The Mongolian wolf is also known as the Tibetan wolf or as the subspecies of the Gray Wolf - Canis Lupus Chanco. It is a smaller wolf than it's cousin the Gray wolf and usually only weighs about 45 kg.

It also goes by the nickname of the Woolly Wolf because of it's dense undercoat. It is native to Central Asia and ranges from Turkestan, throughout Tibet to Mongolia, northern China, the western Himalayas in Kashmir and even as far as the Korean peninsula. Currently there are about 70,000 Mongolian wolves in the area. Normally these wolves do not form large packs but tend to travel in numbers of 2 or 3.
They feed mostly on hares throughout the year, marmots in summer, and due to the lack of mobility through the deep snow in the winter, they will also hunt goats and sheep if available.

As for it's appearance it resembles the Eurasian Wolf but has shorter legs. It's muzzle is however almost identical to the Eurasian wolf. It also has very striking gold eyes that seem to look right through you.
and are quite mesmerizing. The Mongolian orTibetan wolf is thought by some scientists to be the most likely ancestor of the domestic dog. This is because of its small size and mandible morphology, noting that the uppermost part of the lower jaw is turned back on both the Mongolian wolf and the dog, but is not found in other Gray wolf subspecies.

The Mongolian wolf has and still does play an important role in Mongolian culture. It is believed that Ghengis Khan and the Mongols were descendants of their spiritual ancestor the Mongolian wolf. As was written in the book,The Secret History, about Ghengis Khan, the wolves were respected for their power, stealth, and tenacity. Because the Mongolians were herders and hunters, they had great respect for the wolf as a powerful and skilled hunter. Even today in Mongolia, the wolves are still very respected. There is a belief that no one can see a wolf unless he or she is that wolf’s equal, and you cannot kill a wolf unless it chooses to submit to you.

Although many do respect the wolves, there are those who do not share this belief. Wolves have been hunted in the past because some viewed them as a threat to livestock. In the recent past, up to 5,000 wolves a year were hunted and killed. A popular method of hunting was with the use of the golden eagle to attack the wolf. Today the Mongolians no longer hunt the wolf as in the past although as in other parts of the world it is still subject to the gruesome sport of trophy hunting.

As you gaze into the eyes of this beautiful little wolf, you too will begin to see why the Mongols were in awe of it and were honored to call themselves the descendants of the spirit of this wolf. The Mongolian wolf is a perfect example of the majestic beauty, loyalty and strong spirit that all the Gray wolves of the world exhibit.

Frank Howell was born in 1937 and was the oldest of three children. He grew up in Iowa and Texas. Already an ex-marine at the young age of eighteen, Frank decided to try going to college. He enrolled in the University of Northern Iowa and studied ceramics and jewelry making but did not take any classes in painting. After college, Howell turned his efforts toward writing and stopped painting completely. It was at this time however that Frank was able to get in touch with the motivating force from within that he felt was the key to his success as an artist.

After this time away from painting, Frank Howell returned to his love of painting. For the next 11 years he worked at teaching others about the art of painting and he taught art at both the high school and college level. In 1968, he left teaching behind and moved to Colorado where he devoted his life to his love of painting, sculpting and printmaking.


During this creative period of his life, Frank became very well known in the U.S. and Mexico. Frank held over 30 one man shows and was profiled on radio, tv, the newspapers and magazines. His lithographs were on display at the Museum of Modern Art in Guadalajara, Mexico.
In 1975, he created a drawing series, titled "Past Winds" that was viewed in many galleries, museums and universities throughout the United States.

His style of painting has been described as a linking between both the physical and the spiritual worlds. There is a sense off evolving between the past, present and future when viewing his work. He felt his work was realistic but also could be very explosive and expansive at the same time. Subtle earthy colors and sensitive draftsmanship were used to create his art and as he developed his talent, he felt his style was more in keeping with the qualities conducive to lithography.
His subjects were largely Native American portrayals and landscapes.

There is a magical quality to his work and viewing them is sure to bring pure pleasure to the viewer. Frank Howell passed away in 1997 at the age of 60 yrs. old and the world lost a very talented artist.





