Happy 50th Birthday WWF

The golden birthday, the Big Five-O, the 50th birthday is a special life-marker worthy of a big celebration. For many it's a time to reflect but also a time to start slowing down to an easier pace, dreaming of retirement, holidays and reaping the rewards of many years of hard work.

But there is one 50 year old showing no signs of slowing down, in fact each year brings new strength and energy. On April 29, 2011 WWF celebrated 50 years of environmental conservation. Since the organisation's inception, WWF has made significant contributions around the globe including;

- Fighting to save the Borneo rainforests, homes to orang utans, pygmy elephants, rhinos and clouded leopards since 2007
- Helped gorilla numbers increase by working with local communities in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to genrate more money via ecotourism.
- Helped to ensure four-fifths of the amazon is still in good condition.
- Working with countries where the five remaining species of tigers live to build pulic, political and financial support to double tiger numbers by 2022.
- Working with countries to reduce net carbon emmissions to zero from deforestation and forest degradation by 2020 with 67 countries so far signed to this commitment including Indonesia and Brazil
- 50 years of building environmental awarness through many campaigns
- Saved the Arabian Oryx from extinction by taking a herd into captivity in 1962 and reintroducing them into the wild a decade later when the last wild oryx had been killed (now there are 150 in the wild with 68 more ready to be reintroduced).

To find out more about their successes visit ttp://wwf.ca/about_us/successes/50th_anniversary.cfm



In the next 50 years there is no doubt that the WWF will continue to work tirelessly to conserve our environment. This 50 year old has many good year in it yet!

Remember to always give a gift on a birthday. Donate today at http://www.wwf.org/

Lung cancer patients may not be worth saving

Australian scientists say new research suggests it may not be worthwhile trying to rescue individuals suffering from certain types of cancer.

Researchers have created a new tool to prioritise the treatment of cancer sufferers and say it is likely to fire debate over who is worth saving and who to cut loose.

Lung cancer victims, namely those who have a life time history of smoking may not be worth saving.

The gloomy forecast is the work of John Cook University and University of Dullelaide researchers who have created a new mathematical tool based on restrictive mindfulness.

Co-author Professor Bradley Carey, from the University of Dulledelaide, says the tool is designed to help governments prioritise scarce funding for health care.

"We wanted to come up with an index that was really based around theory that we have developed over the last 20 years about what constitutes the best chance for individuals to respond to treatment over time," he said.

Professor Carey says the new index is designed to enhance the IARC’s (International Agency for Research on Cancer) Red List of Cancer Types, which ranks in categories from mostly likely to survive to highly unlikely.

"A lot of those categories are based on somewhat arbitrary thresholds for how many people have died over a certain period and how many known causes there tend to be, and there is a lot of expert opinion so there is some subjectivity involved," he said.

The new safe index is based on research which suggests populations with little care for their health, such as smokers, are much harder to triage.

Professor Carey says he would not go as far as to say there are some cancer sufferers Australia should not save.

"But if you take a strictly empirical view, smokers plus those less common cancers that don’t have their own ribbon or fund-raising day in some cases it is probably not worthwhile putting a lot of effort because there's just no chance."

Professor Carey says when the ratio is applied internationally it suggests the skin cancer patients are beyond cost-effective rescue.

He says the index is based on the probability of an individual dying.

"If we have something that has a very poor survival index, we would just simply say that it has a higher probability of them dying rather than something with a higher survival index," he said.

"It is a probability, so it is not saying they are going to die. It is saying it just has a much higher probability of dying."

He says the index is likely to generate debate.

"Decisions have to be made within the context of science and social consideration.

"I think that certainly people will argue with me that we should save everything.

"I'd love to save everyone. I just don't think we can."

