Fast Fashion Comes at a High Price for the Environment and People

Shein is a popular fast fashion brand that caters lost cost clothing, but at a price to workers and the environment.  

In the Time article; Shein Is the World’s Most Popular Fashion Brand—at a Huge Cost to Us All, Shein added anywhere between 2,000 and 10,000 individual styles to its app each day between July and December of 2021!!

Shein works very much like Amazon where it has a large online marketplace with 6,000 factories in China under its label.

The low prices and vast array of clothing options comes at cost for it’s workers and the environment.

With regards labor laws, U.K.’s Channel 4 documented Shein’s employees were forced to work 17 hour shifts.  In one of the factories, workers’ base salary was $20 but were docked $14 if garments were made incorrectly.  

Shein has since made “significant investments to improve the working conditions of our suppliers’ facilities and will now be conducting regular audits of its  factories’ working conditions.

Environmentally, Shein leaves a trail of 6.3 million tons of carbon into the atmosphere which is far below the 45% target to reduce emissions by 2030 as directed by the U.N. for the fashion industry to limit global warming.  

After heated backlash, Shein announced it would spend $7.6 million on a partnership with the nonprofit, Apparel Impact Institute, which works with manufacturers to set and implement energy efficiency programs.

According to the Time article, the fashion industry is responsible for releasing more than 10 percent of carbon emissions.  With the fashion industry coming into the spotlight due to its affects on the environment, many brands have become signatories of the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action—the industry’s flagship climate initiative spearheaded by the U.N.

It looks as though everything comes at a price beyond the price tag of a shirt.  When we buy an article of clothing we are also affecting people living on the other side of the globe and the air we breathe.  

That is a lot to take in but making smarter purchases can help humanity and our planet.

To read more click here;

https://time.com/6247732/shein-climate-change-labor-fashion/

Photo from Time article; Shein Is the World’s Most Popular Fashion Brand—at a Huge Cost to Us All

Not all cheese is vegetarian

Did you ever look at the ingredients of the cheese you bought and noticed it lists “enzymes”?

Those enzymes help to coagulate cheese in order for it to clump together.  What some may not realize is if not specifically stated, those “enzymes” come from the stomach lining of slaughtered new born calves or pigs.

Enzymes can also be listed in the ingredients as “rennet”. Rennet can also be sourced from microbes or plants but the ingredient list will usually state if the rennet is from an animal, plant, or microbe.  If the ingredients just list enzymes, chances are it came from a dead calf or pig.

Some packages may state “vegetable rennet” or “suitable for vegetarians”.

The types of cheeses that usually contain animal rennet will be cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan or romano cheeses.

So next time you are at the grocery store and are in the cheese aisle, take a look at the ingredients.  You will be surprised that many cheeses just list “enzymes” as an ingredient.

If you want to make your own parmesan cheese, it will only take 5 minutes of your time, is a lot healthier, and cruelty-free.

Here is my go to recipe for parmesan cheese from Minimalist Baker;

3/4 cashews

3 tablespoons of nutritional yeast (has a cheesey flavor packed with protein, B6, and B12.  The brand I use is Bragg)

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Add all the ingredients to a food processor and mix until a fine meal is achieved.

Store in the refrigerator.  Can last for several weeks.

Makes 1 cup.

Diagram courtesy of Vegan of Instagram

We are losing the pollinators and we need them!

Did you know pollinators are a keystone species whose service is paramount to reproducing over two-thirds of the world’s crops?

They also are responsible for approximately 25% of the fruits and seeds that birds and mammals like the grizzly bear rely on.

What is disturbing is approximately 28% of North America’s bumble bees are in significant decline. 19% of butterflies are at risk for extinction.

This is the perfect example of interconnection. Without the pollinators, people and animals would not have a lot of the food we all rely on. We gain an immense benefit from the pollinators and we need to step up and help them. We no longer have the luxury to ignore what is happening outside our window. The natural world is undergoing huge changes that is already affecting us.

We can help the pollinators by;

1. Grow pollinator friendly plants. If you go to https://xerces.org/publications/plant-lists you will find a list of what type of plants to grow in all regions around North America.