Images are the copyright of Frank Howell.For more pictures and information, please visit the official site of Frank Howell: LINK






SOURCE/Buy the Art of Frank Howell The Art of Frank Howell

The Kayapo' tribe lives in the tropical rain forests of Brazil in an area that is surrounding the tributaries of the Xingu river. The Xingu river is in itself a tributary of the great Amazon river and flows for nearly 2,000km (1242 mi.) But recently the lives of the Kayapo' people are in jeopardy. This is because the president of Brazil, Dilma Vana Rousseff, has just authorized the construction of a dam that will flood their homeland.

The impact of this dam, the Belo Monte, will be disasterous in several ways. The economic damage it will cause is enormous because the Xingu River basin has four times more biodiversity than all of Europe.
The flooding of the rainforest (up to 400,000 hectares) will release large amounts of methane, the greenhouse gas which is far more damaging than carbon dioxide. It will also displace up to 20,000 - 40,000 people including the Kayapo' tribe which is an entire society.
Chief Raoni is the leader of the Kayapo' tribe which traditionally practices slash and burn farming on small plots of land.

Although the Brazilian government forbids the displacement of the Indians from their traditional land, it also allows for a very convenient exception - where the National Congress deems removal of the people to be "in the interest of the sovereignty of the country". In this case it is argued that the construction of the dam is in the country's interest.

In a major attempt to fight this proposal, the Kayapo' leadership have had to become very world savvy. They have fought their battle with foreign weapons, including launching petitions and protests, and engaging media and lawyers. This was not their first attempt to stop this dam, they were successful in 1989. This time has appeared to be different. Upon first hearing the news, Chief Raoni wept in dismay. But the Kayapo' are fighters and they and their partners have launched a last ditch effort. This includes another petition to urge the Brazilian government to listen to their concerns and respect indigenous land rights. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has asked the Brazilian government to act in good faith in order to arrive at an agreement with the people that will be effected by this monumental decision.

Please take a minute to support the Kayapo' Tribe's right to stay in their homeland and stop the construction of the dam. Please sign the petition below. Thank you.
LINK PETITION

Around the world on the third Sunday in June, Father’s Day is celebrated to recognize the contribution that fathers and father figures make to the lives of their children. It is a celebration of fatherhood and male parenting. The idea of a special day to honor fathers was introduced from the United States. In 1910, Sonora Smart Dodd was so inspired by the Mother's Day celebrations, that she wanted to plan a day to honor fathers.

There is also the thought that Father's Day may have it's original roots in pagan sun worship which in some branches sees the sun as the father of the universe. Since the June solstice occurs around the same time as Father's day every year it is possible that there is a connection here.

Celebrations in other parts of the world are thought to have been inspired by the American custom of Father's Day. Other countries that celebrate it on the third Sunday in June are as follows: Canada, U.K.,Argentina, France, Greece, India, Ireland, Mexico, Pakistan, Singapore, South Africa, and Venezuela. Australia and New Zealand celebrate Father’s Day on the first Sunday in September. In Thailand it is celebrated on December 5th and Brazil celebrates it on the second Sunday of August.

Father's are very important to the lives of their offspring. They tend to add stability and security to a family and are important role models to their children as to what a responsible man really is in our society. But the role of a father does not have to be that of only the biological father. Other father figures can include step-fathers, fathers-in-law, grandfathers, great-grandfathers and even other male relatives.

Father's Day is a fairly modern holiday so there is no concrete way to celebrate. It can range from a phone call to a nice visitation or dinner out with gifts presented also. It is a very individual effort, but the underlying message is that families value and need fathers/father figures. Children tend to grow up more well adjusted when a loving father has been present in their lives. It is only right then that these wonderful men that we call fathers should be given a day of honor all
their own.

The beluga whale is also known as the white whale or the sea canary. It is a small whale without a dorsal fin and has a high pitched voice which sounds similar to a canary. It is also in the same family category (Monodontidae) as the Narwhal. The beluga is a long lived whale if it is left alone by man as it can live up to 50 years of age. Beluga's are highly social and quite playful. They have been known to playfully spit at other whales and humans too. The U.S. and the Russian Navy have used these whales in anti-mining operations in the arctic waters. There have been several documented incidences where a beluga whale has actually saved the life of a human by bringing them to the surface of the ocean when they were in danger of drowning.

