Devastatingly powerful earthquake hit Nepal

On Saturday, the 25^th of April, Nepal was hit by a powerful earthquake. Approximately 3,617 people have died in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake and more than 6,500 people have been left seriously injured.

Katmandu, the capital of Nepal, has been hit the hardest. It is an area which is one of the most seismically hazardous regions in the world. An earthquake's power increases by 10 times with each increase in the number of its scale. As many as 900 of the 1000 homes of Laprak and Barpak, situated near the epicentre, were destroyed.

The quake resulted in an avalanche on Mount Everest and at least 18 people have died. 200 climbers have been rescued. Hundreds of people were trapped under the rubble.  

According to officials, the number of causalities can possibly still rise, especially in the more remote, mountainous area in the western part of Nepal. Nepal wasn’t the only place that was hit. Many people in China as well as India have also been reportedly killed.

On Sunday people feared aftershocks that could possibly hit overnight and slept in parks and on streets for fear of being crushed indoors.

For more information and photos, please visit: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/27/world/asia/nepal-earthquake-katmandu.html?_r=0

http://www.wsj.com/articles/nepal-earthquake-rescuers-hunt-for-survivors-as-death-toll-rises-1430032637

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/04/25/nepal-earthquake-things-to-know/26367507/

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32475030

Celebrating World Penguin Day on the 25th of April

Happy World Penguin Day!




Please celebrate World Penguin Day with me and I'll give you some of this cuteness as a reward! Thank you

Penguins are not just adorably cute creatures, they are also uniquely remarkable. World Penguin Day is annually celebrated on the 25^th of April as the annual northward migration of these spectacular species is on or around April the 25^th. Penguins are flightless, aquatic birds living most in the Southern Hemisphere, especially in Antarctic as well as South Africa, Peru, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, the Falkland Islands and the Galapagos Islands. There are approximately 17 - 20 different penguin species.

Range of All Penguin Species

 

World Penguin Day is celebrated to learn more about these fascinating species and to fully appreciate such a beautifully intriguing species. This day is about raising important awareness about penguins’ habits, their habitats, and their journey to survival and to just celebrate these popularly iconic and charismatic birds. It is also about getting people to do their bit to conserve these majestically monochromatic species.  




(Source: Daily Mail UK)

They have adapted exceptionally to life in the water and live in some of the harshest environments on earth and can survive and thrive in inhospitable Antarctica, where temperatures are as low as -50C. Penguins’ wings have evolved into flippers. Penguins also form an integral part of the ecosystem of Antarctica and changes in their populations, have detrimental consequences for other sections of the food chain. It is vital that we protect the oceans around Antarctica as penguins spend about 75% of their whole lives at sea. Unfortunately many of the penguins are threatened, so much so that 60 % of the 18 penguin species are listed as threatened by the IUCN.

 

(Source: Penguins World)

 

Please show your support and celebrate these incredibly beautiful species! Please see more information with regards to Penguins, World Penguin Day and the efforts that are done to protect this valuable species at:

http://antarcticocean.org/2014/04/14-wonderful-facts-about-penguins-that-will-amaze-you/

http://blog.arkive.org/2013/04/world-penguin-day/

http://www.asoc.org/advocacy/antarctic-wildlife-conservation/penguins/1189

 

Favourite Penguin Jokes

Here are a few of the best Penguin jokes:

·         Q: Why don’t Penguins like rock music? A: They only like sole.

·         Q: How do Penguins drink their cola? A: On the rocks.

·         Q: What’s a penguin’s favourite relative? A: Aunt Arctica

·         Q: How does a penguin build its house? Igloos it together

·         Q: Where do penguins go swimming? A: At the South Pool!

Source: Happy Feet Movie

·         Q: What do Penguins like to eat? A: Brrrrrrrritos.

·         Q: Who is a Penguin´s favourite pop star? A: Seal.

·         Q: Where do penguins keep their money? A: In a snow bank!

·         Q: Were do penguins get money from? A: A fishbank.

·         Q: What kind of fish do Penguins catch at night? A: Starfish.

·         Q: Why don´t Penguins like rock music? A: They only like sole.

·         Q: What do you call a happy penguin? A: a Pen-Grin!

