Iceland's "Loch Ness Monster" (or is it the same one?), "Project Oceanus", "The Census of Marine Life", Fukushima and "Aunt Sally"

This video has also appeared on Jeremy Wade's "River Monsters".

Project Oceanus.

Quote; " ​Of the estimated 200 million tons of plastic littering our oceans, the majority can be found floating in one of the six major oceanic gyres around the world. These massive, slowlyrotating gyres are the result of ocean currents converging in such ways that they create these colossal oceanic vortices. Now, imagine over 200 million tons of plastic debris thrown in
the mix. The results are disastrous. ​The largest of these, the North Pacific Gyre, actually consists of two somewhat smaller gyres, creating a singular enormous whirling vortex of trash that spans an area larger than the United States. This is commonly referred to as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch." Go to: http://www.titan-oceanus.com/the-problem.html

The Census of  Marine Life

Quote: "Resources for Educators and the Public
The first Census of Marine Life reported its findings of its ten-year investigation of diversity, distribution, and abundance of marine life on October 4, 2010.  Those results and a decade of resources can be found on this website.  The following is an outline of what you might find and where.  Should you have any further questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact Darlene Crist or Kristen Yarincik.

About the Census -- A summary of how the Census was structured, its scientific framework, sponsors, and links to learn more.
FAQ - Answers to frequently asked questions about the Census.
Videos and images
Galleries- The Census created a wide selection of short videos. Census scientists and photographers also contributed images which can be viewed in a flash gallery. Some images are available for download at  http://www.flickr.com/photos/55038698@N03/sets/
Music Video - View and download a music video, Look to the Sea, inspired by the Census of Marine Life.
Ocean Life Screensaver - Download a screensaver showcasing some of the best photography of the Census. Available in Windows or Mac formats.
Maps and Visualizations
Ocean Life Map - A new map of ocean life produced in conjunction with National Geographic.
The World of the Census - A spinning, interactive exploration of Census discoveries.
The Census on Google Earth - Describes Census of Marine Life findings in the ocean layer of Google Earth.
Investigating Marine Life - A web site illustrating the Census of Marine Life research programs and technology.
Census in the Arts Artwork inspired by the research of Census scientists.
Books and Reports
Science books – links to a number of books that describe the Census findings.
Popular books – links to a number of books about the Census of Marine Life for general audiences.
Reports Archive – Download PDF versions of the annual Highlights Reports, Draft Plan, and Project Annual Reports.
Global Marine Life Database - The Ocean Biogeographic Information System allows users to search marine species datasets from all the world's oceans.
News Coverage Archive - Selected articles from the world press highlighting Census research" Go to: http://www.coml.org/resources-educators-and-public

"Aunt Sally Whipping the Boy"

Quote: "The Clegg-Cameron!"  ....... is it any surprise they cannot make their minds up about which one is going to have to tell The American Adminstration where to stick it's legislation?
It must be said however that B.P are totally responsible for the actual accident (within the parameters of previously current* -and recently passed-, U.S industry practices, legislation and standards), however the responsibility for the ethos of expoitative and "fast-buck" practices is the industry's. I'm not an expert but wasn't/isn't (?) America the most influential oil producing/exploiting nation on the planet? The fact that following the accident B.P were attempting to "cobble together" a deep-water salvage/repair unit out of a couple of rusty bath-tubs on "Uncle Tom's" Louisiana dockside is the whole industry's responsiblity. The British Governmnent should make clear on B.P's behalf that whilst B.P accepts responsibility for the accident and it's aftermath it cannot accept sole responsibility for the "climate of exploitation" which has been engendered in the industry as a whole. There should be a limit to the financial burden placed on B.P and responsibilty for the rest of the environmental and social consequences of the disaster should be born by the industry (including the national governments of countries which profit from the presence of major private oil-companies on their soil ).

*You know like The Gulf Stream.

(Edit 04/01/11 ....we should offer to do as much as we possibly can to clean up what is undoubtedly our own mess and help to ensure that such a ridiculous disparity between the preparedness for disaster and the risks involved in the off-shore oil industry does not occur again.)

Sustainability

Economist's note: If we did prepare properly for all possible eventualities within the oil industry (in terms of possible disaster scenarious involving all activities from oil-well to consumption), how much would it affect the profit margins?
Also, if the possible economic consequences of continuing to expoit this resource are so serious and the possibility of disaster so real, do we not conclude that we require far more investment in sustainable above ground (but not above water), fuel production methods?

Phyto-Plankton/Ocean Flora Harvest.

Without clean seas* http://www.coml.org/image-gallery we will not be able to produce the fuels we will need. This is why we need a paradigm shift away from the old exploitative model (also see, "What's That Coming Over The Hill?" Go to http://gkhales.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/whats-that-coming-over-hill.html ).

*not just biologically clean but radiologically clean too." For more on "Bio-fuels" go to:  http://gkhales.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/aunt-sally-whipping-boy.html
 on this blog