Another Oil Disaster and Legal Violation

Once again, oil has created another horrific situation. Not so long ago, the hunt for oil in Iraq led the Bush administration into an armed conflict. The U.S. is trying to extricate itself from that oily mess.

Now, the BP oil pipeline is still leaking millions of gallons of crude into the Gulf. No one is exactly certain about the amount of gallons seeping into the ocean. But it doesn’t matter. You don’t have to be a scientist, or very intelligent at all, to know this is not a pleasant scenario for ocean life, coastal communities, and the planet in general.

Even worse, no one knows how to stop it. Thus, inanity enters.

How does a company get approval to operate something that they don’t know how to stop if an emergency occurs?

This one fact defies common sense.

It seems to me that our leaders and governments are either tremendously negligent or incompetent. Perhaps, those two things are that different in the end.

Let’s review: just over thirty years ago, the Exxon Valdez (a supertanker filled with oil) spilled over ten million gallons of crude into Prince William Sound, off the coast of Alaska. In response to that, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 was created in large part to prevent such recklessness from happening again.

The Oil Pollution Act (OPA) provided new requirements for contingency planning by both the government and industry, called National Oil and Hazardous Substance Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). It stipulates a three-tiered approach:

“1) Federal government is required to direct all public and private response efforts for certain types of spills.

2) Area committees—made of federal, state, and local government—must develop detailed location-specific Area Contingency Plans.

3) Owners-Operators—of vessels and certain facilities that pose serious threat to the environment must prepare their own Facility Response Plans.”

I took the liberty of highlighting number three above since BP has admitted that they had no emergency response plan. And yet, the government gave them approval for the oil recovery operation anyway.

On the premises of national laboratories and experimental centers, security clearance aside, no one is permitted to be there if one does not have the training to effectively deal with an emergency.

It appears from the 1990 OPA that both government and industry have failed us, not just the U.S. citizens, but the people of Earth, by acting irresponsibly.



Sources:
www.epa.gov/emergencies

www.en.wikipedia.org



www.earthactionrightnow.org

North American Wolves in Peril from Local Government

Despite the promises made by President Obama on March 3rd, 2009, the Endangered Species Act has not been restored to its proper function, all degraded by the Bush administration. Most American are not aware of this due to other distractions deemed more important, such as a struggling economy and job market. (Both of which I am not dismissing, by any means.)

Point in fact, the Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, delisted wolves from the act three days after the President’s pronouncement.

Such erosion of the thirty-year old Endangered Species Act deserves attention, especially as it has led to the current slaughter of wolves in numerous states, including Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Wolves were purposefully re-introduced in many of these areas to help restore natural ecosystem balance. For instance, in Alaska, where the state manages for caribou and moose populations for the enjoyment of hunters who pay for licenses, the furry, four-legged predators helped reign in the excesses of caribou herd, also known as 40-Mile. But then, by the 1990’s caribou numbers dipped too low, due to hunting and natural factors, including wildfires in their habitat. By 2002, caribou numbers rebounded to sustain man-made and natural activities.

However, in 2003, Alaska began chemical exterminations of wolves. Five years later, the state expanded the previous predator-control zone, which now surrounds Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve. Furthermore, the state has not only authorized hunters to shoot wolves on site, but employs state officials to shoot the wolves (predators) from helicopters and planes. By March of 2009, 200 wolves were shot and killed. The state had to suspend the harvest because hunters couldn’t find more wolves to eradicate.

This seems far from Darwin’s natural selection. In fact, some of the killed wolves were part of a radio-collared pack in a longitudinal twelve-year study by the National Park Service.

According to law, parks like Yukon-Charley Rivers are set aside to protect wildlife, specifically wolves. But wolves are roamers and are not aware of the boundaries that humans have set for them. Another system of management, if it can be called that, needs to be devised. Perhaps the state could begin to offer tourist adventures, where people pay to enjoy the beauty of the state, including all the indigenous species. This has been done in many other countries, such as Costa Rica and Africa.

The aerial hunting and excess slaughter of wolves, predators purposefully re-introduced to their native habitat as part of a thirty-year recovery program, is also taking place in Yellowstone National Park and other regions of the Northern Rockies. Despite the fact that ranchers are reimbursed for losses of livestock, the killing continues, producing numbers in the thousands in several states.


Moreover, perhaps the words of American naturalist, John Muir, express it best: “when we try to pick out anything [eliminate] by itself we find that it is bound fast by a thousand invisible cords that cannot be broken, to everything in the universe.”

In other words, wiping out a top predator in a region can seriously imbalance that ecosystem, which numerous studies have already shown. Such policies by these state officials reveal that they are putting their pocketbooks before sustainability. The latter is no small matter that implicates all of us, including our children and our children’s children.

