How does shipping and tourism threaten the Great Barrier Reef?

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the worlds nature wonders, made by millions of corals put together into one huge reef. This is the largest coral reef in the world, a little off the northeast coast of Australia. This fantastic coral reef has not been spared from the hands of humans, there is a lot of human activities that are constantly threatening the Great Barrier Reef. Among them are both shipping and tourism.

Shipping is a danger to this reef, especially when ships cross the reef frequently and in big numbers. Also, when a ship docks inside the reef, it becomes a problem. Many corals dies, especially the ones that are directly beneath the landed ship, ships also pollute the Marine environment, and the worst of all, pollutions is the oil spills. The ships are likely to have accidents, and sometimes inside of the reef. This affects the coral reef directly, and also disturbs the entire ecosystem of the area. The marine mammals, the flora and other fauna will be harmed. A result of this can be enormous damage to the entire Great Barrier Reef in the long run.

Another thing that has some negative effect on the Great Barrier Reef, is tourism. It will have negative effect on the environmental and the social impacts of the reef and coastal environment. Tourism on the reef is worth over 4 billion per year and employs over 47.000 people, and approximately 1.6 million tourists visit the reef each year. Australian residents were asked to rank the impacts of reef tourism, and the result showed that they meant that tourism was a big threat to the Great Barrier Reef. A test survey run on reef environmental scientists, ranked reef tourism as a much smaller threat then many others impacts, such as fishing and coral bleaching. To help saving the vulnerable reef, management agencies and industry have included education of reef visitors and tourism staff, to make the tourism and the recreation more sustainable. This education includes greater understanding of the environmental issues in the Great Barrier Reef.

‘The larder’ a short story by Morris Lurie

This short story is about a group of tourists that has returned from a boat trip to the Great Barrier Reef. On their way home, they picked up a bunch of shells. They want to take the shells home, but the shells still have small creatures inside them that are alive. One of the main characters, a real-estate agent, bragged about having brought back nine shells. He then used a knife to open them, which is abusive against the living creature inside. The other main character, a schoolteacher, is the opposite of the agent. She only brought back one shell, and she is not abusing against the creature.

Schoolteacher -> She tries to be sensible. She only takes the shell she likes the best. I think, from out of her actions, she symbolizes goodness and care, and not selfishness.

The real-estate agent -> He is abusive and aggressive. He takes nine shells, but still wants more. He just takes them because he can, which I think symbolizes humankind.

These ‘’names’’ are the only one mentioned in this story. Why? Can be because we see two completely different persons, one that cares and one that does not care. We do not need to see other examples on other personalities. Out of these two we get a lot of knowledge of how different, certain people can act in this situation (or similar situations).

MY COUNTRY- ZINDZI MANDELA

This poem is about the childhood of Zindzi Mandela, and her experiences when dad was sent to prison. As just an 18 months old baby she did not understand the situation. However, later she understood. The poem starts with Zindzi standing in the schoolyard with tears coming from her eyes. She then walks to the kitchen and talks with her mother who is smiling with a forced fake smile. The poem ends with a man, here Nelson Mandela, who is taken away from his family.

The mother in this poem is a black hard-working woman – ‘’black hard-washing hands’’. From this, we understand that she works hard to support her family. She tries to cover up her pain with a fake ‘’put-on’’ smile – ‘’ a forceful smile from a tired face’’. While the poem does not tell us much about her looks, it says a lot about her personality and life experiences.

In the third paragraph we read about how the mother reacts when the first person holds up a picture of her husband. She reacts by turning away, maybe because she is in pain from what has happened. We learn more about why later in the poem. The third paragraph seems like something that happens later than the last paragraph.

The verbs in this poem is in Present. This affect the poem by letting us feel like we are closer to the story. While the paragraphs are not in chronological order, they tell us what is happening at present. However, it still stands in present.

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born July 18, 1918 and died December 5, 2013. He was a nonviolence anti-apartheid activist, political leader, and philanthropist who became the first black president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. Nelson Mandela joined the African National Congress in 1942, after becoming actively involved in the anti-apartheid movement. He was arrested and imprisoned in 1962. Mandela served 27 years in the prison, split between Robben Island, Pollsmoor Prison, and Victor Verster Prison for political offenses. President F.W de Klerk released him in 1990. In 1993, Nelson Mandela and the South African president F.W de Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to dismantle the county’s apartheid system. He died at the age of 95, after suffering from a prolonged respiratory infection. The death happened at his home in Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa. Today Mandela is a source of inspiration for civil rights activists worldwide. In South Africa he is described as the “Father of the Nation”.

The pre-Lent Carnival in the Caribbean

When Christmas is officially over in the Caribbean, it is time for the annually Carnival. This celebration falls on Fat Tuesday, which is March 5 this year.

In its original home, Trinidad, is the biggest and wildest party arranged. Nevertheless, there are many other islands where you can experience the Carnival.

This tradition originated with Italian Catholics, who later spread it to the French and Spanish. They brought the tradition with them when they settled with slaves in Trinidad, Dominica, Haiti and other Caribbean islands. The first Caribbean Carnival was in Trinidad in the late 18^th century.

Dressing in masquerade, music and dancing are three elements that remain central to Carnival celebrations.

The Caribbean Peoples’ flag

The Caribbean flag has two main colours dark, and light blue. The dark blue represents the sea, and the light blue represents the sky. Blue is also the colour that represents the Caribbean. The sky and the sea in the flag are connecting at the horizon. 27 stars are shown in a semi-circle, they are representative for the nations that comprise the Caribbean, with all the diversity of the people. Their golden colour symbolises the optimism that characterise the inhabitants of the Caribbean. The orange arch symbolises the tropical sun, the warmth and the liveliness, typical for the region. Under the arch there is a flying dove, it captures the peacefulness, love, compassion, freedom and the harmony in the Caribbean. The dove was also the first sign of life Columbus saw on his travel to the new world.

The Caribbean calypso and steel band music

Calypso music was developed in Trinidad in the 17^th century. It was brought by African slaves to Trinidad. The slaves were not allowed to talk to each other, so they used calypso to mock the ‘’slaves masters’’ and to communicate with each other.

During the early mid-19^th century originated Modern-Calypso in Trinidad and Tobago. By the mid-20^th century it spread to the rest of the Caribbean Antilles and Venezuela.

An example on Calypso music is – Calypso music, by David Rudder.

Steel drum music, also known as steelpans, is a musical instrument originated from Trinidad and Tobago. Steel drum musicians are called pannists.

During the 17^th century the French planter’s brought slaves to Trinidad. In 1880 African percussion music were banned. In 1937 they then reappeared in Laventille. However, now as an orchestra of frying pans, dustbin lids and oil drums. These steelpans are now a major part of the Trinidadian music.

An example on steel drum music is this song on youtube –

The Journey Begins

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton