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    IN 2013, POACHERS SLAUGHTERED MORERHINOS THAN EVER IN RECORDED HISTORYBy Gwynn Guilford, The Quartz,

    January 17, 2014

    For South Africas dwindlingwhite rhinoceros population, last

    year was the deadliest on record.

    Poachers killed 1,004 rhinos

    illegally in 2013, more than 1.5

    times the number butchered in

    2012.

    As weve covered before, the

    killing spree is l inked to

    b o o m i n g d e m a n d i n

    Vietnam and China for rhino

    horns, which, in pulverized

    form, are prized both as a luxuryclub drug and a cancer cure.

    Rhino horns now sell for as

    much as $500,000 per pound

    ($1.1 million per kilogram) in

    Asia, buoyed by spending driven

    by surging disposable incomes.

    South Africas 18,000 or so

    rhinos make up 83% of the

    worlds total rhino population,

    and around three-quarters of

    wild rhinos, according to Traffic,a n o n - g o v e r n m e n t a l

    organization. The alarming

    increase in poaching over the

    past few years puts the animals

    on track for extinction by 2032,

    researchers warn.

    South Africa has been cracking

    down harder on poachers this

    year. But part of the problem is

    Mozambique. Ironically, in

    2002, Mozambique and South

    Africa removed most of a border

    fence in order to promote a

    trans-frontier park aimed at

    coordinating their conservation

    efforts. But this also makes it

    e a s y f o r M o z a m b i c a n

    poachersto descended on South

    Africas Kruger National Park,

    now that theyvewiped out their

    l o c a l r h i n o p o p u l a t i o n .

    Mozambique is the major transit

    point for rhino horn smuggling,says Tom Milliken, a rhino

    expert at Traffic.

    Mozambiques former president,

    Joaquim Chissano, blames this

    sad state of affairs on his

    countrys penury. Extreme

    poverty encourages poaching,

    h e s a i d i n N o v e m b e r ,

    announcing the launch of a

    foundation to give would-be

    poachers an alternative income

    v i a c o n s e r va t i o n - f o c u s e d

    commercial projects.

    For more on this story visit:

    http://qz.com/168186/

    in-2013-poachers-slaughtered-

    more-rhinos-than-ever-in-

    recorded-history/

    PLANETLIFE

    18Janu

    ary2014

    Satellite to Give Earth First

    Health Check

    Page 6

    Emergency Management

    Lets Plan Together

    Page 12

    Dolphins Slaughtered in

    Japan

    Page 3

    http://qz.com/159902/chinas-obsession-with-rhino-horns-is-sending-south-african-rhino-deaths-through-the-roof/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-01-02/the-irish-clan-behind-europes-rhino-horn-theft-epidemichttp://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-01-02/the-irish-clan-behind-europes-rhino-horn-theft-epidemichttp://news.yahoo.com/expert-rhinos-extinct-mozambique-133833659.htmlhttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-05/mozambique-s-chissano-starts-campaign-to-end-poaching.htmlhttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-05/mozambique-s-chissano-starts-campaign-to-end-poaching.htmlhttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-05/mozambique-s-chissano-starts-campaign-to-end-poaching.htmlhttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-05/mozambique-s-chissano-starts-campaign-to-end-poaching.htmlhttp://news.yahoo.com/expert-rhinos-extinct-mozambique-133833659.htmlhttp://news.yahoo.com/expert-rhinos-extinct-mozambique-133833659.htmlhttp://news.yahoo.com/expert-rhinos-extinct-mozambique-133833659.htmlhttp://news.yahoo.com/expert-rhinos-extinct-mozambique-133833659.htmlhttp://qz.com/159902/chinas-obsession-with-rhino-horns-is-sending-south-african-rhino-deaths-through-the-roof/http://qz.com/159902/chinas-obsession-with-rhino-horns-is-sending-south-african-rhino-deaths-through-the-roof/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-01-02/the-irish-clan-behind-europes-rhino-horn-theft-epidemichttp://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-01-02/the-irish-clan-behind-europes-rhino-horn-theft-epidemichttp://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-01-02/the-irish-clan-behind-europes-rhino-horn-theft-epidemichttp://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-01-02/the-irish-clan-behind-europes-rhino-horn-theft-epidemichttp://qz.com/82302/theres-a-country-that-will-pay-300000-per-rhino-horn-to-cure-cancer-and-hangovers-and-its-wiping-out-rhinos/http://qz.com/82302/theres-a-country-that-will-pay-300000-per-rhino-horn-to-cure-cancer-and-hangovers-and-its-wiping-out-rhinos/https://www.environment.gov.za/mediarelease/rhinopoaching_statistics_17jan2014https://www.environment.gov.za/mediarelease/rhinopoaching_statistics_17jan2014https://www.environment.gov.za/mediarelease/rhinopoaching_statistics_17jan2014https://www.environment.gov.za/mediarelease/rhinopoaching_statistics_17jan2014
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    By Tom Warne-Smith, Australian Broadcasting

    Corporation, January 9th, 2014

    Under the secretive Trans Pacific Partnership

    Agreement, Australia could be forced to pay foreign

    corporations not to dig up or destroy its coastline or

    native forests, writes Tom Warne-Smith.

    What would you do if an international company

    decided to stick a toxic waste dump next to your

    house? Lodging an objection with your council is a

    good start - but what if the company could claim

    millions of dollars in damages if the council said no?

    That's exactly what happened in Mexico when

    the municipality of Guadalcazar refused to issue a

    permit to build a waste dump because of the impact

    on the 800 surrounding residents and $16.6 million

    in 'compensation' was awarded to the dump's US

    owners.Get ready, because the laws that let this happen

    are coming to Australia too.

    A range of experts have recently highlighted the

    alarming potential consequences of the Trans Pacific

    Partnership Agreement (TPP). This 'free trade'

    agreement between countries will more than likely

    contain secretive Investor State Dispute Settlement

    (ISDS) clauses, allowing foreign companies to sue

    national governments when changes to domestic laws

    affect the company's investments, and so limiting

    governments in the regulations they can make to

    protect the public.A lot has already been said about the disastrous

    effects of these clauses on public health initiatives,

    like plain packaging for cigarettes. While the thought

    of paying Philip Morris so Australia can have a law

    to protect the health of Australians is bad enough,

    the effects on our environment could also be

    devastating.

    When Germany's Hamburg Environmental

    Authority issued a licence imposing water quality

    standards on a coal-fired power plant, energy giant

    Vattenfall commenced investor-state arbitration

    against the German government, seeking about"1.4

    billion, plus arbitration costs and interest. Ultimately

    Germany and Vattenfall settled the dispute, with

    Germany agreeing to weaken environmental

    standards in favour of the corporation. Vattenfall has

    now started proceedings claiming a reported "3.7

    billion in compensation as a result of the German

    government's decision to phase out nuclear power.

    Under Australian federal environmental law

    there are a number of provisions which allow our

    environment minister to vary or revoke approvals for

    projects like mines in certain circumstances, such as

    when there is new evidence about the environmental

    effects. An Australian licence holder has to accept the

    minister's decision. But under the new rules, an

    international investor would be able to seek

    compensation for any loss of profits from the project.

    This opens up a legal nightmare. Imagine that

    there's been a bushfire, and an endangered

    Australian species has suffered a huge loss of habitat.

    If any Australian government then wanted to change

    a permit to stop a foreign company from clearing

    habitat that had become vital to the survival of this

    species, we would have to pay the company

    'compensation'.Similarly, if our government made a

    decision to protect a rural community from coalseam gas extraction, a foreign investor could

    potentially take Australia to court and be

    compensated for their loss of earnings.

    For more on this story visit:

    www.abc.net.au/news/

    THE ENVIRONMENT WOULD PAY FORFOR FREE TRADE

    PLANETLIFE

    18January2014

    http://www.abc.net.au/news/http://www.abc.net.au/news/https://icsid.worldbank.org/ICSID/FrontServlet?requestType=CasesRH&actionVal=showDoc&docId=DC542_En&caseId=C155https://icsid.worldbank.org/ICSID/FrontServlet?requestType=CasesRH&actionVal=showDoc&docId=DC542_En&caseId=C155https://icsid.worldbank.org/ICSID/FrontServlet?requestType=CasesRH&actionVal=showDoc&docId=DC542_En&caseId=C155https://icsid.worldbank.org/ICSID/FrontServlet?requestType=CasesRH&actionVal=showDoc&docId=DC542_En&caseId=C155
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    By Nabeelah Shabbir, The Guardian, January

    18th 2014

    Hundreds of bottlenose dolphins have beenrounded up by Japanese fishermen and takeninto captivity for slaughter in a town infamousfor culling and killing the mammals, accordingto US conservationists.

    The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society saida pod of more than 250 dolphins includingbabies, juveniles and a rare albino calf hadbeen driven into a cove in Taiji, in south-east

    Japan.

    It said it was the largest pod to be driven intothe cove in several years. Pictures uploaded toFacebook show the captured dolphinsswimming in circles in shallow waters. SeaShepherd is using the hashtag #tweetfortaiji toraise awareness on social networks.

