The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has taken steps to stop the rampant illegal collection and trade of the Philippine Bow-Fingered Gecko, officially known as Tokay Gecko"” or “Tuko” in Pilipino.
An advisory released on June 17 by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) in Pangasinan confirmed previous reports there was a mad hunt in the province and elsewhere for Tokay Gecko, which is allegedly being sold at fantastic prices to still unidentified buyers.
PENRO chief Leduina Co said the rampant illegal collection and trade of the Bow-Fingered Gecko already reached the attention of DENR higher authorities months back, prompting them to issue a memorandum to their field offices to be more persistent and vigilant in monitoring the collection, transport and trade of geckos and other banned wildlife species.
The memorandum was issued by Atty. Ernesto Adobo Jr., DENR undersecretary for field operations and environmental law enforcement task force focal officer, warning appropriate legal actions would be taken against any person found violating Republic Act No. 9147, otherwise known as the “Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act” signed into law on July 30, 2001.
The trading, collection, hunting or possessing wildlife, their by-products and derivatives and transporting of wildlife (Chapter IV, Section 27 of the Wildlife Act) are considered illegal.
The “tuko,” although not included among the list of protected wildlife species by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) can be considered as part of “other wildlife species, Adobo said.
This means that “tuko”, not being classified as either critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable, is under threat from adverse factors such as over-collection, which can ultimately lead to their being vulnerable or extinct.
Penalties and/or fines for violations inflicted or undertaken against other wildlife species range from imprisonment for 10 days to one month and/or fine of P2,000 to P20,000; imprisonment of 10 days to one month and a fine of P1,000 to P5,000; or imprisonment of five days to 10 days and a fine of P200 to P1,000.
Co said that although “tuko” was not yet considered endangered, the public was advised to refrain from doing any business involving it or any other wildlife species.
"All existing wildlife has a role to play in our complex biodiversity and as human beings, we must protect and preserve them, not abuse or harm them,” she said.
The Geckos are being traded through the Internet where a 30-gram gecko commands a price of P600,000. (PNA)
BAWAL ANG VIEWERS NA HINDI NAGKAKAPE!!! :D
June 22, 2011
Winklevoss Twins Give Up on Facebook Case
By pefohorh
The Harvard University classmates of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg are ending the legal battle made famous by the Hollywood movie "The Social Network."
In a one-paragraph court filing Wednesday, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss said they would accept a settlement that was worth $65 million when agreed upon in 2008.
The twins had sought to undo the settlement of $20 million cash and $45 million in stock.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the twins, saying they had been represented by a squadron of Silicon Valley lawyers and their father, a noted business professor.
The twins said Wednesday they would forgo a trip to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Their stock is now worth more than $100 million.
The Harvard University classmates of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg are ending the legal battle made famous by the Hollywood movie "The Social Network."In a one-paragraph court filing Wednesday, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss said they would accept a settlement that was worth $65 million when agreed upon in 2008.
The twins had sought to undo the settlement of $20 million cash and $45 million in stock.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the twins, saying they had been represented by a squadron of Silicon Valley lawyers and their father, a noted business professor.
The twins said Wednesday they would forgo a trip to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Their stock is now worth more than $100 million.
Andrew Garfield as the new Peter Parker in Spiderman
The film, which is now in production and is being shot entirely in 3D, will be released on July 3, 2012. The film stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott, Irrfan Khan, Martin Sheen, and Sally Field.The film is directed by Marc Webb from a screenplay by James Vanderbilt and Alvin Sargent and Steve Kloves based on the Marvel Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Laura Ziskin, Avi Arad, and Matt Tolmach are producing the Marvel Entertainment production for Columbia Pictures. The executive producers are Stan Lee, Kevin Feige, and Michael Grillo.
But things move fast in the land of big bucks. Soon after, a comprehensive worldwide casting search was launched to find a replacement for its three-time Peter Parker, Tobey Maguire who, let’s face it, would be just too old to be putting on that tight suit and be swinging about from city skyscrapers.
Just this July 1, Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios announced that they have found their new lead—a relatively unknown British heartthrob, Andrew Garfield. It seems the 3D screening date of July 3, 2010 would be realistic.
Andrew who?
