Among all the news, everything that is happening on this world this week, this article caught my attention as something to share. Besides, all the serious stuff, you probably already know…

The platypus, one of natures most … WEIRD! … yet wonderful creations has had it’s genetic code deciphered by scientists. Another astonishing breakthrough for science! OK, that may sound like I’m making fun, but seriously scientists say being able to study one of the world’s early mammals still in existence may give us clues as to how humans and other species evolved. That is, if you believe in evolution. I never make any assumptions about my readers.

I remember the first time I heard of the platypus. For years I wanted one as a pet. And then I started going to school. Imagine though a pet that is part beaver, part duck and part reptile. And it swims like a fish too! haha! Who can ask more from their pet? Granted it’s also venomous.

You can find out more about the Platypus on Wikipedia, or read the BBC article on the Platypus genetic code unravelled.

Japan has long been one of the worse enemies to the world’s whale population, continuing to hunt and kill them, often over the pretenses of research while all the whale meat ends up in the market.

Education, and building environmental awareness among the younger generation Japanese is apparently how the government of Australia has decided could in the future cause a switch in the country’s blood lust for whale meat.

Click here to watch the video

Most of the places damaged in these fires, I have been fortunate enough to have visited in the past. A fact which multiplies my sadness over the unparalleled beauty which I know has been destroyed. The site of Ancient Olympia, birthplace to the first Olympic Games was threatened and only managed to survive the flames at the last moment thanks to the dedicated efforts of fire fighters and volunteers.

Nature has suffered damage unlike ever before in Greece. Some of the most beautiful forests are no longer. Yet nature has a magical way in which, should it be allowed to rest, it can be reborn. The people though, will require a lot of help in order to recover and get back on their feet.

One of the best organized initiatives to aid victims and provide for disaster relief is located at the following website:

www.ihelp.gr

Please consider spreading the word over the “I HELP GREECE” initiative by telling your friends about it, or posting on your blog.

Today, I read this article on BBC News, which announced the results of a six-week survey by researchers who failed to find any remaining dolphins. They are now extinct. Aren’t we doing a wonderful job at eradicating one species after the other?

Farewell Baiji dolphins, there’s nothing I can blog about it now that would change anything. I can just hope next time there’s an animal at the brink of extinction, we won’t just push it over the edge into oblivion.

“Live Earth is a 24-hour, 7-continent concert series taking place on 7/7/07 that will bring together more than 100 music artists and 2 billion people to trigger a global movement to solve the climate crisis.”

Sounds exciting yet? Live Earth concerts will be taking place on the 7th of July in New York, London, Johannesburg, Rio de Janeiro, Shanghai, Tokyo, Sydney and Hamburg. Local talents will be performing alongside international names such as, Alicia Keys (US), Black Eyed Peas (UK), Duran Duran (UK), Madonna (UK), Macy Gray (Brazil), Rihanna (Japan), Sarah Brightman (China), Shakira (Germany), and some many more (see complete artist lineup).

If you cannot make it to any of these venue locations in time for the concerts, there is no reason to miss out on Live Earth. The message these concerts convey will be broadcasted live via satellite, from all eight cities. It will be on television, the radio as well as a live streaming web broadcast by MSN.

Live Earth follows on the footsteps of Live 8 which brought together world audiences before in an effort to bring attention to the global problem of poverty as to initiate awareness and actions that would bring forth solutions.

Founded by Kevin Wall, the worldwide Executive Producer of Live 8, and backed by Former U.S. Vice President and climate awareness guru Al Gore, Live Earth carries a message “that everyone, everywhere can and must Answer the Call to solve the climate crisis”. Initiatives such as this are a brilliant display of hope. Hope for the future of this planet and an involved, caring society.

Get tickets and more information by following this link to the official Live Earth website.

As emerging economies such as China are generating more Greenhouse gases in the process of building up their industries, El Nino is having a ball, messing with the planet’s climate. And emerging economies are not really to blame, as they are not doing anything the “developed” west hasn’t done or isn’t continuing to practice daily.

Imagine if every person in the world consumed the same amount of energy people in the United States consume every day. It’d be like the world taking a plunge into the Sun.

Where is this blog post going at though? Is there anything we as individuals can do to help protect the environment against climate change? Yes there is! Check out the link below:

• How to Reduce Your Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Anyhow, enough ranting about the environment so early in the year, best wishes for a happy, healthy, prosperous and creative year 2007 to all!

So, what Mei Mei has achieved is indeed a cause of celebration to conservationists and wildlife lovers around the world. Today there are less than 2,000 Giant Pandas walking on the planet, most residing in what is since this year a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Sichuan Giant Panda Sanctuaries in China. So the two newcomers have sparked new hope for the survival of the species and the successful implementation of artificial breeding.

Mail from Greenpeace:

Iceland has just announced that they will give a license to one man to commercially hunt whales. The quota is 30 minke whales and 9 fin whales – which are an endangered species.

39 whales might not sound like much, but considering the threats that these whales face from climate change, pollution and overfishing, this is the last thing they need.

The decision does not make economic sense either. Our campaigner Frode Pleym said, “Iceland has no market for whale meat, but they do have a huge and far more valuable market for whale watching.”

Tell Iceland that it makes much more sense to support whale watching, not whaling.

SIGN THE ICELAND WHALES PLEDGE!

p.s. Please pass this on to a friend – the more people sign, the more chance for the whales.

Thank you.

The European Commission, is making quite a few national postal services in the European Union unhappy. Why? Because it is trying to challenge long standing monopolies. See who agrees and who frowns upon these plans in contempt here.

Rice, in Asia, turns up heat on North Korea

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has embarked on a tour of Asian nations, regarding the North Korean nuclear tests crisis, and the implementation of UN imposed sanctions. I don’t want to jinx anything, but let’s just keep an eye on the region and see how things go.

Japan welcomes Iceland’s resumption of commercial whaling

Iceland resumes commercial whaling, and Japan cannot hide the joy. As if whaling for “research” wasn’t enough, pro-whaling nations want more and more and more, but I am going to act like a good, not opinionated blogger and just point you to someone else’s article.

And also, don’t miss:

Arrest warrant for actor Snipes

When you just can’t have enough money!

Click here to view the embedded video.