Hi - We're going to get passionate about the environment; so, grab a beverage, take your shoes off, sit down and get comfy. If global warming is an interest of yours - add your comments, subscribe to the feed and/or become a follower. Don't forget to check out the ads to the right side of the column. There is some very interesting material to be had there. Read, comment, enjoy!!!
For the past decade, one of the largest collaborations to investigate marine biodiversity, the Census of Marine Life has trolled the oceans to identify, catalogue and examine all oceanic life. This collaboration was carried out by 2,000 scientists from more than 80 countries.
During this intensive, global study, 5,000 new species have been identified. Some species thought to have gone extinct have been rediscovered; and, one study looked at an area of the deep ocean that was no bigger than the size of a small bathroom and discovered 700 new species of crustaceans.
The study officially concludes in October; but, preliminary results were released this month.
Probably the largest and most significant discovery was a giant mat of string-like bacteria deep in the ocean off the coasts of Chile and Peru. This huge mat is the size of Uruguay or the US state of Alabama.
The fact that this mat of bacteria has been discovered in prime fishing waters has not escaped the notice of the researchers. They are now speculating whether this mat may contribute to the rich, thriving fisheries found in these waters.
"Some 50 percent of the world's fish catch comes from fisheries off the west coast of South America, where the biggest of these bacterial mats are found," said Dr Víctor Ariel Gallardo, vice-chair of the Census of Marine Life Scientific Steering Committee.
The megabacterium Thioploca spp. is string-like in appearance and measures about 2-7 cm (.8-2.8 in) making it visible to the naked eye. The mat discovered off the South American coast measures an astounding 130,000 sq km (80,778 sq mi).
Flourishing under oxygen-deficient conditions, the bacteria feed off toxic hydrogen sulphide. Hydrogen sulphide is produced when organic matter degrades without oxygen. Where there is no oxygen, large whitish mats of Thioploca spp. can be found at 50 to 200 metres deep. Scientists believe that Thioploca spp. is ancient - at least 2.5 billion years old - and most likely covered the oceans' surface back then when there was no oxygen at all.
"There are fossils of bacteria from that time that are very similar to what we find now," said Gallardo.
Scientists now hypothesize that these mats may now exist in many of the oceans' deeper, oxygen-poor zones and may extend along vast tracts of ocean floor, covering thousands of kilometers.
Other smaller mats have been found living on sulphide chimneys near Galápagos Archipelago, Ecuador, off the Pacific coasts of Mexico, Panamá, Costa Rica and near Namibia, which is also known for its abundant fisheries. The mats have also been found in "dead zones" created by agricultural run-off and salmon farms.
"Fishermen sometimes can't lift nets from the bottom because they have more bacteria than shrimp," said Gallardo. "We've measured them up to a kilo (2.2 lbs) per square meter."
While the link between the bacterial mats boosting fish populations is not totally clear yet, what is clear is that microbes - which make up 50 to 90 percent of all marine biomass - are crucial in regulating the planet's atmosphere, climate, nutrient recycling and decomposition. According to Census estimates, there may be a "nonillion" individual microbes in the seas - that's 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (with 30 zeroes) and weighing the equivalent of 240 billion African elephants. Who would've thought such small critters could be so hefty?
The video's content is based on The Natural Step, a sustainability framework and organization first developed 20 years ago by Karl-Henrik Robèrt. Dr. Robèrt, a Swedish doctor and cancer scientist, was treating a lot of children with cancer. He couldn’t help but notice how families, care providers and the community came together quickly, efficiently, and with compassion to coordinate resources to make a difference for sick kids. This was in stark contrast to the emerging confusion and debate over the health of the planet. Sound familiar?
The principles in the video are at the heart of The Natural Step's work with communities, businesses and governments all over the world. The four rules may be be simple, but they are not easy:
1. Reduce our dependence on fossil fuel and heavy metals.
Whether or not you believe in human-caused global warming, our use of fossil fuels takes a huge toll on the health of living things. Can we learn to look at the use of fuel and heavy metals through a lens that recognizes both the finality of the resource and the consequences of their extraction, transport, and incineration?
