from Scientific American
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
A MESSAGE FROM ONE ENDANGERED SPECIES TO ANOTHER:
Bush - You've got until May 15th!
from Scientific American
from Scientific American
Friday, April 25, 2008
Arctic Climate Impact Science
Have you read the full ARCTIC CLIMATE IMPACT SCIENCE report released today? It's an update to the ARCTIC CLIMATE IMPACT ASESSMENT. Finally the scientists are beginning to understand why I have come south! (italics mine)
pg. 85
Recent analysis of the Western Hudson Bay polar bear population found a decline from
1,194 bears in 1987 to 935 bears in 2004, a reduction of about 22% (Regehr et al.
2007b). This decline appears to have been initiated by the earlier observed declines in
body condition and demographic parameters, caused by the earlier spring break-up of
sea ice (Regehr et al. 2007b). Sea ice break-up in western Hudson Bay occurred more
than 0.8 days per year earlier from 1971-2003, meaning that by 2003, break-up was
occurring approximately 26 ± 7 days earlier than in 1971 (Gagnon and Gough 2005).
After the population decline began, it was probably aggravated by continuation of an
existing harvest which was no longer sustainable (PBSG 2006). In 2004, the
Government of Nunavut actually increased the quota of polar bears that could be
harvested from the Western Hudson Bay population from 55 to 64, based on the
perception of communities which, due to the increased sightings of polar bears around human settlements, believed that the size of the population was increasing (Stirling and
Parkinson 2006). An alternate explanation for the increased bear sightings is that polar
bears, nutritionally stressed due to earlier sea ice break-up, are encroaching on human
habitations in search of supplemental food (Stirling and Parkinson 2006, Regehr et al.
2007b). The PBSG (2006) advocate a precautionary approach when setting harvest
levels in a warming Arctic, and they recommend that appropriate management action be
taken in response to the decline in the Western Hudson Bay population.
pg. 89:
Outlook
Several projections of polar bear habitat and population have been made as part of the
analyses to inform the USFWS decision regarding listing the polar bear on the U.S.
Endangered Species Act. Using 10 general circulation models (GCMs) that best
approximate observed trends in sea-ice loss, Durner et al. (2007) projected a 42% loss
in optimal polar bear habitat during summer in the polar basin by mid-century (Figure 2).
As the projected rates of habitat loss tend to be less than the rates observed during the
past two decades, these estimates are considered by the authors to be conservative
(Durner et al. 2007). Amstrup et al. (2007) predicted that realization of the changes in
sea ice projected by the same 10 GCMs would mean the loss of approximately two-
thirds of the current polar bear population by mid-century.
© text 2008 WWF. All rights reserved
pg. 85
Recent analysis of the Western Hudson Bay polar bear population found a decline from
1,194 bears in 1987 to 935 bears in 2004, a reduction of about 22% (Regehr et al.
2007b). This decline appears to have been initiated by the earlier observed declines in
body condition and demographic parameters, caused by the earlier spring break-up of
sea ice (Regehr et al. 2007b). Sea ice break-up in western Hudson Bay occurred more
than 0.8 days per year earlier from 1971-2003, meaning that by 2003, break-up was
occurring approximately 26 ± 7 days earlier than in 1971 (Gagnon and Gough 2005).
After the population decline began, it was probably aggravated by continuation of an
existing harvest which was no longer sustainable (PBSG 2006). In 2004, the
Government of Nunavut actually increased the quota of polar bears that could be
harvested from the Western Hudson Bay population from 55 to 64, based on the
perception of communities which, due to the increased sightings of polar bears around human settlements, believed that the size of the population was increasing (Stirling and
Parkinson 2006). An alternate explanation for the increased bear sightings is that polar
bears, nutritionally stressed due to earlier sea ice break-up, are encroaching on human
habitations in search of supplemental food (Stirling and Parkinson 2006, Regehr et al.
2007b). The PBSG (2006) advocate a precautionary approach when setting harvest
levels in a warming Arctic, and they recommend that appropriate management action be
taken in response to the decline in the Western Hudson Bay population.
pg. 89:
Outlook
Several projections of polar bear habitat and population have been made as part of the
analyses to inform the USFWS decision regarding listing the polar bear on the U.S.
Endangered Species Act. Using 10 general circulation models (GCMs) that best
approximate observed trends in sea-ice loss, Durner et al. (2007) projected a 42% loss
in optimal polar bear habitat during summer in the polar basin by mid-century (Figure 2).
As the projected rates of habitat loss tend to be less than the rates observed during the
past two decades, these estimates are considered by the authors to be conservative
(Durner et al. 2007). Amstrup et al. (2007) predicted that realization of the changes in
sea ice projected by the same 10 GCMs would mean the loss of approximately two-
thirds of the current polar bear population by mid-century.
