Category Archives: Nature and Climate Change

Living, Nature and Climate Change, Stories

Hawaii Homes Threatened by Molten Lava

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Pictures from Hawaii four hours ago.

A slow-moving river of molten lava from an erupting volcano is edging closer towards dozens of homes and businesses in a seaside town on Hawaii’s Big Island.

The lava has already crept across a residential property and incinerated an outbuilding.

The lava flow from the Kilauea volcano has been moving towards the village of Pahoa for weeks and was clocked at speeds of up to 14 metres an hour as it bubbled over a road and overran a cemetery.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Hawaii Civil Defence agency said the lava advanced to within 250 metres of Pahoa Village Road, the main street through the town of about 800 people, built on the site of an old sugar plantation.

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Civil Defence administrator Darryl Oliveira said Pahoa’s commercial district lies mostly to the south of the area in greatest danger, and most homes and businesses are believed to be out of harm’s way, based on the lava’s current trajectory.

“Right now where the flow is moving we’re very fortunate because the number and concentration of structures is very low,” Mr Oliveira said.

“But the caution to that is even though the flow front is very narrow at this time, if the eruption continues and the flow continues to be supported by the tube system a widening of the activity or flow is likely to occur.”

However residents of about 50 dwellings in what civil defence officials called a “corridor of risk” were urged to prepare to leave, and many were slowly emptying their homes of furniture and belongings.

Mr Oliveira told a news conference that no mandatory evacuations had been ordered but 83 national guard troops were undergoing training and would be deployed to the community on Thursday.
VIDEO: Lava flow from Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano (YouTube: Ena Media Hawaii/Blue Hawaiian Helicopters)
On Tuesday the molten rock topping temperatures of 900 degrees Celsius engulfed a utility shed but spared the adjacent house on the property, already evacuated and cleared of furniture and other belongings.

“So far we have been very fortunate that the flow has not taken any other structures,” Mr Oliveira said.

Officials said they would close an endangered elementary school on Wednesday and shutter four more schools on Thursday.

The US Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said the leading edge of the lava stream had narrowed to about 45 metres wide.

Provan Crump, a marine biologist who lives locally, said residents were well prepared.

“[They’re] just moving all their valuables out and then moving,” he said.

“There’s not much else you can do, it’s a force of nature.”

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-30/lava-edges-towards-dozens-of-homes-on-hawaiis-big-island/5852676

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-30/hawaii-volcano-youtube/5853178

Life, Nature and Climate Change, Stories

CATS OFF THE RAILS

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Apparently, when these birds choose a mate, it is for life. Buff-banded Rails are beautiful looking birds. They are also very shy. Here is a story from our local wildlife story-teller Jim Butler about Rails that lived in a mutual friend’s place, less than ten minutes from my house.

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Buff-banded Rail, Lady Elliot Island, SE Queensland, Australia Image by http://www.aviceda.org

For the last two years my friend had a pair of Buff-banded Rails living in her backyard where they raised their chicks. Her property in Kenmore Hills is opposite a park adjacent to Moggill Creek and the house next door is vacant with long grass, so the Rails had enough area to live comfortably. These Rails are very widespread and common in Brisbane near waterways and they feed on snails, insects and seeds at the water’s edge and on the banks and surrounds. They mostly forage out of sight under low dense vegetation; they run fast when frightened and usually fly only at night. However, when they feel safe they can become remarkably tame, which is what happened at my friend’s house where they often came out of the long grass onto the back lawn. They breed in Spring raising five to eight fluffy black chicks.

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Buff-banded Rail, Gallirallus philippensis, Fafa island, Tonga Image by Duncan Wright

Recently, when a cat took one adult and a chick, both my friend and the neighbour who owned the cat became aware of the event. The neighbour decided to restrict the cat’s movement outside the house with a “cat yard” so that it could get enough exercise without being able to prey on the wildlife. The remaining Rail has now begun to re-appear in my friend’s yard and hopefully it will find another mate amongst the other Rails living along Moggill Creek where it can fly to at night.
Unrestrained cats are obvious predators of ground-birds like Rails. On average, a domestic cat kills 16 mammals, 8 birds and 8 reptiles a year according to an Australia-wide survey. And Dr Gillespie, NT Government Director of Terrestrial Ecosystems, says that ‘Across the continent it’s estimated that there are 15 million feral cats killing 75 million native animals every night’, a large number of which will be birds.

Life, Living, My Art, Nature and Climate Change, Stories

Red Lionfish: A “Super-Invader” or Super Supper?

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Google Image: A most beautiful and most invasive creature.

Red Lionfish: A “Super-Invader” for Supper?

In the world of art-practice this creature is one of the most photographed, filmed, painted and generally studied for its beautiful, delicate and visually exotic body. When you look at a lionfish, it is so luminous, graceful and breath-taking that it is hard to imagine such a creature could be so harmful to humans and other species.

