Sea•thos Foundation

Nice is located on the south east coast of France on the Mediterranean Sea (known as a sea because it is enclosed by bodies of land). Nearby locations include Italy, Corsica, and Africa (click on map to enlarge). Nice is believed to be one of the earliest human settlements in Europe, as supported by archaeological evidence of very early use of fire.

The Greeks arrived around 350 BC and named it Nikaia, after Nike the Greek goddess of victory. There after, Nice was inhabited by many different nations.  For years it was Italian territory and finally became a part of France in 1860.

Nice began to attract many upper class visitors from England in the late 18th century. Today, Nice is a perfect beach town complete with a great beach, warm Mediterranean weather, and restaurants and shops on every corner.

Nice is called Nice la Belle meaning Nice the beautiful. The region is bursting with color: modern and historical buildings are painted in pastels and the sea has turquoise and dark blue hues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flags from many nations wave near the beach. Nice has always welcomed visitors from around the world. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
7 Buddhas stand downtown. They light up in different colors every night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The metro runs through the downtown area and gives Nice a very futuristic look.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Do you LOVE our Weekly Cuteness?! Now is your chance to submit your own weekly cuteness and win a free iPhone case!

All you have to do is:
Look for a cute ocean-themed picture. It can be one of your own or something you find on the internet.

Ideas: a cute sea creature, cuddly marine mammals (like our otter friend pictured to the right), polar bears, kids dressed in cute sea costumes etc.

Please Send your picture along with your name to Team@Seathos.org
-Limit one picture per person 
-SHARE this blog with your friends to raise awareness about the contest
-Contest ends Friday, June 8th (World Oceans Day!)

 Winner will receive a new iPhone case specially crafted for Seathos by designer Heather Brown. Check it out!

Inspired by her love of the ocean, Heather Brown has designed three beautiful iPhone cases, each benefiting a different foundation.  The cases are made out of 100% post-consumer recycled plastic and packaged in recycled materials! To purchase an iPhone case, visit TruProtection.com. 15% of the purchase of each case will go to its associated foundation!  Click here to learn more about Heather and her beautiful art work.

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Last week, a 7-foot dolphin was discovered in the Bolsa Chica wetlands in Huntington Beach and appears to be lost and “very confused”.  

The dolphin, which spectators have nicknamed Fred, is said to have entered the wetlands with a pod of 5 to 6 other dolphins which were probably chasing a school of fish. While the rest of the pod swam back out to sea, Fred stayed behind. 

Peter Wallerstein, a marine biologist with the Marine Animal Rescue service and five State Department of Fish and Game officers managed to lure the dolphin closer to sea. But before reaching freedom, Fred swam back into the wetland after noticing a group of dolphins circling nearby, which were likely his own pod. 

Shortly after, the pod left the Bolsa Chica lagoon and swam back to sea, once again leaving Fred behind. Rescuers are surprised and unsure why Fred is afraid of his own pod.

Noting that Fred appears to be healthy and “capable of going many days without eating”, rescuers have decided to let Fred find his own way out to sea when he is ready. “He proved he can get out if he wants to. There are no red flags. I’m not concerned,” said Wallerstein. Rescuers say they will reattempt to help Fred to freedom if he is still in the wetland on Saturday.

Wallerstein as well as Fish and Game officials say that the crowd of spectators are likely causing stress for the dolphin. They have advised the crowd to keep away from the area so the dolphin can leave the wetland.

Although the crowd may be unintentionally causing harm, on looker David Gonzalez says the community’s concern is inspiring. “It shows community support and community service for the environment,” said Gonzalez.

We hope Fred will find his way to to freedom soon.

Click here for a picture slideshow from LA Times
Photo credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times / April 27, 2012

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As reported by BBC, plastic water bottle waste is a growing problem around the world and tourism is largely to blame. While traveling abroad, individuals tend to leave their reusable bottle at home and use as many five to six plastic water bottles a day.

