A South African tour boat captain and a group of divers made history this past weekend on their way back into the bay after refueling when they photographed 5 Orcas hunting and killing a dolphin. Interesting chain of events to say the least.

Here's the full story from the Port Elizabeth Herald in South Africa.

Guy Rogers ENVIRONMENT &0x0026; TOURISM EDITOR

IN A global environmental first, five orcas have been filmed hunting and killing a dolphin in Algoa Bay.

The "world class eco- tourism event" was witnessed, photographed and filmed by Port Elizabeth- based dive tour operator Rainer Schimpf of Expert- Tours, boat skipper Louis van Aardt of Pro Dive and four foreign dive tourists - including Swiss diver Pascal Fazio, who shot this amazing photograph.

In an equally amazing sequel to the kill, five members of the crew then joined the "killer whales" in the water and captured further footage underwater, in what is believed to be a first for South African waters.

Orcas live mainly near the north and south poles but are occasionally spotted by fishermen at this time of year in Algoa Bay.

But capturing the dolphin hunt on film and joining the huge predators beneath the surface was what made the event world class, Schimpf said.

Expert-Tours‘ "advanced sardine run" offers tourists the opportunity to see ocean predators feeding on baitballs of sardine, and the crew was on the lookout for dolphins as a signal of activity below, Schimpf said.

"We were on our way back into the bay after an excursion to Maitlands on Friday. We had stopped to refuel off Cape Recife and realised that a pod of dolphins was coming up behind us. Then we saw the giant fins behind them closing in with incredible speed - and we knew it was orcas as well."

There were five of them, comprising two 7m animals, probably males, two females of 5m and a calf of about 3m, he said.

"As we followed them we saw them separate one dolphin from the rest of the pod and bump it out of the water. They did this a number of times until it was just lying unconscious on the surface. Then they grabbed it and pulled it below.

"It was sad for the dolphin but it was obviously a hunting lesson for the calf and it was mind-blowing to be able to capture it on film."

Fazio, 36, who comes from Zug in Switzerland, said he had been simply lucky to get the definitive shot of the orca knocking the hapless dolphin into the air. "I was waiting for the perfect opportunity and it came. It was one of the most special moments I have ever experienced."

The orcas then left their chase and became aware of the boat and slowed down and circled it, Schmidt said.

"My four clients and I decided to join them in the water. While orcas in the northern hemisphere feed mostly on fish like herring, the species in the south focuses on mammals like seals and dolphins, so we were cautious.

"But they were just curious, and quite friendly. At one point the mother of the calf brought it towards us, shielded against her side as if to show us to it."

Schimpf, who is also spokesman for the marine conservation lobby group Ocean Messengers, said the event was further evidence that "Algoa Bay offers the best dive opportunities world-wide.... and needs to be protected accordingly.

"It is a heritage of enormous tourism value and has huge potential to support eco-friendly business, for present and future generations."

The article I posted yesterday and the response I received from Nelly promted me to find this fun little article from the

GAZETTETIMES.COM

The Buzz: Give it up for Earth Day

by Jake TenPas

OK, let's start this Buzz out with an admission: Some of us had no idea whatsoever that it was Earth Day today. We're not naming any names, but let's just say the person's name rhymes with Snake Wrengrass.

The only reason we point this out is because several of the people we stopped on the street seemed equally unaware, and we just want it to be known that there's nothing wrong with that. Those who didn't know and still agreed to answer our ridiculous questions are all the braver for it.

Now, to those questions. Given that today is Earth Day, and this week is Earth Week, we wondered what might happen if we started to think of it a bit like Lent. Only, instead of lasting 40 days, we only have to give up something for a week. Heck, we'd be happy if we made it a day without eating fast food in a styrofoam container around these parts. So, what we're saying is, we can all do better. Right? RIGHT?

First, we asked people if they knew it was Earth Day. Second, we asked them what they'd be willing to give up for Earth Week. Third, we asked them what they wouldn't be willing to give up. And remember, those living in non-environmentally friendly homes shouldn't cast nonbiodegradable objects at them. Or something.

1) "I did not." 2) "If it wasn't rainy and cold, I'd give up my car." 3) "My coffee."

David Lindley, owner, High Brow Eye Wear

1) "I did." 2) "Printing things. Is that green? I'd go paperless for a week." 3) "My car. I'm fine in Corvallis, but I couldn't stay in Corvallis."

Jennifer Abbot, sales, Brown House

1) "I did." 2) "Paper coffee cups. I actually just started today. I used my mug." 3) "I wouldn't give up long showers."

Alyssa Dart, member, Divine a cappella group

1) "No." 2) "I guess my car." 3) "Toilet paper."

Lisa Howard, owner, Taking It Home

1) "I read it in the newspaper." 2) "I can give my extra time to educate people." 3) "My clothes, because you see, the global warming ..."

