I have been researching about shark finning for a while now and I’m amazed that the act of finning a shark still continues and is still legal in British waters. It’s barbaric and irresponsible and without any thought for the sustainability of the oceans and the future generations that will rely on them. It doesn’t make sense to cut off their fins and throw back the bodies, just for the kudos of eating a bowl of shark fin soup. Even if certain governments or government members are being bribed, potentially in the millions of dollars, from mafiaesque organisations to turn a blind eye to the illegal fishing, surely you as an intelligent individual would understand that eating a bowl of shark fin soup is not the correct thing to do. Consumer power can stop this happening!

Or do most people not really care about where their food is coming from and will eat whatever is in fashion at the time?? What do you feel about this. It would be great to find out your opinions?

The car runs on methane gas which is held in canisters stored in the boot and operates much the same as a normal petrol-fueled car.  “It performs like a normal car – you wouldn’t know it was powered by biogas,” a company spokesman said.

This conversion technology has been used in the past but the Bio-Bug is Britain’s first car to run on methane gas without its performance being reduced. It can power a conventional two litre VW Beetle convertible to 114mph.

The car is started using unleaded petrol but automatically switches to methane when the engine is “up to temperature”. If the methane tank runs out the Bio-Bug reverts back to petrol. Around 18 million cubic metres of biogas is produced from human waste every year at Wessex Water’s sewage treatment works in Avonmouth, Bristol.

The gas is generated through anaerobic digestion – where bugs which are starved of oxygen break down biodegradable material to produce methane.

Watch a video on the Bio-Bug on the BBC website.

Traditionally Iceland have been very responsible when it comes to their fishing guidelines but now Iceland have decided to increase it’s yearly quota on the mackerel catch by 3 times the recommend EU limits. They are defending the decision by saying “it’s legal and responsible” and they have the right to fish any amount within their 200 mile specified waters.

After failing to resolve the issue that also involves the Faroe Islands, the EU Fisheries Commissioner stated that the EC will be sending a “very clear message” that a sustainable deal must be reached. And if this doesn’t happen the Commission will discuss all necessary measures to ensure the safety and future of the mackerel stock.

Read more…

In The World We Have, Thich Nhat Hanh’s book he writes: “The situation the Earth is in today has been created by unmindful production and unmindful consumption. We consume to forget our worries and our anxieties. Tranquilising ourselves with over-consumption is not the way.”

The 84 year old Zen master is among the most influential Buddhist leaders, who’s admirers include The Prince of Wales, Oprah Winfrey and the Dalai Lama. His book on ecology, The World We Have, is a best-seller and tomorrow he is making a rare visit to the UK to give a talk at London’s Hammersmith Apollo.

Rooted in Buddhist tradition, the system of behaviour teaches respect and compassion for the environment through a code of practice called the five mindfulness trainings. Devotees are encouraged to adopt and practice these in everyday life, by introducing meditative periods into their day and by eating in silence to contemplate the origin and ethics of their food. The key message of the teachings is simple – consume with compassion.

The Interbeing way of life is a simple one, and it is this that has struck a chord with many new followers, and numbers continue to grow. From 100 monastic members in France and America a few years ago, there are now 600 members and centres in Germany, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia and Hong Kong.

After his London appearance he will hold a week-long retreat in the Midlands, where 500 people, including children and families, will be able to experience his blend of environmental spiritualism.

He says: “We all have to reconsider our values in society and live a simpler life. We have to reconsider our version of happiness.

“People are getting busier and busier. We are like fishes living in a place where water is lacking. We don’t feel comfortable, we don’t have space, we lack time. We may have more money than in the past but we have less space and less happiness and less love. So we should have a revolution which must start with a collective awakening. We have to stop and look for another direction.”

Read more…..

The Galapagos Conservation Trust’s Chief Executive Toni Darton said, “Saving Galapagos is a marathon not a sprint, and there is still a long way to go to overcome the challenges the Islands face.

Whilst progress is being made I am concerned that this announcement is premature and may give the impression that the natural wonders of Galapagos are no longer threatened. This is sadly still far from the truth. It may also divert funds away from the vital conservation and sustainability programmes. Galapagos may no longer officially be a World Heritage Site In Danger, but its unique biodiversity is still very much at risk.”

The natural beauty and biodiversity of the Galapagos Islands led to them being declared one of the first World Heritage Sites, in 1978. Their isolated location, 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, means they are home to many unique species including giant tortoises, marine iguanas and the only penguins north of the Equator.

