Whales vs. Navy II

The ruling in favor of the Navy a month ago is still being fought. As with many issues, this is a complicated one, but only if we need submarines and ships to attack and defend ourselves instead of explore and fish. This is not going to change any time soon, but at least the problem is still being studied. I know quite a few people who are fighting this at the front lines, doing all they can to help the whales. They are fighting an honorable cause with implications much greater than most people see. Here are a few key excerpts from an article on the latest developments. Picture by Ben Horton

"The Navy has settled a lawsuit filed by environmentalists challenging its use of sonar in hundreds of submarine-hunting exercises around the world.
The Navy said Saturday the deal reached with the Natural Resources Defense Council and other groups requires it to continue to research how sonar affects whales and other marine mammals.
The Navy uses mid-frequency active sonar to send sound pulses through the water. Sailors listen for what objects the sound bounces off of to identify if enemy submarines are lurking nearby.
This technology is different from passive sonar, which sailors use to listen for the sounds enemy submarines emit themselves.
But scientists aren't sure why sonar affects some species more than others. They also don't fully know how it hurts whales.
Other plaintiffs were: International Fund for Animal Welfare, Cetacean Society International, League for Coastal Protection, Ocean Futures Society and Jean-Michel Cousteau. "
By AUDREY McAVOY

Cocos takes a Hit

Cocos Island, Costa Rica is one of the worlds most beautiful islands. I'm not just saying that because I agree, but it has been stated by the likes of Jacques Cousteau as well. Efforts to help keep the island beautiful and a refuge for the animals that live there, are constant, ongoing, and frustrating at times. I have been able in the past few years to observe, and then take part in these efforts alongside several people who are pioneers in this fight for the environment. One such man is Kifah Sansa, a Costa Rican who has worked closely with the UN and the french Fund for the Environment to help preserve Cocos's beauty. Unfortunately Kifah Sasa's contract (FFE UNDP)with the Costa Rican Government has been revoked.
This honestly comes as no surprise. Kifah has worked hard and pushed the Government to enact preexisting laws. The Costa Rican Government is not one to enact justice though, especially when it comes to the sea. The fishing industry in C.R. is much too important. There are hundreds of documented cases of fishing boats illegally fishing in Costa Rican waters, and only a hand full have ever gotten anything more than a warning, even gross repeat offenders. I personally have filmed the Coast Guard firing warning shots across the bow of a fishing boat on Cocos Island, while the captain of the fishing vessel looks on with disdain, a cigarette burning low in the early morning light. The fishermen know the Government is on their side.
I don't know the exact reason Kifah has been "let go" but I can imagine. He jump started numerous plans to help the island recover from years of abuse, and has annoyed the wrong people. It is sad. Not really for me, or Kifah, who knew what his job entailed, but for the island itself. The hundreds of thousands of sharks, millions of fish, birds, and vegetation. They are the legacy that the U.N. has tried to help protect, but the best of intentions paved the way to hell too. I guarantee there are about 15 tuna fishing boats sitting just outside the parks boundaries right now. They are waiting for dark, when they will run with no lights, enter the park from the South, drop hundreds of miles of long line, and then head back out to the North side, and wait for the Southern current to bring them their lines. This is going on right now, every day, and they all know Kifah is gone.

Sweet Justice

Has anyone ever offended you while driving? Have you ever felt the emotions of "road rage" welling up inside, wishing that a higher power could inflict instant justice upon the offending party? This is a short clip of an experience I had. I had passed a car while driving in bad winter conditions, only to have the car begin to tailgate me, and then attempt to race. His driving was stupid and dangerous, as he would weave between cars and brake hard on the icy roads. I slowed down against the wishes of my male instincts, and tried to tell myself what a smart, wise, safe, and intelligent decision I had made. I felt anything but those. A wimp, scared, and very much a pansy is more like what I felt. Anyway a few minutes later I got my moment of sweet justice.
The driver was unhurt, although his female companion was freaking out in the passenger seat. She looked like a monkey trying to get out of a cage. I'm sure he slept alone that night. You can tell from the video the car barely took any impact, so I suppose I got sweet justice without anyone getting hurt ............ Volvo's are extremely safe cars.