Halibut Herald November 27

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ALIBUT HERALD November 27, 2008

Bits and Bites Most Colorful Lakes on Earth

Color is how the human eye perceives the reflection of different spectrums of light. We perceive color just as we perceive taste: sublime, exquisite, horrible and delicious. It provokes us, it enchants us and our whole world revolves around it. Everything from the clothes we wear, to the foods we eat are determined by color. READ ON/MORE PICS: http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/25-most-colorful-lakes-onearth/1795

How Ice Shaped the Face of the Planet Take Earth’s abundant water, add some crazy planetary movement and freezing temperatures and you have yourself an ice age. The first ice age is thought to have been around 2.5 billion years ago. It is known as the Huronian ice age and it occurred during the Proterozoic period. Not everyone agrees on what caused the ice age. They’re not even entirely sure how extensive the ice sheets were. However, there are plenty of theories on the first ice age.

Many people think that the ice age was due to the tilting of the Earth at the time. 2.5 billion years ago, the Earth had a much larger tilt than today. Earth is currently tilted on its axis at about 23.5 degrees. Some scientists think that the planet could have been tilted as much as 54 degrees in the past. READ ON: http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/ecology/mother-earth-how-ice-shaped-the-face-of-theplanet/595 & http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/ice-cradle-life/2996

More News Links Is Seaweed Really A Weed? From Beach Chair Scientist Actually seaweed is a term given too many different types of marine plants that grow in the ocean and none of them are weeds, in the sense that we would try to get rid of them with a weed killer. The basic scientific term would really be algae. Algae (Red, brown, or green) are a very large single celled phytoplankton. Phytoplankton in the world’s oceans is extremely important due to their immense numbers. Did you know there is more phytoplankton producing oxygen and absorbing the carbon dioxide than there are trees on the land?

Water: The Lifeblood of our Planet Water is central to our planet. Every living thing requires it. Everything that has ever lived required it. Without liquid water, the Earth is a barren, lifeless rock. Fortunately, the Earth has abundant water. This article explores the formation of our planet & some of the theories behind the history of water on planet earth, coupled with some great photographs. READ ON: http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/ecology/mother-earth-water-the-lifeblood-of-ourplanet/586

Water Laws May Be Used to Fight Warming Environmental groups have sought to force the federal government to restrict carbon dioxide emissions using the Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act (because of threats to polar bears from global warming) and other federal laws, and now they are poised to add the Clean Water Act to the list. The Center for Biological Diversity says it is prepared to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to use the water law to respond to the threat of ocean acidification. This is the drop in seawater pH as the oceans absorb an estimated 22 million tons of carbon dioxide from the 80 million tons emitted each day by human activities. The result is a buildup of carbonic acid, which is lowering the pH of seawater. That trend toward acid conditions could threaten corals and plankton with shells containing calcium, biologists have warned. READ ON: http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/water-laws-may-be-used-to-fight-warming/

FLOW: FOR THE LOVE OF WATER, DVD OUT DECEMBER 9, 2008 Irena Salina's award-winning documentary investigation into what experts label the most important political and environmental issue of the 21st Century - The World Water Crisis. Salina builds a case against the growing privatization of the world's dwindling fresh water supply with an unflinching focus on politics, pollution, human rights, and the emergence of a domineering world water cartel. Interviews with scientists and activists intelligently reveal the rapidly building crisis, at both the global and human scale, and the film introduces many of the governmental and corporate culprits behind the water grab, while begging the question "CAN ANYONE REALLY OWN WATER?" READ ON: http://www.flowthefilm.com/

Blue Gold: World Water Wars Wars of the future will be fought over water, not oil. There have indeed been many films made recently on what might very well be the hottest topic of our new century. This is likely the best of them. It is based on Maude Barlow and Tony Clarke's call to arms Blue Gold: The Fight to Stop the Corporate Theft of the World's Water, and features eloquent testimonials from them as well as from the likes of the ever-admirable Vandana Shiva. READ ON: www.bluegold-worldwaterwars.com

Wow! Giant octopus - extreme animals - BBC wildlife http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =lwAqhThd_EQ

