Friday, November 07, 2008

American Cetacean Society Conference: November 13-16, 2008 in Monterey, CA (registration is still open!)

The American Cetacean Society (ACS) will hold their 11th international conference in Monterey, CA on November 13-16. This is shaping up to be another remarkable conference and the conference program looks amazing.

Sessions will take place all day Saturday and Sunday and will include scientific discussions, as well as discussions about whaling, human/whale interaction, the environment and in-depth reviews related to specific whale species.

There's going to be a banquet on Saturday evening, as well as a photo contest, poster session, art show, and auction. And on Monday, there will be a free symposium on gray whales if you are lucky enough to be able to stay beyond the weekend. And if you can make it out before the weekend, don't forget to sign up for Friday's whale watch in Monterey Bay! There's bound to be some interesting marine wildlife around. Registration information can be found
here. Online registration ends November 10th, but after that date, you can still register at the door.

While you're at it, consider becoming a member of ACS. I'm a proud member and have learned a lot about cetaceans by being part of the organization. In addition to educational benefits, you'll also be helping the great cause of cetacean and environmental conservation.

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

"Whale Wars" Television Series to Premiere on Animal Planet
This Friday, November 7, Animal Planet will debut a new 7-part weekly television series called "Whale Wars." It will follow the mission of Paul Watson's Sea Shepherd Conservation Society as they work aggressively to help stop whaling, poaching, shark-finning and habitat destruction. It's impressive that Animal Planet is devoting so much time to this important topic.
If anyone has ever been lucky enough to see a whale in the wild, it's hard to imagine that any human being would want to intentionally kill these magnificent creatures. In particular, Japan, Norway, and Iceland are still aggressively killing whales with no regard for the International Whaling Commission's guidelines.

The fact that Japan, Norway, and Iceland have such little respect for the whales and the marine ecosystem makes us seriously question whether we should be spending any money on the products or tourism of these countries. Whaling has no place in today's society--it's a brutal, unnecessary, and inhumane practice. Honestly, what is the point? Whales are in desperate need of our help. Many species are endangered as a result of whaling and their habitats are under constant threat.

Thanks to Animal Planet for taking time to educate us on this important topic.