If this “spoof” article angers you, then you will understand my reaction to this true article: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/04/08/3185863.htm?section=justin

This piece is dedicated to my grandmother, who died of lung cancer and taught me to always flight for what I believe in.
Piece by Adam Barralet

Spread the word of Earth Hour

Starting as an idea in Sydney in 2007 when 2.2 million residence took part in turning off all non essential lights, Earth Hour is now celebrated in over 100 countries. To see just how big Earth Hour is, check out this video:



The campaign organised by the WWF makes a statement to world leaders that we need action taken to combat climate change. It's not just individuals sending this message. Many multinational companies and landmarks will black out this Saturday (26th March, 2011) between 830pm and 930pm. Earth Hour has garnered support from many corporations including Coca-Cola Enterprises, Wells Fargo, IKEA, HSBC, PwC, Accenture and Nokia Siemens Networks. You'll also see many landmarks black out for the hour including Mount Rushmore, the Las Vegas Strip, the Empire State Building, Niagara Falls, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Beijing's Bird's Nest and the Eiffel Tower. Some TV networks will stop transmission for the hour.

If you haven't participated in Earth Hour then this is your year to start. Find out what your city is doing and go participate or organise a group and do your own thing. There is plenty of fun to be had in the dark!

If you've been an Earth Hour supporter in the past let's increase the challenge. For 2011, let's "preach to the unconverted". Share your concern for climate change with friends and family less passionate than yourself. However the strength is in the subtlety. Maybe organise a night out where you just happen to be walking within view of your city's largest monument at 830pm. For a cosier effect have a dinner party only lit by candle light. When your friends arrive and ask if the electricity is out, simply reply, "It's Earth Hour tonight. Doesn't everyone turn off their lights". Whatever you do, I am confident you will come up with your own bright ideas for this dark hour.

For more ideas and information, please visit http://www.earthhour,org/ and http://www.wwf.org/

Let Your Fashion Make An Environmental Statement

"Style is knowing who you are and what you want to say and not giving a damn". - Gore Vidal.

For many centuries fashion has been used to make statements. Colours are associated with alliances, badges promotes someone's rank or achievements and uniforms identify roles. And who can forget different fashion statements made by the stars? Just think Bjork's swan dress, Madonna's cone bra or Lady Gaga's meat gown.

Now it's time for the fashionable people of Canada to make a statement, about our love for the environment. 17th February is National Sweater Day. It's the day when the WWF ask us to find a quirky and fun sweater to wear for the day. Adorned in your fine sweater you won't need the thermostat up so high, so WWF invites you to turn it down just 3 degrees and show your support for the environment.

National Sweater Day is another great idea by the WWF to open dialogues between people about lightening our impact on the environment and reducing our energy consumption...and if your sweater isn't getting people talking then you are just playing too safe.

To support National Sweater Day make sure you have your sweater and tell people why you are wearing it. Don't forget to change your Facebook profile picture to a photo of you in your sweater so all to tell all your friends know what you care about and why not encourage others to join you in the fashion revolution by having a Sweater Party at home or a Sweater Day at work?

For all the information, please visit: http://wwf.ca/takeaction/sweater_day/

Have the Japanese ceased whaling?

Each year at around this time the team from The Sea Sheperd head into the Southern Ocean to commence battle. Their enemy, the Japanese whaling fleet.

The Sea Sheperd is an international non-profit organisation committed to preserving marine wild life. In 1986, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) enacted a moratorium on all commercial whaling. Since then, three nations, Iceland, Norway, and Japan, have brutally slaughtered over 25,000 whales under the guise of scientific research and for commercial purposes. The IWC does not have the capacity to enforce the moratorium. Sea Shepherd, guided by the United Nations World Charter for Nature, is the only organization whose mission is to enforce these international conservation regulations on the high seas.

The confrontations between The Sea Sheperd fleet and the Japanese has gained much media attention in the past years and even had it's only television series titled "Whale Wars" which has shown in many countries.

