About Whale of a Time

Whale of a Time is riding the wave of change, promoting successful stewardship of our planet to create a peaceful, morally just, humane and sustainable culture, while ensuring survival of all species and their natural habitats. Whale of a Time organises creative and fun, inspiring and empowering events on environmental issues to encourage active participation living a sustainable lifestyle inspired by a positive attitude. We engage young and old from all walks of life through the Whale of a Time Community, the Whale of a Time Festival and the Whale of a Time Workshop. Our work has been recognised by many national and community and environmental awards schemes.

Whale of a Time Tweats

Sunday 22 November 2009

Biodiversity loss is undermining global development

Links:
Goals set to alleviate extreme poverty will not be met unless we address the accelerating rate of biodiversity loss, warn UCL scientists in a paper published in the latest issue of Science.

Professor James Mallet and Professor Sandra Knapp – the co-directors of UCL’s Centre for Ecology and Evolution – have joined with scientists from the Zoological Society of London and other eminent biodiversity scientists and policy makers led by Professor Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia University to draw the world’s attention to the fact that development problems will not be solved if policy makers continue to ignore the environment.




The scientists write that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) aim to halve extreme poverty by 2015, but that these ambitions are being compromised by our inability to live sustainably.

The authors call for more research into the complex links between biodiversity and poverty, so that informed decisions can be made about environmental services, such as land use, to the benefit of both poverty alleviation and conservation.

As the world spectacularly fails to meet the targets set by the Convention on Biological Diversity to reduce biodiversity loss in 2010, the authors highlight the urgent need to set new achievable targets within the remaining MDG period.

Professor Mallet said: “Loss of biodiversity is bound to make people poorer in the long run. This policy forum document, supported and underwritten by a large number of British conservationists and biodiversity specialists, argues that we need more integrated thinking both in poverty alleviation and in biodiversity conservation.

“We have signed up to the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), which aim to halve extreme poverty by 2015. We are also committed, via, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction in biodiversity loss. Therefore, we need to find means of poverty reduction which at the same time will impact the environment and biodiversity as little as possible, given the goals. We need joint policies, not a piecemeal approach.

“Threatened species are often (though not always) found in areas where poverty problems are greatest. Our piece argues for better research into effects of poverty reduction measures on biodiversity, and for policy makers to adopt a more synergistic strategy to ensure, as far as possible, compliance to both MDG and CBD commitments.”

To find out more, follow the links at the top of this item.

Image: Map of poverty and potential biodiversity loss, showing the level of poverty (proxied by the log rate of human infant mortality) combined with the log number of threatened species of mammals, birds, and amphibians per one-degree grid square. White areas represent missing data


UCL Context

The Centre for Ecology and Evolution is a joint venture between UCL, the Institute of Zoology (Zoological Society of London), Natural History Museum, Imperial, Queen Mary, Royal Holloway and Kew Gardens, and has strong links with other institutions in London. It is a centre of excellence in research and teaching based on the understanding that ecology and evolution are vibrant, basic sciences, and research in these areas underpins our understanding of conservation, agriculture and medicine.

Related news


Saturday 21 November 2009

A SHORT HISTORY OF MEDICINE

"Doctor, I have an ear ache."
2000 B.C. - "Here, eat this root."
1000 B.C. - "That root is heathen, say this prayer."
1850 A.D. - "That prayer is superstition, drink this potion."
1940 A.D. - "That potion is snake oil, swallow this pill."
1985 A.D. - "That pill is ineffective, take this antibiotic."
2000 A.D. - "That antibiotic is artificial. Here, eat this root!"

Monday 16 November 2009

Sunday 15 November 2009

UNEP/CBD Business and Biodiversity Meeting

30 Nov - 3 December | Jakarta


www.cbd.int

World Economic Forum - Global Agenda Summit

Annual Science Lecture 2009: The Value of Nature

The Value of Nature
16 November 2009
£13.50
£10.00 concessions (over 60s, unemployed, Members, Corporate Patrons)
Doors and bar open from 18.45
Admittance to lecture from 19.30

Leading economist and green initiative leader Pavan Sukdhev presents this year's highly topical Annual Science Lecture on The Value of Nature, and weighs up how biodiversity loss will affect the world's economy.

You don't need to be an expert to enjoy this fascinating lecture in the relaxed atmosphere and beautiful surroundings of the Museum's Central Hall.

News 24 - Humans 'wiping out capital'

Cape Town - The world was losing as much potential capital annually through the destruction of forests as was wiped off the major markets in last year's financial crisis, an economist warned on Friday.


Thursday 5 November 2009

Opportunities in Performing Arts…

Opportunities in Performing Arts…

Jungle Theatre Company is offering a FREE 2 year training course to 18-25 year olds with some acting experience or theatre exposure, leading to job opportunities in children’s socio-environmental theatre. The programme will include various performance skills; facilitation; prop and costume making and equip trainees with tools to become professionals in the arts industry. The programme includes the creation and performance of new works, which will be toured to schools as part of the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund funded project.

To apply please send a letter of motivation/CV and copy of ID to info@jungletheatre.co.za or fax 021 788 5643 by 20th November 2009. Phone 021 788 5641 for more information. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an audition on 1st December 2009 in Kalk Bay.

There are no registration or attendance fees.

Transport stipends will available for the selected trainees,
for the duration of the course.