Day 2 was a full 24 hour day.  Waking up in the (Western) Samoa airport, we groggily rise and check into our flight to American Samoa.  The check in is rather smooth, though Coach Tos and a few others lose their roll-on deoderant to the airport security.  The gate lounges are straight out of the 1980’s, but are air-conditioned, which is a pleasant change from the mugginess of the baggage/check in area.  Yeah, the whole Apia airport is open air, save for the gate areas, which made for an interesting night with feral cats and dogs roaming around.  A cat fight entertained some of the Victorian players for a few minutes at about 3am.

Team unity is slowly building.  Some are critical of players from other states not mixing well at first, but the coaches are dividing up players, so they’ll have to make friends whether they like it or not.

Because of weight issues, and the fact that the plane/shuttle between Samoa and American Samoa only seats 15 people – baggage or not, we’re divided up into three groups.  I’m in the second group, which somehow leaves first.  Our plane is a tiny twin engine propeller, with seats that fold forward, and carry on baggage is stowed in your lap, or the person’s lap next to you.  Suffice it to say, there wasn’t much of a seafty breifing before takeoff!

The views from the sky were truy amazing.  The sun was shining and the skies clear, and the take-off felt so much different from the ones on major jetliners.  Looking down you could see the coastline and the Pacific ocean, clear blue, and the mountains.  Spectacular.  For most players, this was their first time in a prop plane, so they were a bit more nervous about flying than the coaches, but they managed to relax, and eventually sleep most of the way of the hour-long flight to Pago Pago.

BTW,  I can’t upload pics as of yet, but when I get the chance (probably on return), I will at appropriate sections in this blog.

Talofa (Hello in Samoan) Australia!

I’m currently sitting in the Pago Airport Inn in American Samoa as part of the coaching staff of the Junior Outback Squad.  So far, the trip has been a mixture of trials and jubilations, with many more yet to come.

Day 1 – Travel day.

The Melbourne squad arrived at Tullamarine keen as mustard and ready to go.  All except Ryan Marino, who felt that 10:30 meant 11:15.  Despite the delays, we were off on Virgin to Sydney, where we met up with the other players and coaches.  Half of the players think I’m one of them – which makes me feel young (which I still am at 27!).  Coach Tos thinks I’m a player – which isn’t so good.  Meet Luke Chapman and Gert Boogerd, along with Shaun “Mad Dog” Hunter.  Together we comprise the coaching staff of this motley crew.

We leave Sydney on Pacific Blue flight DJ 93 to Samoa, and after an uneventful flight, arrive in Apia, Samoa at 11:50pm local time.  Coach Chapman is impressed by the Samoan secuity force wearing lava-lavas (skirt/sarong type wear) and thongs (flip-flops).  Not exactly high security to be sure.  We have to wait until 7am the next morning for our flight, and rather than book a hotel, GA decided to let us spend the night in the airport.  It’s not a comfy night, but we make introductions, meet new players, start to bond as a team/coaching staff.

     The Seal the Deal! campaign is mobilising political leaders, the business sector and civil society on an ambitious, global scale to raise a strong call for urgent and united action on climate change.

    Combating climate change is an investment with strong returns, today and for many generations to come. Delays and inaction will only make matters much worse for millions of people and much more expensive.

    Let’s make 2009 the year the world finds an answer to climate change.

    The numbers dont sound big, but their effects could be cataclysmic. A 2C rise above pre-industrial levels would see 20-40% of the Amazon die off within 100 years. A 3C rise would see 75% of the forest destroyed by drought over the following century, while a 4C rise would kill 85%. (Nature Geoscience).

    However there is good news. The worst of global warming can still be avoided if Greenhouse gases levels are cut substantially.
    Look at the inspiring figures here who have joined the Seal the Deal! campaign and given us their time, talent and energy to help make the world a better place.
We look forward to seeing your name here too.

The Seal the Deal campaign team!

Sign the petition for a fair climate agreement at the Copenhagen conference

When the environment becomes less valuable or damaged, environmental degradation is said to occur.

There are many forms of environmental degradation.

  When habitats are destroyed, biodiversity is lost, or natural resources are depleted, the environment is hurt.

    A habitat is a more permanent ecosystem that has stabilized and reached dynamic equilibrium.  The types of living organisms in a habitat are likely to remain there in the future, and the habitat will probably maintain some degree of constancy.

   Groups of species living in a unique environment constitute a habitat.  Habitats are classified based on their physical and chemical properties, inhabitants, and other features.

