The Minke Connection

Tuesday, 29 September 2015

Shell move dims oil prospects, delights environmentalists

Well done Shell!

Royal Dutch Shell has abandoned its long quest to become the first company to produce oil in Alaska's Arctic waters, darkening the nation's long-term oil prospects and delighting environmental groups that tried to block the project.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11520308

Sunday, 27 September 2015

Disappearing Bumble Bee is One Step Closer to Getting Protection

Near extintion in the US and dying out around the world, the bumble bee is close to getting protection and help.

www.care2.com/causes/disappearing-bumble-bee-is-one-step-closer-to-getting-protection.html

Friday, 25 September 2015

Solution is simply vinegar

It's drizzled on fish and chips and used for cleaning, but simple household vinegar could soon be called on for its most important mission yet: saving the Great Barrier Reef.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11517938

Wednesday, 23 September 2015

More La Nina events to bring bigger waves, coastal erosion

Bigger waves and more coastal erosion will hit Pacific countries like New Zealand as a projected upsurge of severe El Nino and La Nina events brings an increase in storm events, according to a study out today.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=11516987

Monday, 21 September 2015

Greenhouse gases piling on heat, says British Met Office

Man-made global warming is set to produce exceptionally high average temperatures this year and next, boosted by natural weather phenomena such as El Nino, says Britain's top climate and weather body.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/climate-change/news/article.cfm?c_id=26&objectid=11512995

Saturday, 19 September 2015

Success! U.S. Navy Makes Deal to Stop Using Sonar in Whale Waters

At last the US Navy realizes it shares the oceans with fish and mammals and is to reduce their 10 million sonar experiments and will no longer conduct sonar tests in known whale habitats.

http://www.care2.com/causes/success-u-s-navy-makes-deal-to-stop-using-sonar-in-whale-waters.html

Thursday, 17 September 2015

Ocean's health is hard hit

WWF find over-fishing, pollution and warming have cut marine populations in half.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/environment/news/article.cfm?c_id=39&objectid=11514150

Overview

Why are the Japanese killing protected sperm whales???

From the high seas off New Zealand to the intricate demands in the city of Tokyo, The Minke Connection is a spellbinding saga. Matching business versus environmentalism, big organizations versus small and expectation versus experience.

Greenpeace discover that the Japanese research whaling fleet are killing more than the Minke whale. They send American born Canadian John Daroux, lecturer and adventurer, and Carrie Ardley, whale researcher, to investigate. Boarding the factory ship in mid ocean, John finds irrefutable evidence, almost loses his life and becomes Carrie’s lover. Together, John and Carrie go to Tokyo where they evade being poisoned, survive being frozen alive and endure being followed by the dreaded yakusa. The arrival of Greenpeace chief, Mark Stafford, and his beautiful associate, Petra van de Roer, initiates a counter attack that requires John and Carrie to act as bait. Desperate measures are called for as they endeavor to outwit Takeshi Fujiwara, leader of the cult, League of Blood. John and Carrie are captured and tortured. Time is critical. John Daroux must use all his wits and knowledge to save the Sperm whales and himself. Can they succeed?

John Daroux……New Age intellectual, martial arts exponent and Reki master, he takes on the project unprepared for the tests he will experience. While he can handle the threats and challenges from the Japanese, can he handle the passion aroused by Carrie Ardley?

Carrie Ardley……young, attractive Greenpeace technician, committed to saving whales, takes on this task as an adventure. Fiercely attracted to John Daroux, she suffers torture and finds that he puts the project above her well being. Can she ever forgive him?

Mark Stafford……competent, urbane chief of Greenpeace, he takes on his biggest challenge when he confronts the League of Blood and tries to unravel the reason why the giant trading company, Mosaka Corporation, is killing the protected Sperm whales. Can he overcome the threats?

Takeshi Fujiwara……one of Japan’s most powerful businessmen, and chairman of Mosaka Corporation, he controls the lives of many. He holds a secret that dates back many centuries and the time for action is now. Can he succeed or will the persistent efforts of the foreign controlled environmental “do-gooder” Greenpeace upset his carefully prepared plans?