Satellite evidence bolsters case that climate change caused mass elephant die-off

New analysis showing carcass distribution and algae in watering holes points to climate-induced poisoning of over 300 African elephants

King's College London

A new study led by King’s College London has provided further evidence that the deaths of 350 African elephants in Botswana during 2020 were the result of drinking from water holes where toxic algae populations had exploded due to climate change.

The lead author of the report says their analysis shows animals were very likely poisoned by watering holes where toxic blooms of blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, had developed after a very wet year followed a very dry one.

Davide Lomeo, a PhD student in the Department of Geography at King’s College London and co-supervised by Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) and the Natural History Museum, said: “Botswana is home to a third of all African elephants, and this unprecedented die-off within their largest remaining population underlines the escalating concerns surrounding the impact of drought and climate change on the Okavango Delta, one of the most important ecosystems in the world.”

Elephant carcasses were first spotted in the north-eastern sector of the country’s Okavango Delta between May and June 2020, but poaching was soon ruled out as the cause.

The event sparked global concern, with a total of 350 elephants now known to have died.

Toxins produced by the algae growing in watering holes was one suspected cause, though evidence has remained inconclusive, in part because it occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic when movements were restricted, and this prevented the collection of samples at the time.

The deaths of 25 elephants in neighbouring Zimbabwe from septicaemia in the same year cast some doubt on algal toxins being the reason for the Botswana deaths.

However, writing in the journal Science of The Total Environment, the team say their analysis all but confirms toxic algae as the cause.

Combining satellite data and spatial analysis, the team examined the relationship between about 3000 waterholes and the locations of deceased elephants.

Their analysis revealed waterholes near the carcasses showed elevated algal levels and repeated bloom events in 2020 compared to previous years - particularly during the period associated with the mass mortality event 

The team also showed that decayed elephant carcasses were more spread out across the landscape than fresh carcasses, indicating that the die-off in 2020 was different from typical elephant mortality patterns.

“We identified 20 waterholes near fresh carcasses that experienced increased algal bloom events in 2020 compared to the previous three years combined. These waterholes also exhibited the highest average algal biomass of the period 2015 – 2023,” said Davide.

After drinking, elephants were estimated to have walked an average of 16.5 km from the toxic waterholes and died within about 88 hours of exposure.

These findings suggest a heightened risk and likelihood of the presence algal toxins in these waterholes, he added.

The team thinks that the shift from a very dry 2019 - the driest year in decades in the region - to an extremely wet 2020, may have led to a resuspension of significant amounts of sediments and nutrients from the ground, promoting the unprecedented algal growth.

Davide said: “Southern Africa is projected to become drier and hotter under climate changes, and as a result waterholes across this region will likely be drier for more months of the year. Our findings point to the potential negative effects on water quantity and quality, and the catastrophic repercussions on animals, this could have.

“This work, conducted in collaboration with the local authorities, underscores the severe ecological consequences of toxic algal proliferation, emphasising the critical need for comprehensive water quality surveillance across all waterbodies, including the smallest ones. The research demonstrates the effectiveness of satellite-based detection in identifying diverse sources of contamination, reinforcing the importance of expanding Earth observation applications to enable swift intervention when similar environmental threats emerge.”

The research also involved colleagues from the University of Botswana, the Natural History Museum, London, Queen’s University Belfast, and the Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML).

Ends

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Journal

Science of The Total Environment

DOI

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177525 

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Remote sensing and spatial analysis reveal unprecedented cyanobacteria bloom dynamics associated with elephant mass mortality

 

New insights in plant response to high temperatures and drought

Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie

Ghent, 29 November 2024 – We are increasingly confronted with the impacts of climate change, with failed harvests being only one example. Addressing these challenges requires multifaceted approaches, including making plants more resilient. An international research team led by researchers at VIB-UGent has unraveled how the opening and closing of stomata - tiny pores on leaves – is regulated in response to high temperatures and drought. These new insights, published in Nature Plants, pave the way for developing climate change-ready crops.