·         Q: What did one Emperor Penguin say to the other? A: Nothing, he just gave him the cold 
                shoulder.

Learning more about the African Penguin

African penguin (Spheniscus demersus)

·       The African penguin (Spheniscus demersus) is a medium-sized penguin, and the only penguin species breeding on the African continent.

·       The African penguin has a robust, heavyset body, and this species is black on the back and white below, with variable black markings on the breast and belly.

·       Juvenile African penguins are slate blue on the upper surface, gradually turning darker and developing the adult black-and-white facial pattern in the second or third year.

·       Penguins have small muscles at the base of each feather that enable the feathers to be held tightly against the body whilst in water, forming a waterproof layer; alternatively, on land the feathers are held erect, trapping an insulating layer of air around the body

·       The African penguin is also known as the ‘jackass penguin’ due to its loud, braying call.

·       To protect its nest against the heat, the African penguin often nests in burrows or in the shade of boulders or bushes.

·        In South Africa the breeding season is between March and May.

·        Nests are situated in burrows or depressions under boulders and bushes, where they will receive some protection from the potentially harsh temperatures

·       The clutch size of the African penguin is usually two, and both adults take it in turns to incubate the eggs for a period of about 40 days; penguins have a bare patch of skin on the lower abdomen (known as the ‘brood patch’) which allows greater transfer of heat to the eggs.

·       The African penguin feeds on fish such as anchovies and sardines. The African penguin can reach speeds of 20 kilometres per hour in the water and travel from 30 to 70 kilometres in a single trip; average dives last for 2.5 minutes, reaching depths of 60 metres.

·        Penguins have waterproof coats that need to be constantly maintained by preening, when a waxy substance is distributed from the base of the tail. Even with these measures, the plumage is replaced yearly, and African penguins come ashore to moult over 20 days between November and January in South Africa.

·         The African penguin is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List.

(Source: Arkive Organisation – African Penguin - http://www.arkive.org/african-penguin/spheniscus-demersus/)

Facts about Penguins

Here are some interesting facts about the beautiful species:

·       The largest living species is the Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri). On average adults are about 1.1 m tall and weigh 35 kg or more. The male Emperor Penguin stays at home looking after the egg whilst the female hunts for food. They are exceptionally insulated with various layers of scale-like feathers. They are fantastic divers and forage at depths from 150 to 250 metres and last about 5 minutes.

Emperor Penguin (Source: Wikipedia).

·       The smallest penguin species is the Little Blue Penguin (Eudyptula minor) which stands around 40 cm tall and weighs 1 kg.

A Little Blue Penguin (Source: Wikipedia).

·       Interestingly, Royal and macaroni penguins lay two eggs because the first is too small and, therefore, discarded.

·       Penguins are extremely social animals

·       They breed in large colonies for protection purposes (there’s safety in numbers) and can range from 200 to hundreds of thousands.

A large colony of King Penguins (Source: Wikipedia).

·       Nesting sites vary between species, and can include sea ice, rock, and beaches.

·       Penguins have adapted to help reduce heat loss through the feet and prevent the feet from freezing when they are standing on ice.

·       Penguins moult once a year to replace worn feathers so as to keep their plumage looking good and moult all their feathers at the same time.

·       Most penguins are monogamous and have distinct calls, enabling them to locate their mates in large groups.

·       The black and white parts of the body are there for camouflage when they swim. From above, their black backs blend into the dark ocean water and, from below, their white bellies match the bright surface lit by sunlight, helping to avoid detection by predators and hunt for fish unseen.

·       Penguins are able to drink salt water because they have special gland which can filter salt from the blood stream.

·       Penguins do not have teeth, but have a tongue that is covered with backward-facing fleshy spines, helping them to snap the slippery fish.

·       They’re extremely powerful swimmers with streamlined bodies and flipper enable them to travel with great speed underwater to catch fish, squid and crustaceans, including krill.

Source: Wikipedia

·      Negative impacts of human beings and their activities include overfishing, coastal development, 
     and the impacts of climate change have a negative impact on the overall penguin populations.

      So now that you know more about these stunning species, please show your support this World Penguin Day! I know the penguins will greatly appreciate it and they will even do their happy feet dance in return!

