Progressive Wednesday

Sounds great to us; sounds deadly to whales.

Here's one of those things that might slide underneath the radar sonar of even the most conservation-minded progressive.

According to a report by the scientific committee of the International Whaling Commission, one of the world’s leading bodies of whale biologists, the evidence linking sonar to a series of whale strandings in recent years is “very convincing and appears overwhelming.” Despite the broad scientific consensus that military active sonar kills whales, the use of this deadly sonar in the world’s oceans is spreading.

The first time this came up was in the Bahamas when the United States Navy conducted a training exercise during which they used Low Frequency Active (LFA) sonar. Shortly after, whales from four different species beached themselves on the nearby islands. These whales were there because of massive bleeding in their brains and ears. Beaked Whales, observed in the Bahamas for decades, have not been seen there since.

How load is that sonar to a whale?

Some mid-frequency sonar systems can put out over 235 decibels, as loud as a Saturn V rocket at launch. Even 100 miles from the LFA system, sound levels can approach 160 decibels, well beyond the Navy’s own safety limits for humans.

In other words, it's like standing under a twin-engine jet fighter during take-off, except that marine mammals don't have those noise-canceling headsets that air traffic controllers have.

It's easy to overlook this practice because we are, and rightfully so, sympathetic to our military. But I believe that there can exist a balance between safety and environmental stewardship, even for the brave men and women in our armed forces. And as more nations join in this practice, it becomes more important to stop it.

The Natural Resources Defense Council has put together a petition to send to the Secretary of the Navy, Donald Winter, asking him to take the following measures:

• Put rich marine mammal habitat off limits.
• Avoid migration routes and feeding or breeding areas when marine mammals are present.
• Listen with passive sonar to ensure marine mammals are not in the testing area before switching on active sonar.
• Establishing appropriate safety zones around ships transmitting sonar.
• Reduce the source level of sonar signals at nighttime and in other periods of low visibility.

These are very reasonable measures to keep our Navy safe from attack and prevent marine mammals from suffering a horrible death. So please find 30 seconds in your busy day to join me in signing the petition. Then if you want to learn more, and this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, check out this video, narrated by Pierce Brosnan. It’s heartbreakingly horrifying.

This Wednesday: Coral Relief

Problem:

One of the places that I desperately want to visit before I “become one with nature– is the Great Barrier Reef. A series of over 3,400 individual reefs and 900 islands along the east coast of Australia, it covers a distance longer than the west coast of the United States. That's over 2,000 kilometers for those of you keeping score at home. It's the world’s largest coral reef system. You can see it from space. Even “outer space.– It's big, and beautiful. It's one of the seven natural wonders of the world. And it's dying.

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Make Progress:

Coral reefs all over the world are disappearing at an alarming rate. Over a quarter of the worlds reef systems have died or been severely damaged, and many scientists say that the remaining 75% will be gone in the next 30-50 years. Most of this destruction is human-related. That's the bad news. The good news is that we can do something about it.

• Learn
• Watch
• Write
• Join and Donate
• Change

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Learn:

A bit of “founding fatherly– wisdom from James Madison:

Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.

In that spirit we've compiled a list of facts (the cold, hard kind) about what corals are and how they are beneficial. So arm yourselves with this good knowledge:

• Contrary to popular belief, corals are actually animals. They are made up of tiny polyps that live symbiotically with zooxanthellae algae that grow within the coral's own tissue. This algae provides the coral with food and is what gives it color. These individual corals reproduce both sexually and asexually to form reefs.
• Reefs are home to 25 percent of all marine life equaling over two million different species.
• Ten percent of the world's diet comes from reef fish and many poor and developing countries rely on local reefs for more than a quarter of their protein.
• Coral reefs are an enormous part of local and global economies. In the state of Florida alone coral-related tourism generated $4.4 billion, while creating over 70,000 jobs in a single year.
• Coral reef species are being used to create new antibiotics and antiviral medicines, as well as bone grafts. They also show promise for treating leukemia, skin, and other kinds of cancer.
• Large reefs protect shorelines from excessive wave action, violent storms and floods, helping to prevent death, erosion, and property loss.

