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A piece of Crater Lake Oregon. One of the many beautiful reasons I became an environmentalist.
Manage water better: Climate change’s clarion call
With climate change, it’s now becoming almost impossible to keep track of extreme weather events: Their locations, number of lives lost, people affected, the economic loss and infrastructure damage. Disaster photos and videos from different geographic locations now flood the internet only to be replaced, with disturbing regularity, by images of yet another extreme weather event. Climate change is…
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WREG-TV YOUR ENVIRONMENT: WEEK OF JANUARY 19 2020 For the inaugural edition of WREG's exclusive eco-blog #YourEnvironment, starting off with how you can better examine the data that shows the world is warming, how the data collected is neither republican or democrat and various climate scientists that can help the public understand more about why things are happening the way they are. Also, the 2020 economic forum in Davos Switzerland will hopefully inspire more action around the globe. Also, how YOU can help the rain forests by just clicking a button on your web browser. All that and a lot more on this week's #YourEnvironment vlog. #ShareAndEnjoy Also: a look at this week’s results at http://www.therainforestsite.com Got local Mid-South environmental/clean-up efforts to tell people about? Let us know and we’ll help! Send me the information at [email protected] and we’ll pass it along. http://www.wreg.com/weather/environment http://via.wreg.com/jrx2m - - - #WREG #WeatherExpert #AMSMeteorologist #AMSStationScientist @AOnek_WREG3 #MemphisTN #901Weather #MemphisWeather #TennesseeWeather #ArkansasWeather #MississippiWeather #WREGWeatherExperts #austenonekwregcom #MeteorologistAustenOnek #TornadoAlert #EmotionalTerror #WREGpodcast #WREGWeatherPodcast #EmergencyWeather #WeatherSafety http://www.wreg.com/weather meteorologistaustenlonek.tumblr.com http://www.instagram.com/aonekwreg3 http://www.facebook.com/austenonekwreg http://www.periscope.tv/AOnek_WREG3 http://www.soundcloud.com/austen-onek-wreg-meteorologist http://www.twitter.com/AOnek_WREG3 - - - https://youtu.be/sdjGFF2y6qU
Going zero waste is by no means an easy journey – if your plan is to ditch plastic altogether overnight, prepare yourself to be disappointed. As I am writing this, I am at my second attempt on a jo…
Hello lovely people!
I have (finally!) published my very first post on my blog - just a little introductory post on the aim of my blog, etc.
If you’re interested give it a read and why not follow too! I would also love to follow similar blogs so if you post about zero waste / environment / sustainability, get in touch!
Lorraine x
A clean environment for human empowerment
A clean environment for human empowerment
Yesterday, the United Nations honoured me with the ‘Champions of the Earth Award’. While I was extremely humbled at receiving this honour, I do feel that this award is not for an individual. Instead, it is recognition of the Indian culture and values, which have always placed emphasis on living in harmony with Mother Nature.
It was a proud moment for every Indian to see India’s proactive role…
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Captured Underwater
Even before the United States warship damaged the Tubbataha Reef, it has been previously known to be a rich place of marine resources and life.
Many divers and other enthusiasts have come here not only to see its beauty, but to take photos of it and share them to the world.
Under the sea
Underwater photography, in its simplest and most obvious definition, is the act of taking photos underwater.
Unlike “regular” photography, underwater photography requires the use of a camera that can either be submerged in water on its own, or one with a “waterproof casing” to protect it from damage.
Both “point and shoot” and digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras require waterproof housing. However DSLRs also need additional equipment, like lenses and flash. The photographer also has the option to simply use goggles and a snorkel, or if he would like to go deeper, full scuba equipment.
According to Jan Acosta, president and founder of the Network of Underwater Digital Imagers Inc. (NUDI), there are many things to consider when taking photos underwater. For example, one has to understand his diving skills because taking on a camera would be an extra skill one has to learn.
“You also have to consider the low light conditions because water absorbs light so the deeper you go the darker it gets,” he added.
He also said that as long as “one knows how to dive and is comfortable” with it, one can shoot. But if one would like to take more “artistic” photos, it would also help if he has knowledge of shooting techniques, especially if he is using a DSLR. Cameras also only have a certain limit to how deep they can go. According to Acosta, the usual limit is 40 metres. Going beyond that would be “putting the camera at risk.”
NUDI
Three years ago, Acosta and four other friends started an organization “to promote underwater photography and videography in support of conservation.”
Acosta, who had been a diving instructor and underwater photographer then, said he and his friends would have the same shots and would copy each other’s styles whenever they organized diving trips together.
“We wanted to expand the group…look at each other’s photos and learn different styles,” he said.
Thus, what started out as a group of five diving and underwater photography enthusiasts has become one of the (if not the) “biggest underwater photography clubs in the Philippines.”
