Ricky Vargas disqualified from POC presidential race
Smart hosts first 5G-powered esports exhibition match in PH ABAP president Ricky Vargas (right) during the announcement of Gilas’ final lineup last month. PBA IMAGESTHE PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee’s commission of elections has disqualified boxing’s Ricky Vargas and cycling Bambol Tolentino from running for POC elections.Comelec chair Frank Elizalde said Vargas and Tolentino didn’t meet the required number of General Assembly attendance which was provided on article 7 section 11 of the POC charter.ADVERTISEMENT 30 Filipinos from Wuhan quarantined in Capas Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Taiwan minister boards cruise ship turned away by Japan PLAY LIST 01:31Taiwan minister boards cruise ship turned away by Japan01:33WHO: ‘Global stocks of masks and respirators are now insufficient’01:01WHO: now 31,211 virus cases in China 102:02Vitamin C prevents but doesn’t cure diseases like coronavirus—medic03:07’HINDI PANG-SPORTS LANG!’03:03SILIP SA INTEL FUND EDITORS’ PICK Mainland China virus cases exceed 40,000; deaths rise to 908 Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. View comments MOST READ Chinese-manned vessel unsettles Bohol town Team ‘Trabaho’ scores championship title at the last leg of Smart Siklab Saya Manila READ: David and Goliath: Vargas versus CojuangcoIt said that the candidate should have attended 50 percent plus one of the total number of GAs the past two years. The POC has GAs once every two months.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSGinebra teammates show love for SlaughterSPORTSWe are youngSPORTSCone plans to speak with Slaughter, agent“This is totally objective observation,” said Elizalde. “I am quoting from a document that’s not been written yesterday, but for a few years. La Salle takes life out of UE for 12th straight win BREAKING: Solicitor General asks SC to forfeit ABS CBN’s franchise Ginebra teammates show love for Slaughter BREAKING: Solicitor General asks SC to forfeit ABS CBN’s franchise We are young Brad Pitt wins his first acting Oscar as awards get underway
Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber throws during the first inning of Game 4 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Chicago Cubs, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016, in Chicago. APCHICAGO — One more win and baseball fans everywhere might finally believe in these Cleveland Indians.That’s all it will take for Corey Kluber & Co. to clinch this World Series.ADVERTISEMENT Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Chinese-manned vessel unsettles Bohol town Smart’s Siklab Saya: A multi-city approach to esports MOST READ Lady Warriors climb to share of top spot Ginebra teammates show love for Slaughter View comments Taiwan minister boards cruise ship turned away by Japan PLAY LIST 01:31Taiwan minister boards cruise ship turned away by Japan01:33WHO: ‘Global stocks of masks and respirators are now insufficient’01:01WHO: now 31,211 virus cases in China 102:02Vitamin C prevents but doesn’t cure diseases like coronavirus—medic03:07’HINDI PANG-SPORTS LANG!’03:03SILIP SA INTEL FUND BREAKING: Solicitor General asks SC to forfeit ABS CBN’s franchise Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next
30 Filipinos from Wuhan quarantined in Capas Smart hosts first 5G-powered esports exhibition match in PH The Indians will try to bring another crown to Cleveland, adding to the one LeBron James and the Cavaliers earned earlier this year.Dexter Fowler doubled and scored in the first for the Cubs, and then homered against Andrew Miller in the eighth. Fowler’s drive to left-center was the first homer for Chicago in the World Series since Phil Cavaretta connected in Game 1 in 1945 and the first run allowed by Miller during his dominant postseason.In between Fowler’s two hits, the Cubs came up empty every time they had a chance to put any pressure on the Indians.Pitching on three days’ rest for the second time, Kluber allowed five hits, struck out six and walked one. The steady, stoic right-hander, who struck out nine in a dominant performance in Game 1, improved to 4-1 with a 0.89 ERA in five playoff starts this year./rgaADVERTISEMENT We are young Kluber pitched six sparkling innings on short rest to win again, Jason Kipnis hit a three-run homer in his hometown and the Indians beat the Chicago Cubs 7-2 Saturday night to take a 3-1 lead.Carlos Santana also connected for the first of his three hits as Cleveland moved closer to its first championship since 1948. Trevor Bauer gets the ball Sunday night at Wrigley Field in Game 5 when the Indians try for the franchise’s third World Series title against Jon Lester and the faltering Cubs.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSGinebra teammates show love for SlaughterSPORTSWe are youngSPORTSCone plans to speak with Slaughter, agentNot bad for a team that seemed like an underdog all year long. The Indians beat the defending champion Royals and star-studded Tigers for the AL Central title, and then eliminated David Ortiz and the Red Sox and the heavy-hitting Blue Jays on their way to the AL pennant.Then much of the talk centered on the major league-leading Cubs and their 108-year championship drought. But it’s been mostly Indians once more, with manager Terry Francona pushing all the right buttons while improving to 11-1 in the World Series. Mainland China virus cases exceed 40,000; deaths rise to 908 EDITORS’ PICK PH among economies most vulnerable to virus Brad Pitt wins his first acting Oscar as awards get underway
