__Rescue appeals continue as the world forgets the animals abandoned in Fukushima's empty exclusion zone
Everything happened very quick when the earthquake and tsunami struck Japan and the authorities ordered the evacuation of the population around the Fukushima nuclear plant .
Everyone, like you would expect quickly moved away as fast as they could.
One thing that no one would have thought about was the amount of animals left behind.
Dogs and cats abandoned in the Fukushima exclusion zone after last year's nuclear crisis have survived high radiation and lack of food only to face freezing winter conditions.
Coming up to a year since the evacuation and nothing much has been done to rescue the livestock and pets left behind.
Many of the animals have died but others have survived and are living off the land with their natural instincts kicking in.
In 2009 animal farming of dairy cattle, beef cattle, pigs and poultry made up $51.3 billion yen, or 21 percent of Fukushima Prefecture’s agricultural economy.
This was all abandoned.
The Japanese government has prohibited veterinarians from entering the exclusion zone and currently only researchers can enter the area.Animal rescue groups are also banned from entering the zone.
Fibres under the microscope released from washing
Fears of microplastic threat to world shores accumulating at high rate
Researchers have warned microscopic plastic debris from washing our clothes are accumulating in the marine environment.
Reports also say that these are also entering the food chain as animals consume the water.
It's warned that synthetic clothes release up to 1,900 tiny fibres per garment every time they are washed.
The report in the Environmental Science and Technology journal said that in order to identify how widespread the presence of microplastic was researchers took samples from 18 beaches around the world, including the UK.
Every sample contained pieces of microplastic.
Dr Browne who is a member of the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis in America said "Once the plastics had been eaten, it transferred from [the animals] stomachs to their circulation system and actually accumulated in their cells,"
"We found that there was no sample from around the world that did not contain pieces of microplastic."
"When we looked at the different types of polymers we were finding, we were finding that polyester, acrylic and polyamides (nylon) were the major ones that we were finding."
_SNP Reveals Scottish Independence Referendum Question and Unveils Consultation Paper
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond has revealed the question that his government wants to put on ballot papers in a referendum on Scottish independence.
Scotland will be asked:
"Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?".
Mr Salmond said to MSPs in the Scottish Pallement that the question was "short, straightforward and clear".
A consultation paper has also been released making clear the rules and description of the referendum that should be held mid 2014.
The paper also asks if the voters want a second question asking if Scotland should get more or full powers for Scotland to govern itself.
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The paper says that the referendum will be regulated by the Electoral Commission.
Mr Salmond said that they still want 16 and 17-year-olds to be able to vote in the referendum.
He said: "If a 16-year-old in Scotland can register to join the Army, get married and pay taxes, surely he or she should be able to have a say in this country's constitutional future?,"
"Scotland's journey, our home rule journey, is clearly part of a bigger international trend. After all, independence is what we seek as individuals - whether it is buying our first car or our first home."
A Referendum Bill should be introduced to parliament early next year and may be passed towards the end of 2013 and the vote would be held after the European elections in June 2014.
The consultation ends on 11 May 2012.
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As Burns Day in Scotland approaches I will post some recites of Robert Burn poems by famous Scots and by some famous people outside Scotland.
Today it's Price Charles and he recites 'My Heart's in the Highlands'.
I'm sitting with my friend and my friend tells me what team won the cup final in 1980.
What? I say - no it's not. Time to prove my gleeful friend wrong.
I grab my laptop and Google loads up and I type in 'Scottish cup winner 1980 wiki' to take me to a Wikepedia page to find out.
Wham, big black screen with a sad message that Wikepedia is closed today.
Today is a bit like 1980, no free online encyclopedia. You'd need a book to find out.
It's not all bad realy you can still acess Wiki if you really want to - tells you how. Wikepedia is only trying to put a point accross. The point is that American Congress is considering legislation that will allow them to block US access to a website if the authorities think copyright infringement has been committed by a foreign web site.
For me, no thanks. It won't affect myself in the UK at this time but this is where it will begin.
It's something surelly all governments would want - ttThe option to block any website in the world for showing something that has copyright,.
This is a direct attack on free expression while harming the Internet making it into a shadow of its former self.
2012 is the year the duct tape is put over the mouth of the internet.
(btw the cup was won by Glasgow Rangers who defeated Dundee United in the Scottish Cup Final in 1980)
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