The Beluga is considered a near threatened species overall by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. However, in the subpopulation of the Cook Inlet in Alaska it is considered to be a critically endangered whale and is under the protection of the Endangered Species Act. The Cook Inlet whale population must contend with the increasingly perilous and industrialized waters near Anchorage, Alaska’s fastest-growing city which threatens it very survival. There are only about 340 or so Belugas left in this area.

In April of this year, federal fisheries officials designated two areas of Cook Inlet as critical habitat for endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales.
This critical habitat comprises 3,016 square miles of marine and estuarine environments considered by scientists to be essential for the whales' survival. The critical habitat designation is based on the results of more than 20 years of research, and an economic analysis was done also. The analysis found that the benefits to the beluga whales far exceeded any costs.

This critical habitat designation, will affect any development activities that would involve a federal permit, license or funding and which may affect critical habitat. These activities would be such things as construction and operation of oil rigs, port construction, dredging or discharges into Cook Inlet. Not everyone is happy with this decision however. Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell called the decision "another example of the federal government unnecessarily locking up Alaska land from development."

As with so many of the world's endangered species, there will always be those who want to put economic development ahead of the survival of a species. It will continue to take perseverance and legal protection to make sure that endangered species such as the Beluga whale will be allowed to thrive in their rightful place in the the sun. It is the least that we can do for them.

On June 7th, 2011, a solar flare erupted from the sun in a very impressive display. This event was captured by NASA cameras but was recorded as only a medium sized event that probably did not have any impact on the earth. It did however create a large cloud of particles that seemed to cover almost half of the sun's surface. Only a minor disruption to the earth's magnetic field was expected to have been caused.

But what exactly is a solar flare? A solar flare is a sudden brightening observed over the Sun's surface. This is interpreted as a large release of energy which then ejects clouds of electrons, ions, and atoms through the opening into space. Typically these clouds reach the earth a day or two after the explosion. Solar flares are very dramatic to the eye to witness. They tend to give us the feeling that as human's we are indeed quite a small spectacle compared to the greater picture of the Universe.

Tanja Askani was born an animal lover and shared that love with her father as she grew up in Czechoslovakia. Her father taught her how to care for abandoned and sick animals and together they would find new homes for them. Animals were always a big part of her home life. It was from these beginnings that she also developed a love of photographing animals also, both domestic and wildlife.

In 1990 Tanja moved to Germany and her life involving animals really blossomed. She became a falconer at Wildpark Luneburger Heide and eventually was put in charge of several wolf packs at the park. She was involved with raising the wolves also. In the spring of 2010, Tanja was involved in flying to Canada and picking up several wolf pups to bring back to Europe. This was the culmination of the long fought for "Fresh Wolf Blood" project. A beautiful female wolf pup that she named Naaja ended up going back to Germany with Tanja.

Tanja is also a very dedicated and talented photographer, author and public speaker. Animals are the subject matter of course with wolves being her favorite. She also photographs other wildlife and domestic animals too. Her belief that supports her work is the total acceptance of the animals for who they really are void of any moral or romantic prejudices. And of course the natural affinity and love of animals that she was born with can be seen throughout everything she does.

Daphne Sheldrick was born and raised in Africa. Kenya to be specific on June 4th, 1934. Her love for the wildlife there was as natural as the air she breathed. She lived among both domesticated and wild animals as she grew up. She did extremely well in school and graduated with honors with the option of attending college. Instead she opted for marriage to David Sheldrick, the famous founder Warden of Kenya's giant Tsavo National Park. Little did she know then that her true calling was about to begin.

Daphne was able to observe and study most wild species in the park in both their natural and captive state. Their captive state because she took care of the orphaned young when necessary. From this she gained intimate knowledge of their minds and emotions, the role of instinct on behavior, the importance of scent and chemistry, telepathic capabilities, individuality, vocalizations, and interpretation of their complex body language.

