How I wish this was an April fools
- Thread starter SteveL
- Start date
nwrogers
Got gorgs?
That is really horrible. Sometimes I cannot help but feel this trend is going to end all natural reefs. I still hope that some how they will adapt or migrate. Unfortunately from what we are seeing the future looks grim. I think assuming they will just bounce back is unrealistic. All we can do is support politicians and companies that do/use good and nature friendly things for the environment and hope for the future.
SuzLucky
New member
My husband is currently diving in Florida. It will be interesting to hear what he has to say about the conditions there. I've read several articles about this "White Plaque" and other reefs that are experiencing die-off. It's so sad. They are saying that we won't see these areas with re-growth for 50+ years.
St.james of reefdom
New member
Man that makes me sick looking at that,,,, I think we will see more of this happen unfortunately...
"Be Worried, Be Very Worried". That is the caption of this weeks Time Magazine cover story and special report devoted to global warming. It appears that there are few if any vestiges of opposition to this "theory". In fact previously sceptical scientists and others are sounding the alarms. Since we do not presently have the leadership at the federal level to mount a significant campaign to attempt a rollback of contributing factors, it will require activism at the grassroots level. Individuals can start by expressing their concerns to congressional representatives and others. I guess I'm old enough and still naive enough to remember the activism of the 60's. Playing Noah's ark for corals is a wonderful thought but we need to have a healthy enough ocean for them to recolonize. Plus ultimately, the reefs are the early warning system. If they go down, eventually, we go too.
SteveL
New member
Jerry (DrBronx):
Yes I'm looking at that Time Magazine cover with the stranded polar bear on my coffee table every morning and thinking this is as an ominous sign of things to come. 31st March in Ithaca and it was 78F - just an annomaly? Perhaps ... but not when all the other data is considered. Now I was out walking today enjoying the warm weather together with everyone else. We just can't pretend that there isn't going to be a price to pay.
Anyone arguing that there is not enough proof of global warming has ZERO credibility in my book. Problem is ... what are we going to do about it? And this goes way beyond our hobby. It goes way beyond a single government administration (although of course they have a role and responsibility to try and change things). It's becoming a global human cultural issue. I know this sounds counter intuitive i.e. global culture. But we've set the precedence for what human beings should want and strive for in terms of life style and comforts. We communicate this across the global market in a very efficient way and set the image of what a successful life is. Trouble is that our planet clearly cannot accommodate everyone having that "ideal lifestyle". And so here we are in a right pickle, and left apologizing to our children and grand children with a "sorry we really screwed it up for you".
I have to believe there is hope that we can arrest the current trend and maybe our hobby can even help. Working with the Ithaca Sciencenter has allowed me to contribute to an education of children and parents of what life there is on a coral reef. Associated with the live touch tank exhibit are educational material outlining the stress on the reef. I truly believe that we need to start with education and awareness - otherwise why care about something you don't understand?
So get the word out and volunteer to do a presentation at your local high schoool, or encourage people to visit the reef tank at the Rochester zoo, or support the Syracuse guys with the MOST project or just hold a house party for the neighbours to see your tank- just educate them in the process. We don't have much time but doing nothing ain't going to help anyone.
SteveL
Oh, and BTW the 2006 hurricane season starts again in 8 weeks!
Yes I'm looking at that Time Magazine cover with the stranded polar bear on my coffee table every morning and thinking this is as an ominous sign of things to come. 31st March in Ithaca and it was 78F - just an annomaly? Perhaps ... but not when all the other data is considered. Now I was out walking today enjoying the warm weather together with everyone else. We just can't pretend that there isn't going to be a price to pay.
Anyone arguing that there is not enough proof of global warming has ZERO credibility in my book. Problem is ... what are we going to do about it? And this goes way beyond our hobby. It goes way beyond a single government administration (although of course they have a role and responsibility to try and change things). It's becoming a global human cultural issue. I know this sounds counter intuitive i.e. global culture. But we've set the precedence for what human beings should want and strive for in terms of life style and comforts. We communicate this across the global market in a very efficient way and set the image of what a successful life is. Trouble is that our planet clearly cannot accommodate everyone having that "ideal lifestyle". And so here we are in a right pickle, and left apologizing to our children and grand children with a "sorry we really screwed it up for you".
I have to believe there is hope that we can arrest the current trend and maybe our hobby can even help. Working with the Ithaca Sciencenter has allowed me to contribute to an education of children and parents of what life there is on a coral reef. Associated with the live touch tank exhibit are educational material outlining the stress on the reef. I truly believe that we need to start with education and awareness - otherwise why care about something you don't understand?
So get the word out and volunteer to do a presentation at your local high schoool, or encourage people to visit the reef tank at the Rochester zoo, or support the Syracuse guys with the MOST project or just hold a house party for the neighbours to see your tank- just educate them in the process. We don't have much time but doing nothing ain't going to help anyone.
SteveL
Oh, and BTW the 2006 hurricane season starts again in 8 weeks!
75galreef
Premium Member
I don't think it is what are we doing about it today. My brother spent many years in the military in an area that he was privy to ALOT of global warming info. The problem with "GLOBAL WARMING" is not something that we will be able to change in a mater of a few years or even decades.
Alot of the chemicals and polutants that are causing the issue take 20 to 30 years to actually "float" up to the atmosphere. So the big issue with "CFC's" used as propellants and in air conditioning systems are still floating up. Many of the chemicals that cause the issue we only stopped using what 7 to 10 years ago.
30 - 40 year olds will most likely not see a major change before we pass. I do not think we can sit and point the fingure at any one or two issues that "may" have prevented this. We in the United States have used Catalytic Converts on our cars since 1976. Most European countries just stated using them in the mid to late 90's. Some countries still are not using them (Mexico).
JM2cents
Alot of the chemicals and polutants that are causing the issue take 20 to 30 years to actually "float" up to the atmosphere. So the big issue with "CFC's" used as propellants and in air conditioning systems are still floating up. Many of the chemicals that cause the issue we only stopped using what 7 to 10 years ago.
30 - 40 year olds will most likely not see a major change before we pass. I do not think we can sit and point the fingure at any one or two issues that "may" have prevented this. We in the United States have used Catalytic Converts on our cars since 1976. Most European countries just stated using them in the mid to late 90's. Some countries still are not using them (Mexico).
JM2cents
zanclus
In Memoriam
It is reasons like this Steve that yours' and other like yous' work is so important. I saw a program on the crown of thorn starfish and the way the are whipping out the Great Barrier. It is thought that in the future the only place coral reefs might be seen is in our systems.
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