Global climate change affects more and more people, with extreme weather conditions steadily becoming the norm. Beyond the immediate impacts like floods and severe droughts, it also significantly affects our natural ecosystems and crops, making it challenging in many regions to grow the food we rely on or to identify the right climate-adapted plants.

Prof. Ive De Smet (VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology): “For years our research has focused on the impact of extreme weather conditions on plants. The molecular insights we gain can lead to solutions to enhance plant resilience. In essence, we learn from the natural mechanisms that plants themselves deploy. For instance, how stomata on leaves play a crucial role in the plant’s interaction with the environment. This makes insights into their activation mechanisms highly valuable.”

Conflicting responses in stomata, the ‘sweat glands’ of plants

Plants respond to changing environmental conditions among others via opening or closing little pores in their epidermis. These so-called stomata regulate gas and water vapor exchange with the environment, function as entry points for pathogens, and are pivotal in shielding plants against abiotic stress.  When temperatures are high, the stomata open to cool down, in dry conditions they close to prevent water loss. So, when conditions are dry and hot, this may evoke conflicting – and therefore less efficient - stomatal responses. The VIB-UGent team of Prof. Ive De Smet joined forces with research teams from the universities of Utrecht (NL), Valencia (Spain), and Wageningen (NL) and set out to unravel the underlying cellular mechanisms.

A well-regulated signaling axis

Dr. Xiangyu Xu (VIB-UGent), first author of the study: “Opening and closing of stomata are rapid responses that require switch-like signaling mechanisms. We know that phosphorylation-encoded switches within protein networks are reversible and tend to be faster than genetic switches. That’s why we studied the role of kinase-mediated phosphorylation relays in stomata opening and closing.”

Xu and his colleagues succeeded in identifying and characterizing a novel phosphorylation-dependent signaling axis that regulates stomatal aperture under high temperature and/or drought conditions. They demonstrated that TOT3, a high temperature-associated kinase, controls stomatal opening under high-temperature conditions, and that OST1, which regulates stomatal closure during drought stress, directly inactivates TOT3 through phosphorylation. This specific phosphorylation-mediated control of TOT3 activity acts as a switch to mediate stomatal aperture under high temperature and/or drought conditions.

Dr. Lam Dai Vu (VIB-UGent): “As a researcher, it is rewarding to unravel a new signaling axis that coordinates stomatal opening and closing in response to various stress signals. More importantly, in the context of global climate change, understanding these mechanisms holds potential for developing crops that are resilient to climate challenges.”

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Journal

Nature Plants

DOI

10.1038/s41477-024-01859-w 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Article Title

High temperature-mediated stomatal opening is regulated by the OST1-regulated TOT3-AHA1 module

Article Publication Date

29-Nov-2024

How fungi colonize plant roots

University of Cologne

 

image: 

Purple: plant cell nuclei; green: hyphae of the root fungus Serendipita indica

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Credit: Alga Zuccaro, Stephan Wawra

In nature, plant roots are always colonized by fungi. This interaction can be either mutualistic, benefiting both the plant and the fungus, or pathogenic, where the fungus harms the host plant. A research group led by Professor Dr Alga Zuccaro at the CEPLAS Cluster of Excellence has now deciphered how the beneficial root fungus Serendipita indica successfully colonizes plant roots of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Initially, the fungus colonizes living root cells. Subsequently, limited cell death is triggered in the host plant, facilitating successful colonization without causing significant harm. The mechanisms controlling this host cell death are largely unknown. The team discovered now that Serendipita indica secretes two enzymes, NucA and E5NT, which produce the molecule deoxyadenosine (dAdo). This molecule activates a regulated cell death in plants, enabling the fungus to colonize the root system. The study ‘A nucleoside signal generated by fungal endophyte regulates host cell death and promotes root colonization’ was published in Cell Host & Microbe.

The researchers show that dAdo is initially produced in the apoplast, an extracellular space outside the host cells. In a subsequent step, dAdo enters the plant cell through the membrane transporter ENT3, where it hijacks the host’s immune system to induce cell death. This phenomenon, as described by Professor Zuccaro’s team, is not limited to plants. A similar process occurs in human patients during interactions between the pathogenic bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and human immune cells.

