A Different Side to Ric

Meeting Richard O’Barry on Tuesday at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel was amazing.

As a friend put it, “You seem star struck.”

And how could I not be?

I’ve watched the Cove – that marvelous award-winning documentary. (If you haven’t done so, you should too. Click here to watch Part 1. You can work your way through Part 10 from the links there.)

And anyone who has been reading the newspaper these last few days would have heard of Ric’s achievements, his support for ACRES campaign against Resorts World Sentosa (RWS)’s plans to house 25 bottlenose dolphins, as well as the many labels tagged to him:

Ric O’Barry – activist

Ric O’Barry – former Flipper trainer

Ric O’Barry – dolphin hero

How do you not get awed by that?

But I’m pretty sure, most of you would never have heard of this one:

Ric O’Barry – father to a 6 year old girl

While people were enraptured with the grand labels of status, it was this different and unexpected side of Ric, that I saw at the event, which left me deep in thought questioning his other motivations behind his campaigning against dolphin slaughter, dolphin captivity and dolphinariums.

He was not just a four-decade-old activist. He was a dad; a role model to his daughter, and he was trying his best to teach her proper values in life.

For a moment, he seemed more human that way.

He was teaching a child to have a heart in a world devoid of one.

***

Kids learn from mimicking behaviour. None more than from their parents.

While we try to be good parents to our children by buying them the latest prams and expensive toys, providing them with the best education and medical care, and by clothing them in OshKosh B’Gosh-priced kiddy clothes, our children are busy observing us and learning how to interact with the world around them.

They pick up what we say, how we say it, and what we do - our actions, our mannerisms, our habits. Their sponge-like brain is program to do just that at their infant and toddler stage. Absorb. Everything.

If you're a parent of two, you might remember the older sibling "spanking" the younger for misbehaving in imitation of how you had disciplined him or her before.

This is also how their values are formed. 

Teaching a child to be polite and considerate to their elders, will have little value if we are rude or disrespectful in turn.

We are role models to them. Therefore, we should not just preach values to them, but live it. Lead by example, as they say.

Values make up a person's character. They determine temperament, faith, and attitude - the core of an individual. And cores are hard to change.

So you see why it’s essential to inculcate good values while your child is still young.

Ric O'Barry, too, recognizes that "we're living in a time where we need to teach our children well."

But by patronizing dolphin shows at places like RWS, Ric questions, "What are we teaching our children?" 

Dolphin shows are nothing but "spectacles of dominance." It teaches that "dominance is good; dominance is right." This is not a good value to instill in our child.

Instead, here are 4 life-values Ric O’Barry would love your children to learn from you. I will let the man speak for himself where he has supplied the words with minimal comments.

Enjoy!

1) Control Your Desires

A journalist asked Ric O'Barry this question: If dolphins weren't here, all of these kids...would never get to see dolphins.

This was his reply, "That's true. And the reality is, you can't always get what we want...The very same children are never going to see a snow leopard. Does this mean we have to go to the Himalayas and drag a snow leopard into the room for them? Or do we teach our children to control their desires? I think that's the most important thing in saving this planet - controlling our desires. That's the key to it.” 

Couldn't have said it better. Bravo!

2) Individuals Can Make a Difference

“There are a lot of children who want [the release of the dolphins] to happen. And I'm rooting for them. I'm really doing this for them because I know about the environmental problem facing us and the children are the only hope.

So if these children have a win, if they win this campaign and the dolphins go back, that will encourage them to take on bigger issues.

We won! Look what we did. Now lets do something else.

But if we lose, they're just gonna walk away and think, you can't win. These big multi-international companies...there's nothing you can do about it. And they're going to give up. So it's about that for me. I wanna see these kids win."

3) It’s OK to Make Mistakes. Learn From It and Correct It.

"The decision makers at Resorts World have children. They teach their children to speak the truth. and when you make a mistake, stand up and say I made a mistake. You know, accidents happen and that's alright. 

Resorts World made a mistake capturing dolphins from the wild. And they can fix it...It's not too late to fix it."

