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pastiche-comic · 4 years

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Fauna

By Jeremiah Olmstead

By the time the people on the Serenity came ashore, the islands were covered in pristine forests. It was like God’s Take Two of Eden. It took a bit of research for scientists to realize that the forests aren’t as ancient as they looked. Today, we now know that the biggest of the islands had been an actively erupting volcano. Much like how Krakatoa would a few centuries later, Mount Balder blew its top so hard, almost nothing could live there.

Of course, it didn’t stay that way for long. Just like Krakatoa, Indisclosednia became green again. It’s its own little everyday miracle.

This also means that everything that lived here today got here much sooner. Many islands in the South Pacific have plants and animals you wouldn’t find anywhere else. Not in Indisclosednia. Every animal you find here is a common (or sometimes, rare) species in the region that just swam, flew, or floated in here. We believe this was because the islands were new. Mount Balder was likely still underwater until about a thousand years ago, and it’s only been quiet for a few centuries.

Since her reintroduction to the wild, Rascal the rescued New Zealand Sea Lion has acted as the unofficial animal ambassador for the country’s conservation movement.

Mammals

Islands like these couldn’t be settled by land mammals because most of them couldn’t swim very far. Almost all of the land-dwelling mammals you see in Indisclosednia came with the humans. The one exception are about five species of native bats, which include the two species of fruit bats that annoy the fruit farmers to this day. The insectivorous bats, on the other hand, we encourage.

Aquatic mammals, however, are a bit more common. Whales can be spotted not far off from the atolls, while the lagoons are calving and feeding grounds for dugongs (Dugong dugon). A small straggler colony of New Zealand sea lions (Phocarctos hookeri) has made its home in the southern shores just on the outskirts of Hoonoisweir. They are under government protection and are taken as a symbol of friendship between New Zealand and Indisclosednia.

Birds

Indisclosednia is a bird’s paradise. Sea birds are the most familiar to the islands’ inhabitants. Gulls, boobies, albatrosses, and terns have breeding colonies in the beaches of the west of the main island and on the atolls. Wading birds are a common sight in the lagoons and mudflats north of Arboria. The sea bird colonies are so huge, they leave behind a lot of poop. Harvesting the poop as guano is one of our most important industries.

The lush rainforests surrounding Mount Balder are home to several more bird species. Their presence adds a riot of color to the country’s green carpet. Common forest-dwelling birds include common species like the Pacific robin (Petroica pusilla), blue-crowned lorikeet (Vini australis), and silvereye (Zosterops lateralis) to widely distributed yet vulnerable species such as the palm lorikeet (Charmosyna palmarum) and friendly ground dove (Alopecoenas stairi).

A blue-crowned lorikeet perched in a tree at Mount Balder National Park

Reptiles and Amphibians

Amphibians and reptiles likely drifted to or swam up from neighboring places. The largest terrestrial animal known in Indisclosednia is the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus). They’re not especially common here. While you can spot them sometimes,they haven’t been spotted laying eggs here and we assume they’re just transients from other islands.

Other well-known reptilian visitors include the hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) and green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtles. Unlike the crocodile, they are known to lay their eggs in the undisturbed white sand beaches. Sea snakes and kraits are a common hazard in the reefs and lagoons in the region.

All of the species of frogs and land reptiles such as iguanas, skinks, and geckoes are known to occur in other islands. They likely floated to the archipelago from driftwood from places as far as Fiji, Samoa, and New Caledonia.

Terrestrial Invertebrates

Invertebrates make up the largest group of animals in the archipelago. The land invertebrates alone make up 2,000 species. Many of them live in the tree tops of the rainforests. They serve an important role in keeping the forests alive. Ants and wasps are symbiotic pollinators to many species of fruiting trees, figs especially.

One species of mosquito (Aedes polynesiensis) is native to the islands, much to the people’s annoyance. Their numbers are thankfully kept in check by an assortment of native predators, including the bats. Other bothersome invertebrate neighbors include the coconut crab (Birgus latro) and several species of land crabs (Cardisoma carnifex, Geograpsus grayi).

There have been as-yet unconfirmed reports of an undetermined species of Tahitian snail, thought to be critically endangered, being naturalized in the gardens in Baywood. And speaking of introduced species, non-native mosquitoes, house flies (Musca domestica), and red ants (Solenopsis invicta) are annoyances to watch out for. Especially the ants.

Black marlin are a favourite of anglers. The fish is only available to be caught for consumption in a narrow band of the year.

Aquatic Life

The various aquatic habitats in Indisclosednia teem with life. The reefs and lagoons that surround the islands greet the eager diver with a colorful array of fish, coral, and other invertebrates. Watch out for the black-tip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus), though. They breed in some of the lagoons and shouldn’t be disturbed.

The rivers themselves are home to a few anadromous (fresh-and-saltwater) species. Some of these species can be fished for and eaten. Bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) are not unknown in the river systems in the main island, but don’t count on catching them.

For anglers, the real prize is in the open water. Pelagic fish such as skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis), albacore (Thunnus alalunga), and yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and game fish like black marlin (Istiompax indica) are found in relative abundance. The presence of marine mammals means that great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) are also frequently sighted in the waters.

Conservation

The most common threats to the fauna of Indisclosednia are habitat loss and pollution. Main factors include urban and exurban sprawl, uncontrolled expansion of the fruit and sugar plantations of the north, and the destructive activities of previously unregulated industries like forestry, commercial fishing, oil exploration, and phosphate mining. Illegal whaling is believed to take place just outside our country’s waters.

For a time, eating sea turtle eggs was sadly endorsed by my own father during his term as prime minister, and was not criminalized, until a few years after his term.

Recent legislation brought much needed protection for the endangered species that call the island home. We have since built several national parks to help preserve the natural beauty of the islands. Development is limited around beaches where sea birds, turtles, and sea lions reside.

We also follow a strict catch and release policy for sports fishing. Trophy fish like marlin must be released unless they’re to be eaten. Catching them for consumption is seasonal and regulated by the government.