The environment may be classified based on its topography, soil, temperature, rainfall, moisture, and many other physical characteristics. 

Throughout human history, soil has been repeatedly ruined and destroyed.  This is highly dangerous to a civilization, because soil is an essential resource that is useful in many ways.  Some societies have even collapsed due to mistreatment of their soil resources, so modern people must be cautious to avoid a similar fate.

Soil is composed of both inorganic materials and living organisms.  It provides the basis for life, giving nutrients to plants, which allow animal life to exist.

Soil is also used extensively in human production.  It contains natural fibers, and produces lumber and crops that people consume.

Crops are usually grown on mollisols, grassland soils.  Soils found in other places, such as tropical rain forests, usually lack the nutrients necessary to support the growing of crops.

When bedrock breaks down, it is converted into soil.  Some soil also comes from sediments that are left by the wind, a volcano, glaciers, or other sources.

Soil resources can be lost through erosion.  Wind and rain can uplift soil that is made easy to transport by various human processes and take it somewhere else.

Soil conservation is being practiced in various forms in many places around the world.  Conservation efforts aim to prevent erosion and maintain life-giving nutrients that are found in the soil.  In the future, soil will have to be preserved if food is to be continued to be grown.

Information About Forests by Country:

    This is a thorough database of information provided by the World Conservation Monitoring Centre

WORLD OUTLOOKs

 Numerous forest statistics are provided by the database.  There are also maps for every country that show the forest covering for the country.  The maps are colored based on what type of forest is present in an area.

REGIONAL ISSUES

    Among the issues discussed for each part of the world are biodiversity, marine environments, urban areas, industrial processes, and more.  Resources discussed here include forests, land and water.  The factors that influence the environment are economic, environmental, political, and social.  Each region is searching for solutions to its environmental problems, and is involved in regional and national projects aimed at protecting the environment through cooperation.

There are a total of 65 Articles in this section.  The articles cover those issues that are most important topics for each region.

    Many of the developing regions of the world are rapidly losing their forested areas.  In order to develop and industrialize, these areas have had to sell their natural resources, including forests.

    The wealthier countries destroyed much of their forest lands long ago.  Now, these countries are able to use wood from forests in poorer countries and in many cases these rich countries are no longer seeing their total forest area decrease.

    Additional information is available for each region of the world in the World Oulook section and at these sites : 

• Africa
• Australasia
• Caribbean
• Central America
• Continental South and Southeast Asia
• Europe
• Far East
• Insular Southeast Asia
• Middle East
• North America
• Russia
• South America

 

Chemical properties, such as level of acidity, types of nutrients and pollutants present, and oxidation reduction status, also help to identify individual habitats.

The living organisms found within a habitat also help to define it.  Occasionally, those habitats with treed areas (forests) are classified as one group, while areas that instead have grasses (prairies) are grouped separately.

Most major types of habitats have many unique subtypes.  In forests, for example, different types of soil often lead to entirely different habitats.

A habitat is a more permanent ecosystem that has stabilized and reached dynamic equilibrium.  The types of living organisms in a habitat are likely to remain there in the future, and the habitat will probably maintain some degree of constancy.

Groups of species living in a unique environment constitute a habitat.  Habitats are classified based on their physical and chemical properties, inhabitants, and other features.

The environment may be classified based on its topography, soil, temperature, rainfall, moisture, and many other physical characteristics. 

Chemical properties, such as level of acidity, types of nutrients and pollutants present, and oxidation reduction status, also help to identify individual habitats.

The living organisms found within a habitat also help to define it.  Occasionally, those habitats with treed areas (forests) are classified as one group, while areas that instead have grasses (prairies) are grouped separately.

Most major types of habitats have many unique subtypes.  In forests, for example, different types of soil often lead to entirely different habitats.

Environmental degradation can occur naturally, or through human processes.  The largest areas of concern at present are the loss of rain forests, air pollution and smog, ozone depletion, and the destruction of the marine environment.

Pollution is occurring all over the world and poisoning the planet’s oceans.  Even in remote areas, the effects of marine degradation are obvious.

In some areas, the natural environment has been exposed to hazardous waste.  In other places, major disasters such as oil spills have ruined the local environment.

CFCs, or chlorofluorocarbons, are the primary cause of ozone depletion.  When industrial processes release these chemicals, they rise into the stratosphere and degrade the ozone.

Acid rain, smog and poor air quality have been the result of air pollution.  Both industrial operations and automobiles have released gigantic amounts of emissions that have intensified these problems.

Deforestation and the logging industry have destroyed many tropical rain forests around the world.  This has destroyed many natural habitats, and the plants and animals native to the areas.