When her husband died in 1977, Daphne then lived and worked in the Nairobi National Park as a courtesy of the Kenya Government. It was here that she started the Orphans' Nursery where she has successfully hand-reared over 70 newborn Elephant orphans. Some of these baby elephants were just hours old and this was the first time this has ever been achieved. During the time of their two milk dependent years, the baby orphans live 24 hours a day with their human family of Keepers that replace the lost elephant family.

After this time the orphaned elephants then grow up in the Tsavo National Park, where they interact freely with the wild elephant herds and eventually become fully integrated back into the wild community. These elephants never forget Daphne's kindness to save their lives though. Some of them have had their own babies in the wild and they have brought them back to show to their human family. It is a truly remarkable expression of love and trust and gratitude to their human family.

In addition to the elephants, Daphne has also successfully raised over a dozen newborn Black Rhinos, some of whom have also had wild born babies which they have shared with their human family. Daphne's expertise has been very instrumental in helping many other elephants throughout all of Africa and many other parts of the world also. She is recognized internationally as a world authority on both the African Elephant and the Black Rhinoceros.

Daphne has also diligently worked to end the abuse of captive wild animals and promoted wildlife conservation worldwide. She has written 4 books plus her memoirs, written many articles and given many lectures on the elephants and rhinos. Daphne has also been depicted in the BBC documentary "Elephant Diaries"which has been seen throughout the world. In order to honor her late husband David's memory, she also set up the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in 1977 from which she has made significant contributions to wildlife conservation in Kenya and against poaching in Africa.

The little girl who grew up loving her native wildlife in Africa has become a truly remarkable woman. One who would make her husband and her country very proud and one who lives for her beloved elephants and rhinos in a way that speaks only of her deep love for them.

June Moon names from different culture

Leaves Moon (Cree).
Horses’ Moon (Celtic).
Ripe Berries (Dakota).
Hoer moon (Abernaki).
Lotus Moon (Chinese).
Windy Moon (Choctaw).
Summer moon (Kiowa).
Buffalo Moon (Omaha).
Leaf Moon (Assiniboine).
Corn Tassel Moon(Taos).
Blackberry moon (Greek).
Green grass Moon(Sioux).
Ripening Moon (Mohawk).
Turtle Moon (Potawatomi).
Making fat Moon (Lakota).
Hot weather moon (Ponca).
Leaf Dark Moon (San Juan).
Major Planting Moon (Hopi).
Planting Moon (Neo Pagan).
Fish Spoils Moon (Wishram).
Water melon Moon (Natchez).
Hot Weather moon (Arapaho).
Dyad Moon (Medieval English).
Strawberry Moon (Anishnaabe).
Dark green leaves Moon (Pueblo).
Summer Moon (Passamaquoddy).
Green Corn Moon, Flower Moon (Cherokee).
Mead Moon (Full Janic), Strawberry moon (Dark Janic).
Honey Moon, Hot Moon, Strawberry Moon, Rose Moon (Algonquin).

Other Moon names : Hay Moon, Aerra Litha Moon, Strong Sun Moon, Lovers Moon

Another grand solar display is about to take place for the viewing of many people around the world. On Wed., June 15th, the longest total lunar eclipse since July 2000 will take place and it will occur during June's full moon, starting at 1:24 a.m. EST and lasting until 7 a.m. EST. Unfortunately, those in North America won't be able to witness the eclipse but those in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Australia will. It will be visible completely over Africa, and Central Asia, visible rising over South America, western Africa, and Europe, and setting over eastern Asia. In western Asia, Australia and the Philippines, the lunar eclipse will be visible just before sunrise.

Total lunar eclipses occur when the Earth passes directly between the sun and the moon, casting a deep shadow through which the moon then travels. The moon will appear to darken and turn a deep red before returning to normal. The Earth's shadow will block the full moon for a full 100 minutes. This 100-minute duration of the total lunar eclipse on Wednesday will only be three minutes short of the longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st century that will occur on July 27, 2018. The total number of total lunar eclipses during this century will be 85.