#World Building June 2020 #WBJ #Fauna #Animals

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bigyack-com · 4 years

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‘Survivor’ Limps to a Finale After a Difficult Season

Ordinarily, the season finale of “Survivor” is a festive occasion. The contestants gather to reminisce about their time on an island off Fiji, and the winner is announced and awarded $1 million.On Wednesday, it won’t be so simple.As the CBS competition show limped to the end of Season 39, it was still scoring ratings, making an unlikely return to the top 10 as the seventh-most-watched entertainment program on network television. But the announcement of the latest winner caps a season that did not provide the usual escapist thrills. This “Survivor” offended die-hard fans and some former cast members because of how the show handled female contestants’ complaints of inappropriate touching against a male contestant.For the first time, instead of airing live, the reunion special that is broadcast after the winner is announced was taped hours in advance. And as recently as a few days ago, a “Survivor” contestant who raised concerns about inappropriate touching, Kellee Kim, was not sure if she would be allowed to speak freely about her experience during the reunion.The backlash over “Survivor,” which ranks as CBS’s highest-rated entertainment show for adults under 50, took place at a network that has been rocked by a societal reckoning on workplace sexual misconduct. The chief executive, a star anchor and several leading producers at the company have been felled since the start of the #MeToo movement.Debra Katz, a lawyer representing Ms. Kim, contacted CBS late last week to express her concerns. After talks, the network said Ms. Kim would be permitted to speak freely at the reunion special.In a statement this week, CBS also acknowledged that there were “things we could have done differently” this season, adding that “we are determined to do better going forward.” The network also announced a series of “Survivor” production changes “to ensure that the events that occurred this season are not repeated.” In an interview on Wednesday evening, after the reunion taped, Ms. Kim said, “What’s really most important is that ‘Survivor’ and CBS took responsibility and apologized. These changes that I’ve been asking for for many, many months have been put into place, so no one else is going to have to go through something like this.”In an episode that aired last month, which was filmed months ago in Fiji, Ms. Kim said that a fellow contestant, Dan Spilo, had made her uncomfortable by repeatedly touching her without her consent. “Survivor” broadcast much of the footage of the unwanted contact.After Mr. Spilo was issued a warning, the contestants were left to their own devices. Ms. Kim was ultimately voted off the show, prompting a backlash and underscoring an on-air statement she had made earlier: “There are always consequences for standing up.” Mr. Spilo remained on the island for several more episodes.In last week’s episode, Mr. Spilo, a Hollywood talent manager, was removed from the show, as well as from the jury that awards $1 million to the season’s winner. The only explanation for the decision was a title card onscreen saying he had been ejected “after a report of another incident” that occurred off-camera and did not involve a contestant. In a statement to People on Tuesday, Mr. Spilo apologized.Ever since, “Survivor” has been on the receiving end of withering commentary. The New York Times television critic James Poniewozik faulted the show for “the inept, shameful, evasive way it handled sexual misconduct.” A former “Survivor” contestant, Zeke Smith — who applauded the sensitivity that the network and the show had displayed two years ago when he was outed by a fellow contestant as transgender — also criticized the show. “This predator could have and should have been stopped long ago, but those in power made a choice not to stop him,” he tweeted last week. “Shame on you, Survivor.”Ms. Kim’s lawyer, Ms. Katz, said in an interview, “Sexual harassment should never be used for entertainment value. And what happened in this instance was completely unacceptable.”Even with the uproar, ratings have held steady. But many longtime fans have been furious. “There was a lot of shock and horror and numbness,” said Andy Dehnart, the creator of the website Reality Blurred, describing the reaction among “Survivor” superfans. “And there were a lot of questions about how this could happen at all.”For Wednesday’s finale, CBS did not invite Mr. Spilo to the reunion special.As late as of last week, Ms. Katz said, it was unclear what role Ms. Kim would play, as well. “Kellee was concerned that she was not going to be able to speak at the finale,” Ms. Katz added. “And if she was allowed to speak, that it would be too scripted and she would not be able to say the things that were important for her to say.”Ms. Kim underscored the point by saying she was worried about “whether I’d get a free, open venue to speak.”On Dec. 13, with Ms. Kim’s role in the finale still up in the air, Ms. Katz emailed CBS and MGM, the studio that makes the show. “Let me be clear at the onset: Ms. Kim does not seek compensation,” she wrote. “Her motivation in retaining counsel is to begin a productive dialogue about changes production and CBS must make in future seasons of the show.”In the email, Ms. Katz also described the show’s “serious mishandling” of Ms. Kim’s complaint, she said in an interview. It was not long after sending the email that CBS informed Ms. Kim that she would be permitted to speak freely on the final episode.A CBS spokesman said, “There was never any doubt in our mind that she would be part of it and be able to speak freely about her experience.” The spokesman added that her discussion with Jeff Probst, the show’s longtime host, during the reunion special would be “broadcast unedited.” On Tuesday, CBS detailed its planned improvements for future seasons of “Survivor.” One rule will say that unwanted physical contact or sexual harassment will not be allowed. The production will also assign an executive to the set so that contestants can express their concerns confidentially.Ms. Kim said she was heartened by the response and wanted the network to see it through. “I hope that this has been a true learning lesson and things are different going forward, but only time will tell,” she said. Read the full article

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camillekmac · 5 years

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diarynz · 5 years

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Rugby: All you need to know ahead of All Blacks v Tonga World Cup warm-up clash

New Post has been published on https://diary.nz/rugby-all-you-need-to-know-ahead-of-all-blacks-v-tonga-world-cup-warm-up-clash/

Rugby: All you need to know ahead of All Blacks v Tonga World Cup warm-up clash

All you need to know ahead of the All Blacks’ clash against Tonga in Hamilton.

World Cup warm-up

It’s the All Blacks’ final test before heading off to Japan. Coach Steve Hansen said the Tonga match is a chance to play as many players as possible they want to use for the World Cup opener against the Springboks. Tonga, who lost to Fiji at Eden Park last weekend, will also hope to sharpen the knives before the tournament against the reigning world champs.

Match details: Saturday September 7, 2.35pm, FMG Stadium, Hamilton

Referee: Angus Gardner

Squads

All Blacks:

1 Joe Moody 2 Codie Taylor 3 Nepo Laulala 4 Patrick Tuipulotu 5 Samuel Whitelock 6 Ardie Savea 7 Matt Todd 8 Kieran Read (c) 9 TJ Perenara 10 Beauden Barrett 11 George Bridge 12 Ryan Crotty 13 Anton Lienert-Brown 14 Sevu Reece 15 Ben Smith

Reserves: Liam Coltman, Ofa Tuungafasi, Angus Ta’avao, Scott Barrett, Luke Jacobson, Aaron Smith, Josh Ioane, Jordie Barrett.

