They cling helplessly– Think 24- 73V3N December 14, 2007

They cling helplessly to what is now left of the very vulnerable ice. Polar bears are stranded, no where to go, on one to help them. Although they can swim very well, especially if they have more weight; it’s still taking a toll on their bodies. Latest evidence states, according to The Wall Street Journal, that the polar bears are drowning because they have to swim too far to find ice. Scientists for the first time have documented multiple deaths of polar bears in Alaska. This is due to the Arctic ice shelf melting. The drowning polar bears have never been documented, because in years there hasn’t been this kind of a problem, hence no reason to document. “For anyone who has wondered how global warming and reduced sea ice will affect polar bears, the answer is simple — they die,” said Richard Steiner, a marine-biology professor at the University of Alaska.

The WWF said it was calling on participants at the Exeter conference to send a clear message to governments of the world’s leading industrialized nations, in hopes that they will comply to the rules and regulations that would help save the Arctic.

“If we are to ensure that unique ecosystems like the Arctic are not lost, the G8 meeting must take drastic action to reduce climate change,” said Catarina Cardoso, a WWF expert on sustainable energy.

According to Live Science, the United States is the only country in the Arctic region that has not signed the Kyoto Protocol, which takes effect next Feb. 16 and sets mandatory targets for industrial nations to reduce emissions by 2012. Russia ratified the U.N.-sponsored accord in November 2004.

The United States continues to be the largest polluter worldwide and consumes 1/4 of the oil on the planet. Hurricane Katrina was not enough for us. Will something will have to wipe out the entire nation for the government to notice? Again, just the beginning!

The year 2007 is said to be the fifth warmest year on the global scale. Seven of the eight warmest years have occurred since 2001, 73V3N.

Think 24- 73V3N, Global Warming, the beginning! December 14, 2007

Where do I start? I honestly don’t know. Global Warming started bothering me a while ago when I noticed the climate change. Of course, I didn’t know it was “Global Warming” at the time, but now I do. The Al Gore movie, An Inconvenient Truth led to more disbelief. Sometimes I am so out of touch with the outside world that I really regret not being more involved. What bothers me most is the fact that the animals are suffering due to Global Warming.

Firstly, the Penguins. Due to the warm climate in the Antarctic, Penguins are having a hard time, based on a new report according the the World Wildlife Federation. Penguin populations such as Emperor, Gentoo, Chinstrap, and Adélie are under great pressure because the ice is melting. Emily Lewis-Brown, Marine and Climate Change Officer at WWF-UK says, “As the ice melts, these icons of the Antarctic will have to face an extremely tough battle to survive.” The Arctic and the Antarctic are melting at a much faster pace, all due to severe climate changes in the atmosphere. According to Julie Langer of the WWF-Canada; she states, “You’ve heard about global warming but it’s acute at the poles. As the temperatures increase, the ice melts. When you have less ice at the edge of the continent, you have less algae, less krill, less food for the penguins.” How could this not sadden anyone? What can we do? How can we? Not even solve this situation, but make a little better by helping a little. Over time, with enough help, we might a see a change. The report finds that:

• Adelie population: dropped 65% over the past 25 years (that’s younger than me)
• Gentoo population: dropped 40-60% of their population in some colonies
• Emperor population: dropped by half over the past 50 years (that’s younger than my dad and mom)
• Chinstrap population: a whopping 40-66% drop in their population

According to the study:

• The Southern Ocean has experienced warming all the way down to a depth of 3,000 meters.
• The Antarctic Peninsula is warming five times faster than the global average.
• Sea ice now covers 40% less area than it did 26 years ago off the West Antarctic Peninsula.

The ice has gotten so thin, that it’s hard for the penguins to mate. Most of the baby penguins get blown away; some way before they are old enough to fend for themselves. Even though there are all these reports, I don’t think the general public is taking this as serious as they should. Or perhaps they are just as bothered as I am, but don’t know what to do or even how to get started. This problem is not going away, it’s here to stay. The Penguins are only the beginning.

Animal Haven–an answer to the stray cats issue. December 12, 2007

So, after I kind of poured my heart out about the stray cats issue in my last blog, it was really on my mind for a long time. I thought about people I could approach, things I can do and so much more. Needless to say, I was stumped. I guess I could say that something good came out of me watching the news a couple of nights ago, because they featured a place called Animal Haven, that specializes in taking cats and dogs off of the street and finding them good homes. What is great about this place is that for $120 you can adopt a little kitty or doggy that already has all of its shots and everything. You just have to take care of it after. Awesome! Here are some of the things you can do:

1-Adopt a Cat/Dog

2-sponsor a Cat/Dog for $10 a month or $100 a year

3-Become a member by making a general donation

4- Make a donation to the center or their wish list

5-Post an on-line memorial for $15 or more

And so much more. They are not asking for much, and every little can help.

“Animal Haven Soho is a 7,000 square foot adoption center that will combine showcasing dogs and cats for adoption in a warm, friendly environment that will include a high-end pet boutique and grooming salon. In addition, the facility will offer pet training classes, agility training, workshops, pet-friendly events and humane education. Animal Haven Soho will be much more than a shelter or a store. It will shift negative perceptions of pet adoption, cultivate responsible pet guardianship, bring the community together and, of course, place many homeless animals with new families. And in a city where each year you can find up to 40,000 animals in city shelters, finding animals homes is a worthy cause – not only for the animals but for the people too,” press notes state.

