Category Archives: High Seas

Presented by Ferco Motors It was back in 1984 for the Offshore Power Boat World Championship that the wind was howling, prompting the catamaran drivers to be wary of the 5 to 10-foot seas. There was one driver, however, that was happy about the conditions. That man was Bob Saccenti of Team Apache Racing who would be the throttles of Warpath, a 41-foot deep-vee offshore racing boat, while Ben Kramer was Driver and Tom Evans was Navigator. While the catamarans are best suited for flat water to skip across, they do not fare well in high seas. For Saacenti and the Warpath, these conditions gave him a one-up over the competition. Warpath would go on to dominate the 1984 World Championship, placing the boat in powerboat history.

Now, Warpath is heading to auction and is doing so in remarkable condition. Between 2007 and 2009, the boat was given a bow to stern restoration that was overseen byTom Evans, the original crew chief of Team Apache Racing and navigator for the 1984 world championship season andGail Paik, the original artist.

Warpath came to Gail and Tom in already solid condition, with no structural repairs necessary. The sturdy Kevlar deep-vee hull was already built for heavy seas, allowing it to remain in fantastic condition. Still, the crew brought Warpath back to its original glory through the restoration of the graphics, mechanical, and cabin features. This includes the rebuild of the twin supercharged 572ci Chevrolet big-block V8 engines, as well as as going through all steering components, throttles, and instrumentation. Altogether, Warpath is currently in truly remarkable condition thanks to the restoration and is ready to be cherished by a new owner.

This is a truly rare opportunity for someone to own a piece of boating history. Coming along with the boat is a triple-axle All American trailer. Warpath will be sold via a week-long online auction beginning on September 10, 2021. For more information, be sure to click the button below.

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Historic 'Warpath' Powerboat is Heading to Auction - duPont REGISTRY DAILY

TEHRAN Expediting vaccination against the Coronavirus, improving the people's livelihood and fighting corruption, according to President Ebrahim Raisi, are the three main national priorities of the administration, at least until the end of the current Iranian year, which ends on March 20.

In this regard, the start of the president's intrusive trips to the less developed provinces of the country also indicates the special determination of the Raisi administration to counter poverty.

In a commentary on Friday, IRNA said one week after the first visit of Raisi to the southwestern province of Khuzestan, the president, like his first visit, paid a visit to Sistan-Balouchestan, one of the less developed provinces in the country to get first-hand information about the challenges and problems that the people face in this border province.

Arriving in Chabahar city in the southeastern province of Sistan-Balouchestan through Konarak airport on Thursday, the president immediately started touring different areas of Chabahar.

The trip was accompanied by the ministers of interior, energy, transport and urban development, economy, industry, mining and trade, the head of the planning and budget organization, and the chief of staff of the president.

Before the trip, the president in different economic meetings and the National Headquarters for Coronavirus Control underlined the three important issues and the main promise of the administration, namely the vaccination project, providing basic goods as well as the fight against corruption.

Trip to less developed region

The first visit of the president and his cabinet members to Khuzestan on the first day of the official start of the administration was expected due to the very difficult conditions of the people of the province.

Campaign against the corruption virus can help improve the situation in society.The second trip to another province, namely Sistan-Balouchestan and visiting Chabahar, shows the determination of the administration to get acquainted with the economic problems of the people of that region and then to fight the root of poverty and inequality in the province that undermine trust and hope.

In his second provincial trip, the president visited Makran coasts where he was welcomed by the representative of the Leader in Sistan-Balouchestan, the provincial governor, and a group of other local officials.

Konarak city is one of the fishing poles in province and about 4,500 fishermen are working on the vessels of this pier. Upon arrival, President Raisi visited the Konarak fishing pier and met with the fishermen.

The second destination of the president was the poor suburb of Moradabad.

During this intrusive visit, Raisi listened to the problems raised by the residents of the area and then stated in a short remark: "Living in shelters is by no means a desirable form of life and a favorable situation for the people. Improving the situation our fellow Iranians in this region will be very good work."

After directly observing the realities on the ground, the president issued orders on how to accelerate improving the situation in this deprived area in a meeting of the administrative council of the province.

In the provincial administrative meeting on Thursday, the president emphasized: "We must have a good mechanism for the prosperity of production, and the issue of the development of Makran coasts must be taken into consideration and pursued in a special way.

The importance of Makran coasts and Chabahar port due to their access to high seas (the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean) through the ports of Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti, is the most important reason for the president's second provincial trip.

The Makran and Chabahar regions have the potential to increase the province's economic development capacity and greatly reduce poverty in Sistan-Balouchestan.

The development of this region can create a kind of balance in terms of development in the north and south of the country. Creating jobs and economic opportunities and equal services will help significantly to eliminate discrimination and feelings of discrimination in ethnic and religious areas on which a number of Iran's enemies have counted on.

Understanding this important issue and awareness about the challenges is promising. It will help continue the process of fighting poverty by relying on the internal capacities and national and God-given resources of the country.

What is a priority for the administration?

In addition to addressing the issue of fighting poverty in less developed provinces, the administration and the president at the national level, have so far raised three main priorities as their most important concern, the first of which is how to deal with Coronavirus and national vaccination.

Before leaving for the border province, the president stressed the need to accelerate the supply of vaccines through imports and domestic products. He said: "One of the essential issues in the vaccination process is fair distribution of the vaccine based on priorities and the necessary arrangements must be made for its fair distribution in the provinces."

Proper distribution was also one of the interesting points that President Raisi underscored in his trip. It seems that it is of special importance to pay attention to this issue due to the various and uncoordinated statements.

"Remarks about the various aspects of the disease and related issues should be organized with the aim of creating maximum hope and avoiding anxiety and fear among the people," the president said.

He noted, "In no way should we prevent experts from commenting on corona, but we should note that the venue for expert discussions is not in the public, but in specialized forums and circles."