Tonga: 15 David Halaifonua 14 Cooper Vuna 13 Mali Hingano 12 Siale Piutau (c) 11 Viliami Lolohea 10 Kurt Morath 9 Tane Takulua 8 Ma’ama Vaipul 7 Fotu Lokotui 6 Sione Kalamafoni 5 Leva Fifita 4 Sam Lousi 3 Siua Halanukonuka 2 Siua Maile 1 Siegfried Fisi’ihoi

Reserves: Sione Anga’aelangi, Vunipola Fifita, Ma’afu Fia, Dan Faleafa, Zane Kapeli, Leon Fukofuka, James Faiva, Afa Pakalani.

The All Blacks perform the haka. Photo / Photosport

Three talking points

Injuries

With several All Black players – Dane Coles, Sam Cane, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Richie Mo’unga – already missing out with various minor niggles, the last thing Hansen and co. will want is more injury worries right before the World Cup. The same goes for Tonga coach Toutai Kefu.

Ben Smith

The veteran utility back gets a start at his preferred fullback role, with Beauden Barrett moving back to No 10 to replace Mo’unga. It’ll be a big opportunity for Smith, who has come under criticism lately from fans and pundits, to impress coaches and solidify a potential starting role at wing for the All Blacks’ first game against the Springboks in Japan – with Mo’unga looking likely to return to first-five by then. Earlier in the week, Hansen revealed, quite surprisingly, that Smith’s form slump has had less to do with his recovery from a hamstring strain and more to a loss of self-belief and confidence.

From 9-5 to the World Cup: The roofer taking on the All Blacks

Uncapped Siua Maile, who was a shock inclusion to Tonga’s Rugby World Cup squad announced earlier this week, will be a fresh faced mystery the All Blacks will have to deal with. In fact, even coach Kefu admits he “still doesn’t know much about him”. The 22-year-old Maile, a full-time roofer who will start at hooker, will make a dream international debut against the All Blacks.

How to watch

The Herald will be live blogging the match from 1.30pm and Radio Sport will have live commentary. Sky coverage starts at 1.30pm on Sky Sport 1.

Head-to-head

Played:

Won:

All Blacks 5

Last time:

All Blacks 47, Tonga 9 (Rugby World Cup 2015)

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eyeofhorus237 · 5 years

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The Truman Show is a 1998 American satirical science fiction film[4] directed by Peter Weir, produced by Scott Rudin, Andrew Niccol, Edward S. Feldman, and Adam Schroeder, and written by Niccol. The film stars Jim Carrey as Truman Burbank, adopted and raised by a corporation inside a simulated television show revolving around his life, until he discovers it and decides to escape. Additional roles are performed by Laura Linney, Noah Emmerich, Natascha McElhone, Holland Taylor, Ed Harris, and Brian Delate.

The Truman Show was originally a spec script by Niccol, inspired by an episode of The Twilight Zone called "Special Service".[5] Unlike the finished product, it was more of a science-fiction thriller, with the story set in New York City. Scott Rudin purchased the script, and set up production at Paramount Pictures. Brian De Palma was to direct before Weir signed as director, making the film for $60 million—$20 million less than the original estimate. Niccol rewrote the script while the crew was waiting for Carrey to sign. The majority of filming took place at Seaside, Florida, a master-planned community located in the Florida Panhandle.

The film was a financial success, debuting to critical acclaim, and earned numerous nominations at the 71st Academy Awards, 56th Golden Globe Awards, 52nd British Academy Film Awards and The Saturn Awards. The Truman Show has been analyzed as a thesis on Christianity, metaphilosophy, simulated reality, existentialism, and reality television.

Plot

Truman Burbank is the unsuspecting star of The Truman Show, a reality television program broadcast live around the clock worldwide. He has spent his entire life in the seaside town of Seahaven Island, which in reality was a giant set near Hollywood, equipped with state of the art technology to simulate day/night, weather conditions, and thousands of cameras to watch him. The producers discouraged Truman from leaving Seahaven by instilling him with aquaphobia through the "death" of his TV father in a boating "accident", and by constantly broadcasting and printing messages of the dangers of traveling. All of Seahaven's other residents are actors. Christof, the show's creator and executive producer, seeks to capture Truman's real emotion and human behavior and give audiences a relatable everyman.

Despite Christof's control, he couldn't predict all of Truman actions. During his college years, Truman was intended to fall in love with and marry co-student Meryl, but fell for Sylvia, an "extra". Sylvia warned him that his reality is fake before having to move to Fiji with her father. While Truman went on to marry Meryl, he continues to think about Sylvia. He uses scraps from magazines to recreate her face in secret, and seeks travel to Fiji. Outside of the show, Sylvia has become part of a "Free Truman" campaign that demands the end of the show and Truman's freedom.

As the show goes on, Truman starts noticing unusual events: a spotlight falling out of the sky, a radio frequency that precisely describes his movements and rain that falls only on him. Truman spots a disheveled man and recognizes him as his father, who had snuck back onto the set, but other actors quickly drag the man away. Despite efforts by Meryl and Truman's best friend Marlon to reassure him, Truman becomes even more suspicious about his life. One day, he takes Meryl by surprise by going on an impromptu road trip, but their way is blocked by increasingly implausible emergencies. Meryl begins to break down from the stress; during an argument with Truman, she breaks character and is taken off the show. Hoping to bring Truman back to a controllable state, Christof re-introduces Truman's father to the show properly, under the guise of having lost his memory after the boating accident. This helps the show regain the ratings lead with audiences and Truman seems to return to his routines.

One evening the production staff discovers that the sleeping Truman is completely out of their sight. Marlon is sent to check on Truman, finding that he has left a dummy and a tape recorder playing snoring sounds in his place and disappeared through a makeshift tunnel. Marlon breaks character, and Christof orders the first transmission cut in the show's history while a citywide search for Truman is launched. Audiences around the world are drawn to this sudden change. Truman is found sailing out of Seahaven, having conquered his fear of water, and Christ of resumes the broadcast as he sends a man-made lightning storm to try to capsize the boat, after an attempt to fetch Truman fails. Network executives fear that Truman may die on live television, but Truman manages to persist. Realizing he cannot dissuade Truman any further, Christof ends the storm.