As fate of VFA hangs, PH and US forces take to the skies for exercise 30 Filipinos from Wuhan quarantined in Capas The Azkals played before a crowd of 4,300 last Saturday, which was perhaps one of the lowest in terms of turnout for an AFF Suzuki Cup game. It was a stark contrast from the scenes in Group B in Yangon, where the Thuwanna Stadium was filled to the brim as Myanmar lost to Vietnam, 1-2, in the Group B opener. The Philippine Football Federation worked so hard to bring the Suzuki Cup to the country, but the promotional aspect of the event left a lot to be desired. Add to the fact that fans encountered problems while taking the P2P buses to the stadium from Trinoma Mall and the event could lose more spectators. PFF president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta vowed to take action to ensure a repeat of the incident last Saturday when fans were made to wait for hours for the bus that would take them to Bocaue. It was encouraging to see the Ultras Filipinas leading the chants, which rubbed off on the fans at the other side of the stadium. The Azkals need their 12th man more than ever as they try to salvage their campaign on Tuesday night.RARING FOR REVENGEMake no mistake about it, the Azkals will be facing a stronger Indonesian side than the one they drubbed, 4-0, in the same tournament two years ago. Coach Alfred Reidl declared he has a “fitter” team than the one he in the disastrous campaign in Hanoi, where he only had a week to prepare his squad. Despite the loss to Thailand, Reidl said there were plenty of positives to draw from the match. “We played a very good game against Thailand which are the clear favorites in this tournament,” the Austrian said. “We believe we can beat the Philippines.” The Indonesians actually had a couple of good chances, before going 0-2 down at halftime. They were resilient against the Thais, scoring two quick goals in the second half, before getting undone by Teerasil Dangda’s brilliance. Reidl’s side boasts of fleet-footed wingers and strong strikers who are good in the air.Although the defense remains suspect, Salossa and Lerby have already opened their scoring account for the tournament with headers, giving them confidence ahead of the critical clash with the Azkals.ADVERTISEMENT BOCAUE, Bulacan – The Philippines faces the first of two must-win matches in Group A Wednesday night when it battles Indonesia at Philippine Sports Stadium. Picking up one point from the goalless draw against 10-man Singapore last Saturday night, the Azkals have been left with a more difficult route to the semifinals as they now need to pick up points from their remaining games starting with an Indonesian side that impressed even in the 2-4 loss to Thailand. Another loss for the Azkals will dim their hopes of reaching the next round as they would need the result of the Indonesia-Singapore on Friday at Rizal Memorial Stadium to go their way apart from winning against Thailand at PSS.ADVERTISEMENT Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. We are young PH among economies most vulnerable to virus Chinese-manned vessel unsettles Bohol town EDITORS’ PICK Mainland China virus cases exceed 40,000; deaths rise to 908 Taiwan minister boards cruise ship turned away by Japan PLAY LIST 01:31Taiwan minister boards cruise ship turned away by Japan01:33WHO: ‘Global stocks of masks and respirators are now insufficient’01:01WHO: now 31,211 virus cases in China 102:02Vitamin C prevents but doesn’t cure diseases like coronavirus—medic03:07’HINDI PANG-SPORTS LANG!’03:03SILIP SA INTEL FUND
Azkals coach Thomas Dooley said his team’s mindset hasn’t changed even though there was plenty of frustration within the team from the first game, which they felt they should have won. “We still know we needed to win this (Indonesia) game regardless of the result of the first game (against Singapore),” said Dooley. It would be easier said than done because judging from the Azkals’ performance against the Lions and Indonesia’s gallant stand against the Thais, the hosts may need more than just a big fighting heart against the Merah Putih. They would need the pace to keep up with Indonesia’s quick wingers in Andik Vermansyah and Rizky Pora and the strength and experience to keep strikers Lerby Babu and Boas Salossa from wreaking havoc inside the box. More importantly, they need to find the back of the net again after constantly misfiring against a stout Singapore defense. As the Azkals brace for what is now their most important game, here are some of the factors that could come into play in the match.LACKING LEADERSFEATURED STORIESSPORTSGinebra teammates show love for SlaughterSPORTSWe are youngSPORTSCone plans to speak with Slaughter, agentPhilippines’ Younghusband (L) fights for the ball with Indonesia’s Achmad Jufriyanto during an AFF Suzuki 2014 Cup match at Hanoi’s My Dinh stadium on November 25, 2014. Philippines led 1-0 after the first half. AFP PHOTO/HOANG DINH Nam / AFP PHOTO / HOANG DINH NAMDooley isn’t one to hide what his team lacks. And whether he uses statements as an excuse or as a way to challenge his team, it comes as no surprise when he admitted that he feels the lack of leaders in his current lineup. Phil Younghusband is the captain, but the top international scorer isn’t the vocal type and chooses to lead by example. The past AFF Suzuki Cup tournaments saw big, vocal personalities within the Azkals side coming into play, especially when the team’s back was against the wall. The likes of Rob Gier, Chris Greatwich and to some extent, Neil Etheridge, weren’t afraid to call out teammates for slacking off. They also took the challenge to organize the team defensively, which became a source of pride and strength for the Azkals. The homegrown crew had Chieffy Caligdong to turn to for leadership in the early years of the Azkals. Gier and Greatwich have both retired from international football, while Etheridge skipped the tournament due to club commitments. Caligdong, now Dooley’s chief deputy, said the senior players should step up to lead the squad. “If we want to make history, it’s not enough that we’re just part of this team. We have to improve ourselves,” said Caligdong.“It could get really quiet sometimes, like a cemetery,” Dooley said when asked on who has taken on the role as the team’s vocal leader. “(Daisuke) Sato was the closest who can do the role, but he’s not here. Its something that we need to develop in the squad.”CROWD SUPPORT MOST READ Smart’s Siklab Saya: A multi-city approach to esports Shanghai officials reveal novel coronavirus transmission modes Smart hosts first 5G-powered esports exhibition match in PH Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next UST rules UAAP Season 79 judo Where did they go? Millions left Wuhan before quarantine View comments