2. Reduce our dependence on synthetic chemicals that persist in nature.
Chemicals such as dioxins, PCBs and the insecticide DDT do not break down easily or harmlessly once discarded; rather they contaminate soil, water, and air. Can we adopt the precautionary principle, and require companies to prove that a product is safe before it is brought to market?
3. Reduce our destruction of nature.
From overfishing to deforestation to destroying wildlife habitat, human actions are interfering with the balance of nature. Biodiversity is key to our flourishing; by contributing to the destruction of species we might as well be gnawing off our own legs.
4. Ensure that we are not stopping people globally from meeting their needs.
This principle applies not only to ensuring that people have the capacity to feed and shelter themselves, but that they can do so in safe working conditions and receive a living wage for their work. This fourth rule clarifies the absolute link between environmental justice and social justice, and that our tribe is only as healthy as the weakest among us.
Can we learn to nurture the planet as we would a family member who needs our help? Can we recognize that healing the planet is the same as healing ourselves? Can we make every day Earth Day?
Every once in a while a great love story comes along - one that shows the lengths that one one partner will go to in order to maintain the relationship. This is such a story. It is the story of a deeply committed couple, Rodan and Malena.
No distance is too far for Rodan, the lovesick stork.
Making the trip from South Africa to Croatia every spring, the male bird travels 13,000 km to see his beloved female partner, Malena, who is disabled and unable to fly, reports Britain’s Metro.
The loving storks cozy up, mating and raising their new chicks (they have produced 32 offspring so far) and teaching them how to fly. Rodan then departs to spend the winter months in South Africa and returns on exactly the same day, the following spring.
Locals in the small village of Slavonski Brod in Croatia thought crippled Malena would almost certainly die when she was shot by a hunter in 1993, but thanks to the Vokic family, whose roof she lives on and her ever faithful partner, Rodan, she has survived for over 17 years.
Reunited again last week, Rodan was more eager than ever to see his love, arriving two hours earlier than usual. “It was clear they were pleased to see each other,” said one local to the Romanian Times. Stjepan Vokic added, “He knows he needs to return home because Malena is waiting for him.”
The storks have become so famous in the village that it’s not only Malena that waits anxiously for her partner to return, local residents and reporters gather round to welcome the tired bird home every March.
Photo by The Seattle Times/Mike Siegel. Pam Martin with Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network examines a dead gray whale that washed ashore in the Arroyo Beach neighbourhood in West Seattle.
A nearly-mature whale, 37’ long, was found stranded on a shore in the Arroyo Beach neighbourhood of West Seattle. Researchers and scientists are examining the contents of the whale’s stomach in an effort to try to determine the cause of death. What they found in the whale’s gut surprised everyone.
Photo courtesy: Cascadia Research Collective
Fifty gallons of stomach contents were sifted through and examined. While most of it was real food – algae and other materials common to a gray whale’s diet – they also found more than 20 plastic bags, small towels, surgical gloves, sweat pants, plastic pieces, duct tape and a golf ball.
There can now be doubt that the ocean is nothing more than a liquid landfill. The only ray of light is that the trash made up only 2% of the total contents; however, that is still 2% too much. Researchers are maintaining that this plastic did not cause the whale’s death.
Cascadia Research says: "It did clearly indicate that the whale had been attempting to feed in industrial waters and therefore exposed to debris and contaminants present on the bottom in these areas."
Gray whales are bottom feeders getting their nutrition from the sediments in shallow waters. They filter out small organisms as food; but, apparently can’t always filter out our plastic pollution.
Researchers are currently studying the whale’s carcass to find the cause of death. There are several reasons that could be the culprit; starvation being the most likely. The theory that three whales that died in April during migration appeared emaciated from not being able to get enough food to eat in Alaska doesn’t work for me. I believe the plastic in the whales’ stomachs prevented the whales from being able to get enough nutrition. A stomach can only hold so much and the plastic can’t always leave the stomach taking up valuable room that should be digesting food.
I favour the theory that says chemicals, pollution and plastic in the water are responsible. The results should be available in a few weeks.
