A survival guide for corals?
Once again, today’s blog entry will take the form of a conservation entry. A couple of reports have just been published by the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC). These reports talk about the damage to both coral reef and mangrove ecosystems, and more interestingly to me, give ideas on what could and should be done to protect these areas. For anyone with even a passing interest in conservation issues, these are a must read. To download them, click the links below:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/31_10_06_iucn_coral_guide.pdf - Coral Reef Survival Guide
http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/311006_iucn_mangroves_guide.pdf - Mangrove Guide
Given the rather depressing ecological news reported in my last 2 entries, these documents show that there is a light right at the end of the tunnel, and that helping the environment isn’t a lost cause just yet. Again, on an individual level, we divers can promote good practices by diving with good bouyancy and not disturbing the bottom, or marine life which lives under the waves. A few readers of this blog may be, like me, working in education. We can do even more, and teach further generations about what the oceans have to offer, and what everyone can do to help out. If the children learn good practices when they’re young, they’ll grow up with those same values. There is also a good chance the children can alter their parents’ behaviour for the better. Teach your children about he environment in your classes - it’s a topic than can be easily integrated into almost any subject.
In other news, I am considering a trip to Yonaguni this winter so that I can finally dive the underwater ruins. This could very well be my last year in Okinawa, and I can’t go home without having dived them. I’ve currently managed to get transport from Naha to Ishigaki, and a return from Ishigaki to Yonaguni. But I’m still without transport from Ishigaki to Naha. I think I’m going to have to just bite the bullet, pay for my outbound flights tonight (the deadline) and just hope that I can grab a flight back as soon as they become available. I tried to get the cheaper Chowari tickets today, but I logged on 5 minutes too late and missed tickets on every flight. Anyone who’s tried to book cheap flights in Japan can probably understand my situation.
And while I’m mentioning travel, I don’t know if I’ve said this before but I’m going to Tokyo on December 1st for a long weekend. I intend to visit a few friends up there, hopefully head to the (in)famous Yasukuni Shrine which I talk to my students about every year, and on my last night I’m going to see Foo Fighters play at the Budokan. I can’t wait for that as they really do rock live, and I’ve not seen them for a while. It was strange - I was having dinner with a friend here and we were talking about concerts. I said “I love the Foo Fighters… if they ever did a gig in Japan I would so be there!”. And then when I randomly checked their website the next day, they had announced dates in Tokyo and Osaka. Fate methinks! So I’m gearing up for a great concert on December 4th.
I’d just like to give a big thanks to Michael Lyon for being the latest person to join the Dive Buddy list on my site. Hopefully you’ll find some new dive buddies on here and can join in the fun in the oceans around Okinawa. And finally, I’m going to start promoting my own PADI Specialty of the Month each month, so be sure to check back soon to find out more about this exciting new programme which will allow you, in PADI’s own words, to “Meet people, go places and do things!” Take care and dive safely.
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Foo Fighters rock, WOW, I’d love to see them live in front of 1000’s of screaming Japanese girls. Ouch!
Sounds like you got a good schedule going on there Dave!!
I love your idea of getting the PADI Specialty of the month, you know, I’ve been trying with the guys in our shop to have this up since April this year……….