In July 2017, the South Pacific nation of the Cook Islands made a bold bid to convert its entire territorial waters, the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), into a mixed-use marine protected area.Called Marae Moana, or “sacred ocean,” the MPA spans almost 2 million square kilometers (772,200 square miles), making it the biggest in the world, although only parts of it are strictly protected from fishing and other extractive activities.Jacqueline Evans, a marine conservationist, was the driving force behind the MPA.This week, Evans was awarded a prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize for her work on Marae Moana. This story is part of a series on Marae Moana, the massive, recently enacted multiple-use marine protected area covering the Cook Islands’ entire exclusive economic zone. Other stories in the series:Will a massive marine protected area safeguard Cook Islands’ ocean?Paradise, polluted: Cook Islands tries to clean up its tourism sectorGive it back to the gods: Reviving Māori tradition to protect marine lifeCook Islands MPA leader fired after supporting seabed mining freezeThe South Pacific archipelago of the Cook Islands might seem a diminutive site from which to launch and manage the largest multi-use marine protected area (MPA) on Earth. The country’s land area is only 240 square kilometers (92.7 square miles), and fewer than 15,000 people live there full-time.But the ocean these islands sit within is immense, and their exclusive economic zone (EEZ) spans almost 2 million square kilometers (772,200 square miles) — an area similar in size to the landmass of Mexico. And in Polynesian cultural imaginaries, this ocean is not seen so much as a barrier or boundary, but a source of connection, expansion and sustenance.Seen that way, the country’s bold bid to convert its entire EEZ into a mixed-use MPA in July 2017 — the world’s largest to date — is perhaps less of a surprise. Called Marae Moana, or “sacred ocean,” the initiative is angling for a paradigm shift in how Pacific peoples manage their ocean. Rather than setting aside pockets of protection in an expanse of industry, Marae Moana’s leaders are hoping to run things the other way around: with protection as the rule, rather than the exception.This is significant in a place where foreign commercial fisheries make up an important part of the economy but are impacting local fish stocks, especially when they fish close to the islands’ shores. They’re also criticized for employing few residents and taking the lion’s share of profits overseas. Under Marae Moana, commercial fishing is still permitted in much of the EEZ, but is banned within a 50-nautical-mile (93-kilometer) radius around each island, and fishers will be subject to more stringent environmental regulations than previously.The initial concept for Marae Moana was decidedly more modest. In 2012, Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna announced a much less ambitious proposal: to create an MPA around the archipelago’s southern islands.But many were concerned that the country’s main large-scale commercial fishing grounds in the north were left out. That’s when a team of marine conservation advocates stepped up and began a five-year campaign to broaden protection of the country’s ocean territory. With local celebrity and former rugby league star Kevin Iro fronting the campaign, much of the legwork was done by marine conservationist Jacqueline Evans.Jacqueline Evans. Image courtesy of Goldman Environmental Prize.Evans, 48, grew up in New Zealand and moved to the Cook Islands, where her mother was from, when she was 15. She’s spent most of her career in various corners of the close-knit Cook Islands conservation scene, beginning as a fisheries surveillance officer for the Ministry of Marine Resources and then working in various posts at the Cook Islands Conservation Service, the Cook Islands News, the World Wide Fund for Nature and the Ministry of Health. Before devoting herself full-time to Marae Moana in 2014 with the Marae Moana Establishment Trust, she was the director of the country’s first environmental NGO, the Te Ipukarea Society.During the five-year campaign, Evans traveled widely across the archipelago with a team comprising traditional leaders and representatives of NGOs and governments to build public support for the Marae Moana concept. She sought to integrate community priorities and traditional marine management practices such as ra’ui, a system of taboos and protections over particular areas and/or species determined by community chiefs.Despite opposition and skepticism, especially from government officials who were dependent on fishing licenses for revenue, the campaigners were ultimately successful. Marae Moana was brought into law on July 13, 2017. Since then, Evans, as director of the Marae Moana Coordination Office, has been working on planning and implementing the MPA.On April 29, Evans was announced as one of six recipients of the Goldman Environmental Prize — a prestigious global award for grassroots environmentalists often called the “Green Nobel Prize” — for her work on preserving marine biodiversity and protecting Cook Islands traditions. We caught up with her just before the awards were announced to find out more about her work so far and her hopes for the future.Map shows the Marae Moana mixed-use marine protected area, which covers the Cook Islands entire territorial waters, an area of almost 2 million square kilometers (772,200 square miles). Within Marae Moana are