Membership to NUDI is on a point-system basis. Applicants accumulate points by attending different activities and participating in certain events organized by the group. He must earn 150 points to become a member.
“Right now, NUDI has over 300 applicants and around 65 active members,” Acosta said.
The different activities include NUDI nights- monthly meetings which include “talks by experienced underwater photographers and thematic photo challenges” among those present. NUDI also organizes regular “shoot-outs” which are on-location photo contests.
But aside from its “fun” activities, the organization has also seen its bigger role in helping boost the country’s tourism and protecting its natural resources.
Environmental advocacy
NUDI has helped other non-government organizations (NGOs) in educating fisherfolk to stop illegal fishing practices, like dynamite fishing.
“Fishermen see the water from above so they don’t realize how destructive [dynamite fishing] is,” he said.
“So we took photos of what happens after a dynamite blast then we also show them what a healthy reef looks like,” he added.
The group has also helped in boosting the diving and tourism levels in the country. NUDI has organized “dive guide trainings” to help them in handling photographers underwater, helping spot subjects and becoming “more professional.”
Acosta said the Philippines is a “popular spot” for underwater photography but that “nobody talks about it.”
NUDI members have been actively participating in social media by joining different underwater photography groups and posting photos of different places in the Philippines. They are also encouraged to join photo contests to allow others to see the beauty of the Philippine seas.
They have also helped the town of Moalboal in Cebu to regain its tourism industry after the town “died” due to “overfishing and illegal practices.”
According to Acosta, in 2010, they organized a dive trip to Cebu after hearing reports of a sighting of a school of sardines in Pescador Island.
“This school of sardines was so rare that we actually go to Australia to see it,” he said.
When they got there, they were blessed with not only a school of sardines sighting, but a whale shark feeding on them as well. They posted their photos and videos on YouTube, which then circulated on various social networking sites, especially Facebook.
Moalboal once again became a popular diving spot and tourists still flock the place hoping to catch a sighting of the sardine run.
Pieces of advice
Jan Acosta has been a diving instructor for over 10 years. He decided to get into underwater photography to be able to show his family and friends what he was “so passionate about.” However it was only three years ago when he switched to a DSLR camera and last year when he started selling his photos.
“With diving I get to travel a lot and explore different places,” he said.
According to him, what is needed from underwater photographers is a lot of patience and fortitude.
“You really need to make sure that all the rings are free of dirt, sand, hair, or anything that could cause water to go inside the casing,” he said.
And where should you go if you want to try your hand at underwater photography or simply to marvel at what our country has to offer?
“It really depends on what you want to see,” he said.
Anilao is known as the “macro capital of the Philippines” in terms of taking underwater photos. Other sites include Dumaguete and Cebu.
“Small stuff is what the Philippines is known for,” he added..
Meanwhile, big animals are mostly found in the Tubbataha and in other countries like Indonesia and Micronesia.
As regards the incident involving the Tubbataha Reef, Acosta found it “devastating and unfortunate.”
“The Tubbataha is one of the best diving spots in the world. The government should do its best to protect the reef,” he said.
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Photos from Jan Acosta.
‘Coco levy funds, ibalik sa amin’- farmers
Following their violent encounter with the Quezon city police in the morning, hundreds of farmers from various provinces held a solidarity/cultural night in front of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) January 31 as part of their campaign to demand the government for distribution of the “coco levy funds.”
According to Willy Marbella, deputy secretary general of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), they are protesting the use of about P11 billion of the funds for the five year “Poverty Reduction road map of the Coconut Industry.”
“The money will [supposedly] be used for monitoring and institutional building...but we believe it will only be used for the elections,” he said.
“My father has already died,” added the 55-year old. “And until now, we have not been able to use the coco levy [funds] despite having proof that the money is rightfully ours.”
The farmers have also asked NAPC chief Joel Rocamora to clearly explain where he will be using the money and also hear out their proposals as to where it ought to be used.
“It should be used, first of all, for social benefits like pension and... educational assistance to the farmers’ children. A portion should also be set aside for medical assistance... and livelihood,” Marbella said.
The cultural night featured various presentations from groups like the Southern Tagalog Cultural Network and Sining Na Naglilingkod sa Bayan. KMP and the claimants’ movement Coco-Levy Funds Ibalik sa Amin (CLAIM) spearheaded the event. Other farmers’ groups from Quezon, Batangas, Central Luzon, Cagayan and Bulacan also attended to show their support.
According to Marbella, the most common problems experienced by coconut planters are lack of their own lands, low selling price of copra and the monopoly of foreign owned coconut industries.
“This night is important first because it consolidated the claimants of the coco levy fund. It also raised their level of awareness as to its status now,” said Marbella.
The 500 in attendance during the night is expected to increase another 500 when they march to Mendiola tomorrow.