    The society said most of the pod facedslaughter for human consumption, with themeat likely to fetch millions of dollars. A fewwould be sent to captivity in marine parks, itsaid.

    Taiji shot to international prominence afterthe release of the 2009 Oscar-winningdocumentary The Cove. The town is in themiddle of its traditional dolphin-hunting

    season, which runs between September and

    April.

    "It will be a total of 19 hours before thedolphins will be selected for captivity," SeaShepherd said. "Those not selected will beslaughtered for human consumption. This podis far too valuable and worth millions ofdollars. The baby albino dolphin alone is quitepriceless."

    PLANETLIFE1

    8January2014 OCEANLIFE

    250 DOLPHINS ROUNDED UP IN JAPANS TAIJI COVE

    http://www.theguardian.com/world/japanhttp://www.theguardian.com/world/japanhttp://www.theguardian.com/environment/audio/2009/sep/15/dolphin-killing-japan-taijihttp://www.theguardian.com/environment/audio/2009/sep/15/dolphin-killing-japan-taijihttp://www.theguardian.com/environment/audio/2009/sep/15/dolphin-killing-japan-taijihttp://www.theguardian.com/world/japanhttp://www.theguardian.com/world/japan
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    By Australia Network New, January 17th, 2014

    China's capital has been shrouded in dangerous smog,

    cutting visibility down to a few hundred metres.

    A count of small particulate pollution reached more than

    25 times recommended levels.

    A grey haze filled the sky, leaving an industrial, burning

    smell hanging in the air.

    The official air quality index reached the top of the scale at

    500.

    China's cities are often hit by heavy pollution, blamed on

    coal-burning by power stations and industry, as well as vehicle

    use.

    It's become a major source of discontent with the ruling

    Communist Party.

    "I can't believe how bad it is," said US tourist Richard

    Deutsch in Tiananmen Square in central Beijing, which was

    shrouded in heavy smog.

    "I have never experienced air this bad.

    "It's worse than LA."I feel kind of bad for the people, it's taking years off their

    life."

    Authorities have become more open about pollution levels,

    in part as a response to public pressure.

    But officials have implied that it will take years before the

    situation improves.

    The pollution has been linked to hundreds of thousands of

    premature deaths, and has tarnished the image of Chinese cities

    including Beijing, which saw a 10 percent drop in tourist visitsduring most of 2013.

    "There are less and less tourists coming to Beijing," said

    tourist guide Xiao Yan.

    "It's normal as people keep on talking about the bad air

    quality on the internet."

    China's State Council said last year that "concentrations of

    fine particles" in the capital's air would fall by approximately 25

    percent from 2012 levels by 2017.

    Other major Chinese cities on China's affluent east coast,

    including Shanghai and Guangzhou, will see reductions of

    between 10 and 20 percent from 2012 levels over the same

    period, it said.

    China is the world's biggest coal consumer and is forecast to

    account for more than half of global demand this year.

    DANGEROUS POLLUTION HITS THE CHINESE CAPITALAS INDEX HITS TOP OF SCALE

    PLANETLIFE

    18January2014

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    Unless "explicit efforts" are made to reducegreenhouse gas emissions, the experts warnedthat increased conservation and efficiency willnot be sufficient to counter their rise.

    DELAYING action on global warming will only increase

    the costs and reduce the options for dealing with the

    worst effects of climate change, according to a draft

    report by UN experts.

    The final draft of the report by the Intergovernmental Panel on

    Climate Change, obtained on Thursday by The Associated Press,

    says that global warming will continue to increase unless countries

    shift quickly to clean energy and cut emissions.

    It said that despite national policies and international efforts aimed

    at mitigating climate change, emissions of carbon dioxide and other

    greenhouse gases that are warming the planet grew 2.2 per cent per

    year on average between 2000 and 2010, compared with 1.3 per

    cent per year from 1970 to 2000.

    The two main drivers for the increasing emissions are economic

    growth, which has risen sharply, and population growth, which has

    remained roughly steady, the report said.The largest contributor to global emissions results from the burning

    of oil and coal - and the draft report said its contribution is expected

    to rise.

    Unless "explicit efforts" are made to reduce greenhouse gas

    emissions, the experts warned that increased conservation and

    efficiency will not be sufficient to counter their rise.

    With increasing demand for energy and the growing use of coal togenerate electricity, the experts said emissions from the sector are

    projected to double or triple by 2050 from the level in 2010 unless

    improvements in clean energy are "significantly accelerated".

    International climate negotiators agreed at the 2009 UN climate

    change conference in Copenhagen that global warming this century

    must increase by less than 2C to avoid the worst impacts of climate

    change.