more strictly protected areas around each of the 15 islands, where commercial fishing and seabed mining are prohibited. Image courtesy of Mara Moana Coordination Office.Mongabay: How does it feel to win the prize?Jacqueline Evans: Oh, it’s actually surreal. It’s really strange having so much attention focused on me!What do you feel particularly proud of, in terms of what the prize recognizes?I’m particularly proud of the fact that the communities in the Cook Islands are super happy that they’ve got these protected areas established around their islands … These are 50-mile zones around each island where the long-line and purse seiner fishing boats cannot go fishing. That’s really good for the communities at home. [Editor’s note: Locals will still be able to fish there and will benefit from increased fish stocks.]You’ve been involved in Marae Moana since its inception. Whose baby was it originally, yours or Kevin Iro’s?[Laughs] It’s a shared baby, but it was actually his idea. [He was a] rugby league star overseas, and then he moved home with his family and got really concerned about the state of our marine environment. And he was also sitting on the Board of Tourism, so he saw this as a way to help protect our marine environment and draw some attention [to the country].So then I got on board. He’s a visionary and he’s got celebrity status, but I’m from the environmental science perspective. And I could see how I could help him to make it happen.What was challenging about getting the MPA scaled up to the size that it is today?The scale-up from the initial proposal wasn’t too difficult. Because it was actually the community that asked for that, and the government listened. Even the government officials thought that it made sense, that if it was a multiple-use area, it should be the entire ocean territory.I guess the main challenge we had in terms of closing areas for fishing was the lack of vision that some people had. They couldn’t see the benefits that go up against the negative side, which is loss of some revenue and smaller fishing grounds.An aerial view of Penrhyn, the northernmost island in the Cook Islands, photographed in 1995. Image by EwanSmith via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).How did you get past that?Some people, it was just a matter of getting them more involved and helping them to see the potential, and then they really came on board … There are only a few who still oppose it really, because there was so much support from community. And the government was listening to that and trying to have balance as well, between raising revenue from fishing vessels and answering the needs of the communities and traditional leaders in terms of conservation. In the end, they found that they struck that balance and agreed to close off 16percentof our ocean territory [from commercial fishing].What role did international NGOs like Conservation International play in helping make Marae Moana happen?They helped in terms of drawing some attention [to the initiative]. They were also really good in terms of talking to people in high places. So they introduced us to people that could help, made some videos for us, and gave us quite a lot of funding to get us started.Fish don’t care about territorial boundaries. How does Marae Moana fit into the bigger picture of Pacific Ocean management?Well, our Ministry of Marine Resources has been working on that for a long time, trying to establish conservation measures for tuna species in the Pacific region. Tuna has to be managed at the regional level.I think, though, that this protected area actually complements what they’re doing, especially the fishing exclusion zones where you’ve got a lot of biodiversity congregating around the islands. You’ve got marine turtles going there to nest. You’ve got sea birds that go out foraging as well as whales that come in this area to have their calves. It’s a really important place to protect the marine environment.Some people say, “Well, you’re just concentrating the efforts of the fishing vessels within our EEZ,” and it’s not true, because we also have boundaries that are shared with international waters. [Fishing vessels] can also follow the fish out to there.We think that closing off areas around our islands is actually giving our fish a chance to spawn before they’re caught. [Some] fish are opportunistic spawners.Where are you at now with implementing Marae Moana?Now that the legislation has passed, it’s a really critical time. Especially having a multiple-use MPA, where there is still some economic activity allowed in most of the EEZ, it’s really important that we get the implementation right.We’ve been working on our regulations in terms of the institutional arrangements that have been established under the Marae Moana Act: that’s the Marae Moana Council and the technical advisory group. We want to make sure those groups are operating in a transparent and democratic manner, so that NGOs and traditional leaders have equal say together with government agencies to manage the ocean resources. So we’ve been working on those … procedural regulations, as well as putting together some marine spatial planning procedures.Next step is to begin collecting data on our deep ocean environment, and to create a marine spatial plan that will protect areas of the deep seabed and biodiversity, as well as other areas that might potentially in the future be exploited for mineral resources. There is a potential for that happening, but at the moment we’re working to collect data on biodiversity so that we can see what exists there and what species are important to protect. I mean, all of them are important to protect, but there are places where there is nothing living at 6 kilometers [3.7 miles] deep. So we want to go out and find out what is there.Yes, because there is quite a lot of interest in seabed mining for manganese, isn’t there?That’s right. Manganese nodules. It’s really strange, it’s a paradoxical thing: the