4) Respect for Life

Reading the last paragraph from a book he wrote, entitled Behind the Dolphin Smile, sums up his view.

"In a world where so much that is wild and free has already been lost to us we must leave these beautiful mammals free to swim as they will and must. They do us no harm and wish us none, and we should let them alone."

Amen to that.

In conclusion, the key to being a good parent is to be a good role model ourselves.

Remember, in the words of Ric O'Barry:

"Our children are watching us all the time."

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For those interested in watching highlights of the actual event, click here for Part 1, courtesy of Razor TV, SPH. You can work your way to Part 9 from the links there.

Thanks again for reading!

Stay Green!

Cheers,

~Kerry

If We Could Be Heroes

We all have our heroes in life. People we look up to and admire. People whom we want to emulate.

For some of us, our hero could be our father or mother, a relative, someone we know or a complete stranger to us; perhaps an athlete or a movie star; even a saint.

Heroes are important people in our lives.

They can give us hope when we need it most and even a reason to cheer. They inspire us and make us want to strive for more.

They influence our views. They shape our morals, our values. They add colour to our perception of life.

Like signposts, heroes give directions to those who need it. They point the way to something - something that we value; something that we agree with.

Like a mirror, they reflect a part of our inner-selves back at us, enamoring us by our own vanity, and draw us towards them.

They resemble a message that we embrace.

A message that we live by.

Love: think Mother Theresa; maybe Casablanca

Freedom: Nelson Mandela; Aung San Suu Kyi

Peace: Mahatma Gandhi; John Lennon

Solidarity: Pope John Paul II

Wealth: Warren Buffett; Donald Trump

Fun: Adam Sandler

Non-conformity: Lady Gaga; Pink

Change: Obama (although I wonder about this)

Challenging authority: Just about any rock star

The world needs heroes.

Generation in, generation out, we continue to look for them.

But why search when you could be one?

Yes, you.

You too, can be a hero. A hero to someone. You could be that signpost; the mirror that reflects the message of someone’s life.

Heroes aren’t exclusive to the realms of celebrities and media.

Even ordinary people can be heroes to others.

All you have to do is fight for something you believe in. Whole heartedly. No effort sparing. And aim to make the change you seek happen.

It doesn’t have to be huge. It doesn’t have to be life-changing. It just has to make a difference to somebody.

It has happened many times over. (Refer to the list above.)

My money’s on that it will continue many times more.

Think about it.

"We could be heroes for just one day." ~ Wallflowers, Heroes.

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EVENT:

To meet a hero is always an honour.

To spend time in a hero’s presence? Priceless (so the Mastercard slogan goes).

This Tuesday, the 4^th of October, you’ll have your chance to do just that!

Marine mammal specialist, Ric O’Barry, of the Earth Island Institute, will be giving a talk at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. (Click here to see the map.)

In a show of support for ACRES World’s Saddest Dolphins campaign against Resort Worlds Sentosa holding 25 dolphins captive for their marine park plans, he will be sharing about his work to end dolphin exploitation around the world.

Ric O’Barry is best known for his award-winning documentary entitled The Cove, an exposé documentary on the secretive annual dolphin massacre in Taiji, Japan. (To watch it, click here.)

An ex-trainer of dolphins for the original Flipper series, Ric O’Barry had a change of heart ever since he witness a dolphin commit suicide in his arms from stress. Since then, Ric O’Barry has worked to end dolphin captivity and exploitation for the past four decades.

For those interested, send an email to denise@acres.org.sg to reserve your seat.

For more details, click here.
For the official website of the Cove, click here.
To read more about Ric O'Barry, click here.

And for those who want to relax to some music, click here for Wallflower's Heroes.

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Thanks for reading!

Stay Green!

Cheers,

~Kerry

The Dragon Rises

Make no mistake. China is indeed rising to be the next superpower.

With their huge cash reserves and ambitions to match, China has been steadily building its nation towards progress. (Literally too, with dozens of construction projects ongoing all over the country.)