Another key issue is the provision of essential goods in the difficult days of the Coronavirus pandemic and the economic recession coupled with inflation.

In this regard, at a meeting of the government's economic coordination headquarters, Raisi said: "With the coordination and measures taken, the supply and storage of basic goods has enjoyed an acceptable trend and there is no problem in this regard."

The president had previously stressed that there were concerns about stocks of basic goods.

The third and, of course, one of the most fundamental issues for the administration is the serious and practical fight against corruption.

In the joint meeting of the presiding board of the Parliament and expert commissions of the Assembly of Experts on Thursday, the president pointed out that the fight against corruption and the fair distribution of facilities are among his administrations priorities.

"The administration will prevent special privileges for a certain number of individuals... The fact is that special privileges for some people along with corruption and discrimination have put more pressure on people, even more than the sanctions and corona."

Due to his precious experience in fighting corruption during his tenure as a top judge before being elected as president, the president can continue the struggle against corruption. Campaign against corruption can help eradicate the role of the corruption virus in society and improve the situation.

The rest is here:

National priorities and Raisi administration's determination to fight poverty - Tehran Times

Cullercoats Bay. Taken by Alan Farnworth

Once again I have been left in awe of our coastline from your wonderful photos capturing the beauty on our doorstep.

This week I have gone through the photos you have been sending in and chosen a handful of shots from the coastline up the North East coastline.

With miles of sandy beaches, ice cream shops to visit and long piers to walk down, there are plenty of things that draws us back.

There is something incredibly soothing about a walk on the beach, feeling the sand between your toes and breathing in sea air, so it is no surprise you love sending in photos from your coastal trips.

Here is a collection of your photos you have sent in. There are clearly a few favourite spots!

View from St Mary's Lighthouse, Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear. Taken by Chris Rook.

Amble, Northumberland. Taken by Debs Lucas-Byrne.

St. Mary's Lighthouse. Taken by Nelson Allan.

Whitley Bay. Taken by Paul Cox.

Seaton Sluice, Northumberland. Taken by Mark Sweeney.

South Shields, Tyne and Wear. Taken by Jeffrey McHugh.

Marsden Beach. Taken by Mark Sweeney.

High Seas at Tynemouth, Tyne and Wear. Taken by Jayne Renwick.

Seaton Sluice Harbour. Taken by Roland Oliver.

If you'd like your photo to be considered for an area round up. Email them to community@ncjmedia.co.uk

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Your View: The North East coast - In Your Area

Mariners in the Red Sea have long been threatened by pirates, but they now must deal with a much more modern threat as well: unmanned explosive boats. Since 2017, Houthi forces in Yemen have been perfecting their use of maritime drones sometimes referred as unmanned surface vehicles, drone boats, or water-borne improvised explosive devices to carry out attacks against maritime vessels and port facilities in the region. While only one of these attacks to date has led to the loss of lives, others have caused material damage to a number of ships and led to the temporary shutdown of one of Saudi Arabias busiest ports.

Fortunately, there are a number of steps that governments and private maritime firms can take to counter the threat of maritime drones before it gets worse. Better intelligence sharing and evasive tactics coupled with proactive measures such as electronic jamming, water cannons, and boat nets can help keep commercial vessels safe as they pass by Yemen.

Tabulating the Threat

Open source research based on the same data collection methods used to study aerial drones reveals 24 successful or attempted Houthi maritime drone attacks carried out between January 2017 and June 2021. Tabulating these attacks offers some preliminary generalizations about target and location, while also highlighting the difficulty of making similar generalizations about timing.

The majority of all Houthi maritime drone attacks were directed at commercial shipping vessels such as tankers or freight carriers. Four targeted civilian ports and two targeted oil production and distribution facilities. This makes the total number of attacks against civilian and oil-related targets 16, or two-thirds of the total. These include commercial shipping vessels sailing under different flags, including Yemens and Singapores, but a majority have been Saudi carriers. As for location, these attacks have been clustered around Hodeidah, the Salif port, and Mocha. The first two locations are currently under Houthi control, while the more southern city of Mocha is not. In addition to these maritime drone attacks, the Houthis have also carried out aerial drone bombings, rocket-propelled grenade strikes from fast moving boats, and indiscriminate naval mining in the strait connecting the Red Sea with the Bay of Aden. It is harder to see patterns in the timing of Houthi maritime drone attacks, however. There is an average of 70 days between each attack, but some have been separated by a mere four days and others by as many as 217.

Proactive and Evasive Tactics

The maritime drone threat may be new, but in trying to counter it, navies and shipping companies can draw on their experience fighting piracy as well as on military efforts to counter aerial drones. The steps that have contributed to the decline in piracy off the coast of Somalia include evasive tactics as well as active countermeasures. Both are important in addressing the threat of Houthi maritime drones.

The first step is to maximize situational awareness for both military and civilian vessels. This means keeping track of recent attacks, actively seeking intelligence reports through open source services, and then sharing this information widely. Just as government agencies need to share their intelligence in the battle against terrorism, the civilian maritime community must do the same. This requires a system for sharing up-to-date situation reports with captains. These reports should contain information about attempted or successful maritime drone attacks as well as details about any other maritime threats or friendly naval forces in the area. Ideally, these reports would draw on the work of security or intelligence agencies, while being carefully vetted to avoid revealing sources and methods.

Armed with good situational awareness, military and civilian vessels in dangerous maritime environments can focus on identifying threats through visual recognition and patterns of movement. However, experimental research has revealed that the human ability to accurately detect hostile intent in surrounding vessels is limited, particularly when approaching vessels employed strategies to mask their intentions. This means that relying solely on human identification may not be sufficient. Fortunately, in contrast to many civilian and military installations on land, larger civilian and military maritime vessels are already equipped with radar technology. This makes detection, and possibly also identification, of approaching vessels possible, particularly when taking key visual and radar signatures into account. Advances in machine learning and improvements in configuring radar circuitry can help overcome ongoing challenges presented by sea clutter, rain, and fog.

