Search Results for: blog how we affect cultural landmarks part 2

Prince William Speaks Out Against Poaching

We all know how altruistic Princess Diana was. I remember how before her death, she campaigned for many charities including those for the homeless, sick, elderly, and children. She also toured land mines in Angola – pretty uncharacteristic for a princess if you ask me. Earlier this week, I blogged about Prince Charles and how he narrated a new documentary titled Harmony: A New Way of Looking At Our World, in which he talks about ways to stop climate change and find new ways to protect our environment. So, with two parents so involved in social issues, how could Prince … Continue reading →

The 17th Annual Heinz Awards – Part 2

Yesterday, I was talking about the Heinz Award winners for this year. The Heinz Award was named after Senator John Heinz, heir to the H.J. Heinz Company (think ketchup), who died in 1991. His wife Teresa founded the awards in 1993 to honor her husband, a champion for environmental issues. Louis J. Guillette, Jr., of the Medical University of South Carolina, was another winner this year. He performs research on how chemicals affect reproduction of wildlife and humans. This reproductive biologist has testified before Congress and served as a science policy adviser for governmental agencies. Joan Kleypas has done research … Continue reading →

Records Set at Everest this Week

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Saturday was a record breaking day for some climbers on Mount Everest. Apa Sherpa reached the summit, which is 29,035 feet above sea level, for the 20th time, more than any other human. Known as “Super Sherpa,” Apa first summitted on May 10, 1990. This 20th summit was part of the Eco Everest Expedition. Apa Sherpa carried a WWP banner that read “You heard our voice, now raise yours – We can stop climate change in the Himalayas.” Apa and the climbers also hoped to bring trash off the mountain, in memory of Sir Edmund Hillary. Climbers leaving trash behind … Continue reading →

More about Idling in Your Car

Yesterday, I blogged about why you shouldn’t sit idle with your engine running for more than 30 seconds. Now I know this is a hard concept for many to grasp – I even have a bit of trouble with it. But the benefits are tremendous. Here are a few myths and facts that might make you decide to turn your key, and be idle-free. Myth: You need to warm up your engine before driving. Experts say that yes, the car needs to be warmed up, but idling is not the way to do it. To warm up the car, let … Continue reading →

Chinese Freighter Strikes Section of the Great Barrier Reef

A 755-foot Chinese freighter loaded with coal and headed for China ran aground on part of the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia Saturday. The ship, Shen Neng 1, was going full speed when it crashed into the reef. Just hours before, it had left the port of Gladstone, loaded with 72,000 tons of coal and 1,000 tons of bunker fuel. The fear now is that the ship will break apart because of the damage done to it. For safety measures, 23 crew members were rescued by an Australian police boat. There has been a report that the … Continue reading →

Mount Everest Trash Turned into Art

The other day, I mentioned how climbers were literally leaving tons of trash on Mount Everest. Even Sir Edmund Hillary admitted to leaving behind oxygen cylinders during his historic climb. Since most climbers require oxygen, cylinders are plentiful and usually left behind because climbers don’t want to carry the extra weight. As I was doing research on this blog, I came across an interesting article about Jeff Clapp. Clapp is an artist and one thing is true of artists – you never know where their inspiration is going to come from. For Clapp, an ice sculptor, it came from watching … Continue reading →

How We Affect Cultural Landmarks – Part 2

Yesterday, I wrote about how our carbon footprints are affecting cultural landmarks all over the world. Here are a few more that are being damaged by man for similar or other reasons. The Galapagos Islands is actually 19 different islands and 107 rocks and islets off the coast of Ecuador that has many indigenous animals and plants. In 1959, 97.5 percent of the land was declared a national park by the Ecuadorian government. However, the population growth plus tourism and illegal or extreme fishing and poaching is destroying the natural habitat of many species. It was estimated by the Charles … Continue reading →

How We Affect Cultural Landmarks – Part 1

As I age, I realize how older things just naturally deteriorate. Many of the world’s cultural landmarks are hundreds, if not thousands, of years old. When things last that long, you may tend to think they will last forever, but there are a few landmarks that are seeing their deterioration accelerated due to pollution and tourism. One such landmark is the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. The construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632 when Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan had it build in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Her round, white mausoleum is easily recognizable by most of … Continue reading →