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LOLA TRAVELS THE OCEANS
Planet Earth - The year is 2020, Earth is gasping for clean air, horrendous storms are sweeping the globe, and our oceans are choking on pollution. Many land animals have disappeared, whole bee colonies have collapsed, birds are falling dead from the sky, and fish and marine mammals are washing up dead or sick on our shores. Join me, Lola Miller, on an exciting journey around the world where we visit some of our ocean's hot spots.

 Our first stop is in the Arctic Ocean where we visit the last floating iceberg in the world. Joining me is Professor Ima Realtor, expert on ocean and land development.
Black ice

Our next stop is the North Atlantic Sea. We are here today to present an award to the captain of the vessel, Gonto Maru. This is a monumental moment! It has been reported that an Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, long believed to be extinct, has been caught. We are going on board to present the captain with the Last Tuna of the Sea trophy.

Capt. Igatamine   Research?

  Can you hear me now?  

We are flying over the middle of the Pacific Ocean and about to land on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This floating island, created by circular patterns of currents, is totally made of plastic bags, chemical sludge, shoes, bottles, toys, cigarette lighters, etc.,etc.; and is held together by fishing lines, nets, ropes, and those little plastic soda-can rings. The island, one of several, is larger than the state of Texas and several miles deep. It has become a popular spot for tourists on cruise ships, and a large feeding ground for migrating birds.

Our next stop is New York Harbor and an ever shrinking Manhattan Island. The city has a new look (inspired by Venice, Italy), and the price of high-rise condos has gone through the roof.
 Nuclear reactors
Shark!
DANGERRRRR!!!!

We drop in for dinner at a popular sushi restaurant, where shark is the fish of the day, again. They have introduced a new item to the menu called Crispy Critter Rolls. I didn't have the guts to ask what kind of critter. But what the heck, a little wasabi, some soy sauce, a pile of ginger, and a lot of saki, who cares what we're eating, right?
Sushi? May I see your...


2013
(And this is no joke!)

Expired fish
ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST
*Contains levels of mercury or PCB that may pose health risks to children and adults.
Abalone, Black (awabi) critically endangered
Chilean Sea Bass* So.Ocean - wild endangered
Cod, Atlantic & Pacific (fish sticks) endangered
Conch, Queen - worldwide wild-caught endangered
Crab, King* (kani) - imported endangered
Eel, Freshwater (unagi) worldwide endangered
Flounder,Dab,Sole (hirame) wild endangered
Grouper,Snowy* (mero) wild-caught endangered
Halibut,Atlantic/Pacific (hirame) wild endangered
Mahi mahi,Dorado,Dolphinfish -imported endangered
Marlin,Blue (a'u kajiki) - imported/wild endangered
Marlin,Striped* (a'u nairagi) worldwide endangered
Orange Roughy* - worldwide/wild endangered or extinct
Pollock, Atlantic (surimi) - Iceland endangered
Red Snapper (kurodai) - Gulf of Mex. endangered
Salmon*,Atlantic/river (ikura) - wild endangered or extinct
Shark* (shark fin soup) - worldwide endangered
Shrimp,Tiger,White (ebi) import/wild endangered
Sturgeon,White,Beluga,Russian,Stellate (caviar) - wild-caught endangered or extinct
Swordfish*, Broadbill, Emperador, Espada (shutome) - imported
 threatened or endangered
Trout*, Lake Huron, Lake Mich. - wild endangered
Tuna,Albacore* (canned white tuna)
(shiro maguro) - wild-caught		 endangered
Tuna, Blackfin* (toro maguro) Atlantic endangered
Tuna, Bluefin* (hon maguro) worldwide endangered
Tuna, Bigeye* (ahi maguro) worldwide endangered
Tuna, Yellowfin* (canned) worldwide endangered
 
This is a partial list. For a complete listing of endangered seafood contact:
www.montereybayaquarium.org

This is still 2012, the nightmare of global warming is ever-looming. Levels of green-
house gases are increasing at an alarming rate, in spite of many studies, much debate, and obstinate denials. Our oceans cover about 71% of the planet, they help regulate our climate. Many species, including humans, depend on healthy oceans. But they are getting hit hard: Becoming too acidic, too polluted, and too over-fished. There are dead-zones off the coast of all the major continents, mainly due to agricultural and industrial run-off. Scientists estimate that 90% of the large fish in our oceans are already gone. Many sea mammals, amphibians, seabirds, and coral reefs are critically endangered. And if the guilt of gobbling up the remaining 10% of our large fish doesn't alter your eating habits, than how about the fact that many of these large fish contain unhealthy levels of mercury, PCBs, DDT, and now maybe even radiation poisoning.
  What can you do?  
 
  • Be informed: Ask where your fish comes from, how it is caught, whether it is from a sustainable source, and how it is rated in terms of level of toxicity. Do not eat farm raised fish.
  • Demand that your representatives in Congress do everything they can to promote and subsidize green energy, instead of subsidizing the mega-rich oil industry.
  • Buy electric. Go solar. Consumers do have a voice.
  • If your car has a diesel engine, convert it to biodiesel (it was originally designed to run on peanut oil).
  • Buy local, organic produce and animal products.
  • Move to higher grounds, stock up on supplies, batten down the hatches and hold on to your thumbs - because it's going to be a stormy ride!
  
Home toons The Crusades The gods must be...? Cellphone Etiquitte
www.ocean.si.edu www.montereybayaquarium.org www.greatgarbagepatch.org www.earthfirst.com
J.Edgar Hoover's Ego Please, Mr. Spaceman! Lola meets her Ego Zoe's Dr. Feathers


Turtlebay Aquarium wc
Alice Niemiec Gallery