However it is now December 1st, at least on the Japanese and Australian side of the International Date Line, but the Japanese whaling fleet remains in port. The latest date the fleet has left in the past is November 19th. It seems they have definitely missed their usual start date to commence whaling which is usually December 20th. If the fleet left today they would not begin whaling until January, and this delay will certainly see no whales killed during the month of December.

Apparently one of the primary reasons for them not departing is that their supply ship the Hiyo Maru No.2 has been sold by its owner the Daito Trading Company to China to be scrapped. Since then the Institute for Cetacean Research, responsible for the whaling, has been unable to charter a replacement. Maybe they are finding it difficult to find a ship owner willing to be associated with their brutal and illegal whaling operation in the Southern Ocean, plus be willing to be targeted by the Sea Shepherd fleet.

The three Sea Shepherd Ships, Steve Irwin, Bob Barker, and Gojira are ready to head to the Southern Ocean – the only thing missing down there are the whalers

Has the time come when whales are free to grace the Southern Ocean without the fear of being harpooned by man

Let's hope so!

Did you save the Tiger?

Arguably one of the world's most beautiful animals is the tiger. Can you recall the last time you saw a tiger, perhaps on television or at your local zoo? Was it the tiger's power, it's grace, it's beauty that won you over? it's no surprise that tigers feature so much in many mythologies. However just as the power of the tiger is honoured, it is also coveted. In some countries in Asia, the tiger, or body parts of the tiger, are still believed to have medicinal parts. The demand for tiger parts leads to a powerful black market to feed this demand.

Please take the time to watch the following video.

Whether you live in Australia, the Americas, Europe or any other part of the world it is easy to sit here in our arm chairs, shake our heads and mutter, "Isn't it shocking. Why don't they do something about it?". However I encourage you to, "Be the change you want to see in the world". - Mahatma Gandhi.

Instead of criticizing individuals and governments in other countries, is it not more empowering for ourselves, and them, to work together and support them in making better decisions for our future, and that of the tiger? We are already responsible for the extinction of tigers on the islands of Bali and Java as well as in the Middle East. If things do not change in 10 years, tigers will be lost from all parts where they once roamed.

Now is your time make a difference. I invite you to take on my 30 minute challenge. In the next 30 minutes complete the following:

1. Support the WWF and choose to do at least one way to aid the WWF's work in saving the the tiger from the list at http://wwf.ca/conservation/species/tigers/what_you_can_do/


2. Google at least one person of power and email them, empowering them to work with the policy makers who can protect the tiger.


3. Post on Facebook or Tweet about the tiger so that others in your communities can also make a difference.


4. Use your creativity to create one more way to help preserve the tiger. It is from small ideas that great movements come.

This week the Tiger Summit happens in St Petersburg, Russia where vital parts of the tiger's future may be decided (http://english.ruvr.ru/2010/11/21/35375614.html). This is now the time for you to also act so that for thousands of years to come tigers will continue to roam the earth.

Be A Celebrity This Christmas

All the celebrities are doing it...

Brad and Angelina have adopted...

Madonna has adopted...

...and now you can too! But why adopt a child when you can adopt an animal...

Not only can you adopt an animal for yourself but it's a great holiday gift idea for someone else. A symbolic adoption is unique, educational and not only are you giving to the individual, but the species too with the proceeds assist the WWF in their work to preserve these great creatures.

WWF has got some great adoption packs which include:
- high-quality wildlife plush.
- reusable gift bag, made from recycled plastic.
- personalized adoption certificate.
- letter that identifies you as the gift-giver.
- details on the work that your gift will help support.

