The Diva Cup is no longer a joke - neither are sanitary waste mountains

I felt compelled to buy the Diva Cup several week ago after seeing various adverts and hearing first-hand accounts of how convenient it was and of how much less sanitary products (tampons and towels) you would end up using.

Back in the 1990s women cringed at the mere thought of using a menstrual cup (a contraption worn internally to catch the blood and muck worn internally). Toxic Shock Syndrome was the big tampon-related anxiety of the day and environmental concerns didn’t rank high on the minds of most women.

Today, the much derided muck-catcher’s modern equivalent is a different story. The most well-known is the Diva Cup and it can be found in popular drug stores everywhere – not just obscure specialist shops. You can also find many manufacturers in the re-usable sanitary towels niche.


Women didn’t want to be blamed for sanitary waste filling up landfills or being washed out into sea. Why should we be guilt-ridden and put on the spot? Don’t men go through huge amounts of disposable razors with their non-biodegradable plastic creating havoc?
Male or female, the throwaway lifestyle is not sustainable and that is a fact. More than $2.5 billion are spent on non-reusable sanitary products each year in the US alone. Consider the average woman’s menstruating life span at 40 years and that’s a lot of money and a hell of a lot of sanitary waste.

When you consider it’s not all that unpleasant to switch to reusable sanitary protection, why not be proactive? Talk about it, tell your friends and family and get them to try. Not only are we helping out the good ole environment, we could be saving ourselves money! My Diva cup cost me $40 and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that I may be quids in after several months.

It’s time to get off the “I’m entitled to my female share of the landfill” mindset and move onto the “I will do my bit to lessen my share of that landfill”. We’re all in this world and have to do more (or a bit less in this case).

Women’s Environmental Network (UK)
Lunapads – Reusable sanitary towels/pads
Diva Cup

Fish decline - Not just flavour of the month

It's quite heartening to see all the buzz about declining fish numbers generated by the very highly publicised reception of the movie documentary The End of the Line and the awareness around World Oceans Day. Everything from the smallest grassroots movements to the highly-publicised antics of celebrities (including the most salacious naked fish stunts and protests by washed up stars) have raised a great deal of awareness and that can only be good.

Lets hope that this is not a flavour of the month, like so many before it. The celebrities may have their spotlight with their fish stunts (for today’s attention-seeking famous set, fish is where it’s at whereas last year, it was babies, leaked out sex videos and stays at rehab). But once the issue of fish depletion is out of the headlines, will the public forget and resume eating bluefin sandwiches?

Less fish, great disasters
For everyone, regardless of their fish-eating status, the plight of the world’s fish is serious. Overfishing (combined with pollution, climate change, inefficient production procedures and uncontrolled growth of industry) has created a dangerous scenario. Nothing happens in the oceans without substantial knock-on effects. The entire marine ecosystem will be affected – not to mention the ecosystem on land. Fish are not only products for consumption but their health is the barometer of the ocean's health.

Healthy fish stocks are vital for communities, their employment, their culture and their very survival. In Canada, decimation of the cod fishery on the Atlantic coast has resulted in the loss of 27,000 jobs. The British Columbia salmon stocks which had sustained and facilitated some of North America’s most complex Aboriginal societies are now “missing”. All over the world, social and economic relationships are under pressure because of what is happening to the oceans.

Fish is NOT just posh nosh
The London A-listers may be cut up by the notion of Bluefin Tuna running out at Nobu (Heavens, they may have to resort to eating Pollock!) but for the world, the issues are a bit less trivial. The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has estimated that 950 million people worldwide rely on fish and shellfish for more than one-third of their animal protein. Fish is the main source of protein for 2.6 billion people according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Report by World Fish Center states that Fishery is Peru’s fourth biggest exporter. Senegal, with a GDP of just $1,000, relies on fishery for a fifth of its total export and for the average Senegalese, fish make up 43% of dietary protein. When over a sixth of the world’s population suffers from chronic hunger, the importance of protecting a vital food source is clear.

Making the choice for sustainable fish
There are various guides to inform the consumer on which fish to avoid and which to consume. The British Marine Stewardship Council has the Fish to Eat. In the US, the Monterey Bay Aquarium produces the Seafood Watch. In Canada, the Sea Choice Guide uses the familiar red, yellow and green categories. It sounds all so simple but solutions often are.

