Water...the world over...needs our attention now.

Water is something that we all want to have...and theat tens of millions don't have... If we don't solve the water problem in Northern Africa where draught and over use are part of the tragedy of lost life; or in China where over use has dried more than one of their rivers...along the east coast for instance, droughts have reduced the Yangtze River to its lowest
water levels in 50 years.

Officials from the Yangtze River Waterway Bureau said Wednesday that they have closed a 185-kilometer (115-mile)
stretch of river from Wuhan to Yueyang to oceangoing vessels.

The river near Wuhan is down to only about 10 feet. The river, normally
almost 500 feet wide, has shriveled to only about 160 feet at its narrowest.

Since April 30, more than 700 ships have been stranded in the shrunken
waterway in Huzhou, Xinhua News Agency reported. Officials believe the shallow
water will continue hindering shipping until June.

Pollution, the other deadly water issue, must be addressed as well...for if climate change and over use are reducing our surface supplies...then we have to reduce the toxins we push into our water to keep our supplies at acceptabel levels...even in the US were we seem to think we are safe.

What can you do? Stop waste! Reduce your watering habbits ...it does not return to the aquifer, stop taking 20 minute showers...or running the water while you brush your teeth. Cut your use by 1/5th...that's 20%...and it will yield savings on your bills...and if a million of us did it...that's .3% of our population...we would save 50 million gallons a day....a day!

8%

The Earth is covered by a wondrous body of water...80%+ of the surface of the earth is covered by it... but of all that water less than 8% can be easily used by nature to sustain the fauna and flora... and man seems to take all of that water, including the 8% absolutely for granted!

I am a diver, and yes I love the water...and so when Dr. Sylvia Earle came to speak at the Winter Park Institute at Rollins College, here in Florida, I found myself sitting in a packed auditorium with students, faculty, and interested individuals like myself to hear her speak on the sustainability of our oceans.

Like many, I knew of Dr. Earle. I knew she was a marine biologist, author, lecturer... but I did not know that she was formerly the chief scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Nor did I know that Sylvia Earle is an explorer-in-residence at National Geographic...or that her presence there has created and gathered funding for the Sustainable Seas Expedition which explores and researches 12 National Marine Sanctuaries that surround the North American continent which is working to increase US and international recognition and caring for the oceans by the public, policy-makers, and institutions.

I have heard of the SSE and I know that working with other organizations it has, in a very short time, managed to increase the global populaiton of North Atlantic Haddock by creating a safe breeding area (tens of thousands of protected hectare' where no fishing is allowed) which has resulted in huge increases in stock along the Georges Banks.

The main focus of Dr Earle's talk was the impact that man has had on the oceans...and she stressed that as we threaten the 27000 species found in the seas...we threaten all life on earth! Quoting Edward Wilson... she said..."We are letting Nature slip through out fingers..." and that by allowing our earth to slowly die we are sealing our own destiny.

Yet Sylvia Earle is 'Endowed' with Hope... and I agree. If we have the strength to stand against the industrial tide...and make our voice be heard we can halt the destruction of our environment, and as seen by the actions of the SSE it can be done within controlled limits that support sustainable environment and sustainable economies...economies that can help us to overcome the impact of our growing population and reverses our impact on habitability for all of Nature, not just man...

Beauty from Ruin...

More than 100 years ago a quaryman on Vancouver Island near Victoria, BC. honored his wife's request and turned his massive granite quary into a wonderful garden. Today the family continues the tradition with one of the most beautiful gardens in North America...where they continue to demonstrate that you can create beauty from ruin... Buchart Gardens...