Plastic bottles, made of petroleum-based plastic (a non-biodegradable material), are accumulating everywhere- our streets, parks, beaches, rivers, and oceans. This contributes to the existing problem of floating plastic debris in the pacific ocean known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

In effort to combat the plastic waste dilemma, some tourism destinations have “banned the bottle”. In 2010, Italy’s Cinque Terre national park, located along the beautiful Mediterranean coast, banned plastic water bottles. Early this year, the US National Park Service banned the sale of plastic water bottles at Grand Canyon National Park where bottles accounted for 20% of the park’s waste.

Franco Bonanini, president of Italy’s Cinque Terre national park, told London’s Telegraph newspaper 3 million annual tourists are responsible for the park’s waste. “With so many visitors, the footpaths and villages of the Cinque Terre are at risk of being transformed into a great big open-air dustbin,” he said.

 

Pictured is a water refilling station at Grand Canyon National Park

What you can do
Here are 5 easy steps to reduce your plastic footprint while abroad:

1. Carry your own reusable bottle. Fill it up with fresh water whenever you can.

2. Some eco-friendly hotels offer water-filling stations. If not, some hotels may be willing to boil water for you on request. Check to see what your hotel has to offer.

4. Buy big water containers to keep in your hotel room and refill your bottles. That way you’ll only use one water bottle rather than 5 to 6 a day.

5. You can even treat tap water with your own purification device. Lightweight devices, such as ultraviolet light purifiers, don’t leave an aftertaste.

Happy travels! : )

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Earlier last week, Oahu became the latest Hawaiian island to pass legislature banning the distribution of single-use plastic bags. Under the new guidelines, paper bags will be allowed only if they are made of at least 40% recycled material.

“This is a bold action and I think here in the state of Hawaii we have always been bold, especially when it comes to protecting our environment,” said Councilwoman Tulsi Gabbard, who co-sponsered the initiative with Honolulu City Council Chair, Ernie Martin.

The law will go into effect in July of 2015, giving storeowners three years to deplete their current inventories.

“I’m confident when we reach 2015 we will have progressed to a point where the cost of a biodegradable plasticbags will be no different from the price of bags that are given out now,” said Council Chair Martin.

Oahu, home to Hawaii’s capital city of Honolulu as well as the legendary North Shore surf spot, is the pacific island chain’s most populous island, with an approximate population of 953,207.

They join Kaua‘i, Maui and the Big Island (who just passed a ban this past January) in implementing similar bans. This is no small feat, and will make Hawaii the first US state with a complete, statewide plastic bag ban.

Learn more about plastic pollution and what you can do to help at seathos.org/movement/pollution/.

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Leopard Seal

In the frigid waters of Antarctica, there are few predators higher on the food chain than the Leopard Seal. Named for their spotted coat, these marine mammals resemble their jungle cat namesake not only in appearance but also in ferociousness.

Scientific Name: Hydrurga leptonyx.

Home: Leopard Seals primarily reside in Antarctica and sub-Artic waters. Though less common, Leopard Seals have also been spotted off the coasts of southern Australia, Tasmania, South Africa and New Zealand.

Physical Characteristics: Leopard Seals can weigh up to 900-1,300 lbs and grow to 12 feet in length. Females are typically slightly larger than their male counterparts.

Perhaps their most defining physical attribute, aside from their black-spotted coat, is the seal’s sharp teeth. The teeth, highlighted by the longer front teeth are sure to evoke fear in their prey and anyone else unlucky enough to find themselves in the water with one of these beasts.

Food: Leopard Seals tend to be the hunters, rather than the hunted. Orcas are the seals only know predator.

The seals primarily feed on penguins, but also have been know to eat smaller seals, fish, squid and shellfish. They hunt penguins by waiting beneath an ice shelf for an unsuspecting penguin to dive in, then use their quickness and agility to chase the penguin down.

Conservation Status: Unlike Fur Seals, Leopard Seals have not been commercially hunted for their coats. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has deemed these predators on the low-end of their ‘Conservation Status’ scale: least concern.

Fun Fact: Take a moment to watch this amazing video of an encounter National Geographic photographer Paul Nicklen had with a Leopard Seal. Normally known for their aggressive instincts, Nicklen’s subject showed a more nurturing side, confusing Nicklen for a less-adept predator and attempting to help feed him penguins.

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