WcP Blog - World Culture Pictorial

Humans drive extinction faster than species can evolve; diversity loss due to destroyed habitats & climate change

WcP.Watchful.Eye — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 00:38:30 -0500

L: Threatened: The red squirrel will be lost within the next 20-30 years unless effective action is taken. This poor fella's just heard the news. R: Threatened: The pine marten. One of England’s rarest, and cutest, mammals.

A pair of giraffes nuzzle as they stand in the bush near Koure, Niger. The IUCN lists west African giraffes as an endangered species. Conservationists say the rate of new species is slower than diversity loss.

A giraffe from Africa's most endangered giraffe subspecies. By all accounts, they should be extinct. Instead, their numbers have quadrupled to 200 since 1996, an unlikely boon experts credit to the concurrence of an impoverished government keen for revenue that has enacted laws to protect them, a conservation program that encourages people to support them, and a rare harmony with humans who have accepted their presence.

Scientific consensus says that climate change is robbing polar bears of their habitats, and is the greatest threat to their survival.

"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile - hoping it will eat him last." - Winston Churchill

WcP.Philosophy — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:36:15 -0500

An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile - hoping it will eat him last.

— Winston Churchill

Women's Day hears voice of "comfort women", WWII survivors/victims, for justice, compensation, apology. Japanese Gov denies all

WcP.Story.Teller — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:15:05 -0500

Former “comfort woman” Lee Yong-Soo (L) stands beside her supporters holding portraits of Philippine, South Korean and Chinese comfort women who were sex slaves for Japanese soldiers during World War II, at a protest held in front of the Japanese parliament in Tokyo. Japan on 27 June 2007 brushed aside calls from US lawmakers for a fresh apology to wartime sex slaves, even as the former “comfort women” renewed their demands for Tokyo to acknowledge their plight. Japan said the US move to pass a resolution calling for an “unambiguous” apology from Japan for the coercion of women into army brothels during World War II would not damage relations between the two allies. Inset: Recruitment advertisements for comfort women in the Japanese Imperial Army.

Top: Former comfort women want Japan to do more to apologize. Bottom right: Rangoon, Burma. August 8, 1945. A woman who was in one of the Imperial Japanese Army’s “comfort battalions” is interviewed by an Allied officer.

Former Filipino “comfort woman” Piedad Nobleza, 86, at a demonstration outside the Japanese Embassy in suburban Manila. Elderly Filipino women and their supporters demanded Tokyo’s clear-cut apology and compensation for wartime sexual slavery by Japanese troops. read more »

Methane (greenhouse gas 25x potent as CO2) bubbles out 5x faster. Warmer air thaws Arctic soil, 50 bil tonnes may be released

WcP.Observer — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 19:31:32 -0500

Researchers believe the Arctic Ocean seabed is thawing in patches and releasing greenhouse gases. Methane, trapped in the permafrost, 25 times more powerful than carbon dioxide, is bubbling out of the frozen arctic faster than expected.

Researchers ignite a bubble of methane on Alaska’s Steward Peninsula.

Methane is leaking from the East Siberian Arctic Shelf into the atmosphere at an alarming rate. The amount leaking from this locale is comparable to all methane from rest of the world's oceans put together. Methane is a greenhouse gas more than 30 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

Left: Researcher ignites a pocket of methane. Right: methane bubbles trapped in lake ice in Siberia in early autumn.

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"Earth and Nature suffer grave ruin, destruction instead of construction, when Technology is in the hands of Greed." - LuCxeed

WcP.Philosophy — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:17:28 -0500

Earth and Nature suffer grave ruin, destruction instead of construction, when Technology is in the hands of Greed.

— LuCxeed

Giant iceberg, 965sqmi (2500sqkm, 400m thick) split fr Antarctica, holding "enough water to fill River Thames 100 times."

WcP.Watchful.Eye — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:11:13 -0500

An giant iceberg has broken off from Antarctica, created when it was hit by another iceberg two weeks ago. The size of Luxemberg, it could disrupt ocean circulation patterns.

The 965 sq mile (2,500 sq km) block of ice broke off from the Mertz Glacier which ends in a floating tongue of ice that protrudes 100 miles (160 km) out into the Southern Ocean. The 'calving' - or splitting of the ice sheet - resulted a collision with another iceberg.

Glaciers are melting, sea levels are rising, cloud forests are drying, and wildlife is scrambling to keep pace. It's becoming clear that humans have caused most of the past century's warming by releasing heat-trapping gases as we power our modern lives. Called greenhouse gases, their levels are higher now than in the last 650,000 years.

A large iceberg was spotted off an island about halfway between Antarctica and Australia, a rare sight in waters so far north. read more »

Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, Feb 12-28, 2010. Photos: moments of challenge, daring, fun and basking in Nature

WcP.Story.Teller — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 08:33:56 -0500

Top: United States' Johnny Spillane competes on large hill ski jump during men's individual Nordic Combined - the event combines ski jumping and a 10K cross-country race; he won the silver medal. Bottom: Large crowd of spectators gather in final curve during Men’s luge competition at Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games at the Whistler Sliding Centre.

