Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Jim Yong Kim: You can't lift people out of poverty without growth, Interview with the Guardian
Monday, April 7, 2014
Dolphin Deaths in Marine Parks and Aquariums
Marine-mammal facilities are one of the most successful part of a industry built on the suffering of intelligent animals that are being extremely mistreated. In the wide ocean, social groups of dolphins swim up to 100 miles a day. However, in marines and aquariums, the dolphins only get to swim in small circles which make them unable to engage their natural behaviour. In marines, the dolphins are forced to perform tricks just to get food and they are usually torn apart from their family which gives them a lot of stress. The unbearable stress weakens the dolphin's immune system which causes them to die a lot earlier.
First of all, the dolphins being torn apart from their families is a very stressful thing for them and can be unresistable. Hundreds of wild dolphins have been taken from the U.S. waters and have been placed in aquariums or marine parks. Even though the U.S. parks or zoos haven't taken the dolphins from the oceans since 1993, it is still allowed. Other countries have been consistently taking the animals from the wild and placing them in aquariums or parks which causes them to be torn up with their families pretty often. Capturing or taking even one of the dolphins can hugely affect the entire pod because in the wild, the female dolphins spend their whole lives with their mothers and sisters. If they get torn apart from the ones that they spent their whole life together with, that would be extremely difficult for them to bear. These days, they surround the dolphins with nets to track pods just so they can obtain a female dolphin of breeding age. The net pulls them up and unwanted dolphins are just thrown back into the water which can cause the families to separate very easily. Some of the dolphins die due to stress and some of them get pneumonia when water enter their lungs through their blowholes. So separating the dolphins from their families can cause a lot of stress and can often lead to death as well.
In addition to the cruelty of taking wild dolphins from their natural habitats and separating them from their family, they keep dolphins in captivity. This dooms them to living their life as attractions at aquariums or theme parks around the world. They are forced to perform tricks in front of huge crowds and screaming people which gives the dolphins a big amount of stress. They are also forced to swim with tourists and are often hand fed or petted by the tourists. The biggest problem is that they are forced to swim in tiny, barren concrete tanks. The dolphins navigate by echolocation but in the tanks, the reverberations bounces of the walls which drives some of them insane. For the dolphins, keeping them in tanks are basically keeping a blindfolded person in a jail cell. The trainers for the dolphins often force them to perform tricks by taking away their food or isolating animals that don't perform tricks. A marine-mammal behavioural biologist in Seattle says that captive dolphins demonstrated a lot of stress related behaviours such as self-inflicted trauma, induced vomiting, and aggressiveness. Some captive dolphins took their own lives by banging their heads against the walls or by refusing to come out of the water. This is because of their stress and frustration being captive.
Image : Google Image
In addition to the cruelty of taking wild dolphins from their natural habitats and separating them from their family, they keep dolphins in captivity. This dooms them to living their life as attractions at aquariums or theme parks around the world. They are forced to perform tricks in front of huge crowds and screaming people which gives the dolphins a big amount of stress. They are also forced to swim with tourists and are often hand fed or petted by the tourists. The biggest problem is that they are forced to swim in tiny, barren concrete tanks. The dolphins navigate by echolocation but in the tanks, the reverberations bounces of the walls which drives some of them insane. For the dolphins, keeping them in tanks are basically keeping a blindfolded person in a jail cell. The trainers for the dolphins often force them to perform tricks by taking away their food or isolating animals that don't perform tricks. A marine-mammal behavioural biologist in Seattle says that captive dolphins demonstrated a lot of stress related behaviours such as self-inflicted trauma, induced vomiting, and aggressiveness. Some captive dolphins took their own lives by banging their heads against the walls or by refusing to come out of the water. This is because of their stress and frustration being captive.
Image : Google Image
Whaling in Japan (the final ruling from ICJ)
On 31 March 2014, ICJ ruled that Japan's Whaling directly violates the "International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling" whihch was initially raised by Australian government in June, 2013.
And ICJ ordered the accused group to stop Whaling. In the process, ICJ also identified that Japan's Whaling was carried out for commercial rather scientific research purpose. As a result, a large amount of Whales were killed for wrong reason.
Japanese government was very disappointed about the ruling, but they have decided to comply with the results.
Source : Yonhap News, Media Pen, Google etc.
Image : Google Image
On 31 March 2014, ICJ ruled that Japan's Whaling directly violates the "International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling" whihch was initially raised by Australian government in June, 2013.And ICJ ordered the accused group to stop Whaling. In the process, ICJ also identified that Japan's Whaling was carried out for commercial rather scientific research purpose. As a result, a large amount of Whales were killed for wrong reason.
Japanese government was very disappointed about the ruling, but they have decided to comply with the results.
Source : Yonhap News, Media Pen, Google etc.
Image : Google Image
Sunday, March 30, 2014
WWF, one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organization with 6 million supporters and a network of more than 100 offices on five continents, opens its office in Korea finally. WWF has a huge success with 'Earth Hour' campaign in Korea over the years.
On March 28, 2014, WWF officially celebrated its presence in Korea with a launching party, where Eco-save club had an opportunity to observe.