Juan Sanchez, Benton County Commission on Children and Families

1) "No, but everybody knew it was April 20 yesterday." 2) "Figure something out other than diesel fuel. I'd use bio fuel if it was more readily available." 3) "My phone. I haven't heard that it does anything any good."

John Leatherman, contractor, RJet Construction

Compiled by Jake TenPas

Wanted to share this article from today's Toronto Star.

Is Earth Day still relevant 18 years on?

TheStar.com -

As corporate sponsors mount, some activists believe the charity strayed from its purpose

April 22, 2008

Moira Welsh
Environment Reporter

It was one of the original green movements in Canada, created by environmental activists who had spent their lives protesting big companies that harmed the planet.

Today, Earth Day Canada is a registered charity that relies mostly on money from large corporations.

Founded in 1990, the charity encouraged ordinary Canadians to clear garbage from their communities as a means of understanding the earth's fragility. Today, environmental awareness has blossomed.

Children speak of atmospheric carbon dioxide while lecturing their parents on the evils of the family SUV. Millions of Canadians turned off their lights during Earth Hour. And, corporations send out daily press releases advertising their commitment to green-ness.

Today, as Earth Day Canada marks its official date for the environmental inspiration of Canadians, a certain question begs for an answer: Is it still relevant?

Glen MacIntosh says no.

MacIntosh, spokesperson for the Toronto Climate Campaign, organized a downtown Toronto protest on Sunday, naming it "Reclaim Earth Day." The coalition of unions and social justice organizations take particular offence to Earth Day's sponsorship by corporations. The Earth Day website says Sunoco and the Suncor Energy Foundation sponsored the tree-planting events that unfolded over the weekend.

"The original Earth Day didn't have that. It was mobilized by activists with a point to make change," MacIntosh said.

"People are being deceived. They attend the Earth Day events thinking they are doing a good thing, but really they are being entertained, sold to."

"That is their take," responded Jed Goldberg, president of Earth Day Canada.

"None of our donors has any input whatsoever into our programming, communications, marketing. Nothing. These are our programs. They choose to support them because they feel we are effective, but they have no impact at all in the way we conduct ourselves."

Rules surrounding registered charities like Earth Day, explains Goldberg, preclude the organization from lobbying politicians.

"There is obviously an important place for activism in any kind of social justice movement," Goldberg said. "As far as I am concerned, it is quite healthy for them to have their type of event."

Earth Day Canada, said Goldberg, has evolved from its early days creating community awareness. Today, 80 per cent of its work goes into education, primarily a website that gives tips on reducing energy use, with an online calculator to add up those savings.

There is a finite number of energy-saving tips - using cold water for laundry, buying locally grown food and using transit. Earth Day's current raison d'être shares the same tips found on every other energy-saving website.

Goldberg, however, calls the program's calculator, which measures the dollars saved for each step taken in the "Eco-Action plan," innovative. The organization has spent $400,000 developing the program. It is found on the Earth Day website, but is also promoted on three municipal websites -Waterloo; Moncton N.B.; and Grand Prairie, Alta., with plans to expand.

"We've tried to evolve our programming. It is no longer just a celebratory day. It's not "Rah, rah, let's go plant some trees.' ... We have a program where we engage individuals and lead them through the process of minimizing the impact of how they live in their home."

Maury Mason was one of the founders of Canada's Earth Day, spending the first part of his career with Greenpeace Canada as an activist pushing governments and corporation for environmental change. "There is a value in getting people excited about something. It is a pathway to action," said Mason, who hired Goldberg as his replacement in 1993.

"An inspired, educated and committed person cannot help but act. If the main purpose (of Earth Day) is to create the first step of inspiration ... great. People will move it further," he said.

"Industry and business have to respond to that, otherwise they will be left behind."

City councillor Adam Vaughan threw his support behind the Toronto Climate Campaign, and its desire to push hard for the Kyoto agreement. Still, Vaughan says Earth Day creates no harm.

"The way you grow a movement is, you accommodate the clash of ideas. And hopefully, the movement gets bigger and bigger and you succeed on many more fronts. It is not either-or. I think it is both."

At the University of Toronto, Ingrid Leman Stefanovic has watched the green movement evolve for the past 20 years. Director of the Centre for Environmental Studies, she likens Earth Day to a birthday, a marker to "a time to stop and collectively recognize a testimonial to an idea."

"There are gigantic problems that we have to address. At the same time, it is important that we focus on successes ... There is an urgency, but rather than making people feel negative, we can instill some hope.

"Whether it is Earth Day, or turning off your lights for an hour, no one action is going to be earth-shattering. These kinds of moments simply remind people that you have to be a little more careful, and caring, of the planet."