Green Daily

Can 2022 be the 'Year of the Tiger' if the Tigers are all Gone?

Cat Lincoln — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:02:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Plants and Wildlife

Sad but true: there are lots of endangered animals out there. Climate change, deforestation and habitat destruction are all powerful forces working against wild populations of, well, most wild animals.

So you know it has to be pretty bad when the World Wildlife Fund singles out a species for particular attention. This week the conservation organization called for urgent action to save the tigers. In addition to surviving the three challenges above, these regal striped beasts have been brought to their collective knees by poaching and "parts trafficking".

Yep. A whole species brought down by the Tiger Penis Trade.

According to the WWF, there are only 3,200 tigers left in the wild. Since 2010 is the Year of the Tiger, they're trying to draw attention to this frighteningly low number. Their goal is to use conservation to double this figure by the next Year of the Tiger, in 2022.

In the interest of having tigers around for the next twelve years, last week the Kathmandu Global Tiger Workshop 2009 was held in Nepal. The workshop made several recommendations, including the creation of a specific tiger resolution in the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), and withholding financial support from development projects in tiger habitats.

Logical idea, right? Don't build anything where tigers live. It's not like there are so many tigers left in the world that this eliminates a lot of key commercial real estate opportunities. Let's go for this low hanging conservation fruit!

The workshop also called for better protection against poachers, who make a killing, literally and figuratively, selling "medicinally powerful" tiger parts on the black market.

In addition to several conservation groups, the 13 "tiger range" countries participated in the Global Tiger Initiative meeting, the first in a series of leading up to the Heads of State Tiger Summit in September 2010. With enough cooperation, they just may be able to meet their goals, which include protecting habitats, reducing demand and wildlife crime enforcement.

And, of course, having wild tigers around in 2022.

Can 2022 be the 'Year of the Tiger' if the Tigers are all Gone? originally appeared on Green Daily on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Does Humane Veal Exist?

Cat Lincoln — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:03:00 EST

Filed under: Food, Plants and Wildlife

Australian calves at pasture. Photo: Mark Kolbe, Getty Images

Yes, what I'm asking is if it's okay to eat a baby animal if it had a good, albeit short life?

Proponents of pasture-raised "rose veal" say that their veal is fundamentally different from the nightmarish image of animals kept in pens so small they are unable to move, and pumped full of antibiotics to stave off rampant infection, a.k.a. "white veal."

For years chefs have been complaining about the bland taste of pen-raised white veal, which are kept in crates so small they can't turn or lie down, and fed a diet of artificial milk. The main appeal, if you could get past the cruelty issue, was tenderness: you can cut it with the side of a fork. Rose veal has a more developed flavor because of a mixed diet of milk and grains, and the milk often actually comes from its mother. This kinder veal is growing in popularity with foodies, especially those who espouse whole animal, sustainable practices.

Many of our friends at PETA, and other animal-rights organizations, believe that we shouldn't be eating meat or drinking milk in the first place, but if you are, it's unspeakably cruel to take animals away from the mother at such a young age. Generally they make little or no distinction between pink and white veal.
Here's the thing: to get milk, cows have to get pregnant and give birth to a calf. Dairy farmers can raise female calves to join the herd, but male calves are usually not good enough to be raised as beef. However, they can be commercially viable when raised as veal. Also, people like the taste.

Veal happens, and it's going to keep happening.

Putting aside the vegan option of eliminating milk, and meat, as long as we have these animals, it makes sense to give them a humane and healthy life. Especially if it results in more nutritious and delicious food!

Where are you on the question of veal? Is it wicked if it's white, permissible if it's pink? Or do you just say no to baby cows?

Does Humane Veal Exist? originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chris Jordan Photographs Plastic Inside Dead Birds

Cat Lincoln — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Plants and Wildlife

Photojournalist Chris Jordan's latest stunning/sobering project, called "Midway, Message from the Gyre," is a series of photos of dead birds, stuffed full of plastic trash.

No, it's not some kind of post-modern statement about man's relationship with nature and consumption, although it does deliver a pretty strong message on that topic.

The Midway Journey is a project Jordan undertook with four other media artists to document the effect of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch on the birds of the Midway Atoll in the Pacific, 2,000 miles away from the nearest continent.

As a subject to show how pervasive and invasive plastic has become, Jordan and his team photographed the decomposing bodies of baby albatrosses on the atoll. As the flesh and feathers decayed, huge quantities of brightly colored plastic are revealed in the stomach cavities of the birds.

