老妖雜唸：此篇文章是，社團法人台灣環境資訊協會，有關於塑化劑的相關資訊分享~~。妳也可以向妳的的專門醫療院所或是醫師諮詢過。好東西一定要和好朋友分享的，也要不吝惜的分享出去喔！喜願妳身體健康，平安順心~~~
摘譯自2011年6月8日ENS美國，紐約報導；段譽豪編譯；蔡麗伶審校
今年的聯合國年度世界海洋日，在各樣的慶祝活動，到包括氣候變遷、石油外洩、污染與過漁等海洋健康問題等挑戰中揭幕。
紐約的著名地標帝國大廈，在8日晚間將以代表海洋分層的紫色、藍色與白色等燈光，由下而上點亮，來慶祝聯合國世界海洋日。
「深水地平線的漏油事件影響了路易斯安那州3/5的海岸線，長度超過1000英哩，是前所未有的環境災難。儘管灣區大部分的石油已經清除，路易斯安那海岸許多地區仍有石油殘存，而這些石油將對灣區的生態系以及社區影響，將繼續數年之久。整個灣區的經濟與社區受到漏油事件嚴重的破壞。」
聯合海洋促進委員會(JOCI)呼籲美國中央與地方官員，支持美國第一個國家海洋政策有效的實行，以對當地經濟與國家工業提供更好的保護，並且能鼓勵創新。
根據國家海洋經濟計劃指出，2007年間海洋經濟提供了超過230萬份工作，對美國GDP貢獻了1380億美金。資料顯示，美國沿海的城市有1.56億人，所有的6900萬個工作對美國經濟貢獻了7900億美金。
報告建議強化聯邦間的協調，特別是加強並支持各州與區域間的協調；改善科學資料的收集與傳遞以協助政策的制定；直接投資在增加政府效率與效能的項目，包括成立海洋投資基金。
聯合海洋促進委員會將在2012年公開評估國家海洋政策的執行狀況。
梅特卡夫海洋與環境研究所宣布了2011年葛拉罕環境報導卓越獎(Grantham Prize for Excellence in Reporting on the Environment)得主。
經濟學人的阿斯蒂爾(James Astill)以《如何拯救世界之肺：森林》一文贏得了7.5萬美元的獎金。這份含有八個部份的報告指出了全球森林的現況以及所面臨的威脅，這些威脅來自人為開發以及氣候變遷。
保護公海的新共識
IUCN因公海的保護取得了勝利而慶祝。上周在聯合國，各國首次嘗試跨越國際法律在司法管轄權對公海保護不足的鴻溝。
各國同意建立一個以聯合國為基礎的“過程”，以在聯合國海洋法公約的基礎下建立新的多邊協議。
此一過程將著眼在區域管理工具之上，例如海洋保護區以及環境影響評估，以及各國間海洋科技能力的建立與交流。
公海是面積最大的未保護荒野，佔地球近50%的面積，也就是全部海洋的64%。自2003年以來，IUCN推動國際行動，來保護地球的「藍色心臟」，IUCN 公海政策顧問 Kristina Gjerde 說，IUCN支持在國際層級下的國際水域海岸與海洋生態多樣性保育的各項努力。
聯合國教科文組織的靈感：青年人，改變的下一波
官員表示，聯合國教科文組織與其政府間海洋委員會號召了全世界數百個水族館、動物園、博物館、保育組織以及數千位民眾共襄盛舉，以有趣、啟發性以及教育性的活動來紀念海洋日。
在今年，世界各地的慶祝活動以啟發年輕人保護海洋為重點，開始了為期兩年的主題活動：青年人，改變的下一波。
聯合國秘書長潘基文8日對全世界的信息中提到，世界海洋日是反思海洋對人類永續發展重要性的機會，也是了解與海洋有關的眾多嚴峻挑戰的時候。
聯合國環境署對永續海洋的案例研究
聯合國環境署在海洋日發表一篇報告，呼籲建立新的夥伴關係，以確保海洋與海岸環境的永續發展。
這份名為《以管理方式逐步建立海洋與海岸生態系統-簡介指引》的報告，說明不同海洋使用者間更密切的夥伴關係-例如漁業社區、旅遊業以及保育人士，也能夠幫助海岸社區更有能力抵擋自然災害以及全球暖化的影響-利如海洋酸化與海平面的變化。
報告指出了分享知識的方法，以及不同部門間海洋管理的最佳方式，並提供了20的案例研究與成功案例，範圍從南極的極地生態系到印度洋的環礁。
歐洲對減緩魚類族群壓力的計畫
在英國倫敦的全球世界海洋日論壇中，歐盟委員會海洋事務與漁業研究員 Maria Damanaki 對立法者以及與會代表提出警告，「歐盟許多地區過度捕撈，而漁獲量只有90年代的一小部分，而且逐年下降。歐洲有2/3的漁獲仰賴進口。」
