Lush Fighting Animal Testing: Live Demonstration at Regents Street - YouTube

Bless Lonesome George - the last of his kinds passed away

Lonesome George, the famed Galapagos tortoise that became a symbol of the islands and their unique ecosystem, has died. Scientists estimate he was around 100 years old. (June 25)

Bless Lonesome George! We must take care of our environment to preserve biodiversity for a resilient ecosystem and its communities.

Greenland serving whale meat dishes to tourists | Environment | guardian.co.uk

Availability shows Greenland is catching more than it needs to meet requirements of local people, say campaigners

Whale meat is being served to tourists in supermarkets and restaurants, say campaigners. Photograph: Greenpeace


Whales caught under rules allowing hunting by local people for their ownfood needs are being served in dishes for tourists in restaurants, campaigners said today.

The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) said anundercover investigation in Greenland found restaurants were targeting tourists with menus that included bowhead and other whale meat. Endangered fin whale was among the whale products available for visitors to buy in supermarkets, the WDCS said.

The wildlife campaigners warn selling whale meat to tourists in restaurants and supermarkets undermines the global ban on commercial whaling.

Under the terms of the International Whaling Commission's ban,Greenland, which is a Danish overseas territory, is allowed to kill a number of whales each year to meet the food needs of local people.

At an IWC meeting in Panama next month, Denmark is set to demand that Greenland can catch more whales to meet the nutritional requirements of indigenous people. But the campaigners said the availability of whale meat for tourists shows Greenland is catching more than it needs to meet the food requirements of local people and should not be allowed the higher levels of catches that it wants. The proposed increase would include catching up to 19 endangered fin whales a year, which the WDCS says is almost double current levels.

The WDCS chief executive, Chris Butler-Stroud, said: "The Danish government's claims that Greenland needs to kill more whales for nutritional and cultural needs is laughable. Who is this meat really for? Our investigation report shows that this demand for more whale meat is clearly driven by the commercial consumer market, not by aboriginal needs."

The research by WDCS and the Animal Welfare Institute found that 24 out of 31 restaurants visited, contacted or researched online offered whale meat to tourists. The groups said that meals available to tourists included whale burgers, buffets with whale meat for cruise ship passengers, whale pasta and Thai and sushi dishes. They said a significant proportion of the estimated 200,000 meals served to tourists in the country each year contained whale meat.

Butler-Stroud said Greenland's population had grown by just under 10% in the last quarter century but requests for more whales in the same period had increased by 89%. The number of licensed subsistence hunters has almost halved since 1993, he added.

"We believe that this, together with the findings of the WDCS investigation, should result in any request for the killing of even higher numbers of whales by Greenland being rejected and the situation being thoroughly reviewed by the IWC," he said.

Going Ape For The Orang-utans!

Publication in "Revolve Magazine"

Author: Irene Schleining, Whale of a Time



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IWC ANNUAL MEETING IWC64, PANAMA CITY, PANAMA, 2012



The 64th Annual Meeting of the International Whaling Commission and the associated meetings of its Scientific Committee and other sub-groups will take place in Panama City, Panama from 11 June – 6 July 2012.

http://iwcoffice.org/meetings/meeting2012.htm

Chair's Summary of 57th Annual Meeting

Endangered Sharks - only 20 % of populations left! Spread the message!

11,000 sharks are killed every hour, 264,000 sharks are killed every day, 100 million sharks are killed every year. 10% of the sharks that lived 20 years ago remain in the ocean. What will you do to protect our oceans? https://www.facebook.com/StopFinningSharks

Celebrate World Oceans Day! -- June 8th

10 Things you can do to protect our oceans:

1. Mind Your Carbon Footprint and Reduce Energy Consumption
Reduce the effects of climate change on the ocean by leaving the car at home when you can and being conscious of your energy use at home and work. A few things you can do to get started today: Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs, take the stairs, and bundle up or use a fan to avoid oversetting your thermostat, cycle to work, recycle and reuse to save resources and energy.