Furthermore, China has revealed plans to have their own space station orbiting the Earth by 2022, with the first module of their “heavenly palace” ready for launch in a couple of days. (Video)

It seems that not only are they bent on taking over the planet, but the universe as well.

However, despite the grand scheme of things, I continue to ponder over a question close to my heart.

What morals will this rising dragon bring along with its ascend and how will we be affected?

If China is to progress as a nation, it should not only build up its façade but also concentrate in churning out new policies that embrace first world, first class thinking. Policies that are not self-absorbed. Policies that are thoroughly thought through. Policies that will harm neither the environment, you nor me.

And ensure these policies are successfully implemented.

The Three Gorges Dam is an example of such a failing.

For years environmentalists have warned of the dam’s consequences but the Chinese government stubbornly forged ahead with its construction. Today, more than a million citizens have relocated due to massive the flooding of the Yangtze River, destroying homes and businesses in the process. (Watch BBC video report here.)

Other environmental-related problems include massive air and water pollution, staggering amounts of green-house gas emission, and resource depletion. (Check out the 2010/2011 stats here for the shockers.)

Thankfully, the Chinese government has acknowledged the environmental problems and is moving to reduce their environmental impact. But can they move fast enough?

China has a lot on its plate to wolf down.

Besides solely dishing out policies, the Chinese government needs to educate her citizens. This will play a huge part in solving the dilemma and speeding things up.

Habits need to be changed. Dumping, wasting, contaminating, must be eliminated. Conservation, the respect for nature, and the repercussions of not doing so taught to them – that ignorance is truly not bliss but in fact, lethal.

At the end of the day, China will rise, whether we like it or not. But will it be able to rise multiple times from its stumbles like the Phoenix of Chinese lore depends on how the Chinese government solves these issues.

Like any great country, it should have sound policies and sound governing principles. Most importantly however, a worthy country should be filled with worthy citizens.

Don’t you think?

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Thanks for reading!

Be awesome! And Stay green!

Cheers,
~Kerry

Stand Up and Be Counted

Taking a stand requires guts. I'm learning about this as I sit in the dark. The only light source flickers from a television screen - all in order to recreate a cinematic experience. Too bad I don't have any BOSE speakers for sense-surround.

The crowd cheers as the hero squirms in his shackles. His face contorts in agony as medieval scythes work furiously to open up his abdomen to display his bloodied innards, disemboweling him. He muffles his grunts. His eyes shuts tightly. The scene becomes too cruel for the spectators. A lady shouts out for mercy. The crowd agrees.

"Just say it," prompts the inquisitor. "Ask for mercy."

The hero breathes heavily, frequently gasping, as if each breath taken holds a dose of anesthetic to relief the pain. The crowd continues to mummer amongst themselves. Mercy.

His friends and brothers-in-arms who look on helplessly mutter the same. Mercy. Mercy.

"The prisoner wishes to say a word." announces the inquisitor to the crowd.

They fall silent, listening. Our hero struggles to speak; to breath. His pain is immense. Excruciating. The inquisitor listens intently, eager to make out the word. Mercy.

And then with a final deep breath, our hero bellows a message for his countrymen. A message he fought hard and long to uphold. A message that would forever change the destinies of England and Scotland.

"FRREEEDDDOOOMMM!"

The inquisitor shakes his head. There is a brief look of defeat and resignation. He signals to the executioner, who brings the heavy axe down with brute force. Mercy.

Too bad I don't have BOSE speakers indeed.

***

In the pages of history, litter many names of ordinary people who had the courage to stand up to injustice and for what they believed in. Names like Mahatma Gandhi who led India to independence from their British masters, and Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela who fought to end racial segregation in America and South Africa respectively. These names have forever altered the course of humanity. Never again does it look like we'll ever tread the same path.

As these revered personalities have proved, taking a stand can indeed be a very powerful decision. A decision that could lay the foundation for greater things to come even if the future lies unknown. What matters is the belief.

***

Today, many of us face another threat that needs to be fought, mainly the threat to our Earth. A threat to our environment. A threat to our home.