Shark Fin Soup? No Bloody Way!

Those of us who love the sea find the mere idea of shark finning revolting. Not only is it cruel and wasteful, the practice of shark finning could have a devastating effect on shark numbers and on marine ecosystems. Unfortunately, shark finning continues because of one thing: demand.

A wasteful and grotesque industry
A quick reminder of what is involved in shark finning: The fins are cut off from a live shark and the remainder of the animal is thrown back in the water. The mutilated shark then sinks to the bottom of the sea to die.

Fishing fleets equipped with long line and hooks to target tuna used to release the accidental catches of shark but having become savvy to the monetary value of shark fin, they now collect the fins.

This is extremely wasteful. The fins make up a tiny portion of the animal and there is very little demand for shark meat. Improved fishing technology has meant an increase in the numbers of sharks caught and finned. Most of the shark finning take place in the high seas but some coastal populations in developing nations have taken on the practice of finning and drying on land – as this can be lucrative - and this poses problems for shark populations in these particular areas.

A threat to shark numbers is serious for the sea as a whole. Sharks develop slowly, gestate slowly and have fewer young than most fish. They can decline rapidly when fished in large numbers and recovery takes a long time. As sharks are at the top of the food chain keeping other species in check, their decline can have devastating effects for the entire marine ecosystem.

In most countries, it is not illegal to sell shark-fin – unless it has come from a protected species.

Who is eating shark fin?
Most of the demand for shark fin has traditionally come from Asia (notably Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan). All over the world, demand from Chinese consumers drives on the trade. In the last decade, the increased number of wealthier citizens in China has skyrocketed demand.

Shark fin soup has been a highly-prized item used to honour special occasions and many restaurants cater to banquets and parties with this unsavoury catch.

A perusal through the menus of some popular Chinese restaurants here in Vancouver is revealing. Yes, restaurants still serve shark fin soup. Some are quite brazen and feature it prominently in their menus. Others are more coy and use euphemisms to advertise their soups (“luxury golden seafood special”). Admitting to serving or eating shark fin doesn’t bring the instant revulsion akin to eating dogs and cats nor are sharks fluffy and cute like baby seals. Sadly, the importance of maintaining a stable marine ecosystem is not first and foremost on the minds of happy Chinese wedding feast guests.

But does this mean we can only despair and stand idly as shark populations are driven to extinction?

The customer is always right
Earlier this year, a campaign by outraged shareholders and shoppers halted the sale of shark fin soup targeted at the Chinese New Year’s market by Loblaws/Canadian Superfoods. Anti-Shark Fin activists also leafleted events taking place around New Years’ celebrations in Toronto with some positive outcome.

If enough diners enquired about a restaurant’s policy on shark fin, the management and owners will be forced to take notice. Many don't appreciate negative publicity. Ultimately, the consumer is in control and they can vote with their wallet. We may not be able to do anything about what’s happening in China but we can refuse to eat in outlets selling shark fin in our own towns and cities.

A glance through Twitter shows that many still brag about consuming shark fin soup. Perhaps it’ll go the way of fur coats; once it was a status symbol - now it’s a vulgar display of bad taste. That can’t happen soon enough.

Finning Facts (From The Shark Trust)

*Hong Kong is the world’s shark fin trading centre, accounting
for 50-80% of fins traded worldwide.

*Currently the EU supplies 27% of all fins imported into Hong Kong.

*Sharks’ life history makes them vulnerable to exploitation –
for example, Basking Sharks take 15-20 years to mature,
have a 2-3 year gestation period and produce only 4–6 pups.

*Wet fins typically represent < 5% of a shark’s body weight.

*Some Atlantic shark populations have declined by up to 80%
in the last 15 years.

*Sets of shark fins can sell for more than US$700/kg, with
hammerhead shark fins among the most valuable by weight.

*A single Whale Shark pectoral fin can sell for up to
US$15,000.

*Global trade in shark fins is increasing, and the market for
shark fin soup is estimated to be growing by 5% per year.

*The EU’s fin to carcass ratio is among the weakest in the
world.

*A third of European sharks, and a total of 110 species of
chondrichthyan fish are listed under a threat category on the
IUCN Red List, with a further 95 species Near Threatened.

