Leading Conservation Organizations Join Forces for Coral Reefs

Project AWARE and Reef Check partner for global reef protection.

Two top nonprofit conservation organizations, Project AWARE Foundation and Reef Check Foundation, have formally partnered with one mutual goal - to protect coral reefs around the world.

Project AWARE and Reef Check both rely on dedicated volunteer divers to collect relevant data for their monitoring programs. Project AWARE’s CoralWatch monitoring, implemented in partnership with the University of Queensland, Australia in 2005, collects information on the intensity of coral bleaching and recovery. Since 1997, Reef Check has carried out an annual global scientific survey of human impacts on coral reefs. Project AWARE and Reef Check would like to encourage all divers to volunteer for these programs and help track the condition of coral reefs.

“The joint efforts of Project AWARE and Reef Check aim to boost public awareness and action for critical conservation initiatives,” said Project AWARE Foundation, Director, Jenny Miller Garmendia. “Volunteer divers are at the core of these monitoring programs and are natural advocates for declining underwater ecosystems.”

The partnership was announced at the launch of the year-long International Year of the Reef 2008 campaign in Washington, DC this week.

According to Dr. Gregor Hodgson, Founder and Executive Director, Reef Check, “Reef Check is very pleased to be partnering with Project AWARE because we share the same goals of involving more volunteer divers in coral reef monitoring and conservation. All of the data gathered will be used to interpret trends in global coral status.”

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Project AWARE Foundation, a registered nonprofit organization, is dedicated to conserving underwater environments through education, advocacy and action. For more than 16 years, Project AWARE has worked in direct partnership with divers and water enthusiasts to protect aquatic resources in 175 countries and territories of the world. www.projectaware.org

Reef Check Foundation is an international non-profit organization dedicated to conservation of two ecosystems: tropical coral reefs and California rocky reefs. With headquarters in Los Angeles and volunteer teams in more than 90 countries, Reef Check’s mission is to protect and rehabilitate reefs worldwide. www.reefcheck.org

White House Unveils Plans to Address Trash in the Ocean

White House Unveils Plans to Address Trash in the Ocean

Initiative Boosts Project AWARE's Long-Standing International Cleanup Day Efforts

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA – Project AWARE Foundation and partner environmental organizations applauded First Lady Laura Bush’s unveiling of a new initiative to address marine debris.

The First Lady called for an increase in public/private partnerships for cleanups, enhanced public education on marine debris prevention and an emphasis on international cooperation during the dedication ceremony of the J.L. Scott Marine Education Center-Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Biloxi, Mississippi, USA.

“Whether we live on the shore or not, all of us have the obligation to care for these amazing natural resources,” stated Mrs. Bush.

The First Lady has championed marine debris prevention since seeing the extent of the problem during a visit to the remote Northwest Hawaiian Islands National Monument. She spoke about the importance of the ocean environment, promising to promote annual cleanups and make sure people are educated about marine debris and how to participate in solutions.

Vikki Spruill, President and CEO of the Ocean Conservancy, Project AWARE’s partner for International Cleanup Day, spoke before the First Lady last week and shined a spotlight on marine debris issues and the international cleanup efforts taking place each year.

“The First Lady’s dedication to the issues we’ve been fighting for is inspiring – and, it gives a big push to the sea change that is underway,” states Vikki Spruill, Ocean Conservancy President and CEO.

“We’re thrilled about the new White House plan to address trash in our oceans,” said Jenny Miller Garmendia, Director, Project AWARE Foundation. “The announcement boosts Project AWARE’s 12-year underwater volunteer effort to remove and prevent harmful aquatic debris – a human-induced and preventable problem.”

Each year Project AWARE Foundation coordinates underwater cleanups in more than 100 countries and territories in partnership with dive professionals and the Ocean Conservancy. Cleanup volunteers are making a difference by improving aquatic environments and protecting fragile wildlife.

Project AWARE Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving underwater environments through education, advocacy and action. Visit www.projectaware.org for more information about Project AWARE’s ongoing debris removal efforts, to volunteer or to view inspiring images from cleanup events around the world.