Left: Whistler ice sculpture of Olympic torch. Right: Anabellee Langlois & Cody Hay of Canada compete in figure skating program of Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Pacific Coliseum.

Alexandre Bilodeau of Canada wins gold medal for Freestyle Skiing Men's Moguls on day 3 of the 2010 Winter Olympics at Cypress Freestyle Skiing Stadium, becoming the first Canadian to win a gold medal on home soil at the Winter Olympic Games.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity." - Albert Einstein

WcP.Scientific.Mind — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 08:27:03 -0500

It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.

— Albert Einstein

Pope Benedict XVI: "human dignity must be preserved", criticizing body scanners which Rabbis say violate Jewish women's rights

WcP.Watchful.Eye — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:22:33 -0500

"Every action, it is above all essential to protect and value the human person in their integrity". "For you this reality represents an ever more task of complex organization and it is a labour that if often discreet and barely known, not always noted but which does not escape the eyes of God, who sees all of Man's works even those that are hidden."

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Pope Benedict XVI criticises airport body scanners. Pope Benedict XVI has spoken out against the use of body scanners at airports insisting that "human dignity must be preserved".

The Pope made his comments during an audience with airport workers held at the Vatican. Although the Pontiff did not mention the words body scanner it was clear what he meant as he told the 1,200 strong crowd: "Every action, it is above all essential to protect and value the human person in their integrity.

"Respecting these principles can seem particularly complex and difficult in the present context.

"The economic crisis has had problematic effects on the civil aviation sector, the international terrorist threat which, precisely, has in its line of fire airports and aircraft to realise its destructive schemes. read more »

Who commits Trespass, Piracy (robbery at sea)? Whaler or Bethune? Whale Sanctuary, 304 females killed: 192 pregnant, 4 lactating

WcP.Observer — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:23:30 -0500

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Responses to 'Is the Anti-Whaling Activist Who Boarded a Japanese Whaling Ship a Pirate?' Jim Says: The Japanese are trespassing and poaching within a known whale sanctuary. What type of research results in the SALE of WHALEMEAT to consumers - this is profiteering by the Japanese and they are the actual pirates? AnimuX Says: If Japan prosecutes Pete Bethune, he will become the political prisoner of a tyrannical government that has even violated the basic human rights of its own citizens (remember the Tokyo Two?) in order to support the whaling industry. Not to mention the fact that the captain of the ship that Pete boarded, Shonan Maru 2, is the same man who rammed and destroyed his vessel, Ady Gil, nearly killing Bethune and 5 members of his crew. If anything, the captain and crew of the Shonan Maru 2 should be apprehended and charged by New Zealand authorities for attempted murder.

As for the flawed concept that Japan is doing “legal” research in the Southern Ocean: read more »

Experts: Bethune's boarding not illegal under international law. Maritime law requires whaler to return him safely to NZ or AU

WcP.Observer — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:09:20 -0500

Legal expert said Bethune's boarding is not illegal under international law. Under marine law, the whaler, the one to accept or refuse citizen’s arrest, has obligation to see Pete Bethune safely back to land. Here are some questions: does the subject of a citizen's arrest have the right to imprison the citizen who delivers the arrest? The whaler did not allow journalist to speak to Pete Bethune. Does Bethune, victim of Jan. 6 collision and the one delivering citizen’s arrest, have the right to see or to speak to someone, such as an attorney for legal help, his chosen interpreter for language help, etc. etc.?

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Ocean crying for Justice: victims of slaughter. Mother & calf are killed so is Whale defender Ady Gil (Earthrace)

WcP.Story.Teller — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 08:50:35 -0500

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Skipper Pete Bethune tells of 'murderous' brush with death

The captain of the ill-fated Ady Gil has told of his crew's "murderous" brush with death in the Antarctic when their high-speed pursuit vessel was sliced open by a Japanese whaler.

As New Zealand maritime authorities waited in Fremantle to interview the survivors on Thursday, Kiwi Pete Bethune accused the crew of Shonan Maru 2 of "attempted murder" by "deliberately ramming" their boat into his space-age carbon-fibre vessel on January 6. The Japanese deny they were at fault, saying the Ady Gil turned deliberately in front of them.

"I've had a few nightmares - I think all the crew think about it every night," Captain Bethune told reporters on arrival in Fremantle aboard the Steve Irwin, the anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd's vessel, early on Thursday. read more »

Lunar Year of the Tiger begins on Valentine's Day: February 14. Salute to Life, to Compassion, to Love for Nature

WcP.Humor — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 08:57:10 -0500

Tiger image & photo courtesy of: Hoodies and free-slideshow.com

EU voted down body scanners in 2008: "degrading measure". Concerns: Effective? Health? Dignity? Privacy? Heavy cost?