The only challenge is trying to decide which one to adopt. Maybe the...

tiger, the largest of all cats and one of the most threatened species on earth. Only 3,200 remain in the wild, mostly living in isolated pockets spread across increasingly fragmented forests. Sadly, habitat loss and illegal poaching has greatly diminished the tiger population

or the...

orang utan, considered one of the closest relatives to humans. Unfortunately, consumer demand for products containing unsustainably produced palm oil threatens their very existence and the orang-utan is fast losing its natural habitat to the spread of palm oil plantations

or the...

meerkat, the curious little guardians of the African plains are highly social creatures. Meerkats will take turns standing sentry and rear the colony’s young as a group. Meerkats and other plains creatures are however threatened with habitat loss.

if you can't decide your favourite from one of these animals, or the walrus, caribou, grizzly bear, polar bear, blue shark, snow leopard, Asian elephant, panda or one of the many others, then there is only one solution...adopt them all!

For all the information and to adopt today please visit https://wwfstore.donorportal.ca/c-11-wildlife-adoptions.aspx

The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup 2010

Each year countless tonnes of rubbish washes up from the oceans, seas and rivers on to the world's coastlines. This rubbish carelessly disgarded effects already fragile ecosystems battling oil and contamination spills, increasing human traffic and rising sea tempertures.

In 1994 a group of Vancouver Aquarium employees gathered to collect litter from a local beach in Stanley Park, collecting data on what they found. As awareness of this issue has grown more and more organisations have partnered with Vancouver Aquarium to coordinate clean ups at over 1,000 sites around Canada.

In 2009 the event attracted nearly 60,000 volunteers around Canada shorelines. Some of the most interesting things found were 367,010 cigarettes and filters, 74,276 plastic bags and 38,702 drink cans; not to mention a wedding dress, a Star Wars light sabre and a message in a bottle with a note saying: “Please don’t litter”.

Saturday, 18th September marked 2010's Great Canadian Shoreline Clean-up. Toronto's main gathering at Woodbine Beach brought together particpants from the local area. The event was coordinated by WWF Canada, who became a full partner this year. Armed with bags and gloves, teams headed in evey direction collecting and sorting general rubbish from recyclables. After just two hours rubbish once scattered across Woodbine Beach was neatly piled up ready to be weighed, catalogued and removed.

The teams returned for a group lunch where awards were given for participation. The WWF Panda was even there to encourage and thank the younger members of the clean up and remind everyone that protecting our shorelines requires constant attention from everyone.
This is just another example of how after only a couple of hours donated by passionate volunteers around Canada can help to make a massive difference and ensure the wellbeing of the country's shorelines and their precious ecosystems.

For the latest information, please visit http://shorelinecleanup.ca/ and http://www.wwf.ca/

written by Adam Barralet and Jonathan Mozingo

The Extinction of Fish - The End of The Line

Love Seafood? It may become a pleasure of the past soon. End of the Line is a documentary promoted by Greenpeace outlining how modern fishing techniques are destroying fish stocks around the world.

Click here to listen to the interview with Genevieve Quirk, the Ocean's Campaigner for Greenpeace Australia explain what is happening

Watch the trailer here:



Find out more at http://www.greenpeace.org.au/ and http://www.endoftheline.com/

Kwai Chang-Kum says you can't keep the African Serval at home

Did you know that...

- While hunting, the African Serval may pause for up to 15 minutes at a time to listen with eyes closed.
- The Serval has been known to dig into burrows in search of underground prey, and to leap 3-5 m (9-16 ft) into the air to grab birds in flight.
- The Serval swallow small prey whole.

There may be many more things to know about the Serval. Find out by listening the the HDC talk to Kwai Chang-Kum of Zoos Victoria by clicking here.

Find out the latest news at www.zoo.org.au

Jonathan Larkin - WWF - Oil Spills

In light of the current oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and last years spill off the coast of WA, the HDC chat to Jonathan Larkin at WWF about the implications.

Click here to listen to the interview.

For more information on the great work done by WWF, please visit http://www.wwf.org.au/

Gorillas in the midst of the Hump Day Crew's show

Gorillas are one of those animals that truly fascinate humans. We are always trying to understand how much we have in common and how well we can communicate with them.