Active Countermeasures

Many of the existing countermeasures used to safeguard civilian maritime vessels are directed at the personnel on board hostile ships. These include the use of armed guards to deter approaching vessels or engage their crews with small arms weaponry, as well as barbed wire on the sides of ships to prevent boarding and acoustic systems to inflict painful yet non-lethal harm on pirates. The problem is that all of these countermeasures have a human attacker as the common denominator. Hence, they are useless when a hostile unmanned vessel is approaching.

Instead, for maritime drones, it is important to focus on kinetic and mechanical options. Kinetic options would include projectiles targeting a maritime drones hull or engine that could slow it down or reduce its maneuverability. As commercial vessels are unlikely to be equipped with high-capacity Gatling gun defense systems, like the Phalanx Close-In Weapons System, high-caliber precision rifles are probably a more likely alternative for defensive measures.

Another option, first developed to be deployed from helicopters, is boat nets, which could render the propeller of an engine useless by restricting its movement. These could be adapted for use on ships. These nets must have a delivery system that enables the defending vessel to move away from the actual net after it is deployed so as to protect against any subsequent fail-safe detonations. Nets could be used as a stand-alone countermeasure or in combination with water cannons. Water cannons can not only deny approaching pirates access to a ship, but also fill their boats with water. This both slows the boat down as well as reduces its maneuverability. These systems can be remotely operated from the bridge of a ship and could also serve to help suppress onboard fires if an attack succeeds.

The application of these measures could be enhanced by deployment of threat-specific security personnel. Already, there are private maritime security companies in the Red Sea and the Bay of Aden. According to research by Katinka Svanberg, ships with private security forces on board have never been hijacked. But, of course, their success in deterring maritime drone attacks would be dependent on their having tools and techniques that interfere with the vessel itself rather than the humans on board the vessel.

Technologies used to combat aerial drones such as jamming and spoofing techniques, as well as high energy weapons, should also be adapted to the maritime environment. Both U.S. and British warships have already begun doing this, particularly after the latest attack on motor tanker Mercer Street off the coast of Oman. Jamming techniques may be used to bombard the receiver in this case, the attacking drone with noise signals, while spoofing techniques can be used to confuse the drone control device. High energy weapons such as laser systems and high-power microwave weapons can disrupt or disable internal electronics, rendering the attacking platform incapable of carrying out an attack. These techniques are currently being tested by U.S. armed forces against aerial drones and should be adapted to the maritime environment.

That said, there is only so much a commercial vessel can handle on its own. Obviously, all of the evasive and countermeasures above are unlikely to be used in a non-military context. This is especially true of the more technologically advanced measures for identification and jamming as well as high-capacity projectile weaponry. This means naval vessels that have patrolled the area since 2019 should continue their valuable work. More broadly, a generous flow of experience and knowledge between both military and commercial actors at sea can help strengthen anti-drone efforts.

Finally, more aggressive naval action could also play a role in countering the Houthi maritime threat. Since the Israeli attack on the Iranian ship MV Saviz on April 6, 2021, only two Houthi maritime drone attacks have been confirmed. The Saviz is a cargo vessel that was used for offshore surveillance and for supporting the Houthis naval operations. It is worth paying careful attention to whether the attack on the Saviz, or its subsequent relocation, have an impact on Houthi naval operations.

Conclusion

The Houthi maritime threat is real and rising, as shown by the groups 24 attacks over the past four years. But commercial vessels are not defenseless. Better situational awareness, better measures to avoid approaching maritime drones, and better tools to disable them can all play a key role in keeping the Red Sea safe.

Looking forward, maritime security experts should be alert to the risk that technologies currently deployed by the Houthis will spread to other seas. Iran may be deliberately using the Red Sea as a testing area for new naval technologies, or the Houthis may be pioneering these technologies on their own. But either way, Iran will be eager to learn from the Houthis experiences and tactics. It will be important to develop effective countermeasures before maritime drones potentially appear in the Strait of Hormuz as well.

Hvard Haugstvedt is a Ph.D. research fellow at the Department of Social Studies, University of Stavanger, Norway, and has published several peer-reviewed journal articles about non-state actors use of armed unmanned aerial vehicles.

Image: U.S. Navy (Photo by Mass Communication Spc. Seaman Sawyer Connally)

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Red Sea Drones: How to Counter Houthi Maritime Tactics - War on the Rocks

Captivated by the mating habits of jellyfish, elephants mourning their ancestors, and proud lionesses cuddling their cubs, audiences love to peer into the private lives of creatures great and smallparticularly in spectacular settings around the world. A study conducted by the BBC together with the University of California Berkeley revealed just why viewers choose to kick back and tune into programs like Honey Badgers: Masters of Mayhem and The Tigers of Scotlandnature documentaries trigger the neurochemicals of happiness, reducing stress and anxiety.

Some of the best exponents of the genre come from the BBC Natural History Unit, which has been cranking out award-winning nature documentaries since 1957, often in conjunction with natural historian and television producer Sir David Attenborough. Now in his 90s, Attenborough has worked with the BBC for over 25 years and is the genius behind several acclaimed series, including Life and The Blue Planet, which continue to be watched by millions of people worldwide.

In recent years, a growing number of filmmakers have used their platforms to raise public consciousness about the many threats posed by global warming. Coral bleaching, rising sea levels, farm animal cruelty, and melting polar ice-caps have all been addressed in documentaries, as well as the significant role played by human beings concerning climate change and environmental degradation. Celebrity activists, includingLeonardo DiCaprio, Laurence Fishburne, Oprah Winfrey, andJoaquin Phoenix have also lent their status to the movement, behind the camera as well as in front of it.

