Newsletter Archive

Dear UN Atlas Member, Climate change continues to top international agendas. You can learn about its effects on marine fisheries from a recent FAO scientific symposium on Coping with Climate Change in Marine Social-ecological Systems. Soaring food and fuel prices also dominate intense attention around the world. Against this backdrop of growing insecurity, this month the UN Atlas of the Oceans highlights some of the energy intense aspects of fisheries, including distant water fishing fleets, trawling, the use of fishmeal in aquaculture and the air transport of live or fresh fish (with ciguatera a problem)....

Dear UN Atlas Member, June 5 is World Environment Day. This year's focus is on climate change -- how to cut greenhouse gas emissions and achieve a low carbon economy. You can also learn about the effects of climate change on global food security and the response of the international community by following this month's High-Level Conference on World Food Security: the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy.Information on Cyclone Nargis which devastated Myanmar last month keeps growing thanks to your contributions -- please continue sharing your material with UN Atlas members.If this newsletter may interest someone...

Dear UN Atlas Member,In recent weeks we have seen catastrophic natural disasters: the powerful earthquake which rocked central China and the destructive cyclone which struck Myanmar. The UN Atlas community sends its thoughts to the people of these devastated areas. Cyclone Nargis and its tidal surge hit the Ayeyarwady Delta, Myanmar, in early May causing massive loss of life and property. What were once uncommon weather events are becoming more frequent and their impact is likely to increase with climate change. Low-lying coastal communities, like this one in Myanmar, are particularly vulnerable. As with all emergency...

Dear UN Atlas Member, Raising public awareness about environmental matters can be a great challenge -- but once achieved, positive change can happen. This month people around the globe observed World Water Day, underlining the growing scarcity of our freshwater resources. Earth Hour, a local campaign which has now gone global in only one year, encourages people to ""switch off"" for just one hour to see what a difference they can make in energy consumption. See what a difference you can make -- and spread the word. Add events you know about here on the UN Atlas...

Dear UN Atlas Member, This month's newsletter takes a look at new happenings around the globe with information from the polar regions to the equator. Many worldwide activities have been launched to celebrate the wonders of our planet: the International Polar Year, the International Year of the Reef and the International Year of Planet Earth -- learn more by visiting these sites. If this newsletter may interest someone you know, please forward it. Contribute to and participate in the growing Atlas community by becoming an active Member of the UN Atlas...

Dear UN Atlas Member, World Wetlands Day will be celebrated this month -- learn more about the 2008 theme Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People.Health is a recurring theme in Atlas news items this month from consumer concerns on the safety and provenance of fish products to ecological matters on the health of our oceans. There is even a new topic on MARIS, a database which provides information on the radioactive contamination of the marine environment, which is part of the marine information system of the International Atomic Energy Agency - a core partner of the UN Atlas.If this...

Dear UN Atlas Member, As 2008 begins, we would like to mention various global initiatives which will contribute to the sustainable development of our oceans: International Year of the Reef -- a worldwide campaign to be launched this month to raise awareness on the importance of coral reefs. International Year of Planet Earth -- oceans cover 70% of our planet's surface! International Year of Sanitation -- sewage discharge is a huge threat to oceans; improving sanitation disposal will help the ocean environment. Water for Life Decade -- water is crucial...

Dear UN Atlas Member, This month celebrates the twenty-fifth anniversary of the adoption and opening for signature of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Convention, often referred to as the ""constitution of the sea"", establishes one single set of rules for the oceans. Its scope is vast and deep: it governs all uses of the world's oceans, including the airspace above and the seabed below; it covers uses of all its resources, living and non-living, on the high seas, on the ocean floor and beneath, on the continental shelf and in the territorial...

Dear UN Atlas member, This month underlines the importance of communicating effectively -- whether to raise awareness on the state of the world's oceans or to publish scientific data in order to make effective policy decisions. The Atlas aims to share and exchange information on our oceans in order to build a greater understanding of them. Contribute and share your valuable information with all the Atlas Members! If this newsletter may interest someone you know, please forward it. Contribute to and participate in the growing Atlas community by becoming an active Member of the UN Atlas...

Dear UN Atlas Member,This month you'll find news in the UN Atlas of the Oceans that echoes the theme of ""Action today and not just promises for tomorrow"" as Professor M S Swaminathan of Chennai, India put it. Latest info in the Atlas looks at responsiveness to and awareness of oceans-related issues, as highlighted with various items: banning of anti-fouling paint containing tin; issuing Red Lists to protect threatened species; establishing marine parks; and launching more tsunami buoys. If this newsletter may interest someone you know, please forward it. Contribute to and participate in the growing...