Blue Planet Links does not guarantee the accuracy or objectivity of the information presented on listed web sites or in publications. We have attempted to present a variety of perspectives on the issues in the hope that the more you know, the more likely you are to influence and make wise public and personal decisions to promote healthy oceans and fresh water.
© 2012 Blue Planet Links
News clips to think about
Current News and Opinion About
Water Issues in Your World
CO2 eating away at marine life
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1021446/Acidic-oceans-caused-rising-C02-levels-eating-away-marine-wildlife.html Oceans absorb about 1/4 of our carbon dioxide emissions, and acidification of seawater is increasing. It's affecting marine life faster than expected, say researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Fukushima nuclear accident and water
Because of wind, about 80% of the radiation from Japan's earthquake-damaged nuclear plants blew out over the Pacific Ocean, where it continues to contaminate fish and sealife. Perhaps 3% will make its way to North America's Pacific shores, where it could contaminate soil, seeds, water, food plants. US nuclear engineer Arne Gundersen was keynote speaker at a March 2012 conference held at Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada, sponsored by Physicians for Global Survival, Canadian branch of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. Listen to his talk on Fukushima or to a water-focused interview on KEYP Radio on his website: www.fairewinds.com/
How to Rid the Seas of ‘Plastic Soup’?
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/23/pity-the-oceans-vast-stews-of-plastic-soup/?emc=eta1
Overfishing, oil slicks, acidification - the world's oceans, which cover 71 percent of the planet's surface, face plenty of environmental problems. Add another serious one to the list: the vast amount of trash, 80 percent of it plastic, that ends up in the seas from year to year.
Human sewage killing coral species
"...but the good news is that we can solve this problem with advanced waste water treatment facilities," says the author of this report, scientist James Porter of the University of Georgia.
Looking for gold in water investments
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/12/12/waterfunds-investments-idUKN1E7BB02120111212 Water is a commodity. But as fresh water becomes more scarce, some people are looking at it as a potential investment.
Managing watersheds: Murray Creek
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=e5b5f387-2638-4863-9463-77d817bd6058 Rivers have been compared to the blood system in a human body. Here's a story that stresses the importance of watersheds through the rehab of Murray Creek in northern BC.
Ocean thermal energy conversion
Turning temperature differences between cool and less cool parts of the ocean into energy is a challenging, developing technology, described in detail by the US National Renewable Energy Lab www.nrel.gov/otec/ (although NREL is no longer working on OTEC), as well as in en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocean_thermal_energy_conversion. Latest developments and news about OTEC are at www.otecnews.org. Google "ocean thermal energy conversion" for a great variety of images.
The Majestic Plastic Bag
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLgh9h2ePYw
Heal the Bay's mockumentary on one of the big polluters in our oceans.
The Plastic Ocean Project
http://www.theplasticocean.blogspot.com
Blogger Bonnie Monteleone documents voyages to 4 ocean gyres, conferences and other plastic pollution topics.
We have plenty of water, we're just dumb with it
http://www.grist.org/list/2011-09-27-report-we-have-plenty-of-water-were-just-dumb-with-it
Grist online environmental magazine has a few thoughts on conservation.
Quick Water Quotes
- ""The wars of the 21st Century will be founght over water, not oil." - Ismael Serageldin, former World Bank VP
- "Man is a complex being. He makes deserts bloom and lakes die." - late US author, Gil Stern