minerals in the manganese nodules that people are wanting to mine, well the main mineral is cobalt— and cobalt is needed in batteries for electric cars. So on one hand, we’re trying to be more sustainable by converting to electric cars rather than burning fossil fuels, and on the other hand, some of the minerals and elements that we need for this new technology requires mining somewhere. That’s the irony, I guess.And I imagine it’s pretty tempting as an economic option for the Cook Islands, too?Yeah, yeah. We don’t have very many resources. Then again, tourism is an important industry for us and if it’s managed right, it could be something that sustains us in the future. People do say, “Well, what about if tourism goes down?” But we’ve only ever had tourism increasing. There has been the odd year that we have less [sic] tourists arrive and it does hurt businesses, but I think we’ve got to plan smarter for those situations where there might be a downturn in the global economy and we’ll get less visitors. I think tourism is potentially a sustainable source of income.Jacqueline Evans speaks with a fisherman. Image courtesy of Goldman Environmental Prize.How is the monitoring and policing going? Obviously it’s a huge area to patrol.This is something that the Pacific Island countries have been working on for some time with foreign fisheries agencies: monitoring and surveillance. The region has required that fishing vessels must have satellite transponders on their boats, so that we can monitor by satellite their activities. And you can tell from the data… what they’re doing: whether they’re fishing or whether they’re just sailing through your waters.That’s the visual monitoring system, but we also have patrol boats and that works together with aerial surveillance. We have the New Zealand Air Force helping us as well as the Australian Air Force and the U.S. and French surveillance. They fly over our zones to look for fishing vessels and notify our patrol boats when they see something that shouldn’t be there or doing something they shouldn’t be doing.Is it common that that happens?I really don’t have that sort of data. It’s actually the Ministry of Marine Resources that has all of that … But it’s public information that we’ve caught some boats that are doing things they shouldn’t be, and they’ve had to pay millions of [New Zealand] dollars in fines. There have been court cases and settlements as well. It’s not very often that we hear about that. The Ministry of Marine Resources tells me that they don’t often have breaches, even within our exclusion zone within our ocean territory.How does this large-scale plan affect community leaders’ rights to impose ra’ui over certain areas or species?That forms part of the overall framework. We have Marae Moana covering all of our ocean territory, and then at the smaller scale … we have the ability for local government or local communities to establish marine spatial plans around their islands, and those plans can include areas that are ra’ui … It’s just a matter of supporting communities with enforcement of those ra’ui areas.What’s next on your list? Where are you going to focus your energy on in the next couple of years?We are hoping to get more information about our biodiversity of the deep ocean. We know so little about what is living here. That would be a big focus because it requires a lot of time to be able to do that. We need to have access to vessels and vehicles that can reach 6 kilometers in depth, so we’re hoping to form partnerships with people that can help us. That would be the main thing.What motivates you to continue doing this kind of work?I really have a lot of concern about what we’re going to leave our children. I’m a mum. I have a son. He’s 21 years of age. I do worry about what we’re leaving our kids. What kind of a planet we’re leaving for them. I think that that’s really what drives me. And also just a love of the ocean. I love our animals and I love to be in the water and I want to leave the planet just as clean— if not cleaner— than we found it.Jacqueline Evans. Image courtesy of Goldman Environmental Prize.Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Monica Evans is a freelance writer, researcher and community development practitioner. She lives in a small town on New Zealand’s wild West Coast. (She and Jacqueline Evans are not related.) Clarification 5/3/19: At the request of Jacqueline Evans, a line in this interview has been adjusted to clarify that only some fish are opportunistic spawners.Update 9/30/19: In late September, 2019, the Cook Islands’ government dismissed Jacqueline Evans as director of the Marae Moana coordination office, apparently because of her support for a 10-year moratorium on seabed mining, according to stories in the Cook Islands News.FEEDBACK: Use this form to send a message to the editor of this post. If you want to post a public comment, you can do that at the bottom of the page. Popular in the CommunitySponsoredSponsoredOrangutan found tortured and decapitated prompts Indonesia probeEMGIES17 Jan, 2018We will never know the full extent of what this poor Orangutan went through before he died, the same must be done to this evil perpetrator(s) they don’t deserve the air that they breathe this has truly upset me and I wonder for the future for these wonderful creatures. So called ‘Mankind’ has a lot to answer for we are the only ones ruining this world I prefer animals to humans any day of the week.What makes community ecotourism succeed? In Madagascar, location, location, locationScissors1dOther countries should also learn and try to incorporateWhy you should care about the current wave of mass extinctions (commentary)Processor1 DecAfter all, there is no infinite anything in the whole galaxy!Infinite stupidity, right here on earth.The wildlife trade threatens people and animals alike (commentary)Anchor3dUnfortunately I feel The Chinese have no compassion for any living animal. They are a cruel country