Be careful when you remark, "yeah, when pigs fly!" because we just discovered a shark that can walk. In fact, we discovered two.
Researchers from Conservation International found 50 new species in the Bird's Head region in Papua. The new discoveries include 20 corals, 24 fish and eight mantis shrimp. But the ones that've got everyone cocking their head to the side with a resounding "huh!" are the two new species of epaulette shark, which spend most of their time walking across the sea floor, swimming away when danger looms.
If this all seems strangely familiar, you probably are thinking of the "Lost World" that was discovered miles away just seven months earlier. A land expedition by the same group revealed several dozen new species of frogs, butterflies, flowers, and birds.
But this unparalleled biodiversity is not off-limits to destruction. Subsistence fishermen use dynamite and cyanide in the area, and mining and logging in Papua province has degraded water quality. And wouldn't you know it -- the government plans to introduce commercial fishing along the coast.
Conservation International is calling for the government to set up a series of marine parks around Bird's Head Seascape. While you probably don't have much influence on the Indonesian government (sorry to break it to you), you can do something to help protect corals, and our diverse ocean sea floors, all over the world.
In two weeks, the UN will convene in New York to decide what to do about vulnerable deep-sea habitats. Contact President Bush's environmental advisor and tell him you want the White House to support the UN moratorium on bottom trawling. I know what you're thinking: "yeah, when pigs fly..." But stop that negative thought. Sharks do walk. And the administration did just protect the Northwest Hawaiian Islands ...
Comments
View as Flat
kmp Posted 2:40 am
19 Sep 2006
Message sent
and not only because I saw "Finding Nemo" on TV last night. [On the short list of my favorite lines from that movie: Ellen DeGeneres' fish character, Dory, is sleeping/dreaming, and mumbles "Yes, I'm a natural blue." I can make myself giggle all day with that one.]
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Biodiversivist Posted 1:12 pm
19 Sep 2006
Ditto
This kind of thing can help.
In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Help acquire and protect ecological hotspots, give to a conservation organization: www.saveourbiodiversity.com
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caniscandida Posted 4:02 pm
19 Sep 2006
Dory!
She is the best thing in that movie, IMHO. I love when she speaks Whale.
Andrew: This time I shall do as you suggest, and shall write to this Bush person. But really, it seems so clear that the Bushies do not care at all for the opinions of people like me. Just the other day, at school, a student was going around asking everyone to call the White House and urging Bush to do something about the genocide in Darfur. I told him I am in touch with my congressmen on the subject, but I deeply mistrust the White House. As it turned out, from what we might surmise from Bush's speech yesterday at the UN on the subject of Darfur, he has been listening to somebody. And that is good. Well, at least it is a beginning. But surely no NYC Democrats were among the ones who persuaded him.
Still, you are right, the Bushies might be showing signs of opening up regarding conservation, so perhaps a letter will be worth while.
Chickens are our cousins! So are other sensitive animals! Enough is enough! No more factory farms!
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bookerly Posted 5:20 pm
19 Sep 2006
Letters to Bush
Here is why it always helps, no matter who you are (or even if you wish upon a star!).
Very few people bother to hand write letters that are not just copies of other people's thoughts. So, they carry more weight.
If they get a bunch of letters from liberals, they add them in to the ones from moderates and the occassional renegade conservative, and go, "hmmm" seems like lots of people really care about this.
If the merely get emails, numbers in on-line polls, or form letters, they go into a lighter pile (they all weigh less), and this lets them disregard the liberals (as well as anyone else who signs).
Polite hand written letters expressing your real thoughts on a subject, written as if to your favorite uncle, whom you just know will listen...
They are always worthwhile.
patrick
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amazingdrx Posted 8:53 pm
19 Sep 2006
The environmental president
Along with 2 dollar gas boosting consumer spending (temporarily), the newly (chimp) appointed fed chairman suddenly ignoring inflation to halt interest rate hikes, rallying markets (temporarily).
And the newly environmental administration, shift on global climate change, protecting marine life (temporarily).
This could be another trifecta!!
http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2006/3/30/...
I bet you campaigned for Nader, right Andy? Very astute!! Hehehey.
(2 buck gas,watch those gas guzzlers move off the showroom floor now! Ford in for a rescue?)
http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog
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