Seacology is a nonprofit charity headquartered in Berkeley, California,
that focuses on preserving island ecosystems and cultures. It originated
with the work of ethnobotanist Paul Alan Cox in the village of Falealupo
in Samoa. When the villagers were being pressured to sell logging rights
to their rainforest in 1988 to build a new school, Cox and his wife
offered to help secure funds in return for an agreement with the
villagers to protect their forest. Cox and the village chief, Fuiono
Senio (both pictured), later received the Goldman Environmental Prize
for their efforts. As demand increased for similar projects on other
islands, Cox, along with Bill Marré and Ken Murdock, founded Seacology
in 1991. By 2016, the nonprofit had initiated 200 projects globally,
helping to preserve 1,116 square miles (2,890 km2) of marine habitat
and 946.7 square miles (2,452 km2) of terrestrial habitat. The
organization fosters ecotourism, and has helped raise emergency funds
following destructive tsunamis. It was featured in the music video "What
About Now" by the American rock band Daughtry.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seacology>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
363:
Roman emperor Julian was killed during the retreat from his
campaign against the Sassanid Empire.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_(emperor)>
1243:
Mongol invasions of Anatolia: Mongols achieved a decisive
victory over the Seljuq Turks, leading to the decline and disintegration
of the Seljuk state.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_K%C3%B6se_Da%C4%9F>
1740:
War of Jenkins' Ear: A Spanish column of 300 regular troops,
free black militia and Indian auxiliaries stormed Britain's
strategically crucial position of Fort Mose in Spanish Florida.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Fort_Mose>
1906:
The 1906 French Grand Prix, the first Grand Prix motor racing
competition, was held outside Le Mans.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1906_French_Grand_Prix>
2006:
Mari Alkatiri, the first Prime Minister of East Timor, resigned
after weeks of political unrest.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mari_Alkatiri>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
shark bait:
1. (humorous) One who has been or is likely to be attacked by a shark.
2. (humorous, by extension) One who is in a precarious or vulnerable
position; a dead duck.
3. (Australia, colloquial) A lone swimmer or surfer far from shore, a shark
baiter. […]
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/shark_bait>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
Ah well, perhaps one has to be very old before one learns how to
be amused rather than shocked.
--Pearl S. Buck
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Pearl_S._Buck>