This lunar eclipse is safe to watch but observers should use some kind of protective filter for the eyes. A pair of binoculars will help magnify the view and will make the red coloration of the moon brighter. It will be a spectacular sight for all to see.




UPDATE: Because the lunar eclipse is now over, i have remplaced the live feeds below with video of the event.

For many thousands of years wolves have lived, played and hunted together as a very close knit family or pack. This close bonding between pack members over time was crucial so that the wolves could rely on one another when it came time to hunt for food. Body language and other cues where absolutely imperative to be successful in making a kill. It took close teamwork to outwit their prey. A kind of mindset among the wolves seems very plausible.

As with humans, a very close relationship at times makes it seem possible to read another's mind. This was most likely the case with the wolves also in the form of an enhanced sixth sense or telepathic communication between pack members. This enhanced sixth sense would also be used to determine the fear level of the wolve's prey. Combined with scent cues and body language, the wolves had plenty of info on how to proceed with acquiring their prey. It was part of the key to the survival for their species.

As we know now, dogs are the direct descendants of the Gray wolf so it would stand to reason that they would also share this trait of telepathic communication. We do know that as with the wolf their other senses such as hearing and sense of smell are highly developed also, many times over that of a human's. Many of us have also experienced what we felt was a form of sixth sense communication with our dogs. This telepathic sense has also been observed with dogs and the disabled or young/elderly.
Dogs have also been known to sense when a person is up to ill will or when a catastrophe such as a hurricane or earthquake was about to happen.

Recently a study was done and written up in the journal of "Learning and Behavior" about canine behavior. The Purpose of the study was done to determine the origins of exactly how it is that dogs respond to human gestures and was conducted by researchers from the University of Florida. This was done by specifically focusing on what was referred to as "attentional states" developed by lead researcher, Monique Udell.

A group of dogs were used in one test and a group of wolves in another to determine if there might be a genetic link between the dogs and the wolves. They also wanted to rule out a genetic barrier that would prevent the wolves from responding as the dogs did. Both wolves and dogs were given the choice to beg for food from a person with her face or eyes concealed, versus one whose attention was fixed solely on the animals.

What they found out is that both the dogs and the wolves were less likely to beg for food from the researchers who had their faces/eyes concealed to them. This indicates a "capacity to behave in accordance with a human's attentional state." In layman's terms, most of the dogs and wolves displayed some kind of possibly inherent ability to sense how people were acting.

This really should come as no surprise to those of us who are familiar with canine and wolf behavior. Thousands of years of developing the wolf into a fine tuned hunter and a loving pack member would most definitely play a part in this enhanced ability of a sixth sense.

Swans are the largest of all the waterfowl birds and certainly one of the most beautiful, elegant and graceful. They are also one the largest of all flying birds. Some types of swans can have a wing span of up to 10 feet. Swans can also have up to as many as 25,000 feathers. They are almost always found in the temperate zones and are thought to have originated in Europe or Eurasia. Four, possibly five species are found in the Northern Hemisphere, with only one species found in Australia and New Zealand and one species in southern South America.

Swans are often associated with love. Part of this is because of their graceful beauty and the perfect heart they form when they put their heads together. Another reason is because most swans tend to mate for life. These bonds tend to occur all year round however mating with other swans outside of the social pairing can occur without breaking the social pair bond.

Humans have long admired the beauty of the swan and have tried to copy their gracefulness in the form of the dance of ballet.
Swan Lake is probably one of the most world renown ballets of all times. As beautiful as these ballets are, the beauty of the swan cannot be completely replicated by man. Hours can be spent by a lakeside or pond watching the swans swimming, nuzzling each other or tending to their babies in the spring and summer. Nature has truly given the world a wonder to be admired in the embodiment of the magnificent swan.

Flames of fire shot up into the sky while lightening danced all around when one of Chile's volcanic mountains erupted again the other day on June the 4th. This was the first time in over 50 years for the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcanic chain which is about 575 miles south of the capital of Santiago. It was not immediately sure which of the four volcanoes actually erupted though because of the extent of the ash emitted and also the weather conditions at the time. The last time one of the volcanoes in this chain erupted was in 1960.

