Leaf Litter
Raking in Notes From All Over
October, 2004Toxic Algae Acts a Little Shellfish
15 miles off the coast of Washington, a "red tide" of poisonous algae is in bloom. It has grown to a massive 30 miles wide, and is the largest and most potentially lethal algae found by area scientists. Coastal water is tested twice a week and satellites monitor the algae’s approach up the coast. If there isn’t too much storm activity, the "red tide" will remain away from the coastline, which means Washington shellfish would stay safe for consumption.Specialty Crops a Plum Topic
A proposed congressional bill that provided $470 million annually in state grants to specialty crop producers was cut to $44.5 million when it was passed by the House Agriculture Committee. As California is the largest producer of specialty crops, it will receive the greatest share of the funds, which will be distributed by groups such as the Western Growers Association and the California Plum Board. Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced) was not happy. "I’m insulted by the paltry amount of funding in this bill," he said, apparently upset that it was pruned to a pittance.Bearing Down on Hunters
Activists in Alaska are promoting a ballot initiative outlawing the practice of bear baiting, with hunters using "human" food to lure their prey from the forest. Alaska is one of nine states that allows bear baiting, which, according to biologist Paul Joslin, sometimes involves the placement of "pastries, dog food (and) bacon grease" so hunters can have easier access to the bears. Environmentalists believe that supplying them with such foods could cause bears to invade local homes in search of similar sustenance. Hunters disagree, saying that the proposed ballot initiative is simply a case of one side imposing its values on the other.We Still Want Our Bean Burritos
The newest consumer trend in Mexico City is organically-grown coffee, fruits and vegetables. While Mexico has exported these products for twenty years, its residents are jumping on the organic bandwagon by purchasing these items for home consumption. The land devoted to organic crops has gone from 56,830 acres in 1996 to 544,000 acres today. Currently, only well-educated, higher-salaried Mexicans can afford the products, but store owners are hoping to open organic food locations in working class communities.DNA Tickles the Ivories
Ivory remains a precious commodity and ivory poachers kill thousands of elephants annually for it. With Americans voraciously purchasing ivory from around the world through marketplaces such as eBay, environmentalists have become concerned that forest elephants in the Congo will be wiped out. University of Washington scientists recently announced they have created a DNA profiling system to pinpoint the origin of ivory shipments, which may help identify poachers of ivory from endangered forest elephants.© 2004 Wendy Dager
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