If humans are going to continue to try and manage wildlife, then let us do so from an informed, scientific basis grounded in biology, not political and economic agendas.




Sources:
National Park Conservation Association
National Geographic, September 2009
Robert Busch. Wolf Almanac, 2007 edition
Washington Post articles
National Wildlife Federation, 2007


www.earthactionrightnow.org

Polar Bears, Arctic Oil, Climate Change, and Our Future

Have you seen any of the images of a lone polar bear swimming in the Arctic Ocean?

For me, it is one of the saddest things I’ve ever seen, certainly equal to small baby seals being bludgeoned to death by humans wielding clubs. Why? Because of the desolation of an animal forsaken by circumstances that are beyond its control.

Nevertheless, he paddles on, passing small blobs of ice that are too insignificant to hold his weight. Fortunately, polar bears can swim up to 60 miles in a day, but even that feat is becoming too little as the polar ice cap continues to shrink.

Since 1980, the polar ice in the arctic has shrunk by almost 50 percent, from three million square feet to 1.8 million square feet[1]. The importance of this fact seems lost on the public at large, including myself at times, because the science is tricky to comprehend.

Simply put, not only is the Arctic home to polar bears and the Inuit people, it is paramount to our survival as well. That beautiful white ice reflects 80 percent of the incoming sun’s rays, which helps keep Arctic temperatures cooler. So the less ice, less reflection, thus it gets hotter. This produces a negative cycle resulting in thinner ice or less overall ice coverage. In fact, this cycle has been in effect for the last twenty years with temperatures creeping upward. Initially, the rise in temperature was due to high or low air pressure changes, but now the increases are the result of excess greenhouses gases[2].

Why should we care? Because, just as an injury to your knee affects the rest of your bodily movement, increased temperatures in the Arctic results in weather changes in lower latitudes, such as warmer winters, and storm irregularity and severity. More importantly, it is a harbinger of things to come.

The five Arctic governmental powers (Russia, U.S., Canada, Denmark, Norway) should be alarmed by this trend. Instead, as the polar ice cap melts, they are positioning themselves for new opportunities to obtain Arctic fossil fuel resources. Studies show that the Arctic may hold nearly a quarter of the Earth’s natural gas and oil. This fact has created a flurry of territorial fights, like children squabbling over play area in a sandbox. These claims are governed by the United Nations’ Convention on the Law of the Sea, especially where there overlapping territory occurs [3].

It appears that climate change awareness has risen both within the general population and the government, but our leaders have not stepped up to guide us[6].

Many scientists the world over have said that the time to act on climate change is now. We cannot delay.

Shouldn’t our leaders see this as an opportunity to make this one of the finest hours of humanity?

What does it take for humankind to change its ways?

Instead of thinking about yourself, your family, perhaps we need to think like the Native Americans: let us think of seven generations in the future. Let them enjoy the Earth as we do now.

The welfare of all life, not just human existence, but all life is in our hands. Become a steward of the Earth, despite any fears you may have about being seen as different by those around you. True, our task is not an easy one, but it is a sacred responsibility.

What you can do NOW:
• Write/call/email your U.S. senators

… and deliver this message:
My name is _________________ and I’m calling from [Your City] today to remind you, my senators, that climate change poses an unprecedented threat to human communities, fish and wildlife habitat and the natural resources we depend on -- resources like clean air and water -- and recreational opportunities such as fishing, hunting, boating and hiking.
As someone who cares about wildlife and the irreplaceable value of our natural world, I ask Senator [Your Senator’s Name] to pass climate change legislation that will:
• Significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., and
• Provide 5% dedicated funding from the funds generated under the bill to safeguard fish, wildlife and the natural resources that we need to survive.

Fast Facts on Wildlife and Global Warming
• Scientists warn that mid-range climate warming could cause 20-30 percent of the Earth’s plants and animals to go extinct between now and 2050. [4]
• One out of every 20 jobs in America is linked to wildlife related activities.[5]

Sources:
[1] National Geographic Supplement, May 2009, (data current to September 2008).
[2] http://www.globalchange.gov/images/cir/pdf/ecosystems.pdf
[3] National Geographic Supplement, May 2009, (data current to September 2008).
[4] United Nations Environmental Programme 2007. “IPCC Synthesis Report: Risks And Rewards Of Combating Climate Change.”; Sagarin, Raphael. 2002. “Historical Studies of Species’ Response to Climate Change.” In: Wildlife Responses to Climate Change: North American Case Studies. Ed. Terry L. Root and Stephen H. Schneider. Washington DC: Island Press. Pg. 39.
[5] Outdoor Industry Foundation. 2007. “The Active Outdoor Recreation Economy. A $730 Billion Annual Contribution to the U.S. Economy.”
Available from: http://www.outdoorindustry.org/images/researchfiles/RecEconomypublic.pdf?26

www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/25666.html

www.nationalgeographic.com



www.earthactionrightnow.org

Earth Day: Is it enough?

