UK Study: Eating Less Meat Reduces Greenhouse Emissions
A new scientific study published in Nature estimates that if big UK meat-eaters reduce their consumption of red and processed meats, it would be the equivalent of taking 8M cars off the road.
Researchers at Oxford University have found that the meat industry's impact on greenhouse gas emissions can be offset if people switch to a low-meat diet. But the meat industry disputes the findings, arguing the study overstates the impact.
The study found that vegan diets led to 75% fewer greenhouse emissions, water pollution, and land use than diets in which more than 100g of meat per day was consumed. This reduced the destruction of wildlife habitat by 66% and water consumption by 54%.
Narrative A
The ground-breaking report from Oxford clearly shows that a meat-free diet is found to have a much lower environmental impact on land use, water pollution, water use, and biodiversity loss. It also found that high-meat diets produce four times more greenhouse gases than vegan diets. All things considered, we would all be better off for the planet if we reduced our meat consumption.
Narrative B
It's oversimplifying things to say that vegetarianism is better for the environment than eating meat because so much of our vegetables are imported. It's not the government's role to impose authoritarian policies on what people can farm or tell consumers what to eat. People already have vegetarian options but are not opting for them. Instead, the government should push for meat production to be made more efficient and to have the scientific community breed genetically engineered cows that emit less methane.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that at least 3.71% of US adults will self-report to follow a vegan diet in 2028, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Amsterdam Bans Cruise Ships
In an effort to curb an unsustainable number of visitors and limit pollution, Amsterdam's city council voted to ban cruise ships from entering its city center ports. Accordingly, the central cruise terminal on the River IJ near Amsterdam's main train station will close.
The council, which the center-left party D66 said voted with "a clear majority," will now have to figure out how to implement the ban, including discussions with the managers of the North Sea Canal, the councils of other cities on the canal, and the Dutch government.
Ilana Rooderkerk, leader of D66, said the 100 ships that dock at the city annually "[do] not match the sustainable ambitions of our city." The city in March also began discouraging young men — particularly from the UK — from traveling to the city for drinks and drugs, dubbing them "nuisance tourists."
Narrative A
If you think banning these giant, floating, carbon-emitting resorts will hurt the Dutch economy, remember that the tourists on board only spend a few hours in the city and don't even visit local venues. They're a waste of precious space, pollute the air, and encourage degenerate behavior that ruins the true culture of Amsterdam. This was the right move for the city and its people.
Narrative B
While locals certainly want to stem the rowdy behavior unleashed by party-goers on a nightly basis, the problem isn't just visiting men, it's large groups of men in general— including Dutch residents. Local venues have and can continue to tackle this issue on their own by simply banning large groups of drunks from entering their establishments. The government doesn't need to step in and criminalize tourism.
Nerd narrative
There is a 50% chance that at least 44% of countries that pledge carbon neutrality by 2050 will keep their pledge, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Report: China-Backed Hackers Breached US Ambassador's Email
A Wall Street Journal report alleges that Beijing-linked hackers have accessed the email account of the US ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns, as part of a cyber campaign revealed last week that compromised hundreds of thousands of US government emails.
CNN reports that the hackers also got access to the accounts of the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia, Daniel Kritenbrink, and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo; however, the details and scope of the cyberattacks remain under investigation.
Last week, Microsoft accused Chinese hackers of exploiting a flaw in the company's cloud systems to gain access to US government email accounts. Microsoft and the US Dept. of State have declined to comment on the recent report, with the State Dept. saying its investigation is ongoing.
Anti-China narrative
China is the most pernicious cyber threat the world faces, and these massive breaches haven't even reached a tenth of what they may be capable of. US cyberinfrastructure, publicly and privately, is woefully unprepared for a full-blown cyberwar with China, as their hackers could potentially penetrate every aspect of American life. The US needs to get smart on cybersecurity to defend itself against a growing and aggressive threat.
Pro-China narrative
It's the specialty of the US to accuse others of what they are most guilty of. Based on unconfirmed media reports, the US government is trying to stoke animosity towards China with these new cyberattack charges. It's the US, not China, that is the most vicious and unrelenting cybercriminal on the world stage. The US is not only responsible for countless attacks on China and other countries, but America's intelligence apparatus has used every tool at its disposal to topple foreign governments. The global community must stand together against America's dangerous and hypocritical cyber policy.
Farage Bank Closure: BBC Amends Story, Coutts Apologizes
On Thursday, the BBC amended its story concerning Coutts Bank's closure of British politician Nigel Farage’s account, having been criticized for its reporting on the matter based on evidence obtained by Farage.
On July 4, BBC business editor Simon Jack published claims that Farage was removed as a client of Coutts due to his financial situation rather than his political stances. The BBC has now clarified that the claim stemmed from an anonymous source in the article's title and included an update on a Coutts report acquired by Farage.
