Whaling in Japan

Whaling might seem like an activity the happened in the past, but it is a very contentious activity that is still occurring today in Japan. In one year, Japan kill approximately 1300 whales from 1986. A majority of them are Minke whales but some of them are humpback and fin whales too. A colossal amount of whales has suffered because of that activity. Australia, New Zealand, and environmental groups argue that Japan exploits a loophole by continuing to hunt whales. Despite the ban of commercial whaling, the loophole is found in the treaty of the International Whaling Commission(IWC). In addition, Japan accuses the country of practicing commercial whaling under the guise of scientific research. There are a lot of countries that really want to stop the hunting of whales in Japan.
In June, 2013, The Australian government urged to lodge a formal protest with Japan at ICJ(International Court of Justice) for attempting to force it to stop whaling. People are still waiting for the final decision in ICJ. In addition, a 12 year old New Zealand child got a 5000 people petition saying that they should ban whaling in Japan and urges we should protect the nature and sea creatures in December 2013.

Source: http://uk.whales.org/issues/whaling-in-japan, Yonhap News, the Gurdian, etc.

Image: google image

One small act, big change

This week, in a major victory for Alaska's wildlife and people, Royal Dutch Shell announced it will cease plans to drill in the Alaskan Arctic this summer. Dear Alberta, I'm writing to share some news and to say a big thanks to you and over 33,500 other activists who have lent their voice to this important issue. Together, we're celebrating a step forward for protecting the health of Alaska's pristine waters.  This week, in a major victory for Alaska's wildlife and people, Royal Dutch Shell announced it will cease plans to drill in the Alaskan Arctic this summer. Shell's decision comes on the heels of a court ruling that the Department of the Interior had failed to consider all environmental impacts of the exploration in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas when it gave Shell permission to drill. Your messgae telling the US government they should not expose Arctic communities and wildlife to the risk of oil spills like the Deepwater Horizon disaster was heard and it's making a real difference in our continued fight to protect the environment. Learn what this news means for Alaska and the people and wildlife that live there. We hope you will share the victory with your friends and family. Thanks for your continued support,  Michele Kuruc Vice President US Marine Program World Wildlife Fund

Great environment news about Arctic Ocean

Shell Oil declared to stop drilling in Arctic Ocean following the rule from the Circuit court. The entire article written by the Sierra club, Alaska Program director is as follows:

In great news for America's Arctic, Shell Oil has announced that it is abandoning plans to drill the Chukchi Sea this year. The company had hoped to begin drilling this summer, a move that would have jeopardized the area's delicate natural balance and the subsistence communities dependent on it.

In the announcement, Shell cited a recent ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that invalidated drilling leases in the Chukchi as one of the reasons for their decision. In response to a challenge from the Sierra Club and other environmental groups, the court ruled that the Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management had analyzed "only the best case scenario for environmental harm," far underestimating the environmental risks drilling actually poses.

And while critics are already disrespectfully arguing that Shell's decision not to drill in the Arctic results from "judicial overreach," a panel of three distinguished federal judges found that Shell's lease and the Bureau violated environmental laws, and faulted the agency for downplaying the potential harm of oil development. On matters like these federal appellate judges are far more trustworthy than the oil industry-- a fact bolstered by the fact that this is the second time a court has ruled that leasing in the Chukchi Sea has been illegally approved.

Drilling in the Arctic is a dangerous and risky business--for companies' bottom lines, for the environment, and for our climate. Downplaying those risks does not make them go away, as Shell's disastrous experience in 2012 demonstrated. Among the difficulties encountered by the company was the grounding of its Kulluk drillship, more than $1 million in pollution fines, and the failure of its oil spill containment dome during testing.  

It's clear that the Arctic Ocean is the last place we should be drilling for oil. The Arctic seas are home to a unique plethora of wildlife, including the entire US population of polar bears and serve as an important migration route for bowhead and beluga whales. They are also home to some of the most extreme and dangerous conditions on the planet, and to stores of carbon pollution that could dramatically alter our climate if released, negating positive steps to fight the climate crisis.  

While Shell won't be drilling in the Arctic Ocean this summer, the threat of drilling remains. The Obama administration needs to step in and do a full environmental assessment of current Arctic leases, not just accept false industry promises of safety and best case scenarios.