Truman continues to sail until, to his surprise, his boat strikes the wall of the dome. He finds an exit door, but Christof, speaking directly to Truman through a speaker system, tries to convince him to stay, stating there is "no more truth" in the real world and that by staying in his artificial world, he would have nothing to fear. Truman considers this, then states: "In case I don't see you... good afternoon, good evening, and good night," (previously his catch-phrase), takes a bow, and leaves. The viewers cheer Truman on, while Sylvia races to greet him. Christof's supervisors end the program for the last time and the viewers see what else is on TV.

Cast

Jim Carrey as Truman Burbank: Chosen out of six unwanted pregnancies and the first child to be legally adopted by a corporation, Truman is unaware that his daily life is broadcast continuously around the world. He has a job in the insurance business and a wife, but he eventually notices that his environment is not what it seems to be. Robin Williams was considered for the role, but Weir cast Carrey after seeing him in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective because Carrey's performance reminded him of Charlie Chaplin.[6]Carrey took the opportunity to proclaim himself as a dramatic actor, rather than being typecast in comedic roles.[7] Carrey, who was then normally paid $20 million per film, agreed to do The Truman Show for $12 million.[8] Carrey and Weir initially found working together on set difficult (Carrey's contract gave him the power to demand rewrites), but Weir was impressed with Carrey's improvisational skills, and the two became more interactive.[6] The scene in which Truman declares "this planet Trumania of the Burbank galaxy" to the bathroom mirror was Carrey's idea.[9]

Laura Linney as Hannah Gill acting as Meryl Burbank, Truman's wife, a nurse at the local hospital. Since the show relies on product placement for revenue, Meryl regularly shows off various items she has recently "purchased", one of the many oddities that makes Truman question his life. Her role is to act the part of Truman's wife and ultimately to have a child by him, despite her reluctance to accomplish either. Linney heavily studied Sears catalogs from the 1950s to develop her character's poses.[10]

Ed Harris as Christof: The creator of The Truman Show. Christof remains dedicated to the program at all costs, often overseeing and directing its course in person (rather than through aides), but at the climax, he speaks to Truman over a loudspeaker, revealing the nature of Truman's situation. Dennis Hopper was originally cast in the role, but he left in April 1997 (during filming) over "creative differences". Harris was a last-minute replacement.[8] Hopper later stated he was fired after two days because Weir and producer Scott Rudin had made a deal that if they didn't both approve of Hopper's performance, they would replace him.[11] A number of other actors had turned down the role after Hopper's departure.[9] Harris considered making Christof a hunchback, but Weir did not like the idea.[6]

Noah Emmerich as Louis Coltrane playing Marlon, Truman's best friend since early childhood. Marlon is a vending machine operator for the company Goodies, who promises Truman he would never lie to him, despite the latest events in Truman's life. Emmerich has said, "My character is in a lot of pain. He feels really guilty about deceiving Truman. He's had a serious drug addiction for many years. Been in and out of rehab."[6] Very little of this is shown in the finished film, but several deleted scenes depict Louis actively expressing guilt over Truman's situation, and in one sequence he spots Truman during his escape and purposely says nothing. His name is an amalgam of two jazz musicians, Louis Armstrong and John Coltrane, and in one scene he plays trumpet.

Natascha McElhone as Sylvia playing Lauren Garland (Truman's college schoolmate): Sylvia was hired to play a background extra, a fellow student at Truman's college, named Lauren. She became romantically involved with Truman and tried to reveal to him the truth about his life, but was thrown out of the show before she could do so. She then becomes a protester against The Truman Show, urging Christof to release its lead.

Holland Taylor as Alanis Montclair playing Angela Burbank, Truman's mother: Christof orders that she attempt to persuade Truman to have children.

Brian Delate as Walter Moore playing Kirk Burbank, Truman's father. When Truman was a boy, his character on the show was killed off to instill a fear of water in his son that would prevent Truman from leaving the set; however, he sneaks back onto the set when Truman is an adult. This causes Truman to begin questioning his staged life, and as he tries to get away from it the writers are forced to write a plot in which Kirk had not drowned but had suffered from amnesia.

Paul Giamatti as Simeon (control room director). Though second-in-command at the lunar room, he is conflicted when ordered to attempt to kill Truman via storm.

Peter Krause as Laurence (Truman's boss): At Truman's office, Laurence often interrupts Truman when he talks about his dreams of moving to Fiji.

#science fiction

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ford-ye-fiji · 2 years

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campaign three really bringing the no thoughts, head empty vibes to the table

#fiji watches critical role #critical role spoilers #funny #critical role #ashton #orym of the air ashari #fearne calloway #yes I spent all of break making this

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ultrasfcb-blog · 6 years

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Scotland v Canada: Experimental tourists can stake World Cup claims

Gregor Townsend has presided over seven wins in his 11 Tests in charge as Scotland head coach

Summer international: Canada v Scotland Venue: Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton Date: Sunday, 10 June Kick-off: 02:00 BST Coverage: Watch on BBC One Scotland & BBC Sport website; text commentary on BBC Sport website

Given the failure of their beloved Oilers, the good people of Edmonton could do with a little sporting cheer these days.

In a city that’s in thrall to ice hockey, the haplessness of their team in missing the play-offs yet again is galling to the locals, who now turn to rugby and the weekend Test match between the national team and the visiting Scots in an attempt to lighten the mood.

When Gregor Townsend named his Test side on Wednesday he couldn’t sit down. Buzzing with excitement? Well, yes. But there was a bit more to it. Townsend has a bad back. He joked that it might have had something to do with the paper round of his youth catching up on him. “I’ve been shuffling around on the side of the training field,” he said. “I’m not sure if the boys were sniggering at me or not.”

Unlikely, you’d have thought. Townsend might be a touch tender in the back department but there’s nothing wrong with his eyes – or his nerve. This Canada side are a poor crew, but even still, the side Townsend has picked to play against them is even more experimental than we might have imagined.