    Scientists say that target requires atmospheric concentration of

    carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, to stay below 530 parts

    per million. The level recently surpassed 400 parts per million.

    The report said the majority of scenarios to stay below 530 parts per

    million throughout the 21st century would require a reduction in

    greenhouse gas emissions between 40 per cent and 70 per cent of

    2010 levels by 2050.The experts said this will require new patterns of investment and a

    transformation into a low-carbon economy.

    The global total annual investment in the energy system is presently

    about $US1.2 trillion ($A1.36 trillion), it said.

    ANOTHER UN WARNING ON OUR CLIMATEWhen will non action be seen as negligence?http://www.news.com.au

    PLANETLIFE

    18

    January

    2014

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    By Jonathan Amos, BBC, January 17th, 2014

    The date has been set for the roll-out of the

    European Union's multi-billion-euro Earth

    observation project.Copernicus will fly a constellation of satellites

    known as the Sentinels to take a continuous "health

    check" on the planet and to acquire data that can

    help inform and enforce EU policies.

    It has been announced that the first spacecraft

    in the series will go into orbit, most likely, in early

    April.

    Sentinel 1a will use radar to map the surface of

    the Earth.

    Its information will find myriad uses, from

    monitoring European coastal waters for oil spills to

    investigating subsidence in cities.

    A key role also will be to provide rapid damage

    maps to enable emergency services and aid agencies

    to respond to natural disasters such as earthquakes

    and severe flooding events.

    Sentinel 1a is undergoing final testing at prime

    contractor Thales Alenia Space, at its facility in

    Cannes, France.

    Shortly, it will be transferred to Turin, Italy,

    where it will take an Antonov transport plane to the

    Guianese spaceport in South America.

    There it will be fuelled and attached to its Soyuz

    rocket, ready for an ascent no earlier than 28 March.

    "We're making every effort to meet this date, butit's tight," said European Space Agency (Esa) director

    general, Jean-Jacques Dordain.

    "The industrial teams are working double shifts,

    pretty much seven days a week," he told BBC News.

    1 April is his anticipated launch date.

    Copernicus is one of two flagship EU space

    projects, the other being the Galileo satellite-

    navigation system.

    European states have so far committed some

    7.5bn euros (6.2bn; $10.2bn) to the end of thedecade to build and operate Copernicus.

    As such, it represents the biggest civilian Earth-

    observation project ever conceived, says Josef

    Aschbacher, the head of Esa's Copernicus office.

    "Typically in Europe, we're always looking

    across the Atlantic and if we see something we like,

    we build a smaller version of it here. But something

    like Copernicus doesn't exist anywhere else in the

    world, and that's why our American and other

    international partners are extremely interested in

    collaborating."

    Satellites are at their most powerful when theirdata is continuous and unbroken in time. To that

    end, the vision for Copernicus is that becomes an

    open-ended mission of overlapping satellites.

    A Sentinel 1b is already in production, with

    early discussions already taking place on the

    procurement of the 1c and 1d models.

    Likewise, the first satellites in the Sentinel 2 and

    3 series are well advanced. These will carry

    instruments focused on changes that occur over time

    in land cover and ocean behaviour, and will launch

    next year.

    Atmospheric sensors known as Sentinel 4 and 5

    will go up later this decade. Sentinel 6 will continue

    the work of a current satellite that measures the

    height and shape of ocean surfaces.

    For more on this story visit: www.bbc.co.uk

    SATELLITE TO GIVE EARTHFIRST HEALTH CHECK

    PLANETLIFE

    18January2014

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    By Australian Broadcasting Corporation, January 15th 2014

    The heat is on, literally. It's sticky, uncomfortable and

    downright dangerous. Heatwaves are nothing new in

    Australia, but they're becoming longer, hotter and morecommon.

    This is serious. 173 Australians lost their lives during the

    Black Saturday bushfires, but an estimated 400-plus people

    were killed by the heatwave that led up to it.

    Infants, the elderly and people with certain heart

    conditions can be vulnerable to heat-related illness. If

    available, such people should certainly use air-conditioning.

    But not all of us have access to air-con. And when you turn

    on an air-conditioner, it can be expensive and it releases

    climate-changing greenhouse gases.

    Here's out list of 26 ways to beat the heat without an air-

    conditioner.House

    1. Prevention is better than cure. Keep curtains and

    blinds closed during the day to block the heat and direct

    sunlight.

    2. Close windows once the outside air is warmer than

    indoors.

    3. At night, once the mercury drops, purge the

    accumulated hot air by opening windows and doors.

