The world is melting too
Farewell to a melting glacier
Latin America analyst James Painter returns to the Chacaltaya glacier in Bolivia for the first time in 15 years to find it is melting fast.
Full story here.
Glaciers are a vital source of water for the surrounding villages and for the wildlife. Glaciers freeze and thaw, but such a fast decline can only be attributed to global warming. What will be reserved for us...we don't know. Will we survive such aggression to our planet?
Protect us from ourselves
UN Urges Protection of Animals from Climate Change
THE HAGUE -- A senior United Nations official urged a 171-nation U.N. wildlife forum on Sunday to take action to help protect animals from climate change.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) will also discuss measures at its two week-week meeting to help commercially valuable animal and tree species threatened by over-use.
A U.N. report has said human activities were wiping out three animal or plant species every hour and has urged the world to do more to slow the worst spate of extinctions since the dinosaurs by 2010.
Global warming, blamed mainly on human use of fossil fuels, is widely expected to add to existing threats and wreck habitats like the Amazon rain forest.
"CITES is not a forum for discussing climate change but decisions taken here do have an impact on species in a climatically challenged world," Shafgat Kakaklhel, deputy head of the U.N. Environment Programme, told the opening session.
"We will need robust species populations if they are to survive rising temperatures and more extremes," he said.
RAPID DEPLETION
Many of the 37 proposals to be discussed at the meeting in The Hague reflect growing concern about rapid depletion of marine and forest resources.
Commercially valuable species like the spiny dogfish, the porbeagle shark and the European eel -- all threatened by over-use -- feature high on the agenda.
The focus will also be on coral jewellery, wooden musical instruments and furniture. Threatened species like pink or red coral and rosewood and cedar trees are facing tighter trade regulations.
Elephants are expected to trigger heated debate. African countries are split over the protection of the elephant, with some saying elephant populations have grown at an unsustainable rate.
CITES is widely credited with stemming the slaughter of the African elephant by imposing a ban on the international ivory trade in 1989.
But scientists say the killing of elephants for their tusks, mainly in central Africa, has reached levels not seen since 1989 because of Asian-run crime syndicates.
The talks will also help shape the future of CITES, which has banned trade in 530 animal species and more than 300 plant species.
CITES also regulates trade in 4,460 animal species and 28,000 plant species.
Source: Reuters
Protect the Green Turtle babies!
Green Turtle Nesting Season Starts in June in Hong Kong!
Without better protection, such as a multiple-juristiction action plan for conservation, marine turtles in the South China Sea are at risk of extinction. Scientists estimate only one of 1,000 baby green turtles lives into adulthood. These signs are worrying as marine turtles have the inborn habit of going back to their original natal beach where they are born, for nesting.
Actions from You
Support WWF's Save our Seas (SOS) campaign to prevent our marine ecosystem, where marine turtles rely on, from collapsing.
Beach visitors, divers etc should avoid disturbing any marine turtles in the water or at beaches identified for marine turtle nesting, i.e. Sham Wan and Tai Long Wan, as a passive effort to encourage turtles coming back to Hong Kong for nesting.
Report any sightings to AFCD by calling 1823 during this coming June to October nesting period!
The silent killer...(II)
Foul air, filthy water and contaminated soil have led to a surge of tumours in
China, where cancer is the main cause of death, the state media reported
yesterday.
Raising fears that breakneck economic growth is having a dire
impact on the nation's health, a government survey blamed pollution for a sharp
rise in cancer cases.
According to the health ministry, the disease is ahead
of cerebrovascular and heart ailments as the nation's biggest killer.Full story here.
Can you believe this?
'Noah's Ark' of 5,000 rare animals found floating off the coast of China· 
Cargo of abandoned vessel destined for restaurants·
Illegal trade drives species closer to extinction
Jonathan Watts in Beijing
Saturday May 26, 2007
The Guardian
Endangered, hunted, smuggled and now abandoned, 5,000 of the world's rarest
animals have been found drifting in a deserted boat near the coast of China.
The pangolins, Asian giant turtles and lizards were crushed inside crates on
a rickety wooden vessel that had lost engine power off Qingzhou island in the
southern province of Guangdong. Most were alive, though the cargo also contained
21 bear paws wrapped in newspaper.
