Update coming home from Costa Rica

Hi! JDR here with a small update:

1. Costa Rica was great - Prof. Jorge Cortes was a great host. Hopefully we can do more work in the future, and perhaps even set up some kind of agreement.
2. US bases in Okinawa need to be re-examined!! They provide economic help to Okinawa, but in some aspects they are not welcome - noise and pollution. Also, admittedly admission policies and privacy of personal information are not very good eother - just ask CA. Here is hoping the new government does NOT approve Henoko and moves Futenma out of Okinawa.
3. On the other hand, the new Japan govt. has evidently cancelled the JSPS Wakate S program for the next year (forever??). Another boo!

Ahhh, if only science and research was not influenced by politics...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jul/26/climate-change-obama-administration

http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/pipermail/coral-list/2009-March/038629.html

See you soon!

JDR

Until proven otherwise...

HIS Chatan sucks very bad. Refusing to refund the majority of our money despite the university ordering us to not go. Shame on companies like this for attempting to make money off of people's problems. They have lost my respect (which is still hopefully a big deal in Japan).

So, note to all you travelers out there. Do not patronize HIS if there is any chance you will be in an "unorthodox" situation. They are so tight with money they could make diamonds with coals.

Booo....

Guam cancelled

In a rather drastic measure, Ryudai is prohibiting all overseas to travel to all foreign countries as a result of the H1N1 in Kobe and Osaka. I guess better safe than sorry, but this seems a bit overdone. I imagine in a week or two things will be back to normal, but for now all I will say is: boo hoo.

Also, cheers to ANA for being understanding and refunding our money. Boos mixed with hmmm to HIS Chatan for refusing to refund our money until 30 minutes into a heated discussion.

Just when you thought things couldn't possibly get weirder...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090106/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_marine_conservation

Bush makes the world's largest marine protected area! Add this to his previous marine protected zones, and he has protected more than any other president.

Wow.

But, then again, don't forget all his non-nature friendly legislation.

Still, who would have predicted this?

Check this link out

That said, time to diet... My face is round! ;-)

http://wildfilms.blogspot.com/
http://wildfilms.blogspot.com/2008/06/zoanthids-of-kusu-island.html
http://rafflesmuseum.wordpress.com/2008/06/06/dr-james-reimer/
http://teamseagrass.blogspot.com/2008/06/cyrene-reef-jun-08.html
http://wondercreation.blogspot.com/
http://www.zoaid.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=2404

These people here in Singapore really use the net to get the word out - we could learn a few things from them.

Also, Cyrene Reef - which I mentioned yesterday, is apparently in danger of being "developed" - which is politician-speak for destroyed and paved over. This happens in Japan too, so if you care about reefs out there in Japan or Singapore (or anywhere really) check these blogs out and see what you can do to help protect the reefs of the world!

bedtime here,