2. Nesting Resources for pollinators. Did you know 70% of bees nest in the ground? Learn how you can help provide habitats for pollinators; https://xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/nesting-resources

3. Avoid pesticides in your garden. Many pesticides including herbicides and fungicides are harmful to pollinators.

4. Share this information with others to help restore pollinator populations.

To learn more, go to https://xerces.org

*Diagrams courtesy of xerces.org

Vigil For Elephants Who Died In Captivity in 2022

Every year Vigil4Elephants raises awareness of the captive elephants that have passed away in zoos, circuses, sanctuaries, and temples.

These sentient beings who were taken from their family in the wild are forced to live a life exploited and abused for human entertainment.

From the beginning of 2022 to date, 50 captive elephants have passed away, including a calf.

Knowing these elephants did not live a life in freedom and not surrounded by love and compassion only makes the grief more palpable.

On January 14, 2023, Vigil4Elephants is hosting a worldwide vigil to honor the lives of these sentient creatures.

Please join on that day to honor the preciousness of their existence and support a future where there will no longer be a captive elephant.

You can learn more about the vigil by visiting Vigil4Elephants on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Fran - A beloved humpback whale dies from ship strike

Fran, one of the most well-known humpback whales that migrated along the west coast of North America was killed by a ship strike in last August, 2022. 

"The death of Fran is incredibly tragic, given that ship strikes on whales can be avoided," Kathi George, the director of field operations and response at the Marine Mammal Center, said in a statement. "Everyone, including shipping companies, wants to protect these magnificent giants, and we need ships to slow down in vessel speed reduction (VSR) areas as well as when whales are around."

According to the HappyWhale database that tracks whales worldwide, there were 277 sightings of Fran since her birth in 2005.  Most of these sightings were in Monterey Bay.   

What Fran leaves behind is a legacy of an interconnection of humans and whales and provided significant scientific insight to marine life.  But even more so, this was the first year, Fran successfully brought her own calf to the feeding grounds. 

Fran’s death could have been avoided by the ship reducing its speed, which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) requests of ships seasonally when whales are in the region feeding to reduce these fatal strikes. 

According to NOAA, more than 60% of ships comply but the need for more ships to do so is imperative.  Kathi George reported approximately 80 whales are killed each year by vessel strikes. 

It is heartbreaking Fran lost her life but maybe her loss will be the reason for more ships to slow down and respect the life below the surface of the ocean. 

Quotes courtesy of www.cbsnews.com

Image of Fran courtesy of Padraig Duignan/Whales of Guerrero

Bird Migration -What birds are up against

Each year, billions of birds represent 2/5’s of the avian population that migrate twice a year.  Some treks are as short as a few thousand feet, some as long as a 25,000-mile trek that the Arctic Tren takes from the Arctic to the Antarctic. 

Migrating birds face many challenges along their routes but with more extensive research and people working together, migrating birds have a better chance of survival. 

Most birds travel at night which can be a problem with lights that are left on in buildings as it disorients birds who migrate and use the moon and stars for navigation. 

The Lights Out Program which started in Chicago, has now spread to more than 40 cities and is a key step towards preventing migration birds from colliding into windows at night. 

Birds already have a huge undertaking migrating from places like South and Central America to the north and back south again, to habitat loss, and dealing with climate change.  Making windows safer and preventing unnecessary bird collisions is an easy way to support bird populations. 

Climate change is altering the timing of season change which affects the timing of birds’ migrations.  Birds rely on predictable weather patterns, finding food at the right time, and of course cues by temperature which is all changing as our planet continues to get warmer. 

The biggest concern for migrating birds is known as the “phenological mismatch”, which means when birds fall so out of step with the seasons, their populations crash.  Even as the global temperature has risen just 1 degree Celsius, some birds are so far behind spring that they miss insect emergence and lose out on their food supply. 

Scientists suggest that to help migratory birds continue to have a food supply if they are not in sync with the seasonal changes, is to bolster more native fruits along birds’ migration routes.  Amanda Gaallinat, a researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, states; “If you have more native plants in your yard, you’re going to see a higher biomass and diversity of insects and birds.”  Having more food options for birds is one way, we actually can all help birds deal with changes caused by climate change.

The Audubon Society has created the Migratory Bird Initiative whose aim is to provide a more comprehensive and holistic view of bird migration in the Western Hemisphere.  Since 2018, scientists have been compiling records by more than 100 researchers and institutions into one resource that has monitored the movements of thousands of birds and more than 450 species. 

