Research report animal cruelty in Hollywood

I'm sure you've noticed the warning "no animals were harmed or injured during the making of this film" (pictured), which usually appears in the end credits of a film or series.

This kind of safety seal is granted, in the case of the Hollywood film industry, by the American Humane Association (AHA), which proves that strict security standards were followed in relation to the animals used in the productions.

However, this assessment is made by the AHA may not be completely accurate and is what comes to reveal an investigation of The Hollywood Reporter. According to this research, the AHA has granted accreditation to several productions where several animals were injured or died, with the justification that these deaths and injuries happen involuntarily or until the construction of the recordings.

Many of these accidents involving animals occurred in recent Hollywood blockbusters. One of which was revealed by the investigation of the Hollywood Reporter happened during the filming of the movie "the life of Pi", where the Tiger used nearly drowned. In one of the scenes, the animal, which in the film is known as Richard Parker, should swim in a tank. However, the animal disoriented and almost drowned, with the attendant to tie a rope and guide him out of the tank.

The investigation cites an e-mail from Gina Johnson, responsible for the AHA by monitoring the movie, for a co-worker, where describes the incident with the Tiger. According to research, Gina Johnson, who would be having a romantic relationship with one of the Executive producers of the film, said the colleague not to mention the incident.

Another production where several animals were mistreated was the HBO series Luck. During the filming of this series several horses were wounded, and that four of them had to be slaughtered due to the severity of injuries

Following the filming of Pirates of the Caribbean: the curse of the Black Pearl, dozens of sea creatures washed up dead, after several uncontrolled explosions that were produced for the special effects. In 2005, the rescue footage below Zero, from Disney, a coach broke up three dogs that were fighting with kicks and punches. One of the dogs was used as the protagonist.

Another of the films that has affected several animals was the Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. During a hiatus in filming, about 27 animals including sheep and goats, died on a farm in New Zealand, where they were being kept and trained, mostly due to dehydration, exhaustion or drowning.

All these films received the AHA quality seal certifying that no animals were harmed or mistreated during production.

Check here the animals killed or injured in the productions of Hollywood:

Life of Pi â€" a tiger nearly drowned

Luck-several horses were wounded, and four had to be slaughtered

Pirates of the Caribbean: the curse of the Black Pearl â€" dozens of marine animals have washed up dead in the wake of explosions caused for filming

Rescue below Zero â€" three dogs who were fighting were separated with punches and kicks

Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey-27 animals died

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Etna Volcano: stone rain doesn't bother population

The volcano Etna, on the Italian island of Sicily, erupted Sunday, sending lava fountains and a rain of stones and dirt that, thankfully, isn't bothered much of the population.

According to the Italian press, is the 16th time that the Italian mount erupts in 2013, leading people, quietly, to take to the streets, umbrellas to protect themselves from stones.

Eruptive activity of Etna, which lies in the eastern part of the island of Sicily, between the provinces of Catania and that has and Mesina 3,322 meters high, lasted several hours. The eruption happened in a very active crater of the volcano, Southeast of the tongue of lava of the eruption advanced by the slope of the Valley of Bove, a desert zone.

"The lava falls from the sky once a year, but nothing as strong as this time. It's usually just dirt, never these stones ", explained to the press Turi Scandura, the author of this video and photos that we feature today.

According to Scandura, the stones are not heavy but extremely sharp, having scratched a few cars and urban equipment.

The Etna is the most active volcano of Europe, but their eruptions are harmless. The volcano killed about 20 thousand people in 1669. On this occasion, the city of Catania was destroyed.

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Portuguese Center launches campaign to curb illegal use of poisons in nature

The Center for the study of Iberian Birdlife (CEAI), headquartered in Évora, launched a fund raising campaign funds â€" Zero Poison For Life â€" to curb the illegal use of poisons in nature, which annually kill hundreds of animals.

To curb this scourge in nature, the CEAI intends to implement the international project LIFE + "Against Innovation Poisoning" in the region of Moura-Mourão-Bounds. According to the CEAI, several surveys conducted in the region indicate that the deaths of animals by poisoning are high, which contradicts the official data. Thus, the LIFE + project "Against Innovation Poisoning" intends to work with local populations and local authorities, in conjunction with farmers and managers of hunting areas, with the aim of eradicating the illegal use of poisons.

"The illegal use of poisons to control populations of predators remain a current practice and quietly affecting every year hundreds of domestic and wild animals, many of the latter with a high conservation status", referred to the CEAI campaign on your page.

The dog, Fox, Black Vulture, Iberian imperial Eagle, the real kite or the Iberian lynx, are some of the animals more sensitive to the use of poisons. After entering the food chain, the toxic principle can stay active for a long time, affecting others who come into contact with the poisoned animal.

The project which the CEAI intends to implement is 50% financed by the LIFE programme of the European Commission and the fundraising campaign launched by the organization intends to collect the remaining 50%. The funds collected will be used to perform 14 surveys with the Canine Team, investing in education of 750 children and youth and provide specialized technical training to environmental agents.

