Girly Chat! » Social Issues And Top News Events

The Future for Plants and the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

gypsyprincess — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:00:16 +0000

The threat to plant species of the world, istockphoto, used with permission

This article was originally written and posted elsewhere; although some of the information might be somewhat out-of-date the real threat to the extinction of plants is not, so I thought it was relevant to re-post it here on Girly Chat in Social Issues.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) was initially set up to assess the conservation status of plant and animal species in the world, highlight those species that are threatened with extinction, and promote the cause for their conservation. The declining population of many of the world’s plant and animal species is alarming; unless action is taken, many species will become extinct. Governments recently met at the 10th Conference of the Parties to Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to discuss a plan to highlight the importance of biodiversity and to take steps to prevent further decline.

About the International Union for Conservation of Nature

IUCN was established in October 1948 as the International Union for the Protection of Nature (IUPN); in 1956, the organization changed its name to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). IUCN was the world’s first global environmental organization and today is the largest professional global conservation network. The primary mission of the IUCN is to encourage and to help the world’s societies to conserve nature and the wide range of both animal and plant species. It also makes sure that natural resources are ecologically sustainable.

The IUCN Red List

The IUCN is responsible for the production of the Red List of Threatened Species, “the world’s most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plants, animals and fungi and the most authoritative guide to the status of biological diversity” (source: IUCN).

There are nine categories in the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species; these are extinct, extinct in the wild, critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable, near threatened, least concern, data deficient and not evaluated. Species are categorized according to an assessment by scientists, based on factors such as rate of decline, size of population and area of distribution.

The Real Threat of Extinction to the World’s Plants

According to a SRLI Plants news release on 29 September 2010, New Study Shows Over One Fifth of the World’s Plants are Under Threat of Extinction, a recent study on the global analysis of the extinction risk for the world’s plants was carried out by the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew (London, UK), the Natural History Museum in London and the IUCN. The result of the study was alarming; one in five of the world’s plant species is threatened with extinction.

Royal Botanic Garden, Kew’s Director, Professor Stephen Hopper reported:

“For the first time we have a clear global picture of the extinction risk to the world’s known plants. This report shows the most urgent threats and the most threatened areas.”

He added:

“We cannot sit back and watch plant species disappear – plants are the basis of all life on earth, providing clean air, water, food and fuel. All animal and bird life depends on them and so do we.”

Recent Developments in the Protection of Threatened Species

Following on from this report, the world’s governments met at the 10th Conference of the Parties to Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Nagoya, Japan in October, 2010 to try to establish a “plan of action” to reduce the threat of extinction for both animal and plant species. A strategic ten year plan was approved, consisting of 20 targets.

According to a COP10 news release on 29 October 2010, Deadline Life – Nagoya Defines Future for Life on Earth, IUCN Director General, Julia Marton-Lefreve said:

“Here in Japan the international community have moved closer to the realization that it’s time we stopped considering nature as expendable and any related expenditure a write-off – it’s time we valued and conserved nature.”

Director of IUCN’s Biodiversity Conservation Group, Jane Smart, said:

“What we’ve decided at this meeting will change the future of life on Earth – and many solutions are available to us.”

The Future for Threatened Plant Species

Once a year, the importance of biodiversity and the destructive effects that humans are inflicting on plant Earth are focused upon on Earth Day. However, it is apparent that much more needs to be done to try to reduce, and if possible reverse, some of the destruction. Without plants, there would be no life on earth, as we know it. By 2020, it will become known if the 10th Conference of the Parties to Convention on Biological Diversity, and the plan of action agreed upon, will have been effective in reducing the extinction of the world’s plant species.

References:

The International Union for Conservation of Nature web site, accessed 1 November, 2010

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species web site, accessed 1 November, 2010

SRLI Plants news release, New Study Shows Over One Fifth of the World’s Plants are Under Threat of Extinction, 29 September, 2010

COP10 news release, Deadline Life – Nagoya Defines Future for Life on Earth, 29 October, 2010

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Girly Chat is Taking a Break

gypsyprincess — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 23:02:54 +0000

You might have noticed a slowing down of Girly Chat posts in the last couple of months. Although I do enjoy writing for Girly Chat, my aromatherapy business, Sedona Aromatherapie, has increasingly been taking up more of my time. Therefore, I am taking an unspecified “leave of absence” from writing for Girly Chat until I decide what to do with the magazine. I may pop in from time-to-time to write a post but in the meantime, if you would like to write a guest post for Girly Chat, have a sponsored story idea/proposal, advertising proposal, or another financial incentive, please do not hesitate to contact me at:

sharon@sedonaaromatherapie.com

The magazine still gets several thousand page views a month, so there are readers out there! Enjoy!