This will serve as an incredible resource since an estimated 3 billion birds have disappeared in North America since the 1970’s!! According to Peter Marra, director of Georgetown University’s Earth Common Institute and founder of Migratory Connectivity Project; “In order to prevent the loss of more birds, it is necessary to have a complete understanding of their movements and how populations fit together.”

Birds are considered an indicator species.  Since birds are widespread globally, they help provide information on the condition and changes of an ecosystem. 

 Audubon experts found an overlap between places that are important for birds’ survival and where there are natural carbon stores.  Therefore, protecting birds and their habitats are equally important for fighting climate change, thus improving our shared quality of life. 

Reference:

 Spring 2022, The Wonder of Migration, Audubon

African savanna and forest elephants are assessed separately for global extinction risk status

For the first time, the International Union for Conservation of Nature assesses global extinction risk status of the African savanna and forests elephants separately. 

Although you may already know of this, in March of 2021, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed the African forest elephant as critically endangered and the African savanna elephant as endangered on its Red List. 

The IUCN’s Red List is a comprehensive information source on the global extinction risk status of animals, plants, and fungus species.

This is the first time the African species of elephants were assessed separately.  The African forest elephant population has fallen more than 86% over a 31-year period and the African savanna elephant population has fallen approximately 60% over the last 50 years.  

According to Dr. Bruno Oberle, IUCN Director General;

 “Africa’s elephants play key roles in ecosystems, economies and in our collective imagination all over the world.  Today’s new IUCN Red List assessments of both African elephant species underline the persistent pressures faced by these iconic animals…”

Both species experienced a sharp decline of their populations since 2008 due to increased poaching which peaked in 2011.  Poaching continues to be one of the critical factors that threatened their existence as well as loss of habitat for agriculture and other land use. 

Providing separate assessments of both species can help focus on appropriate and more robust conservation efforts for each of these species moving forward. 

The elephant species is integral to the ecosystems in which they live as well as to the health of our planet.  Providing necessary measures to ensure their survival is not only humane but is also a step towards maintaining the health of our planet that we all depend on. 

As Dr. Barney Long, Global Wildlife Conservation’s Senior Director of Species Conservation states;

“Regular re-assessment of a species’ status on the Red List helps to highlight worrying trends like what the elephants of Africa are experiencing.  The health of our planet depends on the health of elephants and the ecosystems they inhabit…”

Please share this updated status for the African elephants to spread awareness of the threats they are facing.  They need our support.  

Photo by Joaquín Rivero on Unsplash

Reference:

https://www.iucn.org/news/species/202103/african-elephant-species-now-endangered-and-critically-endangered-iucn-red-list

Recycling Textiles

Did you know approximately 85 % of the clothing Americans consume, which is nearly 3.8 billion pounds annually, is sent to landfills as solid waste, amounting to nearly 80 pounds per American per year? 

That is a lot of textiles just sitting in a landfill.  It is always a plus to donate the clothes you no longer wear but what about the old towels, bedsheets, old shoes, or shirts that are torn and aren’t warranted to be donated? 

I had saved a lot of those types of items that weren’t good enough to be donated but I just couldn’t bring myself to throw away because nothing ever really goes away.  Our garbage just gets moved into a landfill where most things do not biodegrade. 

So, I began researching what to do with old textiles that can’t be donated.  Locally, I found a textile recycling center that takes unusable or unsaleable textiles including books.  Some of the items they receive may go to lower income people around the world or the textiles that are not suitable for wear or use are recycled into wiping rags or are processed back to fibers that can be remanufactured into paper, yarn, insulation, carpet padding, and sound proofing. 

Recycling, reusing, repurposing overall helps reduce our carbon footprint, preserve clean air, reduce energy consumption, conserve water and woodlands.

If you have things that are not worthy of being donated, look up textile recycling near you and you will be able to find centers that will take these items and repurpose them. 

Photo courtesy of istock

Reference:

            https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12940-018-0433-7#ref-CR2

In a past life, I was a physical therapist.  I found the human body fascinating.  Through my training, I began to see connections from the toes up to the neck and my approach to each patient I treated, was from this perspective, that everything is connected.  A dysfunctional pattern in the pelvic region could affect the shoulder and neck and down into the arms.  Everything is connected.  I taught my patients to see their body from this vantage point. 