Environmentalists are working hard to combat environmental degradation.  There are countless organizations located all over the world that are dedicated to preventing the global destruction of the environment.

AFRICA

After Asia, Africa is the world’s second largest continent.  From the Sahara Desert to the Nile River, Africa contains many unique environmental features.

Africa – Biodiversity Issues
Africa is home to one of the most diverse group of ecosystems in the world.  Its plant and animals life is often found nowhere else, and the number of different living organisms is amazing.

Africa – Economic Aspects
Africa is the poorest region in the world.  The lack of development both creates problems and prevents them.

Africa – Environmental Aspects
Environmental destruction is not solely due to human activities; Africa’s natural qualities have also contributed to these unfortunate problems.

Africa – Major Forest Problems
Africa has many miles of tropical rain forests.  For many years though, deforestation has been claiming the trees.

Africa – Major Land Problems
Africa has massive land resources.  Unfortunately, much of the land is very low quality for human activities such as agriculture.

Africa – Major Water Problems
Africa’s water resources are scattered throughout the continent.  While some areas receive more than enough water, others experience constant drought.

Africa – Marine Environments
The African coast extends for thousands of miles, and Africa’s marine environments are home to many species.

Africa – National Projects
Almost every African country has recently begun to plan for the future by developing strategies that will shape the future economy and environment of the nation.

Africa – Political Aspects
In recent years, many African countries have become democratic and liberalized politically.

Africa – Regional Projects
Several major projects have developed recently to promote collaboration among African countries seeking to protect their environments.

Africa – Social Aspects
Africa’s population is booming.  Problems from overpopulation, an increasingly dense population, war, famine, and other issues are all hurting the environment.

EASTERN ASIA

 
Eastern Asia and the Pacific areas are some of the most highly populated parts of the world and a variety of environmental problems are especially threatening there.

Eastern Asia – Biodiversity Issues
Eastern Asia is home to some of the world’s most amazing biodiversity.  It includes a wide array of plant and animal life, and contains many features unique to the region.

Eastern Asia – Economic Aspects
In the early years of the 1990s, Asian development boomed, with major consequences for the environment.

Eastern Asia – Environmental Aspects
Eastern Asia receives much more than its share of natural disasters.  In fact, 50% of the world’s major emergencies have come in this area of the world.

Eastern Asia – Major Forest Problems
Eastern Asia contains 17% of the forest area in the world, a total of 655 million hectares.  Unfortunately, deforestation is becoming a very large threat to the forests in the region.

Eastern Asia – Major Land Problems
The land resources of Eastern Asia vary immensely between parts of the region.  For the most part, the land is relatively poor in quality and quantity.

Eastern Asia – Major Water Problems
There are regions of Eastern Asia that are very arid, and others that are very tropical.  Overall, water supplies in the area are abundant.

Eastern Asia – Marine Environments
Marine environments in Eastern Asia are coming under pressure as populations nearby grow and industry develops in the area.

Eastern Asia – National Projects
Many Eastern Asian nations have begun in recent years to improve their environmental regulation policies.

Eastern Asia – Political Aspects
Most governments in Eastern Asia have created a government ministry, agency, or a department, to deal with environmental issues.

Eastern Asia – Regional Projects

 Since the Earth Summit in 1992 many regional projects have started up and have been successfully implemented.

Eastern Asia – Social Aspects

One of the biggest problems Eastern Asia is currently facing is the exploding population in the region, which is devastating the environment.

EUROPE

 
Europe is home to 15% of the world’s population.  The area includes Eastern and Western Europe, as well as European Russia.

Europe – Biodiversity Issues
Over 215,000 different species live in Europe, far fewer than in many areas of the world.

Europe – Economic Aspects
The economics of Eastern and Western Europe remain quite different.  Both areas pollute, and the levels of their emissions are both high.

Europe – Major Forest Problems
Europe contains a total of 900 million hectares of forestlands, but has lost over 10% of its forestlands since the beginning of the 1960s.

Europe – Major Land Problems
The process of land degradation is reaching high levels and becoming very dangerous in Europe.

Europe – Major Water Problems
The distribution of water resources in Europe is far from equal, and is beginning to be the source of some significant problems.

Europe – Marine Environments
European marine environments and coastal areas are threatened by a variety of environmental problems.

Europe – National Projects
There are countless environmental projects going on now in Europe, and many people are becoming active about environmental issues.

Europe – Regional Projects
The Environmental Action Program and other acts of international collaboration are aimed at working together to solve Europe’s environmental problems.

