Joe Biden still can’t talk and read from the teleprompter. Only 876,000 watched on X. He sounds like he’s struggling to stay awake, but he still managed to lie and lie. Biden pretended that J6 was the worst thing that had happened to us since the Civil War, and “we got through it.” J6 was […] The post Joe Biden Bids Farewell to the Race with His Usual Teeny Audience appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM On July 7th, an Ecuadorian court ruled that pollution violates the rights of the Machángara River, which flows through the country’s capital, Quito. This decision, hailed as “historic” by environmental campaigners, highlights Ecuador’s progressive approach to environmental protection. A legal first in natural features The court’s decision is based on a unique provision in Ecuador’s Constitution that acknowledges the rights of natural entities such as the Machángara River. “This is historic because the river runs right through Quito, and because of its influence, people live very close to it,” noted Darío Iza from Kitu Kara, whose group filed the case on behalf of the river. This decision represents a huge step forward in the global struggle for the rights of nature. The sorry state of the Machángara River The Machángara River begins high in the Andes mountains but suffers from significant pollution as it runs into Quito. The city of 2.6 million people discharges a variety of toxins and untreated wastewater into the river, causing substantial environmental damage. According to the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature (GARN), “the river carries away tonnes of garbage that comes down from gullies and hillsides,” resulting in oxygen levels as low as two percent, which is harmful to aquatic life. The court orders immediate action The court ruled that while appeals are pending, the government must establish a strategy to clean up the Machángara. This ruling is consistent with Ecuador’s greater commitment to environmental conservation, as the country is one of the few that recognizes natural features’ rights to be free of pollution and degradation. The local government has already challenged the decision, but the court’s order for quick action remains in effect. Celebrations and future hopes Environmentalists have applauded the decision. GARN declared on Instagram, “Historic victory for #RightsofNature: The Machángara River in Ecuador is declared a subject of rights!” They stressed the importance of this decision to one of Ecuador’s most fragile rivers. “The municipality has been declared responsible for rights violations and must now establish a specific plan for the decontamination of the Machángara River, following the Monjas River ruling, including concrete measures and ensuring active community participation.” A spokesperson from CEDENMA, an environmental NGO, added, “Today we celebrate great news: the Machángara River in Ecuador has been recognized as a subject of rights and its restoration has been ordered. We dream of a clean, mint-smelling river, as it once was.” This significant decision establishes a precedent for protecting natural features around the world. As Quito’s government works on a cleanup plan, this case demonstrates how legal institutions may protect environmental rights while also ensuring the repair and preservation of natural environments.The post Ecuador’s historic court ruling grants Quito’s Machángara river the right to not be polluted first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM When venturing out into the Great Outdoors, it’s important never to feed the wildlife because they can become accustomed to receiving food from humans and may put themselves at risk trying to acquire some. However, it’s not uncommon for local parks to allow residents to feed the ducks (or other types of park birds such as swans and geese), but often, people come armed with the wrong type of food. The age-old tradition of feeding bread products to birds in the park is actually pretty unhealthy because the bread-making process renders it quite filling with relatively low nutritional value, which could lead to malnourishment and other health issues. If you’d like to serve up healthy snacks for your friendly neighborhood fowl, then read on. What to feed ducks (and other waterfowl) A good rule of thumb when choosing what kind of food to provide park fowl is to think about what they would eat in their natural habitats. Vegetables and nutritious grains are good while processed “human” foods should be avoided. Keep in mind that ducks and their relatives don’t have “teeth,” so chewing is certainly not their strong suit. While their bills can help, they aren’t nearly as effective at breaking down food as our molars are, so be sure to cut salad greens, vegetable peels, nuts, grapes, and other produce into tiny pieces before feeding them the birds. Frozen mixed peas, corn niblets, and carrot pieces are great options for waterfowl because they’re packed with nutrients and are small enough for the birds to eat whole. Oats, rice, and seeds are good for the same reason. Plus, most of these options are light enough to float on the surface of the water, making them easily accessible for ducks. If you’re willing to spend a few extra dollars, you can purchase specially formulated waterfowl food that is made for pet birds and farm animals. What to know about portion control An important thing to keep in mind is that resident park fowl are most likely not going to go hungry if you don’t stop to feed them. Most are well-equipped to forage for insects, plant life, and other food by themselves, so don’t feel bad if you notice that a few ducks may have missed out on your treats. Overfeeding waterfowl should be more of a concern, as teaching them to rely on human handouts can throw them off their natural nutritional balance. Remind yourself that it’s better to stop feeding the birds sooner to avoid feeding them too much. If you do notice that a particular bird is acting strangely or seems unable to feed itself, then call in professional help. Waterfowl that live in parks are vulnerable to many dangers such as being struck by a vehicle or lead poisoning. Remember that feeding park birds may be a temporary kindness, but creating dependency on humans is not a solution. What to leave at home Before you begin to feed local birds, be sure to check with park officials about whether it is legal and recommended to feed birds in the area. More and more parks are dissuading the practice due to visitors bringing the wrong types of food. Also note that it is highly illegal to ever feed animals in a National Park. If you’re now feeling guilty about all the times you may have fed pieces of bread to birds in the park, don’t worry. Snacking on bread won’t kill them, but it is a lot like junk food. It tastes good but doesn’t have many nutrients and too much of it will lead to poor health. Other foods to avoid are: More bread products such as stale donuts, crackers, and breadcrumbs. Dairy products like cheese cubes or ice cream—ducks cannot digest dairy properly. Any plants or food from the nightshade family like eggplants, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, and some types of flowers and foliage can be highly toxic to ducks. Salty or sugary snacks, junk food in general, and highly processed foods. Citrus fruits or spinach—these foods can disrupt calcium absorption in ducks and may negatively affect the health of their eggs. Any spoiled foods—mold can poison the birds and damage the surrounding environment. Food packaging—the world doesn’t need any more litter. Furthermore, if not disposed of properly it can pose a risk to wildlife. The post Don’t feed bread to ducks! Here’s what to serve instead first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

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