As Wild For Change has evolved, I see the same pattern in nature and in us.  We are all interconnected, like a giant invisible web.  An elephant disperses seeds as it migrates and helps plants and trees to grow in other areas which gives off oxygen for the planet.  Rhinos eat selective grasses which allows other wildlife to have the remaining plants and grasses to feed from.   Whales help fertilize phytoplankton that gives off oxygen for us to breathe and absorbs CO2. The bees pollinate food we love and enjoy.  When someone holds the door for me, I feel grateful and think about that kind gesture the rest of the day. The more we emit carbon and other greenhouse gases into the air, our planet heats up. 

We can’t share this planet and think we are all living life on an individual basis.  There is no “I” in “We”.  We are all inextricably linked to each other and nature.  There is no way around it. 

It’s you, me, the bees, the trees, and all things in between. 

World Rhino Day 2022

Today is World Rhino Day!

Rhinoceroses are ancient beings and somewhere between 35-20 million years ago, they were the most abundant and largest mammals on the northern continents living in a variety of ecosystems. 

The current five species of rhinoceros all come from different lineages. 

·      The Sumatran rhino (found in Asia) is the oldest and originated approximately 15 million years ago.

·      The Black rhino (found in Africa) evolved 4-10 million years ago.

·      The White rhino (found in Africa) evolved 2-5 million years ago.

·      The Javan and Greater-One-Horned rhinos (both found in Asia) evolved 2-4 million years ago. 

At the beginning of the 20th century the rhino population was around 500,000.  Now the total of all species is listed at approximately 27,431. 

It is hard to imagine these beings have been in existence for millions of years and now are endangered.  The Sumatran, Javan, and Black rhino species are critically endangered while the White Rhino is near threatened and the Greater-One-Horn is listed as vulnerable.

A sharp contrast in population size in a little over a century.  This is mostly due to poaching as the keratin (which is the same makeup as our nails) found in rhino horn is believed to have medicinal value to cure such ailments as hangovers and erectile dysfunction. The horn is sold on the black market mostly in China and Vietnam.  Since it is sold illegally, the value of rhino horn has been kept high and has more value than gold, if you can believe that. 

According to Helping Rhinos, there was a 50% increase in rhino poaching in the first six months of 2021.  With the rhino species already vulnerable, this unacceptable loss makes it even more difficult to safeguard their populations. 

In honor of World Rhino Day, please check out Helping Rhinos and Ol Pejeta Conservancy to learn of ways you can help support and conserve the rhino species to ensure a brighter future for them. 

Photo by Geran de Klerk on Unsplash

References:

http://www.rhinoresourcecenter.com/pdf_files/117/1175860259.pdf

https://www.helpingrhinos.org/5-species-of-rhino/

Buyer Beware of Palm Oil

Palm oil is sneaky.  It is an ingredient that is ubiquitously found in so many products from chocolates to shampoos and soaps because its cheap and versatile but its wreaking havoc on ancient rainforests biodiversity and endangered wildlife habitats.

The rainforests in places like Borneo and Sumatra store 300 billion tons of carbon, which is approximately 40 times the annual greenhouse gases emissions from fossil fuels.  These regions however are a hot spot to grow palm oil.  Every hour 300 soccer fields of rainforests are removed to make palm oil plantations. 

These rainforests and habitats of endangered wildlife are being destroyed faster than what can truly be considered sustainable.  According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature(IUCN), 193 different species are currently endangered or threatened because of the palm oil industry, including the orangutan, some species of Asian elephant, and the already endangered tiger.

There is a non-profit organization called the Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) whose intention is to unify the seven sectors of the palm oil industry which includes the palm oil producers, traders, manufacturers, retailers, investors/bankers, environmental organizations, and social organizations to create a defined set of standards to produce sustainable palm oil while still being a lucrative industry.  Unfortunately, it took the RSPO 14 years to ban its members from destroying rainforests and it has yet to enforce this ban. 

In 2010, some of the major brands using palm oil promised to protect forests and clean up the palm oil industry by 2020.  Those promises are yet to be seen. 

Whether you are buying personal beauty products or food, please check the labels of the products you buy.  Alternatives to the products that contain palm oil are available.  These alternative products are generally less processed and contain less ingredients. Each time, we as consumers say no to palm oil, we are incentivizing companies to adopt more sustainable ways to produce the products we buy and use.  It is like voting with our wallets. 

