Equus Zebra Hartmannae

"Nature never breaks her own laws"

Leonard Da Vinci (1452-1519)

The Hartman's mountain zebra is an endangered wild equid living in a harsh yet fragile environment. Only 362 Hartmann's zebra can be found within 47 zoos worldwide. Twenty years ago, more than 50,000 Hartmann's zebra were found in southwestern Africa. Today, experts estimate there are only about 5,000 of the animals living in disconnected pockets in the western regions of Namibia.

This subspecies is differentiated from it's close relative, the Cape mountain zebra because of it's body size, ears and stripes.

• Did you know?

In Africa's Namib desert Hartmann's mountain zebras have been observed to sniff out water on the surface of dry river beds. They paw at the ground with their hooves to get to water that is sometimes three feet below the surface. By doing so these zebra's benefit other desert dwelling animals. It has also been mentioned that Hartmann's mountain zebras can go without water for four days.

• And to answer that age old question: if you were to shave a zebra, you would actually have a black animal!

Inlandsis Ice-Stream ( Greenland )

"This we know, the Earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the Earth. All things are connected like the blood which unites one family...Whatever befalls the Earth, befalls the sons of the Earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself"

Chief SEATTLE, 1854. (1786-1866)

Inlandsis or ice sheet is a mass of glacier, greater than 50 000 km² (19 305 miles).
The only current inlandsis are Greenland and Antarctic. The Greenland ice cap is the only relic of the last continental glaciation.

Although the surface is cold, the base of an ice sheet is generally warmer, in places it melts and the melt-water lubricates the ice sheet so that it flows more rapidly. This process produces fast-flowing channels in the ice sheet - these are ice streams.

• Did you know?
  The Greenland ice sheet occupies about 82% of the surface of Greenland, and if melted would cause sea levels to rise by 7.2 metres.

Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary at Sunset ( Senegal )

Nice photography taken by my friend Wahida...thanks Didi ;)


Situated in The Senegal river delta, The Djoudj park is an exceptional bird reserve, known as the third ornithological reserve of the world; This wetland of 16 000 ha is not only a gathering place for millions of 250 different species of bird, but it is also home to phacochers, hyenas, gazelles, crocodiles and more!
Djoudj is truly a delightful oasis of freshness and tranquility, but a fragile sanctuary inscribed in The World Heritage in Danger.


African Spoonbill

Maupiti Islands - The Society archipelago ( Tahiti )

• These days, it is relatively common for people to recycle paper, glass and metals (aluminum and steel). The infrastructure and services for this recycling activity are available and relatively well understood. However the recycling of petroleum products is less well known and sometimes confusing. Regulators and recycling agencies have effectively communicated with businesses the need for and benefits of recycling used oil but more can be done to communicate with individuals who work on their cars or trucks in the garage at home. These individuals generate significant quantities of used petroleum products that need to be recycled.

• Many individuals who are unfamiliar with the importance of recycling used oil are unconsciously harming the environment by throwing it away with their normal garbage or emptying their used oil into storm drains. Such actions, especially emptying used oil into storm drains, can cause real harm to the environment. To put it into perspective, just one gallon of used oil can contaminate 1 million gallons of water.

• Recycling your used motor oil keeps it out of our rivers, lakes, streams and even the ground water. In many cases, that means keeping it out of our drinking water, off our beaches, and away from wildlife. We all share the responsibility of protecting our environment and keeping our waters safe. Recycling used oil allows us to continue to enjoy what many of us take for granted every day – clean water.

• Where?: Many service stations, repair facilities and quick lubes will accept used oil and used oil filters. Additionally, your local government or recycling coordinator may be able to identify curbside or other recycling programs in your area.

• Why?: There are many practical uses for used motor oil.

1. A primary use is to rerefine it into a base stock for lubricating oil. This process is very similar to the refining of crude oil. The result is that the rerefined oil is of as high a quality as a virgin oil product. In fact, rerefining used oil takes from 50 to 85 percent less energy than refining crude oil.
2. A secondary use of the used oil is to burn it for energy. Large industrial boilers can efficiently burn the used oil with minimum pollution. As a result some used oil is sent to power plants or cement kilns to be burned as fuel. On a smaller scale small quantities of used oil are burned in specially designed heaters to provide space heating for small businesses.

• As you can see, recycled used oil probably touches your life every day without you even knowing it. As consumers, we all benefit from recycling used motor oil . From augmenting our oil supplies and helping to generate heat, to protecting the environment, recycling oil just makes good sense.