Local
residents of Kumejima, a town in Okinawa of southwestern Japan,
recently discovered an immense and thriving colony of corals 100
kilometers off the coast of the prefecture’s main island. In a recent
follow-up survey, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) found that this colony
is not only large, but it is also impressive because of its vitality,
which is unusual since many coral colonies around the world are known to
be threatened by bleaching due to global warming.
These
colonies, on the other hand, appear to enjoy certain conditions unique
to the Okinawa island region that include warm subtropical waters
carried by the Kuroshio Current, an absence of silt from runoff and the
water’s high salinity, all of which are necessary for large coral
growth.
In a related study, Spanish and French scientists
observing coral colonies in the Mediterranean discovered that the
recovery of ailing coral health was directly proportional to the length
of time and restorative conditions of being left undisturbed from
fishing and other human activities.
According to another new
finding by UK researchers, the survival of coral reefs rests in part on
the remarkable ability of baby corals to perceive sounds emitted from
parent colonies.
Believed until now to drift aimlessly, the tiny
young organisms actually detect and navigate towards the sounds of
activity coming from coral reef habitats.
However, participating
study scientists have expressed concern that human-made noise from
boats, shipping, and other activities could interfere with this vital
lifesaving skill.
Meanwhile, the Japanese scientists who discovered
the Kumejima coral are also advocating the region’s protection to help
in replenishing depleted regions.
Our appreciation World
Wildlife Fund and British, Spanish and French researchers for your
findings of these ocean wonders. We pray that such precious coral
colonies will continue in their pristine state and that all marine
ecosystems may likewise be allowed to flourish through humans’
protection.
In an October 2009 videoconference in Indonesia,
Supreme Master Ching Hai urged for the conservation of Earth’s coral
reefs through our conscientious actions.
Supreme Master Ching Hai:
One report has put it this way, I quote exactly from that report:
『Overfishing is causing more damage to the coral reefs than earthquakes
or tsunamis.』 Can you imagine this ?
If we are vegan, coral
reefs will be left in peace and beauty, and will protect us. The coral
reef is a protector of our lives, of the sea. Right now it is
endangered, the coral reef, due to overfishing If we truly wish to see
real harmony born between humans and animals and nature and Heaven, we
must be the harmony, we must live in harmony, and act also in harmony,
which includes the act of eating harmoniously each time we come to the
table. Peace, compassion, mercy begin on our plate.
We must protect the environment and the animals because we have to protect ourselves.
http://www.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/18_36.html http://web-japan.org/nipponia/nipponia42/en/feature/index.html