© text 2008 WWF. All rights reserved
Sunday, April 20, 2008
CN Tower Climb!
The World Wildlife Fund has been organizing this fantastic event for 18 years, to date with over 60,000 climbs by humans raising over $6 million for conservation programs. Respect!
1776 steps in exactly 15 minutes with no breaks - not bad for my first-ever CN Tower Climb, if I do say :)
The experience was quite surreal - the staircase itself is within the hollow tapering shaft of the tower, which rises to dizzying heights as the air cools and thins around and within it... There were people hyperventilating at every landing, but the willpower and medical support was there for everyone to reach the top. That's what it was all about: making that extra effort to go the distance the hard way, the more fulfilling, self-sufficient way. This is the attitude we all need to change bad habits (like riding elevators, cars and airplanes) and live sustainably on this planet: we have the power within ourselves to climb tall obstacles.
I met so many wonderful people who care for Arctic wildlife in particular, and for Planet Earth in general. For a sense of how huge this event was, check out WWF-Canada's Flickr stream - whoa!
Here are some of my favourite pics from the day, but first a link to Tara Wood's video, in which I have fun doing pre-climb jumping jacks with Mix 99.9 radio producer Planet Maurie :)
The bear hugs make it all worthwhile :)
Special thanks to Maggie Macdonald & Keith Stewart, WWF's Good Life bloggers, for all their support and for introducing me to the WFF staff!
photography by Linda Lee © cc 2.0
I have eaten whales larger than this Zip Car before! Save the whales! Save them for me!
What an honour meeting Pete Ewins (above, in green shirt), Director of Species Conservation at WWF Canada! He had just returned from Churchill, Manitoba, one of my favourite spots. Hey, Pete - how come I'm not tagged as part of your amazing Polar Bear Tracking project!? I love following the journeys of Nukilik, Ikkuma, Qanniq, Nanurluk and Anaana on your interactive map, but how will they know when I'm heading for a night out on the town in Toronto!?
That's WWF-Canada President and CEO Mike Russill with CFRB radio and as always my favourite Panda pal!
photography by Ken Mak © cc 2.0
now after climbing the tower, a little massage with my homebear K-raat...
That's a woman from Tourism Ontario in the background (above). She wanted to know my favourite spots in the province, and much to my surprise had never heard of 'em: Winisk, Atawapiskat, Fort Severn... Hey, don't promote Ontario's northern ocean coast as an eco-tourism destination - more fish for me!
That's ace videographer Eoin Harris taking a break from editing concerts for MTV to film my upcoming music video - stay tuned it's coming soon!
"We're not worthy!" Now about this WWF Panda. Let me just say that this bear is a professional, taking the role of mascot very seriously - always does what the headset bodyguards say, and in between staged photo-ops mimes improvisingly and happily with humans young and old alike, spreading cheer all around. AWESOME! But... Will. Not. Say. A. Word. I think Panda was even offended that I tried to strike up a conversation. You see, as an independent bear, not associated with any particular organization or brand, I am free to speak my mind in engaging conversation with members of the public, or throat sing at the moon with other animals, or growl back at aggressive tourists - all without having to worry about any sponsoring company lawyers. And I can take my gloves or even my head off without fear of traumatizing children for life with the inference that Santa doesn't live at the North Pole. Another benefit of not being mute: when a baby bear in disguise as a human child accuses me of being a human adult dressed as a polar bear, I can let 'em know I smell the fur under their skin! Grrrrr!!!!
Getting ready for "Bearobics"...
photography by Karey Shinn ©
1776 steps in exactly 15 minutes with no breaks - not bad for my first-ever CN Tower Climb, if I do say :)
The experience was quite surreal - the staircase itself is within the hollow tapering shaft of the tower, which rises to dizzying heights as the air cools and thins around and within it... There were people hyperventilating at every landing, but the willpower and medical support was there for everyone to reach the top. That's what it was all about: making that extra effort to go the distance the hard way, the more fulfilling, self-sufficient way. This is the attitude we all need to change bad habits (like riding elevators, cars and airplanes) and live sustainably on this planet: we have the power within ourselves to climb tall obstacles.
I met so many wonderful people who care for Arctic wildlife in particular, and for Planet Earth in general. For a sense of how huge this event was, check out WWF-Canada's Flickr stream - whoa!
Here are some of my favourite pics from the day, but first a link to Tara Wood's video, in which I have fun doing pre-climb jumping jacks with Mix 99.9 radio producer Planet Maurie :)
The bear hugs make it all worthwhile :)
Special thanks to Maggie Macdonald & Keith Stewart, WWF's Good Life bloggers, for all their support and for introducing me to the WFF staff!
photography by Linda Lee © cc 2.0
I have eaten whales larger than this Zip Car before! Save the whales! Save them for me!
