Environment

October, 2008

• 31 October

  New Study: “Humans Are Responsible” for Warming Even Antarctica

  

  (From blogs.discovermagazine.com) – A new analysis of Antarctic weather conditions has found that human-caused global warming is to blame for the changing climate at the south pole, according to a new study. In its landmark Fourth Assessment Report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) declared in 2007 that human …
• 30 October

  Wetlands in Murray Darling Basin Disappear

  

  (From medindia.net) Australia – Precious wetlands in the Murray Darling Basin have largely disappeared, a sign of ecological crisis in the making in Australia. The country has failed to deliver on its obligation under the international Ramsar Convention to protect its wetlands, says Max Finlayson, a senior wetland ecologist and …
• 30 October

  Endangered pearl mussels killed

  

  (From news.bbc.co.uk)- Wildlife experts have discovered 130 opened freshwater pearl mussels at the River South Esk, downstream of Brechin. The area has one of the world”s largest populations of the mussels – but the culprits have killed about a third of those in that part of the river. One expert …
• 30 October

  Overfishing is hurting reef fish, UH study shows

  

  (From starbulletin.com)- A study by six scientists concludes fishing hurts Hawaii’s nearshore fisheries more so than coastal development and pollution. The study published in the journal Environmental Conservation shows the reef fish most coveted by fishers — such as uhu, ulua and redfish — are severely depleted.
• 30 October

  Whale Wars: An Interview With Captain Paul Watson

  

  (From greenmuze.com)- Have you ever wondered just what kind of effort it takes to stop a whaling ship? An exciting (and somewhat controversial) new hybrid activist documentary/drama/reality show is airing on Animal Planet November 7th, 2008 – Whale Wars – a behind the scenes look at the campaigns of famous …
• 29 October

  Greek coasts, marine life at risk

  

  (From ekathimerini.com)- Greece’s coastline and marine life face irreparable damage over the next few decades unless radical action is taken to protect the region’s unique wildlife and ecosystems, scientists are warning. No essential measures have been taken to protect dwindling species of animals living off Greece’s coasts nor the unique …
• 28 October

  ‘Sticking it to the Man,’ 21st Century style… Paul Watson interviewed by Jason Miller

  

  (From axisoflogic.com) – As a species of beings that reflexively and unequivocally identifies itself as “superior,” we human animals have taken self-deception to a level of inimitable brilliance. And we Americans who have self-servingly cast ourselves in the role of moral beacon to the world (while engaging in industrialized wholesale …
• 28 October

  Europe cracks down on fishing for deep-sea species

  

  (From reuters.com) Luxembourg – Europe”s exotic deepwater fish, some of which can live up to 150 years, won more protection from the European Union on Monday as fisheries ministers agreed to hefty quota cuts for the next two years. Bearing names like forkbeard, black scabbardfish, greater silver smelt and roundnose …
• 28 October

  EU agrees cuts to Baltic fish quotas for 2009

  

  (From javno.com) – EU fisheries ministers thrashed out a deal on Monday to cut next year”s catches of overtrawled species like cod, herring and salmon in the Baltic Sea, hoping to preserve stocks under threat by overfishing. Cod catches in the western Baltic will be reduced by 15 percent from …
• 27 October

  South Korea pushing birds to extinction

  

  (From iar.org.uk) – A huge land reclamation project in South Korea is pushing endangered species towards extinction, Reuters has reported. A report by Birds Korea and Australasian Wader studies group has claimed that the Saemangeum land reclamation project has removed one of the largest feeding grounds on the Yellow Sea …
• 27 October

  Southern Ocean protection proposal floated

  

  (From abc.net.au) – A proposal to declare part of the Southern Ocean a vulnerable marine ecosystem will be put to an international commission responsible for protecting marine life in Antarctica. Representatives from the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources have begun a 10 day meeting in Hobart.
• 26 October

  Save animals, save mankind

  

  (From lompocrecord.com)- According to an international survey, about a fourth of the mammal species alive today are threatened with extinction. This dire prediction, as one might expect, is based on the activities of mankind, mostly due to hunting and poaching, and the insatiable human appetite for raw materials and natural …