Today, as we begin to say goodbye to 2010, think how many species we’re saying goodbye to as well. Organisms that existed in 2009, but are now no more.
Today, as we begin to say goodbye to 2010, think how many species we’re saying goodbye to as well. Organisms that existed in 2009, but are now no more.
According to current predictions, 20% of all living populations will be extinct by 2028 – and half of all species on Earth by the end of the century – unless human destruction of the biosphere ceases. The Eastern Atlantic blue fin tuna could be on the goodbye list quicker than you can say “sushi”.
According to research by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, the blue fin tuna is on the brink of extinction because of a US$4 billion black market, and a decade of fraud by the global fishing industry – which the report condemns for literally looting our waters.
While the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas met in mid-November to discuss the crisis, its members have failed up to now to promote sustainable use of tuna stocks – ignoring their own scientists’ recommendations for a complete blue fin fishing ban.
The European Commission’s (EC) Fisheries Commissioner, who proposed emergency action, is being blocked by member states; and the EC has itself subsidised specialised vessels for over-exploitation, while trading countries have consistently and illegally exceeded international conservation quotas.
Please remember to check that the fish you buy is not endangered, on: https://www.ru.ac.za/documents/Environment/SASSI_Pocket_Guide%202010.pdf.
You can also sms any seafood names to 079 499 8795 for information about the legality and sustainability of South African seafood.
Also check out these interesting web links for more information on the blue fin tuna – and let’s get back to saying goodbye to years, not species.
• Tuna regulation is failing, BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-11692242
• How tuna are being annihilated and why it matters, The New Yorker: http://www.avaaz.org/newyorker_tuna
• Blue Fin Tuna Black Market: How A Runaway Fishing Industry Looted The Seas, Huffington Post: http://www.avaaz.org/huffpost_tuna
• Mitsubishi Corporation's commitments to blue fin tuna in advance of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas meeting: http://www.avaaz.org/mitsubishi_statement_tuna
Some like it hot, others don’t. But, like it or not, climatic heat records are now outpacing cold records by 2:1, according to scientific evidence released for the 12-day Climate Change Conference in Cancun, Mexico, right now.
Two hundred states are represented. But already many climate scientists believeit’s virtually impossible to avoid a 2 degree Celsius rise in the global annual average this century – even with a mass global move to decarbonise human activity. And what this pragmatically translates to is growing weather mayhem around the world, with floods, droughts, freeze-outs and almost half of humanity losing access to clean water due to climate change.
Worried? You should be. Because as the debacle at the Copenhagen Summit last clear so clearly attested, the climate change debate has been hijacked by the wealthy fossil fuel lobby, with insiders openly admitting that Cancun is more about showing an attempt at moving forward the climate agenda, than to create an effective global treaty.
Some are hoping at least for the adoption of a $100 billion Green Fund to assist poor nations, which are the least to blame for, and yet the most affected by, global warming. In South Africa the fossil fuel lobby has gained momentum, too, with the Mapungubwe World Heritage Site in Limpopo still under threat from the adjacent Vele coal mine.
This after the Department of Mineral and Energy Affairs pushed through the license to CoAL, based on environmental impact assessments that all experts agreed were flawed, and ignoring objections from local communities, ecologists, anthropologists and the departments of Water Affairs, and Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
But enough public concern generated by responsible media can make an impact. Vele’s mining operations have been suspended pending further investigation, after the SABC2 television programme 50/50 exposed the mine’s ecological ramifications and its flawed licensing process. The result was a huge public outcry. Cast your eco web The more you know about humanity's relationship to, and impact on, the environment, the less you can be bamboozled by special interests.
And the World Wide Web has become a phenomenal purveyor of environmental freedom of speech. Good examples are www.earthcasts.co.uk that has free live and archived webinars on various environmental topics; and www.orcafoundation.com – an organisation fighting potential reopening to fishing of Marine Protected Areas such as Tsitsikamma near Plettenberg Bay.
We are our environment During the upcoming holiday period, when walking on a beach, being in your garden or strolling through Bots, remember that we’ve been part of our environment since time began. Remember that we are made of the same materials as it; that as it has evolved, as have we; that its health and wellbeing is ours; that we don’t have to save our planet – we just have to stop those messing it up.
So stay healthy this festive season and grab two essential tools for 2011. First, the beautiful, handy and inspirational Enviro Diary 2011 which, apart from fulfilling normal diary duties, includes fabulous Earth quotes, amazing recipes, and lifestyle choice advice. At just R16.50 it's a great eco-gift at a cinch, available from hazel@wessa.co.za.
Second, your free copy of the newly launched Grahamstown Health, Wellness and Social Services Handbook from Rhodes University. It deals with every human health issue, from childcare, to HIV/Aids and domestic violence, as well as listing all health care providers in the area. Every family should have one.
Finally: Fling the inevitable silly season booze bottle empties into orange or clear refuse bags, which are collected by the municipality on your normal refuse collection day for recycling. Apart from giving the bottles a crack at making next year’s party, you’ll also provide valuable income to those at the Masihlule Project, who sort all recyclable waste and are paid by weight.
Part(y)ing thought: “One World. One Love”. May Bob Marley’s words ring true for us all in 2011. Happy Holidays Makana!
Contacts for Makana Enviro-News: Nikki Köhly: nkohly@yahoo.com, 046 636 1643 / Lawrence Sisitka: heilaw@imaginet.co.za, 046 622 8595 / Jenny Gon: j-gon@intekom.co.za, 046 622 5822 / Dan Wylie d.wylie@ru.ac.za, 046 603 8409 / Nick James: nickjames@intekom.co.za, 046 622 5757 / Strato Copteros strato@iafrica.com, 082 785 6403