Ash was spewed six miles up into the atmosphere of the Chilean sky and strong winds carried it over into the neighboring country of Argentina. The acrid smell of sulphur hung heavy in the air and there was constant seismic activity being reported. Airports were closed and the Chilean government had evacuated around 3500 people in the surrounding area. This was done as a precaution while the ash proceeded to heavily coat the area. The ash was so thick that one could easily mistake it for snow by it's appearance.

This eruption is just the latest in volcanic activity in recent years in Chile. In 2008, Chile's Chaiten volcano erupted in a spectacular display for the first time in thousands of years, spewing molten rock and a vast cloud of ash that was visible from outer space. Rivers were swollen and towns were coated with ash in nearby Argentina. In 2008 and 2009, Chile's Llaima volcano erupted also. Llaima is one of Chile's most active volcanoes.

Just another spectacular example of Chile's very active volcanic landscape and Mother Nature's power. Chile is second to Indonesia in the world with the number of volcanoes within it's borders. It has around 2,000 volcanoes with about 500 that are potentially active. It has been recorded that between 50-60 have erupted throughout time. When Mother Nature speaks in Chile, people are forced to pay attention.

Above cloud level the plume looks like a nuclear bomb has just exploded with its mushroom cloud bursting towards the skies- AFP-GETTY Images

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Elizabeth Oliver ~ Guardian Angel to the pets left behind in Japan

Tragedy struck twice for the countless number of pets in Japan in the Fukushima fallout zone. First when the earthquake and tsunami happened and for those that survived that, the second tragedy was being left behind when their owners were told to evacuate the area. After the evacuation, people were allowed back in to retrieve their essential belongings for two hours. However, they were told to leave their pets tethered in front of their homes for the authorities to pickup.

But for most pets left behind that never happened. In the ten days following, only 15 pets of the estimated 20,000 had been picked up. The rest were left to die. But Elizabeth Oliver, age 70, who is originally from Somerset, England was not about to let that happen if she could help it.

Elizabeth, who is a longtime resident of Japan for the last 40 years, took it upon herself to brave the potentially lethal radioactive levels and rescue those pets that were left behind in the deserted towns within the 12 mile evacuation zone. She enters those areas wearing a protective suit and carries a Geiger counter with her at all times. She is one of only a few that are working to rescue these abandoned pets.
Although her actions might seem like a drop in a bucket to many, it has made all the difference in the world to 197 dogs and 17 cats that have been saved from the area. After Elizabeth rescues the animals they are taken to her Animal's Rescue Kansai shelter in Osaka which is more than 400 miles from the affected area.
Once the animals are in her shelter, she then advertises them for 3 months in order to try to find their original owners. After that time, she then puts then up for adoption if no one claims them.


This rescue effort is not for the weak of heart. Elizabeth has seen a lot of heartbreaking things during this time. But she is a woman of great courage and conviction and is determined to make a difference for the innocent animal victims of Japan's recent tragedy. Despite the risk to her own personal health, Elizabeth flies in the face of the danger to rescue the helpless animals that she so dearly loves. She is truly a guardian angel to these abandoned pets at a time when many seem to have forgotten about them.

The Ocean Blue - Critical steps needed to restore it to health again.

The ocean is the world's life support system. It gives us more than half the oxygen that we breathe, provides valuable resources and also regulates our climate. Every breath we take, every drop of water we drink and we’re connected to the ocean. Our Earth depends on the vitality of the ocean to support and sustain it. But we as humans have not respected nor treated the ocean well. It is now in grave danger from all of our abuse.

The ocean now faces major man made threats to it's health. These are pollution, destruction of habitat, global climate change and invasive species. Also there has been a huge depletion in ocean fish stocks that has left 40% of the ocean severely affected. Many species are disappearing from the ocean. Entire ecosystems have been degraded also.

What does all of this mean to us? To start with it means we are losing a valuable source of food for the world. That spirals down to a loss of jobs. It also causes a loss of critical environmental services that a normally healthy ocean will generate. We cannot continue on this path of destruction any longer. Urgent steps must be taken to stop and reverse the damage that we have caused. The following are ways that we all can help our ocean to become healthy again. The time is now.

