Contribute to Carnival of the Blue XL: Top of the Food Chain

Next month the Saipan Blog will be the host of Carnival of the Blue 40, or as I prefer to call it, Carnival of the Blue XL. COTB XL promises to be the biggest, baddest COTB EVER. Why? Well, not only is COTB turning 40, but the theme of next month's carnival is going to be Top of the Food Chain.

COTB XL is going to be all about predators, baby.

Please use this online article submission form to submit your contribution to COTB XL. Please try to make your post about predation (¿cómo se dice de tiburón en Inglés?), but if the predation bug doesn't hit you this month, COTB XL will still publish your ocean blog. If you have any questions you can email me at angelovillagomez at gmail dot com.

By the way, this will be the fourth consecutive September the Saipan Blog has hosted Carnival of the Blue. The Saipan Blog has previously hosted Carnival of the Blue IV, Carnival of the Blue XVI and Carnival of the Blue XXVIII.

*A big thanks to underwater photographer and dive instructor Harry Blalock for letting me use his photo. If you ever find yourself on Saipan in need of a dive guide: http://www.axemurderertours.com/

Eco-Tourism - Good for the CNMI

A public lecture will be held at American Memorial Park amphitheater "Eco-Tourism: Good for the CNMI"

Wednesday, August 11, 6pm

Presented by: Stacey A. Tighe
Senior Regional Coordinator and Program Integrator
for U.S. support to the six countries of the Coral Triangle Initiative (Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands)

She holds degrees in marine policy, biology and geology. She will discuss costs and benefits of alternative options, and their compatibility, feasibility in the CNMI. The presentation is supported in part by MINA, the Mariana Islands Nature Alliance.

PDM Promoters, Inc. to Lead Cleanup of Garapan District on Aug 7

PDM Promoters, Inc. volunteers and some Kobler kids of the Saipan Awaodori Team will also hold their monthly clean-up at the Garapan district (Paseo de Marianas) this Saturday August 7, 2010. The cleanup usually starts at 8 a.m. or shortly thereafter.

Thank you PDM Promoters, Inc. and Saipan Awaodori Team for leading this effort.

This invitation was extended by Sonia G. Siwa,Volunteer,PDM Promoters, Inc.

Join DEQ's Cleanup Brigade This Saturday, Aug 7

For Immediate Release
Start Date: Monday August 2, 2010
End Date: Saturday, August 7, 2010
Contact: Jose M. Kaipat


(DEQ) – The Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ) cleanup brigade will be at it again, picking up trash at the Outer Smiling Cove Marina.

If you would like to volunteer your time to clean and beautify our island, please meet the DEQ representatives on Saturday August 7, 2010 at 8:00 a.m. at the parking lot at the entrance to the outer cove marina. Come join us and “Pick it Up!”

Volunteers will start cleaning for about 2 hours or when finished and then break for drinks and continue if needed.

This month, outstanding brigade volunteers who participated in at least ten (10) monthly cleanups will receive a brigade cap and those who participated in at least three (3) cleanups will receive a green brigade t-shirt.

This is a cleanup that should not be missed, so join DEQ’s cleanup brigade and “Pick It Up!” Let us work together for the health of our coral reefs and cleanliness of our beaches for everyone to enjoy.

The DEQ cleanup brigade began in 1996 and continues to maintain clean, healthy beaches.

For more information about volunteering, please contact the DEQ office at 664-8500.
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SharkWater screening this week!

First Friday Films is here again, and this month the Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the National Park Service (NPS) will be screening Sharkwater. As always the film will be free and open to the public, and will be shown at the American Memorial Park visitors center at 7:00pm this Friday (August 6th).

Sharkwater, the winner of 31 international awards (details here), is a film documenting the exploitation and corruption surrounding the world’s shark populations and the effect we are having on our ocean ecosystems by removing these top-level predators. Through this documentary, director Rob Stewart seeks to debunk wide-spread stereotypes and media depictions of sharks and to detail their roles as pillars in the evolution of the seas and corner stones to their continued health. The film addresses how "these magnificent creatures have gone from predator to prey, and how despite surviving the earth's history of mass extinctions, they could easily be wiped out within a few years due to human greed." (cited from Stewart here).

Following the film, local experts from DFW will be on hand to discuss the status of our regional shark populations and steps we can take to protect them.

“Compelling…part gorgeous, ethereal swim with the sharks…part message movie about the slaughter of the innocents.”
Bruce Kirkland, Toronto Sun

"Sharkwater will change the way people view sharks and the ocean. It will open their eyes... and, hopefully, their hearts."
Cristopher Chin, Deeper Blue (see full review here)

Please join us for this event August 6th, at 7:00pm. Find the trailer and links to the movie's website below:

Promoting CNMI on Facebook

Become a fan of the Northern Mariana Islands on Facebook.

First Friday Films to Present Sharkwater on August 6

Hello Beautify CNMI! Volunteers:

Don't miss the next First Friday Films this Friday, August 6. See invitation below from Aric Bickel of DEQ. ENJOY!

Media Partners, please promote this event. Thank you!

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Subject: First Friday Films presents SharkWater on Aug. 6th

Hello All,

We are just over a week away from our August First Friday Films event where we will be screening the award winning film "SharkWater". The event will naturally be on the first Friday of the month (August 6th), at 7:00pm at the American Memorial Park Visitors center.

The winner of 31 international awards, Sharkwater is a film documenting the exploitation and corruption surrounding the world’s shark populations and the effect we are having on our ocean ecosystems by removing these important predators. Director Rob Stewart explores the culture of fear that has contributed to the mismanagement of these creatures as well as the multi-billion dollar industry that has led many shark species to the brink of extinction. Stewart's journey to explore the last safe havens left for sharks inadvertently pits him against black-market industry leaders and leads him on an adventure that threatens not only the life of many of these species but also his own.

Please join us for this wonderful documentary as well as a discussion about CNMI shark populations led by officials from the Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) directly following the film. For more information about the film and to see the official trailer please visit http://www.sharkwater.com/.

For updates on First Friday Film events and more details including film review and trailers for our films please visit our website: http://firstfridayfilmssaipan.blogspot.com/.

We hope to see you next Friday!

Cheers,

Aric Bickel


www.beautifycnmi.org


---Cinta M. Kaipat
Volunteer PR Coordinator
www.beautifycnmi.org