    4. Halogen lights, dishwashers, cooking appliances and

    dryers all produce heat. Avoid using them during the hottest

    part of the day. Halogen lights are worth replacing to save

    energy, anyway.5. Improvise an evaporative cooler by drying a load of

    washing in front of a fan. Sun exposure, especially when it's

    intense, gradually fades coloured fabric, so this is a great way

    to dry coloured loads.

    6. Heat rises. If you have a two-storey house, stay

    downstairs. Sleep there, too.

    People

    7. Keep the family cool and hydrated. Keep a jug of

    drinking water in the fridge.

    8. Stay cool from the inside out. For cooling snacks,

    make yoghurt, juice or pureed fruit icy-poles. Or put an icy

    pole stick into a fresh, ripe banana and freeze it.

    9. Sitting for a while? Soak your feet in cold water. Add

    some grated ginger and bicarb soda just for fun.

    10. Cool your caffeine. Try iced tea or an affogato,

    instead of hot tea or coffee.

    11. Electric fans create cooling air movement using

    minimal electricity. For extra cooling, keep a spray bottle

    handy and regularly mist yourself with water.

    12. But remember that a fan only works when it is

    blowing on you. If you're not in the room, switch it off.

    13. Barley, rice or wheat-filled bags (used in winter as

    'heat packs') can be put in the freezer and used as personal ice

    packs.

    14. It's the best excuse you'll get to skip your lunchtimejog. Avoid excessive activity or switch to exercising very early

    in the day or very late in the evening, when it is cooler.

    15. If you've got children, submerge some plastic toys in

    an ice-cream container filled with water. Freeze it. Then tell

    the kids they're on an ice fortress rescue mission!

    Animals

    16. Make sure pets have adequate shade, ventilation and

    water. You might have to bring them indoors for the day.

    17. Find a shady spot in the garden and use a kids'

    clamshell as a paddling pool for your dog. Keep it topped up

    with clean water.

    18. Leave out bowls of water in shady areas for wildlife.

    Also see Wildlife Victoria's factsheet for advice regarding heat

    stressed wildlife.

    Out and About

    19. If you have to venture outdoors, protect yourself

    from the sun's harmful UV rays by covering up with light,

    loose clothing, a hat and sunscreen, la the original Slip Slop

    Slap SunSmart campaign.20. Use reflective sunshades in the car. Open windows to

    purge the hot air when you first get in, before turning on

    cooling.

    21. Escape the heat at air-conditioned cinemas, art

    galleries, libraries and other public buildings.

    Serious stuff

    22. As we mentioned earlier, some members of society

    are more vulnerable to heat stress. Follow these tips for

    keeping babies and children safe in hot weather. See the

    Heart Foundation's information on heatwaves. Also keep tabs

    on elderly family members and neighbours during heatwaves.

    23. Don't leave anything that has a heartbeat (animals,children) in a locked car, even with the windows down.

    Temperatures inside cars can be as much as 20 to 30 degrees

    hotter than the outside temperature.

    Long-Term Ideas

    24. Put up exterior shade sails or grow deciduous vines

    over a pergola, particularly on the western side of your

    house.

    25. Insulate your home.

    26. The most energy efficient way to stay cool is to live in

    a well-designed home. If you're building or renovating, aim

    for a house that keeps cool without air-conditioning.

    Remember that there are often power outages on days ofextreme heat, when the electricity grid struggles to cope.

    Efficient eco houses, like Josh's house in Perth, are the ones

    sitting cool and pretty when the power is out.

    TWENTY-SIX TIPS TO BEAT THE HEATWITHOUT AIR-CONDITIONING

    PLANETLIFE

    18January2014

    http://www.news.qut.edu.au/cgi-bin/WebObjects/News.woa/wa/goNewsPage?newsEventID=34427http://www.science.unsw.edu.au/news/research-heatwaves-longer-hotter-and-more-commonhttp://joshshouse.com.au/http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/your-heart/know-the-risks/Pages/heatwaves.aspxhttp://joshshouse.com.au/http://joshshouse.com.au/http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/your-heart/know-the-risks/Pages/heatwaves.aspxhttp://www.heartfoundation.org.au/your-heart/know-the-risks/Pages/heatwaves.aspxhttp://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Child_safety_hot_weather?openhttp://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Child_safety_hot_weather?openhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGgn5nwYtj0http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGgn5nwYtj0http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGgn5nwYtj0http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGgn5nwYtj0http://wildlifevictoria.org.au/fact-sheetshttp://wildlifevictoria.org.au/fact-sheetshttp://www.news.qut.edu.au/cgi-bin/WebObjects/News.woa/wa/goNewsPage?newsEventID=34427http://www.news.qut.edu.au/cgi-bin/WebObjects/News.woa/wa/goNewsPage?newsEventID=34427http://www.science.unsw.edu.au/news/research-heatwaves-longer-hotter-and-more-commonhttp://www.science.unsw.edu.au/news/research-heatwaves-longer-hotter-and-more-commonhttp://www.science.unsw.edu.au/news/research-heatwaves-longer-hotter-and-more-commonhttp://www.science.unsw.edu.au/news/research-heatwaves-longer-hotter-and-more-common
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    By Australian Broadcasting Corporation, January

