Dying oceans 'life and death issue' (for humanity): Indonesia

[Turborama]

Source: AFP

MANADO, Indonesia (AFP) — The destruction of the world's oceans due to climate change and overuse is a "life and death issue" for humanity, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Thursday.

"We must come to the rescue of the oceans. We must save them from the ravages of abuse and over-exploitation by humankind, from the havoc due to pollution and dire effects of climate change," Yudhoyono said at a global conference on oceans. "This is a life and death issue for the community of nations, including Indonesia, who prides itself on being the world's largest archipelago."

Ministers and officials from more than 70 countries are meeting in the Indonesian city of Manado for the World Ocean Conference, the first global meeting on the relationship between oceans and climate change.

"Today it is time for the world to hear yet another important message: that we can only survive the 21st century if we are united in caring for and preserving our oceans," Yudhoyono said. The president made no mention of his own country's massive failings in conserving its environment, ranging from rampant illegal logging to over-fishing and the destruction of coral reefs through the use of bombs.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iN60tLCSUhtDzhoexbE8_yD9XqCw

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Even though I'm in full agreement with his sentiments, he really needs to get his own house in order and start leading by example, which will in turn give his words more weight...

[earcandle]

1. When the agenda is to eliminate 75% of the population by any means, who is paying attention that can

make a difference? 

[Turborama]

2. Who's agenda is that? n/t

[earcandle]

8. That was directly out out of my ecology textbook on population isssues back in 1983.

If you want, I will find the book in my library and quote you
the bib info.

It was a shock to read, and worse to observe happen over time.

[Turborama]

9. I'd appreciate that, if it's not too much trouble.

Thanks in advance...

[earcandle]

10. I have Audit and Dreamweaver finals until Thursday, and

I am working on the weekend.

But I am so excited you responded.

I am going to start searching through my
library.  We had to move recently and we
never set up our dewey yet. 

But I know I have it.  I bet I have a referral to it online
somewhere to.\

Soon. I promise.

[earcandle]

13. Prinicples of Ecology; Richard Brewer

Library of Congress Data: 

ISBN 0-7216-1988-6
QH541.B73 1979 57405 77-84666


pg 273 top of page, first two paragraphs.

When I come back from class, I will quote it for you.

[sclerite]

3. Sitting in Manado now

DU'ers:

I am sitting in the airport in Manado right now having just presented as an invited speaker to this event. The press and advertisement and awareness raised globally, and especially locally and domestically was outstanding. The majority of attendees and presenters were regional and although perhaps not the highest quality science, the CTI initiative and many of the programs Indonesia and other countries are doing for reefs is really good, despite historical and ongoing problems.

For what it's worth, my wife and I just finished snorkeling a reef right offshore from the coast with nearly 100% coral cover. Yes, there were areas from bomb fishing. No, not a lot of large food fish. But compare that to the 3.5-5% coral cover in our own backyard, the Florida Keys. I congratulate Indonesia on their efforts especially for this, a first event.

[Turborama]

4. Wow, thanks for the 'on the ground' report. Did you present a paper?

Also, any plans to travel around Indonesia?

[Native]

5. Yes, thanks a lot for your take. Much appreciated.

[Quantess]

11. Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[Dark]

6. Well, there is that floating island of garbage twice the size of Texas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7rNYzSH-BA

[ForrestGump]

12. Rush Limbaugh?

The Bizarro version of Dustin Hoffman's 1970 character: Big Little Man.

[sclerite]

7. Yes, I did - and convened two sessions

I presented on sustainable mariculture of potentially threatened species, and convened two sessions on management.

Yes, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a big problem. However, this is a result of ocean gyres and you cannot attribute that to any one nation. We all contribute to that awful mess, but similarly large amounts of plastic are found on the shores of countries everywhere, including remote Pacific atolls. The fact that so many countries do not have potable water and must drink plastic bottles of water is not helping. And this comes back to improper sewage, polluted groundwater, excessive use of pesticides, industrial effluent, bad agricultural practices, overdevelopment of coastal areas. It's a giant mess, and climate change, overfishing and ocean acidification are no longer the only global threats to oceans and reefs. The important aspect of this conference is that it is in the global epicenter of marine biodiversity and protection of the coral triangle is essential to preserving that diversity as a"seeding ground" for the Indo-Pacific in the (unfortunately pessimistic) event that we clean up and fix all the other threats before we lose it all - or at least functionally lose these species and habitats and potential medicines and socio-economic issues for all the people that depend on them and all the people who visit.