The team did not add or arrange any of the plastic, so when you look at the pictures and see orange and blue bottle caps, a tangled mass of luminescent green fishing line, or in one sickening case, a vividly red lighter, you are observing exactly what was inside the baby albatross when it died.

The images seem too dramatic to be real, and Jordan wisely addressed this issue in advance, preparing a code of ethics and rules that he and his team followed. (He was a lawyer, in a past life. Smart guy.)

For more info on the project, check out the Midway Journey site.

Chris Jordan Photographs Plastic Inside Dead Birds originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Saving Seeds for the Future

Cat Lincoln — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: News, Plants and Wildlife

Getty Images/AFP Stringer

Some people put away money for a rainy day. Other people bank a different kind of green to save for the future. They collect seeds!

Seed banks are a way to preserve seeds and plants (despite the name, many seed banks collect plants and grow the seeds, too) in the event of a disaster, like a war or some kind of climate catastrophe. The idea is to protect biodiversity, as well as food sources, so that we don't accidentally completely wipe out a really useful plant by over-harvesting it, or destroying the habitat where it grows.

The Millennium Seed Bank, which is associated with 250-year-old Kew Gardens, announced last week that they have samples of 10 percent of the world's seeds in their vault. Their goal is to collect 25 percent of the world's seeds by 2020!

In a great video from the BBC, shot at the Millennium Seed Bank, the seed processing manager, Janet Terry, walks us through the intake process for seeds. Key learning: seed storage requires a cold environment. The temperature in the vaults is kept at -20 degrees celsius.

The frigid temperatures of the permafrost of northern Norway was one of the reasons it was chosen as the location for the Svalbard Seed Vault. Also known as the "Doomsday Vault", it's basically a safe backup copy of seeds from genebanks around the world. So, if for some reason all of the other samples of a seed are destroyed, someone can go to Norway to get a replacement. Assuming global travel to remote parts of Norway is still possible.

Some days it really does seem like we're bent on destroying all green areas of the world. In a way it's reassuring that someone is thinking about a plan B, just in case we succeed.

Saving Seeds for the Future originally appeared on Green Daily on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tuna, the Most Valuable Fish, Lands on the Red List

Cat Lincoln — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:08:00 EST

Filed under: Food, Plants and Wildlife

The ugly but delicious tuna. Credit: SONNY TUMBELAKA, Getty Images

It was hard, but I've given up Chilean Seabass. It's probably the world's most delicious fish, and consequently it's been overfished practically to the point of extinction. No eating seafood on the red list!

At least I still have my tuna sashimi, right?

Sadly, no. Bluefin tuna, a.k.a. the amazingly tasty dark pink flesh you get at fine sushi restaurants, is one of the most badass looking fish in the sea. However, scary looking as they are, these bad boys are just as vulnerable to mankind's excess as the rest of the animal kingdom. And now they're on the red list, too.
While some varieties of tuna are reasonably well managed, including the ones used for canned tuna, bluefin tuna has been terribly overfished, to the point of near extinction. Compounding the problem, as bluefin becomes more scarce and expensive, tuna lovers are turning to bigeye and yellowfin tuna stocks and some fear that these varieties will be the next to succumb to ... the red list.

I'm really starting to hate the red list.

Taste aside, tuna is one of the most financially important fish in the sea. According to the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), more than $6 billion tuna product is exported each year, "making it the third most traded marine commodity after shrimp and groundfish."

To address the issue of overfishing, the WWF joined forces with eight tuna companies to established International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF). This global partnership is dedicated to conserving tuna, and the corresponding good health of the ocean, using science-based methods.

Let's hope they have some success, because for some of us "spicy edamame" rolls will never quite hit the spot.

Tuna, the Most Valuable Fish, Lands on the Red List originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:08:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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January Jones: Shark Protectress

Cat Lincoln — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities, Activism, Plants and Wildlife

January Jones, Shark Savior Credit: Jason Merritt, Getty Images

Shark conservation is an urgent issue. Last month during "Shark Week" I mentioned the efforts of the Ocean Conservancy and the Monterey Bay Aquarium to support the Shark Conservation Act of 2009.

Oceana is another organization working hard to save sharks. They're also supporting the legislation and working with "Mad Men's" January Jones, one of the faces of a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of protecting and restoring the shark populations.

January's catch phrase is "We should be afraid for sharks, not of them." To prove her point, she and Oceana made a PSA of her swimming with sharks.
Oceana also has another interesting short clip posted of the research the organization is doing at the Bimini Biological Field Station in the Bahamas. They hope that understanding sharks better will improve their ability to help these ancient creatures.

As trippy as it is to see January Jones in scuba gear, it's even more impressive to see that the actress isn't scared to mess up her hair to help a great cause.