The party main event had started with the congratulatory message from the UN Director General, Mr. Ban, Ki-moon, then the Director General of WWF, Dr. Marco Lambertini gave a speech over the WWF's mission in Korea. Over 300 people were there to celebrate WWF's presence in Korea.
WWF-Korea will focus on addressing ecological footprint issues, engaging on key policy discussions, and creating awareness about biodiversity. WWF-Korea will have a special role in leading the WWF network in the Asia-Pacific region-building on Korea's strong engagement on climate and energy issues, its leadership in various corporate and industrial sectors and its innovatory prowess, as well as its critical role in sustainable fisheries, particularly tuna.
Dr. Lambertini told me that he started his eco career as a reporter to an eco-magazine when he was 12 years old. He emphasized a little attention and step on environment would make a huge difference in the future. He wished all his best to all the youth who have dedicated their time in eco-work.
It was an inspiring night for Eco-save club to reflect our work so far, and reconfirm our commitment to save the planet.
UN Secretary General Mr.Ban, Ki-moon's congratulatory message on WWF-Korea
UN Secretary General Mr.Ban, Ki-moon's message:
I am pleased to send congratulations to the opening of WWF-Korea after a decade of fruitful engagement.
I commend your work on the Yellow Sea Ecoregion and look forward to your continued contribution to biodiversity conservation on the Korean Peninsula and beyond.
The United Nations is proud to collaborate with WWF in promoting sustainable development and a world where society lives in harmony with nature.
Since 2009, WWF has been raising international awareness about climate change and renewable energy with the Earth Hour campaign.
You join with the Green Climate Fund, also based here in Korea, in making the case for a profound transformation of the global economy.
I look forward to joining you on March 29th as we switch off our lights for one hour — and switch on to a cleaner, greener future.
Please accept my best wishes for today?s celebration and the valuable work you will do in the months and years to come. Thank you.
WWF-Korea opens in Seoul
Seoul, Korea – WWF, the leading global conservation organization, has established an institutional presence in the Republic of Korea, marked by official ceremonies in the capital Seoul this week.
Following its work since 2000 to preserve the Yellow Sea Ecoregion, WWF has had phenomenal success across Korea with Earth Hour, WWF's global grassroots movement for the planet. To build on these successes, WWF has decided to open an office in the country.
"WWF is very excited to establish a presence in Korea, a country at the vanguard of digital and technological innovation, which has shown itself to be a regional and global leader in creating smart solutions for sustainable lifestyles," said Dr Marco Lambertini, WWF International's Director General Designate, attending the launch events in Seoul.
"This is a proud moment for Korea to welcome WWF on its shores. Korean people want to live well and sustainably, and be a part of the solution. Choosing cleaner energies, greener transport options, and consuming eco-friendly products like certified sustainable seafood, are all ways Korean people can and will make a difference," said Mr Yang In-Mo, Co-Chairperson of the WWF-Korea Board of Trustees.
WWF works globally to encourage sustainable consumption, to cut pollution and waste, to save biological diversity, and reduce people’s impact on the natural world.
"The way Koreans have energetically and creatively embraced Earth Hour shows something of the potential for ideas, action and positive change here," said Mr Yang.
"WWF is grateful to the Korean government, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Yulchon Attorneys at Law, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, the global advertising company Cheil, and all our supporters and volunteers who have made this moment possible by believing in our mission and dreams. We look forward to working with you all in creating a future where people live in harmony with nature," said Dr Lambertini.
Following its work since 2000 to preserve the Yellow Sea Ecoregion, WWF has had phenomenal success across Korea with Earth Hour, WWF's global grassroots movement for the planet. To build on these successes, WWF has decided to open an office in the country.
"WWF is very excited to establish a presence in Korea, a country at the vanguard of digital and technological innovation, which has shown itself to be a regional and global leader in creating smart solutions for sustainable lifestyles," said Dr Marco Lambertini, WWF International's Director General Designate, attending the launch events in Seoul.
"This is a proud moment for Korea to welcome WWF on its shores. Korean people want to live well and sustainably, and be a part of the solution. Choosing cleaner energies, greener transport options, and consuming eco-friendly products like certified sustainable seafood, are all ways Korean people can and will make a difference," said Mr Yang In-Mo, Co-Chairperson of the WWF-Korea Board of Trustees.
WWF works globally to encourage sustainable consumption, to cut pollution and waste, to save biological diversity, and reduce people’s impact on the natural world.
"The way Koreans have energetically and creatively embraced Earth Hour shows something of the potential for ideas, action and positive change here," said Mr Yang.
"WWF is grateful to the Korean government, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Yulchon Attorneys at Law, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, the global advertising company Cheil, and all our supporters and volunteers who have made this moment possible by believing in our mission and dreams. We look forward to working with you all in creating a future where people live in harmony with nature," said Dr Lambertini.
Participating in the Earth Hour in Seoul
EARTH HOUR 2014 8:30-9:30 PM on 3/29/14It was very cool to participate in the Earth Hour where we could save energy by turning off all our lights and using a candle instead. I realized that using a candle for light is very difficult because we are used to technology which wastes a lot of energy. However, it was a great experience and I felt proud that I could join a campaign like this.
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