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Helping the Whales

The following is intended to provide direction in what we all can do to reduce stresses to whales as they are serving as ambassadors of the state of marine ecosystems.

We are all connected to these astounding animals and impact their welfare no matter how far we may live from an ocean. Every little bit of positive action helps.

Compiled by Jackie Hildering, Last updated: July 2nd, 2007

Summary table of actions to reduce chemicals in the environment.

Seven more in depth ACTION points follow below. .

Action Ways to reduce persistent organic pollutants
Additional ways to reduce other chemicals in the environment
Explanation
Be chemical aware!
• Know if the chemicals you use are harmful to the environment and if you have to use them dispose of them properly
• Use environmentally safe alternatives
• Avoid using pesticides
Care! • Live knowing that you are connected to the Earth’s other creatures
• Insist on finding out if things are dangerous before we start using them
Make your voice count • Share what you know with others. Use your vote and stand up for your right to be toxin free!
Buy smart

• Buy less things you don’t really need
• Buy from companies with good environmental practices

• When you have a choice, buy things you need from close to home E.g. IKEA and Toshiba, Apple, Dell and Hewlett Packard do not use PBDE’s in their products.
Buying from close to home means less pollution from fossil fuels
Eat smart • Eat less animal fat • Eat less food with additives

By eating less animal fat, there is less chance that you are taking in persistent organic pollutants.

Make less garbage • Through buying less
• Don’t use disposable items e.g. non-rechargeable batteries; Styrofoam cups; plastic bags! Reuse things.
• Share things you no longer need instead of throwing them out e.g. donate to second hand store
• Fix things rather than throwing them out
• Recycle more

• Buy things with less packaging
• Compost more
• Create less food waste

The more we reduce, reuse, repair and recycle, the fewer chemicals go into environment. In electronics and foam products, these chemicals can include PBDEs
Save energy • Use less electronic devices • Walk, bike, skate-board, etc more as a form of transportation
• Carpool and use public transportation more
• Use alternatives to fossil fuels
• Use energy efficient vehicles, appliances, light bulbs, etc.
• Unplug more and enjoy nature! Unplug appliances you are not using, use less TV, game boys, computer, etc.)

Less electronics means less chance of having a product with PBDEs
Using less gas and oil means less fossil fuel pollution
Most electrical generators operate on fossil fuels

Save water  

• Use less water so that it does not need to be treated as often

Also saves energy that goes into treating sewage and purifying water

1. Become informed about the stresses that whales endure and share this knowledge

a. Overview:

b. Toxins:

c. Whaling, Culling and Captivity:

d. Sonar and general noise issues

e. Latest reports on issues facing whales / oceans:

2. Reduce consumption of the world’s resources. Become aware of your ecological footprint and work to reduce it. Don’t buy into the consumerism paradigm.

3. Use non-toxic; biodegradable; “earth-friendly” products. The following links provide insights and alternatives

4. Live by the precautionary principle/approach using your power as a consumer and voter to ensure that we find out first if practices are dangerous to the environment before we proceed with them.

5. Undertake direct action to ensure that the bioaccumulative Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are no longer used nor created.

Ensure that governments take on a “cradle to grave” approach to chemicals; that new chemicals must be tested and that manufactures have responsibility for the full life cycle of the chemicals. Note that this is currently not a policy of the US “Environmental Protection Agency”.

6. Support research, conservation and undertake action to stop the barbarity of whaling

Examples:

7. Educate

(lesson plans by J. Hildering)