Now, TX is learning   
   that deadly ...   
      
     Extreme weather 'will get worse' across the US and poses a security threat   
     Daily Mail, 18 Feb 2021 15:36Z   
     The experts made the proclamation on Wed as TX battled   
     winter storms that caused historic power outages, leaving mns of   
     residents without heat ...   
      
   US to pledge $US4 bn to COVAX global vaccine effort abandoned by Trump   
   administration   
   ABC News, 19 Feb 2021 0:54Z   
   The US govt will pledge $US4 bn to a vaccination program for   
   developing countries at the G7 global economic summit in hopes that other   
   countries will follow suit and contribute additional funds, US officials say.   
      
   COVID claims another Anzac Day event over 'safety of veterans'   
   ABC News, 19 Feb 2021 0:54Z   
   Another Anzac Day parade is cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic amid   
   concerns over the ability for such an event to be run safely.   
      
   Look, but don't touch! Bushwalkers warned about potentially deadly fungus   
   ABC Far North, 19 Feb 2021 0:52Z   
   The world's second-deadliest fungus is spotted growing near a popular hiking   
   trail in Far North Queensland, prompting a warning to bushwalkers.   
      
   'A slap in the face': Facebook ban on Australian news could have serious   
   effects in the Pacific   
   ABC/Pacific Beat, 18 Feb 2021 20:14Z   
   Facebook's decision to block Australian news sites could help misinformation   
   flourish in Pacific Island nations, where the platform is most popularly   
   used to share and read news online.   
      
   Tenants hit with rent hikes of up to $100 a week as COVID-19 protections expire   
   ABC News, 18 Feb 2021 21:13Z   
   Tasmanian residential tenants have been hit with rent hikes of up to $100 a   
   week, with a wave of increases following the end of COVID-19 rental   
   protections.   
      
   Indonesia warns of big fines for refusing COVID-19 vaccine   
   ABC News, 18 Feb 2021 21:13Z   
   In what appears to be a world first, the Indonesian govt declares jabs   
   will be compulsory, with residents of Jakarta facing fines of more than $450   
   for refusing a COVID-19 vaccine.   
      
   'Wanting to be a good dad': Ted Cruz heads to Cancun amid TX emergency   
   ABC News, 18 Feb 2021 21:12Z   
   TX senator Ted Cruz is under fire after flying to Mexico for a family   
   holiday as his home state battles a winter storm which has left mns of   
   people without power or safe drinking water.   
      
   [3-D TOUCHDOWN!]   
   NASA rover makes a successful landing on Mars   
   ABC News, 18 Feb 2021 21:12Z   
   NASA's microbe-hunting Perseverance rover successfully lands on Mars after a   
   seven-month journey spanning nearly half a bn kilometres.   
      
   Yvonne's father died from a wound on his foot. But she says it was a   
   'culture of neglect' that really killed him   
   ABC News, 18 Feb 2021 21:31Z   
   Yvonne's father Henk Niemen died after a wound on his foot remained unseen   
   by staff for 5 days at a Perth aged care facility. His daughter and the   
   child of another deceased resident have serious concerns about the company's   
   care of vulnerable residents.   
      
   Sleep research - Lucid dreamers may be able to talk to the outside world   
   The Economist/Opinion 18 Feb 2021 21:21Z   
   Dreams are clearly important. All humans have them, as do animals from cats   
   to elephants. Neuroscientists believe they are involved in the processing of   
   ...   
      
   'Beginning of the end for Facebook': Q+A tackles the platform's Australian   
   news ban   
   ABC News, 18 Feb 2021 13:06Z   
   Australia's shadow communications minister, Michelle Rowland, questions   
   whether Facebook's news ban is the "beginning of the end" for the platform   
   in Australia as eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant calls Facebook out   
   for not doing enough in areas such as child safety.   
      
     Facebook unrepentant as Prime Minister dubs emergency services block   
     'arrogant'   
     ABC News, 18 Feb 2021 07:42Z   
     Facebook's head of policy in the Asia-Pacific argues it was the govt's   
     proposed law -- and not a failure to test their algorithm -- that pushed   
     them to "inadvertently" block emergency services pages during bushfire   
   season.   
      
     'The only news left': Anti-vaccine pages unscathed by Facebook news ban   
     ABC Science, 18 Feb 2021 07:43Z   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)