There are stories everywhere. The last time we saw Chris Harris in a Scotland jersey was in the calamity in Cardiff in the Six Nations. The Newcastle centre returns and lines up alongside James Lang, the little-known Harlequin who will make his debut. That’s a combined total of two caps in the centre.

Chris Harris struggled on his debut for Scotland against Wales

Jamie Ritchie also makes his debut in the back row with Lewis Carmichael and Adam Hastings set to win their first caps off the bench. Thirty two years after his father Gavin appeared on the scene, a new Hastings is about to join the pantheon of Scotland Test players.

There is only one survivor from Scotland’s last game in the Six Nations in Rome – Fraser Brown. There’d have been none at all had Stuart McInally, the tour captain, not succumbed to injury. This, of course, is a tour of discovery for Townsend, an opportunity against Canada and United States to look at new players and try out new combinations ahead of the more exacting third Test of the trip against Argentina in Resistencia.

“Given that we’ve left quite a few of the boys at home, there are opportunities for the guys we have here,” said Townsend.

“Take Chris (Harris) for instance. We were impressed with him leading up to that Welsh game, but we didn’t get things right in Wales and it started with me, with the selection and with our approach to that game. Chris, through no fault of his own, didn’t have his best game.

“There were a few times when he got hospital passes. What he has done since then is go back to Newcastle and find ways to get on the ball more. He was mainly a defensive player up to that point, but for the last half of the season we have seen him attacking more and he’s scored a couple of cracking tries.

James Lang has played most of his rugby for Quins at fly-half, but starts at 12 for Scotland

“He’s in with James (Lang) who can play 10 but we see him more as a a 12. He’s a very good ball carrier and a good defender. He’s impressed us. You need depth, particularly in midfield, so let’s see if somebody can influence our thinking going into the November games but especially the World Cup next year.”

Townsend, as ever, is on the hunt for a back-up to Finn Russell. The fly-half is not on this trek. Townsend knows that a day will surely come when his go-to man at 10 is injured and needs replacing. Given that Russell will wear the Racing 92 jersey next season – as well as a saddle on his back to justify the vast expense in recruiting him – there is an urgent need for a natural deputy in times of crisis.

Peter Horne, a more natural centre than a 10, filled the role in the defeat to Fiji in Suva a year ago when Russell was with the Lions in New Zealand. The task now falls to Ruaridh Jackson, who’s been playing well at 15 for Glasgow, but who’s better at 10.

Scotland needed experience in there given that there’s only a total of 15 caps at full-back, wing and in the midfield combined, and only nine alongside Jackson at scrum-half in the shape of Sam Hidalgo-Clyne. The soon-to-be Scarlet hasn’t played for his country in over two years.

‘The ingredients are there. He’s worked hard for this’

Four years after being named tour captain for the summer hike to Canada, USA, Argentina and South Africa, Grant Gilchrist leads the side again. McInally may start against America in Houston next weekend, but the chances are that he will be saved for the Pumas a week later.

Experimentation in the back row was a guarantee considering that the trio who have appeared in so many of Scotland’s marquee performances in recent years – John Barclay, Ryan Wilson and Hamish Watson – are all at home.

“Jamie (Ritchie) comes in for his debut,” said Townsend. “His defence is consistent, his kick-chase is up there with the best in the world and he’s shown in his last few games with Edinburgh that his ball-carrying is exciting. The ingredients are there. He’s worked hard for this.”

Magnus Bradbury has been handed a chance after a strong end to the season with Edinburgh

Magnus Bradbury is another who falls into the category of the players who need to seize their moment. As he rose through the ranks there was a lot of noise about Bradbury’s excellence. Vern Cotter capped him against Argentina in the autumn of 2016, but was critical of his work-rate in the aftermath. He didn’t pick him again. Townsend brought him on tour last summer but only played him for 22 minutes off the bench in the opening game against Italy.

Bradbury followed that disappointment with a bout of brainless pre-season indiscipline that saw him stripped of the Edinburgh captaincy. He gathered himself during the season, though, and finished the campaign strongly under Richard Cockerill’s tutelage. Bradbury is still only 22. He has talent and time, but he could do with a big performance.

“The back row, like the midfield, is a very competitive area,” said Townsend. “Magnus (Bradbury) wasn’t involved in the Six Nations and he wasn’t involved in the November Tests, for different reasons.

“He’s here because of what he’s done in the last few months. We’ve seen a big change in him. The aggression he showed in the last game against Glasgow was outstanding. He looks physically imposing and dynamic. The boys realise that these chances don’t come around very often.”

Adam Hastings could make his Scotland debut against Canada, 32 years after father Gavin’s

All things being equal, Hastings will appear at some stage against Canada. His father will watch it on television before flying out for Scotland’s second match on tour against the USA in Houston.

“Something that doesn’t get talked about enough is Adam’s work-rate,” said Townsend. “That’s a great trait to have. That comes from a competitiveness that’s maybe genetic, not just through his dad but everybody else in the family tree. He’s a confident guy and I think he’s ready to grab his opportunity.”

His father won by a point on his international debut, albeit against France. Hastings the younger will hoping that it’s altogether more comfortable against Canada.

BBC Sport – Rugby Union ultras_FC_Barcelona

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megadarkbouquettidalwavethings · 6 years

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Weathering Trump’s skepticism, U.S. officials still fighting global warming

WASHINGTON/OSLO (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump has bashed international efforts to combat climate change and questioned the scientific consensus that global warming is dangerous and driven by human consumption of fossil fuels.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with the news media before boarding Marine One helicopter to depart for travel to California via Joint Base Andrews from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, U.S., March 13, 2018. REUTERS/Leah Millis

But there is a disconnect between what Trump says at home and what his government does abroad. While attention has been focused on Trump’s rhetoric, State Department envoys, federal agencies, and government scientists remain active participants in international efforts to both research and fight climate change, according to U.S. and foreign representatives involved in those efforts.

“We really don’t detect any change with the Americans,” said one of the officials, Aleksi Härkönen of Finland, who chairs the eight-nation Arctic Council’s key group of senior officials, who are charged with protecting a region warming faster than any other on Earth.