that as we knowneatbeverything that moves and do not humanily kill these poor animals and insects. They have no health and safety on their markets and they then contract these diseases. Maybe its karma maybe they should look at the way they live and stop using animals for all there so called remedies. DisgustingConservationists welcome China’s wildlife trade banThobolo27 JanChina has consistently been the worlds worst, “ Face of Evil “ in regards our planets flora and fauna survival. In some ways, this is nature trying to fight back. This ban is great, but the rest of the world just cannot allow it to be temporary, because history has demonstrated that once this coronavirus passes, they will in all likelihood, simply revert to been the planets worst Ecco Terrorists. Let’s simply not allow this to happen! How and why they have been able to degrade this planets iconic species, rape the planets rivers, oceans and forests, with apparent impunity, is just mind boggling! Please no more.Probing rural poachers in Africa: Why do they poach?Carrot3dOne day I feel like animals will be more scarce, and I agree with one of my friends, they said that poaching will take over the world, but I also hope notUpset about Amazon fires last year? Focus on deforestation this year (commentary)Bullhorn4dLies and more leisSponsoredSponsoredCoke is again the biggest culprit behind plastic waste in the PhilippinesGrapes7 NovOnce again the article blames companies for the actions of individuals. It is individuals that buy these products, it is individuals that dispose of them improperly. If we want to change it, we have to change, not just create bad guys to blame.Brazilian response to Bolsonaro policies and Amazon fires growsCar4 SepThank you for this excellent report. I feel overwhelmed by the ecocidal intent of the Bolsonaro government in the name of ‘developing’ their ‘God-given’ resources.U.S. allocates first of $30M in grants for forest conservation in SumatraPlanet4dcarrot hella thick ;)Melting Arctic sea ice may be altering winds, weather at equator: studyleftylarry30 JanThe Arctic sea ice seems to be recovering this winter as per the last 10-12 years, good news.Malaysia has the world’s highest deforestation rate, reveals Google forest mapBone27 Sep, 2018Who you’re trying to fool with selective data revelation?You can’t hide the truth if you show historical deforestation for all countries, especially in Europe from 1800s to this day. WorldBank has a good wholesome data on this.Mass tree planting along India’s Cauvery River has scientists worriedSurendra Nekkanti23 JanHi Mongabay. Good effort trying to be objective in this article. I would like to give a constructive feedback which could help in clearing things up.1. It is mentioned that planting trees in village common lands will have negative affects socially and ecologically. There is no need to even have to agree or disagree with it, because, you also mentioned the fact that Cauvery Calling aims to plant trees only in the private lands of the farmers. So, plantation in the common lands doesn’t come into the picture.2.I don’t see that the ecologists are totally against this project, but just they they have some concerns, mainly in terms of what species of trees will be planted. And because there was no direct communication between the ecologists and Isha Foundation, it was not possible for them to address the concerns. As you seem to have spoken with an Isha spokesperson, if you could connect the concerned parties, it would be great, because I see that the ecologists are genuinely interested in making sure things are done the right way.May we all come together and make things happen.Rare Amazon bush dogs caught on camera in BoliviaCarrot1 Feba very good iniciative to be fallowed by the ranchers all overSponsored Article published by Rebecca Kessler
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Goran Dragic scored 23 points, Wayne Ellington added 19 and the Heat pushed the NBA’s longest current winning streak to seven games by topping the Pistons 116-103 on Saturday night.The Heat outscored Detroit 26-12 in the fourth quarter, holding the Pistons to 30 percent shooting.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSEnd of his agony? SC rules in favor of Espinosa, orders promoter heirs to pay boxing legendSPORTSBreak new groundSPORTSMcGregor blasts Cerrone in 40 seconds in UFC return“Our toughest, most physical, most committed minutes were there at the end,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “That’s what’s good to see.”James Johnson scored 18 and Dion Waiters added 17 for the Heat, who tied a season high with 14 3-pointers. Ellington made three in a span of less than two minutes of the fourth quarter as Miami pulled away. MOST READ Miami was 11-30 at the midway point of its season — and hasn’t lost since. Only Golden State, San Antonio and Houston have put together longer winning streaks this season than the Heat run of late.“We are clicking on all cylinders,” Waiters said. “We’re playing together, having fun, and guys are making plays. We’re just playing the right way. We’re healthy and it’s fun.”Reggie Jackson scored 24 for Detroit, which got 17 points and 20 rebounds from Andre Drummond. Tobias Harris added 16 points and Marcus Morris scored 14.“Down the stretch we were terrible. Terrible,” Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy said. “We didn’t make plays. We’ve got to find better stuff down the stretch. … I don’t know if defenses have us figured out or what, but we’re just not making plays.”Ellington’s first in that late trio of 3s came with 4:38 left, giving the Heat a nine-point lead. He struck again about a minute later, and the last of those with 2:55 remaining put Miami up 114-101.ADVERTISEMENT Miami won despite getting outscored 62-40 in the paint. The Heat more than made up for that by outscoring Detroit 42-12 from 3-point range, and somehow looker fresher down the stretch — even though Miami was on a back-to-back and Detroit had not played since Monday.