The news comes after the CEO of NatWest — the owners of Coutts — apologized to Farage after he obtained documents from the bank confirming that his account was shut down for ideological reasons.
Left narrative
It's ironic that payment regulations upholding Farage’s right to hold a bank account, regardless of his political opinions, stem from a European charter. However, the reality is that — whether right or wrong — Farage wasn't worth the hassle for Coutts. If there is any bright side, it's that Farage will not have the problem of being a "politically exposed person" next year, having not won a seat in an election for a rather long period of time.
Right narrative
Political discrimination is alive and well in the banking sector, and Coutts must pay for its behavior. Targeting of figures such as Farage seems to be rife throughout a plethora of banks, and tough questions should be demanded of the entire financial sector. It's a dangerous precedent to try and put a barrier between those we disagree with and their everyday necessities, such as a bank account, and this action should be condemned by all sides.
Estimates Show Threads User Engagement Plummeted
Estimates from market intelligence firm Sensor Tower show that Meta's new social media app Threads has experienced a 70% decline in daily active users since its July 7 peak, with its users dropping from 44M to 13M and the average daily time spent on the app declining to four minutes from its peak of 19.
Meanwhile, Threads’ rival Twitter is reportedly experiencing a steady daily active user rate of roughly 200M, along with 30 minutes of average daily user time.
Meta, which also owns Instagram, sparked Threads signups by allowing its 2B Instagram users to join through their accounts after it launched on July 5. That day, Twitter’s web engagement decreased by 5%.
Left narrative
While Threads has dealt with some technological issues and still has to implement core features to rival Twitter, its advertiser-friendly content will be what brings in the cash and helps Meta take on the ideologically dangerous platform owned by Elon Musk. Threads may face an uphill battle, but it will be a smooth-running alternative where users and advertisers can go for positive content.
Right narrative
Meta isn't just a Big Tech poacher trying to outcompete its business competitors, it's a Big Brother platform that has admitted to censoring Americans at the behest of the federal government. This is why social media users who care about free speech should be cautious not to let the free speech platform be destroyed by technocratic elites.
Report: Google Building AI Tool for Journalists
Google is reportedly testing a product – known internally as Genesis – that can use artificial intelligence (AI) to produce news stories, and the company has pitched it to several news organizations, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal owner NewsCorp.
A Google spokesperson said the technology is in its early stages, but it could be used as a tool that “enhances” reporters’ “work and productivity” but won’t “replace the essential role” of journalists.
This comes as the media industry has endured a global downturn, as a collapse in print advertising revenues has contributed to several rounds of layoffs, with US newsrooms eliminating 17,436 jobs in the first five months of 2023.
Narrative A
You can’t stop progress. Many news organizations have already started using AI in their content creation or they’ve begun considering how best to integrate AI into their newsrooms. Rather than looking at Genesis as a threat, journalists should look at it as Google responsibly developing a tool that will enhance their work and make them more productive.
Narrative B
AI must be kept out of the newsroom. Time and again, the technology has proven it can’t be trusted to produce factual reports the way human journalists can. Not only should media outlets be leery of Genesis’ accuracy but also Google’s intentions, considering its history of harvesting intellectual property for its financial gain at the expense of content providers.
Nerd narrative
There's a 52% chance that there will eventually be a positive transition to a world with radically smarter-than-human AI, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
NASA Spots 37 Space Boulders From Deflected Asteroid
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has detected a cluster of 37 boulders that were ejected from the asteroid Dimorphos, which the agency’s DART ["Double Asteroid Redirection Test"] mission successfully targeted and hit in the world’s first planetary defense test mission against a celestial object.
On Sept. 26, 2002, the 1.2K (544 kg) pound spacecraft crashed directly into Dimorphos at 13K mph (21 km/hr) in an attempt to change the asteroid’s velocity and movement. The mission also helped to determine how kinetic impact technology can be used to deflect asteroids that could potentially hit the Earth.
After the DART successfully impacted Dimorphos and reduced the length of its orbit by 33 minutes, David Jewitt and his colleagues at the Univ. of California, Los Angeles in December used the Hubble to study the debris, finding 37 boulders, which range from 1 to nearly 7 meters (3-23 ft) across.
Narrative A
NASA’s groundbreaking work not only provides fascinating insight into the larger universe around us, but it could also save our very existence by developing a defense against potential asteroids headed toward Earth. There are many dangers beyond our planet that threaten our safety and could end life as we know it. Thankfully, NASA’s DART mission is discovering information and developing a plan that could save our planet one day.
