Save the Reef

Australia, a country known for its unique animals, vast outback, and glistering oceans, is home to the world’s largest coral systems, known more commonly as The Great Barrier Reef. In Queensland, Australia, the the reef is located, natural miracles such as the gathering of the almighty Humpback whale, or the breeding of six different species of turtle are not uncommon. However, hundreds of species of fish, mammal and reptile are threatened to be evicted out of their homes.

It is, unfortunately true; marine life is apparently not nearly as important as filling the greedy pockets of government officials. You see, what the government plans to do is to put several new coal terminals only a couple of meters away from beach where turtles come to nest. These four coal terminals will not only pollute these beaches, and the mud that need to be dumped into the ocean will destroy the coral that makes up the great barrier reef. It has been known that in the past, Tony Abbott, Australia prime minister, has ignored other worldly issues, even saying that "the climate change argument is absolute crap”. Of course, we know that climate change is very real, as are the issues that destroying The Great Barrier Reef will cause.

These issues are not only affect the marine life, however, but will also do a significant number on tourism. Because The Great Barrier Reef is so large, it is only logical that the area would have high numbers in tourism; in fact, the reef averages 1.6 million visitors a year, because of this, local businesses are able to not only survive, but thrive. This tourism generate a whooping 5 billion Australian dollars a year. However, compare that figure to the potential 28 billion Australian dollars that can be made, it is no wonder why the government chose what would be the most beneficial to them. 

The important detail that cannot be lost, however, is the many negative impacts that this coal mine will have on our environment. Firstly, the emissions from the coal burning is expected to produce around 700 tonnes of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, a year. The release of greenhouse gases is the largest contributed to global warming a year. Another greenhouse gas which the burning of coal is likely to release is carbon monoxide, this not only contributes to global warming, but also it what cause acid rain, which is a destroyer of buildings, plant life, and water life. Secondly, the waster products from the mines are mostly going to be dumped into the ocean. This will pollute the water further, and most likely lead to the mutations and deaths of much of the life here.

There are still organisations and protests that are working to save the lives of these innocent animals and the jobs of locals; I urge you to help become part of the solution, simply visit savethereef.org.au and sign the petition. It takes a mere few minutes out of your day to help the beautiful creatures of the ocean.

-Izzi Seale.

Sources: 

http://www.greatbarrierreef.org/great-barrier-reef-facts.php

http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/visit-the-reef/visitor-contributions/gbr_visitation/numbers

http://savethereef.org.au/

http://www.divingcairns.com.au/reef_tourism

http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/25488?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+SBGeneralNews+(SustainableBusiness.com+General+News)

https://worldwildlife.org/threats/pollution

Summer

I miss the dew between my toes,

The feeling of walking barefoot on grass

A day after it rained. 

I miss the way the sun would appear

For only half an hour, 

then hide away behind the clouds.

And I miss the sunsetting at quarter past nine,

Creating a symphony of reds and blues and lilacs,

To be followed with a sky full of bright stars.

And I miss the dresses I could wear,

The infinite circles I would spin,

To feel like a dancer.

And I miss the night-long Skype calls

To my friends in distant lands,

Talking about nothing but the beauty of night.

And I miss the harmonious tunes of the crickets

Who would play their music all day long,

Because they knew I liked it.

And I miss the walks into the woods,

Not knowing where the animal’s paths would lead me,

Bearing only the bag on my back and the shoes on my feet.

To put it simply, 

And to put it short:

I miss summer.

Four empty walls.

A prison of four empty walls,

Containing only a desk and a chair,

Upon the desk lies the prison guard,

The one who forces you to remain.

It is a computer.

Day after day, after day;

Constantly you click the keys, tapping away,

Making money, living your life,

Your unsatisfactory, miserable life,

And for what?

If only it were possible, 

Possible to break free from this imprisonment,

To force your way out of those four empty walls,

To live a life that hasn't been chosen for you.

But its not.

So we continue life within four empty walls.

The Weight Trap

In today’s society, there is so much pressure on girls and boys, young and old, to be beautiful; part of these expectations include our weight, shape and dress size. In the media, we are given the expectation that we must be unnaturally thin, with big bums and big boobs, of course, while also having glowing, flawless skin and perfect features. Magazines often show overly touched up models and celebrities, who have been photo shopped to the point where the girl in the photo doesn’t even look like ‘the girl in the photo’. With all this deception how are we ever supposed to achieve what is considered  by the media beautiful? Well the obvious answer is that we can’t.

Instead what websites like Tumblr allow us to do, is encourage us to be body confident and to point a giant middle-finger up at the mainstream media who says that a women who aren’t a size 4 are not beautiful. However, I have noticed throughout my many years on the internet, that some people actually cyber-bully those who naturally may be thin, pinpointing them as ‘anorexic’, when in actuality being skinny is something that they cannot help. ‘Thin shaming’, like ‘fat shaming’ does no good and only makes people feel incredibly shit about themselves.

This is the part where I introduce the paradox that our society has created. On the one hand, we have the media constantly telling girls that they should starve themselves to be the crux of beauty; on the other hand, social media websites like tumblr that beauty isn’t being thin, it is instead eating whatever you like whenever you want to. However, it is my personal opinion that neither of these are ideal for girls and teenagers growing up. There is of course nothing beautiful about an eating disorder, whether is it anorexia, or binge eating- and this is what both of these influence are trying to entice. I propose that we define something new few beauty. I propose that healthy is beautiful.

This new definition of beauty means that whether you’re a size 6 or a size 18, as long as your lifestyle includes at least 20 minutes of exercise a day (and this does include walking to your school or job) and your 5 fruits and veggies a day, you are beautiful. My aim of this is not to shame those who enjoy eating a little more than they should, nor is it an attempt to put an end eating disorders through shaming them; it is simply an attempt to encourage those who are worried about their shape to worry more about their health. Any extremity in diet, whether you don’t eat anything, or eat too much, can result in serious health issues. I am of course not suggest that you abandon McDonalds and chocolate completely, just take small steps in attaining the healthier lifestyle.

By changing the definition of beauty to something that can easily be attained by almost everyone, I fully believe that not only would physical health issues can be prevented better, but also, so can mental health issues. 

Poem: 'The Turtle'

The Turtle.

Carrying his world on his back,

The turtle sails through the galaxy,

Swirling past the predatorious stars;

Who seek only to consume him.

His eyes focused on finding the

Colourful womb from which he was born,

An explosion of dust, exhibiting

a mirage of lilacs and teals.

Come to die where he was born,

The ancient being, the wise turtle,

Surviving the end, and the beginning.

He has reached the end of his life.

He rushes amongst the stars-

Anxious to find a new beginning.

He is the last of his kind: ‘The lonely one’,

Yet, he is not ‘alone’ at all.

For he carries the souls of those before him,

So that his kind can end together.

He swims.

Past the tears in the universe.

Past the rocky remains of old life.

Past the ashes of the brightest sun.

Here, at the end of His journey

Is a bright light.

A Supernova of sorts,

Into which he swims.

And experiences what can only be described as-

Oblivion.