Over the past year, the United States has helped draft the rulebook for implementing the Paris climate accord, signed international memoranda calling for global action to fight climate change, boosted funding for overseas clean energy projects, and contributed to global research on the dangers and causes of the Earth’s warming.

While the United States’ participation in international forums – including the Paris accord and the Arctic Council – has been reported, its continued, broad and constructive support for climate change efforts in these gatherings has not.

This business-as-usual approach has surprised some of America’s foreign partners, along with some of Trump’s allies, who had expected the new administration to match its rhetoric with an obstructionist approach to combating climate change.

“I am concerned that much of our climate policy remains on autopilot,” complained Trump’s former energy adviser Myron Ebell, now a research director at the right-leaning Competitive Enterprise Institute, who said it reflects a failure by the administration to fill key positions and replace staffers who oppose the president’s agenda.

The U.S. efforts abroad to tackle climate change have been counter-balanced by Trump’s aggressive push at home to increase production of the fossil fuels scientists blame for global warming. He has also ordered a wide-ranging rollback of Obama-era climate regulations and appointed a self-described climate skeptic, Scott Pruitt, as the nation’s chief environmental regulator.

And to be sure, none of the U.S. dealings in international climate efforts since last year have committed the United States to any emissions cuts that would undermine Trump’s domestic energy agenda.

The State Department – which handles the bulk of U.S. climate policy abroad – told Reuters it was still developing its global warming policy under Trump.

“The State Department is working with the White House and the interagency to further develop our approach to international climate change diplomacy,” State Department spokesman Ambrose Sayles said in a statement before Trump sacked Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Tuesday.

“In the meantime, we will continue to participate … to ensure a level playing field that benefits and protects U.S. interests, and to keep all options open for the President,” Sayles said.

Tillerson’s departure leaves a question mark over the future of U.S. climate policy abroad. Tillerson was in favor of the Paris accord, while his successor, Mike Pompeo, has expressed doubts about the science of climate change. Climate advocates say they hope Pompeo will be too distracted by tensions with Iran and North Korea to change the State Department’s approach to climate change.

White House spokeswoman Kelly Love declined to comment.

ROLLBACK AT HOME, RULEBOOK ABROAD

Trump announced last year that he was withdrawing the United States from the Paris Agreement to fight global warming, raising concerns among other parties to the deal that Washington might attempt to torpedo the accord or disengage from it completely.

That hasn’t happened. Washington sent a 40-strong delegation to talks in Bonn in November to help draft a new rulebook that will provide rules of the road for the 200 participating nations. It was a smaller delegation than Washington had sent to past meetings, but it still won praise from fellow delegates for its work.

For example, Andrew Rakestraw – a climate negotiator for the State Department since 2013 – co-chaired discussions on how to ensure that the pledges by signatories are comparable and use the same accounting standards – a point seen as critical to the success of the accord.

Nazhat Shameem Khan, chief negotiator for Fiji, which presided over the talks, said the United States delegation was “constructive and helpful.” The U.N.’s climate chief, Patricia Espinosa, also called the U.S. role constructive.

Thomas Shannon, the State Department’s chief climate negotiator in Bonn, did not respond to requests for comment. Rakestraw also did not respond to calls and emails requesting comment.

A U.S. source familiar with the U.S. position at the talks, who asked not to be named, said that U.S. delegates in Bonn were pushing an agenda that resembled those of past administrations – stressing that emerging economies like China follow the same rules as developed nations and meet international standards for monitoring and reporting emissions.

There was one jarring note: Washington sponsored a side event to promote “clean coal.” Some other delegates said they were unhappy with this, as they wanted the talks to focus on renewable energies.

Under the details of the accord, the United States cannot formally withdraw until 2020.

ARCTIC MELTING AND SOLAR POWER

The State Department’s delegations to the Arctic Council are also continuing their work in much the same way they did under President Barack Obama – acknowledging that warming is real and should be countered in planning everything from new shipping routes to the protection of indigenous peoples.

Some U.S. agencies are also still bolstering international efforts to fight climate change.

The Overseas Private Investment Corporation, which seeks to advance U.S. policy by financing foreign business ventures, doubled its support for solar projects in 2017 under a climate-friendly policy last updated by the Obama administration.

And NASA, the U.S. space agency, continues to research climate change, publish climate change data, and contribute to international reports, spokesman Stephen Cole said.

Both OPIC and NASA are independent of the State Department, so would not be under Pompeo’s sway.

‘NO CHALLENGE’

Scientists representing the United States in international research say they have also been unfettered by the Trump administration, despite concerns early in the Trump presidency that the White House would seek to silence them or restrict their work.

“There has been no pressure on U.S. authors,” said one U.S. scientist, who is now helping to write a United Nations report that will call for coal to be “phased out rapidly” to limit global warming – a direct clash with Trump’s pro-coal agenda.

The scientist asked not to be named because the draft report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), due to be released in October, is confidential.

“Our U.S. colleagues know that climate change is not a hoax,” said one of the non-U.S. authors of the same report, who also spoke on condition of anonymity.

Christopher Field, a professor of environmental studies at Stanford University who co-chaired a 2014 IPCC report on the impacts of climate change, agreed: “I’ve not seen any indication that the climate denialism from Trump and other members of the administration has had any influence … on the alignment of the U.S. scientific community with the scientific consensus around the world.”

Still, scientists worry that while the Trump administration is not interfering with their research it is ignoring it.

The Trump administration made no move to block an assessment by 300 experts last year that outlined the threats and causes of warming in the United States and concluded there is “no convincing alternative explanation” for climate change than human activity.

“But then they haven’t acknowledged the findings, nor changed their climate science denying stance,” said the U.S. scientist involved in drafting the U.N. coal report.

Additional reporting by Valerie Volcovici in Washington and Nichola Groom in Los Angeles; Editing by Richard Valdmanis and Ross Colvin

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roguenewsdao · 6 years

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War Wizards on a Leash

While Americans were winding down a short work week and battening down the hatches for the annual national gluttony of Thanksgiving Day, The Boss in Russia was busy overseeing a well-engineered smackdown of the western Wizards of War by pulling off what has amounted to a declaration of cessation of hostilities in Syria.

