Politecol

Featured image: The value of our environment – learning from Proctor & Gamble

The value of our environment – learning from Proctor & Gamble

- Wayne Linklater • Apr 08, 2014

Proctor & Gamble’s Dawn Ultra, New Zealand Springs. Sold in North America and listed on www.fishpond.co.nz but unavailable in New Zealand. New Zealand! The 100% purity and beauty of our freshwaters is an international inspiration… … for dishwashing liquid. Dawn Ultra, New Zealand Springs Dishwashing liquid is an environmental hazard. It adds phosphorous to the environment … Read More

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Featured image: Fat, well-fed cats kill too… and they do it for fun

Fat, well-fed cats kill too… and they do it for fun

- Wayne Linklater • Mar 05, 2014

On our way down to the local corner store for the Saturday morning paper my 5- and 1-year-old daughters and I meet a feline ritual. At the front gate of a home half-way down, every day without fail stands a generously fed black moggy with white socks and nose, long hair, and an inviting purr. She sits reliably waiting for … Read More

Featured image: Killing to save, saving to kill – hunting rhino

Killing to save, saving to kill – hunting rhino

- Wayne Linklater • Jan 27, 2014

Resurgent killing for horn that is then traded on the international black market for thousands of dollars a gram threatens to undo two decades of progress recovering the black rhinoceros from near extinction. Countries are mobilising and people are dying protecting rhino from international crime syndicates that out manoeuvre and out gun them. Do not … Read More

Featured image: Annihilate, really? – show me the evidence

Annihilate, really? – show me the evidence

- Wayne Linklater • Dec 18, 2013

The nation missed an important opportunity at Raglan. If cats have been removed from the Raglan community then, had we the time beforehand to prepare, we could have tested whether cats were a beneficial urban predator, as claimed here and here. Cats on evidence. Evidence on cats… and their relationship with other … Read More

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Featured image: Cats can’t kill it, if it is not there

Cats can’t kill it, if it is not there

- Wayne Linklater • Dec 13, 2013

For cats to be a “beneficial urban predator” they must largely kill the exotic predators and competitors of native animals. Dr. John Flux believes his 17-year record of the prey one cat brought to him [1] proves that cats are good for native wildlife in cities. His belief featured prominently in the media to … Read More

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Featured image: There is always more than one cat

There is always more than one cat

- Wayne Linklater • Dec 07, 2013

Cats might be a “beneficial urban predator” according to Dr. John Flux and his conclusion featured prominently in the media to have a major influence on the public debate about cats and native wildlife. But Dr. Flux’s conclusion has relied heavily for evidence from just one cat [1]. Dr. John Flux, and the … Read More

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Featured image: Presence of native species, not evidence all is hunky-dory

Presence of native species, not evidence all is hunky-dory

- Wayne Linklater • Nov 26, 2013

Just because native species persist in our backyards despite being hunted by predators, like cats, it does not mean their populations are healthy. Our backyard can be a sink-hole for native species. Each killed is replaced by recolonisers who are themsleves be killed (photo source: inhabitat.com) Cats might be a “beneficial urban predator” according to Dr. John Flux. Read More

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Dr. Flux’s cat misleads us

- Wayne Linklater • Nov 18, 2013

Our cats bring us only a fraction, less than half, of their prey and we are less likely to see the small, more palatable prey, like small reptiles and nestlings (Source: www.kittycat.co.za). Cats are a “beneficial urban predator” according to Dr. John Flux and his conclusion featured prominently in the media to have a … Read More

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Featured image: Dr. Flux’s cat and science communication

Dr. Flux’s cat and science communication

- Wayne Linklater • Nov 12, 2013

In the heat of public debate about cats and their impact on native wildlife, what scientific evidence did the media most use to inform? Mostly they used Dr. John Flux’s article [1] about one cat published in the New Zealand Journal of Zoology in 2007. Dr. John Flux’s cat, Peng You, who brought home … Read More

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Academic profiling – unwise, unfair, unethical, but common?

- Wayne Linklater • Oct 29, 2013

University rankings can be useful. They can also be used inappropriately to discriminate inaccurately and unjustly. Dr. Mark Hauser at Harvard University – consistently amongst the world’s highest ranked universities – was found guilty of scientific miscounduct, fraudulent science in 2012 – an example of why the university a person is employed at is a poor metric of … Read More

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