10/21/2009
Endangered Sea Turtles Return To Mexico's Beaches
Fifty years after the Texas Open Beaches Act became law, voters will decide whether public access to beaches should be a part of the state constitution. Proposition 9, on the Nov. 3 statewide ballot, has the potential to put the Open Beaches Act in the Texas Constitution. That act states that the public has access to all beaches between the mean low-tide line and the vegetation line, making what is now known as a rolling easement.
The act has caused tension between the government and homeowners when storms or long-term erosion move the vegetation line landward, putting some private homes in the public domain. The Prop. 9 amendment aims to protect the right of the public, individually and collectively, to access and use the public beaches bordering the seaward shore of the Gulf of Mexico.
MORE INFO.
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10/21/2009
Invasive Vines Assault East Coast Beaches
Beach vitex, a fast-growing vine from Korea that was brought into the Carolina's after 1989's Hurricane Hugo to stop the massive erosion of sand dunes is now presenting some unforeseen consequences. The plant's thickness harms nestlings, and its shallow system fails to hold dunes together.
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10/21/2009
Help Keep Texas Beaches Open To The Public
Proposition 9, on the Nov. 3 statewide ballot, has the potential to put the Open Beaches Act in the Texas Constitution. That act states that the public has access to all beaches between the mean low-tide line and the vegetation line, making what is now known as a rolling easement.
The act has caused tension between the government and homeowners when storms or long-term erosion move the vegetation line landward, putting some private homes in the public domain. The Prop. 9 amendment aims to protect the right of the public, individually and collectively, to access and use the public beaches bordering the seaward shore of the Gulf of Mexico.
MORE INFO.
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10/21/2009
Australian Oil Spill Approaching "Exxon Valdez" Scale
PTTEP Australia, the company responsible for the massive oil spill off the western coast of Australia recently failed at its FOURTH attempt to plug the hole that is seeping oil into the ocean at a rate of 400 barrels a day. Although the repair is being characterized as very difficult to pull off, officials are now calling for government intervention as it seems obvious that the company will be unable to successfully seal the steel casing responsible for the leak. Environmental Director of Kimberley Martin Pritchard says, "the spill had become an embarrassment for the oil and gas sector and the Rudd government.
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10/07/2009
A Week of Disasters Takes Heavy Toll On Asia/Pacific
Global warming and emergency response procedures were put in the spotlight last week as the Asia/Pacific area was hit with not one, but three natural disasters leaving most coastal residents homeless and many dead. First, Typhoon Ketsana hit Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos killing 330 people as it continued a rampage that began in the Philippines. Then an undersea 8.0-magnitude earthquake unleashed 25-foot tsunamis on the Pacific islands of Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga killing another 113 people. President Obama dispatched troops to help with the relief efforts, but right on the heels of this disaster came yet another. On Wednesday, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake hit the island of Sumatra in Indonesia killing at least 75 people and trapping thousands more under rubble. Our thoughts are with those who have lost friends and loved ones in these tragedies. FULL STORY.
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10/07/2009
Missouri Governor Fights For Clean Beaches
So you think clean beaches are just a coastal issue? Think again... Missouri is having issues as well and not just with water quality itself, but rather the reporting and handling of it. Last week, state Governor Jay Nixon suspended Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Director, Mark Templeton after what he calls "abysmal failures" by the DNR were uncovered. Last spring, the DNR was responsible for closing down beaches at the Lake of The Ozarks State Beach due to "high levels of bacteria." However, weeks earlier the E. coli levels were five times higher than the period that warranted beach closures and nothing was done about it. NIxon says that this put swimmers at risk and his reaction is "sheer disappointment and disgust" with DNR.
FULL STORY.
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10/07/2009
Australian Surfer Survives Hotel Collapse in Padang
Just moments after the earthquake hit Padang, Indonesia Australian surfer Brett McGrath grabbed his video camera and shot footage of the aftermath. The hotel room he was staying in dropped an entire floor and the hotel was ripped in half. If you'd like to donate to help victims of the Indonesian earthquake, CLICK HERE.
FULL STORY.
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10/07/2009
Surfer Gives Harrowing Account of Samoan Tsunami
Surfer Neil Lumsden tells a chilling tale of how he, his son and two friends survived the tsunami that hit Samoa last week. This first-hand account is almost too surreal to believe. If you'd like to donate to help victims of the Samoan earthquake and tsunami, CLICK HERE.
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09/18/2009
Dangerous Staph Germs Found On West Coast Beaches
The germ MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (more commonly known as Staph) has been found for the first time in the sand and water of five public beaches along the coast of Washington. Milder forms of staph are usually found in community settings like schools, locker rooms and gyms. However, the more resilient strain, MRSA (usually found in hospitals) was discovered in 5 out of the nine contaminated sites. This germ is very hard to treat and officials are advising beach goers to shower after going for a dip and to cover any open cuts or scrapes before playing in the sand.
FULL STORY.
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09/18/2009
Europe Backs Ban On Tuna Fishing
Bluefin tuna is a delicacy in many countries and just one specimen can garner $100,000. Due to this popularity, it has been over fished to the point of "exhaustion" and a proposal for a worldwide ban was just backed by the European Commission. If passed the ban will be put in place for at least two years in order to give the stocks a chance to bounce back.
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