Library News * Arctic & Antarctic an Eyewitness Book by Barbara Taylor ((1995) * Collaborative leadership: how Citizens and Leaders Can Make a Difference (1994), by Chrislip, David D * For Love of Insects (2003) by Thomas Eisner * Forces for Good: the Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits (2008) by Leslie R. Crutchfield and Heather McLeod Grant * Insect an Eyewitness Book by Lawrence Mound (1990) * Managing a Nonprofit Organization in the Twenty-First Century (1999) by Thomas Wolf * Managing the Nonprofit Organization: Principles and Practices (1990) by Peter F. Drucker * The Dominant Animal: Human Evolution and the Environment (2008) by Paul R. Ehrlich and Anne H. Ehrlich * The Fifth discipline: the Art and Practice of the Learning Organization (2006), by Senge, Peter M. * The Leadership Challenge (2007) by Kouzes and Posner

Archival Photo

School group at Aquarium Entrance, 1961

Daisy Update Daisy has been at MMR now for just over 3 months, and to mark her huge milestone, she has now been placed in one of the larger pools. Since her arrival day, she has more than double her weight and is now at almost 28 kg! After being on 24 hours care and observation daisy has slowly let us know that she was going to be ok on her own at night and that she is becoming a big girl. She is spending close to 12 hours by herself and quietly waits for her 8:00 am feed and is ready to get tons of affection from her loving caretakers. During the daytime, Daisy has lots of energy and she loves to dive. Her weaning process is well under way and within the next month or two she will be off her formula and on a diet of mostly herring and other small fish that she is already sucking back and enjoying! We have introduced new toys that she loves, but of course she hasn’t let down her pink noodle! She still caries that noodle on her back everywhere around the pool. Flexible tubes have been hung down in her pool and she uses them to rub her body against. She is adorable and definitely has her own personality, she’s a fighter and we admire her for hanging tough!!

Daisy November 26, 2008 in her new pool with her sidekick, “Noodle”, and in front of her is the flexible tubing that she likes to rub up against. Photo courtesy of MMR volunteer and Porpoise Observer, Graydon Armstrong.

Green Team Sustainability Challenge! Enter to win great prizes!!! Participate in Ocean Wise month by eating at an Ocean Wise restaurant! Bring in your receipt(s) to win great prizes - $100 gift certificates for an Ocean Wise restaurant, as well as an Ocean-friendly cook book. Drop off your November receipts in the Green Team suggestion box in the Lounge. Please highlight the Ocean Wise item you ordered, and write your name and extension (or email) on the back of the receipt. The prize draw will happen during the first week of December. Look for a restaurant: http://www.vanaqua.org/oceanwise/

Presented by The Green Team and Ocean Wise

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November is Ocean Wise Month Dining out can make a world of difference! Help us spread the word and celebrate sustainable seafood this November with our 1st Annual Ocean Wise Month! A number of Ocean Wise events are happening this month, so be sure to visit the Ocean Wise website at: www.vanaqua.org/oceanwise In addition you will notice Ocean Wise themed gallery programming, activities, shows and other activities throughout the aquarium. Ocean Wise Month Dine-out is happening throughout the BC Lower Mainland giving diners the chance to win 52 Ocean Wise restaurant gift-certificates, simply by choosing the Ocean Wise identified menu item from participating Ocean Wise Month restaurants. Note: Staff and their immediate family of Vancouver Aquarium and participating Ocean Wise restaurants can not enter the Dine-out draw. However the Green Team and Ocean Wise are having a Vancouver Aquarium staff only Ocean Wise Month draw – the prizes? $100 gift certificate to Chambar and a sustainable seafood cookbook! Enter by bringing in your receipt from any Ocean Wise restaurant during November (ballot box is the “Green Team Feedback” box in the Level 2 AquaQuest lunchroom).

Events ‘Stuff the Bus’ – Blanket and Jacket Charity Drive! Looking for an easy way to make a difference this holiday season? The Aquarium is partnering with Landsea Tours on their ‘Stuff the Bus’ charity drive. They are taking all of the seats out of one of their 24passenger buses, and aiming to “Stuff the Bus” to the ceiling with blankets and warm clothing for the homeless. The bus will be parked at the th Aquarium on Sun, Dec 7 to load up donated blankets and jackets (from staff, volunteers and visitors).

How can you help? It’s simple. Just drop off your extra blankets and jackets in the ‘flex room’ beside reception, anytime from Thurs, Dec 4 to Sat, Dec 6. th

I will be on-site (along with anyone who would like to help!) on Sun the 7 to load everything into the bus. All blankets and warm clothing will be donated to the St. James Community Service Society. Please contact Kristi Wilson with any questions you might have. Thank you for your support of this very worthwhile initiative!