According to conservation groups, the
haul was discovered on one of the world's most lucrative and destructive
smuggling routes: from the threatened jungles of south-east Asia to the
restaurant tables of southern China.Full story here.
Sustainable solutions for a healthy planet - RECYCLE
Third and last: Recycle
There is a reason why "recyle" comes last in the mantra "reduce, reuse, recycle". Most people tend to forget that the processes involved in recycling including collection, transportation, processing and conversion. All require energy- often derived from oil! That's why REDUCE and REUSE are the best preventive way to avoid waste!
1. Recycle Bins: Create designated holding "bins" for each type of recycled product and place in convenient locations in your home/garage asdgadgafgadgxcvgasdfgadsgadfgjal'ksdkghas;hgajksdhgak;sjhga;jksdhgalk;shgalksdhfgal;sjhgad;fg
*glass
*paper products
*plastic grocery bags (better yet - use cloth bags)
*plastic - including 1 - 7 identification codes
*aluminum
*cardboard
*tin cans
*scrap metal
*motor oil (one quart of oil can kill fish in thousands of gallons of water)
*ink cartridges
*household appliances such as refrigerators
*computer equipment and other electronic devices
*aseptic packaging (square boxes used for liquids)
*styrofoam
*tires
*athletic shoes (contact a local sporting goods or athletic shoe store - some donate used shoes, others recycle them)
6. Composting: Start a compost pile with yard trimmings and food scraps. Learn more at Wikipedia's Compost page.
7. Pack-it-Out: If you are traveling and no recycle bins are available, pack your recyclables home with you whenever possible.
8. Eco-Friendly Burials: For the ultimate in recycling, consider the growing movement in eco-friendly burials that allow the body to recycle back into the earth and help to restore the land.
*Building Materials - paint , varnish, paint thinner, solvents, rust remover, wood preservatives and driveway sealer
*Automotive products - gasoline, transmission oil, brake fluid, kerosene, charcoal lighter fluid, power steering fluid, used motor oil,used oil filters, used antifreeze
*Household cleaners - spot removers, rug cleaners, metal cleaners, bathroom cleaners, oven cleaner, drain cleaner
*Pesticides - insect killers, weed killers, flea products, moth crystals, fertilizers with weed killer
*Miscellaneous - photographic chemicals, acids and corrosive chemicals, pool chemicals, fluorescent light bulbs, Ni-Cd batteries.
Words are needless....The image speaks for itself...Do you care?
Sustainable solutions for a healthy planet - REDUCE
The critical first step of waste prevention has been overshadowed by a focus on recycling. Please help to promote a greater awareness of the importance of the "Reduce" part of the Reduce-Reuse-Recycle mantra.
To reduce is the first priority in the waste reduction heirarchy. Using less in the first place, sometimes called source reduction, is the easiest way to solve the world's mounting garbage problem. Source reduction means reducing the amount of material that enters the waste stream. It avoids disposal and pollution problems right from the start, and it conserves natural resources and energy. Reducing waste at the beginning means there will be less waste to be recycled or landfilled. Try some of these ideas at home, school or work today!
1. Simplify: Simplify your life as much as possible. Only keep belongings that you use/enjoy on a regular basis. By making the effort to reduce what you own, you will naturally purchase less/create less waste in the future.
2. Tree-Free Home: As much as possible, create a tree-free home:
*replace paper napkins with cloth napkins
*replace paper towels with a special set of cloth towels/napkins - store the used ones in a small container in your kitchen and just wash and reuse
*purchase bleach-free, toilet paper that is made from the highest post-consumer waste content you can find (80% minimum)
*if you print documents, print on once-used paper and/or bleach-free, recycled paper with the highest post-consumer waste content available (or hemp/alternative-source paper, if you can afford it)
*create and use note pads from once-used paper
*leave messages for family members/roommates on a reusable message board
*make your own cards/letters from once-used products or handmade paper
3. Reduce Purchases: In general, think before you buy any product - do you really need it? How did the production of this product impact the environment and what further impacts will there be with the disposal of the product (and associated packaging materials)? When you are thinking about buying something, try the 30-Day Rule -- wait 30 days after the first time you decide you want a product to really make your decision. This will eliminate impulse buying.