“We had time off to prepare and figure ourselves out and hone in on what’s going to separate us from other teams in the fight from teams that are going to fade,” Jackson said. “Defensively we’ve just got to be better.”TIP-INSPistons: Detroit came in allowing 101 points per game; the Heat got to 101 points with 7:26 remaining. … Drummond had his 30th double-double of the season secured by halftime. … The Pistons were averaging 98.5 points entering January; through 12 games this month, they’re averaging 106.8 per game.Heat: Tyler Johnson (shoulder) missed his fifth straight game, but may play Monday against Brooklyn. … The Heat are now 7-0 since calling Okaro White up from Sioux Falls in the NBA Development League … Udonis Haslem’s son Kedonis, a standout lineman at Florida high school football power St. Thomas Aquinas, announced his commitment to play at Toledo on Saturday.WHITESIDE RETURNSHassan Whiteside returned to Miami’s starting lineup, after missing Friday’s win in Chicago with ankle soreness. He finished with nine points and 12 rebounds — with five points and six boards in the fourth quarter alone.HOT SHOTSEven with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope struggling (2 for 11), Detroit’s starters shot 31 for 59 in the game — 53 percent.UP NEXT Bulacan inmates, jail guards raise donations for Taal victims Filipinos turn Taal Volcano ash, plastic trash into bricks PLAY LIST 01:40Filipinos turn Taal Volcano ash, plastic trash into bricks01:32Taal Volcano watch: Island fissures steaming, lake water receding02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite LATEST STORIES Palace: Crisis over ABS-CBN franchise unlikely Ben&Ben, IV of Spades, SB19 win big at 5th Wish Music Awards View comments Motorcycle taxis ‘illegal’ starting next week — LTFRB board member
Panelo: Duterte only wants to emulate strong political will of Marcos Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Pistons: Visit Boston on Monday, ending a two-game trip. Detroit is 1-1 against the Celtics this season.Heat: Host Brooklyn on Monday, the Nets’ only trip to Miami this season. The Heat won in Brooklyn on Wednesday.Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Luis Manzano jokes about Mikee Morada’s proposal to Alex Gonzaga: ‘Baka nagtali lang ng sintas’ Anne Curtis talks about renewing faith in God amid the world’s ‘noise and clutter’ DILG to lock shops in Tagaytay City, other areas near Taal Marcos monument beside Aquino’s stirs Tarlac town Miami Heat forward James Johnson (16) goes up to shoot against Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) and forward Jon Leuer during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)MIAMI — There was only one quarter in which Miami figured out how to slow down Detroit.That was enough for the Heat.ADVERTISEMENT Curry’s 43, halfcourt shot help Warriors top Clippers
PBA IMAGESMeralco picked up where it left off and whipped Phoenix, 81-66, in the 2017 PBA Commissioner’s Cup to inch closer to the elusive twice-to-beat advantage on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.Baser Amer unloaded 20 points and three assists to lead the Bolts to their third straight win to formally clinch a playoff berth.ADVERTISEMENT Need for a new naturalized player urgent, says Guiao LIST: Jan. 20 class suspensions due to Taal Volcano eruption Palace: Crisis over ABC-CBN franchise unlikely MOST READ Jameel McKay topped Phoenix with 16 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks, while Cyrus Baguio had 10 in the loss.The defeat further endangered the Fuel Masters’ position as they are precariously holding on to the eighth spot with their 3-5 slate.The Scores:MERALCO 81 – Amer 20, Newsome 19, Stepheson 15, Grey 8, Hodge 7, Caram 4, Hugnatan 3, Nabong 2, Chua 2, Daquioag 1, Dillinger 0, Faundo 0.PHOENIX 66 – McKay 16, Baguio 10, Jazul 7, Borboran 6, Torres 6, Dehesa 5, W. Wilson 5, Alolino 4, Kramer 3, Intal 2, J. Wilson 2, Miranda 0, Lanete 0.ADVERTISEMENT LATEST STORIES Panelo: Duterte only wants to emulate strong political will of Marcos View comments Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Taal Volcano evacuees warned against going home Bulacan town gears up for biggest cookie jar Ex-Bulacan town vice mayor, village chief shot dead Wildlife rescuers asked to turn over animals to DENR Quarters: 13-16, 34-29, 53-46, 81-66.Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Palace: Crisis over ABC-CBN franchise unlikely Ai-Ai delas Alas on Jiro Manio: ‘Sana pinahalagahan niya ang naitulong ko’ Filipinos turn Taal Volcano ash, plastic trash into bricks PLAY LIST 01:40Filipinos turn Taal Volcano ash, plastic trash into bricks01:32Taal Volcano watch: Island fissures steaming, lake water receding02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite Chris Newsome also got 19 markers, four boards, and three assists, while Alex Stepheson got 15 points and 20 rebounds for Meralco, which tightened its grip of the second place with its 7-1 card.“Defensively, we’re pretty sharp tonight and it held up for the entire game,” said coach Norman Black. “I’m really happy with the defense. The guys really devoted to the game plan we had for Phoenix and executed really well on the defensive end.”FEATURED STORIESSPORTSEnd of his agony? SC rules in favor of Espinosa, orders promoter heirs to pay boxing legendSPORTSBreak new groundSPORTSMcGregor blasts Cerrone in 40 seconds in UFC returnComing off a 16-day break, the Bolts shook off the cobwebs early and zapped their way back from an early nine-point deficit before regaining control in the second quarter to grab the 34-26 halftime lead.The low-scoring duel continued in the second half before the Bolts finally wiggled out of the Fuel Masters’ grasp as they opened the fourth quarter with a 17-7 blast, turning a tight 53-46 lead at the end of the third quarter to a comfortable 70-53 advantage, punctuated by an Amer jumper with 4:03 left in the game.