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And here are some of the not-so-smiley causes of destruction:

• Dynamite and cyanide fishing: Yes, people use these two things to catch fish on the reefs. Their destructive impact should be obvious.
• Overfishing: The loss of a particular type of fish to the seafood trade can harm the ecological balance and be devastating to a coral reef.
• Runoff: Sediment from nearby development can get into the water and quickly destroy entire reef systems.
• Collection: Fish are caught and corals are harvested for the aquarium trade, calcium supplements, mortar and souvenirs.
• Global warming: A biggie. While many coral species are physically very hardy, a rise in ocean temperatures of only one or two degrees can cause massive coral bleaching, a condition where the algae dies off and the corals turn white and often die. In addition, warmer waters mean bigger hurricanes, which can pound coastal regions and do enormous damage to reefs.

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So now you know a little about these underwater paradises and their frailty, but to quote Goethe: “Knowing is not enough; we must apply!”

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Watch:

If you can tear yourself away from Wife Swap or the 43rd season of Survivor (maybe it only seems like that many) try turning the channel to PBS or The Discovery Channel. They quite frequently have documentaries about our underwater world and coral reefs in particular. For those able to get them in high definition, you'll get a more realistic idea of how beautiful and unusual these animals are. But for those still using “rabbit ears– we'll help you out.

If you want a “soft-polyp quicky,– the Planetary Coral Reef Foundation has put together this seven minute video that touches on the importance of coral reefs as well as dangers to reef systems and what is being done to prevent their destruction. Give it a look.

Coral Reef Adventure is an IMAX film that follows a husband and wife duo for ten months traveling from the Great Barrier Reef to the islands of Fiji and many other reefs. They concentrate on currently endangered reefs and the actions taken by ordinary people to save them. Narrated by Liam Neeson, this film has won much acclaim for its breathtaking cinematography and powerful message. You can rent it online or buy it here.

Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of the late ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, has created a series with our friends at PBS called Ocean Adventures. One of these grabbed our attention (and someone else's too), and we recommend it highly. Voyage to Kure takes Cousteau and his team to the Northwestern Hawaiian Island archipelago where they take a look at all of the marine life and the decline of many species and inspires the viewer to take action. How inspiring is it you ask? We'll tell you in the next section. But first, buy it here from PBS or rent it online. It's worth a look.

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Write:

Last year Jean-Michel Cousteau was invited to the White House for a private screening of the aforementioned Ocean Adventures: Voyage to Kure with the President and First Lady. They were so moved by the urgency of the crisis in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands that President Bush immediately upgraded the 140,000 square miles of ocean landscape that contains 70% of the United States' coral reefs from a reserve to a National Monument. National Monuments are not subject to approval by congress and therefore, the protections implied took effect immediately.

This was a huge step, which the President should be applauded for taking. But what about the other 30% of the coral reefs in the country, mainly located in the Florida Keys? We would like you to write a letter to the President showing your support for his action in Hawaii and asking him to take it a step further.

Below you’ll find an example. Feel free to edit it in any way before you sign and mail it. Or, since you are using one of those new-fangled computers, you could just copy, paste, and email it here with your name attached.

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Subject: Praise for action in Hawaii and calling for more.

Dear Mr. President,

I would like to take a moment to thank you for your quick and decisive action in declaring the Northwest Hawaiian Islands and the surrounding marine environment a National Monument. This was a huge step in preserving the beauty and magnificence of this vital region and animals that live there.

I am writing, however, to ask you to take similar action with the rest of our nation's endangered coral reefs, which are located in the Florida Keys. The reefs surrounding the Keys are home to more than 100 species of corals and more than 400 species of fish. Both are a vital part of Florida's economy as well, attracting over 4 million tourists annually. But they are threatened by pollution, overuse, and overfishing. They need more protection.

Please declare the Florida Keys' coral reefs a National Monument so they will be there for our children and our grandchildren to enjoy and profit from in the years ahead.

Sincerely,

Your Name

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Join and Donate:

In doing research for this Wednesday's topic I came across the websites of about 17 million organizations dedicated to this issue. Okay, that may be a slight exaggeration, but there are a lot. And that's great news. But for those who want to get involved, how do they know which would be the most effective organization to donate their time, effort and money to? Well, I’ve visited all 17 million and here are the three that I most recommend along with their mission statements and links for you to lend a helping fin.