    15th, 2014

    The West African lion, which once

    numbered in the tens of thousands, could be

    extinct within 10 years, a conservation groupsays.

    Panthera, the global organisation dedicated

    to protecting wild cats, carried out research in

    17 West African countries and found there were

    only around 400 of the species left.

    Fewer than 250 of them are of breeding

    age, the study says.

    And even then, their ability to produce cubs

    is limited by the fact they are spread across wide

    areas in groups that often do not have enough

    lionesses to sustain a population.Panthera president Dr Luke Hunter says

    humans are the biggest threat to the West

    African lion, a relatively slender animal with a

    thin mane that is genetically distinct from the

    rest of the African species.

    "Very poor hu man populat ions are

    converting natural, pristine savannas into

    agriculture and areas for their livestock to

    maintain their own populations and what thatmeans is that it really leaves no habitat and

    nothing to eat for lions," he said.

    "These lions are standing on a cliff looking

    at the chasm of extinction.

    "It would be very easy for small, isolated

    populations to be wiped out over the next five to

    10 years."

    Call for 'critically endangered' tag

    The study, published in scientific journal

    PLOS ONE, says the lions are now only present

    in 1.1 per cent of their original habitat.

    It recommends they be classified as

    "critically endangered".

    Conservation efforts in a region known for

    its poverty and political instability, have been

    weak compared to other parts of Africa, and

    the population density is about 15 times lower

    compared with lions in east Africa, the study

    says.

    Parks in the region typically have four staff

    or fewer per 100 square kilometres, it adds.

    One of the main reasons for the decline is

    the conversion of habitat into farm land.Others included sharp falls in the numbers of

    antelope, buffalo, and other prey, and villagers

    killing lions in revenge for the loss of livestock.

    "It's become very complicated for this

    carnivore at the top of the food chain to find

    enough space and food to survive," Dr Hunter

    said.

    ANIMALLIFEWEST AFRICAN LIONS CLOSE TOEXTINCTION WITH ONLY 400 LEFT

    PLANETLIF

    E1

    8January2014

    http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0083500#s4http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0083500#s4http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0083500#s4http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0083500#s4
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    By Charles Q. Choi, Astrobiology Magazine, January

    13th, 2014

    If not for life, Earth may not have possessed

    the continents it does now, instead becoming a

    planet covered nearly entirely in ocean,

    researchers say.

    These new findings suggest that anycontinents astronomers may one day see on alien

    worlds may potentially be signs of extraterrestrial

    life, scientists added.

    Earth is currently the only known planet in

    the universe that has liquid water on its surface.

    There is life virtually wherever there is liquid

    water on Earth, so one main focus of the search

    for extraterrestrial life as we know it is the region

    arounda star where it is neither too hot nor too

    cold for liquid water to exist on a planet, an area

    known as the star's habitable zone.

    Although water covers most of Earth'ssurface, nearly 30 percent of the planet is covered

    by land, sustaining a dazzling variety of life.

    Scientists might one day be capable of telling if

    distant planets are similarly covered by land,

    oceans and cloudsby looking for reddish, bluish or

    grayish tints in the color of those worlds.

    Researchers have already developed maps of

    clouds on a giant planetorbiting a distant star.

    Now researchers suggest Earth would have

    been a water world with very few continents, if

    any at all, without the presence of life.

    A great deal of research has shown that life

    has had a major impact on the evolution of

    Earth's atmosphere and oceans. Plants and other

    photosynthetic life generate oxygen, giving Earth

    the only known atmosphere in the universe with

    significant levels of oxygen. Life also greatly

    influences how much carbon is in the atmosphere

    and oceans in the form of carbon dioxide and

    methane. These greenhouse gases trap heat and

    can dramatically affect Earth's climate, which in

    turn has an effect on how much of Earth's water is

    frozen as ice. Oxygen can also indirectly cool

    Earth's climate by removing methane from the

    atmosphere in fact, the dramatic rise of oxygen

    in Earth's atmosphere about 2.4 billion years ago,

    known as the Great Oxidation Event, may have

    cooled the planet enough to for it become a frozen

    "Snowball Earth."

