International Year of the Reef 2008

The International Coral Reef Initiative has launched their International Year of the Reef 2008 campaign. The aim of the campaign to raise awareness about the value and importance of coral reefs and threats to their sustainability, and to motivate people to take action to protect them. All individuals, corporations, schools, governments, and organizations are welcome and actively encouraged to participate in IYOR 2008.


One organization that is taking action is Coral Watch.


CoralWatch is an organization built on a research project at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. They have developed a cheap, simple, non-invasive way to monitor coral bleaching, and assess coral health. Their Coral Health Chart is a series of sample colors, with variation in brightness representing different stages of bleaching or recovery, based on controlled experiments.

In the field, users simply compare colors of corals with colors on the chart and record matching codes. The charts can be used by anyone - scientists, school children, tourists and politicians.
Their aim is to provide a scientific tool and increase awareness about global warming by demonstrating one of its devastating effects. Coral Watch is asking us to please help by using their kit to monitor local reefs, or any that we visit.

CoralWatch has also joined forces with Project AWARE Foundation, a nonprofit environmental organisation working with divers to conserve underwater environments through education, advocacy and action. Project AWARE has registered over 500 CoralWatch monitoring locations worldwide making it easy for divers and snorkelers to get involved. You can view a list of participating dive centers or find out more by visiting Project AWARE.

You can request a free DIY Coral Health Monitoring Kit by contacting them at info@coralwatch.org. The chart is currently available in English, Chinese, simplified Chinese, Japanese and French with more languages becoming available this year.


As you travel this summer, be aware of the the watery world around you. Find ways to experience the beauty of the earth's oceans with minimum impact to the environment. Educate yourself about them and find ways to become involved in their recovery.


Until next time...become the change you imagine.

So you want to live organic...but what does that mean?!

The American Heritage Science Dictionary defines organic as:

1. Involving organisms or the products of their life processes.
2. Relating to chemical compounds containing carbon, especially hydrocarbons.
3. Using or produced with fertilizers or pesticides that are strictly of animal or vegetable origin.
4. Relating to or affecting organs or an organ of the body. An organic disease is one in which there is a demonstrable abnormality on physical examination, laboratory testing, or other diagnostic studies.

That seems pretty straightforward, but as with much of the new "green-speak", it loses alot in the translation. Once every ten years, the Merriam-Webster dictionary is updated. Their 11th edition for 2003 included some 10,000 new words along with 100,000 new meanings to words already existing and some 225,00 revised definitions. According to M-W, the adjective organic dates back to the 14th century and its original meaning was instrumental.

So now where does that leave us, in the search for organic meaning? I tend toward American Heritage's definition #1 above. We are living, carbon-based, organisms designed to live in a natural environment. Yes, we are adaptable, but our modern technology has forced all organisms on this planet to adapt at a rate that is unnatural. Extinctions are not from the process of natural selection, but from man-made forces.

With the exception of those peoples who have not been corrupted by "civilization" we are the only species on this planet that does not live within the limitations of our natural environment. As living organisms, humans are at the same risk of extinction as other species. The real difference is we will be responsible for the demise of our own kind. Contrary to being a "higher life form", we are as dumb as a box of rocks (sorry, rocks) when it comes to living in harmony with our environment.

Organic.org has the top 10 reasons to support organic in the 21st century. They all make sense to people who want a future that doesn't involve gas masks, and a contaminated food chain. What real solutions can be offered to the growing list of environmental and societal woes?

1. Find a balance. Consumption should not exceed sustainable availability.

2. Put our formidable technology to work for the good. If we can think it, we can do it...in an environmentally responsible way.

3. Clean up our mess. We know where it is and what it is. It's time to stop the finger-pointing and clean it up. See #2 above.

4. Learn from the past. We need to stop repeating our mistakes. Anyone who is curious about living within our "environmental means" can talk to a Native American, an Australian aborigine, a Maori elder, or the Jaguar people of the Amazon. Civilized man has managed to wipe out a great many of these people, but there are still some remaining that know the old traditions.

Bottom line...there is no EASY button for this issue. We are 6 billion (and counting) in number, and every individual effort is significant. Educate yourself, and take action. Our future depends on it.

Until next time...become the change you imagine.