The results of the Australian election this Saturday will set the climate agenda for one of the planet's worst per-capita CO2 emitters. It comes as the world faces a rapidly closing window to stop the most severe impacts of climate change. The country, dubbed a "wrecker" at climate change negotiations, is a major exporter of fossil fuels, largely to East Asia and India. It has been criticized for grossly insufficient climate targets by the UK and US as well as its neighboring Pacific nations who could see their homes disappear as sea levels rise. Voters facing record floods and droughts want more climate action Australians want action on climate change, but major parties have hardly mentioned the issue in their election campaigns At the same time, polls clearly show voters back stronger climate action in the "sunburned land," having already experienced deadly and costly flooding and wildfires linked to climate change in recent years. Some big businesses, once against … [Read more...] about Droughts, fires and floods: Could climate change decide Australia’s election?
Big wave new record
Ahead of Their Brian Wilson Tribute Album, a Very She & Him Q&A
Photo: Chantal Anderson The words She & Him and Brian Wilson and tribute album just make some kind of inevitable sense, like a Pinterest board zapped by a twee-ray into sentient life. Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward’s indie-pop duo always trafficked in deep-stacked winsome harmonies (hers) and a gentle beach-inflected guitar (his); their three albums of original music all conjured a golden, worn-in AM radio spinning 1960s oldies that never actually existed. Then, for the better part of a decade, the duo turned their throwback knack to compilations, with two Christmas albums (which featured Brian Wilson songs) and one paying grand orchestral tribute to the likes of Burt Bacharach and Carole King. Today, they announced Melt Away: A Tribute to Brian Wilson, a dreamy 14-track album of covers, including a track featuring Wilson himself. It’s not without precedent: The duo has covered “ Wouldn’t It Be Nice ” in concert for years, and they teamed up with the 79-year-old … [Read more...] about Ahead of Their Brian Wilson Tribute Album, a Very She & Him Q&A
Inside Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend – day-by-day timetable of events revealed
The biggest ever royal event is set to take place next month as the Queen celebrates her Platinum Jubilee . The four-day public holiday is planned so celebrations can take place across a four-day weekend in June 2022, with an eye-popping budget of £15 million. The 96-year-old royal is celebrating her 70th year on the throne - making the event even more special is the fact she's the first British monarch to do so. The day-by-day itinerary of Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee Weekend has been revealed. The celebrations will start on Thursday June 2 with the Queen's Birthday Parade, when members of The Firm will wave from the balcony at Buckingham Palace as the RAF salutes Her Majesty from the skies. It was revealed yesterday that after "careful consideration", the Queen has decided to ban Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Prince Andrew from appearing beside her - limiting relatives on the balcony to working royals only. Prince George and Princess Charlotte will be among … [Read more...] about Inside Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend – day-by-day timetable of events revealed