‘We found that the beneficial root fungus Serendipita indica uses two enzymes to produce dAdo, much like S. aureus, to induce cell death and enable successful colonization. This demonstrates that the mechanism is conserved across different microbes and lifestyles,’ said Professor Alga Zuccaro. The findings underscore the crucial interplay between microbial colonization and the host’s immune metabolism, paving the way for new strategies in medicine and agriculture. ‘By understanding these shared mechanisms, we can develop more effective approaches to manage both harmful and beneficial microbes in human health and crop production.’

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Journal

Cell Host & Microbe

DOI

10.1016/j.chom.2024.10.020 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

A nucleoside signal generated by a fungal endophyte regulates host cell death and promotes root colonization

Article Publication Date

26-Nov-2024

 

Strategies for safe and equitable access to water: a catalyst for global peace and security

University of Birmingham

Water can be a catalyst for peace and security with a critical role in preventing conflicts and promoting cooperation among communities and nations - but only if managed equitably and sustainably, a new study reveals. 

Experts have devised a blueprint to ensure safe, equitable and sustainable global access to clean water. The seven-point strategy will allow water challenges to be governed effectively so they do not create conflict when access is restricted or usage unfairly shared. 

Publishing their findings in Nature Water today (29 Nov), the international team of interdisciplinary experts from France, Germany, India, Nigeria, Sweden, the USA, and the UK - led by the University of Birmingham - set out the following seven strategies to help achieve peace and security: 

• Collaborate locally on global water challenges to help reduce conflict, empower civil societies, and build resilience. Inadequate water governance can lead to unjust competition and severe impacts on vulnerable communities. 

• Involve communities in developing water governance can prevent conflicts during times of scarcity - joint risk assessments, improved public communication, and citizen science help to foster transparency and build trust. 

• Integrate local expert knowledge and nature-based solutions with technical infrastructure to enhance community resilience. Using traditional water management practices in Nepal and Peru has helped address local water challenges. 

• Consider existing inequalities when developing national and local policies to help prevent conflict and build trust - like successful water cooperation initiatives, such as the EcoPeace project in the Middle East, nominated for the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. 

• Ensure safe water access for women and girls, who often bear the responsibility for water collection. Integrating safety, gender equity, and access into water governance policies is critical in protecting and empowering female citizens. 

• Predict water-related changes better and improve local preparedness to deal with intensifying water challenges - integrating the latest remote sensing data with local analysis and investing in adaptive infrastructure. 

• Prevent conflict through international treaties and intergovernmental management of transboundary river basins - for example, the Indus Waters Treaty between Pakistan and India, and Peru and Bolivia’s joint governance of Lake Titicaca. 

Lead author Professor Stefan Krause, from the University of Birmingham, co-chair of the UNESCO UniTwin network on Ecohydrological Interfaces, commented: “Water can be a powerful tool for peace when managed sustainably and equitably, but there is increasing conflict for water as an irreplaceable resource for humans and waterbodies as highly valuable ecosystems with a rich biodiversity.  

“Our study provides a blueprint for using water to foster cooperation and prevent conflicts, ensuring a more just and resilient future for all. Co-creating shared visions for water solutions ensures fairness and acceptance of management decisions.” 

The researchers emphasise the importance of initiatives like the UN Water Convention in preventing conflicts and promoting joint water management. They note the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) ‘HELPING’ initiative focuses on local engagement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovative methods to find solutions for water-related issues.  

Co-author Professor David Hannah, Director of the Birmingham Institute for Sustainability and Climate Action (BISCA), and UNESCO Chair in Water Science commented: “The seven recommendations we highlight provide pathways to move from water crisis to sustainable solutions, balancing water as a resource for people and as a valuable ecosystem. 

"Considering factors such as community action, indigenous knowledge, open science, and participatory approaches for sustainable water governance will help the world to achieve UN sustainable development goals and leverage water for peace.” 

