The Sad Music of Dancing Bears

As their name suggests, wild animals like bears must be found in the wild, in their natural habitat where they dance to the melody of clapping leaves or be lulled by the hum of the afternoon breeze. But for some bears, they have to dance to a different music, an evil tune played by the strings of exploitation and cruelty. They have to dance to the rhythm of the reins that made them helpless and degraded. They have to dance….



Dancing bears, also known as tame bears, are tourist attractions in many parts of the world. They are wild bears captured when they were still young, though some of them are born and bred in captivity. The practice of taming bears for entertainment began in the Indus Valley Civilization. Romani, an ethnic group which originated in the Indian Subcontinent, were known to tame bears since the Middle Ages up until the end of the 14^th century. The practice continued in places like India, Bulgaria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Siberia.

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Image courtesy of Wikimedia.

Critically Endangered Albatross

The International Union for Conservation of Nature or IUCN has listed several flora and fauna species which are classified as critically endangered. This status is given to animals facing extremely threat of extinction. Some of these species have not been cited for a long time.  For others, there are no valid documents for their continued existence or possible extinction. The most common threats for these animals are habitat destruction and human activity.

Among the animals identified by IUCN as under critically endangered status are four species of albatross. Here are the basic descriptions of these birds.

Amsterdam Albatross. This is a huge albatross endemic to the Amsterdam Island in the southern Indian Ocean. Unlike other albatrosses which are usually white, the Amsterdam Albatross has a brown plumage. Its weighs 4.8 – 6 kg (11-18 lb) and possesses a wingspan of 280 – 340 cm (110-130 in). The adult bird has chocolate brown upper parts, and is white on its face mask, throat, lower breast, and belly. It has a broad brown breast band along with brown undertail coverts. Its pink bill has a dark tip and dark cutting edges, and finally, its underwings are white except for the dark tip and the dark leading edge.

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Ten Foods for a Healthier Kidney

The kidney is one of the vital organs in the body. It serves many essential regulatory roles such as control of electrolyte levels, maintenance of acid-base balance, and even regulation of blood pressure. The kidney is also the body’s natural filter, removing wastes such as urea and uranium.

With the critical functions that kidney plays, it is imperative to keep this organ in a good health. Many parts of the human’s diet pose threats to the kidney. Yet, certain parts may also aid in protecting the kidney from ailments and from malfunctioning. Read the rest of the article >>>

Soil Solarization: Concept and Benefits

Pests and soilborne diseases always cause severe damage to horticultural and field crops. With their presence, the desired output is greatly reduced, posing a heavy economic loss to farmers and growers. Hence, they must be eradicated. Several methods have been tried and practiced to address this issue. There are chemical applications like soil-applied pesticides that control weeds, nematodes, fungi, bacteria and soilborne diseases. However, the use of chemical pest controls are viewed undesirable because of their unfavorable effects on both humans and animals, the toxic residues they generate, and the high cost and complexity of their treatment. To avoid negative consequences, a number of nonchemical methods for controlling diseases and pests have been studied and applied. One such method is soil solarization. (image source)

Soil solarization is a pest and disease control technique that uses the radiant heat from the sun to eliminate many soilborne pathogens. In this process, the soil is mulched and covered with a tarp, usually a transparent polyethylene cover, which traps solar energy. It is much the same as greenhouse. Since heat is captured and used, this method causes some physical, chemical, and biological changes in the soil in the most natural way. These changes result to control or suppression of pathogens and soilborne diseases.

This technique works best in areas with lots of sun and high temperature. However, recent modifications have proven that it can also work in cooler areas and for cooler times of the year. 

Here are the noted benefits of soil solarization:

Disease Control.  Soil solarization does not totally eradicate pathogens and diseases on the soil. However, studies have shown that pathogens would reinfest solarized soil at slower rates than nontreated soil.