Responsible diving from reef to land

During my time in the scuba diving industry, it was standard to teach the basics of responsible diving. There were the “don’t touch anything” and “look after the environment” lessons and it was reassuring to think scuba diving and other nature-intensive sports were unique; participants were stakeholders in the marine environment. But as in any sport, there will be occasions when we need reminding of the importance of sustainability, good practice and the world beyond the reef.
Do the research
Where are you going? Information is powerful. For one, do you want to go to a region of the world that is considered unsafe for tourists or has a history of political despotism? Sounds common sense but many an un-researching traveller headed for the unpleasant shock of a lifetime. On a smaller level, does your resort of choice have a policy and commitment to eco-tourism? Does it support local conservation efforts or does it fight them? And does the dive operator implement good practice?
Don’t just stick to popular guidebooks for information and take anything from official tourist brochures with a large fistful of salt. It’s always useful to ask those who’ve been there and done that. Online discussion forums on dive travel can be found on sites like Scubaboard and Divernet.
It’s not just the fish – PEOPLE count
You can't forget the human communities and the wider world. Does your resort or diveshop hire local people? Where does your money go?
Responsible tourism management also involves avoiding practices that undermine local cultures and communities. People and natural environments are intrinsically linked and detriment to one results in detriment to the other.
Maximising the positive and minimising the negative

Eco-tourism proponents and practitioners always talk about minimal impact. This refers to behaviours and actions that don’t damage the environment or affect local communities in a negative way. Does the operator take part in conservation schemes (such as marine cleanups, turtle release programs etc)? Are there no connections to harmful practices such as putting captured marine life on display? The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) offers further info.
Value for money should not equal use and abuse
While it's all fun to be fixated with the bronzed European scuba diving instructors, don't forget people like the boat captains and the local crew and resort staff. If it's customary to tip, it should be done fairly. I have often heard people refuse to tip, claiming tips are subsidies for low wages. This may be true but really it’s an excuse for mean-mindedness. It's also very embarrassing to go shopping with an extreme bargainer. Can they not pay more than 50 cents for a pair of shoes? Why does someone who earns $60,000 plus annually - and who can afford two big holidays per year – insist on paying so little for a souvenir? Those extra two dollars may have fed the vendor’s children for a day or two.
Get the entire story before jumping to conclusions
Sometimes, it's good to look further into the situation and not be dismissive immediately. I remember a trip to Bali where some guests were horrified to see children lugging dive equipment and tanks. "Gross exploitation" was the cry. Fact was, the village adjacent to this particular site owned the reef and the wreck on it and it controlled the operations (charging, numbers allowed etc). The money the villagers received from Sherpa duties enabled them to send their children to school (among other things that money can do) and children only worked outside of school hours.
In the water
Categorically assume that you should never remove anything from a dive site - unless you are there for that purpose - such as a cleanup, marine conservation or research. Even items you assume to be junk and remove with good intention - may be home for some marine critters. Always ask the dive operator or guide about what you should and shouldn't remove.
Good buoyancy control and mastery of movement are essential. If you’re new or a bit rusty, do a quick refresher when you arrive at your dive destination or back home before your holiday. In major cities, diveshops offer pool evenings where you can go through a skills circuit to brush up on the basics. Here is a good article from Scuba Dive Magazine.
Watch how you go and watch where you go. Don't enter that wreck or cave unless you've been informed that it's safe to do so. It can be dangerous or you may damage marine life.
Assume you can't touch any living creatures - corals, fish or others. They may injure you – or worse – you may injure them.
Ocean Etiquette from the NOAA offers some further tips.

Happy diving and stay safe.

Fashionable Recyclable

A few weeks back, I attended a fashion swap at the home of a friend of mine. I wondered why we didn't have these events more often as they are easy to organise, are a great way to meet up with old friends meet new people, have some good food and drinks and most important - keep those clothes in the system and have you looking your fashionable best.