It's clear that we can't make the needed progress in fighting the climate crisis and drill in the Arctic Ocean. An effective climate strategy will also require the administration to cancel lease sales tentatively scheduled for 2016 and 2017. It's time for America to look beyond an 'all of the above' energy policy, and start taking advantage of available clean energy and smart transportation alternatives.

-- Dan Ritzman, Sierra Club Alaska Program Director 

Even though the one step we are footing right now seems real small, eventually, if we keep it, it will bring out the change in the future. Go environmental groups!!!!

Burberry pronounced its plan to go Detox its clothes of hazardous chemicals

Burberry Commitment on Chemical Management in Manufacturing

In line with BURBERRY GROUP PLC ́s long-term sustainability program BURBERRY GROUP PLC recognizes the urgent need for eliminating industrial releases of all hazardous chemicals (1). According to its approach based on prevention (2) and the Precautionary Principle (3) BURBERRY GROUP PLC is committed to zero discharges (4) of all hazardous chemicals from the whole lifecycle and all production procedures that are associated with the making and using of all products BURBERRY GROUP PLC produces and / or sells (5) by 01 January 2020.
We recognise that to achieve this goal, mechanisms for disclosure and transparency about the hazardous chemicals used in our global supply chains are important and necessary, in line with the ‘Right to Know principle' (6). In line with this principle we will increase the public availability and transparency of our restricted substance list and audit process and will set up public disclosure of discharges of hazardous chemicals in our supply chain.
BURBERRY GROUP PLC also commits to support systemic (i.e. wider societal and policy) change to achieve zero discharge of hazardous chemicals (associated with supply chains and the lifecycles of products) within one generation (7) or less. This commitment includes sustained investment in moving industry, government, science and technology to deliver on systemic change and to affect system change across the industry towards this goal.
The 2020 goal also demands the collective action of industry, as well as engagement of regulators and other stakeholders. To this end, BURBERRY GROUP PLC will work with other companies in the apparel sector and other brands we sell, as well as material suppliers, the broader chemical industry, NGOs and other stakeholders to achieve this goal. 

January 28, 2014

China's plan to protect its rivers

Korea's eco-system is heavily depended upon China. China's rapid growth invites serious pollution problem which affect Korea as well. Recently, Chinese government announced its plan to protect China's main rivers. Korea did the same in previous government, the policy which turned out to be a failure and brought huge political conflict. Following is the related article from 'China Daily':

China has invested 6.51 billion yuan ($1.1 billion) to protect Sanjiangyuan, the cradle of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers in Northwest China's Qinghai province, according to the Ministry of Finance.
The money was used during a nine-year project, which ended at the end of 2013, intended to improve the Sanjiangyuan environment. Money was spent on wetlands protection, grazeland-to-grassland restoration, forest reservation and water and soil conservation.
The forest coverage rate in Sanjiangyuan increased from 3.2 percent in 2004 to 4.8 percent in 2012, and the wetlands restoration area has reached 1,067 square kilometers, the ministry said.
The Sanjiangyuan region has also seen its lakes swell. The surface area of lakes has increased by 2.84 billion cubic meters from 2004 to 2012.
Investment has helped solve water-drinking problems of 131,600 people and 360,000 livestock in the region, according to the ministry.
With an average altitude of 4,000 meters, the region is important for herders and rare wild animals such as the Tibetan antelope. It is also a place where medicinal herbs grow like the Tibetan snow lotus.
However, global warming and human activity since the end of last century have led to a deteriorating natural environment, shrinking wetlands, decreasing water levels in lakes and water flow in the headwaters, and increasing desertification.

Another day, another slaughter at Taiji, Dolphin cove..

On January 29th, Sea Shepherd announced that another 65 striped dolphins were slaughtered at Taiji, Japan. The killing came on after the slaughter of 22 bottled nose dolphins on Jan.9 and 40 bottled nose dolphins on Jan.22

The Japanese fishermen says the Dolphin killing event is their tradition for years;however, though all tradition should be respected, shedding too much innocent blood does not seem right.

You can voice out your opinion by signing petition at this link:

http://www.seashepherd.org

Endangered Species: Rare Borneo Bay Cat

In Borneo, Southeast Asia, a very rare picture was taken by the wild cat conservation organization, Panthera. The picture is about 'Bay'cat, a mysterious little cat living only in the island of Borneo. The sighting of 'Bay' cat is so rare, very little is known about this creature.