Photo courtesy of Simone Millward via Unsplash

References:

https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/issues/indonesian-forests-palm-oil/

https://www.rainforest-rescue.org/topics/palm-oil/questions-and-answers

https://www.greenmatters.com/p/does-sustainable-palm-oil-exist

https://www.greenpeace.org/aotearoa/story/5-problems-with-sustainable-palm-oil/

Happy World Elephant Day 2022

It is believed the ancestors of the current elephant species came into existence some 50-60 million years ago and their existence has beneficial effects for our planet. 

Elephants are known as ecosystem engineers.  They provide a myriad of ways of supporting ecosystems and maintaining biodiversity which is exactly why they are very much needed to fight the climate crisis we face. 

Elephants are known as gardeners because of the varied plant life they ingest, in which they disperse the seeds through their dung, allowing for the biodiversity of plant life in other regions while providing food for other wildlife.

As elephants travel, they break down smaller trees on their path that allows for more light to enter through a forest canopy that fosters bigger trees to grow thus sequestering carbon. 

By supporting ecosystem biodiversity, elephants play an important factor in reducing carbon emissions and fostering a healthier planet. 

If forest elephants were able to recover to their original population, they could sequester 6,000 metric tons per square kilometer.  Their economic value for carbon capture services would be estimated at $150 billion as a whole or 1.75 million per elephant.  Whereas the ivory of a dead elephant taken by poachers is worth approximately $40,000.  That is a 4,275% difference in the value of a single elephant being alive than dead!  

We owe a great deal of respect for elephants not only for the fact they have roamed this planet much longer than we have and they are very evolved, intelligent and sentient beings, but also for the inextricable value they provide for us and for the earth just because of their very existence!

If you would like to help, you can learn more about elephant conservation at www.elephanttrust.org

Photo courtesy of Geran de Klerk via Unsplash

Resources:

https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/fandd/issues/2020/09/how-african-elephants-fight-climate-change-ralph-chami

https://www.ifaw.org/journal/elephants-ecological-engineers

Sharks are ancient keystone species that need our protection

This week is shark week and I want to celebrate these ancient keystone species!

Did you know that sharks are older than trees?  The shark species have been in existence for over 450,000 million years while trees have been in existence for 350,000 million years. The modern human did not even enter the scene until somewhere between 550,000-750,000 years ago. 

Sharks are considered keystone species in that they support and maintain the ecosystem in which they live. 

Sharks are apex predators which means they prey on sick and weak fish to keep the overall marine life population healthy.  Without them, the food chain and health of the ocean is thrown off balance. 

Sharks also help to keep climate change in check.  By eating dead matter on the ocean floor, sharks help to keep the carbon cycle moving through the ocean.  Sharks and other large marine life such as whales sequester large amounts of carbon.  But when sharks and other large marine life are hunted, this disrupts the ocean’s carbon cycle. 

Currently, two-thirds of the shark population are threatened by climate change, over-fishing, poaching, and habitat loss.

According to National Geographic, if the world upped its marine protected areas by a mere 3%, it could save 99 of the most imperiled shark species that are top predators that keep their ecosystem in balance. 

Learn more of how to help sharks at https://sharkangels.org.

Photo by Colton Jones on Unsplash

 References:

https://www.dutchsharksociety.org/are-sharks-older-than-trees/

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/essential-timeline-understanding-evolution-homo-sapiens-180976807/

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/surprising-ways-sharks-keep-the-ocean-healthy?loggedin=true

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/most-fascinating-shark-discoveries-decade

https://europe.oceana.org/en/importance-sharks-0

https://www.conservation.org/blog/5-things-you-didnt-know-sharks-do-for-you

Bee the Change for Bees!

Did you know bees are responsible for 1 out of every 3 bites of food we eat?

But a class of toxic pesticides called neonics have been linked to the vast die-offs of bees over the past 25 years.  This pesticide is also linked to the mass die-off of birds and also fish.

Fortunately the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) has been rallying for support to urge the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to ban the use of neonics.  

The European Union has banned the outdoor use of three major neonics and Canada is on pace to also reduce the use of pesticides.  But the U.S. is lagging behind.

Dan Raichel, acting director of NRDC’s Pollinator Initiative, states;

“Bees are the canaries in the coal mine.  If we can win protections for them, then we also win protections for many other things.”

