Stop waste dump in Galapagos and other areas

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From :Friends of the EarthA reckless, profit-driven experiment endangers the Galapagos Islands -help us stop it!A company called Planktos is about to dump tons of iron particles overthousands of square miles of ocean near the Galapagos. Planktos claimsthat the iron dump will stimulate phytoplankton growth, which in turn willabsorb carbon from the atmosphere and help offset global warming. Scientists disagree.Prominent experts say that the iron dump is not only unlikely to removecarbon from the atmosphere in any lasting or significant way, but thatsuch "iron fertilization" threatens ocean ecosystems and could actuallyalter them in ways that lead to methane and nitrous oxide production,which cause global warming.The Galapagos National Park in Ecuador is expressing great concern aboutthe dump, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was demandinganswers about potential harm this dump may cause the Galapagos - whichprompted Planktos to change the flag under which it sails and abandonplans to use a U.S.-based ship.Given such opposition, why not abandon the dump? Planktos CEO Russ Georgehas promised investors that his iron dumping scheme is a sure way to getrich. He's attempting to sell carbon offsets to global warming polluters -and says he's also going to win Richard Branson's $25 million Virgin EarthChallenge prize.Planktos is going full steam ahead, and we must act.On the agenda of the International Maritime Organization meeting in Spainthis week are both the Planktos dump and a broader discussion of ironfertilization schemes. We want you to send this group a messageencouraging them to not only come out against Planktos' operation rightaway, but to take steps to subject any future iron fertilization or oceaneco-engineering schemes to international and scientific oversight.Friends of the Earth has been in communication with other environmentalgroups, scientists around the world, Richard Branson, and even thepresident of Planktos to stop this project. But now, with theinternational body that has the power to stop the dump meeting this week,we need your help.Send a message to the IMO asking it to oppose Planktos' iron dumping now!http://www.FOE.org/Save_the_GalapagosThank you.- Friends of the Earth---What kind of idiot thought up this scheme? They must be making money out ofit. Probably the iron is some waste product and they want to dispose of itcheaply by dumping it in the ocean. Everybody knows that creating anunnatural plague explosion of specie/s severely disrupts an ecosystem and maycause its collapse. Already many ocean areas experience 'red tides' due toexplosive growths of algae/phytoplankton due to pollution, and most of theother life dies. Seafood eaten from the area can also be toxic to humans.This also happens in rivers. For example, waste runoff [fertiliser,phosphates..] stimulates unnatural algal blooms in rivers. The algae consumeall the oxygen and all the fish and other life die. This is a seriousproblem in many rivers.see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_tidehttp://museum.gov.ns.ca/poison/redtide.htmI fear this could set a dangerous precedent - companies dumping waste in the ocean, causing toxic algal blooms, and claiming it as a carbon credit! Therefore we have to stop these kind of schemes getting off the ground. The scheme has little benefit of sequesting carbon, especially since it's located in the tropics - see http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2007/05/thin-soup-and-a-thin-story/