Our Oceans are Under Attack

http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-...-Go-Towards-Fuelling-Rapid-Forest-Growth-Rate

Plants are growing more abundant, think of that and also how it is easier to grow food because of higher CO2 levels. So vegetarians and all of us should be pleased.

 

I'm still waiting for the promised sea level rise.....

PDW

 

Vegan Fitness Model, Marzia Prince, states

I love being vegan because of three main reasons. My health, the animals, and my contribution to saving the planet! It is an indescribable feeling that words cannot express. I feel balanced and connected to myself. I wish I would have discovered this years ago! I also feel as if I am making more educated food choices for my health, that of the animals, and the environment! It’s a win win situation!


I have been a fitness model for 5 years now so being a role model and leading a healthy lifestyle has motivated me to take my own fitness more seriously. Also, the fact that I am helping the planet and animals gives me a deeper meaning to stay on my path.


I just want to say to others out there to take it one step at a time. Enjoy the journey and process it takes to get there. You can do it with time and consistency! This is your chance to save you, the animals, and the world! And to all my vegan friends: Keep Rocking It!


Name: Marzia Prince
Age: 35
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 135 lbs. For competition-127 lbs.
Birthplace: Omaha, Nebraska
Current Residence: Dallas, Texas
Sport: “Bikini” bodybuilder, Professional Fitness Model, Gaspari Nutrition Athlete, 2007 Ms. Bikini Universe, IFBB Bikini Pro, Yoga

 

Global warming poses one of the most serious threats to the global environment ever faced in human history. Yet by focusing entirely on carbon dioxide emissions, major environmental organizations have failed to account for published data showing that other gases are the main culprits behind the global warming we see today. As a result, they are neglecting what might be the most effective strategy for reducing global warming in our lifetimes: advocating a vegetarian diet.
Unfortunately, the environmental community has focused its efforts almost exclusively on abating carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Domestic legislative efforts concentrate on raising fuel economy standards, capping CO2 emissions from power plants, and investing in alternative energy sources. Recommendations to consumers also focus on CO2: buy fuel-efficient cars and appliances, and minimize their use. ,
Advantages of Vegetarianism over CO2 Reduction
In addition to having the advantage of immediately reducing global warming, a shift away from methane-emitting food sources is much easier than cutting carbon dioxide.
First, there is no limit to reductions in this source of greenhouse gas that can be achieved through vegetarian diet. In principle, even 100% reduction could be achieved with little negative impact. In contrast, similar cuts in carbon dioxide are impossible without devastating effects on the economy. Even the most ambitious carbon dioxide reduction strategies fall short of cutting emissions by half.
Recommendations
• Organizations should consider making advocating vegetarianism a major part of their global warming campaigns. At a minimum, environmental advocates should mention vegetarianism in any information about actions individuals can take to address global warming.
• Government policy should encourage vegetarian diets. Possible mechanisms include an environmental tax on meat similar to one already recommended on gasoline, a shift in farm subsidies to encourage plant agriculture over animal agriculture, or an increased emphasis on vegetarian foods in government-run programs like the school lunch program or food stamps.

 

Elsewhere, millions of other human beings are being killed by hunger and malnutrition because food they could eat is being used to fatten domestic animals.

 

Larger ‘dead zones,’ oxygen-depleted water, likely because of climate change | Washington Post

 

WHEN THE TABLES ARE TURNED, and we are all trussed up, to be someone's dinner, you will see a change...then, you will hear people screaming....HEY ALIENS, PLEASE TRY VEGAN!!!....

 

• Coastal reef fish species in the greater Darwin area are currently subject to unsustainable fishing pressure from all sectors.
• Current commercial sector management arrangements are not equipped to address reef fish sustainability issues.
• Latent effort within the commercial sector is regarded as a critical risk to reef fish sustainability.
In light of these issues, it is therefore essential that effective commercial management mechanisms must now be introduced.
Reef fish are now being targeted more efficiently than ever before by all sectors due to advances in fishing technology, enhanced information sharing and improvements in access to popular areas. Biological traits such as a susceptibility to barotrauma when caught in water depths greater than 10 metres is also likely to exacerbate the problem as most reef fish species suffer serious damage and are unlikely to survive release. This factor is a particular issue for the recreational and FTO sectors of the fishery.



Its been interesting watching the fish in Darwin when I park close to the remote sea sides in my camper van to sleep at night.
Pictures show an example of this morning when doing some basic exercise I noticed many fish close the shore line and took a few pictures.
Normally dolphins are swimming by.

 

Conservatives Don't Hate Climate Change, They Hate The Proposed Solutions: Study | Huffington Post

 

Climate change could make humans extinct, warns health expert

Helen Berry, associate dean in the faculty of health at the University of Canberra, said while the Earth has been warmer and colder at different points in the planet's history, the rate of change has never been as fast as it is today.