To help save the bees and urge the EPA to ban neonics and for President Biden to take action, you can send a message via nrdc.org/savebees;

https://act.nrdc.org/letter/5676-march-neonics-210317

You can also help save our pollinators by planting a bee friendly garden and trees.  To learn more, check out The Bee Conservancy for their 10 ways to save bees or click here;

https://thebeeconservancy.org/10-ways-to-save-the-bees/

Photos courtesy of Aaron Burden and Mary Oloumi.

Big win for iconic gray wolf!

A U.S. federal court has restored endangered species protections for the iconic and endangered gray wolf.

This comes on the heels after the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) and its allies have sued to place the wolf back on the threatened and endangered species list.

Some may remember in 2021 when states like Idaho and Montana were allowing aggressive tactics to reduce wolf populations such as baiting them out of protected territory where they could be hunted and trap.

Egregiously, 20% of the wolf population in Yellowstone National Park were killed by just a handful of trappers and hunters last year.

Luckily there are organizations like the NRDC who are fighting the good fight for wildlife who need a strong voice advocating for their right to live, for equality, for their future generations to have a chance.

I mentioned this before in a post earlier this year that each continent has an iconic species that is able to tell a story about the region long before humans came. For North America, one of those species is the wolf. It is part of the continent’s geographical, ecological, and evolutionary history.

The wolf is one of North America’s oldest ancestors and it should be our place to ensure its survival for generations to come.

Photo by Marc-Olivier Jodoin

The Effects of Habitat Fragmentation on Wildlife, Ecosystems, and Us

Habitat fragmentation is the process in which large areas of habitat are broken down into smaller patches of land.

Imagine if you will, what would your life would be like if you restricted everyday how far you could go beyond your home to find food, resources, a mate.  And please remove the ability to have items or your groceries delivered to your home.

This is what wildlife are experiencing globally. 

When habitat fragmentation occurs due to human expansion such a road being built through a forest or human encroachment into wild areas, the wildlife struggle to move between the habitats they once knew and risking their lives.

Habitat fragmentation also reduces a species long-term health, increased inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity occurs, as well as population decline of a species. 

Since I live near forest preserves, I see this happening to the wildlife all the time.  I had to stop traffic on a street near my home, as a snapping turtle was making its way across to lay its eggs.

This is life as we know it as the human population keeps encroaching into wildlife habitats and the wildlife have less and less places to go. 

Not only are animal species effected by habitat fragmentation, there is also a resulting biodiversity loss which impairs key ecosystem functions.  Healthy ecosystems are essential not only to the species living within these ecosystems, but the planet at large because healthy ecosystems clean our water, purify our air, and regulate climate just to name a few.  

We need to be mindful that the effects on the wildlife and ecosystems will ultimately have an effect on us.  Giving the wildlife space will actually benefit us. 

Photo courtesy of Voice for Asian Elephants Society

References:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2018/08/what-is-habitat-fragmentation-and-what-does-it-mean-for-our-wildlife/

https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/biodiversity/intro/index_en.htm

Happy World Ocean Day 2022!

Intrinsically we have a connection to the ocean.  As our bodies are mostly made of water, our blood plasma is 98% identical to the ocean water.  We literally are interconnected with the ocean. Cool right?  So, no wonder when we look at the ocean, we feel that connection, a bond to its presence, a sense of peace and oneness, and an openness to life.

And beyond that connection we have, the ocean provides us with more than 50% of the oxygen we breathe and stores 50 times more carbon that our atmosphere.  It literally takes care of us and the planet. 

Now it’s time for us to take care of the ocean;

·      Every year, 8 million metric tons of plastic ends up in our oceans, polluting our waters and harming marine life.

·      Greenhouse gas emissions continue to go unchecked and warming ocean waters continue to rise and become more de-oxygenated, in which, we will see an unprecedented extinction rate of marine life.  

·      Only 2% of the ocean is deemed marine protected areas, which is similar to a national park.  Scientists have found we need at least 30% of the ocean to be protected to ensure ecologically important marine life and coral reef systems can continue to thrive and maintain the health of the ocean. 

There are many ways we can help the ocean continue to take care of us;

·      Help with beach clean-ups and collect trash that pollutes our waters by using the Clean Swell app by Ocean Conservancy;

https://oceanconservancy.org/trash-free-seas/international-coastal-cleanup/cleanswell/

BTW, you can do a clean-up anywhere and report it on the app as Ocean Conservaancy will use the data for research.