Stacker put together a list of the 30 best nature documentaries of all time, based on IMDb user ratings. Consideration went to documentaries and single-season documentary miniseries focused on plants, animals, and the environment. Read on to find out which films exposed barbarous ancient fishing practices, employed revolutionary photography techniques, or were recently outed for faking content.

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Directors: Kip Andersen, Keegan Kuhn IMDb user rating: 8.2 Metascore: data not available Runtime: 90 minutes

Kip Andersons Indiegogo-funded Cowspiracy highlights the uncomfortable relationship between big agriculture and carbon emissions. As much a movement as a documentary, Cowspiracy urges its audience to eschew animal products in an empowering, grassroots campaign to battle climate change. A 2015 cut of the film released on Netflix was produced by celebrity activist Leonardo DiCaprio.

Director: Fisher Stevens IMDb user rating: 8.2 Metascore: 63 Runtime: 96 minutes

In Before the Flood, United Nations Messenger of Peace Leonardo DiCaprio takes viewers on a journey around the world, illustrating the threat posed by global warming. Directed by Academy Award-winner Fisher Stevens, this National Geographic production practices what it preaches, offsetting carbon emissions created during production with a voluntary carbon tax.

Directors: Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi IMDb user rating: 8.2 Metascore: 83 Runtime: 100 minutes

Free Solo is the term for the kind of climbing done alone (solo) and without the usual harnesses, ropes, and carabiners that most rock climbers use as a form of security and safety (free of that stuff). The documentary captures climber Alex Honnolds free soloclimbs up virtually vertical slabs of rock, capturing with dizzying clarity just how dangerous these climbs are. The film builds to his ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Parka well-known climbing destination of 3,000-plus feet.

IMDb user rating: 8.3 Votes: 2,650

A sequel to Walking with Dinosaurs, this joint BBC/Discovery Channel effort explores life on Earth immediately after the big lizards became extinct. Sir Kenneth Brannagh narrates this three-hour look at the habits and habitats of wooly mammoths and saber-tooth lions.

Director: Jamie Uys IMDb user rating: 8.3 Metascore: data not available Runtime: 92 minutes

Directed by Jamie Uys of The Gods Must Be Crazy fame, Beautiful People (also released as Animals are Beautiful People) takes a gentle and frequently humorous look at South African wildlife. A scene in which inebriated animals indulge in fermented fruit is one of the highlights of this 1975 Golden Globe winner.

Director: Dereck Joubert IMDb user rating: 8.3 Metascore: 69 Runtime: 88 minutes

The brainchild of conservationists and filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert, The Last Lions plays like a feature film as it chronicles the trials and tribulations of Ma di Taua remarkable lioness committed to defending her family in Botswanas treacherous Okavango Delta. Narrated by actor Jeremy Irons, the film draws attention to the plight of the wild lion population, which has dwindled from approximately 450,000 to 20,000 in the last 50 years.

Director: Louie Psihoyos IMDb user rating: 8.3 Metascore: 81 Runtime: 90 minutes

Racing Extinction explores the devastating effects of climate change on the worlds oceans. Human activitynotably energy consumptioncurrently threatens half of the worlds aquatic species with mass extinction. Helmed by Academy Award-winning director Louie Psihoyos, this 2015 documentary urges viewers to act before its too late.

Director: Ali Tabrizi IMDb user rating: 8.3 Metascore: data not available Runtime: 89 minutes

The global fishing industry is bad. Thats what directorAli Tabrizi comes to realize, after initially setting out to capture the glories under the oceans surface. What he finds instead is a Seaspiracy, as the miracles of marine life are poisoned, destroyed, and otherwise harmed by humans. Between damaging fishing practices, wastes like plastic that never really go away, archaic hunting practices, and general pollution and noises, the seas are being slowly killed.

Director: Godfrey Reggio IMDb user rating: 8.3 Metascore: 72 Runtime: 86 minutes

Koyaanisqatsi is a Hopi word that translates to life out of balance and is also the subject of director Godfrey Reggios 1982 documentary, which details the inherent conflict between nature and urbanism. An original score by legendary composer Philip Glass complements the stunning cinematography.

IMDb user rating: 8.4 Votes: 2,664

This groundbreaking six-part series transported never-before-seen images of Chinese wildlife into homes around the world. A Sino-British production, the project took more than two years to complete and includes rare footage of some of Chinas most remote regions, including the Mongolian steppes and the Yuanyang rice terraces.

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Director: Louie Psihoyos IMDb user rating: 8.4 Metascore: 84 Runtime: 92 minutes

Using high-definition cameras disguised as rocks, director Louie Psihoyos and his crew exposed the covert and cruel practice of dolphin drive-hunting in Taiji, Japan, whereby schools of dolphins are hoarded into coves, trapped, and killed for profit. Winner of the 2010 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, The Cove sparked outrage among animal activists worldwide as well as a hotly contested backlash against the Japanese fishing community.

Directors: Juliano Ribeiro Salgado, Wim Wenders IMDb user rating: 8.5 Metascore: 83 Runtime: 110 minutes

The Salt of the Earth follows acclaimed septuagenarian photographer Sebastio Salgado in his quest to document the planets most arresting landscapes and their inhabitants. Directed by Juliano Ribeiro Salgado (the subjects son), together with indie icon Wim Wenders, the film was nominated for the 2015 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

Director: Ron Fricke IMDb user rating: 8.5 Metascore: 65 Runtime: 102 minutes

From Baraka filmmakers Ron Fricke and Mark Magidson, this mesmerizing, non-narrative documentary was filmed over a period of five years in over 25 different countries. Shot using visually superior 70mm film, Samsara explores human spirituality as it relates to the Earths natural rhythms.