Weed Control. Several weed species can be controlled by soil solarization since many of them are sensitive to soil moisture and high radiation. This aspect is often evident after a year of treatment. Some of the weeds that can be partially controlled by soil solarization include sweet clover (Melilotus alba), yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus), purple nutsedge (C. rotundus), purslane (Portulaca oleracea), and crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis).

Nematode control. Partly, soil solarization can reduce nematode populations. Nematodes are those families of parasitic worms that include the hookworm and pinworm, and normally found in soil. Since nematodes are generally heat-tolerant, solarization is more effective and economically feasible for shallow-rooted crops and gardens.

Increased plant growth response.  Studies have shown that plants grown in solarized soil grows faster and produce yield superior in both quantity and quality. This can be attributed to three reasons. First, major pathogens and pests are controlled which obviously favor better growth of plants. Second, some soluble nutrients like nitrogen (NO3-, NH4+), calcium (Ca++), and magnesium (Mg++) may be increased and made more available to plants in solarized soil. Lastly, some beneficial microorganisms like mycorrhizal fungi, actinomycetes, and good bacteria survive the solarization process and consequently recolonize the soil. In turn, this helps biological control of pathogens and pests, as well as to stimulate plant growth.

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Causes of Global Warming: Is Carbon Dioxide the Prime Cause?

Undoubtedly, how global warming affected many parts of the world has already been observed and felt. The melting of polar ice caps, rise of tides, and the submergence of some small islands are just some of the adverse effects of this global phenomenon (see Ten DeadlyEffects of Global Warming). But in order to fully comprehend its impact to society and to the environment, we must first understand the factors that trigger its existence. What causes global warming? Which has the greatest contribution?

As cited by many scientists and environmentalists, one of the major reasons for global warming is greenhouse gases, specifically CARBON DIOXIDE. These gases serve as barriers in the atmosphere that trap heat. They are emitted from several sources such as:

1. Combustion of fossil fuels in cars, factories and electricity production. This is pointed out as the most significant cause of global warming. Fossil fuels are made up of organic matter such as coal, or oil, and when burned, they give off carbon dioxide. Likewise, mining of coal and oil allows the escape of methane, another greenhouse gas. Methane is naturally in the ground and digging up the fossil fuel also digs up the methane stored underground.
2. Landfills. Methane is created when bacteria break down organic matter under oxygen-free conditions. Landfills are excellent sources of methane where wastes buried beneath layers of wastes are decomposed under anaerobic environment.
3. Agriculture. Another potential source of methane is manure derived from cattle, poultry, pig, and other livestock. With the ever-increasing human population is the increase of food consumption which consequently demands raising of more meat-producing animals. Rice paddies are also sources of methane where organic matter is trapped underwater. Moreover, some fertilizers contain nitrous oxide, another greenhouse gas. 
4. Natural “carbon sinks” like the arctic tundra, peat bogs, and wetlands. Once heat up, theses sinks may destabilize and release tremendous quantities of carbon dioxide.
5. Oceans. The ocean is a large carbon sink, holding 50 times more carbon than the atmosphere. Temperature increase can cause substantial reductions in the level of phytoplankton, the tiny plants in the ocean which store carbon dioxide, which further contributes to climate change.
6. Deforestation. All living plants store carbon and when they die and decay, they release this back into the atmosphere. Similarly, trees are important converter of carbon dioxide to oxygen, and so failure to replace cut trees means increasing carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere.
7. Other miscellaneous sources like gases used for refrigeration and industrial processes, and clathrates or the frozen chunks of ice in polar regions which are sinks of methane.

Furthermore, different greenhouse gases have different heat-trapping abilities. Methane is 100 times more powerful than CO₂, nitrous oxide is 300 times, while chlorofluorocarbons can be as high as thousands times. However, they are not as concentrated as CO₂ in the atmosphere so none of them add as much warm as CO₂ does.