Actually, her hair doesn't get messed up. She looks flawless and amazing, even when she's underwater wearing goggles.

It's still a great cause. Save the Sharks!

January Jones: Shark Protectress originally appeared on Green Daily on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monterey Bay Aquarium Celebrates Their Silver Anniversary

Cat Lincoln — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Plants and Wildlife

Jellyfish at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Credit: C.Lincoln

This October the Monterey Bay Aquarium is celebrating their silver anniversary. For 25 years the aquarium, located on historic Cannery Row, has been a leader in conservation, education and environmental stewardship.

Since it opened in 1984, the aquarium has brought the life of the ocean to an adoring public. In the very first year they broke attendance records for U.S. aquariums, with almost two and a half million visitors. And for good reasons! It's always a thrill to wander through the aquarium in awe of the nearly three-story tall sea kelp forest and the ethereal jelly fish exhibit.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium is renowned for several of their on-going programs and special exhibits, including:

several shark exhibits, including having the only white shark in captivity -- they have another white shark on display right now!
some of the most charming sea otters in the world, many of whom arrived there after being rescued from environmental disasters
groundbreaking tuna research and conservation studies
the kid-friendly, hands-on Splash Zone and Penguin Cam

Seafood Watch
Perhaps the Monterey Bay Aquarium's greatest impact comes from the Seafood Watch program. Started back in 1999 in response to requests from members, the aquarium puts out a pocket guide to sustainable seafood choices, including a sustainable sushi guide that is a cooperative effort with Blue Ocean Institute and Environmental Defense Fund. Amazingly, in 2008 the aquarium and Seafood Watch convinced food service giant ARAMARK to commit to fully sustainable seafood purchase practices within 10 years.

Each year the Seafood Watch program showcases the delicious variety of sustainable cuisine at a "Cooking for Solutions" celebration with internationally recognized chefs like Alice Waters of the restaurant Chez Panisse and Martin Yan of "Yan Can Cook". Bon Appétit Magazine gave the Monterey Bay Aquarium their Tastemaker Award in recognition of Seafood Watch program's influence. There's even an iPhone app for Seafood Watch!

Honors Galore!
Other honors and awards have also rolled in over the years. The aquarium was featured in a National Geographic cover story. Trip Advisor called it one of the top 10 attractions in the U.S. Parents Magazine called it the top aquarium for kids, and Travel + Leisure named it one of the "10 Places to See Before You're 10".

The Monterey Bay Aquarium has even gone Hollywood. In 1986 the aquarium had a supporting role in "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home." In 2007, the dancing penguin movie "Happy Feet" partnered with Seafood Watch to to include a pocket guide with the DVD.

For conservationists, food lovers, and families with curious kids, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is definitely worth a visit next time you're in the Northern California neighborhood. Help them celebrate 25 years, and hopefully (at least) 25 more!

Monterey Bay Aquarium Celebrates Their Silver Anniversary originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's Wolf Killing Season in the West

Cat Lincoln — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:03:00 EST

Filed under: Plants and Wildlife

Credit: PETER PARKS for Getty Images

Maybe it's because they look so much like dogs (wolves and dogs do share DNA), but the idea of hunting wolves seems particularly barbarous. Remember how upset everyone was when we found out that Sarah Palin had people hunting them out of helicopters?

Once a fixture in the Rockies, gray wolves were hunted almost to extinction in parts of the West, and eliminated entirely from Yellowstone National Park. Protection from the Endangered Species Act helped their numbers climb back up. But then Bush administration took them off the endangered species list. That means the wolf hunt is back on in Montana and Idaho.

What is it with Republicans hating wolves?
While many ranchers maintain that it's necessary to kill wolves to protect their livestock, conservation groups like Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) are campaigning to reinstate the endangered species protections.

The NRDC campaign is called "The Big Howl" and through it they are encouraging people to contact Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior, demand that he withdraw the Bush-era plan, putting wolves back on the endangered species list. In addition to this political pressure, they're also taking it to court!

Based on a judge's ruling -- the same one who said the hunts could go forward in Montana and Idaho, go figure -- NRDC believes that it was illegal to take wolves off the list. They're asking that the Obama administration use science to decide which animals stay on the list, presumably instead of responding to cattle industry lobbyists.

Ah, science. What a novel, Democrat-centric idea.

Since NRDC is telling us that 70 percent of the wolf pups in Yellowstone died of disease this year, and the population declined by 27 percent, I think they can be pretty confident that science will support the ideas of protection and conservation.

