Bleaching Demonstrates the Change to our Environment.

Most of us say we believe in saving the planet...but we don't seem to realize that we are already behind the power curve!

Our failure to address Green House Gas (GHG) emissions has caused both a warming of our atmosphere and an increase to the acidification of our oceans through increased CO2 absorption.  Many species are being affected, but perhaps the clearest image of this destruction is found in coral reef systems the world over, this because coral is directly impacted by both temperature change and acid encroachment.

This is a bleached coral head...before and after.

There are nearly 45,000 species of coral in our oceans today. As a 'family' that is extremely sensitive to temperature change and acidity, corals are headed for hard times...bleaching (seen in this photo), a term used to explain their transition from flourishing to dead, is underway on all major reef systems and it is anticipated that, with a 1* change in average ocean temperatures, more than 38% of all coral species will be extinct by 2050!

That is more than 16,000 varieties of corals...gone due to man-made pollution and a change in the temperature of our seas. We can't stop it all, but if we fight the trend set by those who think it can't be changed, or worse...those who think it isn't happening...we can reduce the GHG going into our atmosphere enough to slow the loss and hopefully hold the line before even more destruction is realized.

It's our fault...we...mankind made the mistakes that have gotten us to this point, and we should be able to put a stop to the destruction before a reasonable recovery is beyond reach.