• Reef Relief

Reef Relief is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to preserve and Protect Living Coral Reef Ecosystems through local, regional and global efforts.

Donate and join.

• Reef Check

The Reef Check Foundation is an international non-profit organization dedicated to conservation of two ecosystems: tropical coral reefs and California rocky reefs.

Donate and join.

• The Coral Reef Alliance

The Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) is a member-supported, non-profit organization, dedicated to protecting the health of coral reefs by integrating ecosystem management, sustainable tourism, and community partnerships.

Donate and Join

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Change:

It's the little things we do, the small actions we take as citizens, consumers, and stewards of our great green and blue orb that make the biggest differences, the most progress. It's what the Progressive Wednesday community is all about, the little things that each of us can do. It might be hard to imagine, but there are everyday things that even the most landlocked Nebraskans can do to help solve this crisis. So here's a list-behind-the-list of the everyday variety:

• For you reef-keepers like me out there, buy aquacultured animals. The Geothermal Aquaculture Research Foundation (GARF), located in Idaho, is a non-profit committed to coral propagation. They sell their corals online at very reasonable prices. Make sure your next “Nemo– and corals are “aquacultured– and lessen the burden on our natural reefs to supply our own indulgences.
  
• When you buy cement, brick or concrete, make sure it is not made from crushed coral.
• Do not buy bleached coral skeletons. Ever.
• Take care when diving. If you are one of the millions of divers that visit coral reefs each year, be sure to follow the rules and respect the reef. And don't take anything!
• Eat fish that are in abundance. The Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch Program provides information on which fish are good to eat, what to avoid and good alternatives. They even break it down by region.
• Last but certainly not least, do your part to help fight global warming. You knew before how it affects you, now you know how it affects those below sea level. Renewable home energy, efficient driving, carpool– ¦ you know the drill, but it can't be said enough.

Picture credit to this reef diver.

Save Hedwig!

Yes, I was there. 12:01am at my local bookstore, waiting to get my hands on a copy of the newest Harry Potter book, “The Deathly Hallows.– The line was not nearly as long at my local bookstore for those of us willing to pay an extra buck or two to help out local business (and save on gas). The series is great, and anything that gets kids to wait outside in a line for hours so they can read a book as soon as it comes out, well, that's even greater. But that's not what I'm writing about.

If you've read experienced the novels, and chances are, you have,  you know Hedwig, Harry's beautiful, white Snowy Owl. He is just one of thousands of these raptors to make an appearance. Unfortunately, here in the “muggle– world, those birds are not nearly as ubiquitous, and one of their most precious nesting grounds is constantly under attack by the “dementors– of Exxon-Mobile and the other big oil companies:

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska is also a vital mating area for an astounding number of migratory birds. And around North America, owls and birds of all species are threatened from habitat degradation, illegal hunting, and the encroachment of modern day society.

There are a lot of groups out there committed to stopping this invasion from happening. Defenders of Wildlife has set up a Snowy owl adoption process. For $25 you can “adopt– one of these birds, all of the proceeds going to saving ANWR. Along with a peace of heart, you'll also receive a certificate and a plush doll.

If you're like Uncle Vernon and owls aren't your cup of euphoria potion, you can also adopt a polar bear of wolf. Hey, adopt all three if you can; that's what Dumbledore would do.

Is this just the shameless use of someone else's (J.K. Rowling's) success to advance a cause? Maybe, but it's for a cause that I strongly believe in and through a group that I wholeheartedly support.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to go finish the book.

Thanks to this bird watcher for the pic

His (developing) Eye is on the Sparrow

I live in a village with roughly 2,800 of my fellow citizens, and I have done so for all but a few years of my life. The houses are moderately sized and spaced apart. We all have “Baby Bear– -sized yards and there hasn't been a lack of trees since I can remember. There have always been thick woods on three sides of our community (a river on the fourth), and there is a lot of wildlife. We usually don't see it; it's always been well hidden, given the ample habitat surrounding the village.

But in the past month there have been three different sightings of foxes and even a couple of deer that were walking in the middle of the biggest street in broad daylight. A lot of people that I've talked to about it can't understand the strange behavior of these animals, but I have a theory. I don't think it would take much for me to prove this theory.

