Oceans, Oil spills

Where was the most recent oil spill?

Oiled-Pelican-Before-After-CleaningJust last week we heard about another oil spill near Santa Barbara, California. The situation was so bad that Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency. The spill damaged two beaches (one is Refugio State Beach), fisheries and animal habitats. It has also caused the death of sea lions, seals, and pelicans. The oil slick measures more than 9 miles long and lies next to a natural marine sanctuary and underwater preserve home to dolphins, whales, sea lions, birds and fish. The oil release was caused by a broken onshore pipeline that spewed oil down a storm drain and into the ocean. At least 105,000 gallons of oil entered the water. Again, as with other oil spills, the safety record of the company which operated the pipeline was called into question. You would think the company, Plains All American Pipeline, would have a shut off valve on its equipment.

Sometimes I just want to bang my head against a wall. How many catastrophes and dead animals do we have to have until we stop using fossil fuels? Fossil fuels are no longer the answer. We can use alternative energy, such as wind and solar, to power our cars, homes and offices. Have you ever heard of a solar or wind spill? Enough solar energy reaches the Earth in one hour to power the needs of the entire world for a full year.

Luckily, many people are helping to save and clean animals covered in oil.  Perhaps scientist Paul Stamets of Washington can help clean up the spill with his oyster mushrooms. Better yet, we could reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. The time is now. Fossil fuels are contributing to climate change and pollution. We need a healthy environment, animals and ecosystems. Without them we are impoverished. Time is running out and it is urgent for each one of us to demand change.

Kindness, Leadership

You Make a Difference

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YouThe Dalai Lama said, “Whether you believe in God or not does not matter so much, whether you believe in Buddha or not does not matter so much…whether you believe in reincarnation or not does not matter so much. You must lead a good life. And a good life does not mean just good food, good clothes, and good shelter. These are not sufficient. A good motivation is what is needed: compassion, without dogmatism, without complicated philosophy; just understanding that others are human brothers and sisters and respecting their rights and human dignity. That we humans can help each other is one of our unique human capacities. We must share in other peoples’ suffering; even if you cannot help with money, to show concern, to give moral support and express sympathy are themselves valuable. This is what should be the basis of activities; whether one calls it religion or not does not matter.”

Sometimes we think our actions do not make a difference.  They do.  You have an impact on the world. To that end, please join me and see how many of the behaviors below you can incorporate into your life.

1. Have Meatless Mondays.
2. Plant a tree in someone’s honor or give a tree as a gift.
3. Turn off your laptop or iPad when you are not using it.
4. Set your thermostat one degree warmer in the summer and one degree cooler in the winter.
5. Ride your bike to work or school.
6. Recycle your garbage.
7. Use a re-usable water bottle.
8. Install a water filter instead of buying plastic water bottles.
9. Put solar panels on your roof.
10. Plant a vegetable garden.
11. Buy organic food.
12. Do not idle your car when it is parked.
13. Bring your own re-usable bags to the grocery store instead of taking plastic ones.
14. Use public transport.
15. Walk to work.
16. Take shorter showers.
17. Turn off un-used lights.
18. Keep your lawn pesticide free.

Dolphins, Oil spills

Dolphins, oil spills, and mushrooms –what do they have in common?

Oyster_Mushroom,_Enfield,_UKI am sure many of you heard or read about the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. On April 20, 2010 the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded, killing 11 men and unleashing natural gas and oil into the Gulf. In fact, 134 million pounds of crude oil and 4 million pounds of gas went into the water. More than twenty species of wildlife were affected and many fishermen lost their way of life. Plus, scientists are still investigating the effects of the spill on the ecosystem.

So far, we know ongoing dolphin deaths are connected to the disaster, and 2014 witnessed dolphin deaths at four times historic levels on the coast of Louisiana. We also know 32% of laughing gulls in the Gulf died as a result of the spill, coral colonies are showing significant oil damage, 12% of brown pelicans lost their lives, and 27,000-65,000 Kemp ridley sea turtles died. Sadly, there are many more findings.

What is the good news? Scientist, Paul Stamets of Washington, has found that oyster mushrooms can eat petroleum. He is well-known for his research and has been working with the EPA, the Washington State of Transportation, the Amazon Microrenewal Project in Ecuador, and others. He even has a plan for the Fukushima nuclear disaster. After the tsunami hit in 2011 he posted “The Nuclear Forest Recovery Zone” based on the fact that mushrooms can remove and absorb heavy metals from soils.

