I apologize to who this blog may offend; it is purely for awareness rather than slander of culture.
Lions eating Zebra's is another natural part of the life cycle; an act of survival. As humans evolved gaining higher intelligence and ability we no longer considered the act of survival, it became less of a need, but more of a want; a luxury.
Before reading on please view this short film from Youtube -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wK31g_ufHg&feature=related
Striped, Spotted Risso’s and Bottlenose Dolphins are hunted in the town of Taiji on the Kii peninsula of Japan. The technique of Drive Fishing involves them pushing the Dolphins together with boats and then usually into a bay or onto a beach. The dolphins are hunted this way in several other countries around the world.
In 2007 alone a total of 1,239 animals were killed, yet this number only included the technique of Drive Fishing, excluding Open Ocean Harpooning. On top of this another 84 were taken for use in the entertainment industry in Japan, China, Korea and Taiwan.
Taiji expanded its drive hunting programs in 2007. This consisted of constructing a massive cetacean slaughterhouse in an effort to popularize the consumption of Dolphins in the country, costing an estimated 330 million Yen.
An estimated 150kg of dolphin meat was served in local school lunches in 2006. The meat and blubber of the dolphins caught has been found to have extremely high volumes of Mercury and the pesticide DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane).
…among the Second World War, DDT was used to control Malaria among troops and civilians. Post war it was used as a pesticide and thus its production increased on an exponential rate. It was later found that DDT was carcinogenic and therefore was banned worldwide under the Stockholm Convention May 2001…
The levels are high enough to pose a health risk for those frequently eating the meat and researchers warn that children and pregnant women should totally avoid consuming it.
So with all these health risks why do they keep hunting?
Protestors were labeled by Taiji’s Fishing Cooperative Union that protestor’s agenda’s are ‘based neither on international law nor on science, but rather on emotion for economic self interest.’
Can a society really be desensitized to not recognize the inhumane tasks that they are performing or is the money worth all that indecency and cruelty?
All social movements are founded by, guided by, motivated and seen through by the passion of individuals – Margaret Mead
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Earth Day
Today is Earth Day. Every year on April 22, we must sit back and appreciate the Earth and its environment.
This is the day to make a fresh start to save our Earth’s environment. The first earth day was celebrated 40 years ago. And today is a day when the earth day should be observed with awareness towards its environment which is at a high risk due to pollution and other activities.
The Earth day this year comes with a big note for all its residents indicating that it is high time we do something to save the earth’s environment. Earth day is an appropriate day to jot down plans on energy efficiency, use of renewable energy and maintaining our green earth. This is the day when each individual should take the responsibility to work together with government organizations and corporations and bring out a global green economy.
The core issues of Earth Day are climate change, conservation and biodiversity, education, energy, food and agriculture, green economy, green schools, recycling and waste reduction, sustainable development, and water use.
Some simple things you can do to help the environment are: ride a bike instead of using the car, recycle, take shorter showers and invest in a water-saving shower head, plant some trees (australian natives), buy local and organic products, conserve water, don't litter, use environmentally friendly cleaning products and finally, try to email rather than send mail.
This is the day to make a fresh start to save our Earth’s environment. The first earth day was celebrated 40 years ago. And today is a day when the earth day should be observed with awareness towards its environment which is at a high risk due to pollution and other activities.
The Earth day this year comes with a big note for all its residents indicating that it is high time we do something to save the earth’s environment. Earth day is an appropriate day to jot down plans on energy efficiency, use of renewable energy and maintaining our green earth. This is the day when each individual should take the responsibility to work together with government organizations and corporations and bring out a global green economy.
The core issues of Earth Day are climate change, conservation and biodiversity, education, energy, food and agriculture, green economy, green schools, recycling and waste reduction, sustainable development, and water use.
Some simple things you can do to help the environment are: ride a bike instead of using the car, recycle, take shorter showers and invest in a water-saving shower head, plant some trees (australian natives), buy local and organic products, conserve water, don't litter, use environmentally friendly cleaning products and finally, try to email rather than send mail.
The Great Barrier Reef, Will it be Great in Ten Years Time?
International Maritime Law applies to The Greater Barrier Reef, for a whole of twelve nautical miles as well as being managed by several government agencies including the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Maritime Safety Queensland, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.
So where were these laws and government agencies when the Chinese coal carrier, Shen Neng I, ploughed its way through our Great Barrier Reef, causing damage to the Douglas Shoal? The carrier caused chaos to the equivalent of five football fields, destroying our corals and natural wildlife. As well as hitting a sandbar and causing damage to our precious reef, the Shen Neng I leaked three tonnes of oil into the water, a crime according to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act, 1975.
