On a day not too dissimilar from the one I see outside my office window today, I was bouncing along the chop of the Subantarctic ocean on a wee black zodiac. Fog blanketed the horizon, drizzle soaked my face, I had so many layers of clothes on I could hardly move. The knarly edges of … Continue reading Subantarctic Dreaming
A glimpse into the past: the penguin oil industry
The sun sat high in the sky, the waves were calm but the atmosphere of the Spirit of Enderby was anything but calm - we were all excited to get ashore to Macquarie Island. And what an absolutely stunning day for it. The beach was a sea of black and white, with thousands of penguins … Continue reading A glimpse into the past: the penguin oil industry
There’s (NOT) plenty of fish in the sea
“Oh, there’s plenty of fish in the sea”. Well, it really turns out there isn’t. Between my job working with penguins (who often come into rehabilitation for malnutrition) and research I have done for my degree, I have realised that the above affirmation is quite the white lie. Most people (even those who eat animal … Continue reading There’s (NOT) plenty of fish in the sea
Interview with Verramente’s Joshie, about the animal entertainment industry
Animal welfare is such a big topic at the moment, and it is incredible to see people really opening their eyes to the cruelty we, as humans, inflict on our fellow earthlings. I was recently introduced to Joshie, one of the founders of Verramente which is an up and coming tour guiding service and travel blog website. … Continue reading Interview with Verramente’s Joshie, about the animal entertainment industry
Dairy Farming and the Environment – A New Zealand Example
New Zealand. What comes to mind? Sheep, Rugby, Adventure Tourism, Dairy? The dairy industry is one of the major industries in New Zealand, and aside from tourism is our largest export commodity. Thousands of New Zealanders rely on dairy farming, and dairy contributes 2.8% to New Zealand's GDP. For many, dairy is a way of … Continue reading Dairy Farming and the Environment – A New Zealand Example
Essay: Population Growth and Environmental Factors – A South Sudanese Example
Introduction “I have no doubt that the fundamental source of all of our problems, particularly our environmental problems, is population growth” (David Attenborough, 2012). Population growth is considered a major global issue, emphasising the correlation between population, food and water supply and environmental sustainability. We will examine the current famine in South Sudan and the … Continue reading Essay: Population Growth and Environmental Factors – A South Sudanese Example
Global Warming VS. Climate Change – What is the Difference?
Climate change and global warming, a pair of terms often interchanged and misunderstood. And terms which often conjure up some pretty intense points-of-view. So lets look at the correct meanings of both these terms. Climate Change Climate change is a naturally occurring, non-specific flux in the global climate. Throughout history, earth has cooled, warmed, seen … Continue reading Global Warming VS. Climate Change – What is the Difference?
The two that started it all
As many of you may know, there is a story in my past that has shaped me so significantly - it has lead me on this path of conservation and activism. But you may also know I have a very hard time talking about it, however I have finally managed to jot down in words … Continue reading The two that started it all
Tapa – a labour of love
In Tonga, a woman's wealth is shown by her tapa. The tapa is a labour of love - a cloth intensively, painstakingly made by the woman of the village. Every Wednesday we would hear a constant banging of wood on wood - Wednesday was tapa day. The women of the villages would come together in, … Continue reading Tapa – a labour of love
Tips on Tonga
It is a lesser known fact that I briefly lived in the Island Kingdom of Tonga during my teenage years. I lived on the main island of Tongatapu, and it was an incredible experience - if not a little boring for a slightly gothic teenage who hated swimming and had a *slight* fear of the … Continue reading Tips on Tonga
The Travelling Cheetah 