Europe – Social Aspects
Unlike in many developing regions of the world, Europe is not experiencing major population growth.  Despite this, Europe is very densely populated and this puts pressure on the environment.

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

 
This region includes the island nations of the Caribbean Sea, Central America, and South America.

Latin America and the Caribbean – Biodiversity Issues
Latin America and the Caribbean have an extremely impressive level of ecological biodiversity.  Many species and many different ecosystems can be found in the area.

Latin America and the Caribbean – Economic Aspects
Industry is taking off, and high rates of economic growth are still being experienced in many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Latin America and the Caribbean – Major Forest Problems
Latin America and the Caribbean have some of the largest forest areas in the world.  While many of these forests remain in an amazingly natural state, many others have been destroyed on a greater scale than anywhere else in the world.

Latin America and the Caribbean – Major Land Problems
Latin America and the Caribbean contain 12% of the cropland currently being used in the world and 17% of the world’s pastures.

Latin America and the Caribbean – Major Water Problems
Latin America and the Caribbean have 13% of all the world’s water supplies.  But, like in many other parts of the world, water resources are distributed on a highly inequitable basis.

Latin America and the Caribbean – Marine Environments
Almost everyone in the Caribbean lives near the coast, a total of about 60 million people.  This has had a highly negative impact on coastal and marine environments.

Latin America and the Caribbean – National Projects
Many nations in Latin America and the Caribbean are developing a variety of environmental initiatives.

Latin America and the Caribbean – Political Aspects
Many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have developed official government agencies or ministries to deal with environmental problems.

Latin America and the Caribbean – Regional Projects
Nations in Latin America and the Caribbean have established a variety of agreements in recent years, many related to social and economic issues.  Very often though, these treaties contain environmental agreements as well.

Latin America and the Caribbean – Social Aspects
The population of Latin America and the Caribbean has exploded over the last decades.  This and urbanization are exerting great pressure on the environment.

Latin America and the Caribbean – Urban Centers and Industry
Latin America is urbanizing at a faster rate than just about anywhere else in the world.  Now, about 78% of the population lives in urban areas.

NORTH AMERICA

 
North America includes the United States and Canada, two of the world’s most modern and wealthiest countries.

North America – Biodiversity Issues
Canada and the United States are home to a tremendous number of diverse species.  However, many species have been lost to extinction over the years.

North America – Causes
North America is perhaps the most developed area in the entire world.  The United States and Canada both produce and consume vast quantities of goods, which has led to a variety of environmental problems.

North America – Major Forest Problems
One-half of Canada and one-third of the United States are covered in forests.  The region has long had tremendous forest resources, which have served it well in a variety of ways.

North America – Major Land Problems
A variety of land problems have come about in North America from poor land usage and other forms of land degradation.

North America – Major Water Problems
Overall, North America is well endowed in its water supplies.  But, though a general abundance of water exists in the region, some areas commonly experience water shortages.

North America – Marine Environments
By the year 2000, about one in four Canadians and three in four Americans will live near a coastal area.  This will have a profound impact on the quality of North America’s marine environments.

North America – National Projects
In addition to a large amount of cooperation with each other, the United States and Canada have also developed extensive policy programs domestically.

North America – Regional Projects
Because the US and Canada are very interested in environmental issues, a large amount of collaboration on saving the environment is to be expected.

WESTERN ASIA

 
The area of West Asia, or the Middle East, includes many countries in the Arab world.  Included among these are Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, the West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen.

Western Asia – Biodiversity Issues
Many of the native species in Western Asia could be killed off by modern development.  This could mean a major loss of biodiversity for the region.

Western Asia – Economic Aspects
Industrialization and mechanization are proceeding quickly and transforming not just the region’s economy, but its environment as well.

Western Asia – Major Land Problems
Much of Western Asia’s land is becoming degraded.  A variety of factors, some human and some natural, are responsible for this problem.

Western Asia – Major Water Problems
Because so much of West Asia is desert, water is frequently very scare.  However, some regions of the area do have abundant and dependable supplies of water.

Western Asia – Marine Environments
Many people in West Asia live along the coast, often because major industries are located in that area.  Fishing, oil production, and tourism all damage coastal ecosystems.

Western Asia – National Projects
Over the last 20 years, many Western Asian countries have begun to make progress and establish environmental laws and enforcement agencies.

Western Asia – Regional Projects
A variety of regional and sub-regional environmental groups and agreements have been made in West Asia.

Western Asia – Social Aspects
The population of West Asia is growing at an amazing rate.  This has led to environmental problems such as desertification.