ENDS 

For more information, please contact Press Office, University of Birmingham, tel: +44 (0)121 414 2772: email: pressoffice@contacts.bham.ac.uk  

Notes to editor:

• The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 8,000 international students from over 150 countries. 

• ‘Seven strategies to leverage water for peace and foster sustainable and just water management for all’ - Stefan Krause, Iseult Lynch, Ankit Agarwal, Adenike Akinsemolu, Berit Arheimer, Wouter Buytaert, Rita Floyd, Annabelle Houdret, Elizabeth Saccoccia, Uwe Schneidewind, Klement Tockner, Tahmina Yasmin, David M. Hannah is published in Nature Water. 

• Participating institutions:  

• University of Birmingham, UK  

• Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Villeurbanne, France 

• German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), Bonn, Germany  

• Senckenberg–Leibniz Institution for Biodiversity and Earth System Research, Frankfurt a. M., Germany   

• Goethe-University, Frankfurt a. M., Germany.  

• Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India 

• The Green Institute, Nigeria,  

• Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, Norrkoeping, Sweden 

• Imperial College London, UK 

• World Resources Institute, Washington DC, USA

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Journal

Nature Water

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Seven strategies to leverage water for peace and foster sustainable and just water management for all

Article Publication Date

29-Nov-2024

 

Warming temperatures impact immune performance of wild monkeys, U-M study shows

University of Michigan

 

image: 

Capuchin monkeys play, rest and eat in the Taboga forest reserve of Costa Rica. The monkeys are tracked as part of the Capuchinos de Taboga Research Project.

view more 

Credit: Capuchinos de Taboga Field Research Team

Images/videos of capuchin monkeys

ANN ARBOR—The immune performance of wild capuchin monkeys declines when the animals experience higher temperatures, and younger monkeys seem to be particularly vulnerable to heat, according to a University of Michigan study.

U-M anthropology doctoral student Jordan Lucore examined how the immune systems of wild monkeys in Costa Rica were impacted by temperature. Lucore and a team of researchers found that when monkeys experienced about two weeks of warmer temperatures—86 degrees Fahrenheit—their generalized immune system performance declined. This is the part of the immune system that is activated as soon as the body senses a threat. 

Their findings, published in Science Advances, were a surprise, Lucore said. Scientists expect endotherm animals—animals that can regulate their own body temperature, like mammals—to be able to protect themselves against fluctuating temperatures because they can maintain a constant body temperature.

"We think this has implications for understanding the effects of climate change because we're seeing this unlikely relationship between the immune system and temperature in this particular study species, and we're seeing it at much lower temperatures than expected," Lucore said. "Eighty six degrees Fahrenheit is not that hot."

For the study, Lucore examined a population of wild white-faced capuchins in the Taboga forest reserve of Costa Rica. Launched in 2017, the Capuchinos de Taboga Research Project focuses on the cognition, endocrinology and behavior of these primates. The project is co-directed by Jacinta Beehner, U-M professor of anthropology and psychology; Thore Bergman, U-M professor of psychology; and Marcela Benítez, professor of anthropology at Emory University, all of whom are co-authors of the study.

"Capuchins are thought of as generalist species because they live in a lot of different places with different climates and diverse ecologies. They're successful generalists," Lucore said. "That was another concerning thing about the results: I can't believe we're seeing this in capuchins. They are quite resilient."

Studying the immune system can be invasive: Biomarkers are typically found in blood serum, which can only be extracted in invasive ways. But Lucore examined a biomarker called neopterin, which can be measured in urine.

The researchers used a "clean catch" method to collect the urine. Urine that falls on the ground or other leaves often can't be used because it may be contaminated, Lucore said. Taking care to not stress the animals or get too close, the researchers followed the monkeys, which are habituated to human presence, until they urinated. The researchers then caught the urine using a basket wrapped in plastic attached to a stick. Field researchers at the site can individually identify each monkey to keep track of which urine samples belong to particular individuals.  

Lucore measured the amount of neopterin in the urine and modeled the temperature in the days and weeks leading up to the urine collection. The researchers found that immune performance declined when the monkeys experienced two weeks of high temperatures. They also saw that younger monkeys experienced the strongest impact on immune performance. 