1. Mind Your Carbon Footprint and Reduce Energy Consumption
Reduce the effects of climate change on the ocean by leaving the car at home when you can and being conscious of your energy use at home and work. A few things you can do to get started today: Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs, take the stairs, and bundle up or use a fan to avoid oversetting your thermostat.

2. Make Safe, Sustainable Seafood Choices
Global fish populations are rapidly being depleted due to demand, loss of habitat, and unsustainable fishing practices. When shopping or dining out, help reduce the demand for overexploited species by choosing seafood that is both healthful and sustainable.

3. Use Fewer Plastic Products
Plastics that end up as ocean debris contribute to habitat destruction and entangle and kill tens of thousands of marine animals each year. To limit your impact, carry a reusable water bottle, store food in nondisposable containers, bring your own cloth tote or other reusable bag when shopping, and recycle whenever possible.

4. Help Take Care of the Beach
Whether you enjoy diving, surfing, or relaxing on the beach, always clean up after yourself. Explore and appreciate the ocean without interfering with wildlife or removing rocks and coral. Go even further by encouraging others to respect the marine environment or by participating in local beach cleanups.

5. Don't Purchase Items That Exploit Marine Life
Certain products contribute to the harming of fragile coral reefs and marine populations. Avoid purchasing items such as coral jewelry, tortoiseshell hair accessories (made from hawksbill turtles), and shark products.


6. Be an Ocean-Friendly Pet Owner
Read pet food labels and consider seafood sustainability when choosing a diet for your pet. Never flush cat litter, which can contain pathogens harmful to marine life. Avoid stocking your aquarium with wild-caught saltwater fish, and never release any aquarium fish into the ocean or other bodies of water, a practice that can introduce non-native species harmful to the existing ecosystem.

7. Support Organizations Working to Protect the Ocean
Many institutes and organizations are fighting to protect ocean habitats and marine wildlife. Find a national organization and consider giving financial support or volunteering for hands-on work or advocacy. If you live near the coast, join up with a local branch or group and get involved in projects close to home.

8. Influence Change in Your Community
Research the ocean policies of public officials before you vote or contact your local representatives to let them know you support marine conservation projects. Consider patronizing restaurants and grocery stores that offer only sustainable seafood, and speak up about your concerns if you spot a threatened species on the menu or at the seafood counter.

9. Travel the Ocean Responsibly
Practice responsible boating, kayaking, and other recreational activities on the water. Never throw anything overboard, and be aware of marine life in the waters around you. If you’re set on taking a cruise for your next vacation, do some research to find the most eco-friendly option.

10. Educate Yourself About Oceans and Marine Life
All life on Earth is connected to the ocean and its inhabitants. The more you learn about the issues facing this vital system, the more you’ll want to help ensure its health—then share that knowledge to educate and inspire others.
Source : National Geographic

On April 20th of this year, the United Nations held a webcast interactive dialogue on the subject of "Harmony with Nature". This was in response to Bolivia's groundbreaking passage of their new law" Recognizing Mother Earth as a living entity and giving her the Same Rights as Humans". They agreed to work on adopting this philosophy worldwide and the day also ended in a surprising emergency call to action where the Indigenous, kids, renewable energy, and teamwork play key roles in the effort to stop our current path toward extinction.

The UN participants urged a shift from an economic system that regards nature as an exploitable commodity to one that respects the Earth and it's intrinsic values. They also agreed that solving the world's current problems will takes spiritual solutions. In order to do this they discussed the need for the Indigenous Peoples to share their wealth of ancient knowledge. This knowledge is based on the beliefs that human beings are an interconnected part of Nature and that man must only take what is needed. This is necessary in order to preserve a balance with nature and ensure a sustainable world for future generations

They also discussed that a view of environmental, social and economic well-being is indeed the only way to truly sustainable development". A combination of Earth rights and Keynesian economics was suggested as a feasible solution to end the down hill spiral that the world is currently in. A green job mobilization was mentioned as a way to repair the world's national and Global Security. The current model of domination at any cost to humanity and nature is not sustainable for the future. This model is not scientifically based because the economic indicators are not connected to Earth's "natural capital" and is doomed in the long run.