The triumvirate representation of Russia, Iran, and Turkey made its presence known in Sochi earlier this week and effectively collared the necks of the bloodthirsty dogs who have been beaten back one chessboard square at a time and now see their butts hanging over an abyss of self-destruction.

Here is the video of the statements made by Putin, Rouhani, and Erdogan. A transcript is available at the Kremlin's official website [linked here]. Here are a few comments that stood out to me.

Putin: Experts of our countries conducted serious preparations for discussing substantive issues at the current talks, so I am confident that the discussion will be detailed and productive, and the agreements reached will help further restore peace and security in Syria and consolidate its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and in general facilitate stabilisation in the Middle East.

Rouhani: Unfortunately, some countries active in our region are following the examples of the United States and the Zionist regime to sow discord and hatred between the peoples of the region and to shift the responsibility for the outcomes of their hostile policy that seeks to tear the region apart.

The struggle against strife and unrest is one of the manifestations of the practical policy of Iran, which is taking an active part in the Astana format. Our strategy lies in joint actions and competition, coordination and oversight, cooperation with nations, and friendship rather than hostility.

Respect for the national sovereignty of Syria is an inalienable part of this struggle. There is no excuse for the presence of foreign troops on the territory of Syria without the permission of its legitimate Government.

Turkey's President Erdogan made a few remarks to conclude the press event. I'll say that his demeanor was a bit less "glowing" than Rouhani's. He made an interesting reference to the recent deadly earthquake that hit the border of Iraq and Iran. He also expressed his thanks to the republic of Kazakhstan and the city of Astana for the hospitality offered during the Syria peace talks. Astana is a name you should become familiar with as it will come up in future blogs - and has already come up in past ones - with reference to the Russian space program, the development of free energy, and the hunt for dark matter with all its esoteric connection to Artificial Intelligence. Just file that way for now.

Erdogan's comments included this:

Today’s trilateral council is of great importance for finally stopping the bloodshed and putting an end to the tragedy that has lasted for many years. The whole world has seen the progress Turkey, Russia and Iran have made in their efforts on the Syrian issue.

I would also like to express my gratitude to President Nazarbayev for the event for which he provided the venue in Kazakhstan. Our meetings in Astana were of benefit to the whole region, praise Allah.

As many of you know, the Rogue Money team has been gritting its teeth, so to speak, in anticipation of calamitous events in the Middle East as the month of November approached. We saw the #SaudiPurge unfold, right on the dot, just as "W" predicted, and then we buckled up for the next temporal window of Nov. 22-23. Vladimir Putin was also watching the calendar. This meeting in Sochi threw a massive monkey wrench into the neocon machinery.

Are we out of the woods yet? Not by a long shot, as W. explains in his words here in the next section.

Perspective from "W" The Intelligence Insider

Below are comments from W. posted with his permission.

No one should underestimate President Putin’s level of insight(s) when it comes to anticipating the political AND HIDDEN OCCULTIC mechanisms and games being foisted against Russia and himself personally. Six times the western powers attempted to use false flags in order to justify broader NATO involvement in Syria; each time Putin waited for his opponents to commit and then used their energy against them in well executed Jujitsu counter moves. His tactical responses may appear to be merely good reflexes but they are actually a sign of years of training in ANTICIPATING your opponent's next move and practicing/preparing rapid and precise responses. Putin is an 8th degree black belt in Judo, and that is an earned degree not an honorific title for PR purposes. He is exercising those same types of skills in the world political arena.

President Putin has been immersed in the world of behind-the-scenes politics since his youth. He is keenly aware that there is a dance done for the public consumption and another that is done by the real power brokers behind the scenes. He has become very adept at recognizing patterns and preparing responses to neutralize the western sorcerer's next moves. Besides speaking and understanding several languages fluently (including English) he also understands and communicates in occult numerological and sign languages to his western opponents - as does President Trump as he demonstrated with his Fiji water bottle antics last week. Both men and their handlers are very proficient at communicating using esoteric languages and numbers.

(For a discussion of the symbolism of Trumps "Fiji water bottle" moment, see this video.)

All that said; it is interesting that as a broad push was occurring across NATO and the mid-east over the last several weeks, in a very public way preparing for some type of war or conflict with Hezbollah, Putin very deftly crafted an alternative outcome. Look at the timing of the purported missile launch against Riyadh and the resignation of Hariri. Look at the media reports of multiple Mideast countries moving to a war footing and related preparations in Israel, Lebanon, Syria, etc. Even Hezbollah was very graphic in announcing that they anticipated a false flag to be done in their honor shortly and they went to extremes to stand down and control ALL of their members.

Once the final move was committed to in the October 28 to November 6 window, and western alliance began its move/march to war with Hezbollah, the Judo expert Putin began his well choreographed response culminating in private meetings and in-person consultations with various involved parties on the most critical date of all - November 22.

President Putin had correctly observed and anticipated the western clockwork turning in preparation to begin a regional war starting in Lebanon on November 23 as a result of false flags to be blamed on Hezbollah and, by extension, its puppet master Iran, on November 22, 2017. His diplomatic efforts in bringing the critical players together and negotiating agreements overlapping exactly those critical dates may well have bought the world a little more time. I don’t say the danger is passed, only possibly that it is moved down the road a bit. However, we are still on a hair trigger.

His wizardly opponents were a little too coy and possibly over played their hand. They were also a bit too overt and over confident in telegraphing their next moves; several times. I expect that will now change; and Putin will anticipate this also.

The risk for us all is that the ‘western powers’ and the puppeteers behind them are too vested in very specific outcomes in their plan to fundamentally reshape the Mideast borders/empires for them to back down or out now. They have an "all or nothing perspective" at this point. For the West and for their globalista puppeteers, failure is not an option; they’ll ‘be back’! Most likely sooner than later, in part because they need to exert some leverage using real muscle in order to get a better deal and they have very little leverage at this exact moment.

It would be very sophomoric to believe that the western puppeteers and wizards are defeated; there are always options. There is ALMOST ALWAYS a plan ‘B’ or ‘C’ or ‘D’ (with the exception of WW III which must END, NOT START, with a nuclear exchange, on a precise year, month, date, hour). Don’t kid yourselves; the hidden diabolical machinery of the New World Order Globalistas is not prone to single point failure. There are backups to the backups. They aren’t perfect, but they aren’t pushovers either. They’ve just been a bit overconfident lately. That will now change, I’m sure.