"We discovered that young individuals' immune systems may be particularly affected by temperature compared to the rest of the age groups," Lucore said. "This is especially important for potential health and fitness outcomes, because when you're young, you rely on your generalized immune system. Your adaptive immune system has not yet developed."

The adaptive immune system is the component of the immune system that recognizes specific pathogens—something that takes time, up to several years, for young animals to develop.

Lucore said the researchers don't know yet whether this has long-term impacts for health in wild animals. Longer-term studies will need to look at multiple generations to conclude whether the monkeys' decreased immune performance results in poorer health or reproductive outcomes. Lucore also said the results may be difficult to apply to humans, but they can tell us something about how climate change is impacting wild animal populations.

"Climate change is happening. It's going to have effects on anyone living on Earth in ways that you may not expect, and especially on these fundamental systems that we need to survive," Lucore said. "The fact that a graduate student like me can go out there and collect rather short-term data and find strong evidence that temperatures are affecting the physiology of wild animals—I think that's a pretty important thing to keep in mind."

The Capuchinos de Taboga field team, specifically co-authors Amy White, Lorena Sinclair, Vasco Alexandre Martins, Sarah Kovalaskas and Juan Carlos Ordoñez, were instrumental in the study. Co-author Andrew Marshall, U-M professor of anthropology and of ecology and evolutionary biology, provided critical analysis and interpretation of the study.

 Urine collection [VIDEO] |

A field researcher collects a urine sample from a capuchin monkey in the Taboga forest reserve of Costa Rica. The monkeys are part of the Capuchinos de Taboga Research Project.

play, rest and eat in the Taboga forest reserve of Costa Rica. The monkeys are tracked as part of the Capuchinos de Taboga Research Project.

A capuchin monkey called Tamarindo grooms a monkey named Tenori in the Taboga forest reserve of Costa Rica. The monkeys are part of the Capuchinos de Taboga Research Project.

Journal

Science Advances

DOI

10.1126/sciadv.adq6629 

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

High temperatures are associated with decreased immune system performance in a wild primate

Article Publication Date

29-Nov-2024

 

Fine particulate air pollution may play a role in adverse birth outcomes

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Key points:

• Exposure to PM2.5 was associated with higher levels of inflammation among pregnant women, potentially leading to adverse birth outcomes.
• Study examined PM2.5 and maternal and fetal health on a single-cell level, using an innovative technology to detect how pollution modified the DNA within individual cells.
• Findings provide new understanding of the biological pathways through which air pollution affects pregnancy and birth outcomes, and further highlight the importance of policy and clinical interventions to limit air pollution exposure for pregnant women.

Boston, MA—For pregnant women, exposure to fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) was associated with altered immune responses that can lead to adverse birth outcomes, according to a new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The study is the first to examine the relationship between PM2.5 and maternal and fetal health on a single-cell level and highlights the health risk of PM2.5 exposure for pregnant women.

The study will be published November 29 in Science Advances.

“This study represents a substantial step forward in understanding the biological pathways through which PM2.5 exposure affects pregnancy, maternal health, and fetal development. Its advanced methodology represents a significant innovation for how we study immune responses to environmental exposures,” said corresponding author Kari Nadeau, John Rock Professor of Climate and Population Studies and chair of the Department of Environmental Health.

Previous research has found associations between exposure to PM2.5 and maternal and child health complications including preeclampsia, low birth weight, and developmental delays in early childhood. To understand these associations on a cellular level, the researchers used air quality data collected by the Environmental Protection Agency to calculate study participants’ average PM2.5 exposure. Participants were both non-pregnant women and 20-week pregnant women. The researchers then used an innovative technology to understand how pollution modified the DNA of participants’ individual cells. Within each cell they were able to map changes to histones, the proteins that help control the release of cytokines—proteins that help control inflammation in the body and that can affect pregnancy.

The study found that PM2.5 exposure can influence the histone profiles of pregnant women, disrupting the normal balance of cytokine genes and leading to increased inflammation in both women and fetuses. In pregnant women, this increase in inflammation can correspond with adverse pregnancy outcomes. 