Director: Yann Arthus-Bertrand IMDb user rating: 8.6 Metascore: 47 Runtime: 118 minutes

Earth, home to all human beings, is the star of this stunning documentary by French director Luc Besson. The film showcases awe-inspiring aerial landscapes from 54 different countries while simultaneously citing alarming statistics about climate change and its potentially devastating effects.

IMDb user rating: 8.7 Votes: 2,230

Released as South Pacific in the U.K., this six-part BBC series narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch explores the unique ecosystems of isolated South Pacific islands, including the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Palau, and Palmyra. Shot entirely in high definition, the final installment highlights climate-related dangers such as rising seas, overfishing, and reef damage.

IMDb user rating: 8.9 Votes: 3,892

University of Manchester physicist Brian Cox contemplates the origins of the universe and the history of man in this cerebral, four-part BBC documentary. A follow up to the 2010 series Wonders of the Solar System, Cox turns to science for answers to existential questions that have plagued humanity since the dawn of consciousness.

IMDb user rating: 9.0 Votes: 3,021

Natures Most Amazing Events turns the camera lens on some of the most fascinating wildlife on the planet, including polar bears, sharks, and enormous schools of sardines. Aerial photography and time-lapse imagery are the hallmarks of this six-hour collaboration between The Discovery Channel and the BBC.

IMDb user rating: 9.0 Votes: 3,458

Another David Attenborough vehicle, this 2005 BBC documentary exposes the secret lives of insects. Employing the latest technological advances in macrophotography, Life in the Undergrowth raised the bar for wildlife documentary filmmaking.

IMDb user rating: 9.0 Votes: 14,355

Africa takes viewers on an unprecedented journey across the deserts, savannahs, and jungles of this geographically diverse continent. Presented by David Attenborough, Africa is just one of several BBC documentaries funded by Chinese state broadcasting network China Central Television.

IMDb user rating: 9.0 Votes: 24,030

Human Planet, another BBC/Discovery project, examines how people survive in some of the most brutal environments on the planet by building relationships with animals. Rocked by scandal in 2018, the documentary was pulled from Netflix amidst accusations of faked footage.

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IMDb user rating: 9.0 Votes: 27,270

Polar bears and penguins are front and center in this high-definition look at life both above and below the ice. A BBC classic presented by natural historian and television personality Sir David Attenborough, Frozen Planet focuses on the Arctic and Antarcticthe two regions on the planet at greatest risk from global warming.

IMDb user rating: 9.0 Votes: 35,491

Approximately three-quarters of the Earths surface is covered by waterthe subject of this riveting eight-part BBC series narrated by David Attenborough, which took home four Emmys and a Peabody Award. In 2018, a newly discovered species of ocean plankton was christened Syracosphaera azureaplaneta in honor of the series.

Director: Chris Delforce IMDb user rating: 9.1 Metascore: data not available Runtime: 120 minutes

Infamous for shocking and disturbing footage of animal cruelty, Dominion forces viewers to confront how the sausage gets madein this case, how the hamburgers, ribs, and chicken breasts people enjoy are the end result ofthe nauseating practices of meat farming. The creators behind this documentary managed to get footage inside large-scale production farms and plants, using hidden cameras and drones to capture truly upsetting scenes of animal abuse that are a routine part of getting meat onto plates. Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara narrate.

IMDb user rating: 9.1 Votes: 3,804

A follow-up to BBCs The Life of Birds, The Life of Mammals explores the origins and habits of arguably the planets most engaging and improvising inhabitants. Highlights include nonagenarian presenter David Attenborough hanging out with a sloth.

IMDb user rating: 9.1 Votes: 38,298

A BBC/Discovery co-production, Life focuses on Charles Darwins struggle for existence. Presenter David Attenborough narrated the original U.K. version of the film, but was replaced by Oprah Winfrey for the documentarys U.S. release.

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IMDb user rating: 9.3 Votes: 3,793

Its kill or be killed in this high-stakes BBC series, which casts killer whales and polar bears in a sympathetic light. Narrated by David Attenborough, The Hunt employed novel filming techniques to get the perfect shot, including cameras suspended from elephants.

IMDb user rating: 9.3 Votes: 34,387

This sequel to the 2001 BBC series Blue Planet takes a second look at the high seas with new technology built especially for the follow-up series. Presenter David Attenborough guides viewers through the mating practices of ocean dwellers and warns against the dangers of global warming.

IMDb user rating: 9.3 Votes: 34,571

The new Netflix film Our Planet isnt a BBC production, but it sure looks like one. Produced by the same team responsible for Planet Earth and featuring the venerable David Attenborough, the film goes where many earlier nature documentaries feared to tread, compelling audiences to accept their own role in the destruction of the environment.

IMDb user rating: 9.4 Votes: 169,174

The BBCs most expensive nature project, this remarkable 11-part series transported audiences to a panoply of natural habitats spread over 64 different countries. Actor Sigourney Weaver narrates the U.S. release, stepping in for icon of British natural history, David Attenborough.

IMDb user rating: 9.5 Votes: 99,168

Planet Earth II treads the same terrain as its predecessor, the 2006 mega-documentary Planet Earth. All manner of creatures eat, hunt and mate, but a decade later they do so in Ultra-HD, which makes for even more riveting viewing.

More here:

30 best nature documentaries of all time | 790 KGMI - KGMI

Holiday events will resume on board the Disney Cruise Line, starting with Halloween on the High Seas in the autumn of 2022.

Disney Cruise Line cruises will depart from New York, Texas, Florida and California, giving guests of all ages the opportunity to experience holidays at sea.

Halloween on the High Seas will return in mid-September and run until October 2022 on certain sailings. Guests can dress up in Halloween costumes and join their favourite Disney characters at Mickeys Mouse-querade Party.

The ships will be adorned in elaborate spooky decorations, including a magical Pumpkin Tree.