Western Asia – Urban and Industrial Problems
Cities in Western Asia have been growing at an amazing rate.  They are quickly becoming some of the largest in the world, and some of the most environmentally harmful.

Just a short “news” release, the 2009 vegetation map update for American Samoa (Tutuila, T’au, and Ofu-olosega) is about to complete!!

Great efforts by GIS specialist Neil Gurr and Dr. Mark Schmaedick (American Samoa Community College)!!    This is the first time such a mapping project is conducted with very close cooperation with our island partners  every single step of the way.  They actually performed a majority of the task.  Again, great work by Neil!

About the mapping method, it’s basically the same as we have been mapping the pacific island for the past 3 years but with a few tweaks.  This time, however, we relied much more heavily on actual field visit.  This was perhaps the biggest benefit having our island partner actively involved in the process.  It not only should boost the accuracy of the map, but also helps our partner to better understand such data as well as to master the technology.

We will soon finalize the data package including metadata and make it available.  We will also conduct a thorough review of the process, from which to direct our future island mapping projects in a better direction.

Since a student visa costs $200, I thought it’d be cheaper and more fun to do a visa run to American Samoa. It’s not really either of the two, but I still had an unexpectedly good time.  For those who don’t know, American Samoa is the island next to Samoa that was claimed by the U.S. and is now a U.S. territory.  The Samoans in the NFL are from American Samoa rather than Samoa, which is rugby-crazy instead.  Most of the Samoans in the States are probably from American Samoa as well.

I wasn’t terribly excited about this trip, because my colleagues and pretty much every Samoan I asked said that American Samoa was uglier than Samoa with no real beaches and there wasn’t much to do.  Hmmmph.  Since the hotels, even the cheaper motels with cockroach infestations, in American Samoa run about $80-130 per night, being a cheapo or practicalist, I tried to book a flight where I never had to leave the airport—I could land in American Samoa and immediately fly back to Samoa.  But those were booked out because of Thanksgiving weekend and so I did the next best thing, booked myself for less than a day—22 hours, to be precise—in American Samoa.

The plane ride to American Samoa was amazing!  I took a 15-seater prop plane out of a tiny airport that does not meet FAA standards (we literally shot out of the mountains with a short runway.)  A Samoan woman who was too large for her seat gripped and patted my knee in fear for half of the trip.  I love Samoan displays of affection, they are so touchy-feely!  I sat literally behind the cock-pit and since there was no door, I could see out of the pilot’s window if I semi-stood up, which I did for half of trip and nobody bothered to stop me.  From my window, which rattled constantly because it was next to the propeller, I could see the turquoise and aquamarine pools created by reefs—it doesn’t usually look like this color up close.   Samoa looked lush and green and very much exotic—the kind you can appreciate from far away.   In comparison, as we neared American Samoa (35 minutes away), American Samoa was much smaller, more mountainous and—I could tell this from airspace—richer.  The roofs were not rusted, like Samoa’s, but a nice white.

The plane..how cute!

I could've tapped a pilot on the shoulder...

Squished!

Samoa from above

Lalomanu Beach...one of the best in Samoa which was tsunami-wrecked

On land, American Samoa seemed like a community from the tv show Lost.   Or, if you’ve never seen Lost, it was like a small Texas town transplanted in a jungle.   The place was football-crazy!  There were spirited hand-painted signs, the kind that high-school cheerleaders make for homecoming, hanging from houses, the main road, businesses, everywhere.  There really isn’t much to do (it’s like living in College Station.  Ooh, diss!), but I loved it perhaps a little better than Samoa, because air was clean, the temperature was less hot, the roads were less dusty, and there were so many mountains.  I couldn’t stop staring at how gorgeous and dramatic it looked.   The main area of town had a seawall and looked a bit modern—it’s amazing how a place sparkles when it’s touched up with a bit of construction and modernity—perhaps that’s a bit of an arrogantly American thing to say, but I did feel a bit comforted looking at a scene somewhat familiar and without run-down shacks.

So what did I do in American Samoa?  Well, my original “plans” went somewhat awry.  I put plans in quotations, because as usual, I hastily threw something together the day before and assumed it would work.   I had planned to stay at Tisa’s Barefoot Bar in a fale, wooden hut, on the beach and either visit the tuna canneries (apparently American Samoa is home to both the Starkist and the Chicken of the Sea canneries, which produce half of the canned tuna fish, around $500 million worth for the U.S.  But due to the recession and the minimum wage hike in American Samoa, one of the canneries is closing down, cutting out 2,000 workers, who I heard might come to Houston now) or hike along the national park Saturday morning.  But none of this happened, because of an airport delay which prevented me from getting to Tisa’s.