It’s estimated in Canada that we have 7kg per capita worth of textiles in our landfills. Clothing make up over 4% of the landfills’ total. It takes a great deal of fuel, water and energy to manufacture clothing. According to a British government information page, people there purchase 2 million tonnes of clothing each year and 3.1 million tonnes of carbon emissions result from the manufacture of these items. Many synthetic fabrics are difficult to break down once they are disposed and the manufacturing can involve harmful chemicals. UK-based Continental Clothing announced earlier this year they will be the first in the world to place “carbon footprint labels” in their items. It sounds a good direction for the clothing industry and hopefully, this will become the norm in the years to come. And if we can keep more existing clothing in use, we will have cut down greatly the impact we have on the earth and its resources.
Onto the fun. A fashion swap party can be extravagant or simple. The choice is up to you. Get the host to cook, do a pot-luck or order out. If you want to splurge, call in a caterer who specialises in local organic foods. Add some nice brew if it's an adult affair (There are many local beers and wines that taste great to liven up the occasion).
Lay out the clothes and have everyone go round examining the wares. Make it a free-for-all; a case of it fits, take it. Or be creative and let avarice be positive. If there’s a pair of the season’s latest Jimmy Choos in mint condition and everyone is eyeing it, make it an auction item with proceeds going to a charity of the buyer’s choice.
And if you don't find anything your style or size, who cares. Take the unclaimed clothing to your favourite charity shops. These items will then either be purchased locally with proceeds going to the charities or be shipped to developing countries (where second-hand clothing is the only attire most can afford).
My friend’s swap evening was a wonderfully cosey and friendly affair with generous portions of her home-made eats (with the most popular being the baked confectionaries and home-made bread), good conversation and a fair quantity of drink going well into the night. Friends and co-workers chatted about the bad boss, new acquaintances were made and most of us went home with something “new” for the wardrobe.
The outcome is that everyone has a nice evening, save some money and do their little bit to ease the burden we create on our planet through our fashion habits.

How much water am I really worth?

I was sitting in a nice little coffee shop yesterday drinking my decaf. I was reminded of the "water footprint" and thought how much water was used/wasted in making this little luxury item - from seed in the ground to my afternoon cuppa.

It turns out 140 litres of water is required to cultivate the beans, water the bean plants, process and brew a cup of coffee. So multiplied by the number of coffees per week, month, year and you get a lot of water for a little bit of brown caffeine infusion.

There is an excellent website by the Water Footprint Network . You’ll find in graphic form how much water it takes to produce common items – such as meat and coffee – that we take for granted. There is also a Water Footprint Calculator that you can tinker around with by imputing various aspects of your consumption habits to get an estimate. I played a bit with the calculator and found – a bit to my surprise – that a great bulk of my water consumption came from meat even though I thought I had a relatively low-meat and balanced diet. Globally, the world uses 200m litres of water each second to grow its food. When you think about it, the numbers seem astounding.

I am not one for guilt complexes or extreme deprivations. It’s nice to have the little luxuries and treats but it’s really worth thinking and reminding ourselves that there is a water cost to everything and this water doesn’t come out of thin air.

The jaunt starts

YES! This is my inaugural piece. Thank you for joining me and I'm glad to make our acquaintance as you are probably someone interested in ocean sustainability and are a keen water-activities pursuer. Hopefully, we’re part of a much bigger and rapidly growing band.

I'm on this jaunt as I have realised over my years working in both the corporate and non-profit fields that sustainability and good practice in our sporting lives and daily lives is crucial. Having worked in diversity and human rights, I know that respect for the physical environment goes hand in hand with respect for human dignity and the right for people everywhere to have control over their lives.

Furthermore, having worked in the scuba diving business for a few years and enjoyed diving all over the world, I know that those who come into close contact with the ocean environment are those who want to protect and preserve that environment. Getting an entry level certification (with the mandatory textbook reading on the "good diving practice" chapter) is only a start. I know that for myself, I have viewed ocean environments and marine life in a completely new light since I started venturing underwater and the nice by-product of this "hobby" is that the education process never ends. Every day, there's something I find interesting about marine environments and what we do to it (and unfortunately, the news is often bad).

The good news is, the notion of sustainability and good practices is very much mainstream today. I can recall, in the 90s, those bandying such phrases as green, eco-friendly, and sustainable were often dismissed as cranks and hippies who never got off the trip. Now, those cranks are well inside the tent.

So I hope Sea Forever will be seen and enjoyed by many – from scuba diving enthusiasts and those interested in getting involved in ocean pursuits to those with an interest in all things to do with sea, land and responsible living. My objective for this blog is to be a mix of informative, interesting and useful reads for those interested in exploring the issues but more than that, I hope it'll be a fun and entertaining stop.