From November until December, Disney Cruise Line fleets will be home to Very Merrytime Cruises, with festive characters, visits from Father Christmas, and more.

Thomas Mazloum, president of Disney Cruise Line, commented on the return of holidays at sea: With five ships setting sail in fall 2022 from different homeports around the country, we are excited to offer more ways than ever before for families to make special memories with Disney Cruise Line.

Excerpt from:

Holiday events to return to Disney Cruise Line in autumn 2022 - InterPark

Navigation is a field of study that has been monumental in globalising the world, enabling people, societies and cultures to mix, and trade and economics to thrive.

History has seen great adventurers who navigated the high seas to reach lands unknown and far away. Explorers like Vasco Da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan, Christopher Columbus, Zheng He and Jacques Cartier charted territories unknown to Europe in the pre-modern history.

However, the science of navigation took thousands of years to perfect and reach a point where large ships with giant sails and hundreds of men can chart their course aided by celestial maps and knowledge of climate, tides and currents.

In fact, one of the earliest documented histories of navigation come from those that found their way around the Indus River more than 5-6000 years ago.

Heres what we know about it.

Indian maritime history is as old as 3,000 BC

It begins with the people of the Indus Valley Civilisation who traded with the Mesopotamian Civilisation. The Vedic records suggest that Indian merchants had trade contacts in the far east and Arabia. There is certain evidence of a Naval Department existing during the Mauryan period.

The worlds oldest dock

The worlds first dock was discovered to have been built by the Harappans at Lothal in around 2,400 BC. Scientifically located away from the tides to avoid silt deposit, the Lothal dock was equipped to berth and service ships. Modern oceanographers believe that Harappans possessed great knowledge of tides as exhibited by the hydrography and maritime engineering here.

The Astrolabe

A wonderous specimen of Indian ingenuity is said to be the 14th Century Astrolabe called the Yantraraja or King of Instruments which is housed in the Geneva Museum of Science. This instrument was used to navigate the high-seas and is of Indo-Moroccan origin with Sanskrit inscriptions.

The word Navigation may have originated from Sanskrit

The word 'navigation' is said to have originated from the Sanskrit language, and arises from the Sanskrit word navgatih. The word 'navy' comes from the word nov.

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Navigation may have originated in India 6,000 years ago - Here's why - DNA India

Sam Heughan and his Outlander co-stars have wrapped filming for season 6. But new episodes are still a few months away, as the season is currently in post-production. While fans patiently wait for the end of this extra-long Droughtlander, many have been following Heughan on social media for any news about the upcoming season.

The recent update he offered up was quite disappointing. But it had nothing to do with new Outlander episodes.

After the Outlander cast and crew finished filming the episodes for season 6, Heughan decided it was the perfect time to go on vacation. The 41-year-old headed to Mexico, and he sparked a major fan reaction when he posted a pic of his pull-up workout at the Tulum Beach Jungle Gym.

Its a jungle out there! , Heughan joked in the caption.

Fans couldnt help but notice his washboard abs. But some were convinced the pull-ups skills he was supposedly showing off werent very truthful. Heughans co-star Graham McTavish (Dougal Mackenzie) was pretty sure that the pull-up bar was for kids.

Are you much taller than last I saw you? McTavish asked.

Its been nearly a decade since Heughan landed the role of Jamie Fraser on Outlander. And he says that when a season comes to an end, its getting harder and harder to switch off his character.

It really is a sort of transitional moment, Heughan said of finishing a season, during an interview on the Just the Facts with Alex Zane podcast . Its sometimes hard to switch off, and for the first few days after shooting and completing a season of Outlander youre still on this hamster wheel of getting things done and doing things.

One of the side business projects Heughan started after becoming world famous for playing Jamie Fraser on Outlander was his Great Glen Company. His first move was to achieve his lifelong dream of making his own malt. Which resulted in his premium blended Scotch whiskey, The Sassenach.

Named for his nickname for on-screen love interest Claire (Caitriona Balfe), Heughans Sassenach whiskey is extremely popular and not easy to find.

Earlier this year, he announced that a Spirit of Home edition of his bestselling, award-winning Sassenach whiskey would be available to order in the United States starting on August 25 at SassenachSpirits.com. But in his latest update, Heughan revealed that a global shipping crisis has caused a delay.

In his post, Heughan shared a fun animated video to illustrate that his Sassenach whiskey was on its WAYYYYYHEY!!!!! . The actor asked his fans to bear with him while he figured out a new order date for his Spirit of Home edition.

As you may be aware, there is extreme congestion at seaports worldwide and a global shortage of shipping containers and trucks, Heughan explained.

Unfortunately, we have also become affected by this global shipping crisis and are left with no choice but to slightly delay our planned August 25th release. Rest assured that the new date will be announced shortly as The Sassenach Spirit of Home Edition is currently on the high seas, heading to the United States!

Before creating Sassenach, Heughan says he was approached by multiple distilleries to white label. Which basically means putting his name on a current brand. But he wanted to create his own unique blend that reflected his taste, while transporting him back to the mountains and glens of Scotland.

To take me home, we created The Spirit of Home blend, after traveling the length of the country, meeting various master distillers and producers, Heughan told The Sun. This limited edition reflects my love of aged single malt, sweet oloroso cask finish, and even a nod to the Japanese blends that are so popular and well balanced.

Before he released the blend, Heughan says he tested it out on his Outlander co-stars. He presented each of them with a bottle before the season 5 premiere. However, he took no responsibility for the carnage that happened afterwards.

Season 6 of Outlander is expected to premiere in February 2022 on Starz.