·      When you purchase a product from 4ocean, one pound of trash is removed from the ocean, rivers, and coastlines;

https://www.4ocean.com

·      Reducing our plastic consumption and minding our carbon footprint will also reduce our impact on the ocean. 

We have the power to change the future health of the ocean.  It all starts with awareness and choice. 

Photos courtesy of Shifaaz Shamoon & Tim Marshall on Unsplash

Animal-based diets contribute twice the amount to climate change than plant-based diets

Did you know animal-based foods contribute twice the amount of gas emissions related to climate change than plant-based foods?  

To produce one pound of beef, it takes 1,840 gallons of water compared to 110 gallons of water for one pound of rice. 

According to www.theconversation.com, the governments at the COP26 pledged to reduce deforestation and cut greenhouse gas emissions to protect nature and limit the effects of climate change.  But diets rich in animal-based foods are the driver for both problems and no mention was made at how eating plant-based will be more helpful to reduce emissions as well as deforestation. 

Food for thought!

Graph courtesy of www.OurWorldinData.Org

References:

1.    https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-021-00225-9

2.   https://theconversation.com/meat-eating-is-a-big-climate-issue-but-isnt-getting-the-attention-it-deserves-170855

We can prevent mass extinction of marine life, if we reduce our carbon emissions

New research finds by reducing our carbon emissions, we can prevent mass extinction of marine life.

In a new paper in the journal of Science, two researchers found that if greenhouse gas emissions continue to go unchecked and warming ocean waters continue to rise and become more de-oxygenated, we will see an unprecedented extinction rate of marine life.   

As global carbon emissions continue to soar, global temperatures will rise.  When global temperatures rise, it results in ocean waters not having the ability to absorb oxygen.  These de-oxygenated ocean waters are expanding which gives marine life an even smaller area to live in oxygen rich regions.

Due to oxygen loss in the deeper regions of the ocean, more marine life are staying closer to the surface of the ocean which means a reduction in habitat, energy demands on marine life increase due to less oxygen, more marine life become susceptible to prey as well as succumb to getting entangled in fishnets at the surface and reproduction rates are reduced.  Consequently, de-oxygenated ocean waters have expanded 1.7 million square miles since the 1960’s. 

According to the research, if we can curb emission rates immediately, we could reduce the risk of extinction by 70%.  We are right now at an all-hands-on deck on the global stage.  It is all dependent on our choices because eventually, what is happening in our oceans will affect us on land.  The choice is ours, let’s turn the tide.  

Reference;

https://apple.news/AvOfvYb3DRv69qfZBK4Xjhw

Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Unsplash

120 parrots saved from international wildlife trafficking

Over 120 parrots were intercepted by Uganda Wildlife Authority in collaboration with Conserv Congo, International Fund for Animal Welfare, World Parrot Fund, and the Wildlife Trust of Inda that were seized in the Democratic Republic of Congo from an international trafficking kingpin.

The trafficker, who is a 35-year-old DRC citizen has been identified as a key player in the trafficking of birds, especially African greys and many other protected species to Asian countries, including but not limited to India and Bangladesh.

The suspect transported two large cases full of birds through the DRC, and then across the Congo-Uganda border using fake CITES documents and corruption as his tools of trade.

The suspect is linked to many other regional and international wildlife trafficking networks and has been placed in custody, awaiting his trial and the parrots have been sent to a place of safety in a sanctuary.

It should be remembered that even though the DRC has been under moratorium since 2016 pertaining to the exportation of African greys, as many as 12,000 birds are exported illegally every year from the country, either on fake permits or passed as other species, which are not prohibited for international trade. 

Most of these are transported towards South Africa and Asia as their final destination. A parrot can cost up to 500 US dollars in some countries.

This case is an epitome of what synergy can bring to the fight against the scourge of wildlife trafficking in Africa. Local, regional and international bodies worked together for almost a year to make this important arrest! 

Bravo to the collaboration!

Conserv Congo is a non-profit conservation working on the front lines against wildlife poaching and trafficking.  To help ensure their mission to save and protect endangered species, please consider making a donation to their cause.   Below is a link to a fundraiser for Conserv Congo:

https://gofund.me/12600287

To learn about Conserv Congo, you can visit them here;

https://www.facebook.com/conservcongo/

https://conservcongo.wordpress.com