Whales are not the only victims of plastic. More and more seabirds are becoming victims also.
Chris Jordan documents animals ingesting plastic with fatal consequences. This is the decomposed body of a chick that has been mistakenly been fed pieces of plastic by its parents.
The following video shows a dead pelican chick having its stomach contents analyzed. Not for the super sensitive.
Hurricane Katrina was one of the worst natural disasters to strike the USA. The loss of life and property was inestimatible both on a human level and on a financial one.
However, it appears there was one positive result from this. A recently-published study reveals that the hurricane may have set the stage for a baby boom in the dolphin population along the Gulf coast.
During the years following Katrina, biologists observed a sharp increase in the number of bottlenose dolphin calves. Due to the storm, the local fishing industry sustained enormous damage to their commercial vessels causing fishing to decline. Scientists believe that consequently the amount of prey fish available to the dolphins increased.
The study, published in Marine Mammal Science, shows a marked spike in dolphin calf births following the hurricane. Before Katrina, the local bottlenose dolphin calf rate was 1%; but, in the years following Katrina, the numbers increased dramatically to 6%. The study suggests that since during this period 87% of the commercial fishing fleet was either damaged or destroyed, the increase in prey fish available to be eaten gave the dolphins increased energy for reproduction.
An excerpt from the report states:
Commercial fisheries landings and recreational fisheries landings decreased by 48% and 42%, respectively between 2005 and 2006 for Gulfport and Biloxi harbors. This decrease in recreational and commercial fishing, similar to the effects of creating a marine reserve, could have resulted in increased prey availability for dolphins within the area.
The scientists are also considering the fact that the hurricane was responsible for a much higher mortality rate among calves than was usual. They speculate that this could have resulted in an unusually high number of fertile females in the following mating season.
Researchers plan to continue studying the reproductive habits of bottlenose dolphins in the Gulf. It would appear that scientists now believe that we haven’t previously understood the full extent human activity has on the ecosystem.
To date, we have refused to acknowledge that the more fish we take from the ocean leaves less fish for species such as dolphins. What we have acknowledged is that reduced fishing has led to an increase in dolphin babies. Hopefully, we manage to make the leap to realization that fishing must be regulated more than it is; that somehow we must find a way to eliminate catching non-targetted species; and, somehow we must learn to live in harmony with our marine friends.
Everywhere you look - there is advertising and/or information on the necessity to drink 8 glasses of water a day. Is this true? I tend to jump on the bandwagon that claims that 8 glasses of pure water a day is the minimum you should be drinking. Any pop, coffee, tea, fruit juices, vegetable juices, etc. are in addition to, not instead of, the water you drink.
However, there are many people who say that 8 glasses may not be necessary for many people. There are even dieticians, nutritionists and medical professionals who claim that drinking the 8 glasses is not necessary as most of the pure water you require is contained in the fruits and vegetables people eat.
Some people may not require the 8 glasses of pure water a day; but, they are in the minority. There is lots of moisture in fruits and vegetables; but, a lot of the water is cooked out of the vegetables. Check it out. Put some veggies in a pan, turn on the heat and watch. Within a minute or so, you will see liquid on the bottom of the pan that could only have come from the veggies. This, then, turns to steam which literally cooks your veg in its own moisture.
Fruit is a better source as we tend to eat fruit raw and many of them are naturally juicy - apples, peaches, watermelons, cantelope...
Researchers estimate that half of the world’s population is chronically dehydrated. And in America, that level is even higher at 75% of the population. Inexcusable! We live in a water-rich country, North America; and, there is absolutely no reason why every man, woman and child should not have access to clean, drinking water.
1. Your blood is over 80% water and needs water to make healthy new blood cells.
2. Your bones are over 50% water and need water to make healthy new bone cells.
3. Drinking more water actually helps lessen pain in your body by getting your lymphatic system moving. The lymphatic system is a network of nodes, tubes, vessels, and fluid that move waste out of your tissues. It requires water to function properly.
