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12 Ways You (Yes, You!) Can Help Fight Climate Change (Maria)

The author writes, “If you’re reading this, chances are you care a lot about fighting climate change, and that’s great. The climate emergency threatens all of humanity. And although the world has started to make some progress, global response is lacking. … There are many environmental organizations out there, but how do you know which are the most impactful? Here’s a list of lesser-known, high-impact, cost-effective, and evidence-based organizations, and personal ways you can pitch in.”

Regular People Are Rising Up Against AI Surveillance Cameras (Sean)

From Futurism: “AI surveillance company Flock Safety might be having a banner year as it aggressively expands its dragnet across the US, but ordinary people aren’t impressed. For four hours on Tuesday, residents of Longmont, Colorado — where Flock has at least 23 AI-powered cameras and license plate readers — expressed their outrage at city counselors over the city’s contract with the company. According to local magazine Yellowscene, nearly every seat at the hearing was full, and 90 percent of attendees were there to express their transparency and privacy concerns over Flock.”

Gaza Faces Another Catastrophic Winter as Environmental and Humanitarian Devastation Mount (Laura)

From Inside Climate News: “Over the past two years, the UN and global medical and human rights authorities have continuously sounded the alarm on famine and forced starvation in Gaza, widespread environmental destruction, near-constant bombardment and violations of international law, deeming Israel’s assault a genocide. Israel has destroyed Gaza’s water, sewage, and hospital infrastructure and, the UN said, continues to restrict the entrance of food, tents, warm clothes, and life-saving medical supplies, leaving millions without basic necessities. Now, as multiple reports show Israel violating the latest ceasefire, winter rains are flooding thousands of tents in Gaza amid plummeting temperatures. Escalating environmental destruction, from the impact of chemical weapons to heavily polluted water, make the scale of humanitarian devastation even more apocalyptic.”

‘I’ve Never Seen So Many Police Cars’ (Dana)

From Mother Jones: “Though I’m new to Memphis, I’ve been reporting on the criminal justice system for more than a decade and have spent time in cities with a lot of law enforcement. I’ve also lived in an authoritarian country overseas, yet I’ve never experienced a police presence like this. Some Memphians critical of the surge liken the city to a war zone, with helicopters circling over neighborhoods, National Guard officers patrolling downtown, and unmarked law enforcement vehicles in the streets. Immigrant citizens carry their US passports, lest they be detained. One volunteer I spoke with compared the vibe to 1930s Germany.”

Thousands of US Farmers Have Parkinson’s. They Blame a Deadly Pesticide (Reader Jim)

The author writes, “Paul Friday remembers when his hand started flopping in the cold weather – the first sign nerve cells in his brain were dying. He was eventually diagnosed with Parkinson’s, a brain disease that gets worse over time. His limbs got stiffer. He struggled to walk. He couldn’t keep living on his family farm. Shortly afterward, Friday came to believe that decades of spraying a pesticide called paraquat at his peach orchard in southwestern Michigan may be the culprit. ‘It explained to me why I have Parkinson’s disease,’ said Friday, who is now 83, and makes that claim in a pending lawsuit. The pesticide, a weed killer, is extremely toxic. With evidence of its harms stacking up, it’s already been banned in dozens of countries all over the world, including the United Kingdom and China, where it’s made.”

Hornet-Eating Frog Shows Remarkable Venom Resistance (Mili)

The author writes, “Experiments reveal that pond frogs can eat highly venomous hornets without suffering noticeable damage, even after repeated stings. Most frogs successfully consumed hornets, including the notorious Asian giant hornet. This unusual resilience suggests that frogs may have evolved mechanisms to block the effects of venom. Their resistance could help scientists uncover new insights into pain and toxin tolerance.”