H ALIBUT HERALD

November 27, 2008

Bits and Bites

Most Colorful Lakes on Earth
Color is how the human eye perceives the reflection of different spectrums of light. We perceive color just as we
perceive taste: sublime, exquisite, horrible and delicious. It provokes us, it enchants us and our whole world
revolves around it. Everything from the clothes we wear, to the foods we eat are determined by color.
READ ON/MORE PICS: http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/25-most-colorful-lakes-on-
earth/1795
How Ice Shaped the Face of the Planet
Take Earth’s abundant water, add some crazy
planetary movement and freezing
temperatures and you have yourself an ice
age. The first ice age is thought to have been
around 2.5 billion years ago. It is known as the
Huronian ice age and it occurred during the
Proterozoic period. Not everyone agrees on
what caused the ice age. They’re not even
entirely sure how extensive the ice sheets
were. However, there are plenty of theories on
the first ice age.

Many people think that the ice age was due to the tilting of the
Earth at the time. 2.5 billion years ago, the Earth had a much
larger tilt than today. Earth is currently tilted on its axis at about
23.5 degrees. Some scientists think that the planet could have
been tilted as much as 54 degrees in the past.
READ ON: http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/ecology/mother-earth-how-ice-shaped-the-face-of-the-
planet/595 & http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/ice-cradle-life/2996

More News Links

Is Seaweed Really A Weed?
From Beach Chair Scientist

Actually seaweed is a term given too many different

types of marine plants that grow in the ocean and
none of them are weeds, in the sense that we would
try to get rid of them with a weed killer.

The basic scientific term would really be algae. Algae

(Red, brown, or green) are a very large single celled
phytoplankton. Phytoplankton in the world’s oceans is
extremely important due to their immense numbers.
Did you know there is more phytoplankton
producing oxygen and absorbing the carbon
dioxide than there are trees on the land?

Water: The Lifeblood of our Planet

Water is central to our planet. Every living thing requires it. Everything that has ever lived required it. Without
liquid water, the Earth is a barren, lifeless rock. Fortunately, the Earth has abundant water. This article explores
the formation of our planet & some of the theories behind the history of water on planet earth, coupled with
some great photographs.
READ ON: http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/ecology/mother-earth-water-the-lifeblood-of-our-
planet/586
Water Laws May Be Used to Fight Warming
Environmental groups have sought to force the federal government to restrict carbon dioxide emissions using
the Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act (because of threats to polar bears from global warming) and
other federal laws, and now they are poised to add the Clean Water Act to the list.

The Center for Biological Diversity

says it is prepared to sue the
Environmental Protection Agency for
failing to use the water law to respond
to the threat of ocean acidification.
This is the drop in seawater pH as the
oceans absorb an estimated 22 million
tons of carbon dioxide from the 80
million tons emitted each day by
human activities. The result is a
buildup of carbonic acid, which is
lowering the pH of seawater. That
trend toward acid conditions could
threaten corals and plankton with
shells containing calcium, biologists have warned.
READ ON: http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/water-laws-may-be-used-to-fight-warming/

FLOW: FOR THE LOVE OF WATER, DVD OUT DECEMBER 9, 2008

Irena Salina's award-winning documentary investigation into what experts
label the most important political and environmental issue of the 21st Century
- The World Water Crisis.

Salina builds a case against the growing privatization of the world's dwindling
fresh water supply with an unflinching focus on politics, pollution, human
rights, and the emergence of a domineering world water cartel.

Interviews with scientists and activists intelligently reveal the rapidly building
crisis, at both the global and human scale, and the film introduces many of
the governmental and corporate culprits behind the water grab, while
begging the question "CAN ANYONE REALLY OWN WATER?"
READ ON: http://www.flowthefilm.com/

Blue Gold: World Water Wars

Wars of the future will be fought over water, not oil. There
have indeed been many films made recently on what
might very well be the hottest topic of our new century.
This is likely the best of them. It is based on Maude
Barlow and Tony Clarke's call to arms Blue Gold: The
Fight to Stop the Corporate Theft of the World's Water,
and features eloquent testimonials from them as well as
from the likes of the ever-admirable Vandana Shiva.