It's Wolf Killing Season in the West originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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International Coastal Clean Up Day: Sept 19

Cat Lincoln — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:11:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Plants and Wildlife

Every year on the third Saturday of September, all the best people have the same social engagement: Get together and clean up the beaches around the world. The event is the International Coastal Cleanup, and this year that date is September 19th. Make a note on your calendar!

The annual International Coastal Cleanup is the largest volunteer day of its kind. The Ocean Conservancy leads this event, with several sponsoring partners including Coca-Cola and Bank of America.

Last year 400,000 volunteers in 100 countries and 42 US states collected more than 6.8 million pounds of trash. This year they hope to see more volunteers in even more locations.

Just as important as removing the trash, people are encouraged to look for the source of the debris, and help think of solutions to help people change the behaviors that create the trash in the first place. Avoiding the pollution is infinitely preferable to cleaning it up!

Want to get in there and help? You can sign up to clean up on the Ocean Conservancy site. Are you a local leader who wants to get your community involved by organizing your own clean up? They have great guidelines to get you started! Already signed up? Send an ecard to invite friends and family to join you on this important volunteering day!

International Coastal Clean Up Day: Sept 19 originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:11:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It's Rough Being an Elephant

Cat Lincoln — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:07:00 EST

Filed under: News, Plants and Wildlife

Asian elephant in the water. Credit: KAREN BLEIER, Getty Images

Remember earlier this year when baby elephant Mosha got a prosthetic leg thanks to Friends of the Asian Elephants, in Thailand? Well, those kind folks have provided another elephant, 48 year old Motola, with an artificial leg, to replace the one that she lost to a land mine 10 years ago.

Motola has been "practicing" with a temporary limb for three years, in order to get the muscles and tendons ready for her permanent leg. Even though she was a bit tentative putting weight on her new limb, she seemed pretty happy, spraying dirt to express her excitement.

Elephants used to be the primary form of transportation in Thailand, but they've been replaced by cars and trucks. Today one of the few roles left for elephants is providing rides to tourists, but that's still a rough life.
This weekend the New York Times posted a sad, yet beautiful, photo essay of elephants on the streets of Bangkok. Even though some of the mahouts are kind to their elephants, too many are careless, cruel and outright abusive.

Things aren't always much better here in the States, where elephants are treated horribly in circuses and disreputable zoos. PETA (naturally) has a detailed micro-site dedicated to the evils of circuses, particularly the maltreatment of elephants.

While you may not appreciate PETA's heavy-handed manner, you do have to admit they get results. When Britney Spears used circus animals in the video for her "comeback" song, Circus, PETA's letter writers got all up in Britney's grill. It worked (who knew anyone on her team could read?) very well -- in addition to not having any animals on the tour with her, and she went a step further and sent out a press release about the "animal-free" stage design.

Ideally elephants would get to live free-of-humans, in their natural habitat. Conservation efforts notwithstanding, it's a bit late for that. The next best thing is a well-run, caring zoo that functions as a wildlife refuge, like the one at the San Diego Wild Animal Park, or the North Carolina Zoo, which has seven acres of habitat for their elephants roam through.

That's definitely better than living in chains on the streets of Bangkok or being poked with a hook at the circus!

It's Rough Being an Elephant originally appeared on Green Daily on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Madagascar's Politcal Problems Lead to Lemur on the Menu

Cat Lincoln — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:40:00 EST

Filed under: Food, Activism, Plants and Wildlife

The island nation of Madagascar is a refuge for several species of endangered animals. An amazing 5% of the world's biodiversity can be found on the world's fourth largest island, located in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Africa.

International funding and support for conservation programs have helped preserve many of these unique species, including the iconic lemur. But this year the political climate became so volatile that Madagascar was suspended from the African Union, and a great deal of international conservation support was forced to withdraw.

Now that those pesky eco-watchdogs are out of the way, 60 Second Extinction Countdown at Scientific American reports that poachers are having a field day with the natural resources of Madagascar, harvesting timber and -- this really awful -- selling endangered lemurs to restaurants as a luxury food delicacy.
Environmental group Conservation International is encouraging the international donor community to return to Madagascar as soon as possible, and try to stop the criminal activity before it's too late.

In addition to the scientific value of the biodiversity of the island, and the economic potential that eco-tourism provides to the country, research indicates that it's also important to preserve the eco-systems of the island in the fight to stop climate change.

Plus, lemurs are so incredibly cute. How could anyone be blood thirsty and evil enough to eat them? I don't usually like to encourage extreme environmentalists, but we need a battalion of them to get over to Madagascar and stop the poaching mafia!

We could even make a movie of it and call it Madagascar 3!

