A hobby provides a good start for environmentalism.

A well-understood charitable attitude begins always at home; if we cannot demonstrate to ourselves and our families that we can actually be ecologically-minded, we will never be in a credible position to ask others to act as we suggest. You cannot ask for what you are not willing to give; that's a very simple rule for social responsibility and the development of leadership skills. People - and especially kids - are better predisposed to learning thorough examples than by listening to someone just talking. People essentially imitate attitudes, gestures and ideas that they see as positive; nobody - or at least very few people - believe in learning thorough coercion or punishment.

And as hobbies constitute undoubtedly pleasurable activities for those interested in them, no matter what they are, for all those involved, the time spent constitutes from an educational point of view, very high-quality time because participants in any hobby-related activity are open-minded while that lasts. So, whether you are interested in railroad modelling, collecting stamps or coins, pottery, doll houses, flying real aircraft, flying simulators or some sports, you, and those around you at the time become better teachers and informal learners or formal students. This means that a skilful teacher can inculcate many things to his "Padawans" by using such situations.

But in order to get authentic learning, whatever is intended to be thought should be related in some logical way to the hobby in question. Dictatorial regimes around the world tried to use to their advantage such situations, and so, instead of having the Boy Scouts in communist countries, the state and the party created the Pioneer clubs, which were almost the same as the scouts, but well seasoned with political indoctrination. However, the fact that such a technique ultimately failed - i.e. the political ideas convinced no one in the end - is easily proved by the fall of the Berlin Wall.

However, if there is one thing that is related to any hobby and any activity on this planet is indeed, the fact that the health of our home as an environmental system receives an impact from what we do. Thus, any hobby, no matter how innocent it might seem to us, could have a potentially negative effect: hunting and fishing are obvious examples but even R/C modelling could become highly contaminating, albeit at a small scale, because aircraft models and their radio control systems use batteries, fuel and other stuff that does contaminate in the same way as the stuff used by cars and trucks. Indeed, an RC plane is smaller that your average SUV, but irresponsible use of such devices could contribute in a very negative way to the state of our planetary environment.

Thus, those who practice any sort of hobby that might have a negative environmental impact are in a position to reinforce negative or positive attitudes very easily. In both cases - moreover if they are surrounded by other who might start to emulate - the effect could be multiplied. So, if it is in our interest to do good while enjoying our hobbies, it becomes evident that we should take advantage of the opportunities presented to reinforce positive attitudes and finish off those that might be negative.

Having said this, it becomes important to remember that introducing unrelated "ideology" is pointless, so overacting or forcing any sort of conduct or norm into the little universe of the hobby enthusiasts could backfire and send even very good ideas to the trash bin.

So, becoming environmentally-minded as a hobbist and part a group of hobbists should not be a matter of impracticality or hypocrisy. It shouldn't be seen as something cumbersome or against the common sense of other fellow hobbists. For example: prohibiting the use of certain batteries ipso facto among those who like R/C modelling would raise many objections, mostly related to budgetary reasons and going against the pocket is a sure way to fail. If battery types should be changed, than a recommendation to do so as they become consumed stands a far better chance than prohibition. Remember: you want others to emulate you, not to quarrel with them.

Source: Pablo Edronkin, Andinia.com

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Doha, Qatar - Greenpeace condemns the failure of governments meeting for at the CITES (Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species), to agree any measures to protect endangered Atlantic bluefin tuna.

Speaking from the meeting, Greenpeace International oceans campaigner Oliver Knowles said:

The abject failure of governments here at CITES to protect Atlantic bluefin tuna spells disaster for its future and sets the species on a pathway to extinction.’

The failure of countries to support proper protection for Atlantic bluefin tuna means business as usual for those whose only interest in the species is short –term profit.

It leaves the future of the species in the hands of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, the very organisation responsible for the dire state of bluefin tuna stocks today.

It is an own goal by Japan. By pushing for a few more years of this luxury product it has put the future of bluefin, and the future of its own supply at serious risk.

Source: Greenpeace

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CITES delegates were forced to an early vote on the proposals to list the Species on Appendix I, when Libya tabled a motion to close the debate early. The majority of parties agreed to this which meant the proposals were voted on immediately.

Both the European Proposal for Appendix I with amendments and Monaco’s orginal proposal for straight Appendix I listing were voted down. The vote followed several days of aggressive lobbying from the Japanese, who take close to 80% of the catch Atlantic Bluefin for use as sushi.