她說，首先各國要在2015年以前，達成2002年於約翰尼斯堡所設定的最大永續漁獲量，將之視為一項法律義務。
下一步，Damanaki表示她想終結漁船在超額捕魚後丟棄漁獲。「這是不道德也不可接受的事，對消費者當然也是不合理的，因此所有的捕獲量都應該調降」，她說。
溫哥華面臨漏油風險
在太平洋岸的英屬哥倫比亞省溫哥華，環保人士擔心漏油事件。
為突顯世界海洋日，荒野委員會對溫哥華港可能會發生災難性漏油提出了警告。
「溫哥華正迅速成為北美西海岸焦油砂出口的關鍵，」荒野委員會成員韋斯特(Ben West)說道，「我們反對油輪經過伯拉德灣以及輸油管線計畫的原因在於，我們要與氣候變遷爭戰，而且那樣做會威脅到我們的太平洋海岸。」
韋斯特在9日美國作家與社運人士Antonia Juhasz的一場活動發表演說，介紹他的新書，《黑潮，海灣石油漏油的破壞性影響》，這本書報導了去年英國石油深水地平線漏油事件，以及其帶來的災難性後果。
「英國石油以及其他在墨西哥灣鑽探的石油公司曾向政府與民眾保證，他們的技術是『安全的』，而現在我們聽到石油工業說，那些在伯拉德入海口的油輪是安全的。」韋斯特說，「所以保持警戒是很重要的，想到大量的石油經由溫哥華港出口的同時，要記取墨西哥灣災難的教訓。」
測繪海底地形
從今天開始，坐在椅子上的探險家可以仔細查看深海的地形，精細度遠超過以往，這都要歸功於谷歌地球(Google Earth)所發布的新的海底合成地圖。
由哥倫比亞大學的拉-多地球觀測所(Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory)的海洋學家所研發，由多個研究船航次所收集的數據，新的功能將海底的解析度由過去的1公里縮小到現在的100公尺。
海底有火山脊、山峰、廣闊的平原與深谷，但人類對大部分地區的細節仍不比對月球表面與火星來得清楚。
更準確的數據將有助於科學家了解某些現象造成的風險，包括地震帶。參觀者可以一窺門迪西諾山脊(Mendocino Ridge)，也就是胡安·德富卡板塊(Juan de Fuca plate)朝北美西部滑動的位置，這裡可能會產生地震並引發強大的海嘯侵襲陸地。
海洋保育組織宣布海洋英雄獎得主
海洋保育組織Oceana在8日宣布，Peter Wallerstein 與 Sophi Bromenshenkel是該組織第三屆海洋英雄獎的得主。成人與少年英雄獎得主在8日正式公佈，在世界海洋日的當天，保育組織Oceana的「成為海洋英雄」活動也正式啟動。
Peter Wallerstein 是加州 El Segundo 海洋動物救援組織的計畫總監，因為致力於搶救受傷的海洋哺乳動物而獲獎。Wallerstein 在全球搶救並且看護生病海洋生物已超過20年。
8歲的Sophi Bromenshenkel來自明尼蘇達的 Richfield，因為為鯊魚保育募款超過3500美金而被選為少年英雄。
「今年的海洋英雄獎令人刮目相看，主要的原因在於他們對海洋保育的實質成就。Wallerstein 拯救過超過3000頭海洋動物，而Bromenshenkel 雖然只有八歲，卻為鯊魚保育募得了數千美金，」海洋保育組織 Oceana 執行長 Andrew Sharpless 說，「像這樣的個人承諾累積起來，可以真正的為世界的海洋帶來改變。」
Breakthroughs, Launches, and Warnings on World Oceans Day
NEW YORK, New York, June 8, 2011 (ENS)
The spectrum of actions marking the UN’s annual World Oceans Day ranges from the celebratory to the cautionary as ocean health is assaulted by challenges that include climate change, oil spills, pollution and overfishing.
