All posts by The Beetle

Zakynthos Turtle Threat

Environmentalists have announced that the Mediterranean’s largest nesting population of loggerhead turtles is facing extinction due to tourism. Their reports states that one of only two marine turtle species that reproduce in the Mediterranean, would face extinction unless the authorities took more steps to control tourism in the region.

The Greek island of Zakynthos is home to the National Marine Park, where between 800 and 1,100 turtles nest every summer. Officials have been accused of failing to implement sufficient regulations to prevent tourists from disturbing the turtles that hatch at the height of the tourism season in August. The Worldwide Fund for Nature monitored the park this summer and found that thousands of tourists placed their sunbeds and umbrellas beyond authorised limits on the beaches. Illegal bars, tavernas and parking areas also lined the shores, disturbing the turtle settlements, according to the report. Three years ago the Greek government was found guilty under European Union law of failing to protect the animals. But, despite the ruling, tourism has continued to damage the population, according to this week’s WWF report.

Ramadan

If, like the Beetle, you are travelling in a Muslim country, you should be aware that it is Ramadan, which started 5th October. Ramadan is a special month of the year for over one billion Muslims throughout the world. It is a time for inner reflection, devotion to God, and self-control. Many Muslims regards Ramadan as a kind of tune-up for their spiritual lives. Fasting in Ramadan is obligatory for those who can do it, so people who are ill and pregnant women for example are exempted from the fast but must make it up as they are able.

The third “pillar” of (Sunni) Islam is fasting and is believed to have many benefits including a means of learning self-control and going without food and drink during the daylight hours is felt to improve one’s spiritual nature, which becomes a means of coming closer to God. Ramadan is also a time of intense worship, reading the Quran, giving charity, purifying one’s behaviour, and doing good deeds.

The daily period of fasting starts when the sun comes up and ends when the sun sets. In between this time, Muslims do not eat, drink, smoke or have sex. Many people to have a pre-fast meal (suhoor) before dawn and a post-fast meal (iftar) after sunset. In Brunei, where the Beetle has just finished working, working hours are cut short, with people leaving at 3pm to allow the women to prepare the evening meal. Many people have relatives and friends over during Ramadan to share their evening meal.

The last ten days of Ramadan are a time of special spiritual power as everyone tries to come closer to God through devotions and good deeds. The night on which the Quran was revealed to the Prophet, known as the Night of Power (Lailat ul-Qadr), is generally taken to be the 27th night of the month. The Quran states that this night is better than a thousand months. Many Muslims spend the entire night in prayer. During the month, Muslims try to read as much of the Quran as they can. Some spend part of their day listening to the recitation of the Quran in a mosque. Some spend the last ten days of Ramadan in a mosque devoting the whole ten days for worshipping God.

You should be respectful to those fasting during Ramadan, and this includes not eating in front of a person who is fasting or asking them to join you in food or drink during fasting hours.

London Palaces: Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace stands at the western end of Kensington Gardens. It was originally a private country house called Nottingham House but was acquired in 1689 by William III and Mary II (1689) because the King’s asthma improved there during the winters. Sir Christopher Wren was engaged to design improvements to the house and the Clock Court and the South Front, including the 96-foot Long Gallery were added. After William III’s death in 1702, the palace became the residence of Queen Anne. Wren designed the Orangery for her and a 30-acre garden was laid out by Henry Wise. Further extensive alterations were carried out for George I and William Kent painted the elaborate trompe l’oeil ceilings and staircases. The last monarch to live at Kensington Palace was George II, whose consort, Caroline of Ansbach helped develop Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens and the Serpentine, Basin and Grand Vista and the Broad Walk were created for her. The sudden death of George II in 1760 marked the end of an era. Kensington Palace was never again to serve a reigning monarch.

Queen Victoria spent her childhood at Kensington Palace and it was here in June 1837 that she learned of her accession to the throne and moved to Buckingham Palace. The palace was most famously the London home of Diana, Princess of Wales and is still home to several other hanger-on members of the Royal Family.

Kensington Palace first opened to the public in 1912 with a display of relics and objects relating to the City of London. It attracted 13,000 visitors in just one day. The museum pieces now form part of the collection at the Museum of London. Visitors today can see the State Apartments, the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection that includes outfits from the eighteenth-century to the present day, the Orangery and sunken gardens.

Kensington Palace opens daily. 10:00-17:00 (Nov-Feb) 10:00-18:00 (Mar-Oct). Closed 24-26 Dec. Tube: Queensway, Notting Hill Gate or High Street Kensington. Enquiries: 020 7937 9561. Entrance: Adults £10.80, Students and Snr Citizens £8.20, Child: £7.00 Under 5s: FREE.

Great White Journey

A tagged great white shark (called Nicole, by researchers – after shark loving actress Nicole Kidman) crossed the Indian Ocean from South Africa to Australia and back again in just nine months. The act of tagging a great white is something of an achievement; several people need to hold the creature still while the satellite tracker is attached.

The conservationists were investigating how far great whites swim, to see what protection measures might be needed to save them from extinction. Great whites were once thought to keep to coastal regions, but this was a trek across a vast expanse of open ocean. The journey was very direct, not some aimless wandering and the stay near Australia was only brief.

The researchers say the fact that they saw a shark make the journey at all – after observing only about 20 animals – suggests it is common behaviour. Their concern is that such migrations make the great whites vulnerable to long-line fishing. It is already known that lesser sharks do get captured and killed this way.

Avoid Somali Coast

If you are sailing around the world, you’d be advised to avoid Somalian water. Somali pirates have hijacked (another) ship with 10 crew on its way to the Somali port of El-Maan. The MV Torgelow was carrying fuel and food to a UN-chartered vessel freed last week by gunmen who had held it and its cargo of food aid for three months. The International Maritime Board says there have been at least 20 attacks on ships in Somali waters since March. It urges ships in the area to stay as far away as possible from the shore.

Casinos in Singapore

Singapore has just lifted a 40 year ban on gambling to build two new casinos. One of these has caused public complaints as it is to displace Singapore’s only horse riding school.

New Business Class NY-London

A new airline, Maxjet Airways, will launch an all-business class service between Stansted just north of London and New York’s JFK airport as from 1st November. There will be daily flights except Saturdays. One-way fares are expected to start from £599, excluding taxes. Seats have a 60in pitch and service will be similar to other airlines’ business-class services.

Robot Fish in London Aquarium

Spotted by webmaster Paul: three robot fish, created by robotics experts from Essex University can be found at London Aquarium. They move around the tank like real fish, and have sensor-based controls, so they can move around the tank, avoiding objects and other fish, and reacting to their environment as a real fish would. Professor Huosheng Hu, of the university’s computer science department, said the aim of creating the fish and having them on display in a public place was to increase awareness about robots’ capabilities. He said the robotic fish, which took three years to create, could also be used in the ocean such as including seabed exploration, detecting leaks in oil pipelines, mine countermeasures, and improving the performance of underwater vehicles.

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