One of our employees volunteers with the Humane Society and would like to spread the word on a petition to stop Shark Finning, an act where sharks are caught, finned, and thrown back in the ocean to die. Sharks act as the ocean's filtering system and play a massive role in the balance of order. Sharks, despite their reputation as killing machines, actually provide a safety net for other species against disease. They prey on sick, aged and dying animals which prevents any disease prevalent in these animals from diluting future gene pools. Many animals existence today can be owed to Sharks. A Shark-less planet would be a disaster for marine wildlife and the seas itself, not to mention our own future. SIGN IT HERE: https://community.hsus.org/campaign/hsi_nigel_shark_fin_pledge/ie6sbnx4h7d36xkj

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Join POST and the Census of Marine Life in a sneak peek at absolutely AMAZING footage from Jacques Perrin's (Winged Migration, Microcosmos) upcoming theatrical release, Oceans. Be completely amazed, engaged and inspired in the Goldcorp Theatre at 12:00pm sharp on Thursday, December 11. All staff and volunteers are welcome (no guests, please) to join in this very special opportunity to see the spectacular and astounding preview footage. Don't miss it!

****************************** 16th Annual BC Marine Mammal Symposium

Saturday, November 29, 2008 – 9:30am – 5:00pm Sponsored by the UBC Marine Mammal Research Unit and Whale Watch Operators Association Northwest University of British Columbia Science Visualization Room; Ground Floor, Aquatic Ecosystem Research Laboratory (AERL); 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6T 1Z4; Telephone: (604) 822-8181 Registration fee: · ·

Advanced: $0 (pre-register by Nov 21: ([email protected]) Late: $5 (cash only at the door)

Join us for presentations as well as discussion on issues that concern us all. This meeting is open to researchers, educators and businesses involved with marine mammals and anyone in one or more of these categories is welcome to attend. Please email Pamela Rosenbaum @ [email protected] before November 21, 2008, to indicate that you plan to attend. Lunch and refreshments will be provided, but we need to know how many people to plan for. There will also be a social evening (6:00-9:00 pm) where beer and pizza can be purchased. The Agenda will be distributed at the meeting. Please email Pamela Rosenbaum @ [email protected] before November 21, 2008 if you would like to make a five minute presentation about your research. Longer presentations on topics of general interest are welcomed. We would also like to know if there are any issues that should be discussed by the group at large.

We look forward to hearing from you and you seeing at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 29, 2008

For Sale Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi DSLR Camera Canon EFS 18-55mm IS Lens Canon EF 75-300mm f4.0-5.6 III USM Canon Battery Grip BG-E5 Canon Battery Dynax Tripod 1 8GB Kingston SDHC card 2 2GB HP SD cards

All for $800 Please contact [email protected]

Is your friend is as playful as a sea otter? Does your brother roar like a Steller's sea lion? Can your sister be as graceful as a sea turtle? Are you as energetic as a Pacific white- sided dolphin?

Well... This is your chance to compare them in closer quarters! Get them (or yourself!) an Animal Encounter gift certificate!! For a limited-time only, the Aquarium is offering a discount on Animal Encounter gift certificates for staff, volunteers and members. Encounters are truly amazing experiences that take participants behind-the-scenes to feed a sea otter, visit a Steller's sea lion, get up close and personal with a sea turtle or touch and get splashy with a Pacific white- sided dolphin! They are all fun and unique gifts for friends and family and are a great way to show off where you work! th

December 8 to the 21st, staff, volunteers and members will receive an additional 10% off the regular staff discount, for a total of 30% off Dolphin, Sea Lion, Sea Turtle and Sea Otter Encounters. Animal Encounters are affordable! Prices: Adult Dolphin Encounter $136.50 ($195 regular)

Adult & Child $189 ($270 regular)

Additional Child n/a

Steller Sea Lion Encounter*

$24.50 ($35 regular)

$35 ($50 regular)

$10.50 ($15 regular)

Sea Turtle Encounter*

$24.50 ($35 regular)

$35 ($50 regular)

$10.50 ($15 regular)

Sea Otter Trainer Tour*

$17.50 ($25 regular)

$28 ($40 regular)

$10.50 ($15 regular)

Child prices apply to kids from 8 to 12. Children must be accompanied by a paying adult. *Animal Encounter prices do not include Aquarium admission. One adult may bring up to 5 children.

Purchase your gift certificates on-site at the Admissions desk or from Bookings. For more information on all of our Animal Encounters, visit www.vanaqua.org.