Material posted and distributed through DiveNewswire

Welcome to My Fiji

Its as if Pieces of Heaven Have Dropped from the Sky

by Jack and Sue Drafahl

Now, open your eyes and see your dream become reality. Welcome to Fiji! Scattered over the South Pacific, its 330 islands are welcoming more and more dive travelers every year. Once they find Fiji, it becomes embedded in their souls and they have an insatiable desire to return. One of the main reasons this happens is the people: they are truly the friendliest on earth. Moments after you arrive in Nadi Airport you will be offered a smile and the Fijian greeting of bula. Simply return the greeting by repeating bula and your life will be changed forever. Fiji is 17 degrees south of the equator, just northeast of Australia and west of the International Dateline. The largest island, Viti Levu, is home to the largest portion of Fiji's 780,000 people. The official language is English and although Fiji has its own currency, the U.S. dollar is accepted everywhere. Because Fiji is south of the equator, its summer is November to March; winter is April to October. Summer temperatures average 86F; the winter average is 73. Cooling trade winds make even the warmest day comfortable. Accommodations throughout Fiji vary from luxury hotels with golf courses to comfortable resorts offering thatched roof Fijian cottages called bures. You can find inexpensive backpacking locales and resorts that offer affordable luxury. Fiji has something to satisfy every pocketbook. The diving in this South Pacific paradise is as varied as the resorts and the topography. You will find calm, shallow diving inside many of the island lagoons and deeper wall diving where the intertidal currents pass among the islands. During this exchange of water the reefs are alive with soft corals of every color in full bloom. Although we hope you never see it, the Fiji Dive Operators Association has also established an hyperbaric chamber in Suva. While Fiji is noted for its world-class diving, it also offers a fascinating blend of culture and customs. To truly enjoy Fiji, you must experience the customs that make these people unique. Many Fijians live in villages where the philosophy is care and share. No visitor is a stranger for long because these people immediately make you one of their family. Fiji's Regions: Fiji's diving is divided into the northern section, encompassing Savusavu, Vanua Levu and the islands of Namenalala, Taveuni, Laucala, Matagi and Qamea. The central and southern sections cover Vatulele, Kadavu, Beqa and the Coral Coast. The western region features the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands. Follow us as we introduce you to some of the finest diving in the world. Read whole article...

Nai'a offers great deal!

LAST MINUTE DEALS ON TONGA HUMPBACK WHALE SAFARI SPACES

Due to a last-minute cancellation, Nai'a suddenly has six available spaces remaining on their 2008 Tonga Humpback Whale Safari and can discount them by 25%. The berths are available on the July 18-28 trip. And for something completely different, you can stay on in the Kingdom of Tonga to join the country's biggest ever celebration: the coronation of the new King. How often do you get a travel opportunity like that?

Check out Nai'a's Tonga Humpback Whale Safaris and email or call them right away to reserve your place among the gentle giants.

In China, Corporations Cultivate Profits and Conscience

BEIJING -- Coca-Cola will revamp bottling practices globally to save water and fund conservation along the Yangtze River and other major waterways, highlighting a growing emphasis on social and environmental spending by multinationals in China.

Under the program, Coca-Cola Co. intends to offset some of the 76 billion gallons of water _ a two-month supply of drinking water for New York City _ that the world's largest beverage maker and its bottlers use each year to make Coke, Sprite, Fanta and other drinks.

The company said it will reduce the amount of water used to rinse, clean, heat, and cool during the manufacturing process. The company also plans to recycle factory wastewater.

"Essentially the pledge is to return every drop we use back to nature," Coca-Cola Chief Executive Officer E. Neville Isdell said in Beijing.

"We need to think holistically about the availability of water for the ongoing sustainability of our business," Isdell said.

Atlanta-based Coca-Cola pledged $20 million for the World Wildlife Foundation to protect sections of major rivers in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia, including China's badly polluted Yangtze, the world's third longest.

Coca-Cola's sales by volume have seen double digit growth in China over the past few years and the mainland is now the company's fourth-largest market.

Coca-Cola has joined a wave of global corporations funding social projects outside their business investments across China.

