Pollution- (Sea Life Experts in Blankenberg, Bel)
Oct 26, 2011 11:42:29 GMT 1
Post by Carlo Ferdinando on Oct 26, 2011 11:42:29 GMT 1
October 26, 2011
POLLUTION
Written by Sea Life Experts - Blankenberg, Belgium
POLLUTION
Written by Sea Life Experts - Blankenberg, Belgium
Diseased: our oceans under threat
For as long as there has been water on Earth - 4 billions years - it has been polluted. This natural poisoning is brought about in many ways including volcanic eruptions, underwater gas and oil seepage.
But all this is dwarfed by the sheer volume and extent of man-made marine pollution, which increases daily, and has spread around two-thirds of the globe, killing marine life of all kinds and affecting the health of every one of us. Sea Life is actively engaged with numerous environmental and marine organizations around the world in campaigning against the wholesale damage and destruction caused by pollution. However the task is made more difficult by the relative 'invisibility' of the problem.
For many people, headline-making spills from oil tankers, occasional pictures of dead seabirds or a nasty holiday encounter with raw sewage are the only reminders of an otherwise hidden time bomb. Sewage, oil, agricultural and domestic effluent, rubbish and cocktails of assorted toxins pour into the sea from rivers and other outlets continuously, and Sea Life are trying to engage the public into 'caring for our oceans'.
It's a huge problem - what can I possible to do help?
We can all do quite a lot. Put simply, anything that reduces pollution anywhere is helping our oceans.
Individually, our efforts may be just a drop in the ocean, but every drop is worth protecting.
We can start today!
IMPORTANT FACTS
In 2000 a tanker sank off the coast of Cape Town. The subsequent oil spill threatened the African penguin population.
In 2003 over a third of pollution found on Europe's beaches was metal, mainly drinks cans.
Pollution may be carried thousands of kilometres by currents and tides. In Antarctica, some species of wildlife contain pesticides that have never been used in the Antarctic.
7 Billion litres of sewage enters British water alone-much of it untreated - every day.
Some whales are already so contaminated they would be treated as toxic waste on land.
If marine contamination continues at even its present rate, many fish including cod, hake and haddock will be unsafe to eat within a few years.
Nearly half the oil pollution in our oceans is caused by vehicle owners illegally dumping oil into drains and waterways.
For as long as there has been water on Earth - 4 billions years - it has been polluted. This natural poisoning is brought about in many ways including volcanic eruptions, underwater gas and oil seepage.
But all this is dwarfed by the sheer volume and extent of man-made marine pollution, which increases daily, and has spread around two-thirds of the globe, killing marine life of all kinds and affecting the health of every one of us. Sea Life is actively engaged with numerous environmental and marine organizations around the world in campaigning against the wholesale damage and destruction caused by pollution. However the task is made more difficult by the relative 'invisibility' of the problem.
For many people, headline-making spills from oil tankers, occasional pictures of dead seabirds or a nasty holiday encounter with raw sewage are the only reminders of an otherwise hidden time bomb. Sewage, oil, agricultural and domestic effluent, rubbish and cocktails of assorted toxins pour into the sea from rivers and other outlets continuously, and Sea Life are trying to engage the public into 'caring for our oceans'.
It's a huge problem - what can I possible to do help?
We can all do quite a lot. Put simply, anything that reduces pollution anywhere is helping our oceans.
- Turning the central heating down a bit.
- Using our cars less.
- Not pouring oil or paint or other poisonous chemicals down the drain.
- Recycling household waste such as metal, glass and plastic.
- Always taking your rubbish home with you.
- Re-using plastic bags.
Individually, our efforts may be just a drop in the ocean, but every drop is worth protecting.
We can start today!
IMPORTANT FACTS
In 2000 a tanker sank off the coast of Cape Town. The subsequent oil spill threatened the African penguin population.
In 2003 over a third of pollution found on Europe's beaches was metal, mainly drinks cans.
Pollution may be carried thousands of kilometres by currents and tides. In Antarctica, some species of wildlife contain pesticides that have never been used in the Antarctic.
7 Billion litres of sewage enters British water alone-much of it untreated - every day.
Some whales are already so contaminated they would be treated as toxic waste on land.
If marine contamination continues at even its present rate, many fish including cod, hake and haddock will be unsafe to eat within a few years.
Nearly half the oil pollution in our oceans is caused by vehicle owners illegally dumping oil into drains and waterways.