Fifth world beach clean-up

Volume 34/Number 10/October 1997 signatories to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) results in a legally binding treaty limiting CO2 emissions. Small island nations are highly vulnerable to rises in sea level resulting from warming of the oceans and melting of the polar ice caps. Many of the islands rise no more than a few feet above current sea level, and could be completely submerged by rises in sea level predicted by some global climate models to occur within the next century if greenhouse gas emissions are not curbed. In the nearer future, smaller sea level rises combined with an increase in the frequency of severe storms could result in serious flooding becoming a regular event. The Indian Ocean archipelago of the Maldives which is less than six feet above sea level at its highest point is fortunate to be fringed by coral reefs which protect the islands from storm waves, and to be situated in a normally calm area of sea. However, in 1987, one third of the land area of the Maldives was suddenly flooded by a "wall of water". Many nations--including China, India, Brazil and South Korea--are exempt from the voluntary limits on greenhouse gas emissions agreed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. These nations have made it clear that they will not sign a treaty in Kyoto setting enforceable limits on future emissions; it is estimated that of these exempted nations, 132 out of 166 signatories to UNFCCC, will account for 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions over the next century. Many governments and industries in the 34 nations bound by the limits are worried that their nations will be economically disadvantaged for no overall environmental benefit unless all nations agree to cut emissions. One method proposed for reducing emissions of CO2 is a switch from fossil fuel to nuclear energy for power generation. This however produces problems with disposal of wastes and the potential for serious environmental damage if shipping accidents involve radioactive cargoes. Studies have indicated that islands in the South Pacific might have to be evacuated in the event of a shipping accident causing the release of even a small fraction of a radioactive cargo. Such cargoes, both high level radioactive waste for reprocessing and plutonium, already cross the Pacific in transit between Japan and Europe. The risk of accidental release of radioactive material will increase if the number of cargoes grows as nuclear power generation becomes more widely used. Greenpeace presented a petition to the South Pacific Forum calling for a ban on radioactive shipments. It was signed by tens of thousands of citizens of the South Pacific islands, where the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior has been touring recently. The environmental group wants the Forum nations to provide a lead in pressing for a ban on nuclear cargo transport, as they did in protesting at French nuclear weapons tests on Mururoa Atoll in 1995 and 1996. LEWIS PRESS

Fifth World Beach Clean-Up The fifth annual world-wide beach clean up took place in September this year. The beach weekend clean-up is co-ordinated by Clean Up Australia in conjunction with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Eighty countries were involved at its inception in 1993 and this had grown to 110 by 1996 when a record 40 million people from right across the world took part. It is thought that an even higher number will have taken part this year. As well as community and environmental groups, schools, scouts, guides and individuals, government departments and industry organizations have become involved. Last year, 20 Greek cities took part through an organization called the Helenic Healthy Cities project as well as numerous island groups. Twenty one organizing groups co-ordinated across India tackled a wide range of activities. A clean up of the River Ganga in Diamond Harbour and the building of composting facilities were two such projects. Eleven South American countries and one in four Koreans actively participated in the national clean up week-end. Both the Philippines and Thailand also took part, holding major recycling programs and competitions for the cleanest cities. Under the banner of Eco-Peace Palestinian, Israeli, Jordanian and Egyptians worked to clean up the beaches of the Gulf of Aqaba and committees in Turkey, Israel, Bahrain and Egypt used the opportunity to focus on environmental problems. 3785 Hawaiians picked up 161 661 pounds of rubbish off their massive coastline. This included 40 709 cigarette butts, bottles, plastic, paper, televisions, VCRs and even a Ford Tempo! Although information on this year's weekend is still coming in it appears to have been another great success. In California alone, 50000 volunteers cleaned over eleven hundred miles of coastline, inland lakes and rivers in a project sponsored by the California Coastal Commission. Beaches are left safer for wildlife and the people who participate feel part of the international community and this provides inspiration for other environmental initiatives.

Philippine Pearl Farming The famous 'South Sea Pearl' is now to be available as farm grown oysters from the island of Guimaras in the Philippines. A group known as the Guimaras' Compressor Owners, Operators and Divers MultiPurpose Co-operative (COOD) has gathered together in the district of Sabang Sibunag in Guimaras to culture the south sea pearl. Currently wild pearls can cost anything between $300 and $600 a piece depending on their quality. The perfectly round 755