However, there are scientists and even environmentalists oppose to the idea that anthropogenic or man-made source of carbon dioxide is the prime cause of global warming. An emerging controversial output of this thesis is the 2007 documentary entitled “The Great Global Warming Swindle”. The people behind the film refuted the hypothesis of man-made climate change for the following reasons:

1. Climate change is a natural phenomenon. Over the last thousands of years, the planet has experienced cycles of warming and cooling.
2. Global temperature actually declined during the period of greatest man-made carbon dioxide production. Growth of industrialization was most rapid after the Second World War but the bulk of world temperature rise have already occurred prior to that period (1940). Actually, global temperature fell after 1940 until the 1970’s. In other words, there is no strong correlation between the level of carbon dioxide and overall world temperature.
3. Carbon dioxide is not a significant greenhouse gas. CO₂ comprises only 0.054% of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and much less than 1% of this is from man-made sources. Water vapor, at 95%, is actually the major greenhouse gas and would have the largest impact in influencing global temperature.
4. Greenhouse effect in the atmosphere is not supported by meteorological data. Assuming that greenhouse effect is really occurring, the rate of warming must increase from the Earth’s surface up to the middle of the troposphere where greenhouse gases are supposed to be concentrated. Yet, satellite and weather balloon data show that the actual rate of warming in the troposphere is not higher than the rate of warming at the Earth’s surface. Hence, there is no alarming concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, enough to induce global warming. Temperature rise is only experienced on the ground which may be the result of direct solar radiation.
5. Carbon dioxide concentration lags global temperature.  There is no strong evidence that CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere has ever determined the global temperature. In fact, it is the reverse. Global warming has actually increased the concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere.

So what has really caused the increasing global temperature is the SUN itself. The sun is by far the greatest source of heat on the earth, and its output fluctuates between periods of high and low solar activity. High solar activity is accompanied by an increased magnetic field, manifested as visible sunspots. In 1991, the Danish Meteorological Institute revealed that there is a very strong correlation between solar activity and global temperature in the 20^th century.

Solar activity influences global temperature through the formation of clouds. Clouds, which serve as the planet’s shield against sun’s heat, are formed when cosmic rays from outer space reaches the Earth and meets water vapor rising from the sea. This consequently results to formation of water droplets, then to clouds. When solar activity increases, solar wind, a stream of particles emitted by the sun, also increases. This solar wind is capable of reducing the intensity of cosmic rays. Hence, a high level of solar activity means high solar wind and low intensity of cosmic rays, in effect, there will be a low rate of cloud formation, more direct solar radiation, and a higher global temperature. Evidences of this relationship show that global temperature and cosmic rays have a strong inverse correlation.

There are two sides of the coin and the issue of global warming is not an exception. For some, it is an aftermath of human exploitation and the need to regulate the use, conserve, and preserve resources must be called for. For others, it is only a natural act of nature which some forces ride on, protecting cross-border political interests. But whichever causes this global phenomenon, whether it is really carbon dioxide or the sun, one simple thing is certain – there will always be a grave environmental consequence to our actions. It is a cost externality – many are carrying the cost of which few have caused to occur.

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The Evil Touch of Tiger Skin

Tigers are one of the most menacing animals in the wild. But there is something more dangerous than tigers, more evil and greedy, for these hunters have now become the hunted, enough that these animals are now placed in the brink of extinction. What else is this evil but human being himself.

Tigers are now being threatened by the excessive hunting by human for their fur and bones, otherwise called as poaching. Habitat loss and deforestation are not the greatest cause of the dramatic decrease of tiger population but poaching. In the past, tigers were hunted because they pose threat to human habitation. But up the present time, they are still being hunted, now because of the different benefits derived from their body. Their bones and body parts are used in traditional Chinese medicine for a variety of purpose, including pain killers, anti-cancer ointment, wine, and even as talisman and charms. The skin, on the other hand, is a very valuable and expensive fur.