Coupon Chief: Over 50,000 Discount Coupons for Over 15,000 Stores

gypsyprincess — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:18:43 +0000

19th Century Coca-Cola Coupon, believed to be the first coupon issued, source: wikimedia commons: photo is in public domain

If you are a regular reader of Girly Chat, you will be familiar with my monthly posts on savings at Victoria’s Secret. Ladies, I know that you love a bargain – just like me! And given the current economic climate we are all looking to make savings on our everyday purchases.

Therefore, let me introduce you to the Coupon Chief website, where you can find over 50,000 discount coupons for over 15,000 stores! With all that variety, you are sure to find something to save on – even if you didn’t know you “needed” it!

Stores on the Coupon Chief Website

Coupon Chief has discount coupons for fashion, clothing, gifts, home decor, furniture, shoes, food, seasonal items (such as Halloween and Christmas), health items, electronics, sporting goods, beauty products, jewelry and so much more! Just click on either the “popular tags” or the “search” function on the website and instantly find coupons for some of the popular stores such as Target, Walmart, Walgreens and Kohls, in addition to brand names such as Lancome, Aveda and Lands End. You’ll also find names such as Best Buy, Expedia and HP on there too.

In fact, there are just too many good bargains, and too many brand and store names, to mention here in one post! Coupon Chief are one of the fastest growing coupons sites on the web, with mentions in the Wall Street Journal and Mashable. The site provides access to one of the largest databases of online discount coupons. If you want to find out more about how it works, just visit this link.

I would advise you to get on over to the Coupon Chief website today to see what you could be saving on – because we all love a bargain, don’t we?

Visit the Coupon Chief website by clicking here.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.

9/11 Ten Year Anniversary: Facts, Figures and Photos

gypsyprincess — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 19:08:26 +0000

September 11, 2001, World Trade Center, New York, AP photo

On Sunday September 11, 2011, it will be ten years since the world changed as we knew it; the events of 9/11/01 impacted the world and changed the fate of thousands of people. Here are a few of the facts, figures and photos that came out of 9/11:

Number of people who died: just short of 3,000 (this figure has changed over the years as records were updated)
Estimated number of children who lost a parent: 3,051
Number of people who lost a spouse or partner: 1,609
Number of firefighters, paramedics and police officers killed: 403
Time the North Tower of the World Trade Center was hit: 8.46 a.m.
Time the North Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed: 10.28 a.m.
Time the South Tower of the World Trade Center was hit: 9.03 a.m.
Time the South Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed: 9.59 a.m.
Time the Pentagon was hit by American Airlines Flight 77: 9.37 a.m.
Time United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania: 10.03 a.m.
Number of nations who lost a citizen in 9/11: 115
Percentage of victims who have been unable to be identified: 41%

(source: NYmag.com, wikepedia.com & various news reports)

After 9/11/01, World Trade Center, New York, AP photo/Aaron Marron

Ground Zero today, September, 2011, AP photo

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Gwyneth Paltrow Changes Fate of Woman on 9/11

gypsyprincess — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 18:46:16 +0000

Gwyneth Paltrow's 9/11 story, AP photo

With the ten year anniversary of the terrorist attack on New York’s twin towers just around corner, there has been a lot of interest in recent days in people’s 9/11 stories; for many, their lives were changed forever on that sunny September morning – and one woman who crossed paths with Gwyneth Paltrow that day will never forget the significance of her meeting with the movie star.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s 9/11 Story

According to Us magazine, a woman named Lara Lundstrum Clarke was trying to cross Seventh Avenue in traffic when she crossed paths with Gwyneth Paltrow who was returning from an early morning yoga class; Clarke’s delay in crossing the street made her miss her subway train, which in turn made her late for work at the South Tower of the World Trade Center. It may be the one time that Clarke was thankful for being late to work – because by the time she got to the World Trade Center, the first tower was falling. Clarke wrote a letter to Gwyneth Paltrow with her story.

Gwyneth Paltrow said:

“It was an extraordinary story and all I could think about is all of the people who had experiences like that that day, but aren’t able to reach out because it wasn’t a recognizable person. I think a lot of fates were changed that day obviously and I am very humbly happy to be a part of her story.”

Many people lost a loved one on September 11, 2001 but many other people’s lives were also changed by a simple act of fate. It is interesting to hear the different stories that people have to tell about 9/11 – but not many can claim that Gwyneth Paltrow may have actually saved their life.