This project takes place in eight pilot areas of the Mediterranean region and the CEAI is the entity responsible for implementing the same pilot area of Portugal. The actions of the project are still linked to the program-defined national strategy Antidote Portugal.

The CEAI is a non-governmental environmental organization, nonprofit, founded more than 20 years from the enthusiasm and passion for nature of a group of young people. This Center is responsible for the implementation of various projects of nature conservation, which are characterized by the involvement of local communities and on the compatibility of human activities with the preservation of the natural heritage.

Foto:  dpape / Creative Commons

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Jacques Cousteau's grandson will live a month underwater

Fabien Cousteau, grandson of oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, will live underwater for a month to draw attention to the destruction of the oceans. The project is called Mission 31 and is scheduled for spring 2014 in Aquarius, the only marine habitat and underwater lab in the world, situated 19 feet below sea level in Florida Keys, United States.

Fabien will be helped by a team of scientists, explorers and moviemakers. "Like my grandfather, I love the seabed and have the desire of the exposed-for science, education, for our collective future and health," he explained.

The team will test new technologies, will conduct research on the effect of climate change on coral reefs, sponges and marine life, to map the seabed and study the physiological and psychological impacts of long-term submerged live â€" live in environments of high pressures or live without exposure to the Sun for long periods.

Follow the mission 31 on Facebook.

The 31 days of the expedition will be filmed 12:0 am/day, in real time. Thus, thousands of students will be able to talk with the team during this time, being able to share ideas and see it working.

"Expolorámos less than 5% of our oceans, there is much more to be discovered," said Fabien Cousteau.

The work will be monitored by marine science teachers of the course of Urban Coastal Sustainability Initiative of Northeastern University and the University of Delaware and can be funded on IndieGogo, here.

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Red Wolf near extinction

One of the most rare animals of the United States, the Red Wolf, is very close to extinction due to poaching. According to the u.s. Fish and Wildlife Service Agency, today there are less than 100 Red wolves in their wild habitat. In recent days, on the other hand, a new individual was found dead in North Carolina, bringing to nine the death toll since the beginning of the year.

The situation is so serious that the Fish and Wildlife Service and other conservation groups are promising a reward of € 20, 000 (US $ 60,000) for those who give information about this death, advances the Treehugger.

The elegant red wolf, formerly a very populous species of the American Southeast, has become near extinction due to habitat destruction and poaching. In the years 80, a very aggressive program of reintregração of wolves in their habitat and reproduction gave some hope to change the situation, but illegal hunting is over with this progress.

In the United States, killing a Wolf-red is a crime punishable by a year in prison and a fine of €73, 000 ($ 228 thousand). Some conservation groups say, however, that many of these deaths can be accidental. Since the Coyote hunting was legalized in the Red Wolf recovery, the hunters mistake the two species and shoot to kill for the Red Wolf. A situation that could easily be avoided.

Foto:  SteveNakatani / Creative Commons

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Honda Accord named the greenest car of 2014

The model Honda Accord was considered the greenest car of 2014 by the Green Car Journal, at the Los Angeles motor show. Such a distinction is due to the range of cars that this model of Honda offers: low consumption vehicles petrol versions, hybrid and rechargeable hybrid.

The Honda Accord outsold models such as the Audi A6 TDI, BMW 328d, the Mazda 3 and the Toyota Corolla.

"Led by the Accord Hybrid 2014, the range Accord incorporates Honda's promise to reconcile the pleasure of driving an efficiency at the highest level," said Mike Accavitti, Senior Vice President of operations at Honda in America, cited by Inhabitat.

The Honda Accord succeeds the Ford Fusion, winner in 2012, after the Natural Gas Honda Civic and the Chevrolet Volt in previous years.

In Portugal, the Honda Accord is for sale from € 38,760 (R $ 119,022).

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Fish proboscis and rare found for the second time in Northern Canada

A rather bizarre looking fish was recently caught in the icy waters in Northern Canada. After some speculation about the species of the fish, the animal was identified as a chimera of pointy nose, a very rare species of chimera.

The fish has a pointed nose and a mouth threatening, as well as a thorny fin, which is poisonous, on the back of your body gelatinous gray. Fished in the province of Nunavut, in the Davis Strait. It was only the second time this kind of chimera was hake, since the chimera of pointy nose dwells in deep waters, which are rarely explored by humans.

"Potentially, if pescássemos between one and two thousand meters deep, were we supposed to know if there are many [chimeras of pointy nose]. But we simply don't know, "says Nigel Hussey, researcher at the University of Windsor, quoted by the international press.

"Only one of these fish caught in the Hudson Strait [also in Northern Canada], had previously been documented," adds Hussey.

The chimeras are one of the oldest fish species. Such as sharks and rays, the skeleton of the chimeras is also made of cartilage. This species of fish is also known as "rat-fish," "fish-rabbit" or "ghost sharks". However, the chimeras are not sharks. The species evolved from sharks, his closest relative, about 400 million years ago. Since then the chimeras have remained as a rare species, mysterious and strange.

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