When I moved back from Florida after a four-year absence, four new developments had popped up outside of the village. The “dirt trails– we blazed through the woods as kids are now the back yards of mid to upper income homes. The places that these animals lived are now inhabited by a different breed, Homo sapiens. It's called “urban sprawl.–

This morning when I picked up the Buffalo News, I was pleased to see that a housing development project in a neighboring town has been stopped due to the recent discovery of Henslow's sparrows, a threatened bird species. (I was even more pleased to see it on the front page.) Here's what the News had to say:

Homes now stand on uncontested parts of the property, but preservationists are blocking a new wave of construction of at least 25 homes with an estimated worth of $6 million.

Seven years after their discovery, the Henslow’s sparrows remain, making it virtually impossible for the property owner to build on approximately 123 acres that the Department of Environmental Conservation considers the songbirds’ domain.

Bravo, and well-spotted, DEC. Stopping urban sprawl is no easy task. The American Association of Architects (pdf) and the Sierra Club are two groups with active efforts to slow this phenomenon. For too long we have destroyed the habitat or food chain of wild animals and claimed over-population when they come into our yards. It's time we showed a little responsibility and restraint.

Save the Phytoplankton, save the world

We’ve talked a lot about the importance of trees and their role in the in reducing the greenhouse gasses that lead to global warming. A Google search for “global warming– and “trees– gets over five million hits.

But in case you have been living in Iceland (where trees are in short supply), here's what they do. Trees absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂), the greenhouse gas most responsible for global warming, and through a process called photosynthesis, turn that carbon dioxide into back into oxygen. This is why there is less CO₂ in the atmosphere during the summer when the leaves are out in the northern hemisphere, than during the winter when the trees are bare and other plants are dormant. As Al Gore says in An Inconvenient Truth, “It’s as if the entire Earth, once each year, breathes in and out.–

But three quarters of the planet is covered by water. What if we could increase the plant life in the “Big Blue,– to plant trees in the ocean, if you will. According to the New York Times:

In an effort to ameliorate the effects of global warming, several groups are working on ventures to grow vast floating fields of plankton intended to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and carry it to the depths of the ocean.

Phytoplankton, like trees, use photosynthesis to produce energy. It is found at the surface due to the higher levels of CO2, but is also limited to the availability of iron in the ocean. There are, however, large parts of the ocean's surface that are inexplicably devoid of iron. That's where the research vessel, WeatherBird II, takes over.

The ship plans to dissolve tons of iron, an essential plankton nutrient, over a 10,000-square-kilometer patch. When the trace iron prompts growth and reproduction of the tiny organism, scientists plan to measure how much carbon dioxide the plankton ingests.

There is still a lot of skepticism as to whether or not this will have a positive long-term effect on CO₂ levels in the atmosphere, as well as any unforeseeable negative side effects. But the discussion has started and the wheels are turning. And the idea of turning to one of the world's smallest organisms to solve its biggest problem, well, it’s a rather serendipitous cinher for our cause. Isn't that what we're all about?

Another threat to our planet's reefs

In the category of “bad news– we found this at MSNBC.com:

A strong earthquake that struck Indonesia's Sumatra Island two years ago caused one of the biggest coral die-offs ever documented, a study by scientists from two conservation groups found.

The cause of the die-off was the raising of the ocean floor by more than four feet, lifting much of the reef out of the water where, well, it dies.

But it is not, as Donald Rumsfeld says, all “Henny Penny– ”“The sky is falling.– There are two bits of good news to come out of this “mass mortality.– First, this once-in-a-century occurrence gives scientists the ability to study the recovery process from a source other than fossil reefs. Second, the reef in many places seems to be recovering. According to Stuart Campbell of the Wildlife Conservation Society:

At many sites, the worst affected species are beginning to decolonize the shallow reef areas. The reefs appear to be returning to what they looked like before the earthquake, although the process may take many years.

While this die-off is clearly not related to human activity and out of our control, it does emphasize the need to take action with regard to that which we can control. Check out our Wednesday topic on coral reefs to learn about the problems these inappropriately named underwater floral gardens (they're actually animals) face and how you can help contribute to the solution. Because sometimes we have to overcome nature to make real progress.

Photo courtesy of this traveler