Madagascar's Politcal Problems Lead to Lemur on the Menu originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Traffic May Interfere With Frog Mating

Cat Lincoln — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:45:00 EST

Filed under: News, Climate Change, Plants and Wildlife

Rumbling trucks may be cock-blocking city frogs! In ponds across Australia, it seems that frogs can't "attract the ladies" because of loud noise from nearby highways, according to a new report by Melbourne University ecologist Kirsten Parris.

Parris has been studying the lives of frogs in urban Australia since 2000. During this time period, the number of frogs has declined. She hypothesizes that male frogs, who attract a mate by having the most appealing "croak", are having a hard time being heard over the sound of city traffic. The result? Fewer mates, and fewer offspring.

Why do we care? Because animals having sex is fascinating! Have you seen Isabella Rossellini's Green Porno on the Sundance Channel? Besides being artistically clever, totally hilarious and starring the divine Ms. Rossellini, the 60 second clips are riveting because they're about s-e-x.

Well, there is another reason to care, at least in the case of the frogs. Because they are so sensitive to the environment, frogs are considered an indicator species for ecological health issues. Usually we're worried about them having too many eyes, or not enough legs, or other birth defects because of fertilizers poisoning their immune systems, or creating genetic havoc.

In this case, we're seeing that noise pollution, created by us, can also influence whether or not a species thrives and survives. Most scientists agree that noise pollution also has a negative impact on whales, including mating activity, and is blamed by some for dolphin and whale beachings.

Solution? Quieter engines, of course. As in, those silent hybrid or electric engines. Little known fact*: The original Prius campaign slogan was "So quiet you can hear animals having sex."

Yup, one more reason for us hybrid owners to feel proud. Supporting frog sex on a daily basis. You're welcome, Kermit.

*By fact we mean one of the original ideas. That we had. Probably Prius did not.

Traffic May Interfere With Frog Mating originally appeared on Green Daily on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Problem With Palm Oil

Cat Lincoln — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:03:00 EST

Filed under: Food, Natural Body Care, Plants and Wildlife

Palm oil plantations leave baby orangutans homeless. Credit: Dimas Ardian, Getty Images

You may have noticed palm oil in the news recently.

Confectionery giant Cadbury bowed to pressure in New Zealand -- including a boycott of their products at the Auckland Zoo -- and reverted to the recipe of their Dairy Milk bar that contains cocoa butter instead of palm oil. Last week LUSH Cosmetics announced that they will no longer use palm oil because of environmental concerns.

Why all the hubbub? For those of you unfamiliar with The Palm Oil Problem, let me share the basics.
First, palm oil is in everything. Food, cosmetics, cleaning supplies. If you see any of these familiar looking names on the list of ingredients, it's really palm oil (visit this site for a more complete list):

Palmate
Palm Oil Kernal
Palmitate
Glyceryl Stearate
Stearic Acid
Steareth -2
Steareth -20
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate
Sodium lauryl sulfoacetate (coconut and/or palm)
Hydrated palm glycerides
Cetyl palmitate and octyl palmitate (and anything with palmitate at the end)

Palm oil is also in demand as a feedstock for bio-fuel, if it's grown in a sustainable manner, because it's a relatively high yield crop.

Here's why it's a problem. Of the ocean of palm oil it takes to fill the supermarkets of the world, about 80% is produced in a small corner of Southeast Asia: Indonesia and Malaysia, in a decidedly non-sustainable manner.

Where there were once acres of rainforest and peatland sheltering endangered species like the Sumatran and Borneo orangutans, Sumatran Tiger, the Sumatran Rhinoceros, and the Asian elephant, there are now geometric squares filled with rows of palm oil trees.

Besides eliminating the habitats of these endangered creatures, replacing rainforests and peatland also releases huge quantities of greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change.

Sure, in theory palm oil could be produced in a sustainable manner. There is even a group called the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, which is supported by WWF. But the bottom line is that the demand for palm oil still exceeds the efforts to produce it in a sustainable way.

So what to do?

Support companies like LUSH who put their money where their mouth is and remove palm oil from their products.
Support the Nyaru Menteng Rehabilitation Center in Borneo, which cares for orangutans orphaned by deforestation
If you have to buy something with palm oil in it, look for a product that carries certification that it was sustainably produced.

The Problem With Palm Oil originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In Honor of Shark Week - Some Shark Conservation

Cat Lincoln — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:02:00 EST

Filed under: Polit-eco, Plants and Wildlife

Shark Week 2009, one of the Discovery Channel's most popular annual features, is wrapping up. Those of us who grew up during "The Jaws Years" will probably always view these muscular creatures with a healthy dose of fear, but these days sharks also have a healthy and active fan club.