The Red lionfish has been named an invasive species, taking over the smaller fish and other crustaceans in the Atlantic ocean. Scientists reported that lionfish were invading the Atlantic Ocean at an increased rate they  were worried that the consequences could be grave. A year ago (October 21, 2013) UPI released a report that this native of the tropical waters of the South Pacific and Indian Oceans, was not only venomous but it was also a fast-reproducing fish that had no known predators. The lionfish can produce 30,000 to 40,000 eggs every few days. They are aggressive eaters that will eat almost anything and the lionfish can destroy 90 percent of a reef. 

If you found this story disturbing, read the next part.

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Photo: Grace Beahm

In an article written for the Coastal Heritage magazine Editor John H. Tibbetts wrote; a group of strategist made up of fishermen, divers, chefs, educators, conservationists and scientists have come up with a solution to rid the lionfish in Bahamas, Mexico, Cayman Islands and Florida Keys.

The strategy is simple: the only way to get rid of the invasive species they said was to harvest and eat it.

To read more:

https://www.academia.edu/5962273/Red_Lionfish_A_Super-Invader_for_Supper

http://www.upi.com/Science_News/Blog/2013/10/21/Lionfish-invasion-is-threatening-the-Atlantic-Ocean/9321382363683/

 

Culture and Heritage, My Art, Nature and Climate Change

Owls: The Silent Aerodynamic Hunters

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White Owl - wash and ink
My art: A study of snowy owl in ink and wash.
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My Art – Owl. Acrylic on canvas.

 

Above are two  of many artwork I created, purely because I love owls and I find them very interesting.

Growing up in my culture, owls have been linked to death. If you hear an owl consistently calling or crying then, death is near. This was the belief. An owl crying or calling is quite rare but when it does happen, it is quite scary.

Unusual visitors

In some Brisbane (Australia) suburbs and out where we live, there are a few species of owls. The most common one is the Frogmouth. My family and I have had several occurrences with owl visits that I find very interesting and hard to understand. Once we had three owls come into our garden and sit for three days in the same spot. There was another incident where two large owls appeared at the front of our house and sat on a very low dead tree. They must have arrived before we woke up. At first, we thought they were part of the branches of the dried tree trunk. These two sat in the same position for almost a week. I went up very close to them one day and the taller of the two opened its eyes and glared at me – so I left. I hope to find their photos that I took that day and post it here in the future. Despite my cultural learning and spiritual beliefs about these birds, I find them especially interesting because of how quiet and often secretive they are. Sometimes, you don’t know they are there. They can camouflage very well.

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Snowy owl picture from http://www.sodahead.com

Many owl species have developed specialized plumage to effectively eliminate the aerodynamic noise from their wings — allowing them to hunt and capture their prey in silence. Almost a year ago, a research group started working to solve the mystery of exactly how owls achieve this acoustic stealth — work that may one day help bring “silent owl technology” to the design of aircraft, wind turbines, and submarines. I found this small clip on reddit.com. Click the link below to see the wing action.

http://i.minus.com/iOdEkaHhIXl2b.gif

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To read more: 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131124093515.htm

Living, My Art, Nature and Climate Change, Stories

Unspoilt treasures of Papua New Guinea. An underwater short film.

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OceanShutter.com presents an Underwater Short Film.
Please Like, Share and Comment!
The Rolling in the Deep series takes us to Papua New Guinea. One of the last unspoiled diving destinations left on earth.
I hope you enjoy it!
All Underwater Video Copyright © Dustin Adamson/Oceanshutter.com. All Rights Reserved

Culture and Heritage, Nature and Climate Change, Stories

Pacific Climate Warriors to blockade Australia coal export

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http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-13/pacific-climate-warriors-in-sydneyjpg/5809594 

By Jemima Garrett and staff

ABC reported that the Pacific Climate Warriors have arrived in Australia today to mount a protest against the Australian coal industry and call for action on climate change. The group made up of young Pacific Islanders represent 13 countries.  They brought five specially made traditional canoes, which will lead a fleet of boats to blockade the coal port of Newcastle. In the group is the daughter of Marshall Islands president Christopher Loeak.

“The coal port is the largest in the world and there are plans for it to expand and we want to bring the message that the expansion is definitely going to have an effect on the islands, not just in the Marshalls but all over the Pacific,” said Milan Loeak.

“We just want to share our stories and make sure that people are aware that the decisions that are being made over here are directly affecting our islands back home.”

The Warriors are in Australia as part of 350.org’s protest of the port, which will culminate in a flotilla of the Warriors and Australian volunteers blocking coal exports for a day on Friday.

Fiji Climate Warrior George Nacewa said he had already seen villagers displaced by rising sea levels. He said the expansion of the port would have wide-ranging effects.

“These expansions will affect us and I live in a generation that has inherited a perfect environment but I am not too sure if I can pass this on to my kids and future generations to come,” he said.

Getting their send-off in Vanuatu, Iasoa Chief Kawea Sausiara told the Warriors the canoes carry a vital message.

