*Beijing Air-Pollution *SHARkS! *Black Ivory
Beijing Air-Pollution:
Air pollution in China is a serious environmental issue though there's a ton of a lot of other pollution occurring in China that's serious. Various forms of pollution have increased as China has industrialized, which has caused widespread environmental and health problems. According to the World Bank in 2007, 16 of the world's 20 most polluted cities are in China!
SHARKS!
Scientists estimate that about 100 million sharks are killed each year by fishermen. I'm sure we don't eat 100 million sharks as a planet and actually it's WAY more than we need. Sure, shark fin soup is a delicacy in Asia but I know for a fact, that I can live without it if it means to save the sharks! To kill that many sharks, would be like killing 11,000 each minute and this is probably on the low side, since it pertains to only reported catches. Sadly, many governments do not care if sharks are being hunted in endangered key areas. On top of that, there's so many fishing competitions each year with big rewards for the largest shark found and the catch and release thing is becoming more and more rare and it's time to remember those creatures who were long before we were, maybe even before dinosaurs were.
Black Ivory:
Elephants have always roamed Africa, it's just the way things are, but recently, in 2013, elephant poaching has come to the extreme with an episode involving over 300 poachers in or near Cameroon's Bouba Ndjida National Park. This place was also the same site of the slaughter of hundreds of elephants in early 2012. The number of elephants killed this year, already amounts to shockingly over 120, killed illegally. Penalties are notoriously low around the world today but more and more countries are called attention, leading to ivory consumer nations to adopt measures to reduce demand and restrict illegal entry of ivory. We officially are going to war with the poachers, it's an endless war, but a war they hope can give elephants a voice.
Air pollution in China is a serious environmental issue though there's a ton of a lot of other pollution occurring in China that's serious. Various forms of pollution have increased as China has industrialized, which has caused widespread environmental and health problems. According to the World Bank in 2007, 16 of the world's 20 most polluted cities are in China!
SHARKS!
Scientists estimate that about 100 million sharks are killed each year by fishermen. I'm sure we don't eat 100 million sharks as a planet and actually it's WAY more than we need. Sure, shark fin soup is a delicacy in Asia but I know for a fact, that I can live without it if it means to save the sharks! To kill that many sharks, would be like killing 11,000 each minute and this is probably on the low side, since it pertains to only reported catches. Sadly, many governments do not care if sharks are being hunted in endangered key areas. On top of that, there's so many fishing competitions each year with big rewards for the largest shark found and the catch and release thing is becoming more and more rare and it's time to remember those creatures who were long before we were, maybe even before dinosaurs were.
Black Ivory:
Elephants have always roamed Africa, it's just the way things are, but recently, in 2013, elephant poaching has come to the extreme with an episode involving over 300 poachers in or near Cameroon's Bouba Ndjida National Park. This place was also the same site of the slaughter of hundreds of elephants in early 2012. The number of elephants killed this year, already amounts to shockingly over 120, killed illegally. Penalties are notoriously low around the world today but more and more countries are called attention, leading to ivory consumer nations to adopt measures to reduce demand and restrict illegal entry of ivory. We officially are going to war with the poachers, it's an endless war, but a war they hope can give elephants a voice.
Starfish Story
One person can definitely make a difference in the world, whether you believe it or not. Lots of people are doubtful but have any of you heard of the starfish story? It was an essay that was written by Loran Eiseley (The Star Thrower) that motivated people along coasts to save starfish. In the story, a man is seen throwing star fish one by one into the ocean. Soon, he is approached by another man who asks him the reason for his actions. An adapted story in 2003 for the Starfish charity recounts the tale like this:
One person can definitely make a difference in the world, whether you believe it or not. Lots of people are doubtful but have any of you heard of the starfish story? It was an essay that was written by Loran Eiseley (The Star Thrower) that motivated people along coasts to save starfish. In the story, a man is seen throwing star fish one by one into the ocean. Soon, he is approached by another man who asks him the reason for his actions. An adapted story in 2003 for the Starfish charity recounts the tale like this:
An old man had a habit of early morning walks on the beach. One day, after a storm, he saw a human figure in the distance moving like a dancer. As he came closer he saw that it was a young woman and she was not dancing but was reaching down to the sand, picking up a starfish and very gently throwing them into the ocean.
"Young lady," he asked, "Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?"
"The sun is up, and the tide is going out, and if I do not throw them in they will die."
"But young lady, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it? You cannot possibly make a difference."
The young woman listened politely, paused and then bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea, past the breaking waves,
saying, "It made a difference for that one."
The old man looked at the young woman inquisitively and thought about what she had done. Inspired, he joined her in throwing starfish back into the sea. Soon others joined, and all the starfish were saved.