globalbriefs


News and resources to inspire concerned citizens to work together in building a healthier, stronger society that benefits all.


Ocean Watch Sea Mammals Update


2016 was a mixed year for whales and dolphins and by extension, humans. Marine Biologist Sylvia Earle states the importance of ocean health this way: “With every drop of water you drink, every breath you take, you’re connected to the sea. The ocean is the blue heart of the planet. There’s still time, but not a lot, to turn things around.” Scientists have discovered a new, black-colored species of whale that’s one- third the size of a Baird’s beaked whale. Yet to be named, it’s rarely seen, feeding in deep canyons in the Bering Sea. The oldest-known orca whale, Granny, at 105, swims Washington’s coastline.


Wild orcas usually live 60 to 80 years; captives, 40 years at most. Iceberg, the only known adult white orca, age 22, was spotted in Russian coastal waters earlier this year. In 2013, a Korean marine park retrained five dolphins to feed naturally and released them into the sea, where they rejoined their original pod. Recent sightings found them thriving, affording hope for the 2,900 dolphins in marine parks, aquariums and zoos worldwide. Pink dolphins in Hong Kong’s bustling harbor remain endangered. In 2003, there were 158; by 2014, only 61. The Baiji River dolphin, only found in China, has been declared extinct. Vaquitas, small porpoises in the Gulf of California, de- clined from 97 in 2014 to 60 this year, most drowned in commercial fishing nets; it may be extinct by 2018.


Whales and Dolphins: A Boardwalk View F


resident, “it is an amazing site to see these creatures in their own habitat”.


Patient Pets Hospital Allows Cats and Dogs


Pet dogs and cats are visiting with their seriously ill owners, reducing stress and improving morale, at the Juravinski Hospital, in Hamilton, Ontario. The Zachary’s Paws for Healing program, the first of its kind in Canada, was founded by Zachary Noble and his aunt, Donna Jenkins. Before each visit, the animals are thoroughly


cleaned so as not to introduce harmful germs, and brought in on covered, wheeled carts away from all other patients during their one-hour weekly visits. The all-volunteer program plans to offer foster care to pet owners that enter the hospital for treatment.


Learn more at ZacharysPawsForHealing.com. Long Island Edition


22 www.NaturalAwakeningsLI.com


olks in Long Beach, New York have been doing their own “Ocean Watch” these past few weeks.


People report sightings of three different species of whales, multiple dolphin pods and tons of bunker and other fish. “We really hope this is an indication of how healthy our ocean is” says Kathy Bauer Long Beach


Good Move Officials Urge Chinese to Cut Meat Consumption


Chinese officials have announced di- etary guidelines designed to reduce the country’s meat consumption by 50 percent. The campaign includes a series of billboards and advertisements featuring Ameri- can celebrities Arnold Schwar- zenegger and James Cameron. “China’s move to cut meat con- sumption in half would not only have a huge impact on public health, it is also a massive leadership step towards drastically reducing carbon emissions and reaching the goals set out in the Paris agreement,” says Cameron.


Source: EcoWatch.com


America Outdone Venezuela Bans GMOs


Venezuela has passed a law that impos- es some of the world’s toughest regula- tions on genetically modified organisms (GMO) and patenting of seeds in order to consolidate national food sovereignty, regulate the production of hybrid seed, re- ject the produc- tion, distribu- tion and import of GMO seeds and ban transgenic seed research. Canada’s Cen- tre for Research on Globalization de- scribes it as one of the most progressive seed laws in the world. The country intends to establish a national seed system to implement the new law. The group will monitor and sanction any agricultural violations, with a focus on the protection of tradi- tional seeds.


Source: gmwatch.org


Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock.com


alekss-sp/Shutterstock.com


Africa Studio/Shutterstock.com


Vladimir Zhoga/Shutterstock.com


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