RELATED: Sam Heughan Opens Up About Life After Outlander

See the article here:

'Outlander': Sam Heughan Just Offered Up Another Disappointing Update -- But It Has Nothing to Do With the End of Droughtlander - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

China and the United States account for nearly half the worlds carbon dioxide emissions from energy, while the two countries resource consumption is among the biggest threats to global biodiversity. These issues make China and the U.S. major targets for environmental activists like Greenpeace, one of the worlds most prominent advocacy organizations.

Despite the difference in political systems between China and the U.S., Li Shuo, Senior Climate and Energy Policy Officer at Greenpeace China, says the approach Greenpeace uses in China is actually not too different from elsewhere.

It is an art and craft to build trust, and trust is the most essential ingredient in our business it is what brings the other side closer to you, a state that even if others disagree they respect where you come from, Li Shuo told Mongabay during a recent interview.

Similarly, Li Shuo says that both countries seem to be lagging behind on their climate commitments.

The U.S. and China are rhetorically both for climate action, but my concern is what they are doing in practice is still a far cry from whats needed to keep 1.5C in sight, he said. The U.S. wants to cut 50-52% emissions by 2030. China wants to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. But neither side has so far put concrete policies behind these goals. The climate will not be fooled by big targets if they remain only on paper.

There is no climate solution without the G2 rolling towards the same direction, Li Shuo continued. The U.S. can do all it can to reduce emissions. It wont solve the problem as long as China doesnt comply, and vice versa.

Another near-term opportunity for China and the U.S. to collaborate on a pressing environmental challenge is the upcoming U.N. Conventional on Biological Diversity (CBD). The event, originally scheduled for October 2020, has now been split into two parts: an online high level session in October and a face-to-face conference meeting in spring 2022 in Kunming. The CBD aims to set the post-2020 biodiversity framework, a little more than a decade after the CBD met in Japan to establish the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, which today are mostly viewed as having failed to slow the global extinction crisis.

Li Shuo says that like previous climate accords, the CBD has been good at setting aspirations but weak on implementation.

The key thing to watch is whether Kunming will make any difference on implementation and resource mobilization, Li Shuo said. It risks becoming Aichi 2.0 if it doesnt.

There is little sign of Kunming tackling the harder question of how to get there. If this does not change in the next few months, Kunming will unfortunately become another stop on the long journey of CBDs systematic weakening.

Li Shuo spoke about these issues and more during an August 2021 exchange with Mongabay founder Rhett A. Butler.

Mongabay: What inspired your interest in the environment? And how did your career path unfold?

Li Shuo: I grew up watching Discovery Channel and National Geographic. My interest really started from these documentary films. As a city boy from Beijing, sadly theres not much easy access to nature, but these films brought me far. I was in awe of nature.

In college, I studied international relations and law. I always wanted to combine my academic interest with my interest in nature. So in 2011, when Greenpeace was looking for someone to cover the UN climate negotiations and Chinas environmental politics, I thought thats the dream job. I jumped on board fresh out of college. The next ten years proved to be a rewarding journey. I had the privilege of being on the frontline of international climate diplomacy and witnessing its ups and downs. In the meanwhile, the 2010s is a dynamic period for Chinas domestic environmental politics. We started with the airpocalypse and huge environmental deficits. To be at the center of these challenges and work towards their improvements is what makes me proud.

Mongabay: What is Greenpeaces focus in China? And how does Greenpeace engage with the government?

Li Shuo: Greenpeace is one of the largest NGOs in China. We started our presence here 16 years ago and have more than 80 colleagues now in our Beijing office. We work on almost all the pressing environmental challenges in China. Climate change, air and water pollution, forest, ocean are some of our priority areas over the last decade.

Policy advocacy is a big part of our job. For that, we need to engage regularly with the government. A big part of how we do it in China is actually not too different from elsewhere, but it certainly requires more time and effort. It is an art and craft to build trust, and trust is the most essential ingredient in our business it is what brings the other side closer to you, a state that even if others disagree they respect where you come from.

Mongabay: In a recent presentation you mentioned that opposition to transitioning away from fossil fuels is emerging in China. Is this akin to the sort of campaigns and lobbying weve seen for the past few decades in the U.S.? And how powerful is this movement?

Li Shuo: If one sees through the different ways that politics manifests itself in different countries, the core is not that different. There are industries that will lose out in the low carbon transition in the U.S. and they create political resistance. There are similar forces in China. They may not employ exactly the same tactics of the Koch brothers, but what they want to achieve is essentially the same.

The Chinese industrial opposition is actually a sign that the countrys effort of decarbonization is steering into deep water, that the interests of certain industrial groups are being touched. So in a way, it represents progress. The question that needs to be solved is how to balance divergent interests. In the west, there is the just transition discussion. In its own ways, China is getting to that discussion too. It can learn from the experience elsewhere and contribute back.

Mongabay: In March, bilateral talks between China and the United States took place. The conversation was reportedly frosty and it does not appear that there was much progress on climate. Do you see climate as an area of potential collaboration, where the two superpowers put aside their differences to address what could be a very significant threat to both?

Li Shuo: There is no climate solution without the G2 rolling towards the same direction. Thats certainly not what we saw during the Trump administration. With the Biden administration, the U.S. and China are rhetorically both for climate action, but my concern is what they are doing in practice is still a far cry from whats needed to keep 1.5C in sight. Both countries have put relatively strong targets on paper. The U.S. wants to cut 50-52% emissions by 2030. China wants to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. But neither side has so far put concrete policies behind these goals. The climate will not be fooled by big targets if they remain only on paper.

As for US-China climate cooperation, people need to recognize that the bilateral relationship has changed significantly in recent years. That will limit the space for working together. I believe the minimum that needs to be secured is engagement. This means no matter how the relationship unfolds, Beijing and Washington will keep the line of communication open for climate change and separate it from the toxic bilateral dynamics. Leaders on both sides need to understand a simple idea, that unlike other issues on the bilateral agenda, climate change is an issue that they could truly not decouple with each other. The U.S. can do all it can to reduce emissions. It wont solve the problem as long as China doesnt comply, and vice versa.