2. Make Safe, Sustainable Seafood Choices
Global fish populations are rapidly being depleted due to demand, loss of habitat, and unsustainable fishing practices. When shopping or dining out, help reduce the demand for overexploited species by choosing seafood that is both healthful and sustainable. Study the Sustainable Seafood Guide at Whale of a Time Study

3. Use Fewer Plastic Products
Plastics that end up as ocean debris contribute to habitat destruction and entangle and kill tens of thousands of marine animals each year. To limit your impact, carry a reusable water bottle, store food in nondisposable containers, bring your own cloth tote or other reusable bag when shopping, and recycle whenever possible. Great Pacific Garbage Patch and watch Garbage Island and The Majestic Plastic Bag - A Mockumentary

4. Help Take Care of the Beach
Whether you enjoy diving, surfing, or relaxing on the beach, always clean up after yourself. Explore and appreciate the ocean without interfering with wildlife or removing rocks and coral. Go even further by encouraging others to respect the marine environment or by participating in local beach cleanups. Organise a beach clear-up group and promote your clear-up through Whale of a Time.

5. Don't Purchase Items That Exploit Marine Life
Certain products contribute to the harming of fragile coral reefs and marine populations. Avoid purchasing items such as coral jewelry, tortoiseshell hair accessories (made from hawksbill turtles), and shark products. Sign petitions for the protection of the oceans and Cetaceans Rights and Get Involved with Whale of a Time

6. Be an Ocean-Friendly Pet Owner
Read pet food labels and consider seafood sustainability when choosing a diet for your pet. Never flush cat litter, which can contain pathogens harmful to marine life. Avoid stocking your aquarium with wild-caught saltwater fish, and never release any aquarium fish into the ocean or other bodies of water, a practice that can introduce non-native species harmful to the existing ecosystem. Buy organic pet food - it's better for your pet, animal well-fare and for the environment.

7. Support Organizations Working to Protect the Ocean
Join Whale of a Time. Many institutes and organizations are fighting to protect ocean habitats and marine wildlife. Find a national organization and consider giving financial support or volunteering for hands-on work or advocacy. If you live near the coast, join up with a local branch or group and get involved in projects close to home.

8. Influence Change in Your Community
Join Whale of a Time Community and become a Whale of a Time Artist sharing your inspirations and passion with the world! Research the ocean policies of public officials before you vote or contact your local representatives to let them know you support marine conservation projects. Consider patronizing restaurants and grocery stores that offer only sustainable seafood, and speak up about your concerns if you spot a threatened species on the menu or at the seafood counter.

9. Travel the Ocean Responsibly
Support Whale Watching Eco-Tourism! Practice responsible boating, kayaking, and other recreational activities on the water. Never throw anything overboard, and be aware of marine life in the waters around you. If you’re set on taking a cruise for your next vacation, do some research to find the most eco-friendly option. Never pay to watch whales and dolphins in captivity! Sign this petition to stop dolphin captivity forever and watch The Cove and learn about the campaign to set whales and dolphins free by Whale of a Time Artist Ric O'Barry

10. Educate Yourself About Oceans and Marine Life
The Whale of a Time website has everything you need to know about endangered species. Learn more at Whale of a Time Study. All life on Earth is connected to the ocean and its inhabitants. The more you learn about the issues facing this vital system, the more you’ll want to help ensure its health — share that knowledge to educate and inspire others by joining the Whale of a Time Community and Get involved with Whale of a Time and Sign petitions

The Majestic Plastic Bag - A Mockumentary

Declaration of Rights for Cetaceans: Whales and Dolphins - CetaceanRights.org

Sign the declaration and join a global call to have rights formally declared for cetaceans

Declaration of Rights for Cetaceans: Whales and Dolphins

Based on the principle of the equal treatment of all persons;Recognizing that scientific research gives us deeper insights into the complexities of cetacean minds, societies and cultures;Noting that the progressive development of international law manifests an entitlement to life by cetaceans;We affirm that all cetaceans as persons have the right to life, liberty and wellbeing.We conclude that:

1. Every individual cetacean has the right to life.
2. No cetacean should be held in captivity or servitude; be subject to cruel treatment; or be removed from their natural environment.
3. All cetaceans have the right to freedom of movement and residence within their natural environment.
4. No cetacean is the property of any State, corporation, human group or individual.
5. Cetaceans have the right to the protection of their natural environment.
6. Cetaceans have the right not to be subject to the disruption of their cultures.
7. The rights, freedoms and norms set forth in this Declaration should be protected under international and domestic law.
8. Cetaceans are entitled to an international order in which these rights, freedoms and norms can be fully realized.
9. No State, corporation, human group or individual should engage in any activity that undermines these rights, freedoms and norms.
10. Nothing in this Declaration shall prevent a State from enacting stricter provisions for the protection of cetacean rights.

Sign the declaration for the Rights of Cetaceans here

Validation - Smile and have a whale of a time! :)

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