John R. Platt

Portland

Environmental journalist covering endangered species, climate, pollution & related topics. Editor, @Revelator_News. Tips, pitches: jplatt @ https://t.co/x2qXq8uD6x

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Articles

From the Archives: An Okapi Tragedy, a New Beginning

1 week ago | therevelator.org | John R. Platt

Thirteen years after a bloody tragedy, an okapi has come to live in Epulu. The village in the Democratic Republic of Congo is also the headquarters of a nonprofit called the Okapi Conservation Project, which was established to preserve its namesake species. The organization once cared for more than a dozen okapis there, who served as “ambassadors” to showcase how important it was to protect these rarely seen, zebra-like animals.
Why The Revelator Banned AI Articles and Art

2 weeks ago | therevelator.org | John R. Platt

The Earth has a new threat: massive computer data centers. A recent study predicted that these data centers — which already consume about 1.5% of global electricity — will double their energy usage in the next five years, to about 945 terawatt hours a year. To put that in perspective, a single terawatt hour could power all of California for a week and half. The culprit in this massive increase in energy consumption? Generative artificial intelligence (AI).
"Sí, tus amigos y vecinos quieren hablar contigo sobre el cambio climático"

3 weeks ago | rebelion.org | John R. Platt

Fuentes: Climática Quieren hacerlo, pero simplemente creen que tú no quieres hablar del tema. Hablamos sobre ello con Margaret Orr, autora principal de un estudio que invita a romper el «silencio climático» e iniciar conversaciones en torno al cambio climático.
Yes, Your Friends and Neighbors Want to Talk to You About Climate Change

1 month ago | whowhatwhy.org | John R. Platt

Really, they do — they just don’t think you want to talk about it. So stop being afraid of pushback, break the “climate silence,” and start a conversation. To recognize Earth Week, WhoWhatWhy is running a new piece from our partners at Covering Climate Now each day this week. We are committed to covering the climate crisis and other environmental struggles humanity faces each and every week. Read more of our environmental coverage here.
Yes, Your Friends and Neighbors Want to Talk to You About Climate Change

1 month ago | bluedotliving.com | John R. Platt

This story is part of The 89 Percent Project, an initiative of the global journalism collaboration Covering Climate Now. It was originally published on The Revelator. In these divided times, it seems everyone is ready to start an argument at the drop of a hat, especially on topics that have been made so politically polarizing, like climate change. But is that true? Are conversations about climate change really doomed before they even start?
Bird bias? New research reveals "drab" species are studied less

1 month ago | salon.com | John R. Platt

Every morning, at this time of year, a red-winged blackbird greets me as I walk down the street. He’s become a familiar sight and sound, and I watch for the flash of black and red that tells me he’s landed on a branch above my head and is about to speak up. But how many less flashy birds do I miss while looking for those blackbirds? Chances are, quite a few — just like the scientific community, according to new research published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
The Polluting Paper Mill That Helped Inspire the First Earth Day

1 month ago | therevelator.org | John R. Platt

Every day drivers head north on Route 205 out of Portland, Oregon, cross the mighty Columbia River and the state line, and arrive in Washington. Many of them will immediately head east, where on a clear day they’ll soon see snow-capped Mt. Hood looming over Highway 14. Also known as the Lewis & Clark Highway, this busy road will take them toward the suburban cities of Camas and Washougal.
Yes, Your Friends and Neighbors Want to Talk to You About Climate Change

1 month ago | therevelator.org | John R. Platt

This story is part of The 89 Percent Project, an initiative of the global journalism collaboration Covering Climate Now. In these divided times, it seems everyone is ready to start an argument at the drop of a hat, especially on topics that have been made so politically polarizing, like climate change. But is that true? Are conversations about climate change really doomed before they even start?
Bird Bias? New Research Reveals ‘Drab’ Species Get…Less Research

1 month ago | therevelator.org | John R. Platt

Every morning, at this time of year, a red-winged blackbird greets me as I walk down the street. He’s become a familiar sight and sound, and I watch for the flash of black and red that tells me he’s landed on a branch above my head and is about to speak up. But how many less flashy birds do I miss while looking for those blackbirds? Chances are, quite a few — just like the scientific community, according to new research published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
Coming to The Revelator: Exclusive Tom Toro Cartoons

1 month ago | therevelator.org | John R. Platt

Tom Toro is among the rare cartoonists whose work has become an internet meme. His most famous cartoon, which you’ve probably seen more than once, shows some raggedy survivors huddled around a post-apocalyptic fire:Toro has tackled other environmental issues in his cartoons for The New Yorker, Yale Climate Connections, and other publications, his own syndicated comic strip, “Home Free,” as well as his children’s picture books.