Our Earth, Our Heart

The celebration of Earth Day has come and gone, in which over 170 countries participate in some form.
But is that enough? Just one day to cherish our home?

And do the citizens of our planet (read that as: you) realize what is at stake?

Perhaps Robert Redford said it best: “I think the environment should be put in the category of our [U.S.] national security. Defense of our resources is just as important as defense abroad. Otherwise, what is there to defend?”

Each leader around the world should be asking this for his country.

Why?

Despite the recent discoveries of Gliese 581 and related planets in another solar system, at present, this Earth is the only inhabitable planet in our solar system. If we don’t start to care for it, then we sow the seeds for our own destruction, not to mention the many other millions of species with us. The protection of the Earth, its resources, and its inhabitants is the responsibility of humankind

Every day needs to be Earth Day in our hearts and minds.
Ask yourself (individuals and businesses) if what you are doing is beneficial for the planet?

Remember, the planet doesn’t belong to any country, group, or person. It is not ours to waste or do as we wish with reckless abandon, like some vacation hotel room. This mindset of humans has predominated for hundreds of years, perhaps longer. However, such short-sighted thinking was not the approach of most native cultures and people. And most of those natives would gladly die in protecting this land. Many of them did in fact die.

From new archeological evidence found at Jamestown it was the ‘civilized’ Europeans who began to wreak havoc on the natural systems in place in the New World (now the United States). The Europeans brought the hoofed animals and erected fences to corral them. They divided land into personal plots and failed to rotate crops properly.

Obviously, we can’t change the past. Yet, we can ensure our future.

The fact remains that the planet does not NEED humans, just one species of millions. But we NEED the Earth.

What should we do?

I suggest a shift from the conditioned modern medical model thinking of waiting until one is sick to seek treatment or give attention to a more prevention oriented model.

For instance, let us stop waiting for the numbers of a species to drop so low that its survival in the wild is questionable, such as with Javan Rhinoceros (only 60 remain), Cross River Gorilla (only 300 remain), or North Pacific Right Whale (population uncertain, but less than 500).

Let s cease waiting for chemical levels in water tables to become so toxic that fresh water for drinking is untenable, such as the Anacostia River watershed. This is beginning to occur in several places in the U.S. and Europe.

Such actions on our part are less than visionary and overly selfish.
The care and responsibility we show today for the planet is a legacy we can then pass along to our children, and our children’s children.

Protecting the Earth and its inhabitants may be as important to our spirits as proper nutrition is to a healthy body.



Suggestions to Be More Aware and Spare the Planet:
1. Recycling is good. Consuming Less is Better.
Do you really need that item? Can you find it used?

2. At all costs, try to avoid buying and using Styrofoam (unless made from biodegradable substances). It never breaks down. Never ever.

3. Replace high wattage bulbs with low wattage, energy conserving ones. One friend of mine saved over $1000 per year from doing this. It lessens the demand on our antiquated energy grids.

4. Try to live more in harmony with nature, rather than bending it to our wishes. In other words, flow with the seasons, such as eating vegetables and fruits that ripen during that time of year.



Happy and Wonderful Blessings to You and Your Family on Earth Every Day!


www.earthactionrightnow.org

The Economy, Afghanistan...and the Planet

The dismal economies across the globe continue to hold much of the world’s attention. Perhaps rightly so.
President Obama and his administration are hard at work to correct what they can within the U.S. The President has ventured across the seas to Europe in hopes of getting increased cooperation from leaders there. The mending of fences battered by Bush’s reign flowed forth with Obama’s forthrightness and charisma.

Nevertheless, European leaders balk at helping the new war efforts aimed at Afghanistan. First, the European banks are more strapped for cash than American ones, though the Europeans won’t admit that.
Second, the Europeans know all too well the history of military aggression into Afghanistan. President Obama and his administration would do well to heed European reluctance, or at least talk with the Russians, who spent ten tough years there, only to give up in the end. Of course, it was America that gave weapons and training to the Afghani fighters then.

Moreover, if our intelligence community is to be trusted, then our targets, Al Queda and friends, hide out in Pakistan, not mountainous Afghanistan.

Finally, despite these pressing issues, and the incessant bailing out of potentially failing businesses with taxpayer money, many people forget a more critical issue—the planet.
Regardless whether one believes in global warming or an impending ice age, the one truth remains that Earth is the only inhabitable planet in our solar system. It needs our care (on a daily basis), not our recklessness, if we want it to continue to support us and our children and our children’s children.