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The Most Powerful 100 Women in the World

gypsyprincess — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:47:51 +0000

Angela Merkel is Forbes 2011 Most Powerful Woman in the World, World Economic Forum, Wikimedia Commons

At a time when the world is in a huge economic crisis, and everything that we used to take for granted (financially) is now looking not so rock solid, we often turn to those who we consider powerful. Although many of the world’s leaders are male, there are many powerful women too – not only in strong leadership positions but standing right by some of those world leaders. Forbes has just released its 2011 list of the women it considers the most powerful in terms of business, politics, entertainment and philanthropy – and you might be surprised to find who has claimed the number one spot.

Forbes List of 100 Most Powerful Women

The top 10 women on Forbes list of 100 most powerful women is a mix of business and political leaders; in fact, business and politics dominate the the full list of 100 women with just a few women in entertainment making the list. Hollywood may grab the headlines in our everyday lives but the real women who are making an impact on the world are probably less familiar names.

Celebrities Who Made the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in the World

Actress Angelina Jolie made the list at number 29, also known for her humanitarian efforts around the world; singer and entertainer Lady Gaga, known for her often outrageous outfits, made the number 11 spot. Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling made number 61 on the Forbes list, just beaten out by supermodel Gisele Bundchen at number 60.

The Top 10 Most Powerful Women in the World

However, the top 10 women most powerful women in the world, as considered by Forbes, included First Lady Michelle Obama at number 8, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at number 2 and German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the number one spot.

Who do you think are the most powerful 100 women in the world?

To check out the full Forbes list, click here.

From Kate Middleton to Princess: How the World is Embracing the Young Royals (video)

gypsyprincess — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 18:52:34 +0000

Prince William and Kate wowed Hollywood on a recent trip to the US, AP photo

Their romance may have been lengthly, but Kate Middleton only really hit the spotlight in a big way since she became engaged to Prince William back in November 2010; since then, everything that Kate has said, done or remarked on has been scrutinized and analyzed by royal watchers around the world. However, Duchess Kate or Princess Kate as the media have dubbed her, seems to be unable to put a foot wrong at the moment.

Prince William and Kate Middleton Tour Canada and the United States

Prince William and Kate Middleton just completed their first official royal tour to Canada and the United States; there may have been a few minor hiccups along the way, but overall Kate’s smile and the thought given to what she wore, won out. For example, Duchess Kate honored Canada Day with a red and white outfit. She also hit the red carpet of Hollywood with all the confidence and grace of a movie star.

Kate Middleton’s Influence on Pantyhose

And what about the pantyhose? There has been much talk this week about Kate’s influence in bringing back pantyhose, or tights, for women. Today, many women sport bare legs – but is pantyhose making a comeback? The U.K.’s Daily Mail reports there there has been a rise in the sales of several popular brands of pantyhose in recent days. However, Kate may not have a choice in the matter; royal protocol often dictates “dress code” for the royals in certain circles.

Duchess Kate and the Fashion World

Fashion designers can’t have failed to notice the influence the latest young royal has on their designs; if Kate wore it, you can be sure a “copy” of the said dress or garment is on sale within hours! It seems like the world has embraced Kate Middleton as the newest “celebrity” princess in town – although this particular title comes with a real kingdom attached!

Support for Saudi Women and Driving through Social Media (video)

gypsyprincess — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 19:21:09 +0000

Saudi Women rely on men to drive them everywhere, AP photo

As a woman living in the Western world, I take it for granted that if I need to jump in the car and drive to the grocery store I can do so; every day in the United States, women pick up their kids from school without a moment’s thought - and without having to rely on their husband to take time off work to drive them there. However, for women living in Saudi Arabia this simple act is beyond comprehension; to do so, would be to “break the law.” But the increasing power of social media may be helping to change this – on Friday June 17, 2011, women in Saudi Arabia organized a protest over the driving ban through social media outlets such as facebook and twitter.

Why Women Are Not Allowed to Drive in Saudi Arabia

Women in Saudi Arabia are not specifically banned from driving – but they need to be issued with a local driver’s license to do so, and these are not issued to women. Women have to rely on male drivers to ferry them around to carry out daily tasks – which can be expensive. The reason cited (by religious clerics) for the ban on women driving is “to stop the spread of vice and temptation” that women would face if they were able to leave home without a male companion to drive them.

The Power of Social Media: Saudi Women and Driving

This week, women in Saudi Arabia have taken to social media and have been been encouraging others to defy the “ban” by getting behind the wheel and drive themselves in effort to overturn the tradition; according to the British news team, ITN, this has made the conservative element of Saudi Arabia nervous. In addition, the conservative element have launched a facebook campaign of their own encouraging people to “beat up” any woman seen driving, an act hardly believable in our society.

