Reef Check Foundation has issued an URGENT CALL TO ACTION

[kmk2307]

In honor of the International Year of the Reef in 2008, Reef Check Foundation has issued an URGENT CALL TO ACTION represented in the International Declaration of Reef Rights, viewable at http://www.reefcheck.org/petition/petition.php

Please sign the document today and circulate widely!

[virginiadiver69]

In recognition of these rights, I pledge to:
Not disturb, damage or COLLECT corals and other reef organisms. LMAO

[Samala]

If you're a reef keeper and you are making the pledge then you wouldn't buy wild collected animals or collect them yourself. Just keep aquacultured ones.

>Sarah

[virginiadiver69]

That doesn't seem practical to me.

[Rosseau]

Originally posted by virginiadiver69
That doesn't seem practical to me.

People do it, lots do. Either by trading frags with other reefers or buying from stores who grow their own corals. It is a viable way to maintain a thriving reef while helping out a little as per oceanic reef destruction.


Somes stores will have sections dedicated to such corals, with pressure likely more will.

[Thales]

Its not just corals, but all reef organisms. RC is aware of the issue and hopefully will make a change to the declaration soon.

[virginiadiver69]

I know this is done to a certain extent but honestly, what percentage of aquarists maintain a tank that is 100% aqua-cultured? That is coral, rock, fish, inverts(including snails)?

[rcypert]

We do what we can. It doesnt have to be 100% to help.

[virginiadiver69]

That doesn't sound like an URGENT CALL TO ACTION! to me. I don't seem to remember the petition saying "do what you can" either.
What percentage does it take to make yourself feel good?

[Jasonincuritiba]

Last time I checked aquacultured live rock looked like crap and does not even filter as well as non-aquacultured, so without live rock your reef wont survive, also say goodbye to any tangs, wrasses, hermit crabs, astrea snails, serpent stars, and tons of other things that are wild caught and probably always be that way.

[oh_billy]

Well then I looks like a lot of people dont give a "SHT" about natural reefs. I might suggest taking up scuba diving and go visit one. OH WELL... I'm glad that you have a hobby that you can enjoy...

[rudereefer]

well, they need to start giving a SHT, and quit stirring the pot... or this hobby will really dwindle down in the next 40 to 50 years, because eventually all of it will be outlawed from coming out of the ocean....

[wlagarde]

Originally posted by Samala
If you're a reef keeper and you are making the pledge then you wouldn't buy wild collected animals or collect them yourself. Just keep aquacultured ones.

>Sarah

Nope, this is not enough. Remember all the power your reef uses + all the power consumed culturing the frags = CO2 = global warming = destruction of reefs.

[sayn3ver]

the 500w-1000w/hour your reef might use is squat in the big picture...i mean, just think of the millions of street lamps in the U.S., each probably 300w-500w that burn all night for no real good reason outside of detering crime. How about the state aquariums, 24/7 wawa's/711's,the billboards in time square, etc etc. I think we all realize that we collectlively are destroying the planet, but until you get some mandatory laws or something, if everyone isn't on board then it really doesn't matter does it?

[Rosseau]

I think it's dangerous to say something like "reef tanks only use 1/200th the energy of the lights for an entire street"

Though the observation is valid it doesn't change the fact that the reef tanks are using energy. In the big picture any single reef tank may seem insignificant, however collectively they add up. Sure someone will tell me, ah well not that much. But everything does count.


Yes, there may be bigger fish to fry (Times Square as sayn3ver mentioned, etc.) but IMO the individual efforts do add up. Probably someone like Virginiadiver will chime in and say bah, you're just a little fish in a big ocean (sorry to use the fish analogy twice in one post) who cares we're all doomed anyways because China (insert any developing country here) is burning so much coal.

That's a dangerous train of thought. It's a social trend that we don't want to see in our society, at least I know I don't. Nothing will ever get done.

[Rosseau]

Until we start taking responsibility for our own imprint we won't change (short of legislation mandating it). We deny that our own negative or positive contribution to the entire system exists... Yet when we can directly measure it we are sure to notice.

[DouglasTiede]

Originally posted by virginiadiver69
I know this is done to a certain extent but honestly, what percentage of aquarists maintain a tank that is 100% aqua-cultured? That is coral, rock, fish, inverts(including snails)?

Including the fish food you feed your fish. Most is wild caught fish turned into mash and them modled into flake form.

[virginiadiver69]

Originally posted by Rosseau
Probably someone like Virginiadiver will chime in and say bah, you're just a little fish in a big ocean (sorry to use the fish analogy twice in one post) who cares we're all doomed anyways because China (insert any developing country here) is burning so much coal.

First off... I do not believed we are "doomed". I leave that to the evangelists and environmentalist.
Second... the ONLY point I have been consistently trying to point out is the utter hypocrisy of your movement. You all patt yourselves on the back for signing a petition (that not a SINGLE reef keeper can actually abide by) or screwing some PC light bulbs in or even worse...try to pawn of your guilt of keeping a reef tank by saying it's educational or "for the children".

[virginiadiver69]

Originally posted by Rosseau
Until we start taking responsibility for our own imprint we won't change (short of legislation mandating it). We deny that our own negative or positive contribution to the entire system exists... Yet when we can directly measure it we are sure to notice.

Doctor...heal thyself.

[Rosseau]

Wouldn't you agree that we won't change if we think we're not having an effect?

[virginiadiver69]

YOU think we are having an effect and have you changed? I have done more than you ever will AND I don't think we are having any real effect. I guess since my efforts are not to "save the planet" they don't really count though huh?

[Rosseau]

Virginia, I'm not preaching what we should do. I really am not. Since you asked, I waste a fair amount of energy in many forms. I drive a V8 car, fly a lot, eat imported food, don't own solar cells, blah blah. I don't do all that much to conserve, only really the little things where I can (use cold water most of the time, walk when I can, turn the heat down etc.).


My argument is twofold:

First, everything does add up. Though individual actions may seem insignificant they can have an impact in some way (negative or positive).

Secondly, I don't think people will change their consumption patterns (etc.) unless the individual truly believes that they are having an impact (negative or positive). Unless people have legislation or economic incentive to alter their patterns they won't change (why would they?).



So I think I'm a lot closer to being on the same page with you than you think.


Again, I wouldn't call myself and environmentalist. Yes, I think that there are many environmental issues present now and they will continue to persist unless some change is made from our end. However, I'm not out signing petitions as you suggest. I believe in human ingenuity and technology, though there must be limits to what it can accomplish.

[shiftyfatdwarf]

i think that is a little far fetched but a start in the right direction.

i would like to do what i can to save our natural reefs from being destroyed

[GraviT]

Online petitions are just about worthless and aren't admissible in court. Most of these are feeble attempts to harvest email addresses to sell them for big bucks to the spammers.

Enjoy the junk mail.

[Rosseau]

Originally posted by Rosseau
............However, I'm not out signing petitions as you suggest.

I'm not sure if you're referring to my post GraviT. If you are, have another read.