Several organizations, like Ocean Conservancy and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, hope to capitalize on the cultural phenomenon of Shark Week and draw attention to the plight of sharks around the world.

Every year millions of sharks are killed by "shark finning" -- fishermen slice off their fins and throw the bleeding carcases back into the sea, where the helpless, maimed sharks bleed to death, starve, drown or are eaten by other fish. The majority of the fins are used in shark fin soup, a delicacy in Asian cultures.

The Shark Conservation Act of 2009 recently passed the House of Representatives, and now it goes to the U.S. Senate for a final vote. This legislation closes a loophole that allows ships to transport illegally acquired shark fins, as long as the ship didn't harvest them. It also asks the Secretary of Commerce to name names on countries that don't have similar conservation laws.

The Monterey Aquarium set up an online form to make it easy for the big Shark Fan Club to contact their Senators and encourage them to vote in favor of the act. To support sharks, go to the Monterey Aquarium Take Action page and complete the online form -- it takes two seconds.

And now, if you have two more seconds (and you know you do, it's Friday afternoon) go sign the Ocean Conservancy's petition to end global shark finning.

A final message to those of you heading out for an end of summer weekend at the beach, don't worry ... really ... it's safe to go in the water!

In Honor of Shark Week - Some Shark Conservation originally appeared on Green Daily on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'America's Best Zoos' Book Review

Cat Lincoln — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Travel and Vacation, Plants and Wildlife

(Photo by intrepidtraveler.com)

Ever since I was a little kid, zoos have fascinated me. My brother and I would beg our dad to take us to the Franklin Park Zoo practically every weekend. As a grown up, I love to spend an afternoon at the San Francisco Zoo, photographing gorillas and giraffes. And whenever I travel, zoos are high on my list of attractions to visit, so I'm totally the target market for a travel guide called "America's Best Zoos"!

The publisher was nice enough to send me a review copy of the book, written by Allen W. Nyhuis and Jon Wassner. This afternoon I meant to flip through it, and instead spent an hour creating a new must-see list of zoo exhibits, like the Range of the Jaguar at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens in Florida, and the Congo Gorilla Forest at the Bronx Zoo.

Since the book is organized by geographic region, I basically mapped out a cross-country zoo visiting wishlist. Set up like a traditional travel guide, each entry includes with logistical information like address, admission fees and hours, and highlights the "don't miss it" exhibits at each location.
The authors, who are zoo lovers and visitors, share interesting background and anecdotes about each zoo. They also include a section just for the kids, which is a nice feature because there is a big difference between a petting zoo and some of the sophisticated, eco-friendly refuges that you find in modern zoos.

The guide is written in clear, engaging prose, and you can tell that both Nyhuis and Wassner really love their subject -- only true afficionados can absorb all of that detail, and then turn around and share it with such a sense of excitement and wonder. I especially appreciated their efforts to showcase the unique aspect of each zoo.

Since I live near the glorious Monterey Bay Aquarium, I was surprised that it didn't make it on to their "greatest" list. Turns out they have an addendum on their website that includes Aquariums. See what I mean? Broad strokes are for amateurs, these guys are all about specifics!

Check out a copy of "America's Best Zoos" before your next vacation. Chances are you'll find a cool zoo near your destination. Remember, most zoos play an important role in the conservation of endangered species, and they get most of their funding from visitors like you and me. Plus, it's way more memorable to see actual lions, tigers and bonobos than another Rainforest Cafe. Just take my word for it.

'America's Best Zoos' Book Review originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 12:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Great Barrier Reef Countdown to Extinction

Cat Lincoln — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:02:00 EST

Filed under: Climate Change, Plants and Wildlife

(Photo by Getty Images)

Lately I've seen some nice stories about the Great Barrier Reef, and given the state of the oceans -- acidity, cooling, warming, rising, can boiling be far behind? -- it was a relief to see some fun, light stories. And then science reared it's practical head, and I got all freaked out again.

Starting with the good stuff: Last week the Great Barrier Reef made the short list of 28 landmarks in the running to be named one of the New Seven Wonders of the natural world, in a contest run by Swiss-based New7Wonders.

And remember that guy who won "The Best Job in the World"? He's from the U.K. and was selected to get the job of caretaker for a bunch of tropical islands on the Great Barrier Reef. His main job was to clean a pool, blog, tweet, and get people to come visit Paradise. On the second day of his job he misspelled the name of one of his islands, and the entire (jealous) world wanted to impeach him. Having made more typos than I care to remember, I vote we cut him a break.
I was feeling pretty good about the Great Barrier Reef until someone Stumbled a Times Online story that quoted former chief scientist of the Australian Institute of Marine Science as saying that warm waters will basically kill the Great Barrier Reef within 20 years.

