Ugandan children abandon school for sand mining
More and more Ugandan children drop out of school, lured into sand mining on the banks of River Nile in Busaana Sub-county, and joining what seems a lucrative venture to earn a living.
There’s alarming signs Earth may be in worse shape than ever before
Climate change is here and is affecting the entire globe – not just the polar bears or tiny islands vulnerable to rising sea levels – scientists say. It is on the doorsteps of everyday Americans, Europeans and Asians, and the best evidence shows it will get much worse.
For Marine Life, New Threats from a Fast-Tracked Canadian Pipeline
A new Canadian government-backed pipeline that will triple the amount of thick Alberta tar sands oil flowing to a British Columbia port poses significant risks for a threatened population of killer whales and other coastal marine life.
Troubled Waters
UCSB scientists find that wealthy nations are responsible for almost all of trackable industrial fishing across the global oceans.
Children living on Indonesia’s coast get free goggles to enjoy – and save – precious reef
Indonesia’s maritime affairs minister has come up with an unconventional way to help preserve precious reefs from marine pollution: distribute boatloads of free goggles to children in the archipelago’s remote coastal regions. She wants to give next generation ‘the eyes’ to appreciate the marine world.
Mapping blue carbon in mangroves worldwide
Mangroves store greater amounts of carbon than any other terrestrial ecosystem, which helps reduce carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. When carbon is stored in the ocean or coastal ecosystems, it is called blue carbon. However, a more precise estimate of how much blue carbon is stored by mangroves has not been available until recently.
Worst “red tide” toxic algae bloom in years killing turtles, manatees in Florida
Thousands of fish, eels and turtles are dying, sometimes as far as the eye can see, in parts of southwest Florida. Just this week, one of several lifeless manatees was pulled from the water. The suspected culprit is a toxic algae bloom known as “red tide.”
Chile moves to protect Easter Island by limiting tourism
Tourists visiting Chile’s Easter Island will face new restrictions for traveling and staying on the island, Chile authorities have said. The move is aimed at protecting both the natural environment and island heritage.
Scientists draw new connections between climate change and warming oceans
In a new study, researchers suggest if contemporary global carbon emissions continue to rise, the future of many fish species in our oceans could be at risk.