Unfortunately, the many consequences of human intervention have had a devastating effect. The rapid increase in population and visitor numbers, growing threat from invasive species and unregulated development were just some of the reasons behind UNESCO’s decision to add Galapagos to the list of World Heritage Sites In Danger in 2007.

Since then the Ecuadorian Government has made progress in addressing a number of these issues. Immigration and quarantine measures have been tightened, a $15 million Invasive Species Fund has been set up and the governance of the Islands has been strengthened. But there is still a long way to go to ensure a sustainable future for Galapagos.

Over 40 Galapagos species are Critically Endangered – including the Floreana Mockingbird that helped inspire Darwin’s theory of evolution – and over 800 introduced plants now outnumber the 550 native and endemic species. A new housing development of over1,000 homes is set to double the size of the main town before issues such as water, sanitation and energy shortages have been addressed, and the updated Special Law for Galapagos that will strengthen the regulatory framework is not yet in place.

Opponents of the cull say there is already a decline in the number of cases of bovine TB in cattle in Wales, and an independent study commissioned by the Government found that culling badgers would make no significant reduction in bovine TB cases in cattle.

The Welsh Assembly Government has insisted the pilot cull would be part of wider measures to control the disease including tighter controls on cattle. The coalition government has scaled back trials of badger vaccination trials and vaccinations for cattle is still years away.

The Badger Trust launched the appeal against the cull and said the assembly government had not balanced the expected extent of disease reduction with the effect of the cull on badgers.

The trust’s costs in the legal action run to more than £100,000. Its spokesman, Jack Reedy, said: “We are very pleased to see the law can be effective in protecting badgers. This case does not change the science one jot. The science shows cattle-based measures are sufficient [in tackling TB in cattle].”

The RSPCA said: “This is a timely reminder about the importance of meticulous attention to detail before any culling regime is considered.”

Wales’s first minister, Carwyn Jones, said: “It’s important that we deal with TB in Wales because it’s a problem that is growing. We will consider the implications of the judgment, but what’s absolutely clear is that we cannot allow a situation to persist where TB increases year on year in Wales.” Read more…..

Proposals to restrict the trade in 8 shark species were over turned in March this year. Project AWARE Foundation are committed to deliver your signatures to the CITIES representative to demand better protection of the shark.

The team played 3 games in the group (lost 1-0/ drew 1-1/ won 4-1) and we came 2nd to go through to the quarter finals! Unfortunately, here’s where the magic boots lost their shine, and we lost 4-0. But it was a great day, lots of fun was had, and sweat and tears were shed.

In biological systems, phosphate occurs as phosphorous and along with nitrogen and potassium, is essential for plant growth.  Phosphorous is a component of DNA and is found in cell membranes. Professor Brian Chambers, a leading UK soil scientist, is calling on the Government to begin exploring the option of recovering phosphate from animal and human manure, household compost and municipal waste.

Western Europe imports all of its phosphate for agricultural use, but Professor Chambers from environmental consultancy ADAS, believes that more than 50 per cent of the UK’s total requirement could come from organic sources, saving the agricultural industry between £20m and £30m a year.

“People often talk about human’s addiction to oil. We’ve got exactly the same addiction to phosphate fertilisers too,” he said. “Our primary source – rock phosphate – is mined for use in fertilisers and that’s expected to peak around 2030. It means that right at the time we need to be doubling our food-growing capacity to feed the rising global population, we’ll be starting to run out of phosphorus. It’s a nightmare scenario.”

The solution may lie in recovering orgainc waste, currently sent to landfill.  There are now 37 Anaerobic Digestion plants operating around the country, which produce electricity from the biogas released during the process of anaerobic digestion. The process also results in the production of ‘digestate’ which is high in nutrients and can be used as an organic fertiliser. Read more…

The charity is currently seeking further funding to enable this work to continue and to expand the collections currently available to the public. The DVD produced by Back To The Planet will allow a detailed an powerful presentation of the work of Music Preserved and will feature interviews with key contributors, artists and engineers.

In 2009, the record label mpLIVE was launched which allows archived material held by Music Preserved to be downloaded over the Internet and “exists to ensure that historic performances can live again in a format which is accessible to all”. Funds from the sale of these recordings over the Internet contributes to funding the charity’s work. It is hoped the DVD will further boost support for their valuable work in preserving and making available historical music performances.