What an honour meeting Pete Ewins (above, in green shirt), Director of Species Conservation at WWF Canada! He had just returned from Churchill, Manitoba, one of my favourite spots. Hey, Pete - how come I'm not tagged as part of your amazing Polar Bear Tracking project!? I love following the journeys of Nukilik, Ikkuma, Qanniq, Nanurluk and Anaana on your interactive map, but how will they know when I'm heading for a night out on the town in Toronto!?
That's WWF-Canada President and CEO Mike Russill with CFRB radio and as always my favourite Panda pal!
photography by Ken Mak © cc 2.0
now after climbing the tower, a little massage with my homebear K-raat...
That's a woman from Tourism Ontario in the background (above). She wanted to know my favourite spots in the province, and much to my surprise had never heard of 'em: Winisk, Atawapiskat, Fort Severn... Hey, don't promote Ontario's northern ocean coast as an eco-tourism destination - more fish for me!
That's ace videographer Eoin Harris taking a break from editing concerts for MTV to film my upcoming music video - stay tuned it's coming soon!
"We're not worthy!" Now about this WWF Panda. Let me just say that this bear is a professional, taking the role of mascot very seriously - always does what the headset bodyguards say, and in between staged photo-ops mimes improvisingly and happily with humans young and old alike, spreading cheer all around. AWESOME! But... Will. Not. Say. A. Word. I think Panda was even offended that I tried to strike up a conversation. You see, as an independent bear, not associated with any particular organization or brand, I am free to speak my mind in engaging conversation with members of the public, or throat sing at the moon with other animals, or growl back at aggressive tourists - all without having to worry about any sponsoring company lawyers. And I can take my gloves or even my head off without fear of traumatizing children for life with the inference that Santa doesn't live at the North Pole. Another benefit of not being mute: when a baby bear in disguise as a human child accuses me of being a human adult dressed as a polar bear, I can let 'em know I smell the fur under their skin! Grrrrr!!!!
Getting ready for "Bearobics"...
photography by Karey Shinn ©
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Girl From Ipanema (Bear From Iqaluit version)
Nice way to calm down in the evening after Fossil Fools day adventures with the Rebel Clowns... Lounge piano at the Great Hall coatroom! People tell me my playing doesn't quite capture that tropical bossanova feel. I blame the northern lights!
photography by Bronwyn Miller ©
photography by Bronwyn Miller ©
Fossil Fools Day
It was a typically toxic day in Toronto, sprawling metropolis of landfill and asphalt...
Tessa and Michaela from the Rebel Clown Army were trying to keep their cool amidst the condo gloom...
... but fashionably dystopian urbanism isn't cool, it's depressing.
I was feeling homesick and missing the snow, just killing time under the bridge by myself...
We were so bored and anxious we fought for an umbrella, even though it wasn't raining.
Tessa just couldn't take it anymore, she fainted and I felt bad for not just giving her the umbrella.
I was weak from malnutrition so carrying her home wasn't an option. We waited for the Go train to commute somewhere, anywhere...
We waited forever but still no train service. Luckily a gust of foul-smelling air woke up Tessa, and so it was time to ride the umbrella express...
We considered buying a luxury sports car, but our carbon footprints already dance with two left feet...
... and the costs of gasoline are so high these days...
"What was that you were saying about Biofuels?"
Hark! Remnants of an urban glacier! On The Run!
Woozy from the pollution, our day ends with a lovely stroll along the concrete waterfront.
Shelter at last! An airport terminal on sacred aboriginal land!
And finally some food! Hurray for imported local produce! Just being around the packaging gave us the strength to live for another Fossil Fools day.
Happy April Fools?
photography by Eric Shinn, Michaela Kennedy & Tessa Alexanian
Tessa and Michaela from the Rebel Clown Army were trying to keep their cool amidst the condo gloom...
... but fashionably dystopian urbanism isn't cool, it's depressing.
I was feeling homesick and missing the snow, just killing time under the bridge by myself...
We were so bored and anxious we fought for an umbrella, even though it wasn't raining.
Tessa just couldn't take it anymore, she fainted and I felt bad for not just giving her the umbrella.
I was weak from malnutrition so carrying her home wasn't an option. We waited for the Go train to commute somewhere, anywhere...
We waited forever but still no train service. Luckily a gust of foul-smelling air woke up Tessa, and so it was time to ride the umbrella express...
We considered buying a luxury sports car, but our carbon footprints already dance with two left feet...
... and the costs of gasoline are so high these days...
"What was that you were saying about Biofuels?"
Hark! Remnants of an urban glacier! On The Run!
Woozy from the pollution, our day ends with a lovely stroll along the concrete waterfront.
Shelter at last! An airport terminal on sacred aboriginal land!
And finally some food! Hurray for imported local produce! Just being around the packaging gave us the strength to live for another Fossil Fools day.
Happy April Fools?
photography by Eric Shinn, Michaela Kennedy & Tessa Alexanian
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