Already, we can feel the effects on our planet from what scientists have come to term: climate change. Due to vast amounts of carbon dioxide flooding the atmosphere, released from the massive energy consumption of our many activities, the Earth's temperature is rising resulting in unpredictable weather patterns. As I write, New Zealand is experiencing its worst snowfall in 50 years. The irony is when you realize the winter season ends in August.

Even in Singapore we can feel this change in weather. For starters, perhaps some you have noticed that it's definitely hotter than a decade ago? I have. I sweat bullets as soon as I’m out of the shower.

In fact, from 1987 - 2007, temperatures here have increased by 0.6°C. The 2008 report published by Dr. Ho, also cautioned of the likelihood of extreme rainfall and winds associated with tropical cyclones to rise as well. (Flash-floods ring a bell, anyone?) Meanwhile, the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC) in 2007 has projected a rise of 2.5°C by the end of the century.

0.6°C? 2.5°C? That’s it? I can practically hear your thoughts of ridicule. I’m psychic that way.

Imagine yourself running a fever at 37°C. That’s just 0.1 degrees above 36.9°C but yet it makes a difference. Your body starts feeling lousy, your eyes begins to heat up. You just don’t feel too good. Now think back to when you were down with a 39.5°C fever - that’s 2.5°C above body temperature. Horrible wasn’t it? Exactly. Our Earth is sick and in need of treatment. Fast.

***

"In pushing other species to extinction, humanity is busy sawing off the limb to which it is perched."

~Paul Ehrlich

The last mass extinction occurred some 65 million years ago. The victims were the dinosaurs. In these last few decades, history has begun repeating itself once more.

The National Wildlife Federation states that "every day an estimated 100 plant and animal species are lost to deforestation [and] a conservative estimate of the current extinction rate indicates that about 27,000 species a year are being lost."

Despite some disagreement to the exact figures, Stephen Hopper, director of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, London, said "we cannot sit back and watch plant species disappear - plants are the basis of all life on Earth, providing clean air, food and fuel. All animal and bird life depend on them, and so do we." The research released to prompt such a statement indicated that some 20% of the Earth's 380,000 species of plants face extinction. For those without a calculator or who never got through primary school, that's 76,000 species.

How's that for scary?

In the summary of Dr. John Lawton's research paper published in 1994, the main point is this: if we lose one species, be it plant or animal, we may well lose an entire ecosystem, and we may never get it back. Fair warning.

***

With the swell of the global population sprinting exponentially higher each year, we are now walking on thin ice for the survival of our own existence, depending on a finite amount of resources that are running low. 

Despite the temptation to exploit - to claim all the remaining resources for ourselves - we must beware of one thing: all life is interconnected; in part, even non-life. Maybe now it makes sense that Saint Francis of Assisi gently addressed everything in life as either his brother or sister. Guess he wasn’t as loopy as everyone thought huh?

To selfishly cause the extinction of one species is to cause a domino-effect that ripples through the ecosystem eventually reaching, and harming, us. It is for this reason that it becomes necessary to take a stand today - to minimize or stop our contribution and to let our home heal.

We are all interconnected - the planet, the animals, the plants. And that includes us. The sooner we acknowledge it, take responsibility for our actions and make amends, the sooner we can begin to save ourselves.

So screw up your courage. Have some guts. Take a stand. And change the destiny of our planet. You can do it.

Mother Earth, our home, needs you.

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NOTICE:

On Sunday, the 28th of August '11, the Animal Concerns Research and Education (ACRES) society is hosting a free concert at Hong Lim Park (Speaker's Corner) at 4.30pm to raise awareness for 25 wild bottlenose dolphins that now face a life of boredom, stress, claustrophobia and even death as part of Resorts World Sentosa new attraction. To date, out of the 27 wild-caught dolphins, 2 of their members have passed away. There is still time to save the remaining 25 from a life of captivity and exploitation. You can find out more details about the concert at this link; to read more on the campaign, click here.

Needless to say, I will be attending the event to take a stand against their capture and in support for the movement.

It's time to let the dolphins go.

What about you? Will you show them mercy by indirectly putting them to the axe or will your mercy be shown by your courage in taking a stand to set them free?