“Our findings highlight the importance of minimizing air pollution exposure in pregnant women to protect maternal and fetal health,” said co-author Youn Soo Jung, research associate in the Department of Environmental Health. “Policy interventions to improve air quality, as well as clinical guidelines to help pregnant women reduce their exposure to pollution, could have a direct impact on reducing pregnancy complications.”

Other Harvard Chan authors were Abhinav Kaushik and Mary Johnson.

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Environmental Health Science (R01ES032253), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL081521), and the National Institutes of Health/Environmental Protection Agency (EPA R834596/NIEHS P01ES022849, EPA RD835435/NIEHS P20ES018173).

“Impact of air pollution exposure on cytokines and histone modification profiles at single-cell levels during pregnancy,” Youn Soo Jung, Juan Aguilera, Abhinav Kaushik, Ji Won Ha, Stuart Cansdale, Emily Yang, Rizwan Ahmed, Fred Lurmann, Liza Lutzker, S Katherine Hammond, John Balmes, Elizabeth Noth, Trevor D. Burt, Nima Aghaeepour, Anne R. Waldrop, Purvesh Khatri, Paul J. Utz, Yael Rosenburg-Hasson, Rosemarie DeKruyff, Holden T. Maecker, Mary M. Johnson, Kari C. Nadeau, Science Advances, November 29, 2024, doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adp5227

Visit the Harvard Chan School website for the latest news, press releases, and events from our Studio.

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Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is a community of innovative scientists, practitioners, educators, and students dedicated to improving health and advancing equity so all people can thrive. We research the many factors influencing health and collaborate widely to translate those insights into policies, programs, and practices that prevent disease and promote well-being for people around the world. We also educate thousands of public health leaders a year through our degree programs, postdoctoral training, fellowships, and continuing education courses. Founded in 1913 as America’s first professional training program in public health, the School continues to have an extraordinary impact in fields ranging from infectious disease to environmental justice to health systems and beyond.

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Journal

Science Advances

DOI

10.1126/sciadv.adp5227 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Impact of air pollution exposure on cytokines and histone modification profiles at single-cell levels during pregnancy

Article Publication Date

29-Nov-2024

 

Moral outrage helps misinformation spread through social media

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Social media posts containing misinformation evoke more moral outrage than posts with trustworthy information, and that outrage facilitates the spread of misinformation, according to a new study by Killian McLoughlin and colleagues. The researchers also found that people are more likely to share outrage-evoking misinformation without reading it first. The findings suggest that attempts to mitigate the online spread of misinformation by encouraging people to check its accuracy before sharing may not be successful, the researchers note. McLoughlin et al. conducted eight studies using U.S. data from Facebook and Twitter over multiple time periods, along with two behavioral experiments, to learn more about outrage related to the spread of misinformation. In the study, outrage is defined as the mix of anger and disgust triggered by perceived moral transgressions. The researchers found that outrage-evoking posts facilitated “the spread of misinformation at least as strongly as trustworthy news.” People may share outrageous misinformation without checking its accuracy because sharing is a way to signal their moral position or membership in certain groups, note McLoughlin et al. The way that social media platforms rank content to show to users likely also plays a part in the spread of misinformation, they add: “Since outrage is associated with increased engagement online, outrage-evoking misinformation may be likely to spread farther in part because of the algorithmic amplification of engaging content,” they write. “This is important because algorithms may up-rank news articles associated with outrage, even if a user intended to express outrage toward the article for containing misinformation.”

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Journal

Science

DOI

10.1126/science.adl2829 

Article Title

Misinformation exploits outrage to spread online

Article Publication Date

29-Nov-2024

UK

#MakeAmazonPay campaign builds momentum on Black Friday weekend

Gabrielle Pickard-Whitehead

Today

LEFT FOOT FORWARD


“Over 40% of Amazon warehouse workers are injured during peak season. Jeff Bezos is worth $228 billion. Their bodies, his bank account. It’s time to #MakeAmazonPay.”

