cchronik's blog

Hello all..
Sorry its been quite awhile since my latest update (over a year). I've been on a journey to Australia getting my Masters degree in Marine Science and Management. I am half way through my course and loving every minute in Australia. I am attending Southern Cross University in Coffs Harbour NSW and am working under the head scientists in Ocean and Marine conservation as well as special contributors to the Blue Planet/Planet Earth documentries.

Imagine an Ocean without whales, dolphins, tuna, sharks, shrimp, lobster, crab, kelp...you name it! - All gone because of our insatiable desires and hunger for more. Every creature on this planet is a part of a delicate ecosystem in which species flourish or decline according to the conditions in which they coexist. Like a chain reaction, the loss of one species can lead to the degradation of life as we know it. Phytoplankton - the smallest, most valued organism in the Ocean provides food and life for not only marine animals but for us as well. Helping to provide the air we breathe.

Offshore drilling was banned for decades after a 1969 spill off the Santa Barbara coast. Then there was the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill, and now video of the gushing well in the Gulf of Mexico, suggests that 800,000 gallons of oil is pouring into our Ocean on a daily basis as opposed to the 200,000 gallons thought originally. This horrific incident is now the worse environmental disaster EVER and coincidently happened to occur on Earth Day. One can only imagine the devastation that is yet to come of this.

The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, which occurred in Prince William Sound, Alaska, was considered to be one of the most devastating human-caused environmental disasters ever. That was until the recent explosion of the drilling rig off the coast of Louisiana. 200,000 tons of oil is being released into our fragile ocean systems on a daily basis. The Exxon Valdez spill consisted of 10.8 million U.S gallons of oil covering 1300 miles. This had shattering effects on marine life as the death toll reached 250,000 marine birds, 2800 sea otters, 300 harbour seals, 247 bald eagles and 22 Orca.

As a person with a lot of passion for the Earth and Ocean environment, it’s hard not to notice others when they are too. Being environmentally friendly is becoming a more common way of living, and as more and more people become educated about the detrimental damages being caused to the planet by anthropogenic/ human induced means – they adjust their ways of life.
For this, I have to thank you!

Garbage.

Usually implies unwanted, worthless material. It has commonly been said, that one mans garbage is another mans treasure. However, I don't think our garbage is or should be the planets treasure. Everywhere I look there is garbage! Garbage on the streets, garbage in parking lots, garbage at the park, at the beach, alleys, in my driveway - coming off the street and garbage outside garbage bins. EVERYWHERE! When is enough enough?
I've gotten to a point where I constantly notice the abundance of garbage surrounding us, and find myself evermore wanting to pick up after people. There is nothing worse than enjoying a day at the beach or park and lying amongst 100's of cigarette butts and/or wrappers and tissues and anything else left behind by others. I've started taking matters into my own hands, by picking up what I can and continuously trying to illicit positive changes to those around me. Its all about bringing awareness, one person can make a difference.
I'm not saying that litter is an intentional act - but if everyone noticed just a little more of how much garbage is actually out there - then maybe people would be a little more cautious when opening a cigarette pack, dispersing a cigarette butt out the window, letting go of a wrapper in the wind, not recycling empty bottles, plastic grocery bags flying through-out the city..etc. ALL of this has an impact on our environment. If enough people partake, the small little changes WILL start to make a difference. Go the extra mile for our planet - because no one else will

When reported in the newspaper that 5 Grey Whales have now washed up on the Shores along Puget Sound and Victoria BC in the last 10 days; it brings alarming questions to scientists and environmentalists around the world. One of which is whether this a consequence of Nature or simply human induced? All of these Grey Whales were of varying sizes and ages yet all were emaciated, meaning thin and bony and likely died of malnutrition. According to the Province Newspaper, “Experts say they’re not yet alarmed”.

Can you imagine living in captivity and being forced to walk in endless circles? I couldn’t. To be confined to a certain square footage 24 hours a day, just doesn’t seem right. Just like you shouldn’t be torn from your natural habitat for unknown reasons, Marine Mammals and all other animals shouldn’t be either.

We all love balloons!

Earth-ling: One who inhabits the Earth.

In a sense this definition, incidentally, entails living in co-existence with other creatures on this planet.

But, do we really do so?

It is not uncommon for man to think of the human race as being superior to other species of life on this planet. We have been endowed with intellect that allows us to think - something we construe is devoid in other species. Most of us have also been guilty of greed in varying proportions. We have pardoned ourselves to go to any length to procure money.