It is time to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and move to alternative energy. Yet until we get off the fossil fuel diet, it is amazing to know that people are working on novel ways to clean up destructive chemicals and hazardous waste. Dolphins and humans can all benefit from some amazing mushrooms.

Cats, Kindness

Kindness –an amazing story

disfigured_cat_rescue_6I just read a wonderful story about a 7-year-old girl in Istanbul, Turkey who recently saved a disfigured, very sick kitten. The story really touched me because this little girl dared to help when everyone else turned a blind eye to the suffering animal. Every day people would walk by the starving, crying, mite-infested kitten that had lost an ear and most of her teeth. They refused to look at the cat because, quite frankly, she was ugly and sick. Luckily, the little girl did not turn away. Instead, she took the kitten to her father. In turn they went to the animal hospital and ended up saving a life. The cat went through many surgeries but is now healthy and happy. She is named Gülümser, meaning “she who always smiles”.

disfigured_cat_rescue_10This little girl reminds us all to open our hearts and act from a bigger place. How often do we turn blind eyes to suffering and pain? How often do we try to shelter ourselves from what is unpleasant or ugly? Have you ever noticed how great it feels to do something nice for someone or an animal? Have you ever noticed that feeling goes deeper and lasts even longer than buying a new suit or eating more ice cream?

I am always amazed by genuine kindness and care. Some say kindness, care, and love are truly the only answers. This little girl opened her heart and looked beyond the ugliness. She saw beauty when others could not. Can you see beauty where there seems to be none? Can you be the person who makes a difference? Join me.

Orangutans, Trees

Orangutans…will they soon be extinct?

Orangutan Cincinnati zoob“Animals…are like us in so many ways. They want to grow up free and raise their families in a world that is safe. And if we let them disappear from this Earth then a part of us will disappear too….where they’ll live happily ever after depends on us.” Morgan Freeman

Last week I wrote about trees.  We lose 48 football fields of forest every minute. What I did not say is that palm oil is one of the key drivers of rainforest and tropical deforestation worldwide. The next time you eat a cookie or a bag of chips take a look at the ingredients. If there is palm oil in it, do not buy it. Entire forests are being mowed down to plant palm trees. And when that happens animals such as the orangutans lose their homes. Sadly, orangutans are at risk of extinction in the next 25 years. There are precious few left. Estimates put the number at 40,000 living in Borneo and Sumatra. Orangutans are a risk because of habitat loss, illegal hunting, and an illegal pet trade.

Orangutans are beautiful, highly intelligent creatures with feelings. Tragically, they have lost more than 80% of their natural environment in the last 20 years and about one-third of the population died during the fires of 1997-98.

You can join me and help the orangutans. Do not buy food with palm oil in it. Avoid clothes made of rayon. And do not purchase tropical plywood, teak, sandalwood or ebony. Palm oil based products are identified by many names listed below.

Please, join me and make a difference for the orangutans. Their future is at stake.

PALM OIL BASED PRODUCTS:
Cetyl Palmitate and Octyl Palmitate
Elaeis Guineensis (Taxonomic name for palm oil)
Hexadecylic or Palmitic Acid
Hydrated Palm Glycerides
Palm Oil Kernel
Palmate
Palmitate
Anything with Palmitate at the end

LIKELY TO BE PALM OIL:
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emulsifier 422, 430-36, 470-8, 481-483, 493-5
Glyceryl Stearate
Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate (SDS or NaDS)
Sodium Isostearoyl Lactylaye
Sodium Laureth Sulphate
Sodium Lauryl Sulphates
Steareth – 2 & Steareth – 20
Stearic Acid Vegetable Oil

Trees

Trees and Earth Day

022bLately I have been noticing a lot of large areas where tall, old trees were recently chopped down. These places were once beautiful and now look like the land was violated. And soon the tree stumps will be completely removed and a new building will go up or a paved parking lot will be put in. Frankly, it deeply saddens me. We already have so many abandoned lots, warehouses, and homes. Shouldn’t those areas be revitalized instead of removing majestic pine trees and grand oaks from pristine land?

Ed Begley, Jr. said “I don’t understand why when we destroy something created by man we call it vandalism, but when we destroy something created by nature we call it progress.” I agree with him.

