06/25/2009
500 Swimmers Rescued From Rip Currents
This past weekend, the Volusia County lifeguards in Florida had their work cut out for them with more than 500 water rescues. The majority of saves were due to swimmers getting caught in rip currents. In some cases, entire families were swept away from shore at the same time. Lifeguards say that heavy surf over the last month has contributed to hundreds of rip currents and beach goers have been warned that these conditions could remain for a while. Still with temperatures in the mid- to upper-90s across Central Florida it's hard to keep people out of the water so every lifeguard station was manned and ready last weekend. Luckily, only two people were hospitalized on Friday and they're expected to be OK.
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06/25/2009
Sick Sea Lion Pups and Seals Strand at Record Pace
The Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach, CA is facing a record number of sea lion and seal rescues and it's only June! Staff and volunteers have already rescued 198 sea lions, elephant seals and harbor seals this year. In 2008, the number of mammals rescued and treated was 193 for the entire year. Officials suspect the reason(s) so many animals are sick is due to climate change and lack of food.
In related news.
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06/25/2009
Ocean Currents May Control Earth's Magnetic Field
Professor Gregory Ryskin from the School of Engineering and Applied Science at Northwestern University in Illinois is defying long-standing convention by stating that long-term changes to the Earth's magnetic field could be caused our oceans' circulation.
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06/25/2009
Oil Industry Cranks Up Lobbying Efforts
In the face of climate change legislation pushed by the Obama administration, oil and gas companies are ramping up thier lobbying efforts. Second only to the drug industry, oil and gas companies have spent more than $45 million on lobbying efforts in the first three months of 2009 and are on pace to break last year's record of $129 million. Sadly, it may be doing the trick... last week a Senate committee voted to lift a ban on drilling across a vast area in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The industry pushed for this stipulation to be included in a bill that would expand the use of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.
"You'll often see a correlation between spending and an industry or company that's in the hot seat," says Sheila Krumholz, the Center for Responsive Politics' executive director. "That will be enough to get them to hire additional guns and direct more money to lobbying."
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06/25/2009
Surf Filmmaker Ira Opper Wins An Emmy
The surfing TV series"'Fins" produced by Opper Sports Productions has received its second Emmy Award for excellence in a Magazine Show.
The show airs on FUEL TV and is a magazine-format sports series that captures the progression of modern surfing in the making.
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05/13/2009
Scientists Unlock Secrets of the Second Largest Fish
Basking sharks historically seem to disappear during winter months, leaving scientists to hypothesize that they travel to the ocean floor to hibernate. However, new ocean tracking which utilizes satellite-tagging and a new geo-location technique, has shown that basking sharks make long migrations through the tropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean during the winter. They often travel at a depth of 600 to 3,000 feet. This new research also debunks the theory that basking sharks only reside in cold water.
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05/13/2009
Obama Chided by Environmentalists
Environmentalists are not pleased and are planning to sue over the the administration's recent decision that bars the use of the Endangered Species Act—specifically the plight of the polar bears and their habitat loss—as a means to crack down on global warming and regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Environmentalists are arguing that here is no logic behind declaring that the polar bear is threatened and then exempting the primary threat to the species. Read More.
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05/13/2009
Obama Lauded by Environmentalists
Environmentalists and Florida legislators are applauding the administration's recent announcement to pledge $96 million in restoration work to the Everglades region. This money is part of a $4.6 billion federal stimulus package. The money will also go to other projects like clearing silt blockages at the port of Palm Beach, repairing the Herbert Hoover Dike at Lake Okeechokee and more.
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05/13/2009
Sacred Craft
If you happen to be out in Southern California this weekend, make sure and stop by the Sacred Craft Consumer Surfboard Expo at the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to meet some of the best shapers in the sport and learn more about their craft. More Info
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05/13/2009
Shape's Bikini Body Tour
SHAPE Magazine is bringing its first ever "Bikini Body Tour" to southern California this summer. The beach-themed, fitness and wellness tour hits Santa Monica Beach at the Pier on May 16 from 9 AM to 6 PM and will include fitness classes, sponsor giveaways, fashion shows and a special appearance by Victoria's Secret Supermodel Marisa Miller. A portion of proceeds will benefit the Surfrider Foundation and the Skin Cancer Foundation. More
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