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  •  I try to be a bit optimistic (none / 0)

    though in my weaker moments I agree with you that it's too late.  

    BTW, that link was good.  I added it to the diary.

    In times like these, you have to grow big enough to hold both the loss and the hope. - Ann Pancake

    by Scott in NAZ on Thu Jan 13, 2005 at 07:48:48 PM PDT

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    •  oh ok (none / 0)

      sometimes I skip over things, and I thought I might have...I always feel stupid when I post a link that's already posted.  

      by chi mai on Thu Jan 13, 2005 at 07:50:04 PM PDT

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    •  P.S. (none / 0)

      the Nat. Geo. article says this:

      * Coral reefs worldwide are "bleaching". losing key algae and resident organisms, as water temperatures rise above 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29.5 degrees Celsius) through periods of calm, sunny weather. Scientists worry that rapid climate change could inhibit the ability of many species to adapt within complex and interdependent ecosystems.

      Another reason losing coral reefs is bad is that scientists are doing research on coral for medicianl purposes: see this other National Geographic article:

      Tiny proteins that give coral reefs a mysterious glow may be key to keeping coral species alive, according to scientists. Those same proteins, they say, may also help blaze trails to new health cures.

      [snip]

      Away from the oceans, the medical community is using fluorescent protein in the lab to monitor and study biological processes associated with AIDS, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, and a host of other diseases.

      Also, see this NOAA site for even more reasons why losing coral reefs is bad.  There were also articles saying that places that the tsunami hit with coral reefs were not damaged as badly.  They said the reefs broke up the wave, so the places weren't damaged as badly as places without coral reefs.  Same with mangroves.

      by chi mai on Thu Jan 13, 2005 at 07:58:04 PM PDT

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