New York’s iconic Empire State Building will be lit this evening in purple, blue and white, from bottom to top, representing the different layers of the ocean in honor of the United Nations World Oceans Day.
『An unprecedented environmental disaster, the Deepwater Horizon spill oiled over 1,000 miles of shoreline, 3/5 of them in Louisiana. Although the vast majority of the oil in the Gulf is now gone, oil remains close to shore in many of these Louisiana coastal areas, and the effects on Gulf ecosystems and communities will be felt for years. Communities and economies throughout the Gulf were devastated by the spill.』
The Joint Ocean Commission Initiative called on national, state and local officials to support effective implementation of the first U.S. National Ocean Policy to better protect local economies, national industries and encourage innovation.
According to the National Ocean Economics Program, in 2007 the ocean economy generated over 2.3 million jobs and more than $138 billion of the GDP of the United States. The data show that 156 million people live in coastal counties, where they hold 69 million jobs that contribute $7.9 trillion to the U.S. economy.
The report recommends: robust federal coordination, in particular enhanced collaboration with and support for states and regions; better collection and delivery of science and data to support decision making; and immediate investments that would increase government efficiency and effectiveness, including through establishment of an ocean investment fund.
In 2012, the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative will publicly assess progress toward implementing the National Ocean Policy.
The Metcalf Institute for Marine & Environmental Reporting revealed the 2011 winner of the Grantham Prize for Excellence in Reporting on the Environment.
James Astill of 『The Economist』 will receive the $75,000 prize for 『The World’s Lungs: Forests, and How to Save Them,』 an eight part special report on the state of global forests and the rising threats they face from human exploitation and climate change.
New Consensus on High Seas Protection
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature is celebrating. Last week at the United Nations, countries took the first, essential steps towards closing the huge gaps in international law that leave the high seas beyond national jurisdictions poorly protected.
Countries agreed to establish a UN-based 『process』 that could lead to a new multilateral agreement under the UN Law of the Sea Convention.
The process would address area-based management tools such as marine protected areas, as well as environmental impact assessments, capacity-building and the transfer of marine technology among nations.
The high seas are the largest area of unprotected wilderness, covering nearly 50 percent of the planet and 64 percent of the ocean. Since 2003, IUCN has fostered international action to safeguard this 『blue heart of the planet,』 said Gjerde, just as it supports efforts at the national level to conserve coastal and marine biodiversity within national waters.
UNESCO’s Inspiration: Youth: the Next Wave for Change
To mark the day, UNESCO and its Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission 『join hundreds of aquariums, zoos, museums, conservation organizations, and thousands of individuals around the world celebrating the day by participating in fun, inspirational, and educational events,』 the agency said.
This year, celebrations around the world draw attention to the importance of getting young people in our communities inspired to protect the ocean, kicking off a two-year theme, Youth: the Next Wave for Change.
In his message to the world today, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, 『World Oceans Day is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of oceans to humankind’s sustainable development. It is also a time to recognize the many severe challenges related to oceans. 『
UNEP’s Sustainable Oceans Case Studies
The UN Environment Programme marked the day by launching a report calling for new partnerships to ensure sustainable development for marine and coastal environments.
『Taking Steps toward Marine and Coastal Ecosystem-Based Management: An Introductory Guide』 states that closer partnerships between different marine users – such as fishing communities, the tourism industry and conservationists – can also help coastal communities become better prepared for natural disasters and the impacts of global warming, such ocean acidification and changes in sea levels.