As China becomes an ever more important market and manufacturing base, many multinationals are under growing pressure in the Chinese media to show they're doing in China than taking profits.

There is also pressure at home. Shareholders questioned Isdell directly about Coca-Cola's global water usage during the annual shareholder meeting in April.

Projects funded by multinationals in China run the gamut from "planting a few trees by the Great Wall" to significantly reducing carbon emissions, said Elizabeth Knup, who heads the corporate social responsibility committee for the American Chamber of Commerce in Beijing.

She said the spending in China on corporate social responsibility is difficult to calculate. Different companies consider compliance with environment or labor standards a measure of their social responsibility while others tout charity, sponsorship programs or industrial training courses.

Either way, media attention in China is focused increasingly on major corporations and their practices.

Over the past year, Western icons such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Yum Brands Inc.'s KFC and Pizza Hut have been pilloried in Chinese media for alleged unfair or predatory practices.

Other companies have recognized that socially conscious projects can tip the scales when they compete for government contracts and licenses, Knup said.

United Technologies Corp. plans to open a 'green' elevator factory in the eastern city of Tianjin in July and has worked with the Ministry of Construction on developing better environmental standards for government buildings.

The projects help to promote UTC's subsidiaries like Carrier, which makes air conditioning units, and Otis, an elevator manufacturer, said Jim Gradoville, president of UTC's international operations in China.

Carrier landed a contract to provide air conditioning equipment for 70 percent of the venues for next year's Olympics in Beijing because the company led competitors in phasing out ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons, Gradoville said.

China's leaders were once leery of campaigns by foreign campaigns or groups to improve local environmental or labor conditions, believing they undermined domestic companies that had neither the financial or human resources to compete.

Recently, however, under the slogan "building a harmonious society," the government has embraced corporate social responsibility for foreign and Chinese companies alike.

One Chinese activist group launched a campaign this year to publicize companies that violate environmental or labor standards. Ma Jun, the head of the Beijing-based Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, said he hoped the campaign would shame offenders and drive up the costs for violators through consumer boycotts.

Source: Associated Press

Bune Launches Environment Week

Monday: June 05, 2006

(Fiji Government Online)
The Minister of Environment Poseci Bune today officially launched the National Environment Week (June 5 – 10) in Sigatoka.

In his address, the honorable Minister said “this is my first obligation since becoming the first Minister of Environment and I have been advised that it will not be the last since the promotional activities for the protection of our natural environment have been scheduled throughout the rest of 2006 and as a matter of fact the campaigns for protecting and conserving Fiji’s environment should be on going into the future.”

Mr Bune said Fiji is very fortunate to be part of the United Nations and also being part of various international and regional environmental agreements or conventions and their related protocols which allows us to be part of the global environmental programs.

He said for the various agreements to succeed, it requires the effort of the government, the private sector, academic institutions and local communities.

However, “this calls for the setting aside of differences we have at all levels that is economic, social and even political levels so that the appropriate resources and efforts are channeled during this week towards the protection of Fiji’s natural environment week.”

Fiji now has a legislation in the Environment Management Act of 2005 to establish guiding regulations and standards to comply with and the deterrent penalties for not complying.

Furthermore, the Environment Ministry is putting into place the strategies that would control the generation, use, storage and disposal of all types of waste. Associated with this is the determination of the the appropriate levels of adverse impacts of new development activities on the environment.

The theme for this year’s National Environment Week is “Right to Life” and the sub theme is “The Survival of each species of plants and animals is the only insurance for our own survival.”

Mr Bune said this would set the direction of our thoughts and deeds during this week and hopefully for the rest of the year.

Pacific Magazine: FIJI: Bune Launches Environment Week

The Annual WWF Turtle Benefit Ball, Fiji

An enchanted evening for the endangered turtle

The Annual Turtle Benefit Ball is promising to be another evening of fun, feasting and most importantly, gathering much needed support for turtle conservation in Fiji.