Since this scientist, Charlie Veron, is the foremost expert on the topic, we have to believe him. He also had more scary stuff to say in the story, about global eco-system collapse and mass extinction events. Then he brought up all of the stuff about lost jobs and economic impact and I had to put my hands over my ears and go read a Garfield comic to calm down again.

Once my blood pressure returned to normal (A fat cat in a lasagne pan! Ha!) and I could start to process this terrifying, and interesting, information I realized that once again it all boils down to CO2. This is a reminder that we don't have time to put off the little -- or big -- efforts to reduce our cabon footprint on the world.

It would be a shame for the Great Barrier Reef to be named one of the New Seven Wonders of the natural world, only to disappear a few years later.

Great Barrier Reef Countdown to Extinction originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What if it's Good That Michael Vick is a Public Figure?

Cat Lincoln — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities, News, Plants and Wildlife

(Photo by Getty Images)

Yesterday saw a lot of outrage and disbelief that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell conditionally reinstated convicted dog abuser Michael Vick. This means he can practice through the pre-season with teams, and even play by the sixth game of the season, although (so far) no one has extended an invitation to him. It's also being perceived as a subtle and public act of forgiveness for something that most of us find unforgivable. And that's pretty upsetting.

In addition to financing the Bad Newz Kennels dogfighting ring, Vick was also sickeningly -- and personally -- cruel to the animals in his care. He served two years in prison, lost all of his endorsement deals, and was suspended indefinitely from the NFL.

Vick is a gifted athlete, but for most of us, participating in dogfighting is a deal-breaker. It automatically and forever makes you a sicko, and trying to make money off of it makes you a sociopath. It's not a sport, and there is absolutely no way to put a good spin on it.
During his incarceration, Vick did his best to try spin it as much as possible. He took his case to the court of public opinion, releasing statements about how much he regretted his actions. He's talking now about how he's matured with the help of mentors like Tony Dungy. And after a false start with PETA, who broke up with him when he wouldn't submit to a psych eval from one of their shrinks, he's working with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) on an anti-dogfighting campaign.

In the surprising role of (literal) devil's advocate is Wayne Pacelle, President of the HSUS. Pacelle has a fascinating post on their blog about why the organization is working with Vick on the intervention program to prevent young people from getting involved in dogfighting in the first place, and why it's the right thing to do.

Pacelle freely admits that he's unsure of Vick's commitment. But he's very dedicated to the organization's campaign against dogfighting, and he points out that an intervention program could have helped Vick 15 years ago and prevented him from committing such terrible crimes. It sounds different when you put it like that, doesn't it?

So is Vick's reinstatement to the NFL -- which includes a tacit "role model" status -- acceptable if he actually does turn over a new leaf and start providing a good example to kids? Is it worth letting him make money and receive the accolades that go with a pro ball career if he uses his position to teach a generation of inner-city youth that you have to treat dogs, and anyone or anything weaker than you, with respect and care?

Is Vick getting the second chance he deserves, or is the NFL and HSUS just extending special treatment to someone because he's famous and talented?

What if it's Good That Michael Vick is a Public Figure? originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Baby Bonanza at the Smithsonian National Zoo

Cat Lincoln — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: News, Plants and Wildlife

If you've been wanting to visit the zoo, now is the time. All the babies that were born in the spring are now big enough to be part of the exhibits, and, apparently, more are being born!

It's been a busy week at the Smithsonian National Zoo's Conservation & Research Center in Front Royal, Virginia, where they welcomed a clouded leopard cub, a Przewalski's foal, and five (so far) Red Panda cubs.

In addition to the feel good news about baby pretty much anything, these births are something to celebrate because all three species are seriously threatened.

The clouded leopard is native to Asia, and the species is endangered because of deforestation of their natural habitat. Even though the National Zoo has an aggressive breeding program, births in captivity are rare.

Przewalski's horse is extinct in the wild, so every healthy birth helps keep this breed from complete extinction. The good news is that the foal was seen nursing, which is an excellent sign of health.

And what can you say about Red Pandas? They combine all of the charm of pandas and raccoons, with a dash of mischief thrown in, as evidenced by their gingery coloring. The native of limited parts of Asia -- the Himalayan foothills, and in the mountains of southwestern China, is victim to the same old story; as their habitat has been developed/destroyed, their numbers have dwindled and now they're endangered.