4. Bulk Purchases: Avoid products that are packaged for single use (i.e., drinks, school lunches, candy, cat and dog food, salad mixings, etc.). Instead, buy in bulk and transfer the products to your own reusable containers. Many health food stores have bulk bins where they sell everything from grains to cereal to cleaning products.
For additional ideas, read the Precycling information page.
6. Avoid Trash: Avoid creating trash wherever possible: when ordering food, avoid receiving any unnecessary plastic utensils, straws, etc. (ask in advance), buy ice cream in a cone instead of a cup, don't accept "free" promotional products, buy products with the least amount of packaging, etc. Every little bit of trash avoided does make a difference!
7. Shopping Bags: While shopping, if you only buy a few products skip the shopping bag. For larger purchases, bring your own.
8. Junk Mail: Find the way to avoid junk mail in your hometown.
9. Green Hotels: When staying at a hotel, motel, or bed and breakfast let the management know that you like to support businesses that adopt environmentally responsible practices (including reducing waste). Print out and drop off the Sustainable Solutions for Green Hotels list. To locate environmentally friendly hotels, search on the Internet under "ecotourism" and/or visit Green Hotels Association.
*Mug-to-Go: Carry a mug with you wherever you go for take out beverages.
*Protect Children: Protect your child from mindless consumption.
And more tips for REDUCING waste go to here!
Up in Flames
Sex drug better for some species, but of little help for the TIGER
The saviour of men's sex lives is also doing its bit for the future of seals, seahorses, green turtles and other endangered species.
Impotency drugs such as Viagra have proven such a success with Chinese men that they are turning away from traditional therapies, say researchers.
The findings by Bill von Hippel, a psychologist at the University of NSW, and his brother Frank, a biologist at the University of Alaska, emerge from a study of 250 men, aged 50 to 76, at a Chinese medicine clinic in Hong Kong.
The brothers believe this means less demand for seal penises, which are usually ground into a potion. Or green turtles - which are turned into a soup - and their eggs, which are eaten separately. Or seahorses and pipe fish, whose entire bodies are ground down.
The entire gecko is also cooked then ground into a potion, while some species of Asian deer are valued for their musk glands. Reindeer can also provide a boost when the velvet that covers its horns is stripped away. And don't forget the multi-purpose tiger, whose bones and penis are prized.
The research received funding from Viagra's developer, Pfizer. The findings, published in Environment Conservation, are consistent with previous research by the von Hippels showing that prices for seal genitalia fell from $100 to about $20 after Viagra was introduced in 1998.
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"They have no use whatsoever for anything but the erectile dysfunction trade," Dr Bill von Hippel said. "We believe that over time it will be the same story with other animals."
But for other ailments such as arthritis, indigestion and gout, those surveyed stuck with traditional medicine.
"Erectile dysfunction was the one case where they were more likely to be currently using western medicine than Chinese medicine and nobody had switched from Viagra back to traditional therapies."
"The bottom line of this is that Viagra has huge potential to save endangered species. The men we interviewed chose the product that works best." But tigers may not be as lucky. "One tiger goes into millions of treatments. We don't think Viagra will help them."
Story and pic from here.
THE DECLINE OF A PREDATOR
* Tiger numbers in the wild are thought to have plunged from 100,000 at the beginning of the 20th century to between 5000 and 7000 today. They now range in the forests of south Asia, southeast Asia, southeastern China and the Russian far east. Fewer than 1000 tigers are in zoos worldwide.
* A century ago, India had some 40,000 tigers. Now, officials estimate they number about 3700, although some environment groups put the number at less than 2000.
* The Bali, Javan, and Caspian subspecies, have become extinct in the past 70 years. The five remaining subspecies, Amur, Bengal, Indo-Chinese, South China, and Sumatran, live in Asia. All are threatened by poaching and habitat loss.
*The South China tiger is on the verge of extinction, with just 20 to 30 remaining in the wild.
The impact of seeing it
(Photo thanks to Planet Ark)
Today is Earth Day
Well, perhaps this Earth Day you should pause for a little reflection. Step back, watch the kids dressed up as butterflies and trees dancing in your city park or main street while adults drink their organic wine and eco-friendly microbrewed beers, and think about what you can and will honestly do to reduce the weight of your impact on the world around you. Maybe you will make more of an effort to recycle those bottles and cans that sometimes end up in your trash or actually take the time to cut those six pack plastic rings, because you have seen those pictures of sea creatures, and it hurt you to look at them. Maybe you will glance at the origin of the wood listed on the tag before you buy your next set of garden furniture. Indonesia? That might be a problem. Maybe you will think twice about tossing that cigarette butt out your window, and not because of a fear of starting a brush fire or getting caught and having to pay a fine, but simply to be decent. What is keeping you from showing a basic level of respect for the environment that provides you with so much? Is it laziness, greed, indifference? It cannot be ignorance. My point is, today, on Earth Day, you should take a moment to consider what a nice place Planet Earth is and what you can do to help keep it that way. Life is short. If that is your excuse, think about the grandchildren you have or the ones you hope to have someday. You may not see a significant change in the quality of life on Earth in your lifetime, but in two generations, there will be.(more here)
One of the plagues of the century....
Plastic bags are a real plague and a threat to the environment, to life and to all of us.
What some may consider the invention of the century, others feel that plastic bags are finally turning against us and now one may spot one virtually everywhere, even in what we thought was an untouched natural landscape.... !
We find them stuck in the trees, dumped on the street floors, clustering in the corners, flying with the wind, half buried in the beach sand and deadliest sin of all, floating in the oceans. They survive the elements and live way longer than us. It takes 20 to 1000 years for a plastic bag to breakdown in the environment. After they breakdown, small bits of toxic plastic dust will still remain.
Plastics ain't fantastic...
How can a turtle tell: A jellyfish and a coral or a plastic bag stuck in a coral?
Because they resemble jellyfish (a common food for most sea
creatures), when "swimming" in the ocean, thousands of innocent marine animals die each year, as plastic bags block the guts of turtles, dolphins, seals, puffins and many others. And most shocking of all....the same bag becomes a serial killer, as it gets released from the victim's decomposed body, rather unchanged, and ready to strike again.
REUSE and RECYCLE all the plastic bags you have and if you dispose of them, be certain that they are not let free to roam and cause more victims in the ocean. Don't leave plastic bottles or bags or products unattended near the rivers or the sea. If you find one in the beach, please help and take it to the nearest bin, it might make a difference to a passing by sweet dolphin or gentle giant turtle, searching for a meal.
Fortunately, many countries are implementing rules for reducing the use of plastic bags, and in many stores you need to pay for each plastic bag, and so they are not given away so thoughtlessly!
Do search for biodegradable plastics and BYOB!
For those who haven't noticed yet, many shops have reusable bags available, like Hong Kong's City Super, Ikea or in Macau the new collection of Bossini fold and go-bags! It doesn't take that much to keep one in your bag or pocket.
While we were in Sabah
A few poachers were arrested and 292 marine turtles were aprehended inside Chinese fishing boats, in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysian Borneo.
Marine turtles are listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which stipulates that no marine turtles may be taken across international borders, except under very special circumstances, with permits, and not for commercial trade. (full article here)
If you are a traveller, and enjoy taking souvenirs from the countries you visit, be aware and don't forget that any product from a protected animal or plant species you take may be liable to aprehension and you may get in deep trouble in the border control (if all detection systems are working and effective...)
Don't purchase products made from turtle shells, ivory, coral and many others /- and if you are not sure about it, please don't buy!
Tigers are....
What we all know...
...but still pretend it won't affect us.
Our planet is tired.
We can make a difference to improve our lives and our future.
Here's a first tip:
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE.
At least think about it. You only need to start doing it, then you get used to it and soon after you'll feel bad about yourself whenever you don't do it. ;-)
Endangered Orangutans
The world has experienced, in its history, 5 massive species extinction episodes, all due to natural disasters. We are now going through the 6th extinction. Man made. Our choice!
Many animal and plant species have vanished and many more are on the way.
Because the world belongs to all of us, it doesn't belong to any of us at all. It's only ours to care and protect and leave it for our descendants, humans and non-humans....
Being decimated by illegal pet and show trade and greedy forest devastation for palm oil plantations, orangutans are gentle, dignified and contemplative creatures that deserve a chance to thrive and survive in the wild tropical forest of Borneo and Sumatra, their last habitat.