An interesting little note I’d like to add here. There is a protected religious sect in modern day Russia that believes that President Putin is the Anti-Anti-Christ and that he is destined to ‘save the world’ from the Biblically prophesied End Times Anti-Christ!!! Now I am not a Putin advocate and I don’t know that I’m going to join in the chorus to convey sainthood to him anytime soon. However, I actually do think Putin does see his role as something akin to this. I could probably write a book on his physiological profile in this context, as well as how he has been playing these cards to his own population, but I can’t do that now.

Suffice to say that there are dynamics/energies in play behind the scenes that dwarf by several orders of magnitude ANYTHING we are currently privy to in the mainstream media. Putin has successfully cast the leaders of the western powers as robber barons, sex fiends, occultists and wizards (in the spirit of Harry Potter) and, worst of all, as Pizzagate style pedophile rapists and murders. His constituents are growing exponentially and, therefore, his power - and confidence - as he opposes the western based New World Order Globalistas.

We will still have some type of ‘Dust-up’ engagement shortly, you can bank on it and unfortunately that will absolutely be followed by WW III (four actually by my way of counting because Reagan won III) unless Putin or Trump can come up with a super shifty ‘Jacki Chan’ move, and quick.

North Sinai Mosque Attack

No sooner had W. sent the above perspective to the RM team, but we wake up on Black Friday to hear news of one of the worst acts of terrorism committed by ISIS yet. This one is against a mosque in North Sinai. Egypt has already responded swiftly and we are sure to hear of a reprisal action any hour now. That is where I will conclude this blog as we await the next act in this war of wizards.

My contact information with link to my Karatbars portal are found at my billboard page of SlayTheBankster.com. Listen to my radio show, Bee In Eden, on Youtube via my show blog at SedonaDeb.wordpress.com.

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wayneooverton · 7 years

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Why I Participate in Shark Feeding Dives

Shark feeding dives have always been controversial, with valid arguments both for and against the practice. I have been diving with sharks all over the world for the last 14 years, both in natural situations, and when guides conduct a shark feed. It seemed wrong to me, that it surely upset a wild animal’s feeding habits and encouraged associating humans with food. I came to these beliefs from diving with sharks without ever actually doing a shark feed or learning about what it entailed.

Now, having been involved in shark feeding for the last 10 years, I often meet people who are against the practice. But, just like me of the past, many of these people have never been on a shark-feeding dive. Sometimes they’re not even divers. I firmly believe that we must minimize our impact on the ocean and its marine life as much as possible, and refrain from interrupting or disadvantaging wild animals in any way. However, shark feeding is certainly not doing this and is actually beneficial for sharks.

How do shark feeding dives help economies?

A few countries are famous for shark feeding, and I’ve worked at resorts in both — first in Fiji and currently in the Bahamas. Both countries use the “polite feeding” method of offering bait to the sharks while guests watch in a controlled manner. The safety record in both these locations shows that this is quite safe for divers. At Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas, in Nassau, no one has died during a shark feeding dive, which have been running for 30 years. There are also no reported cases of a shark killing a human around Nassau Island.

Nassau dive shops all dive daily with various types of sharks. At Stuart Cove’s, around 60 percent of our customers come here specifically to dive or snorkel with sharks. Our shark population is extremely valuable as a tourist attraction. Sharks repeatedly rank first in surveys of the marine animal that dive tourists most want to see. Economically, shark diving and shark- and ray-related eco-tourism generates over $100 million USD for the Bahamian economy every year. This does not even count the money visitors spend on hotels, restaurants and shopping while here for shark diving.

The economy depends on tourism and officials recognize the important role sharks play in that puzzle. The country has taken every necessary precaution to conserve this asset. Researchers posit that a single reef shark is worth $250,000 USD over its lifetime. If fished, the same shark would net only $50-60 USD. The Bahamas understand the value of shark feeding dives and, since 2011, the country has completely banned killing the animals.

How do shark feeding dives help sharks?

Education and outreach programs teach the public, and particularly youth, the value of sustainably managing the marine environment. Shark feeding dives combined with education can improve people’s appreciation of sharks and turn them into advocates for shark conservation, which of course benefits sharks.

Marine scientists have conducted studies during our shark feed in the Bahamas, with visual observations, and by tagging and collecting tissue samples to fully understand the effects of feeding sharks. Studies have shown that only about 50 percent of the sharks in the area feed on the offered bait. Those sharks that join the feed and those that do not travel similar distances daily and exhibit similar degrees of residency. Thus, despite long-term feeding of this Caribbean reef shark population, feeding does not influence animal behavior in detrimental ways. So far, there is no evidence of shifting behaviors that might affect the ecological role of these sharks.

Look at the bigger picture

In an ideal world, we wouldn’t need to feed sharks for divers to see them. A healthy population would exist and we could just see sharks everywhere. Sadly, however, humans slaughter millions of sharks every year and many species are critically endangered. I believe that those people against shark feeding should look at the bigger picture. Put energy into helping to stop shark killings. Understand that shark tourism and feeding is to the benefit and not the detriment of sharks. If governments understand the monetary the monetary gain of protecting their sharks then perhaps they will stop selling them for consumption.

The Bahamas is a perfect example. Protecting sharks here and allowing shark feeding to continue has played a pivotal role in effective shark tourism. But because sharks travel long distances, other countries must start to protect them as well. When they leave the safety of Bahamian waters they are in danger of being killed. Although shark feeding will remain a divisive issue in the dive community, before you condemn it outright, please consider the benefit to both sharks and local economies when it’s conducted properly. And perhaps even try a shark feeding dive — we’d love to have you in the Bahamas.

Contact PADI Course Director Hayley-Jo Carr to enroll in a Shark Conservation Course at Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas.

The post Why I Participate in Shark Feeding Dives appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

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mrbobgove · 7 years

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Why I Participate in Shark Feeding Dives

How do shark feeding dives help economies?

How do shark feeding dives help sharks?

Look at the bigger picture

Contact PADI Course Director Hayley-Jo Carr to enroll in a Shark Conservation Course at Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas.

The post Why I Participate in Shark Feeding Dives appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://ift.tt/2mUjNR1

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