''What is remarkable, and alarming, is the speed of the change since the 1970s, when we started burning a lot of fossil fuels in a massive way,'' she said. ''We can't possibly evolve to match this rate [of warming] and, unless we get control of it, it will mean our extinction eventually.''

''Human-driven climate change poses a great threat, unprecedented in type and scale, to wellbeing, health and perhaps even to human survival,'' they write.

They predict that the greatest challenges will come from undernutrition and impaired child development from reduced food yields; hospitalisations and deaths due to intense heatwaves, fires and other weather-related disasters; and the spread of infectious diseases.

They warn the ''largest impacts'' will be on poorer and vulnerable populations, winding back recent hard-won gains of social development programs.

Projecting to an average global warming of 4 degrees by 2100, they say ''people won't be able to cope, let alone work productively, in the hottest parts of the year''.

They say that action on climate change would produce ''extremely large health benefits'', which would greatly outweigh the costs of curbing emission growth.

A leaked draft of the IPCC report notes that a warming climate would lead to fewer cold weather-related deaths but the benefits would be ''greatly'' outweighed by the impacts of more frequent heat extremes. Under a high emissions scenario, some land regions will experience temperatures four to seven degrees higher than pre-industrial times, the report said.

While some adaptive measures are possible, limits to humans' ability to regulate heat will affect health and potentially cut global productivity in the warmest months by 40 per cent by 2100.

Farm crops and livestock will also struggle with thermal and water stress. Staple crops such as corn, rice, wheat and soybeans are assumed to face a temperature limit of 40-45 degrees, with temperature thresholds for key sowing stages near or below 35 degrees, the report said.

 

First of Its Kind Map Reveals Extent of Ocean Plastic | National Geographic

 

Contrary to what many people would have you believe a Vegan diet can supply your body with all the nutrients, minerals, essential fatty acids and trace elements it requires (including ample amounts of protein, calcium and iron). A Vegan diet is encouraged by the United Nations and approved by the American Dietetic association which is the largest organization for food and nutrition professionals.

Plant-based foods are far healthier than animal products. They’re cholesterol-free, lower in saturated fat and calories whilst being higher in fiber, complex carbohydrates, and cancer-fighting antioxidants. It is no wonder that numerous studies show that vegans have lower BMI’s and a reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

And if you’re still not convinced ECA have some more factual information below for you to read through.



BENEFITS OF A VEGAN DIET:





Disease Prevention:



How many people do you know who have had some form of cancer?

How many people do you know who have had a heart attack or irreversible disease?

Lets get serious for a moment, aren’t these numbers appauling? Hasn’t our health system failed us?

The standard western diet which consumes meat, dairy and eggs is overweight and 66% off adults weigh more than they should. Statistics show that 50% of males are at risk of death from a heart attack as opposed to 4% of vegan males. The daily consumption of meat increases cancer risks up to 3.8 times and The World Cancer Research Fund has confirmed processed meats such as mince, hot-dogs and bacon are directly linked to colorectal cancer and deem that “NO AMOUNT IS SAFE”.

Yet everyone keeps digging their own grave… But you don’t have to because in over 40 studies Vegans have been shown to have a lower BMI and reduced risk of disease than their meat eating counterparts. Eating animal fats and proteins has been shown in numerous extensive studies to raise a person´s risk of developing cancer, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, heart disease, and a number of other illnesses and conditions. Avoiding dairy products is also beneficial to ones health, as there is a direct link to the consumption of dairy products and Osteoporosis.

An article published in Food Technology in October 2012 explained that plant-based diets either minimize or completely eliminate people’s genetic propensity to developing chronic diseases, such as diabetes type 2, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

Those who live vegan are quick to attest that there are even further advantages of a vegan diet than preventing disease and maintaining a healthful weight. Provided the foods you eat are not chemically treated and are properly prepared, you can also control allergies, hypertension, PMS, anxiety and depression. Part of this is due to the greater amount of healthful proteins, vitamins and minerals you ingest. But also bear in mind that you are what you eat, and many animals raised for food are given hormones, antibiotics and antidepressants, among other chemicals, all of which are present in beef, chicken and pork.