Perhaps I'll see you there.

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Have you ever wanted to or ever taken a stand for something you strongly believe in? What current campaigns are you interested in? Do you have any thoughts on the article? What ideas do you think ACRES could use in their bid to free the dolphins? What are your experiences with global warming? Do you think we are all interconnected? Feel free to share your thoughts, experience or opinions below.

And thanks for reading!

Cheers,
~Kerry


References

1. Associated Press in Wellington, 2011. New Zealand blizzards 'heaviest in 50 years'. Guardian.co.uk. Accessed 16th Aug '11.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/15/new-zealand-snow-heaviest-years
2. Ho, J., 2008. Singapore Country Report - A Regional Review on the Economics of Climate Change in Southeast Asia.
3. IPPC, 2007. Climate Change 2007.
4. Chapter 3: Climate Change and Its Impact: A Review of Existing Studies. pp. 23 - 57. Accessed 16th Aug '11.
http://www.adb.org/documents/books/economics-climate-change-sea/Chapter03.pdf
5. Discovery News, 2010. 20 Percent of Plant Species Face Extinction. Accessed 17th Aug '11.
http://news.discovery.com/earth/plants-threatened-with-extinction.html
6. Web of Creation. Problem: Extinction of Plant and Animal Species. Accessed 17th Aug '11. http://www.webofcreation.org/Earth%20Problems/species.htm
7. Lawton, J. H., 1994. What do species do in ecosystems?
OIKOS 71 (3), pp. 367 - 374.
http://biophilosophy.ca/Teaching/4040papers/Lawton.pdf

The Case of the Abandoned Slider

She eyes me with bestial intelligence as I hover above her. She's anticipating. Her head begins to slowly inch out of her study olive brown shell stained with thick black ink drop markings. Her scaly green legs extend next - webbed feet equipped with tiny curled barb-like claws - stretching in search of a firm hold of the rock she's been lying sunbathing on. She knows why I'm standing there. It's breakfast. As I open the lid of her plastic domain she cocks her head to look directly at me.

"Where is it?" her look demands. "Hand it over."

"Yes maam," I oblige and tip the metal spoon to let drop her vegetarian pellets. She attacks the floating spheres with gusto.

***

Oscar has been living with me for more than four years now. Found abandoned by my father walking along the side of a main road, she was in immediate danger of being run over and therefore understandably very agitated. She snapped at everything; her grumpiness earning her her name. Even nipping off the skin from my right forearm when I stuck my arm into her new home to adjust the rocks. How's that for emphasis? I'm pissed. And here's the proof. Snap!...YEOW!

Deprivation of food, water and a peaceful place to retreat to brings about a troubled mind for many. When coupled with the continuous confrontation of the deafening cacophony of automobiles zooming past and a scorching sun overhead while she dragged herself onwards, each step causing her immense pain from the burning granite stones of the road that had soaked up the midday heat, the experience must have left her traumatized beyond comprehension. Had my dad not picked her up, Lord knows how many more days she would have to endure this pointless pilgrimage to nowhere. By chance she may have made it to a reservoir. In reality, she would probably have either died of dehydration or been run over and killed - a victim of her previous master's thoughtless behaviour.

A month later, Oscar was joined by another shell-bearing relative. I named him Grover. If it ain't obvious by now, I grew up with Sesame Street. As his name hints, he was lanky, timid and looked awkward. My dad - the turtle saviour - found him scurrying about in the carpark of a country club. Instinctually, I suggested Grover must have escaped from the golf course pond.

"There's no pond" was my dad's reply.

***

As you may have guessed, Oscar and Grover are two individuals from a species of turtles called red-earred sliders (RES). More commonly known as terrapins, RES get their name primarily from the distinguishing red-stripe that glides across both sides of their faces making them extremely easy to recognize. 

With our native species of turtles and tortoises either being labelled critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable, the RES is the only turtle and/or tortoise wisely allowed by Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) to be sold at pet stores and to be kept as pets in Singapore. As such, about 40,000 RES are imported each month - making them the only species in Singapore with the conservation status: common. Yes, you read that right - 40,000 and imported.