NOAA's Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), jointly referred to as the Services, announced today their joint determination that the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is globally comprised of nine distinct population segments (DPSs) that qualify as species for listing as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

The Federal Register notice, scheduled to publish on March 16, will formally announce the findings on petitions to list the North Pacific and Northwest Atlantic populations of the loggerhead as DPSs with endangered status and proposes to list nine separate loggerhead DPSs worldwide, including the two petitioned populations.

"Following a thorough assessment of the global loggerhead populations it was clear the nine populations were distinct," said Eric Schwaab, NOAA assistant administrator for NOAA's Fisheries Service. "Our joint analysis of the nine loggerhead DPSs also lead us to the finding that two of these populations should be proposed for listing as threatened, while the other seven should be proposed for listing as endangered." The two DPSs proposed as threatened are the South Atlantic Ocean and the Southwest Indian Ocean. The seven DPSs proposed as endangered are the North Pacific Ocean, South Pacific Ocean, Southeast Indo-Pacific Ocean, North Indian Ocean, Northwest Atlantic Ocean, Northeast Atlantic Ocean, and Mediterranean Sea.

Loggerhead sea turtles are currently listed as threatened throughout their range.

In August 2007, the Services completed an ESA five-year review of the loggerhead turtle and recommended that the species be fully examined in accordance with the DPS policy to determine whether the species exists as DPSs and, if so, what the status of those DPSs is. On July 16, 2007, the Services received a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and Turtle Island Restoration Network requesting that loggerhead sea turtles in the North Pacific be reclassified as a DPS with endangered status, and that critical habitat be designated. On November 16, 2007, the Services received a second petition from CBD and Oceana requesting that loggerhead turtles in the Northwest Atlantic be reclassified as a DPS with endangered status and that critical habitat be designated.

On November 16, 2007 and March 5, 2008, respectively, the Services announced their 90-day findings that the requested actions may be warranted and that they would proceed with an assessment of the loggerhead's listing status. Subsequently, a Loggerhead Biological Review Team (BRT) was formed. The BRT evaluated the species in accordance with the DPS policy to determine whether DPSs existed, and then evaluated the status of each DPS. This effort resulted in a formal Status Review of the Loggerhead Turtle in August 2009. The BRT status report then underwent independent peer review by nine scientists with expertise in loggerhead sea turtle biology, genetics, and modeling.

"The BRT status review was not only comprehensive in its scope," said Cynthia Dohner, FWS's southeast regional director, "but represents an outstanding synthesis of the best available scientific information used to inform our joint determination and proposal."

Following a detailed review of the BRT findings, and an assessment in accordance with the statutory requirements of the ESA, the Services determined that the petitioned actions were warranted and prepared the single Federal Register notice that includes the 12-month petition findings and a proposed rule for all nine identified DPSs.

The Services are soliciting public comment on the proposed listing determination. Specifically they are seeking information and comments on whether the nine proposed loggerhead sea turtle DPSs qualify as DPSs and, if so, whether they should be classified as threatened or endangered.

Specific information sought includes the following areas relative to loggerhead turtles within the nine proposed DPSs:

historical and current population status and trends,

historical and current distribution,

migratory movements and behavior,

genetic population structure,

current or planned activities that may adversely impact loggerhead turtles, and

ongoing efforts to protect loggerhead turtles.

Anyone wishing to comment and/or submit information, identified by the RIN 0648–AY49, regarding the proposed actions may do so via one of the following methods:

Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

U.S. mail or hand-delivery: NMFS National Sea Turtle Coordinator, Attn: Loggerhead Proposed Listing Rule, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East-West Highway, Room 13657, Silver Spring, MD 20910 or USFWS National Sea Turtle Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 7915 Baymeadows Way, Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL 32256.

Fax: To the attention of NMFS National Sea Turtle Coordinator at 301–713–0376 or USFWS National Sea Turtle Coordinator at 904–731–3045.

The Services will post all information received on http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that any personal information provided also will be posted. NOAA Fisheries and FWS will accept anonymous comments (enter N/A in the required fields, if you wish to remain anonymous). Attachments to electronic comments will be accepted in Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.

Please note that submissions merely stating support for or opposition to the action under consideration without providing supporting information, although noted, will not be considered in making a determination, as section 4(b)(1)(A) of the ESA directs that "the Secretary shall make determinations... solely on the basis of the best scientific and commercial data available ..."

Information must be received by June 14, 2010. Request for public hearings must be received by June 1, 2010.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish and wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Visit the Service online at http://www.fws.gov or http://www.fws.gov/southeast/