(Source: Happy Feet Movie)

How you can contribute to Earth Day and beyond

Please take a moment to think about what your impact is doing to Mother Nature and how it will affect future generations to come and to be mindful of what your behaviour is doing to the environment and to protect the one planet we got.

We belong to the Earth

If you care about the earth, there are several ways in which you can participate and celebrate in Earth day by simply making a few little changes to your daily routine in order to make the world a better place, such as:

·         Plant trees

·         Reduce the use of plastic bags to avoid soil and water pollution
·         Recycle!
·         Pick up litter around your neighbourhood
·         Start composing by turning your food waste into soil
·         Wear environmental colours such as green, brown or blue clothes to show your support
·         Reduce your footprint to reduce your overall impact on the planet
·         Teach people that every day is earth day and to take care of the earth on daily basis
·         Use certified natural skin-care products
·         Use the cold water setting on your washer
·         Replace old, inefficient light bulbs with new energy-saving ones
·         Adjust Your Water Heater
·         Make a pledge to keep water clean and accessible
·         Buy local produce to help reduce your carbon footprint
·         Change your computer settings to turn off after 15 minutes of inactivity
·         Recycle your E-Waste
·         Go solar which is both energy cost effective and simultaneously helping to protect the
       environment.
·         Lastly, something that is free and requires only your time is to take a walk in nature and simply
       appreciate it.

Change is possible, step by step, each individual can do their bit to save the environment from irreversible destruction. One person can’t do it alone, but as a group of nature enthusiasts it is possible to make a true and great difference. Mother Nature will truly thank us if we do!

Why support Earth Day?

Earth Day Badge

There are several reasons why it is important to participate in such a day and show your support:

·       The current global warming trend is of particular significance because the majority of it is most likely to be caused by humans. It is proceeding at a rate that is unprecedented in the past 1,300 years.

·       Climate change causes coastal flooding and displacement of people. Floods also help spread deadly diseases by transmitting infection and vector-borne diseases.

·        The world's average surface temperature has increased by around 0.6 degrees Celsius over last 100 years.

·        The Golden Toad is the first species to go extinct due to climate change.

·       Climate change enhances the spread of pests that causes life-threatening diseases such as malaria.

·       Climate change could push food prices up by 50% to 60% by 2030.

·       Scientists predicted that due to ongoing activities contributing to global warming, the average global temperature could increase between 1.4 and 6 degrees Celsius in the 21st century.

·       The United States constitutes 5% of the world population and contributes to 22% of world's carbon emission.

·       Hurricanes and droughts are some of the natural disasters caused by climate change.

(Source: International Business Times).

Celebrating Earth Day on 22 April

Earth Day is annually celebrated on the 22^nd of April. More than 1 billion people enthusiastically participate in this imperative day.



Celebrating Earth Day

This an important day in environmentalists’ green eyes and we strive to make noticeable awareness about this day and to essentially celebrate and participate in Earth Day every single day. The environmental community comes together to help raise awareness to protect the environment and the climate.

It is about making people aware and to inspire them to participate and show their support for environmental protection and sustainable development and to change our behavior and fight for a clean environment. Various groups and communities show their support and to celebrate clean air, land, and water. This day puts a spotlight on the imminent and unique environmental challenges and issues and to protests against the deterioration of the environment.

This day is about truly honoring Mother Nature.

This day is globally coordinated by the Earth Day Network which does an extraordinarily good job of raising environmental awareness around the world and to globally create positive change and to raise awareness about the link between economic growth and sustainability as well as seeking to choose clean and greener energy solutions. They work towards a better environmental future.

Earth is the only planet where life is possible and it is necessary to maintain the natural assets of the earth in order to continue the life on the earth.

Truly making an environmentally friendly difference

Let’s all celebrate Earth Day and daily help to protect Mother Nature while daily keeping an environmentally friendly future in mind. Remember, give Mother Nature a reason to love us back.

For more information with regards to this important day and what you can do to participate and help, please visit:

http://www.earthday.org/earth-day-history-movement

http://www.un.org/en/events/motherearthday/

http://www.livescience.com/45004-eight-energy-saving-tips.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ryan-scott/earth-to-man-sos-this-ear_b_7097848.html