Every minute we lose 48 football fields of forest. That is frightening. Trees provide us with oxygen and take in the carbon dioxide we expel with every breath. They purify the air and provide shade and comfort when the sun is blazing hot. Trees also trap dust, pollen and smoke. Did you know that the average tree provides a day’s supply of oxygen for four people? Additionally, trees are natural air conditioners. One tree can produce the cooling effect of ten room sized air conditioners running for twenty hours a day.

Abandoned warehouses and lots can be turned into wonderful homes and gardens with trees. That type of revitalization thus helps re-build communities, create jobs, and natural spaces. Trees provide so many benefits. They give us a sense of calm and serenity. They help lower stress and blood pressure. And they provide habitats for birds, squirrels, and other animals. Trees are beneficial in so many ways. Join me, plant some trees in your garden or give a tree as a gift. And please speak out for revitalization and Earth day.

Penguins

Do penguins have emotions?

EmperorPenguinFeedingChickbOne of my nieces asked me why I did not have any penguin photos on my website. I told her I would put one up for her. When I found this photo I was awestruck by its beauty. It shows a parent feeding and caring for its chick. In so many ways, animals and penguins are like us. They nourish and protect their offspring, seek shelter from inclement weather, and experience a wide range of emotions.

Just like humans, animals experience fear, pain, desire, hunger, panic, embarrassment, and other emotions. If you have a cat or a dog, I am sure you have witnessed times when your pet felt happy or sad. And you have probably seen your pet curiously look around for the ball which was rolling around on the floor or for the piece of string hanging from your curtains. A penguin will not do those things but will surely let her mate know if their chick is not doing well.

Did you know there are about seventeen to twenty different kinds of penguins? Some, like the emperor penguins in the photo, are almost 4 feet tall and weigh 77 pounds or more. Others, such as the little blue penguin, are much smaller and stand 16 inches tall and weigh only 2.2 pounds.

Penguins eat fish, krill, crabs, squid and other seafood they catch while swimming. And to compensate for all of the salt water they swallow, they have a supraorbital gland just above their eye. This gland filters the salt from the bloodstream and out through the bill. Wouldn’t it be neat if we could do the same?

Sadly, climate change is affecting penguins. Krill stocks are declining because of warming waters. As the ice retreats and krill populations fall, penguins have to spend a lot of energy to find food. This makes it harder for them to raise their young and breed.

Parents, worldwide, strive to protect and provide for the well-being of their children. We provide shelter and food, and a nourishing environment. Penguins do the same for their offspring. Yet, they need our help. We must make sure to protect the ocean waters from debris, chemical spills, exploitation and degradation. Our choices affect them. Remember, penguins have feelings too.

Butterflies

Butterflies, did you know…?

MonarchButterflyDid you ever watch a caterpillar turn into a butterfly? I think it is amazing how they metamorphose from having no wings to having brightly colored ones. One of the most beautiful butterflies is the monarch butterfly, pictured above with its orange and black wings. They are famous for making a very long annual journey, about 3,000 miles, from Canada to central Mexico each winter. Each delicate butterfly travels 50-100 miles per day, despite weighing much less than half an ounce or one gram. Their wingspan is about 3-4 inches long or 9-11 centimeters. Can you imagine being that small and traveling so far? In comparison, the average human weighs over 100 pounds and stands more than 5 feet tall. And we do not have to use our arms to fly; instead, we jump on planes and make long journeys.

Many people delight in the annual migration of the monarch butterfly. They say it is amazing to see the blanket of orange and black when they arrive in Mexico. Millions of monarchs used to make the long trip between countries. Unfortunately, their numbers have dwindled dramatically due to climate change, herbicides such as Roundup, forest logging, and the lack of food. Monarch butterflies rely on a plant named milkweed. I know, the name “milkweed” does not sound nice to some of you. However, it is actually very pretty with small pink-purple flowers. Milkweed used to be abundant in the United States, however, has become scarce because of a government mandate for biofuel. That mandate pushed farmers to set aside less land for wildlife.

You can help monarch butterflies by planting milkweed, butterfly bushes, zinnias, cosmos, and making sure your garden is butterfly friendly. Or you can encourage your state and local governments, and the Federal Highway Administration to plant milkweed and flowering plants, instead of grass, along the roadside.

ANIMAL WELFARE, ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY Copyright_2023