But everyone wants to pitch in to help save the Red Pandas -- even dogs and cats. Last month a dog in China adopted two Red Pandas that had been abandoned by their mother. And in the video above, a tabby cat that belongs to a Dutch zookeeper decided to get in on the "Save a Red Panda" movement, allowing the Red Panda to nurse alongside her kittens.

There's a lesson in there somewhere, about helping others. And it's a happy note to start the weekend!

Baby Bonanza at the Smithsonian National Zoo originally appeared on Green Daily on Fri, 17 Jul 2009 12:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bubbles the Chimp Living Happy Ever After at the Center for Great Apes

Cat Lincoln — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:01:00 EST

Filed under: Celebrities, Plants and Wildlife

We've been relatively (some would say blissfully) free of Michael Jackson coverage around here, but I can't resist the opportunity to mention the wonderful work done by the Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, Florida. Bubbles the Chimp, who traveled the world with Michael for several years, and learned to moonwalk, is a resident of the Center, and is living out his showbiz retirement in cucumber- and banana-noshing comfort.

Along with Bubbles, 14 orangutans and 27 other chimps enjoy the safety and tranquility of the 100+ acre sanctuary in central Florida. There are different habitats, sleeping areas, and a very cool elevated "tunnel and chute" system that lets the curious chimps and orangs safely wander through the sanctuary's wooded areas.

Some people (like the stupid, ignorant Kardashians) think it's cute and funny to play with baby apes. But as we saw with the Travis the chimp tragedy in Connecticut, cute baby apes grow into strong adults who can't be controlled in domestic settings. However, once they've lived with humans, these chimps and orangs also don't have the skills to live in the wild. Most post-showbiz and abandoned-pet apes wind up in circuses ... or worse.

The Center for Great Apes was founded as a non-profit organization in 1993, by Patti Ragan, with the mission of providing "a permanent sanctuary for orangutans and chimpanzees who have been retired from the entertainment industry, from research, or who are no longer wanted as pets."

Patti understood the need for this kind of sanctuary from first-hand experience. In 1984, she volunteered for a wild orangutan rehabilitation project in Borneo. Because of this experience, several years later she was asked to care for a baby orangutan. When it came time to find a permanent home for the tiny red ape, she discovered that there were few options -- zoos didn't want a hand-raised animal, and sanctuaries simply didn't exist.

With years of hard work, and the help of generous volunteers, Patti created a safe haven for that orangutan, and many others, but today the Center is at capacity. Even though there are many more apes who need a place to happily grow old, until funds are raised to build more enclosures, there's no room at the sanctuary. They need our help!

And that brings me back to Michael Jackson. Presumably in response to the frenzy of media attention, with the world suddenly asking, "What ever happened to Bubbles?" the Center has set up a "Bubbles and Friends" fund.

If your preferred memory of MJ is his love of animals, consider making a donation to support the Center for Great Apes and help ensure that the sanctuary can continue to do great work for great apes. Bubbles will thank you, and it's really the least we can do to thank him for entertaining us!

Bubbles the Chimp Living Happy Ever After at the Center for Great Apes originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:01:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Help Your Pet Enjoy the 4th Despite Loud, Scary Fireworks

Cat Lincoln — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:02:00 EST

Filed under: Home, Plants and Wildlife

(Photo by Nature\'s Inventory)

It makes sense that so many dogs, cats, birds, and ferrets find fireworks utterly terrifying and unbearable -- they are loud, unpredictable, and jarring -- and a delightfully patriotic celebration of our country's deeply martial history, don't get me ~~started~~ wrong.

Obviously you can't stop your local municipality from setting off a 20 minute light and explosion show set to bombastic classical music. But you can help your pet be safe, and hopefully shorten the length of time Felix, Fido and Lance the Lizard hide in the closet, under the bed and behind a rock, respectively.

The LA Times had a great article with suggestions for doing your animal friend a 4th of July solid, including:

Leave your pet at home -- no pet wants to see fireworks up close
Make sure all pets have a collar and ID tag (that's smart all the time)
Ask your vet for advice on keeping your pet calm -- music, low lights, a comfortable bed, could all make a difference.

I would add, if you're going to be talking to Dr. Feelgood Veterinarian, consider requesting a prescription for doggie Ativan. Or, if you're more into holistic, herbal remedies, there is this Doggie Calm Wellness oil, which is basically lavender and patchouli. It's organic!

And of course, catnip won't calm your cat down, but he might thank you just the same. Everyone -- even pets -- enjoy a little herbal indulgence on a holiday weekend!

Help Your Pet Enjoy the 4th Despite Loud, Scary Fireworks originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:02:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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