The event scheduled for the 7th June, 2008, has already attracted commitments from the following:

• Beachcomber Island Resort
• Communications Fiji Limited
• Castaway Island Resort
• Hideaway Resort
• Holiday Inn Suva
• Kundan Singh Limited
• Laje Rotuma
• Lagoon Resort
• Musket Cove Resort
• Natural Waters of Viti Limited
• New Peking
• Pure Fiji
• Skin Deep Fiji
• Sonaisali Island Resort Fiji
• Star Printery Limited
• The Pearl Resort & Golf
• Pacific Manufacturers Limited
• Pacific Coatings Limited

The inaugural Turtle Benefit Ball held in 2007, attracted more than 200 guests from different professions and repute to aid WWF Fiji and partners in their efforts to protect the endangered sea turtle – a cultural icon for the island nation. The Ball raised a total of FJD 10,000 that supported several key activities such as:

• nesting beach surveys during December 2007
• community road shows in Vanua Levu aimed at primary and secondary school students
• national high school art and poem competition
• the first ever satellite tagging of hawksbill turtles on Yadua Island and the Mamanuca group

The 2008 Turtle Benefit Ball is aiming to again raise more public awareness and corporate engagement to continue the momentum of activities enabled by the funds raised in the previous ball.

This year’s theme is linked to the International Year of the Reef and particularly looks to illustrate the important role of turtles in maintaining the health of coral reefs. Turtles have recently been heralded as the emerging ‘canaries’ of climate change particularly as they are a good way to study the impacts of climate on coral reefs and associated ecosystems.

» Download our flyer for more details

» Learn more about turtles

Call 3315533 and speak to Akisi / Jone for ticket / table reservations or further enquiries.

Under the Sea Website Now LIVE

Under the Sea Website Now LIVE

Get ready to take a one-of-a-kind tropical plunge and come face-to-face with some of the most colorful and intriguing creatures of our oceans in stunning IMAX 3D! Under the Sea 3D will transport you to the exotic locations of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Australia's Coral Sea to explore these animals in their native habitat, and witness the impact of global warming.

• Check out the Webisodes that take you behind the scenes on this far-flung film shoot • Read director Howard Hall's Travel Log for insight into the making of his newest IMAX 3D underwater film • Learn more about these intriguing South Pacific destinations through the Location Profile • View stunning imagery both above and below the surface in the photo Gallery • Submit your OWN underwater photos on our Community page

Shark Fin Soup driving 11 species to extinction

Shark Fin Soup driving 11 species to extinction

Tremendous demand for Shark Fin Soup is driving 11 shark species to extinction reports Discovery Channel “Despite mounting evidence of decline and increasing threats to these species, there are no international catch limits for oceanic sharks,” said Sonja Fordham, a researcher at the Oceans Conservancy and Shark Alliance in Brussels

Fin soup used to be a rare and very expensive delicacy in China. As the Asian economies grow, in particular that of mainland China, a middle class has emerged hungry for shark fin soup; they eat it almost as a status symbol. So what was a rare and expensive delicacy is now just part of the buffet at most weddings and corporate functions. This symbol of luxury and wealth is a luxury that the people in coastal communities in the developing world who depend upon shark meat for protein cannot afford. The sharks threatened by extinction certainly cannot afford this delicacy! Living sharks are enjoyed by recreational divers, bringing millions of dollars in foreign exchange to countries in both the developed and developing world. By contrast, the trade in shark fins has created a handful of millionaires in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

So how do we at GSTF stop this?

Read the Discovery article here: http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/05/22/shark-fin-soup.html

Scuba car

Scuba car | Comments (1)

Apr 8, 2008

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It's straight out of a Bond movie (The Spy Who Loved Me, 1977, to be precise). But the cool thing is, this diving car is real. At last month's Geneva Motor Show, the sQuba - the world's first submersible car - was revealed to the world.

Unlike military vehicles which can drive into the water and along the sea floor, sQuba can float on water. Then once you crack open its door to let the water in, it sinks and flies underwater at depths of up to 10 meters. The car's occupants breathe through a compressed air tank in the car, but it's roofless, so if something goes wrong it's easy to escape from.

