鈥淎s it is expressed in the G8 statement, the long-term goal is an empty slogan.鈥�
Marthinus van Schalkwyk, South Africa鈥檚 environment minister, on the G8 leaders鈥� pledge to cut carbon dioxide emissions by at least 50 per cent by 2050. Like many critics, he points out that the statement fails to mention whether the cut will be from current emissions or some other figure (Associated Press, 8 July)
鈥淭hey are very susceptible to stress, so if they do have a favourite side to be fed on, it could reduce risk to them.鈥�
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Are octopuses octidextrous? Claire Little at the Sea Life Centre in Weymouth, UK, is participating in a Europe-wide study to find out if the creatures favour one or more tentacles (The Daily Telegraph, London, 7 July)
鈥淚 have decided that while such a cull might work, it might also not work.鈥�
UK environment secretary Hillary Benn makes his reasoning clear after announcing the government won鈥檛 issue licences to farmers for culling badgers to prevent the spread of bovine tuberculosis (BBC News, 7 July)
Customers are ringing to ask: 鈥楧o you have any sand this year?鈥�
Beach life has been rather diminished at San Cantaldo in southern Italy, says lifeguard Mauro della Valle, because coastal currents are carrying away sand. Local officials are locked in dispute with a nearby beach town, which is refusing to lend any of its own sand (The Daily Telegraph, London, 8 July)
鈥淯se it or lose it.鈥�
That鈥檚 the message for older men hoping to avoid erectile dysfunction, from a study by Juha Koskimaki and colleagues at the University of Tampere, Finland. They studied 989 men aged 55 to 75 and found those who had regular sex at the start of the five-year study were less likely to develop the condition (Reuters, 7 July)