READ ON: www.bluegold-worldwaterwars.com

Wow! Giant octopus - extreme
animals - BBC wildlife

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=lwAqhThd_EQ

Library News
* Arctic & Antarctic an Eyewitness Book by Barbara Taylor ((1995)
* Collaborative leadership: how Citizens and Leaders Can Make a Difference (1994), by Chrislip, David D
* For Love of Insects (2003) by Thomas Eisner
* Forces for Good: the Six Practices of High-Impact Nonprofits (2008) by Leslie R. Crutchfield and Heather
McLeod Grant
* Insect an Eyewitness Book by Lawrence Mound (1990)
* Managing a Nonprofit Organization in the Twenty-First Century (1999) by Thomas Wolf
* Managing the Nonprofit Organization: Principles and Practices (1990) by Peter F. Drucker
* The Dominant Animal: Human Evolution and the Environment (2008) by Paul R. Ehrlich and Anne H. Ehrlich
* The Fifth discipline: the Art and Practice of the Learning Organization (2006), by Senge, Peter M.
* The Leadership Challenge (2007) by Kouzes and Posner

Archival Photo

School
group at
Aquarium
Entrance,
1961
Daisy Update
Daisy has been at MMR now for just over 3
months, and to mark her huge milestone, she
has now been placed in one of the larger pools.
Since her arrival day, she has more than
double her weight and is now at almost 28 kg!

After being on 24 hours care and observation

daisy has slowly let us know that she was going
to be ok on her own at night and that she is
becoming a big girl. She is spending close to
12 hours by herself and quietly waits for her
8:00 am feed and is ready to get tons of
affection from her loving caretakers. During the
daytime, Daisy has lots of energy and she loves
to dive. Her weaning process is well under way
and within the next month or two she will be off
her formula and on a diet of mostly herring and
other small fish that she is already sucking back
and enjoying!

We have introduced new toys that she loves,

but of course she hasn’t let down her pink
noodle! She still caries that noodle on her back
everywhere around the pool. Flexible tubes
have been hung down in her pool and she uses
them to rub her body against. She is adorable
and definitely has her own personality, she’s a
fighter and we admire her for hanging tough!!

Daisy November 26, 2008 in her new pool with her sidekick, “Noodle”, and in front of her is the flexible tubing
that she likes to rub up against. Photo courtesy of MMR volunteer and Porpoise Observer, Graydon Armstrong.

Green Team
Sustainability Challenge!
Enter to win great prizes!!!

Participate in Ocean Wise month by eating at an Ocean Wise restaurant! Bring in your receipt(s) to
win great prizes - $100 gift certificates for an Ocean Wise restaurant, as well as an Ocean-friendly
cook book. Drop off your November receipts in the Green Team suggestion box in the Lounge.
Please highlight the Ocean Wise item you ordered, and write your name and extension (or email) on
the back of the receipt. The prize draw will happen during the first week of December.

Look for a restaurant: http://www.vanaqua.org/oceanwise/

Presented by The Green Team and Ocean Wise

******************************
November is Ocean Wise Month
Dining out can make a world of difference!

Help us spread the word and celebrate sustainable seafood this

November with our 1st Annual Ocean Wise Month!

A number of Ocean Wise events are happening this month, so be

sure to visit the Ocean Wise website at:
www.vanaqua.org/oceanwise

In addition you will notice Ocean Wise themed gallery

programming, activities, shows and other activities throughout
the aquarium.

Ocean Wise Month Dine-out is happening throughout the BC

Lower Mainland giving diners the chance to win 52 Ocean Wise
restaurant gift-certificates, simply by choosing the Ocean Wise
identified menu item from participating Ocean Wise Month
restaurants.

Note: Staff and their immediate family of Vancouver Aquarium and participating Ocean Wise
restaurants can not enter the Dine-out draw. However the Green Team and Ocean Wise are
having a Vancouver Aquarium staff only Ocean Wise Month draw – the prizes? $100 gift
certificate to Chambar and a sustainable seafood cookbook! Enter by bringing in your receipt
from any Ocean Wise restaurant during November (ballot box is the “Green Team Feedback” box
in the Level 2 AquaQuest lunchroom).

Events
‘Stuff the Bus’ – Blanket and Jacket Charity Drive!
Looking for an easy way to make a
difference this holiday season?
The Aquarium is partnering with Landsea Tours
on their ‘Stuff the Bus’ charity drive. They are
taking all of the seats out of one of their 24-
passenger buses, and aiming to “Stuff the Bus”
to the ceiling with blankets and warm clothing for
the homeless. The bus will be parked at the
th
Aquarium on Sun, Dec 7 to load up donated
blankets and jackets (from staff, volunteers and
visitors).

How can you help? It’s simple.

Just drop off your extra blankets and
jackets in the ‘flex room’ beside
reception, anytime from Thurs, Dec 4
to Sat, Dec 6.
th
I will be on-site (along with anyone who would like to help!) on Sun the 7 to load everything into the bus. All
blankets and warm clothing will be donated to the St. James Community Service Society.

Please contact Kristi Wilson with any questions you might have.

Thank you for your support of this very worthwhile initiative!