Fortunately the United Nations is not alone in it's thinking. Other important world leaders are also coming to the realization that a major shift in world view and actions is needed. In May, Pope Benedict's Pontifical Academy of Sciences came to the same conclusion. It was because of new evidence found by his 80 international scientists of diverse faiths, that global warming is increasing much faster than expected. The German Pontiff (known as the "Green Pope") made a bold "call to action for all people in all nations: "If we as inhabitants want to ensure our rights to daily bread, fresh air to breathe and clean water to drink, and want justice and peace, we need to protect the habitat that sustains us."
The Pope is responsible for switching to solar energy at the Vatican and he has urged everyone to help reduce the cause of climate change.

The way to do this is to switch from fossil fuels and nuclear energy to renewable sources of energy such as wind, solar and water. The Germans and Swiss have made the commitment to follow Sweden in shutting down nuclear reactors and to shift to renewable sources of energy. Thousands of protesters in India and Japan have led the shift from nuclear to renewables in Asia. Thanks also to the Germans for reducing oil needs and smog by inventing the "Most Economic Car in the World." Volkswagen's Aero car gets 258 miles per gallon at speeds of 74 mph and goes on sale next year.

The world is now realizing that we really are a global community and that in order to stop our world from total destruction by mankind we are all going to have to join together and make a global shift in thinking. Thanks to all those mentioned above as the leaders in this shift of thinking, we just might have a chance in reversing the damage we have already done before it is too late.

Biologist and wolf researcher Vladimir Bologov, 46, is known as Russia's "wolf man". He is one of the few in Russia who stands up for the protection of wolves and he is a very strong advocate for the wolf. He has been studying the behavior of wolves for more than 30 years in the region of Tver which is about 450 km northwest of Moscow located in a biosphere reservation. Vladimir continues with the work of his father, Viktor Bologov, who is also a famous Russian Wolf researcher, since 1984. In 1993, Vladimir started his own research wolf project which is part of a research site of the University of Moscow.

With his research project Vladimir's goal is to return to nature what man has taken from her. He currently buys wolf cubs from hunters and zoos and raises them in enclosures where they are monitored with as little human interaction as possible. When the wolf cubs are old enough they are released into the wild again. By 2007, Vladimir had successfully released 17 wolves into the wild. While the wolves are at his shelter he observes and films them on a daily basis. He is also assisted with his work by Laetitia Becker, a 28 yr. old biologist from France. In order to continue his research project, he depends on sponsors and many volunteers.

Currently the wolves in Russia are not protected by any laws. There are around 45,000 wolves in living in Russia today although the population has been on the decline.
During the regime of the Soviet Union, hunters actually killed up to 50,000 wolves per year. Now however, there is only permission granted to shoot 15,000 wolves per year because of the decline.

The wolves are hunted in Russia throughout the entire year. For every wolf hunted down the government pays a bounty of around 45 Euros, a profitable source of income for the hunters. Bologov’s aim is to abolish the bounty system in the long run and to reach legal protection for wolves. He would also like to prohibit the poisoning of them. When the wolves are trapped in Russia they are often subjected to horrible pain by being beaten, poisoned and then killed.

Apart from his research Bologov also does a lot of educational work when he is not doing his research. He instructs cattle owners on how to protect their animals from the wolves. He also informs visitor groups and school classes. In 2009, Valdimir went to Germany on a wolf educational tour to several cities where he held informal seminars with those interested in learning more about the wolf and his research. At home in his research station, scientists and other interested people come from all over to observe his work and to enjoy the unspoiled nature of the Russian wilderness.

Vladimir Bologov is truly a man dedicated to the preservation and protection of the wolves he loves in his native country of Russia. It is a daunting job but he is driven by a passion to educate people and to end the persecution of the wolves despite the odds against him. He is indeed worthy of the title given to him - The Wolfman of Russia.