Narrative B
NASA's DART mission could very well be vital in protecting the Earth from a catastrophic collision. However, the scientific community must be very careful with how it gathers and uses this otherworldly information as there could be unimaginable consequences. This technology also brings the possibility of deflecting asteroids into Earth's path on purpose by a bad actor as a weapon of mass destruction. Proper precautions must be taken with these celestial developments.
Nerd narrative
There is a 3% that before 2025, an asteroid or comet estimated to be at least 50 meters in diameter will be detected and due to collide with Earth before 2100, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Trump Documents Case Slated for May 20, 2024
On Friday, US District Judge Aileen Cannon scheduled the trial over former Pres. Donald Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents after his presidency to take place starting May 20, 2024.
Cannon rejected a request from Trump’s legal team to indefinitely delay the trial while Trump runs for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, but she also characterized prosecutors’ desire for a sooner trial as “atypically accelerated and inconsistent with ensuring a fair trial.”
The trial will take place toward the end of the Republican presidential primary season — more than two months after Super Tuesday, and a couple months ahead of the Republican National Convention.
Pro-Trump narrative
Although it’s disappointing that a Trump-appointed judge didn’t agree with the Trump legal team’s request, at least the voters will probably have selected the Republican nominee before the start of the trial. There’s still a chance the trial could be further delayed, especially since a case involving a former president is so unique and will require many motions.
Democratic narrative
Cannon has rightfully rejected the Trump team’s ridiculous request to have the trial pushed until after the election. This spoils Trump’s lawyers’ plan of having this case go away by virtue of him winning the presidency. Meanwhile, this date works just fine for prosecutors.
Republican narrative
Democrats’ weaponization of the US Dept. Justice is working to perfection, and Cannon is now complicit. Not only are indictments against Trump — who Democrats want to run against — improving his chances of winning the nomination, but this trial date means most primary voters won’t know his legal status when they go to the polls. Democrats have obtained their goal of maximum interference in the election.
Nerd narrative
There’s a 70% chance that Trump will be the Republican nominee for the US presidential election, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Amazon to Offer 'Pay-by-Palm' at Whole Foods
Amazon announced Thursday that it will offer Amazon One, a biometric technology that lets users enter and pay for items at stores by placing a palm over a scanning device, at every Whole Foods store location by the end of the year.
Pay-by-palm is already established in over 200 Whole Foods — including in California, New York, and Texas — though it will now expand to the company's more than 500 locations. It's also available at non-Amazon-owned locations, such as the Colorado Rockies' stadium and Panera Bread.
Amazon said that besides using it as a payment method, customers who link it to their Prime membership will also be able to automatically save on products once their palm is registered.
Pro-establishment narrative
Amazon's invention of the palm-reading payment system is remarkable from both a business and health perspective. What may not be talked about is that this technology, which was built in record time, boosted Americans' confidence during the pandemic as they increasingly sought out touchless payment systems to steer clear of spreading viruses. Amazon has remained ahead of competitors like Apple and Walmart as it works to single-handedly revolutionize the payment processing industry.
Establishment-critical narrative
The use of biometric scanning — not just for palms, but facial and finger recognition, too — can very well lead to a dystopian future. While such tyrannical surveillance schemes are already seen in China, Western states, too, in conjunction with technology companies, are already using it. The UK's National Health System, for example, used facial scans to pull up people's COVID status, and stores are using it to spot "subjects of interest" who walk into their shops. This move is deeply concerning.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that Amazon will deliver some products by drone by August 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
7 Leading Tech Firms Agree to White House AI Safeguards
On Friday, the White House announced that seven leading AI companies, including Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft, have agreed to meet a set of AI safeguards brokered by US Pres. Joe Biden's administration.
The voluntary commitments would ensure their AI products are safe before being released, with firms agreeing to third-party oversight, though the agreements don't detail who will be in charge of regulating the technology or holding the companies accountable.
Other commitments include the use of digital "watermarking" tools to help distinguish between real and AI-generated images, known as deepfakes.
Establishment-critical narrative
A vague closed-door meeting with a bunch of corporate executives that results in voluntary commitments — with no path to hold companies accountable — isn't enough. Wide-ranging public deliberations need to take place on the issues that AI might pose, and more stringent regulations need to be made.
Pro-establishment narrative
While there's still a way to go, these voluntary commitments are an important step towards regulating the enormous promise and risks posed by AI technology. The White House and these technology companies are committed to creating a regulatory foundation to ensure that the promises of AI stay ahead of any risks.
Cynical narrative
While these regulations may seem like a promising step toward regulating this newly developing technology, they may also lead to a monopoly on the technologies as deep-pocketed tech giants will be able to meet the strict regulations but smaller startups may struggle to meet the regulatory structures.
Nerd narrative
There's a 40% chance that AI will be given legal rights or be protected from abuse anywhere in the United States before 2035, according to the Metaculus prediction community.