Today I thought I would like to draw your attention a couple of topics which, while not directly related to Cruising With Care, do have to do with the idea that underlies it. The idea being that we need to treat all our water, sea or fresh, with care, since it is the source and support of all that sustains us.
All over the world people rely on food from the sea, both for nourishment and for income. In his article on the impact of seafood (and our eating of it) on the environment, Michael Bloch takes an important step. He talks about the difference our individual behavior can make, and why we should make any concerns we have about the health and state of the seafood we eat known. And he gives us information we can use to make our own decisions.
On a separate but related topic:
Much of Canada is blessed with water, in a world that is increasingly thirsty for it. But not all that water is clean or usable, and the more of it that is used or polluted by industry in one form or another the less there is available for drinking, for agriculture, or for the creatures we share the world with. Knowing how to maintain a balance between the different demands is crucial. As is recognizing that no body of living water is discrete; water flows in and out, above- and underground.
If you are comfortable relying on the Canadian government to protect Canada’s lakes (and with them our water supply and environment) you might want to take a few minutes to read this article on DigitalJournal about how lakes become containers for the byproducts of industry. Think about what can happen if such important decisions are made without full understanding of the effects they will have on the whole area. Then think about what could happen if a mine happens to open up close to your favorite lake, or by one that was connected to the groundwater that fills your well or your municipal water system...
Some food for thought.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
International Coastal Cleanup
- Cleaning up coastlines and waterways all over the world.
On September 19th groups all over the world will take part in the International Coastal Cleanup. The clean-up is a purely voluntary effort - that last year almost 400,000 volunteers took part is a reason for hope. That they picked up almost 6.8 million pounds of trash is proof that the effort is needed. It would be wonderful to be able to look forward to a time when the cleanup is no longer needed, but only by reducing the amount of trash we produce and the amount of litter we create can we find a long term solution to an old and worsening problem.
If you are looking for a way that you can help, visit the Ocean Conservancy website or check local newspapers to find a group near you - or start your own group.
And if you can’t do any of those - at least try to keep plastics and other garbage out of the water!
National Geographic video, Ocean Conservancy International Coastal Cleanup:
On September 19th groups all over the world will take part in the International Coastal Cleanup. The clean-up is a purely voluntary effort - that last year almost 400,000 volunteers took part is a reason for hope. That they picked up almost 6.8 million pounds of trash is proof that the effort is needed. It would be wonderful to be able to look forward to a time when the cleanup is no longer needed, but only by reducing the amount of trash we produce and the amount of litter we create can we find a long term solution to an old and worsening problem.
If you are looking for a way that you can help, visit the Ocean Conservancy website or check local newspapers to find a group near you - or start your own group.
And if you can’t do any of those - at least try to keep plastics and other garbage out of the water!
National Geographic video, Ocean Conservancy International Coastal Cleanup:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