LSU title parade draws massive crowds The UFC didn’t immediately reveal why Nunes was hospitalized.Nunes (14-4) claimed the 135-pound title from Miesha Tate last July. After Nunes stopped Ronda Rousey in December, she was scheduled to make her second title defense in a rematch with Shevchenko (14-2).FEATURED STORIESSPORTSEnd of his agony? SC rules in favor of Espinosa, orders promoter heirs to pay boxing legendSPORTSRedemption is sweet for Ginebra, Scottie ThompsonSPORTSMayweather beats Pacquiao, Canelo for ‘Fighter of the Decade’Instead, for the second straight year, the UFC has been forced to cancel the main event of its annual International Fight Week show at late notice.Last July, Jon Jones was removed from his bout against Daniel Cormier three days before for violating the UFC’s anti-doping policy. Kerber, Raonic both reach 2nd week at Wimbledon McGregor blasts Cerrone in 40 seconds in UFC return MOST READ Not easy being green: Dog births unique puppy Clippers, Lakers among most-watched NBA teams by Filipinos View comments Missile-capable frigate BRP Jose Rizal inches closer to entering PH Navy’s fleet LaVine scores 42, Chicago rallies late to beat Cavs
End of his agony? SC rules in favor of Espinosa, orders promoter heirs to pay boxing legend Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Filipinos turn Taal Volcano ash, plastic trash into bricks PLAY LIST 01:40Filipinos turn Taal Volcano ash, plastic trash into bricks01:32Taal Volcano watch: Island fissures steaming, lake water receding02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite Amanda Nunes poses during media day for Saturday’s UFC 213, in Las Vegas on Thursday, July 6, 2017. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)LAS VEGAS — Bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes has been scratched from her title defense against Valentina Shevchenko after being hospitalized just a few hours before UFC 213.UFC President Dana White confirmed the pay-per-view show’s main event was canceled Saturday.ADVERTISEMENT LATEST STORIES Tobias Harris’ late 3 seals Sixers’ win over Knicks Thousands join Kalibo Ati-atihan despite typhoon devastation
Sagicor Bank, through its partnership with the official sponsor of the International Champions Cup, Mastercard, is giving a lucky client a chance to see ‘El Clasico’, a match between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona in Miami on July 29.By spending a minimum of $5000, inclusive of GCT, during the promotional period of May 26 and June 30, 2017, all Sagicor Bank Standard, Gold and Platinum Mastercard credit card cardholders will get one step closer to experiencing all the football action live and seeing some the world’s top football stars up close and personal. The prize package includes airfare and hotel accommodation, a shopping experience and an exclusive VIP party at the Hard Rock Hotel.Clients get an additional entry with every $5000 spent and can also earn one reward point for every J$100 or US$1 spent, which can be redeemed for cashback, investment options, travel and hotel and gift cards. Sagicor Bank has also partnered with CaribShopper, an online shopping platform, to give clients even more chances to be entered into the promotion. With each subsequent purchase on caribshopper.com, clients will receive an additional entry.According to Nicole Campbell, marketing manager of Sagicor Bank, Cards & Channels: “Sagicor Bank is pleased to be partnering with Mastercard on this promotion as we look forward to giving one of our valued clients an experience of a lifetime.”The 2017 International Champions Cup (ICC) will feature the best slate of teams, match-ups and venues in the tournament’s history. The fifth instalment of the ICC will make 15 stops from America to Asia, including a new destination in Southeast Asia – Singapore.
Some 80 golfers will participate in the 15th annual United States Travel Agents Golf Tournament which tees off today at the Sandals Golf and Country Club, Ocho Rios. The two-day event will comprise teams playing in a four-man scramble format, putting their skills to the test competing in various competitions throughout the tournament. Categories to be contested include Overall Champions and Runners-Up; Closest to Pin – Female; Closest to Pin – Male; Longest Drive – Female; Longest Drive – Male. Garth Laird, Sandals Resorts’ director of travel industry programmes, was upbeat about the event, noting that this year promises to be an amazing tournament. “All is in place for what promises to be a great event,” Laird said. “The Travel Agent Golf Tournament is of great benefit to both Jamaica as a golfing destination and Sandals Resorts, as it gives the travel partners a chance to experience the products first-hand and, hence, being better able to market the destination and facilities to their respective clients.” Partnerships with local companies The director also pointed to partnerships with local companies Red Stripe and Appleton which will showcase the collaboration with some of the country’s leading brands. He also noted that the tournament was not just showcasing golf and Sandals, but offering the travel agents a chance to see a number of Jamaican hotels and attractions, as some will be staying on after the event to enjoy the Jamaican hospitality. Laird said that as a venue, the Sandals Golf and Country Club has a distinct advantage over most courses. “Our caddies play an important role, as they are very good golfers themselves. Wesley Brown, Dane Bailey and Gifford Wilmot, who have all represented Jamaica in the Hoerman Cup event, are part of our staff,” he said. Sponsors for the tournament include Appleton, Red Stripe, Wisynco and Jamaica Tourist Board. The awards presentation will take place tomorrow at Sandals Ochi Beach Resort.
GOSFORD, Australia (AP): Usain Bolt’s football debut for the Central Coast Mariners yesterday lasted about 20 minutes against an amateur local team and with almost 10,000 people in the crowd. The eight-time Olympic gold medallist is trying to become a professional football player and has been given a tryout with the Australian A-League club based in Gosford, north of Sydney. Bolt started on the left wing and had a clumsy first touch but settled in and found himself in scoring positions a couple of times before having a stoppage-time shot blocked. “I was a little bit nervous, but as soon as I got on the field, I think the nerves went away,” Bolt told Fox Sports. “I wish I had more touches, but I’m not fit yet. I’ve just got to put in the work and get up to speed.” The Mariners already had a commanding lead when Bolt went on as a substitute in the 72nd minute – wearing the number 95 on his shirt – and easily won 6-1. The 32-year-old Jamaican predicted that it would take four to five months until he’s “playing like one of the guys.” Even if he doesn’t make it as a football player, Bolt can still draw a crowd. Some critics have said that’s what his trial period in the A-League is all about. Bolt has regularly said his ambition is real. The crowd for yesterday’s match was about four times bigger than the average home attendance the Mariners attracted last season. The Australian Associated Press reported that the exhibition game was broadcast in 60 countries.