There are laws and regulations practiced by different countries with regards to tiger hunting. In China, buying and selling of big cat skins and body parts is illegal. In India, one of the most successful conservation ventures, Project Tiger, is launched in 1973. The project aims at tiger conservation in specially-constituted 'tiger reserves', which are representative of various bio-geographical regions falling within India. It strives to maintain viable tiger populations in their natural environment.

However, despite the existence of these laws and programs, there are questions to the enforcement of them. According to Washington Post (2010), laws in the Russia became less enforced since hunting and poaching of tigers can help improve market conditions and economy.

In 2009, the UK-based Environmental Investigation Agency carried out investigations in markets in China. The investigations reveal the trade in big cats still occurs in many parts of the country, including Tibet. They say the tiger skins and bones are mostly smuggled into China through Nepal and India. Traders in Tibet have told EIA investigators that they sell tiger and leopard skins to wealthy Chinese and Europeans, and the skin is used locally as trim on traditional costumes in Tibet, Qinghai and Xinjiang.  People are buying them for prestige, skins are very expensive and tend to cost around 20,000 US dollars each. Some of the other notable observations in  the investigation are as follows:

• "What's interesting is the market has changed. Previously the market was for skins amongst the Tibetan community, that market has largely collapsed and what we're seeing now is skins bought for decoration and taxidermy amongst Chinese businesspeople."

• "There is some law enforcement in China, in a few regions, but there are whole swathes of the country where this trade is allowed to carry on with almost no fear of detection."
• "Some of the places we have been to, skins are openly displayed in shop windows while police cars drive past."

Wildlife activists say if immediate action is not taken to save the tiger, it could soon become extinct in India. The Bali Tiger, being the smallest in the tiger family, has now become extinct due to hunting. A century ago there were about 100,000 tigers across Asia. Today, there are fewer than 5,000 in the world and half of them live in Indian forests.

In the end, it is always human being that stands triumphant, even at the expense of nature and of the planet he lives in.

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Threats to Health: Massive Fish Kill and Contaminated Taiwanese Products

In the last few days, the country faced issues that can really pose threats to the health of its citizens. One is the tremendous fish kill in Taal Lake, and the other is the recall of various energy drinks and food products from Taiwan. The news sent great alarms to many people, considering that they involved food common to consumers. Here are the details of these issues.

Fish Kill in Batangas and Pangasinan

Residents in Batangas and Pangasinan were distressed as a massive fish kill hit a portion of Taal Lake. Thousands of cultured bangus, or milkfish, and tilapia were seen dead and floating on the lake, leaving the local fishing community dumbfounded. At least 800 metric tons of fish were dead, costs pegged at P57 million. The fish kill is expected to continue for a month more.

It is noted that the abrupt drop of temperature caused the lack of oxygen which eventually killed the fish. Authorities have then warmed fishermen not to overcrowd fish cages to avoid the said problem.

Meanwhile, the remaining fish in Taal Lake are safe to eat since the fish kill was not due to poison. The dead fish were reportedly buried for health and sanitary reasons. Others were feed to crocodiles in a local crocodile farm. However, it is feared that double dead fish and processed products will be sold in markets.

Contaminated Energy Drinks and Food Products from Taiwan

The Philippine government has warned the public that some Taiwanese products, specifically energy drinks and fruit juice, is contaminated with a chemical known as DEHP or Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate/Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate which is a plasticizer or additive for making plastics and PVC products. It is believed that the chemical has been used as a clouding agent in the drinks, giving them a “cloudy” and “rich” look. Taiwan has earlier recalled products like Speed Sports Drink in regular and lemon flavors in 600ml bottles and Dong Nung 1000 Sports Drink in Hong Kong due to the same reason. Taipei warned Manila that DEHP could have been illegally added to food products exported to the Philippines. Authorities have already received the lists of contaminated products and announced their recall in the local market.

DEHP is not poisonous and intake of this chemical does not have immediate effects. However, drinking high levels of DEHP over a long time can affect the liver and kidney and even cause cancer. It can also lead to male infertility and even block the sex organ growth of boys.