One of our employees volunteers with the Humane Society and would like to spread the word on a petition to
stop Shark Finning, an act where sharks are caught, finned, and thrown back in the ocean to die. Sharks act as
the ocean's filtering system and play a massive role in the balance of order. Sharks, despite their reputation as
killing machines, actually provide a safety net for other species against disease. They prey on sick, aged and
dying animals which prevents any disease prevalent in these animals from diluting future gene pools. Many
animals existence today can be owed to Sharks.

A Shark-less planet would be a disaster for marine wildlife and the seas itself, not to mention our own future.
SIGN IT HERE: https://community.hsus.org/campaign/hsi_nigel_shark_fin_pledge/ie6sbnx4h7d36xkj

******************************

Join POST and the Census of Marine Life in a sneak peek at absolutely AMAZING
footage from Jacques Perrin's (Winged Migration, Microcosmos) upcoming theatrical
release, Oceans.
Be completely amazed, engaged and inspired in the Goldcorp Theatre at 12:00pm sharp on Thursday,
December 11. All staff and volunteers are welcome (no guests, please) to join in this very special opportunity
to see the spectacular and astounding preview footage. Don't miss it!
 ******************************
16th Annual BC Marine Mammal Symposium
Saturday, November 29, 2008 – 9:30am – 5:00pm
Sponsored by the UBC Marine Mammal Research Unit and Whale Watch
Operators Association Northwest
University of British Columbia Science Visualization Room; Ground Floor, Aquatic Ecosystem Research
Laboratory (AERL); 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, B.C. Canada V6T 1Z4; Telephone: (604) 822-8181

Registration fee:

· Advanced: $0 (pre-register by Nov 21: (consortium@zoology.ubc.ca)

· Late: $5 (cash only at the door)

Join us for presentations as well as discussion on issues that concern us all.

This meeting is open to researchers, educators and businesses involved with marine mammals and anyone in
one or more of these categories is welcome to attend.

Please email Pamela Rosenbaum @ consortium@zoology.ubc.ca before November 21, 2008, to indicate that
you plan to attend. Lunch and refreshments will be provided, but we need to know how many people to plan
for. There will also be a social evening (6:00-9:00 pm) where beer and pizza can be purchased.

The Agenda will be distributed at the meeting. Please email Pamela Rosenbaum @
consortium@zoology.ubc.ca before November 21, 2008 if you would like to make a five minute presentation
about your research. Longer presentations on topics of general interest are welcomed. We would also like to
know if there are any issues that should be discussed by the group at large.
 We look forward to hearing from you and you seeing at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 29, 2008

For Sale
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi DSLR Camera
Canon EFS 18-55mm IS Lens
Canon EF 75-300mm f4.0-5.6 III USM
Canon Battery Grip BG-E5
Canon Battery
Dynax Tripod
1 8GB Kingston SDHC card
2 2GB HP SD cards

All for $800 Please contact Gary.Chu@vanaqua.org

Is your friend is as playful as a sea otter?

Does your brother roar like a Steller's sea lion?
Can your sister be as graceful as a sea turtle?
Are you as energetic as a Pacific white- sided dolphin?

Well... This is your chance to compare them in closer quarters!

Get them (or yourself!) an Animal Encounter gift certificate!!

For a limited-time only, the Aquarium is offering a discount on Animal Encounter gift certificates for staff,
volunteers and members. Encounters are truly amazing experiences that take participants behind-the-scenes
to feed a sea otter, visit a Steller's sea lion, get up close and personal with a sea turtle or touch and get splashy
with a Pacific white- sided dolphin! They are all fun and unique gifts for friends and family and are a great way
to show off where you work!
th
December 8 to the 21st, staff, volunteers and members will receive an additional 10% off the regular staff
discount, for a total of 30% off Dolphin, Sea Lion, Sea Turtle and Sea Otter Encounters.

Animal Encounters are affordable!

Prices: Adult Adult & Child Additional Child
Dolphin Encounter $136.50 ($195 regular) $189 ($270 regular) n/a
Steller Sea Lion Encounter* $24.50 ($35 regular) $35 ($50 regular) $10.50 ($15 regular)
Sea Turtle Encounter* $24.50 ($35 regular) $35 ($50 regular) $10.50 ($15 regular)
Sea Otter Trainer Tour* $17.50 ($25 regular) $28 ($40 regular) $10.50 ($15 regular)

Child prices apply to kids from 8 to 12. Children must be accompanied by a paying adult.
*Animal Encounter prices do not include Aquarium admission. One adult may bring up to 5 children.

Purchase your gift certificates on-site at the Admissions desk or from Bookings. For more information
on all of our Animal Encounters, visit www.vanaqua.org.