REEFS HAVE RIGHTS TOO!
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef
Photo Courtesy of Queensland Tourism
By: Phoenix Arrien
One of the great wonders of the world is Australia’s Great Barrier Reef (GBR). If you haven’t visited this stretch of water running along the northeast coast it may be time to consider a trip.
The colours and textures - greens, reds, oranges and yellows. The smoothness of rocks and knobbly brittleness of the coral. Fish, eels, clams and all sorts of strange and wonderful life. It’s a different world down there.
However the GBR is in trouble. Bleaching due to warmer temperatures and pollution from agricultural run-off is having a terrible effect on this stunning area. It is sad that many of the world’s reefs are vulnerable. Pollution, overfishing, sedimentation and climate change are wreaking havoc.
The Reef Check Foundation is seeking one million signatures for their International Declaration of Reef Rights (www.reefcheck.org/petition/petition.php) so they can present it to the Heads of State of all countries with coral reefs - 101 of them apparently - at the end of 2008.
This year is the International Year of the Reef and as well as signing the petition we can help by:
- Choosing sustainable seafood
- Supporting reef-friendly hotels and tourism operators
- Not rubbish the land because much of it will end up in the ocean including reefs
Reefs can recover in many ways, however it requires us all to be aware of their vulnerability, as well as their beauty.
Tags: Global Warming, Protecting Reefs World Wide, Queenlsand Australia, The Great Barrier Reef