Gorillas are the largest of the living primates. They are ground-dwelling and predominantly herbivorous. They inhabit the forests of central Africa. Gorillas are divided into two species and (still under debate as of 2008) either four or five subspecies. The DNA of gorillas is 98%–99% identical to that of a human, and they are the next closest living relatives to humans after the two chimpanzee species.

Gorillas can be found in tropical or subtropical forests. Although their range covers a small percentage of Africa, gorillas cover a wide range of elevations. The Mountain Gorilla inhabits the Albertine Rift montane cloud forests of the Virunga Volcanoes, ranging in altitude from 2,200–4,300 metres (7,200–14,100 ft). Lowland Gorillas live in dense forests and lowland swamps and marshes as low as sea level.

Adz and Bish chatted to Dan Maloney, Senior Curator of Melbourne Zoo about gorillas in the wild and within Zoos Victoria. Click here to listen to the interview.

For the latest news from Zoos Victoria, please visit http://www.zoo.org.au/

Fashion and The Environment go hand in hand at G Star Raw

Ask anyone who is the leader in denim fashion and the first name that comes to mind is G Star Raw. Originally a Dutch company they know have a store presence in Europe and the U.S.A. as well as here in Australia.

G-Star was originally named Gap Star but decided to change their name upon going international. The brand specializes in making RAW denim - an unwashed, untreated denim in which all jeans start out as after being constructed. G-Star is clearly identified by their military styling as well as influences from other European trends. Interpreting fashion for their modern day individual with unique features such as special mobile-phone pockets and zippered arm pockets on jackets.

G Star Raw is promote their genuine ambition to contribute to a better world by guaranteeing good working conditions in the factories, developing more sustainable products and reducing our impact on the environment. One major way they have done this is by producing an organic cotton range. Is this a one off gimmick? Not at all. G Star Raw is working towards increasing the use of organic cotton in all of their denim products.

To find out more, click here to listen to the interview with Chris Bennett of Denim Enterprises and G Star Raw.

Find out the latest about G Star Raw at http://www.g-star.com/

Read about substainable cotton production at http://www.sustainablecotton.org/

You can have more fun in the dark - Earth Hour

One of the world's largest campaigns designed to make a statement to world leaders about Climate Change is Earth Hour. The campaign has grown in size each year as more and more countries participate in a 24 hour protest around the globe. To see just how big Earth Hour is, check out this video:


Click here to listen to the HDC chat with Jonathan Larkin of WW about Earth Hour.

Earth Hour happens at 830pm local time on Saturday, 27th March, 2010.

Find out more about Earth Hour at http://www.earthhour.org/

Who is Asia-Pacific's Sexiest Vegetarian?

Adz says it's Charli Delaney, Ginni says it's Pippa Black from Neighbours. Who do you think is the sexiest Vegetarian in Asia-Pacific?

The nominees haven't been posted long, but TV personality Ruby Rose has taken the lead over other Australian contenders in PETA's Asia-Pacific's annual Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrity poll Running close behind in the race for the Australian title are child star-turned-TV personality Charli Delaney; model and former Neighbours star Imogen Bailey; Kisschasy singer Darren Cordeux; Home and Away star-turned-Hollywood hottie Isabel Lucas; singer-songwriter Missy Higgins; Australian Idol host Andrew G; surfing sensation Dave Rastovich; and folk singer Xavier Rudd.

Other celebrities from around the world who've gone vegetarian to protect animals, the environment and their own health include actors Hayden Panettiere, Natalie Portman and Milo Ventimiglia; singers Anthony Kiedis and Leona Lewis; UFC champion Mac Danzig; and sports stars John Salley and Greg Chappell.

"When you look at the more than 200 gorgeous celebrities in this year's poll, it's clear that there can be no bones about it - a vegetarian diet makes you beautiful, inside and out", says PETA Asia-Pacific Director Jason Baker. "After all, going vegetarian is the best thing that you can do for animals, the Earth and yourself. Plus, everyone knows that there's nothing sexier than someone who exudes both passion and compassion."

