“10 Manatee escape death; The red blob of death took: 181 manatee,
Save them, save ourselves.”
~ Cynthia G. Creel
My story:
I was in Hawaii on the big island snorkeling, slowly swimming when this larger than life sea turtle swam by. It gracefully moved it’s flippers to move at a fast clip. It was so graceful, elegant I still have the picture in my mind today over 20 years later. The thought that something surround sea life and extinguish every drop of it’s life force is concerning. I always wonder how sea life will survive with the dangers of plastic, toxins, chemicals and so much more. If the sea life is gone, I fear it will be the end of us too.
Many I have talked with just assume that if they are a wild animal, they can find their way. Assumptions are interesting, that they don’t have to be true, just thought they might be true. Now the turtle may have lived another 100 years, I will never know for sure. It could be swimming near the same beach today.
The challenge:
Today over 4,600 miles away from that beach in Hawaii wild life is endangered by “the red blob of death”, the Algal blooms. This time the major impact is on the manatees, which only live in the water’s off the Florida, USA coast line.
This “red blob” is a real threat to any in it’s path.
In a previous article, "Beware of the Blob, not just a bad movie: Algae + unsustainable farming = death?" (1) I wrote:
“According to a study from the Center of Deceased Control and Prevention (CDC) "Algal blooms occur in natural waters used for drinking and/or recreation when certain types of microscopic algae grow quickly in water, often in response to changes in levels of chemicals such as nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizer, in the water. Algal blooms can deplete the oxygen and block the sunlight that other organisms need to live, and some can produce toxins that are harmful to the health of the environment, plants, animals, and people. Harmful algal blooms have threatened beaches, drinking water sources,"
Today’s new challenge:
The manatees have a fight on their hands. According to CBS News This Morning the last two months record numbers of the manatee have lost their lives to the “red blob of death”. With less then 5,000 of these gentle giants left that grow up to 13 feet long and can weigh about 4,000 pounds, harming nothing while traveling the water ways eat vegetation and sleep. In past the manatees have had their difficulties with boat propellers killing or cutting them. Now this “red blob of death” has already taken 181 of these gentle giants this year alone by releasing toxins that stick to the vegetation the manatees ingest affecting the nervous system, leaving it paralyzed and an at high risk of drowning, unless some one isn’t there to help the animal to keep it’s head above water to breath. So far all manatee found in time and brought to the zoo hospital have survived.
What can I do:
The only hope to stop the “red blob of death” after it has formed is to hope for heavy rains and winds which could help break up the “red blob of death”
However, it is looking more and more like this new threat to life has been created mostly by man.
The nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizer are used by many corporate and sometimes traditional farmers. Along with anyone individual using these products. Nudging people to change what they use helps to solve this large growing problem. Secondary uses, that help create this mess, are supporting the farms and industries that use the nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizer that gain access to our water ways and end up in the lakes or oceans.
That loaf of bread you just bought, where was the food grown that bread is made up from? How did the corporation grow the food? What about that shirt you just bought made form cotton? How was the cotton grown? what was left to run off the land into to the water system ending up in the ocean?
Buying from a farmer you know and know how they farm is key in solving this problem. Call a company and ask questions to find out the what, when and where? Buy organic when ever possible and when not, be conservative. What you buy becomes used, eaten or thrown away, how is was grown and what happened before it was in your hands is the difference between a sustainable life style and one that has a dead end.
Final thought:
I know I have been guilty in the past of buying just because it is there, not even bothering to ask one question. Today, it is a different story I have my By Design Farm and work to produce the most naturally nutritious food using only what nature provides. What I can not produce for myself, I buy with a thought of where did this come from, how was it grown. It is impossible to be perfect, it is possible to improve, to do just a little bit better everyday.
We have a lot of work to save the manatee, there are only about 5,000...4,999......4,998......4,997......4,996
There is time to save and the first actions that can help is by helping yourself and stepping onto the Path of True Health. Living mindless is easy and adds to a mess. Living to do better each day helps create the world we like to live in. Between all of us we can make a difference to help one manatee at a time while helping ourselves. Thank you.
By Design ~ "Life is good By Design”
Photo creation by Cynthia G. Creel all rights reserved ©2013
Half an orange slice makes a great smile. A smile should last a life time.
3-12-2013 all rights reserved ©2013 written permission is needed to duplicate
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of By Design or Cynthia G. Creel. Consultation of a medical professional is highly recommended before any changes are considered. This article is not saying anyone person or company is at fault, it is just one possibility of many and is only speaking in general terms. .
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Sources:
(1) http://lifeisgoodbydesign.blogspot.com/2013/03/algae-unsustainable-farming-death.html
(2) http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505263_162-57574246/manatee-rescuers-struggle-for-animals-survival-amid-red-tide/
(3) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0mHa4wrE9BA
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