Luckily, I ran into a family at the airport, on their way back from vacation in New Zealand, and they graciously offered to take me to their home up in the mountains.  Their home was a classic American house, but it seemed like a king’s palace in Samoa—there was furniture which looked Crate and Barrel, a modern electric oven, refrigerator, a 32-inch television, and all those other luxuries which I didn’t know were available in Samoa.  (They aren’t…the family, the Gurrs, imported everything from America.)  It was surreal seeing the children’s rooms color-coordinated in pink and candles in the bathroom.  I felt like I was staying with the Kennedys of American Samoa.  The Gurrs lived next to all of their families and as soon as they came home, children and neighbors came streaming in from every direction and were offered and fed ice cream, cookies, and milk.  It was great.  The dad went wild boar hunting the next day—I wish I could’ve stayed longer to see the hunt.

I went home to Samoa safely and had another airport delay, of course.  It was a little strange, because the airport was empty and almost deserted, save for the few passengers waiting.  All of the airport workers were out to lunch and I couldn’t check in until half an hour past my original flight time, when they came back from lunch.

Bad photo...sorry, American Samoa is much prettier than this!

Parking Lot that was hit by tsunami

The Gurrs and me

In case you are thinking of purchasing the new global version of Amazon’s Kindle for Christmas, be aware that there are still quite a few places that the global version will NOT work.  I was disappointed to find that the new version still will not work in my country.

Apparently the new global version will only work in SOME countries.   I thought it would be helpful to most expats to have a complete list of which countries it will, or will not work in (below).

It’s also interesting to note the PATTERN of groups of countries where the Kindle doesn’t work–some countries probably lack satellite coverage or delivery systems, while others probably don’t WANT readers to be able to download whatever they want by satellite.

STARRED (*) countries marked below indicate that Kindle needs to be ordered from a SPECIAL PAGE on the Amazon site.

The Global Kindle version DOES work in (as of Dec. 2009):

Aland Islands, Albania, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Aruba, Australia*, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Boznia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guernsey, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Kenya, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Liberia, Leichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Moldovia, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Mozembique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Réunion, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka,  Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Virgin Islands – British, Virgin Islands – U.S.,  Wallis and Futuna, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

The Global Kindle version does NOT work in (as of Dec. 2009) the following countries:

Afghanistan, Algeria, Antarctica, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bouvet Island, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chile, Chad, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, French Southern Territories, Gambia, Guinea, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Isle of Man, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea – Democratic People’s Republic of, Korea – Republic of, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco (including the Western Sahara), New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Pitcairn, Qatar, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Helena, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands, Sudan, Svalbard and Jan Mayan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tokelau, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Uzbekistan,  Yemen.

Nature and Animal Conservation

 

     Preserving species and their habitats is important for ecosystems to self-sustain themselves. Yet, the pressures to destroy habitat for logging, illegal hunting, and other challenges are making conservation a struggle.

Visit : http://www.globalissues.org/article/1…

 What is Biodiversity ?

 

    The variety of life on Earth, its biological diversity is commonly referred to as biodiversity. The number of species of plants, animals, and microorganisms, the enormous diversity of genes in these species, the different ecosystems on the planet, such as deserts, rainforests and coral reefs are all part of a biologically diverse Earth.

   

    Appropriate conservation and sustainable development strategies attempt to recognize this as being integral to any approach. Almost all cultures have in some way or form recognized the importance that nature, and its biological diversity has had upon them and the need to maintain it. Yet, power, greed and politics have affected the precarious balance.

Does it really matter if there arent so many species?

Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play.

For example, a larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops; greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms; and healthy ecosystems can better withstand and recover from a variety of disasters.

And so, while we dominate this planet, we still need to preserve the diversity in wildlife.

Who Cares?

  Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no matter how small, all have an important role to play. For example, a larger number of plant species means a greater variety of crops; greater species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms; and healthy ecosystems can better withstand and recover from a variety of disasters.

And so, while we dominate this planet, we still need to preserve the diversity in wildlife.

Loss of Biodiversity and Extinctions

It is feared that human activity is causing massive extinctions. From various animal species, forests and the ecosystems that forests support, marine life. The costs associated with deteriorating or vanishing ecosystems will be high. However, sustainable development and consumption would help avert ecological problems.

 

  

Amazon's Global Kindle Reader

I heard that Amazon now has a global version of Kindle. I was disappointed to find this morning that the new version still will not work in my country.