I bring this up as a matter for increasing consciousness and intention, for caring that is. It would be incredibly inane to destroy the only home that we have, along with its delicate ecosystems.

The increases in the human population continue to threaten Earth’s stability. If my sources are correct, then the human population has tripled in the last one hundred years. This is staggering to say the least.
If that figure is true, then it is no wonder that greenhouse emissions have increased--more CO2, more cars, and more industrialization. Not to mention the advancing super-technological society, this has skyrocketed in the last thirty years and shows no signs of slowing down.
This digital revolution appears to be ever captivating to old and young, especially the latter.

As a result, people have forgotten the beauty and profundity that simple nature offers every second of every day. And it’s all free. What a gift in economic hard times!

Perhaps shutting off televisions, computers, mobile phones, and stepping outside would be a good idea, and not just for the power grids. Take a little walk, find some nature, and give thanks and praises to this sacred planet that supports each one of us every day without asking for anything in return.
Marvel at how birds fly and float through the skies above. Wonder at the grace of geese and ducks drifting effortlessly upon the water. This is a chance to appreciate nature. Sure, it can be harsh sometimes, but even a winter snowstorm leaves a beautiful blanket of white for a while.

Try it! See how good you feel!



www.earthactionrightnow.org

Seeking, Striving, Achieving

Normal life—the day-to-day hustle and bustle—can seem at odds with nature. For instance, a tree grows from a seedling without hurrying to become a big tree. A flower bud blooms in its own time in response to natural cycles.

It is only humans, perhaps, that expend needless energy in rushing to achieve or to seek something. Many times, these actions are completely unnecessary, for nature has innate rhythms that require immense efforts to overcome.

How do you make things easier?
Tap into nature’s rhythm.

How?
First, find a piece of nature to immerse yourself into, such as a park, a lake, or a small forest. Then, if on land, begin to stroll, or if on water, drift. Let the vibration of nature flow through you.

With water, if you can be in it, merely float or bob around, it is easy to feel the tug of water. Lakes and oceans are best. Succomb to the liquid that surrounds and buoys your body. For example, on a recent snorkeling excursion, I had a choice to fight the ocean and seek fish to view or I could float, drifting with the tide, thus joining with the sea. As I chose the latter, sea creatures began to emerge from nooks and crannies, offering me wonderful opportunities to see them, without striving.

If you have a park nearby, go there and walk the pathways at a slower pace than you would normally move. Observe the wildlife that thrives all around, but often goes unnoticed. Try not to let any worries or concerns enter your thoughts, thereby mirroring your surroundings. If it is freezing cold, bundle up and realize nature slows its speed in winter as it draws inward and prepares for Spring’s renewal.

As you tap into the invisible tides of nature, the flow of life, everything you do finds a natural ebb and flow. There will be times of rapid movement, then periods of motion so slow that all seems stagnant. Both are appropriate and natural.

Whether you stroll, sit quietly, or float, immerse yourself into the powerful rhythms of nature.

Remember nature is here to help you.

Try it and enjoy!

www.earthactionrightnow.org

Polar Bears: Inevitable Extinction

Most of us have never seen a Polar Bear, except on television or some other media format. That is because they can only be found above the Arctic Circle in Norway, Russia, Greenland, Canada, and the United States.

With the increasing deterioration of the polar icecap, many scientists believe these great white bears will be extinct by the year 2030. According to Tim Flannery (The Weather Makers), “the Arctic ice cap is shrinking by 8 percent a year”. With that loss of ice surface goes the habitat of the polar bears, which researchers have found showing signs of stress, such as a decline in average body weight up to 15 percent.

Another encroachment on the planet’s largest carnivores, which feeds mostly on seals, is the debate over opening the Artic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska for oil drilling. Such a choice would infringe on the most important denning areas for the approximate 4000 polar bears living there.

Like other members of the bear family, female polar bears nurse their cubs, though this time has increased from twelve months to 18. In the past, females birthed two to three cubs per year. Now that number has dropped to one. This combined with the longer weaning times foretell impending doom for these magnificent creatures that wander the far north.

Perfectly adapted for the severe conditions of the Arctic the coat of the polar bear insulates it from cold and water. Males can weigh up to a thousand pounds and be eleven feet tall. A polar bear can swim up to sixty miles, the need of which is becoming more frequent as the ice cap disappears beneath their paws.

It would be a tragedy to see our planet lose one of the last true symbols of the primal natural world, especially due to human shortsightedness.

To further help their plight, please share this information with others, and visit: wwwsavepolarbears.org

“…the bear is often considered among Native American people as kin to humans…because it can stand and walk upon two legs.”*

*Animal Speak, Ted Andrews, p.251


www.earthactionrightnow.org