4. Water helps to eliminate wastes and toxins from your body through the lymphatic system, kidneys, and intestines.
5. Water lubricates your joints, helps reduce joint pain; and, protects against wear and tear.
6. Water regulates your metabolism; so, if you’re overweight chances are you may need more water.
7. Water balances body temperature.
8. Water helps to ensure adequate electrical functioning so your brain and nervous system function properly. Your brain and nervous system send out electrical signals to function properly. Researchers estimate that your brain gives off about the same amount of electricity as a 60 watt light bulb. So, there’s some truth to the image of a light bulb going on when someone has a good idea.
10. Every cell and organ in your body requires adequate water to function properly.
So, one of the quickest and easiest ways to improve your health is to start drinking more pure water every day. Be sure to drink water an empty stomach or you’ll simply be diluting your digestive enzymes and making your digestion less effective.
Japan has been using the ancient art of furoshiki for centuries. It is a pleasant alternative to the paper-wasting, environmentally-unfriendly tradition of wrapping gifts in wads of paper and ribbon.
What is furoshiki? A 'furoshiki' is an oversized square piece of material that has been dyed in any number of colors, hues and patterns. These cloths are used for carrying and storing things, wrapping gifts, spreading on the floor, or even decorating a room. When it comes to gift giving, these cloths are the best. They can be folded so that a handle is made from the same cloth that is covering the gift.
The name literally means 'cloth for the bath.' It was popularized in Japan in the 17th century, when people needed a way to carry their toiletries to the public baths.
Lush has taken the art of furoshiki and applied it in their stores. They call it knot-wrap and it has proved to be very popular. They started by transforming 45,000 vintage scarves into colourful, reusable wrapping. Imagine being able to use your gift wrapping as an accent scarf – wonderful!
Photo courtesy: B. Alter
Lush was working in conjunction with "re-wrap" - a group working with Indian co-operatives to make fair trade textiles. This UK-based company has been so successful marketing the organic cotton knot-wraps sold in the Lush stores that they have been able to employ a social worker, finance children's education and make plans to construct a new building for their operation.
There are many, many different intricate wraps and folding for different-sized packages. Think of it as “cloth origami”.
The Japanese Environmental ministry is pushing it as an environmental way to reduce plastic bag usage at the same time maintaining an old and worthy tradition.
Hopefully, the idea of using fabric or other reusable materials as gift wrap will catch on and make a marked reduction in the amount of gift wrap used. One of the items I used to wrap my gifts in (before I realized I was so cool!) were dish towels. I have also used pages from magazines that were going for recycling (big, colourful, glossy pictures in there), paper bags (I used crayons for the decorative touches), or anything else that came to mind. Your environmentally-friendly friends will love you.
Approximately one week or so ago, I posted a blog detailing how the Shen Neng 1 had run aground in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef; and, a marine disaster was in the making from the leaking oil. The danger is the cheap, glue-like oil the shipping companies use to power their immense carrier ships.
The Great Barrier Reef along with all its corals, whales, giant clams and other marine life is in the path of a "coal highway" to China that may see shipments jump 67% by 2016. It should be noted here that when the Shen Neng 1 hit the sandbank on April 3, 2010, it was travelling at full speed and carrying 68,000 metric tons of coal and 975 tons of fuel oil.
Trade at Gladstone port in Queensland, Australia where the Shen Neng 1 took on its load may rise to about 140 million tons - mostly coal - by 2016, according to Gladstone Ports Corp. Chief Executive Officer Leo Zussino said in an interview.
“It’s only a matter of time before a serious oil spill occurs unless we have a better system for regulating the traffic,” said Peter Harrison, a professor at Southern Cross University in New South Wales who has studied the impact of oil pollution on coral reefs for three decades. “It’s a difficult place to navigate.”
The Great Barier Reef is a unique microenvironment. It is a breeding ground for humpback whales, contains the world's largest collection of corals, is home to more than 1,500 species of tropical fish; and, is host to more than 200 kinds of sea birds.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has stated that Australia may tighten up onitoring of vessels through the reef in addition to requiring more pilots to guide the ships. However, Bob Brown, senator and head of the Australian Greens Party, said companies are "making a coal highway" out of the reef.