Since I’ve wanted one for some time, but have been waiting until they got a version that would work in my country, I checked out their website this morning, only to be disappointed again. Apparently the new global version will only work in SOME countries.

In case you are thinking of purchasing the new Global Kindle for a Christmas gift this year, since the new version will only work in SOME countries, I thought it would be helpful to most expats to have a complete list of which countries it will, or will not work in.

STARRED (*) countries marked below indicate that Kindle needs to be ordered from a SPECIAL PAGE on the Amazon site.

The Global Kindle version DOES work in (as of Dec. 2009):

Aland Islands, Albania, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Aruba, Australia*, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Boznia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guernsey, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Kenya, Kiribati, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Latvia, Liberia, Leichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Moldovia, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Mozembique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Réunion, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Serbia, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Viet Nam, Virgin Islands – British, Virgin Islands – U.S., Wallis and Futuna, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

The Global Kindle version does NOT work in (as of Dec. 2009):

Afghanistan, Algeria, Antarctica, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bouvet Island, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chile, Chad, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, French Southern Territories, Gambia, Guinea, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Isle of Man, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea – Democratic People’s Republic of, Korea – Republic of, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco (including the Western Sahara), New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Pitcairn, Qatar, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Helena, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands, Sudan, Svalbard and Jan Mayan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tokelau, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Uzbekistan, Yemen.

At last tally Chairman Zero has sent 6.4 billion dollars to 440 districts that don’t exist. Did I say that right? $6,400,000,000.00. Yup, that’s right. To 440 districts that must have been created by and for acorn as there are only 435 districts that I’m aware of. In these fantasy districts he has created or saved over 28,000 jobs. That’s adding to like $225,000.00 per job. Can I have one?

Rhode Island’s 86th congressional district created or saved almost 60 jobs for a mere $10,217,806.00. That’s $205,835.49 per job. Not too shabby. Is anybody pissed off yet? Does Rhode Island really have 86 congressional districts?

Hawaii is a big winner creating or saving 3.4 jobs with a paltry $45,639,408.00. That’s right 45 million. Only a shade over 13 million per job. Really, three Oprahs in one state. How can this be? They actually created or saved zero jobs in their 99th congressional district with only 800 large. 99th? Did they think nobody was going to look at this stuff?

Now, DC’s 99th congressional district got almost 137 million dollars. Yes, almost all of the states and territories had a 99th district. Almost all of them had a 00 congressional district as well. Oh, did I say territories. Yes I did.

Northern Mariana Islands – $44 million, Guam – $220 million, Puerto Rico – $1.9 billion, American Samoa – $1.4 million, but of course the big winner was DC with a grand total of  $2.8 billion (billion, not a typo) and all of this to districts that don’t exist. It begs the question, where did it really go? Again, $6,383,184,549.00. Anybody pissed yet? FYI, Minnesota has eight congressional districts. Are you starting to get the picture.

Dan sent this adorable picture of some Samoan children. All together now…

…CUTE!

Cruising to Moorea, French Polynesia.

I’ve been fearlessly tasting small samples of unfamiliar foods in the buffet line.

I’ve become fast friends with a juggler from Oz named James. Don’t know his last name yet.

Last night the headline singer, Australian star Jennifer Green, pulled in a big crowd with a “Tribute to Shirley Bassey”. Many Americans gamely filed into the Princess Theatre with no idea who Shirley Bassey is or was. (She is or was a British chanteuse who sang the theme for the James Bond movie “Goldfinger”.)

The ship’s passengers are mostly a mix of Aussies, Kiwis, Brits and Yanks.

I’ve seen four people under eighteen on the ship, and they did not look happy. I have seen no one under ten on the ship, and the adults look happy.

Dress on the decks at any given time ranges from regal to yee-ha.

“Hangover” is a dreadful movie.

My new guitar sounds OK, and is fun to play. It’s like a toy guitar.

Thanks to Brit singer-comic Jon Bell, whom I really enjoyed on night one, I’ve had the song “It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie” stuck in my head for days.

I like the song “It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie”. (“Be sure it’s true, when you say… I love you.”)

I have a refrigerator in my room which I’ve ignored.

I have never used more Purell in my life. There are hand-sanitizer dispensers and towelettes all over the ship. I use the free stuff every time I pass by a station.

The Internet Cafe on board is woefully small for passengers, and seven of the twenty computers for them to use are down. I would not want to be the one to take complaints in that department.