In addition to all that, sQuba is battery-operated and emission-free. Which is probably good news for fish. Created by Frank M. Rinderknecht of Rinspeed, it's currently a concept car, but keep an eye on the tide next time you're sunbathing. You never know what may emerge from the water. RM

Sharks of the World (Princeton Field Guides)

It's finally here -- THE DEFINITIVE and COMPLETELY (yes, very literally) EXHAUSTIVE shark guide. I've just picked up my copy and it still feels like a dream. As a serious shark enthusiast, this is the book that I have always dreamed about but has never existed, until now. If you're a shark enthusiast, it would be a tragedy not to acquire this book.





Here's why:

(1) There are lavish full color illustrations of every single species of shark known today -- 404 described species and 49 as-yet-undescribed species on 64 plates, each species in oblique view (not the usual profile shot), giving invaluable information on its shape in 3 dimensions. In addition to the most popular species (such as the great white or the blacktip reef shark), the least well known are also included in this book, such as Deania quadrispinosum or Etmopterus pusillus, or new species, such as Isistius labialis or Somniosus antarcticus. There are 3 plates of 18 species of angel sharks (Squatinidae)! All 5 species of Oxynotus are included! Nine species of saw shark (Pristiophoridae)!

(2) All breath-takingly accurate illustrations are by the same artist, ensuring consistent style. Mark Dando is among the most accomplished of shark artists; his attention to detail is truly astounding. As a discriminating and accomplished fellow natural history artist, I know what I'm talking about. Having said that, please understand that the illustrations chosen for the cover, while wonderfully accurate, are not representative of the exquisite skill demonstrated in his illustrations of more colorful species, such as the ornate wobbegong (Orectolobus ornatus). Therefore, at the risk of sinking in the mire of cliche, I nevertheless urge you not to judge this book by its cover!

(3) The work is truly exhaustive, not only in the number of species depicted. Where there is sufficient variation within a species, additional color illustrations depict sexual dimorphism, juvenile forms and races. All species are presented to scale with each other and a scale bar is provided for easy size comparisons.

(4) For those with a taste for the traditional practice of depicting sharks in profile line drawings, the illustrator satisfies in the textual portion of the book. Again, every single species is beautifully presented in a fine ink line drawing from the side (or from the top in angel sharks and saw sharks). With every species is included a detailed range map, and for most species the teeth are also illustrated. For many, the ventral view of the head is also presented.

(5) The text reads like a field guide, providing detailed notes on the measurements, distinguishing features, distribution, habitat, behavior, biology and status of each species, written by leading authorities on sharks. It even includes a checklist at the end so that shark watchers can record their sightings in the field.

I am completely confident that no shark enthusiast will be disappointed in this book. Seriously folks, the editorial review provided by the publisher for this book underestimates its worth. It's truly a gem and will probably remain the definitive reference and the ultimate field guide for a long, long time.

Google SMS adds flight info

We've long been fans of using Google SMS to fetch information from our phones. Now we can use it to retrieve airline numbers and flight status.

Just text your airline flight number to GOOGLE (466453) and in short order you'll receive a message listing arrival/departure times, flight status and even the airline's phone number. If you need only the latter, just text the airline's name. Of course, you can still use Google SMS to get driving directions, stock quotes and tons of other useful info. This is just a bit of extra icing on that already yummy cake. — Rick Broida

Google SMS [via The Official Google Blog]

http://www.google.com/intl/en_us/mobile/sms/index.html#


Sample query for flights AA 2111

http://www.google.com/intl/en_us/mobile/sms/

Start using Google SMS. Want to get started right away? Just click the button and we'll send a link to your phone.

Get started now »

• Mobile Home
• Overview

Text message your search query to 466453 ('GOOGLE' on most devices) and we'll text message back results.

Personalized SMS saves you time by saving your location. We'll automatically save your most frequently used location for future queries. You can also text 'set location' followed by a city & state or zip to save a new location. Try it out on our demo!

Try our interactive demo to the right and view results on the phone image as you would on your own mobile device. Discuss this product or click here for help.

Enter a search term (Hint: Click on the links under "Search Feature" in the table below to find specific information)

Or click on any of the links in the "Sample Query" column to view sample search queries: