Safari Notes

Want to make a Difference. Small, but still a difference? Created to take a stand against the greatest threat our planet has ever faced, Earth Hour uses the simple action of turning off the lights for one hour to deliver a powerful message about the need for action on global warming. On March 31 2007, for one hour, Sydney made a powerful statement about the greatest contributor to global warming – coal-fired electricity – by turning off its lights. Over 2.2 million Sydney residents and over 2,100 businesses switched off, leading to a 10.2% energy reduction across the city. What began as one city taking a stand against global warming caught the attention of the world. In 2008, 24 global cities will participate in Earth Hour at 8pm on March 29. Earth Hour is the highlight of a major campaign to encourage businesses, communities and individuals to take the simple steps needed to cut their emissions on an ongoing basis. It is about simple changes that will collectively make a difference –

The Goliath bird-eating tarantula of South America, got its name because it has been known to catch young birds and eat them; although that is very rare. They are huge, are the world's biggest spider - can grow to one foot long and have one inch fans; and many people mistakenly perceive them as very dangerous, but they are harmless and their venom causes only swelling and mild pain like a wasp sting. Some native tribes in South America, catch them for food; they eat them. Its scientific name is: Theraphosa blondi . More on the Spider: Here , National Geographic , Wikipedia , Big Hairy Spiders , Blue Planet Biomes , Tarantula Guide , Tarntulas Tropica , Picasa , YouTube Image: bugs.org

Deciding what is ancient history and what is mysterious legend is not always an easy task. Tibet is no exception. Legend tells us that Tibetan history starts with a monkey and a Raksasi, a female ogre, when the monkey was sent by Avalokiteshvara (Chenrezi) for the religious training on this high plateau. The Raksasi persuade the monkey to marry her by threatening to kill thousands of people. Having the permission of Avalokiteshvara, they married and had five offspring who are believed to be the ancestors of the Tibetan people. This legend is well known and depicted in ancient books and murals. Even the name of Tsedang, the capital city of Shannan Region, means 'the place where the monkey plays'. However, archeological and geological discoveries lead ethnologists to believe that Tibetans are descendants of aboriginal and nomadic Qiang tribes. According to archeology, Tibetan history can be traced back 4,000 years. At that time, life was simple, with stone implements being used.

The Apollo images of the Earth 'coming up' - rising - over the moon were staggering. We have always been used to the Sun or the Moon rising; but the Earth rising? Till the Apollo expeditions, 30 years ago, gave us those images! And now, the Japanese lunar probe - Kaguya - have given us more spectacular images of the Earth rising over the moon. The Kaguya or Selene spacecraft, has been orbiting 100 kilometers above the moon since late last year. The image was taken by the spacecraft's high definition camera (HDTV). Another image of the Earth setting over the moon, was also taken. Amazing images!

After almost three months of tension and wondering what has happened to Kenya, I can now rest my mind and look forward to the future. Kenyan leaders, with assistance from fellow African leaders - most of all: Kofi Annan - have shown leadership and statesmanship in resolving what was becoming a real nightmare for Kenyans. Kenya can now rise. Magical Kenya , is back! As the 'Daily Nation' says: LOOKS LIKE THINGS WILL BE moving at a frenetic pace. The two keys Bills supposed to open the way to the realisation of the peace accord could be debated in Parliament today. If everything is as hunky dory as it appears, the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill and the National Accord and Reconciliation Bill will be passed in record time by popular acclamation . And the paper adds: ..... events have indeed proceeded at a pace that was surely unimaginable just few weeks when it appeared almost certain that the talks brokered by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan were on the verge of c

Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. His mother, Louise Norton Little, was a homemaker occupied with the family's eight children. His father, Earl Little, was an outspoken Baptist minister and avid supporter of Black Nationalist leader Marcus Garvey. Earl's civil rights activism prompted death threats from the white supremacist organization Black Legion, forcing the family to relocate twice before Malcolm's fourth birthday. Regardless of the Little's efforts to elude the Legion, in 1929 their Lansing, Michigan home was burned to the ground. Two years later, Earl's body was found lying across the town's trolley tracks. Police ruled both incidents as accidents, but the Little's were certain that members of the Black Legion were responsible. Louise suffered emotional breakdown several years after the death of her husband and was committed to a mental institution. Her children were split up amongst various foster homes and orpha

I read this very disturbing report this morning: "The killing of 28 sea turtles in less than month on the Kenyan coast has raised the alarm among conservationists. Initial investigations portray a catastrophe of international proportions. The deaths were not only the highest number recorded on the Kenyan coast in less than a month but the biggest set-back to conservation efforts. According to data compiled by both the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the Kenya Sea Turtle Conservation Committee (Kescom), 22 marine turtles have been killed at Vipingo and two at Kuruwitu both in Kilifi, three at Diani in Kwale and one in Mombasa last month. The sea turtles are endangered species protected under the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (Cites) that prohibits commercial trade in the animal and its parts." Read more from the AllAfrica.com Kenya Sea Turtle Conservation Committee officials say: '.....human impacts contributed to more than 85 per cent of turtle