The ‘Make Amazon Pay’ campaign is gaining momentum as Amazon workers and representatives from unions and workers’ rights groups plan strikes in over 20 countries this Black Friday weekend. They are demanding better rights for workers and greater climate action from the e-commerce giant.

Black Friday is one of the busiest shopping periods of the year. Last year, Amazon reported that its Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, which began the week before Thanksgiving, were its largest ever, with consumers purchasing more than one billion items globally. Online sales on Black Friday alone reached $9.8 billion. During this busy shopping season, Amazon warehouse workers are under pressure to fulfil a high volume of orders.

Founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos, who is now the second wealthiest person in the world with a net worth of $230 billion, Amazon has faced criticism over its business practices. In 2023, Amazon’s primary UK division paid corporate tax for the first time since 2020, following the end of a “super-deduction” tax break introduced by former prime minister Rishi Sunak.

The Make Amazon Pay campaign is led by UNI Global Union, a Swiss-based organisation representing service industries, and Progressive International, an activist umbrella group. It includes over 80 trade unions and various anti-poverty and workers’ rights groups. Action is planned in major cities across the UK, US, Germany, Canada, India, Japan, Brazil, Turkey, and beyond.

The campaigners note how Amazon tripled its profits in early 2024, while imposing surveillance and pressure on drivers and warehouse workers, putting them at risk of serious physical and mental harm. The activists also highlight that while Amazon plans to deploy 465,000 new energy-intensive AI servers annually, most will not be powered by renewable energy.

“We, workers, activists and citizens, will be rising up everywhere on the busiest shopping days of the year to fight Amazon’s exploitation of workers, our communities and the planet,” state the activists on their website.

A video released by Progressive International presents alarming statistics, including a worker revealing that he’s been “living in a truck for 40 days in a row, and Amazon doesn’t give a shit.” It also notes that the company paid no federal income tax on over $11 billion in profits and emitted more than 60 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Posting the video on X, James Schneider, co-founder of the People’s Momentum wrote:

“Over 40% of Amazon warehouse workers are injured during peak season. Jeff Bezos is worth $228 billion. Their bodies, his bank account. It’s time to #MakeAmazonPay.”

Amanda Gearing, a senior organiser at GMB, stated: “Here in the UK Amazon represents everything that is broken about our economy. Insecure work, poverty wages and often unsafe working conditions: GMB will not let these shape the world of work for the next decade.”

In response to the criticism, an Amazon spokesperson said: “These groups represent a variety of interests, and while we’re always listening and looking at ways to improve, we remain proud of the competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and engaging, safe work experience we provide our teams.”

Brexit wrecks UK car industry as figures show worsening production

Basit Mahmood 

Yesterday
Left Foot Forward 

'If you’re not in the EU, you’re at a major disadvantage'

Yet another disastrous consequence of Brexit. The UK car industry continues to suffer as a result of the decision to leave the EU, with the latest figures showing that UK car output slumped for the eighth consecutive month in October.

Bloomberg reports that production dropped 15% last month from a year ago, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The site reports: “The group said Thursday that independent forecaster AutoAnalysis lowered its 2024 and 2025 projections for car and light van output by 12% and 16% from what it was expecting this time last year.”

It comes as the owner of Vauxhall announced plans this week to close its van-making factory in Luton, putting about 1,100 jobs at risk.

Stellantis, which also owns brands including Citroen, Peugeot and Fiat, said it would combine its electric van production at its other UK plant in Ellesmere Port in Cheshire. Rules imposed to speed up the transition to electric vehicles (EV) in the UK partly drove the decision, the firm said.

However, Brexit has also played a significant role. Andrew Graves, a professor at the University of Bath with over 50 years’ experience within the UK car industry, told the Independent that the long-running problem is Brexit.

“If you’re not in the EU, you’re at a major disadvantage,” he said, highlighting how leaving the EU has added extra expense and red tape in importing and exporting cars.

British factories built only 775,014 cars during 2022, the lowest annual figure since 1956. Production fell 9.8% from 2021, and declined 41% from 2019.

Basit Mahmood is editor of Left Foot Forward