I actually love my stateroom. Jay could really relate to the smallness and simplicity of life in it. I’m considering building one as an annex to the garage. Not.

Tomorrow in Moorea I’m going to do the same thing I did in Pago Pago; I’ll hire a cabbie for an hour and let him take me somewhere special.

The Spa beckons.

- Dan

Today I actually ventured off the ship into Pago Pago (pronounced – and do this in a slow W.C. Fields delivery -  Pango Pango). I hired a taxi for an hour and told my young driver Joshua to take me somewhere “beautiful”. I know that sounds redundant when you’re in the South Pacific, but he seemed to know where to take me.

We traveled over a mountainous ridge into a neighboring village named Vanata, the same name as the bay it sits on. I enjoyed it quite a bit.

On September 29, a tsunami ripped through this part of American Samoa. Its destruction is still in evidence, especially in Pago Pago. A banner on a neighborhood fence stands in memorial to the victims, whose names are printed across the bottom. A sobering image for the touristas and locals alike. But the reconstruction goes on, and the island seems to be recovering well.

Had a nice talk with one of the other acts, a guy from Australia, who tells me that they would love me in Oz, especially the Roy gig. He’s giving me the name of a presenter there, but doubts I’ll be inclined to leave the abundance of gigs in the States. Oh, yeah?

Two days at sea ahead, then a day in Moorea, French Polynesia before sailing on to Tahiti and my flights home. Making the most of this. The ship is having some technical challenge at the moment which has reduced our speed slightly, but the ship-wide announcement says “no worries”. All I know is if I hear seven short blasts of the ship’s warning buzzers followed by a long one, I’ll be the first in line at the muster station and the first aboard the lifeboat – computer and travellers checques in tow.

I’ve been approached many times by passengers who have had nothing but really nice things to say about my shows. Words like “fresh” and “delightful” and “guitar virtuoso” are nice to hear from the ultimate judges of my work.

The islanders have all been way friendly. American Samoa is the only American territory south of the equator, so today I was almost at home! The U.S. dollar is the main currency, and eleven of them bought me two workout shirts for the gym – something I neglected to pack.

Tonight I’m going to catch a hypnotist’s show, and then maybe a movie later. I have a reservation for dinner for one in one of their upscale restaurants on board. I dined at the other one last night and had the best steak dinner I think I’ve ever tasted. Tonight’s is Italian cuisine. They charge you a $20 gratuity for a meal in these restaurants which would easily be worth at least a hundred dollars at a similar restaurant on shore.

That’s all for now. Hope everyone is doing great!

- Dan

Since the news of the tsunami that hit Samoa and American Samoa and the flooding that devastated parts of the Philippines last month, there have been many relief efforts, big and small. Hawai’i’s connection to these distant islands is strong, and the compassion and concern run deep. But what often happens when a natural disaster strikes a community is an initial rush of outside attention and aid followed by a kind of forgetting, a false impression that everything has been taken care of and the immediate need has passed.At the Word of Life Christian Center in Honolulu, church members know that things are still tough in the Philippines and Samoa. They have family abroad. They’ve heard the first-hand accounts. Some have been to the scene of the devastation and witnessed the suffering themselves.

“One of our members just returned from Samoa to attend her auntie’s funeral,” says Pastor Joe Onosai. “Her auntie was driving her daughter to school when the tsunami washed ashore and pulled her car into the ocean. Both died.”

Ashley Sepulveda, daughter of Word of Life pastors Art and Kuna Sepulveda, came up with the idea for a benefit concert, something that would raise money for the relief efforts and be uplifting for families here. “She felt that as a church that has Filipino and Samoan members that we needed to take action,” Onosai said.

Concert promoter Ben Sesepasara of Big Ben Productions is partnering with Word of Life to bring in a number of favorite local acts, including B.E.T., Natural Vibes and the woman with a voice as pure as rain, Ilona Irvine. If you’ve never heard Irvine sing live, it’s like living in Hawaii and never going in the ocean.

Filling out the evening will be local Christian hip-hop groups Big Break and Blessing Crew. All the performers are volunteering their time to raise money for the cause, which Word of Life is calling “Operation Life.” It’s a hip, danceable, good-times local lineup in a family atmosphere where the evening has an end time. Not many concerts have an end time.

The concert will be held this Saturday, Nov. 7, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Word of Life Christian Center at 544 Queen St. Tickets are $20, and event T-shirts are only $5. All of the proceeds will go to help the victims of the disasters in the Philippines and Samoa. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Word of Life Christian Center or www.honoluluboxoffice.com, or call 447-5590.