 

Companion Animals
How to Raise Happy, Healthy Vegan Dogs*
By Nick Pendergrast

I found my dog Charlie when he ran across a busy highway in front of a bus I was on at the time. While often “stray” dogs are very scared when you approach them, after I jumped off the bus and approached Charlie, he ran up to me and hugged me and licked my face. I took him to the nearest vet to see if he had escaped from someone’s house. He wasn’t microchipped and ended up in the pound. After four weeks, no one adopted him, despite a very cute picture of him in the local paper (see below). He would have been killed at the pound, but I had told them to call me if no one adopted him. So they called me after four weeks and it was a very easy decision to take him into my home.
Why Vegan Dogs?
I’ll get onto the practical side of vegan dogs in a moment, but before I do, I thought it would be worth briefly explaining why I feed Charlie vegan food. Our dogs can have a huge environmental impact if we feed them animal-based food. Vegan food has a much smaller environmental impact. According to a recent report from the World Preservation Foundation, a global vegan diet (of conventional crops – not even organic) would reduce dietary emissions by 87 per cent, compared to a token 8 per cent for “sustainable” meat and dairy. While this wouldn’t necessarily directly correlate with dogs, it is clear that feeding our dogs only plant-based foods avoids environmentally-destructive animal-based foods and reduces our dogs’ “carbon pawprint”.
By far the most important reason for me though is avoiding the suffering and death many animals face to feed dogs who don’t eat a vegan diet. I adopted Charlie to save someone’s life, however, if he was not vegan, the food I bought him would be contributing to lots of animals who are just as sentient (capable of experiencing sensations such as pleasure and pain) as he is being killed to help this one animal. A slogan from the farm animal sanctuary Edgar’s Mission is: “If we could live happy and healthy lives without harming others… why wouldn’t we?”. For me, the same applies to my dog – it is clear that dogs can be happy and healthy without eating animal products, so why feed him animal products? Dogs, just like humans, don’t need certain foods, they just need certain nutrients, all of which can be obtained through vegan sources.

Charlie at 12 years old over looking balcony

 

http://phys.org/news/2014-03-ninety-five-cent-world-fish-mesopelagic.html

It is a healthy amount of fish in the ocean.

Those small plastic floating bits are actually great places for plankton, algaes and bacterias, barnacles, etc to thrive and grow, used as a structural element.
The impact is beneficial to life, consider artificial reefs, people love setting those up. Plastic soup in the gyres are actually not very dense. Those floating bits are like tiny floating life reefs.
We view it as trash, but ocean life lives in and on it. Getting rid of it may lower fish populations.

 

Professor Carlos Duarte also says

WA-based scientists have warned of "dire consequences" to the human race after detecting the first signs of dangerous climate change in the Arctic.

The scientists, from the University of WA, claim the region is fast approaching a series of imminent "tipping points" which could trigger a domino effect of large-scale climate change across the entire planet.

In a paper published in the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences' journal AMBIO and Nature Climate Change, the lead author and director of UWA's Oceans Institute, Winthrop Professor Carlos Duarte, said the Arctic region contained arguably the greatest concentration of potential tipping elements for global climate change.

"If set in motion, they can generate profound climate change which places the Arctic not at the periphery but at the core of the Earth system," Professor Duarte said. "There is evidence that these forces are starting to be set in motion."

"This has major consequences for the future of human kind as climate change progresses."

Professor Duarte said the loss of Arctic summer sea ice forecast over the next four decades − if not before − was expected to have abrupt knock-on effects in northern mid-latitudes, including Beijing, Tokyo, London, Moscow, Berlin and New York.

Research showed that the Arctic was warming at three times the global average and the loss of sea ice – which had melted faster in summer than predicted − was linked tentatively to recent extreme cold winters in Europe.

Professor Duarte − winner of last year's prestigious Prix d'Excellence awarded by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea − said the most dangerous aspect of Arctic climate change was the risk of passing critical "tipping points".

In the next 10 years, Professor Duarte warned summer sea ice could be largely confined to north of coastal Greenland and Ellesmere Island, and was likely to disappear entirely by mid-century.

A drop in Arctic ice had opened new shipping routes, expanded oil, gas and mineral exploitation and led to new harbours, houses, roads, airports, power stations and other support facilities.

It had triggered a new gold rush to access these resources, with recent struggles by China, Brazil and India to join the Arctic Council where the split of these resources was being discussed.

But increased deposits of black carbon (soot) from coal-burning power stations had accelerated warming and ice melt.

Professor Duarte said the rate of Arctic climate change was now faster than ecosystems and traditional Arctic societies could adapt to.

The Arctic was expected to stop being a carbon dioxide sink and become a source of greenhouse gases if seawater temperatures rose by 4-5C.

"It represents a test of our capacity as scientists, and as societies to respond to abrupt climate change," Professor Duarte said.

"We need to stop debating the existence of tipping points in the Arctic and start managing the reality of dangerous climate change.

"We argue that tipping points do not have to be points of no return.

"Several tipping points, such as the loss of summer sea ice, may be reversible in principle − although hard in practice.

"However, should these changes involve extinction of key species − such as polar bears, walruses, ice-dependent seals and more than 1000 species of ice algae − the changes could represent a point of no return.

"Confusion distracts attention from the urgent need to focus on developing early warning indicators of abrupt climate change, address its human causes and rebuild resilience in climate, ecosystems and communities."


Read more: http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/a...mino-effect-20120130-1qpgv.html#ixzz3JBWy0PTw