“If climate change is not stopped we will lose our cultural activities. This is the message that we must remember. If not, Vanuatu will be nothing more than a wasteland,” he said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-13/pacific-climate-warriors-to-protest-newcastle-coal-port/5809392

Nature and Climate Change, Stories

A rare find on Newcastle shores

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Locals found a rare beaked whale beached on Newcastle this morning. “For a very, very long time not much has been known about them and so every time we even find one that is dead on the beach, it is a treasure trove for the scientists”, said ORCCA vice-president Shona Lorigan.

 

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Marine experts are examining the rare beaked whale. The three to four-metre-long animal was found dead on Redhead Beach, south of Newcastle, this morning.

Marine experts have been called in to examine the whale and take specimens.

Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORCCA) president Ronny Ling said the find was extremely rare.

“It’s a deep sea animal called a beaked whale,” he said.

“We’re yet to identify the exact species but what we can tell you about these animals is they are rare animals.

“You normally only find them when they wash up or when they strand and they are very, very seldom seen at sea, so it has great scientific value there. It is rare everywhere and not just Australia”.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-14/rare-whale-washes-up-on-a-newcastle-beach/5811774

 

Nature and Climate Change, Stories

Blood Moon Rising

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Michael Aslin took this photo from Kambalda in Western Australia.

Wasn’t it beautiful to see the moon change colour last night?  After a build up of excitement and anticipation all day, the evening turned out to be a disaster viewing for me. We got a view of the crescent peeking out in between clouds, then more clouds. I kept walking outside the house in between chores thinking the clouds would blow past, but they never did. I did catch glimpses of a faded golden colour of the yoke during the eclipse and then – all gone!

How lucky and wonderful it was to go online and see some of the captured blood moon images from pictures taken across Australia and the world.

Here is one of the songs we sang when the moon rose. It is in Ming Kawac. (Bukawac language, Lae, PNG).

Ayu kepi, kepu ga-meng ngawe nga – ayam

(The moon rose and shone, making everything beautiful)

Aom kusum gebe, undanguc ae

(You said, you would follow me)

And this is not ‘reverse psychology’ to make you “Follow” me on this blog, however, come to think of it, this could be a sign.

 

Nature and Climate Change, Stories

Marshall Islands poet Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner moves world leaders

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Marshall Islands Poet Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner promises to protect her seven-month-old baby and what it means to fight for her heritage in light of sea level rise and the ultimate loss of her cultural identity. Click the link below to watch her presentation to UN and listen to her poem, “Dear Matafele Peinem”.

Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner addresses the opening of the Climate Summit in New York.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_3537214139&feature=iv&src_vid=L4fdxXo4tnY&v=DJuRjy9k7GA

Poem moves UN summit to tears

Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner presents her poem Dear Matafele Peinem to the UN Climate Summit. Vision from UN.

The UN Climate Summit has been graced by the likes of actor Leonardi DiCaprio and US President Barack Obama, but the haunting words of a young mother from a tiny Pacific Island nation have made the most lasting impression.
Spoken-word poet Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner, 26, from the Marshall Islands, was just one of four people chosen from 544 nominees to address the opening of the UN Climate Summit in New York.
In front of an audience of 120 state dignitaries, Jetnil-Kijiner performed a poem she wrote for her seven-month-old daughter, in which she promises to protect the child from the threat of climate change, which she says world leaders are ignoring.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/poet-brings-world-leaders-to-tears-at-un-climate-summit-20140925-10lq5x.html#ixzz3EPnPtJvf

Nature and Climate Change, Stories

First Voice in Climate Change

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Video: People’s Climate March Lays Out the Science, Dovetailing With Traditional Knowledge

by Oscar Hokeah
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Article by ICTMN Staff at Indian Country Today
9/14/14
There is but one week to go until what’s being billed as the biggest climate march in history occurs, in New York City, as world leaders converge to talk at the United Nations on the crisis facing our planet. Will they listen to the people thronging the streets? The People’s Climate March organizers hope so. They, and the scientists, say our survival as a species depends on it. This powerful hour-long documentary, Disruption, details the science behind the push to get the world’s politicians to listen and take action. Although the Native voices are not front and center in this film, Indigenous Peoples are mentioned here and are among the organizers and sponsors of the planned mass protest. RELATED: Indigenous Peoples at Forefront of Historic People’s Climate March in New York City “Indigenous Peoples’ traditional teachings have long warned that if human beings failed to protect and care for Mother Earth and the natural world, the survival of humanity would be threatened,” notes the indigenous section of the People’s Climate March website. “Today, increasingly severe impacts of climate change threaten ecosystems and food production around the world and Indigenous Peoples are on the frontlines of climate change impacts. Indigenous Peoples are participating in the People’s Climate March to bring attention to the devastating impacts of climate change and to share our hopes and teachings for living in harmony with Mother Earth.” Watch the video below; it will not feel like an hour.

Read original article at http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2014/09/14/video-peoples-climate-march-lays-out-science-dovetailing-traditional-knowledge-156884

http://hokeahoscar.wordpress.com/2014/09/16/video-peoples-climate-march-lays-out-the-science-dovetailing-with-traditional-knowledge/#like-1490

Tribalmystic is storytelling about people, places, and things that have extraordinary stories. Author: Joycelin Leahy