Woman Arrested in Saudi Arabia for Driving Herself

One Saudi woman, Manal al-Sherif, was arrested on May 21, 2011 for daring to get in the car and drive herself. She is accused of shaming the country’s name and stirring up public opinion by posting a video of herself driving on YouTube. She was released after growing pressure from countries outside of Saudi Arabia – although the “official” reason has not been given.

Protest Over Driving Ban on Women in Saudi Arabia

However, not all men are opposed to women driving; a man may have to take time off work to drive his wife from A to B and this costs money – and requires permission from an employer to do so. The following ITN video shows a Saudi male giving his reasons on why it would be good for his wife to be able to drive.

Many women may be too afraid to carry out the protest on the driving ban – but either way, social media has helped to bring to the world’s attention the difficulties that many women over the world face in trying to carry out some of the simple things in life that we take for granted.

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Details of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Canadian and U.S. Royal Tour Released

gypsyprincess — Mon, 30 May 2011 21:10:28 +0000

Prince William and Kate Middleton are to visit Canada and California on their first royal tour, AP photo

Prince William and Kate Middleton, now officially known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, are to visit both Canada and the American state of California in an eleven day royal tour starting June 30, 2011; royal officials released details of the couple’s itinerary today, Monday May 30, 2011. It will be the first trip to North America for the Duchess of Cambridge; Canada, of course, has a close history with the United Kingdom.

Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Canadian Tour: July 2011

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will began their Canadian royal tour on June 30, 2011 when they touch down in the National Capital region. Places on the royal tour include Ottawa, Ontario, Quebec and Gatineau; from July 2 through July 8, 2011 the royal tour will include visits to Charlottetown and Summerside on Prince Edward Island, Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories and Calgary in Alberta.

Prince William and Kate Middleton to Visit California

On July 8, 2011, the newly married royals will fly to Los Angeles, California where they will spend a couple of days visiting the surrounding area and promoting the United Kingdom. Although Los Angeles is the home of many a Hollywood celebrity, I suspect that Princess Kate will become a celebrity in her own right once the American people meet her

This is the first royal tour for Prince William and Kate Middleton; in case you missed it, they got married at Westminster Abbey in London, UK on April 29, 2011.

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How Flowers Were Used in the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton – And What They Mean

gypsyprincess — Mon, 02 May 2011 19:21:12 +0000

Kate Middleton's wedding dress and bridal bouquet, AP photo

In case you haven’t had enough royal wedding news over the weekend (and judging by my page views you haven’t!) I decided to write a post about all the flowers that were used in the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the different ways in which they were used and what each flower means. The language of flowers, a “secret code” that was heavily utilized by the Victorians to send messages without words, is apparently something that Kate Middleton is very interested in – and each flower that was used in her wedding sends a message. Flowers and plants were dominant in this royal wedding, including use in the royal wedding bouquet, the wedding cake – and even interwoven into Kate’s wedding dress.

Flowers Used in Kate’s Wedding Bouquet

Kate Middleton’s wedding bouquet was a simple bouquet of lily-of-the- valley, sweet William, myrtle, hyacinth and ivy; the flower meanings behind the royal wedding bouquet (as given by the official Royal Wedding 2011 website) are:

sweet William – gallantry
lily-of-the-valley – return to happiness
hyacinth – constancy of love
myrtle – love.

Flowers on Kate Middleton’s Wedding Dress

Kate Middleton’s wedding dress also sent a secret message through the flowers that she chose to have interwoven, by hand, into the intricate lace of the dress; Kate chose to pay tribute to all the countries that make up the United Kingdom by using the flower symbols of each country. Countries on Kate’s wedding dress were represented by:

England – rose
Scotland – thistle
Wales – daffodil
Ireland – shamrock.

The Royal Wedding cake, AP photo

Flowers Used on the Royal Wedding Cake

Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding cake featured a vast number of flowers; 900 sugar paste flowers adorned an eight- tiered wedding cake. The meaning behind these sugar paste flowers are:

rose – happiness and love; the rose also represented England
thistle – representation of Scotland
shamrock – representation of Ireland
daffodil – new beginnings; also a representation of Wales
lily-of-the-valley – return to happiness
myrtle – love
sweet William – gallantry
ivy – marriage
honeysuckle – the bond of love
lavender – devotion
orange blossom – eternal love
acorn – strength
apple blossom – good fortune
white Heather – protection
jasmine – amiability
daisy – innocence.

All of the flowers that were featured in Kate Middleton’s wedding bouquet and on her wedding dress were represented in the wedding cake too; although flower meanings can vary, depending on which flower dictionary you choose, it is obvious that Kate Middleton put both time and thought into the flowers that she chose to feature in all parts of her royal wedding. As a British aromatherapist, I can only say that both my country and fragrant flowers were very fairly represented!