Though successfully thriving in our local ponds and reservoirs, RES are not native to Singapore. An invasive species, they come all the way from North America. As they are more aggressive than our native species such as the spiny hill tortoise or the forest soft-shelled turtle, RES pose a danger of outcompeting the local species for food, habitat and other resources, even attacking them if crossed. This in turn increases the risk of us losing our local biodiversity of turtles and tortoises and in no way improves global conservation efforts. The abandonment of a pet RES further exacerbates the issue.

***

Ever so often we see television programs of lost pets being reunited with their owners and the joy felt by them. When we stumble upon advertisements in newspapers or printouts stuck onto lampposts notifying the public of a lost dog or cat, we feel sadden by the event. It is therefore hard to imagine anyone consciously choosing to abandon their pets. What kind of people must they be?

Perhaps one reason for the abandonment of pet RES is the ignorance of owners who do not understand the commitment or the nature of their pet. In most pet shops, RES are often seen as cute little cuddly green things with pouty shiny eyes and a thin smile clinging vulnerably to a dried wooden log stuck in a tank with an inch of water for recreation. Pestered furiously by their children, spouse or partner, the transaction takes place and the little green munchkin with the yellow underbelly is brought home - the only concern at the time of purchase being the food and how many times one needs to change the water. 

Fast forward a couple of years and what ambles about is a saucer-sized greedy minion with the capability to grow into a dinner-plate-sized behemoth all in good time. No one told them that.

The olive-shelled bumbling machine, scratchy claws, a messy eater and an even messier house-keeper far from looking anything as cute as their post-egg-hatch days. No one told them that.

A complicated blend of necessary living conditions - heat, sun, water, temperature - and a varied diet consisting of a mix of vegetables, shells and pellets for shell development and optimal digestion to avoid any medical issues. Keep this up for 50 to 70 years or hand it over to your children. Remember to include this in your will. No one told them that.

No one told them anything.

***

While it is easy to play the blame game, I believe the key to our efforts in conserving our local turtle and tortoise populations and maintaining our native biodiversity lie in education and legislation. 

Though there is no simple one-size-fits-all solution, one idea is to allow only licensed shopkeepers who have undergone certified training in RES care and conduct to sell RES to the public. These shopkeepers should be held responsible in ensuring that potential RES owners are equipped with the knowledge and are aware of the commitment before purchasing them as pets. Surprise spot checks conducted by the authority i.e. AVA or National Environmental Agency (NEA) will help to ensure compliance with penalties imposed should the shops sell the RES without educating the purchaser appropriately. 

An introduced species from abroad, red-earred sliders are beautiful and complex creatures that deserve far more respect than the thoughtless actions of abandonment that may lead to their tragic deaths or the demise of their native counterparts. Care, love, and life-long dedication of all pets should be encouraged. By enforcing responsible ownership and distribution as well as ensuring proper dissemination of RES education, this I feel, will help to reduce the number of abandonments which will indirectly lessen the impact on our native shell-bearing species.

We have only one chance at preserving what we have. Let us work together to keep it that way.

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Have you heard about people abandoning their pet turtles before? What are your thoughts on the subject of red-earred slider abandonment? What other ideas could help prevent such things from occurring? Do you have a pet turtle? Feel free to share your experience and opinions below.

And thanks a lot for reading.

Cheers,
~Kerry

References

1. Red-Earred Slider Abandonment - SPCA:
    http://www.spca.org.sg/redsliders.html

2. Native Flora & Fauna - NParks:
    http://florafaunaweb.nparks.gov.sg/Home.aspx

3. Red-Earred Slider Info & Care - Animal Planet:
    http://animal.discovery.com/guides/reptiles/turtles/slider.html

4. Singapore Red Data Book
5. Cadi A. and Joly P., 2003. Competition for basking places between the endangered European pond turtle (Emysorbicularis) and the introduced slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans). Canadian Journal of Zoology (81) pp. 1392 - 1398.