This is such a good thing. I will be volunteering my services as soon as possible .

www.animalhavenshelter.org

Stray Cats, why is it a problem in the first place? December 9, 2007

I have a cat, and I love her with everything I’ve got. However, now that “we” the US is trying to kill all of the stray cats in order to wipe out the amount of cats roaming the streets, I can’t say that I agree. It is disheartening to know that innocent animals are being killed. I am an animal lover, and I really and truly regret not going into a career that has to do with the rights of animals. I know it’s never too late, and I really think I will make a career switch. I can’t say I can offer a solution to these stray cats, but I am positive that we can come up with something better, rather than killing them. They are innocent animals not to mention how cute they all are. If there were stray dogs, would we do that. Actually, I don’t even know if we are. I don’t know how this became a problem, but in ancient times, cats were dear to their owners, not even their owners, but to anyone. They were considered sacred in the community. In ancient Egypt, cats were actually considered to be one of the highest deities to roam the earth. No one can really be precise with the time period, but it is said that cats came about in Egypt around 2000 B.C. Whether they be domestic or stray, they were all considered “high.” When a cat would pass away, Egyptians would shave off their eyebrows to show respect for their feline friend.

Perhaps coming up with a plan to help these stray cats can be the first step in the US to help deal with the problem.  I feel like we shouldn’t kill these innocent animals.  Instead of killing, let’s find another way.

I can take all the help I can get, any comments or suggestions will be helpful.

Thank you

Are chimps smarter than humans? December 3, 2007

In a recent study done in Japan, it has been suggested that Chimps are smarter than humans. Some young chimps were tested against adults for over all short term memory; and the chimps won. Unbelievable, forget about all of these reality TV shows, this is where it is folks. Chimpanzees are now smarter than we are, not that we should be surprised. For a long time it has been debated whether or not chimps were a little smarter than the average human being, but now, for some Japanese researchers, it’s actually true.

According to one of the researchers, Tetsuro Matsuzawa of Kyoto University, the chimps were only 5 years old and when given the test, they passed with flying colors. Matsuzawa claimed that even he was surprised when the results came through. One of the test entailed short term recollection of Arabic numerals 1-9 (which they learned earlier), with 3 chimps and a dozen adults. The chimps were to touch one of the numbers on the computer screen and then the remaining numbers would turn white. The test was for the chimps and humans to remember what the was on the screen. The chimps were actually faster and passed with flying colors, the humans passed but they weren’t as fast. One chimp did the best out of all. Ayumu is his name. He was taken aside along with nine college students to take another test. This test was much like the first one, only they had five numbers to remember is sequence. Again, Ayumu finished before everyone else.

When the numbers were displayed for about seven-tenths of a second, both parties pulled an average of 80 percent, but when it was displayed for only four to two-tenths of a second, the chimp still finished at 80 percent. It was also said that older chimps do just as humans did in the test, so this may have something to do with age. Ayumu will be running the show until he gets older, but until then….good luck Ayumu!

5 tips to keeping your cat healthy! October 24, 2007

My cat’s name is Mysti. She is the ultimate love of my life and even if she doesn’t understand the love that we share, at least she brings me joy every time I look at her or even think about her. So 5 things you can do to keep your cat healthy (according to my uncle; who’s a vet)?

1. Even though they are super independent, they still need love! Always love them no matter what they do (Mysti poops on my rug, all the time; well everyday to be exact). I think she does this because no one is ever at home, so she needs attention. It’s some kind of behavioral dysfunction! I just kiss her and clean it up. What else can I do?

2. Watch what food you feed them. Cats are complicated (according to my uncle). They need to be trained to eat dry food from the beginning. Wet food is kind of bad for their intestines. Mysti eats Science Diet and she loves it. It keeps her weight down, and gives her energy.

3. Make sure their surroundings are clean. Random things on the floor can cause complications if ingested. Make sure there are no strings lying around. Cats may love to play with strings, but if you see what it can do to them, you will always make sure that you are careful…It can actually wrap around their intestines and strangle them. So, be careful and clean!

4. Get them neutered. I know, it’s harsh and Mysti has not yet forgiven me for putting her through this traumatic ordeal (and it’s been 3 years). She won’t even get into or even near my car. However, it’s best for them. It’s like giving your child their shots. When a cat is not neutered, (according to my uncle) there can be complications as they get older. Neutering prevents cancer. I think that’s all you need to hear

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_the_feline_spay.html

5. Keep them clean. Cats hate to take a shower. it’s innate, they absolutely hate water. Hate it….I repeat, HATE IT. Mysti cleans herself, like all cats, but if you can get them groomed, that would be great. Clip their claws, just enough. Never clip down to the pink area, it hurts them. Get their teeth cleaned, if not, they run the risk of getting mouth/gum cancer. If you can’t get them groomed, do it yourself. Mysti is a long-haired domestic and she is really fluffy. People says she’s fat, which really hurts me, a lot, but she’s just really fluffy and she can’t help it. So, we comb her hair often, just to ensure that she clean, and not hot.

I’m positive that there are a million more reasons why you should pay close attention to your feline friend, but these are the things I do on a daily basis and according to her doctor, Mysti is as healthy as can be. She’s three years old and all she does is eat, poop, pee, and play….all day long….and that’s good enough for me, as long as she’s happy!!!