Now, in addition to the coal, Gladstone will be the port of departure for liquified natural gas (LNG) beginning in 2014. It is estimated that LNG vessels leaving the Gladstone port by mid-2016 will be carrying approximately 10,000,000 tons annually of LNG according to the port operator. Most of this gas will be going to Asian markets. Among the companies planning to build LNG terminals at Gladstone are BG Group Plc, Santos Ltd. and Origin Engergy Ltd.
Normally liquified natural gas is an incredibly stable product with only a few risks; however, one of the very few risks is Rapid Phase Transistion (RPT). RPT occurs when cold LNG comes in contact with water.
Shenzhen Energy Transport Co., owners of the Shen Neng 1, said in in an April 8, 2010 statement that the planned route was "entirely within legal waters" and that the Shen Neng 1 was off course when it hit the Douglas Shoals. The shoals are about 100 km (60 mi.) off the northeast coast of the reef. Shenzen Energy Transport Co. was unable to explain why the vessel failed to make a scheduled easterly turn causing it to run aground.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said an initial report on the incident will take about four weeks.
“This case has been a warning, a shot across our bow,” said Harrison at Southern Cross University. He went on to add that the use of pilots who know the reef, which is more than 3,000 km long, should be compulsory for all vessels passing through the area.
The Shen Neng 1 isn’t the first large vessel to collide with the reef. The Doric Chariot ran aground in 2002. The Doric Chariot left the Hay Point port north of Gladstone bound for India according to the Reef Marine Park Authority. Miraculously, he vessel was able to be refloated nine days later without the loss of either fuel or cargo of coal. A report from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau shows that while a pilot was aboard the Doric Chariot, he fell asleep.
The Malaysian container ship Bunga Teratai Satu collided with the Sudbury Reef near Fitzroy Island east of Cairns in 2000. No oil was released in this incident.
However, it would appear that the wreck of the Shen Neng 1 may make up for all our previous good luck. David Wachenfeld, the marine park authority's chief scientist, says that as many as 4 tons of fuel has already spilled and been treated with dispersants. He added that a white plume comprised of sand, pulverized coral and rock mixed with toxic paint from the ship's hull had become visible around the stranded vessel.
Accidents on the reef have fallen in the past 10 years, said Gladstone Ports’ Zussino, who is also chairman of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. Still, “low risk obviously is not good enough,” he said.
“We’ve got to protect the reef,” Prime Minister Rudd announced on ABC radio. It’s an Australian asset and provides 60,000 tourism jobs, he said.
Jeff Singleton, spokesperson for Transport Minister Anthony Albanese, points out the proposed shipping regulation changes surrounding the reef would have to be approved by the International Maritime Organization.
The number of “major” incidents at the Great Barrier Reef has been limited to three or fewer a year, compared with 10,000 journeys through the area annually, amid improvements in shipping safety measures, said the Barrier Reef’s Wachenfeld. “That’s a pretty damn good safety record, but obviously as shipping increases, the risks increase.”
A few blogs ago, I wrote about the healing properties of raw, unfiltered, unpasteurized honey. What I didn't mention was the difficulty in obtaining truly raw honey; so, I've decided to put out an appeal to my readers to share the names and addresses of anyone they know that sells raw honey.
It doesn't matter what country you live in, I have readers in many countries. Just leave the information in the comments section and I will do a small blog with suppliers of raw honey.
I live in the Greater Vancouver Regional District of British Columbia, Canada; and, I got my honey from:
I'm fortunate to have several passions in my life. I am absolutely an eco-nut. I am always trying to find new ways to reduce, reuse, recycle. We, as a species, have done more harm to this planet in the short time we have been here, than any other catastrophe or happening ever has. It's up to us to fix it.
I care about the environment whether it is as small as a single cell or as large as the universe.
I adore creativity and think we can all do more with much less. This earth has enough resources for us all to live comfortably if we all learn to share. Wasn't that a lesson we were supposed to learn in kindergarten?
I also love the bizarre, unusual, the weird and the strange. Be prepared for the odd "different" blog.
Photo courtesy: Teske Lab 
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