Mongabay: China was supposed to host the CBD last year, but the meeting got postponed due to the pandemic. Where do things stand now on CBD in terms of the governments appetite supporting meaningful efforts to conserve biodiversity?

Li Shuo: The latest is they will have a two-part COP. The first part featuring a high level segment will take place online in October. The second part, which will see face to face negotiations and the adoption of the post-2020 biodiversity framework, will be arranged next spring.

This delay is not ideal, but the real question now is how to use the extra time to beef up the quality of the deal. For decades, the CBD has been good at setting aspirations but weak on implementation. This syndrome is still prevalent in the Kunming round. The key thing to watch is whether Kunming will make any difference on implementation and resource mobilization. It risks becoming Aichi 2.0 if it doesnt.

Mongabay: Do you think COVID will have any sort of lasting impact on Chinas policies around wildlife?

Li Shuo: COVID had a short term positive impact on the wildlife protection agenda. New regulations were passed in 2020 that will improve wildlife management. But the real test is over the long term: Making sure enforcement does not wane over time will be a big challenge.

It is also important to realize that the reforms in 2020 did not touch on the most difficult issues, such as wildlife breeding, habitat loss, and reducing market demand. These issues, if not tackled further, could still be hotbeds for zoonotic diseases in future.

Mongabay: What would you see as the best case outcome from CBD?

Li Shuo: Many people like to see Kunming being the Paris moment for biodiversity. The truth is Kunming will not be Paris if it only sets out some targets. The Paris Agreement not only commits the world to where it needs to be (as in the 1.5C/2C targets), but also did the groundwork of how to actually get there (by having a rulebook and mobilizing climate finance).

There is little sign of Kunming tackling the harder question of how to get there. If this does not change in the next few months, Kunming will unfortunately become another stop on the long journey of CBDs systematic weakening.

Mongabay: BRI is a major part of the Chinese governments plan to expand Chinas influence and power around the world. At present, are there any regulations governing the social and environmental impacts of overseas investment and operations by Chinese companies, including SOEs?

Li Shuo: There is an increasing realization in China that BRI should not be about quantity but quality, including its environmental sustainability. Over the last year, there have been quite a lot of moves in that spirit. For example, the perception of overseas coal projects is changing. The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), the largest state owned commercial bank, has recently pledged to set a roadmap and timetable for the gradual phase out of coal finance abroad.

Chinese ministries are also issuing soft guidelines to steer companies away from coal and to other low carbon projects. As a result, 2021 has registered no notable overseas coal projects supported by China. Many are hoping that these bottom up moves could amount to a top down announcement by Chinese leaders potentially a moratorium for BRI coal projects before the COP26 climate summit in November.

Mongabay: China also has a significant impact on global fisheries, but much of this activity occurs on the high seas, making it difficult to control or regulate. What levers would drive the Chinese fishing fleet toward less damaging practices?

Li Shuo: Much of the environmentally destructive fishery still exists because of the distorted economics. Our planet has long passed the point for industrial fishing to actually make money. The only reason that industrial fishing is still there is because countries subsidize their fleets heavily for them to go far in search of depleting resources. So for a problem that is intrinsically difficult to oversee (once the boats leave port, there is limited oversight), tackling the economics is the key. That is why the WTO negotiations to reduce harmful fishery subsidies must make progress this year.

Mongabay: What advice do you give to young people who are concerned about the trajectory of the planet?

Li Shuo: Get involved and take action. We are in a planetary emergency, anyone whos concerned about the environment cant sit on the sidelines any longer. Convince your peers about environmental activism, and convince your family, and think about how powerful it could be if an entire generation is defined by environmental issues.

The more I work on the environment, the more I believe that changing peoples minds is necessary but not enough. We have to change peoples hearts. Young people are probably best positioned to achieve that.

Read more:

There is no climate solution without China and America, says Li Shuo - Mongabay.com

Two Co Down men were among three sailors rescued by the Colombian Navy after their sailing boat began to sink.

According to local media they were aboard the German-flagged 'Pinocchio' sailboat which got into difficulty when it started taking on water.

The crew, two of whom are of Irish nationality and a third English national, were sailing from Cartagena to Curaao in Venezuela when the search and a rescue operation was launched 75 nautical miles northwest of Riohacha.

They have been named by local media as Gerald McKevitt and Francie McKeown, who are both originally from Newry but now live abroad.

The pair, who had a lucky escape, are understood to be life-long friends.

They were rescued along with British pal Patrick Johnson.

According to local reports, the ship ARC Providencia carried out the dramatic late night rescue as part of a coordinated operation between the Colombian Navy, the Maritime General Directorate and the National Unit for the Search of Persons of the Colombian Air Force.

A Portuguese -flagged merchant ship, Savanna, which did not have the means to carry out the rescue, guarded the 'Pinnochio' as the ARC rescue was "19 nautical miles away and in the middle of difficult meteorological conditions".

In a statement, the Colombian Navy said: "The ship of the Colombian Maritime Authority successfully rescued the three foreign citizens who were adrift on the high seas aboard a boat.

"The three citizens received first aid, food and hydration to guarantee their basic needs.

"For its part, the sailboat 'Pinocchio' sank and could not be rescued by the authorities.

"The rescued personnel were transported to the Santa Marta Coast Guard Station, where they were placed at the disposal of the corresponding immigration authorities."

The Columbian Navy commended the bravery, commitment and teamwork of the men and women who carried out the rescue.

They added that the three rescued men will be able to reunite with their families.

In a video posted to the Colombian Navys Twitter, the men can be seen thanking emergency services for bringing them back to land safe and sound.

Continued here:

Northern Ireland men among three sailors rescued by Colombian Navy as boat sinks - Belfast Live