(above taken from a PETA Press Release).

Click here to listen to the HDC chat with PETA's Ashley Fruno about the poll.

Have your saying by voting at http://www.petaasiapacific.com/featureSexiestVegCeleb2010-Eng.asp?c=papsv10epr.

Is being Vegetarian too sexy?

The HDC Crew talk with Ashley Fruno of PETA about advantages of becoming a vegetarian, the organisations ways of getting the message across and the Americans who think they are too raunchy.

Click here to listen to the interview.

Here's the video that's too raunchy for some Americans:

A Solution for the Palm Oil Problem

In past week's on All Natural we have looked at the issue of Palm Oil. Australia sources a lot of it's Palm Oil from Indonesia, where forest are destroyed for Palm Oil plantations. This leads to the destruction of the habitats to Orang-utans, Tigers and many other beautiful creatures. Palm Oil is used in many food and beauty products found in Australia. At this point in time clear labelling is not required. This makes it near impossible for Australian's to make educated choices when shopping.

Jonathan Larkin of WWF talks about the development of sustainable Palm Oil and a bill introduced into the Senate to ensure correct labelling in Australia. Click here to listen.

For more information, please visit http://www.wwf.org.au/

PETA's Man & Woman of 2009 - Ellen Degeneres & Tim Gunn

Each year PETA chooses two individuals who take action towards the well being of animals. For 2009 the winners are...

Ellen Degeneres



Ever since she and her wife, Portia De Rossi, decided to ditch all animal products in 2008, Ellen has made sure that her wildly popular talk show includes features to raise people's awareness of animal issues. She made vegan pizza with Chef Wolfgang Puck, spoke with Dr. Neal Barnard about the health benefits of a vegan diet, and just in time for Thanksgiving, "talked turkey" about the everyday abuse of animals on factory farms with Jonathan Safran Foer, author of Eating Animals. Ellen also created pages on her Web site that feature insight, info, and tips about cruelty-free living. Visitors can find recipes, read about why Ellen went vegan, learn where to shop, and more.

...and the winning male is Tim Gunn.



The connoisseur of class, the guru of good taste, the titan of tact (I could go on all afternoon with these) narrated our video exposing skin-crawling atrocities suffered by animals who are slaughtered for their pelts, and the media have been buzzing ever since. Tim recently told the L.A. Times, "Wearing fur is like wearing a big sign reading, 'I'm in favor of inflicting cruelty and pain on animals as a fashion statement.' Unspeakable torture is inflicted on dogs, cats, bunnies, raccoons, foxes, minks, and myriad trapped, helpless creatures in the name of fashion—yes, dogs and cats."

And thanks to Tim, fur challenges are noticeably absent from Project Runway—and there's zero fur at Liz Claiborne, where he is chief creative officer.

Click here to listen to the HDC chat with PETA's Ashley Fruno about Ellen & Timm.

To find out the latest from PETA, please visit www.peta.org

The Campaign against an Uranium Mine in the Northern Territory

In Alice Springs a local Aboriginal band has hooked up with popular N.T. band Super Raelene Bros. to record a song in local Arrente and Luritja languages about the impact of proposed Uranium mine at Angela Pamela and the possible impact on the locals' health.

Basil Schild of Super Raelene Bros. talks about the impact on the local people and the campaign against the mine.

Click here to listen to the interview.

For more information, please visit http://www.alec.org.au

A Pet is not just for Christmas

The average life expectancy for a dog is around 13 years and 15 years for a cat...some will live longer than 20 years. So when buying a pet as a gift whether for a child or an adult it's vital to consider who will care for the pet in the future...once the novety has warn off.

Ashley Fruno of PETA discusses the implications of owning a pet. It's not just for Christams. It can be up to 20 years....Many romantic relationships don't last that long!

Click here to listen to the interview.

Check out PETA's website at http://www.peta.org/