WcP.Scientific.Mind — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:05:52 -0500

Craziness is not rare, neither is Crime. Else, there would be no need for law, law enforcement, etc. etc.. Does Fear lead to solutions, or to panic, shutting out common sense and wisdom? EU Justice Chief has the answer: "We have to have a very clear line on this. We must never be driven by fear but by our values."
MEPs not yet convinced about body scanners, await impact analysis: "legitimate questions"... "Technology has become the new religion in counter-terrorism"... "Violation of dignity"... "no matter how much technology you have, terrorists will manage to circumvent it"... "great cost implications" of using body scanners, and advised against "putting burdens on airport companies" (also tax payers?) without the certainty that such scanners would be useful.

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US bailout tab: $3 trillion. Why not rescue Arizona's heritage of Nature? Prevent entire state parks to close due to budget cut

WcP.Watchful.Eye — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:01:11 -0500

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Arizona decides to close most state parks
Facing a multibillion-dollar shortfall, the state will shut 13 parks by June. Several had already been closed. Wrestling with a multibillion-dollar budget deficit, Arizona decided Friday to close nearly all of its state parks, including the famed Tombstone Courthouse and Yuma Territorial Prison. The State Parks Board unanimously voted to close 13 parks by June 3. Eight others had already been closed, and the decision would leave nine open -- but only if the board can raise $3 million this year. The action represents the largest closure of state parks in the nation, although several other states are considering similar moves.

21 of 30 state parks will be closed: The Arizona State Parks Board voted unanimously Friday to begin shuttering state parks, a move that will leave the parks system with fewer than one third of its properties open by June 3 read more »

"There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (German Poet, Philosopher..1749-1832)

WcP.Common.Sense — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:59:32 -0500

There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action.

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (German Poet, Philosopher... 1749-1832)

Solar brings light & hope to Haiti after earthquake catastrophically destroyed infrastructure.. Nation rebuilding

WcP.Scientific.Mind — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:50:10 -0500

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Port-au-Prince, capital of Haiti, was catastrophically affected by the Jan. 12, 2010 earthquake read more »

The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it. - George Bernard Shaw

WcP.Poetic.Thought — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 21:25:22 -0500

The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it.

— George Bernard Shaw

Photo: Indignity. Humiliation. Horror to innocent people, millions. History: January 27 International Holocaust Remembrance Day

WcP.Observer — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:28:05 -0500

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On January 27, 1945, Auschwitz was liberated by Soviet troops, a day commemorated around the world as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

World War II in the Pacific - Liberation of Allied Prisoners of War in the Tokyo Bay Area.

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Photos courtesy of History.com and U.S. Navy

"The best prophet is common sense, our native wit. " - Euripides (Ancient Greek playwright, c. 480-406 BC)

WcP.Philosophy — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:51:29 -0500

The best prophet is common sense, our native wit.

— Euripides (Ancient Greek playwright, c. 480-406 BC)

Arctic: pollution on its way. Oil drilling in Chukchi Sea threatens clean air, water, ocean resources & sea life

WcP.Observer — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 10:12:31 -0500

Shall we protect Nature as it is,
reserve some land, ocean, resources
for coming generations, for our children’s children?
Shall we, or shall we not? In words, or in action?

(quote) Approval of oil drilling in Chukchi Sea fails to include recent science and violates laws that protect clean air, water, and ocean resources. Oceana, together with Arctic communities and other conservation groups filed a legal challenge in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to the Minerals Management Service’s (MMS) approval of Shell Offshore Inc.’s proposed exploration drilling in the Chukchi Sea. The groups argue that MMS and Shell have not complied with federal laws that require thorough analysis of potential impacts and protections for clean air, water, and marine life. read more »

"We must never be driven by fear but by our values." ... "To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom."

WcP.Philosophy — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 03:40:39 -0500

"We must never be driven by fear but by our values."
"To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom."

— 1st quote by Viviane Reding, 2nd by Bertrand Russell

2010 International Year of Biodiversity. Ongoing extinction at 1000 times natural rate: most species to disappear in <100 years

WcP.Watchful.Eye — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 10:36:12 -0500

Green sea turtles, whose ancestors evolved on land and took to the sea to live about 150 million years ago, are one of the few species so ancient that they watched the dinosaurs evolve and become extinct.

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World's biodiversity crisis needs action, says UN. With species extinction running at about 1,000 times the "natural" or "background" rate, some biologists contend that we are in the middle of the Earth's sixth great extinction - the previous five stemming from natural events such as asteroid impacts.

The United Nations has launched the International Year of Biodiversity, warning that the ongoing loss of species around the world is affecting human well being. Eight years ago, governments pledged to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010, but the pledge will not be met. read more »

Bomb-dumb body scanner, blind to hazards, make airlines more secure, or less? German scientist gets lots of explosives through

WcP.Scientific.Mind — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 10:19:30 -0500

German scientist gets a lot of explosives through a body scanner

Blue Roses to Earthrace Ady Gil: 100% biofuel, spirit of ocean, stands for life, saves crew, sunk by whaler, rests in sea..

WcP.Observer — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 10:12:55 -0500