    "However, much less is known about whether

    life has had any effects on the deeper interior of

    Earth," said study author Tilman Spohn, a

    planetary scientist at the German AerospaceCenter's Institute of Planetary Research in Berlin.

    For more on this story visit:

    www.space.com

    SPACELIFECONTINENTS ON ALIEN WORLDS COULD HINTAT EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE

    PLANETLIFE1

    8JANUARY

    2014

    EDWARD SNOWDEN HAS TOP SECRET

    DOCUMENTS ABOUT US WORKING

    WITH ALIENS IN GOVERNMENT AREAS

    By ufosightings.com, January 18th, 2014

    Iran may have some inside information from its

    informatives in China and Russia, because they currently

    believe that Edward Snowden had top secret information

    about the US and Alien alliance making the US a world

    power. Iran states: "incontrovertible proof that an alien/

    extraterrestrial intelligence agenda is driving US domestic

    and international policy." I have to admit, I didn't know

    Iran was so advanced in their thinking. Yes, the US has

    been working with aliens all the way back to the 1950s

    when Val Valient Thor visited President Eisenhower in the

    pentagon. Yes...they even have photos and eyewitnesses to

    that event. Looks like countries around the world arewising up about how the US has become so powerful. If

    those countries also begin attempting communication with

    aliens using experimental methods, America might not be

    a world power for long.

    http://www.ufosightingsdaily.com/2012/02/president-eisenhower-had-three-secret.htmlhttp://www.ufosightingsdaily.com/2012/02/president-eisenhower-had-three-secret.htmlhttp://www.space.com/6777-technique-reveal-exoplanets-water.htmlhttp://www.ufosightingsdaily.com/2012/02/president-eisenhower-had-three-secret.htmlhttp://www.ufosightingsdaily.com/2012/02/president-eisenhower-had-three-secret.htmlhttp://www.ufosightingsdaily.com/2012/02/president-eisenhower-had-three-secret.htmlhttp://www.ufosightingsdaily.com/2012/02/president-eisenhower-had-three-secret.htmlhttp://www.astrobio.net/pressrelease/5362/new-information-about-snowball-earth-periodhttp://www.astrobio.net/pressrelease/5362/new-information-about-snowball-earth-periodhttp://www.astrobio.net/exclusive/135/the-driest-place-on-earthhttp://www.astrobio.net/exclusive/135/the-driest-place-on-earthhttp://www.astrobio.net/pressrelease/5720/patchy-clouds-on-an-exotic-worldhttp://www.astrobio.net/pressrelease/5720/patchy-clouds-on-an-exotic-worldhttp://www.astrobio.net/pressrelease/5720/patchy-clouds-on-an-exotic-worldhttp://www.astrobio.net/pressrelease/5720/patchy-clouds-on-an-exotic-worldhttp://www.space.com/6777-technique-reveal-exoplanets-water.htmlhttp://www.space.com/6777-technique-reveal-exoplanets-water.htmlhttp://www.space.com/6777-technique-reveal-exoplanets-water.htmlhttp://www.space.com/6777-technique-reveal-exoplanets-water.htmlhttp://www.space.com/search-for-life/http://www.space.com/search-for-life/http://www.space.com/search-for-life/http://www.space.com/search-for-life/
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    PLANETLIF

    E1

    8January2014

    T H E M I R AC L E O FCOCONUT OILS O M E A M A Z I N GFACTS!

    By Wellness Mama

    1. Taken supplementally for daily

    energy

    2. As a cof fee creamer when

    emulsified into coffee (The only

    way Ill drink coffee)

    3. On the skin as a basic lotion

    4. In homemade lotion bars for soft,

    smooth skin

    5. In homemade deodorant or

    deodorant bars

    6. As an eye-makeup remover

    7. As a cloth diaper safe diaper cream(just rub on babys bottom)

    8. I n m a k i n g y o u r o w n

    Remineralizing Toothpaste

    9. To lighten age spots when rubbed

    directly on the skin

    10. To prevent stretch marks during

    pregnancy

    11. To support healthy thyroid function

    12. In homemade Mayo without the

    high PUFA vegetable oils13. To help increase sun tolerance and

    avoid burning

    14. As a naturally SPF 4 sunscreen

    15. In homemadelotion recipes

    16. To get rid of cradle cap on baby-

    just massage in to head, leave on

    for a few minutes and gently rinse

    with a warm wash cloth

    17. Topically to kill yeast or yeast

    infections

    18. As a delicious tropicalmassage oil

    19. Its high Lauric acid and MCFAcontent helps boost metaboism

    20. A tiny dab rubbed on your hands

    and then through hair will help get

    rid of friz

    THIRTEEN USES FORCUCUMBERS THATWILL AMAZE YOU!