The report shows how sharing knowledge and best practices across different sectors can make marine management more effective, and offers guidance using over 20 case studies and success stories, ranging from polar ecosystems in Antarctica to atolls in the Indian Ocean.
Europe’s Plan to Ease Stress on Fish Populations
At the GLOBE World Oceans Day Forum in London, European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki warned fellow lawmakers and distinguished delegates, 『In the EU too many stocks are overfished and catches are only a fraction of what they used to be in the nineties, and still dipping year after year. Europe has to rely on imports for two-thirds of its fish.』
First, the commitment to reach Maximum Sustainable Yield by 2015, which nations undertook in Johannesburg in 2002, has to become a legal obligation, she said.
Next, Damanaki said she wants to put an end to discarding of fish caught in excess of a boat’s quota. 『It is unethical, unacceptable and certainly not justifiable to consumers anymore; therefore all catches have to be landed,』 she said.
Vancouver At Risk of Oil Spills
On the Pacific Ocean in Vancouver, British Columbia, environmentalists are worried about oil spills.
To mark World Oceans Day, the Wilderness Committee is warning against the possibility of a catastrophic oil spill in Vancouver’s harbor.
『Vancouver is rapidly becoming the key point of export for tar sands crude oil on the west coast of North America,』 said West. 『We are opposed to this both because of what this means for the fight against climate change and because of the threat it poses to our Pacific coast.』
West will speak Thursday at an event featuring U.S. author and activist Antonia Juhasz. She will introduce her latest book, 『Black Tide: The Devastating Impact of the Gulf Oil Spill,』 which reports on last year’s BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill and its disastrous aftermath.
『BP and the other oil companies drilling in the Gulf of Mexico assured governments and the public that their drilling techniques were ‘safe’, and now today we are hearing from the oil industry that these oil tankers in Burrard Inlet are safe,』 said West. 『So it’s important for us here to be vigilant, and to consider the disaster in the Gulf when thinking about the massive increase in oil exports going through Vancouver’s harbor.』
Mapping the Ocean Floor
Starting today, armchair explorers will be able to view parts of the deep ocean floors in far greater detail than ever before, due to a new synthesis of seafloor topography released through Google Earth.
Developed by oceanographers at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory from scientific data collected on research cruises, the new feature tightens resolution in covered areas from the former one-kilometer grids to just 100 meters.
The ocean floors contain volcanic ridges, peaks, wide plains and deep valleys, but most areas remain mapped in less detail than the surfaces of the Moon and Mars.
The more accurate data is helping scientists understand the risks posed by some features, including earthquake zones. Viewers can visit Mendocino Ridge, where the Juan de Fuca plate slides toward western North America, and where an earthquake could potentially send a massive tsunami up onto land.
Oceana Announces Ocean Heroes Award Winners
Today, Oceana announces that Peter Wallerstein and Sophi Bromenshenkel are the winners of its 3rd annual Ocean Heroes Award. The adult and junior heroes will be officially announced on June 8th in conjunction with World Oceans Day and the start of Oceana’s 『Be an Ocean Hero』 campaign.
Peter Wallerstein, program director at Marine Animal Rescue in El Segundo, California was voted the adult hero for his commitment to rescuing injured marine mammals. For well over 20 years, Wallerstein has been a first responder and the hands-on caretaker of ailing marine animals all over the world.
Eight-year-old Sophi Bromenshenkel of Richfield, Minnesota was voted the junior hero after raising over $3,500 for shark conservation.
『This year’s Ocean Heroes are truly impressive, largely because of their tangible achievements towards ocean conservation. Peter has 3,000 marine mammal rescues under his belt and Sophi, even though she is only eight years old, has raised thousands of dollars for shark conservation,』 said Oceana Chief Executive Officer Andrew Sharpless. 『Individual commitments like these all add up and make a real difference for the world’s oceans.』
全文及圖片詳見：ENS報導
沒有留言:
張貼留言