Image: Google image

Global Warming video clip from NASA's Goddard Institute

The Bag snaggers in NYC

Fine Dust Warning in Korea

Today, the sky was so hazy and dark, I thought whether snow or rain would be on the way. However, when I turned on the morning news, it said that the the Korean government issued fine dust warning again.

The first ever fine dust warning was issued last December. Although Korea has affected by Yellow dust from China during the spring, fine dust warning in winter time is new and indicates further climate problem in Korea.

It originates from wintertime coal use in China, threatening people's respiratory and immune systems. Government warns that elderly people and children should stay home. 

?Westerly winds blowing from China?s northern regions bear a cloud laden with serious levels of metals, including lead, cadmium and arsenic. We recommend people to wear face masks when there are fine dust warnings,? said Lim Young-wook, assistant director of the Institute for Environmental Research at Yonsei University?s College of Medicine.

Hand sanitizers and anti-bacterial detergent sale has skyrocketed to 636 percent in the past month on year. I for one also carries hand sanitizers everywhere these days.

Although, I feel like every body is very alert with climate problem, the CO2 consumption has increased continuously according to the related agency.

While looking out to the gloomy, gray sky, I once again acknowledge the imminent danger of the climate problem and the action we continuously have to take.

Images: Google images

Source: Korea Herald, Arirang TV, etc.

Caroline Kennedy addressed concerns over Dolphin Hunting in Taiji, Japan

The pictures shown on the news papers and TVs are disturbing and horrible. The oceans colored red, endless array of dead dolphins..

I am talking about the cultural tradition of Japan's southern small sea-town, Taiji, which has received many protests from the world for years about its 'Dolphin-hunting'.

Recently, American Ambassador to Japan, Ms.Caroline Kennedy tweeted on January 18th that she was deeply concerned by inhumanness of drive hunt dolphin killing and United States Government opposed drive hunt fisheries.

The environmental activist group, "The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society", a Washington based non profit group,  stream-videoed the whole hunting event. According to the diverse media sources, fishermen have taken 37 bottle nose dolphins to be sold into aquariums and parks, and 200 around dolphins are still in the cove to be killed. Among the captive dolphins, there are baby and juvenile albino dolphins which are worth millions. 

The dolphin hunt in Taiji first got global attention when the documentary "Cove" which describes the event received award from the Oscar in 2009. At the time, many petitions were rounded on the net.

However, from the local point of view,an unidentified Japanese fishing industry official told reporters that the event was completely legal and a cultural tradition. The official added that the cruelty of dolphins hunting was similar to eating other animals such as cows, pigs or other living creatures.

I remember that I signed a petition to stop dolphin hunting early last yearhowever, it seems nothing has changed since then. One thing that got me totally taken aback while searching the news was that people's interests of marine mammal in the aquarium was the huge source of dolphins hunting. The Cove guardian group spokesperson mentioned that people should say no to the marine mammal exhibition at the zoo and aquariums over the world. Recently, major parks in Korea stopped showing 'Dolphin' shows. I think it is a big progress. 

The image of slaughtered dolphins stuck on my head and going to be that way for a long while I guess. In the mean time, I will try to voice out my concerns throughout the diverse forms of media on the net.

Images: Google images

Source: The guardian, The Atlanta post, Sydney Morning Herald, CNN,etc.

http://livestream.seashepherd.org

Formula E racing and Mr.Leonardo Di Caprio

Have you heard about Formula E racing?

Formula E racing, officially the FIA Formula E Championship, is a class of auto racing competition for one-make, single seat, and electrically powered racing cars. The series was confirmed in 2012, and the series will be starting in coming september through 2015.

Lately, in Vegas, the first ever electrically charged race car has debuted during the Consumer Electronics show. Around the nerdy, excited crowd, the Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag said, ""We are a championship on a mission, and the mission is to have more electronic cars on the street.People love motor sport, but they also care very much about the environment. So  together, it's a great combination."

Another cool news regarding Formula E racing is that renowned actor and environment activist, Leonardo  DiCaprio partners with Venturi Automobiles to enter the Championship.

The race will feature the cities like Peijing, London and Los Angeles.

I am sorry that Seoul is not one of the candidate cities however,  the involvement of Mr.DiCaprio will boost the interest over the hybrid and electronic cars all over the globe.

Formula E car -test drive