    Cucumbers are very easy to grow and

    make for a delicious treat. But did youknow they can prevent hangovers, or clean

    the kitchen sink? Below is a list of tips and

    tricks you can do with cucumbers that you

    do not want to miss!

    1. Cucumbers contain most of the

    vitamins you need every day, just one

    cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin

    B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6,

    Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron,

    Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and

    Zinc.

    2. Feeling tired in the afternoon? Put

    down the caffeinated soda and pick up a

    cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source

    of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that

    can provide that quick pick-me-up that

    can last for hours.

    3. Tired of your bathroom mirror

    fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a

    cucumber slice along the mirror, it will

    eliminate the fog and provide a soothing,

    spa-like fragrance.

    4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your

    planting beds? Place a few slices in a small

    pie tin and your garden will be free ofpests all season long. The chemicals in the

    cucumber react with the aluminum to give

    off a scent undetectable to humans but

    drive garden pests crazy and make them

    flee the area.5. Looking for a fast and easy way to

    remove cellulite before going out or to the

    pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of

    cucumbers along your problem area for a

    few minutes, the phytochemical in the

    cucumber cause the collagen in your skin

    to tighten, firming up the outer layer and

    reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works

    great on wrinkles too!!!

    6. Want to avoid a hangover or

    terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber

    slices before going to bed and wake uprefreshed and headache free .

    Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B

    vitamins and electrolytes to replenish

    essential nutrients the body lost,

    keeping everything in equilibrium,

    avoiding both a hangover andheadache!

    7. 7. Looking to fight off that

    afternoon or evening snacking binge?

    Cucumbers have been used for

    centuries and often used by European

    trappers, traders and explores for quick

    meals to thwart off starvation.

    8. Have an important meeting or job

    interview and you realize that you dont

    have enough time to polish your shoes?

    Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the

    shoe, its chemicals will provide a quickand durable shine that not only looks

    great but also repels water.

    For more on this story visit:

    realfarmacy.com

    HEALTHYLIFE

    http://wellnessmama.com/2500/homemade-remineralizing-toothpaste-recipe/http://wellnessmama.com/4901/deodorant-bar-recipe/http://wellnessmama.com/1523/how-to-make-natural-deodorant-beating-the-b-o-with-natural-deo/http://wellnessmama.com/4770/how-to-make-lotion-bars/http://wellnessmama.com/5673/the-only-way-i-drink-coffee/http://wellnessmama.com/2619/avoid-sunburn-and-tan-better-by-eating-real-food/http://wellnessmama.com/2619/avoid-sunburn-and-tan-better-by-eating-real-food/http://wellnessmama.com/1739/healthy-homemade-mayonnaise/http://wellnessmama.com/3765/luxurious-homemade-lotion-recipe/http://wellnessmama.com/3765/luxurious-homemade-lotion-recipe/http://wellnessmama.com/2619/avoid-sunburn-and-tan-better-by-eating-real-food/http://wellnessmama.com/2619/avoid-sunburn-and-tan-better-by-eating-real-food/http://wellnessmama.com/2619/avoid-sunburn-and-tan-better-by-eating-real-food/http://wellnessmama.com/2619/avoid-sunburn-and-tan-better-by-eating-real-food/http://wellnessmama.com/1739/healthy-homemade-mayonnaise/http://wellnessmama.com/1739/healthy-homemade-mayonnaise/http://wellnessmama.com/2500/homemade-remineralizing-toothpaste-recipe/http://wellnessmama.com/2500/homemade-remineralizing-toothpaste-recipe/http://wellnessmama.com/4901/deodorant-bar-recipe/http://wellnessmama.com/4901/deodorant-bar-recipe/http://wellnessmama.com/1523/how-to-make-natural-deodorant-beating-the-b-o-with-natural-deo/http://wellnessmama.com/1523/how-to-make-natural-deodorant-beating-the-b-o-with-natural-deo/http://wellnessmama.com/4770/how-to-make-lotion-bars/http://wellnessmama.com/4770/how-to-make-lotion-bars/http://wellnessmama.com/5673/the-only-way-i-drink-coffee/http://wellnessmama.com/5673/the-only-way-i-drink-coffee/http://wellnessmama.com/5673/the-only-way-i-drink-coffee/http://wellnessmama.com/5673/the-only-way-i-drink-coffee/
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    1

    1 ADULT FOOD SUPPLYYou can't prevent certain events in life, but you can prepare for them.

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