More on Colossal Squid and less on my idiotic ranting here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7374297.stm

Arctic sea ice shrank to the smallest area on record this year, US scientists have confirmed.

The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) said the minimum extent of 4.13 million sq km (1.59 million sq miles) was reached on 16 September. The figure shatters all previous satellite surveys, including the previous record low of 5.32 million sq km measured in 2005. Earlier this month, it was reported that the Northwest Passage was open. The fabled Arctic shipping route from the Atlantic to the Pacific is normally ice-bound at some location throughout the year; but this year, ships have been able to complete an unimpeded navigation.

The researchers at NSIDC judge the ice extent on a five-day mean. The minimum for 2007 falls below the minimum set on 20-21 September 2005 by an area roughly the size of Texas and California combined, or nearly five UKs. Speaking to BBC News on Monday this week, Mark Serreze, a senior research scientist at the NSIDC, said: “2005 was the previous record and what happened then had really astounded us; we had never seen anything like that, having so little sea ice at the end of summer. Then along comes 2007 and it has completely shattered that old record.” He added: “We’re on a strong spiral of decline; some would say a death spiral. I wouldn’t go that far but we’re certainly on a fast track. We know there is natural variability but the magnitude of change is too great to be caused by natural variability alone.”

The team will now follow the progress of recovery over the winter months.
In December 2006, a study by US researchers forecast that the Arctic could be ice-free in summers by 2040.

A team of scientists from the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), the University of Washington, and McGill University, found that “positive feedbacks” were likely to accelerate the decline of the region’s ice system. Sea ice has a bright surface which reflects 80% of the sunlight that strikes it back into space. However, as the ice melts during the summer, more of the dark ocean surface becomes exposed. Rather than reflecting sunlight, the ocean absorbs 90% of it, causing the waters to warm and increase the rate of melting.

Scientists fear that this feedback mechanism will have major consequences for wildlife in the region, not least polar bears, which traverse ice floes in search of food. On a global scale, the Earth would lose a major reflective surface and so absorb more solar energy, potentially accelerating climatic change across the world.

-Reprinted from BBC news.

Human activities have put polar bears in danger, the future of the species is threatened both by pollution and climate change.

Toxic pollution from industrial emissions builds up in the food chain. By the time it reaches polar bears at the top of the food chain it’s strong enough to cause birth defects and inhibit development.

Global warming also causes Arctic ice to melt earlier in the summer and freeze later in the winter, shortening the polar bears’ hunting season. For every week lost on the ice, the bears lose about 22 pounds of fat. Thinner bears tend to give birth to fewer cubs. Rising global temperatures have caused polar bears’ birth rates to decline by 15%.

The deadlone for public comment is April 9th. Don’t be an asshole… DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

To help CLICK HERE.
To learn more about Polar Bears click HERE.

Read more HERE.

Learn more about helping whales HERE and HERE.

… and that’s a fucking estimate. It could be significantly more. For what? Stamps? Jewelry? Are you fucking kidding me? The self-indulgent pieces of shit that gorge themselves on the misery of other creatures makes me fucking ill. They should have their teeth plucked out from their tiny little heads… I’d gladly wear those for a necklace. Read more about disgusting humans and their wasteful practices HERE.

You can help elephants HERE and HERE.

We’re killing our planet people. You MUST DO things to prevent this. Not just talk.