Although three men, allegedly the owners of the carrier, are facing multi-million dollar fines, there are groups that are concerned this is not enough. The Transport Minister, Anthony Albanese, claims that the government is cracking down on the tracking of ships in the Great Barrier Reef. Any ship in the southern part of the reef will now regularly report their location and route to authorities as well as being satellite tracked.
Another problem is that these rules only apply to the northern section of the reef, as the majority is located outside Australian territory, where laws are difficult to implement.
So again, where are these government agencies that are meant to be protecting our infamous reef? Is there enough being done? We’d like to know what you think, express your thoughts and opinions by commenting below.
So where were these laws and government agencies when the Chinese coal carrier, Shen Neng I, ploughed its way through our Great Barrier Reef, causing damage to the Douglas Shoal? The carrier caused chaos to the equivalent of five football fields, destroying our corals and natural wildlife. As well as hitting a sandbar and causing damage to our precious reef, the Shen Neng I leaked three tonnes of oil into the water, a crime according to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act, 1975.
Although three men, allegedly the owners of the carrier, are facing multi-million dollar fines, there are groups that are concerned this is not enough. The Transport Minister, Anthony Albanese, claims that the government is cracking down on the tracking of ships in the Great Barrier Reef. Any ship in the southern part of the reef will now regularly report their location and route to authorities as well as being satellite tracked.
Another problem is that these rules only apply to the northern section of the reef, as the majority is located outside Australian territory, where laws are difficult to implement.
So again, where are these government agencies that are meant to be protecting our infamous reef? Is there enough being done? We’d like to know what you think, express your thoughts and opinions by commenting below.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Emissions Trading Scheme?
Since the 2007 electoral campaigns between Kevin ‘07’ Rudd and John Howard a National Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) has been a hot topic within the global warming debate.
The premise of an ETS is that companies have a ‘cap’ or limit to the amount of pollution (or emissions) they’re allowed to emit. Companies and other entities are issued with an emission permit and are required to hold an equivalent number of allowances (or credits) which represent the right to emit a specific amount. If a business or entity exceeds this cap then they must pay or ‘trade’ for more allowances from companies who pollute less. In effect polluters are being charged for their excess pollution, while sellers of credits are being rewarded for reducing emissions.
Now, in mid-April 2010, we have seen very little action on the Emissions Trading front with the exception of New Zealand who is the only nation in the world to have an operating Emissions Trading Scheme (however, New Zealand does not have a cap, but an Emissions tax).
Not only has there been crippling inaction on the ETS front, but support for the scheme is wavering with reports stating that US President Barak Obama might have to abandon his proposal for emissions trading in favour of "direct action" in order to steer his carbon-cutting plans through the US Senate.
Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, has also made his thoughts about an ETS clear by stating that technological change would offer the major solution in combating global climate change, not setting targets to cut carbon emissions.
Even the New Zealand government is considering abolishing its ETS legislation if its trading partners do not soon follow suit, as the New Zealand government and those opposed to the ETS see it as a handicap on the Kiwi Economy.
So what is the next step our governments should take in the battle against global warming? Let us know your thoughts and comment bellow!
The premise of an ETS is that companies have a ‘cap’ or limit to the amount of pollution (or emissions) they’re allowed to emit. Companies and other entities are issued with an emission permit and are required to hold an equivalent number of allowances (or credits) which represent the right to emit a specific amount. If a business or entity exceeds this cap then they must pay or ‘trade’ for more allowances from companies who pollute less. In effect polluters are being charged for their excess pollution, while sellers of credits are being rewarded for reducing emissions.
Now, in mid-April 2010, we have seen very little action on the Emissions Trading front with the exception of New Zealand who is the only nation in the world to have an operating Emissions Trading Scheme (however, New Zealand does not have a cap, but an Emissions tax).
Not only has there been crippling inaction on the ETS front, but support for the scheme is wavering with reports stating that US President Barak Obama might have to abandon his proposal for emissions trading in favour of "direct action" in order to steer his carbon-cutting plans through the US Senate.
Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, has also made his thoughts about an ETS clear by stating that technological change would offer the major solution in combating global climate change, not setting targets to cut carbon emissions.
Even the New Zealand government is considering abolishing its ETS legislation if its trading partners do not soon follow suit, as the New Zealand government and those opposed to the ETS see it as a handicap on the Kiwi Economy.
So what is the next step our governments should take in the battle against global warming? Let us know your thoughts and comment bellow!
Monday, April 19, 2010
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