It had been one of the most eagerly anticipated casting announcements, launching speculation frenzy participated in by bloggers, pop culture spectators and everyday fans who have all considered every conceivable online rumor.
Garfield has not really registered with pop culture pundits to replace Maguire —the list, at various points, has even included Logan Lerman (star of “Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief”) and even Robert Pattinson of “Twilight” fame. Some even put their two cents’ worth and suggested Zac Efron.
But as for the fans, if the studio is insisting on casting a new Peter Parker, it better not be a wuss —at least that’s the concession they are hoping for.
But other fans may have hit it on the head, preferring an unknown to play the lead since the reboot the studio is embarking on is happening not even 10 years out of the franchise’s last installment.
Enter Andrew Garfield, whose acting career has spanned all of five years. But within that short time, he’s already received a Best Actor BAFTA in 2008 for playing a young ex-con in John Crowley’s “Boy A.”
Garfield most recently worked with director David Fincer in the upcoming “The Social Network.” Prior to that, he starred in Spike Jonze’s robot love story “I’m Here” that premiered in Sundance this year. He’ll also be seen opposite Keira Knightly and Carey Mulligan in Mark Romanek’s “Never Let Me Go” due out late this year.
His other screen credits include Terry Gilliam’s “The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus,” Robert Redford’s “Lions for Lambs” and Revolution Films’ “Red Riding Trilogy – 1974.”
Furthering the franchise:
Considered one of the most successful franchises in film history, the the “Spider-Man” movies have collectively grossed more than $2.5 billion in worldwide box office. The studio hopes to keep the dough rolling in with its sights targeted on the new audience raring to see the red-and-blue suited web-slinging superhero in 3D.
On casting Garfield, director Marc Webb said, “Though his name may be new to many, those who know this young actor’s work understand his extraordinary talents. He has a rare combination of intelligence, wit, and humanity. Mark my words, you will love Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker.”
Producer Avi Arad added, “I’m incredibly excited about Andrew Garfield. In the Spider-Man tradition, we were looking for a smart, sensitive, and cool new Peter Parker who can inspire us and make us laugh, cry, and cheer. We believe we have found the perfect choice to take on this role and lead us into the future.”
Well, the big brasses have made their call. And the superhero’s loyalists will just have to wait, because only July 2012 will tell if this franchise’s future will indeed continue its swinging success.
The world's most popular theme parks
- Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA
- Disneyland, Anaheim, CA, USA
- Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo, Japan
- Tokyo Disneysea, Tokyo, Japan
- Epcot at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA
- Disneyland Park at Disneyland Paris, Marne-la-Vallee, France
- Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA
- Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA
- Universal Studios Japan, Osaka, Japan
- Everland, Gyeonggi-Do, South Korea
- Disney California Adventure, Anaheim, CA, USA
- Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando, FL, USA
- Universal Studios at Universal Orlando, FL, USA
- Lotte World, Seoul, South Korea
Hindi man lang nasama ang Universal Studios nang Singapore. Yun lang naman kasi ang napuntahan ko. Hehehehe
Oo nga na man! Pag punta ko dun, puro under construction. Yung GLOBE nga na logo nang Universal Studios ay sarado pa. Ewan ko lang ngayon, last April pa ako pumunta dun... medyo nasayang ang $60 kahit libre pa yun. Hehe...
New Environmentally Educational Board Game
A new environmentally educational board game called Ethica lets players assume the role of an investment banker or venture capitalist and see how well their green intentions stand up in the world of international finance. The game represents part of the developing trend of environmental education through play.
Ethica is designed to be played by between six and 27 players. Each player assumes the role of a family or banker with money to invest. Players take turns to visit banks where they have to choose a share investment, cooperative investment or a savings account, each investment gives the player either a positive or negative financial, social or environmental score. The winner of the game is the player with the lowest score after three rounds.
The game's developers state that it is based upon the principles behind the collaborative ethical investment group Reseau Financement Alternatif. According to a June 15 statement to Relaxnews by a spokesman for the company, the game will be available at the end of August and will be distributed throughout the UK, France, Switzerland, Poland and Spain.
The game is part of the developing trend of environmental education through play. Other environmentally and ethically themed board games include Bioviva, a question-and-answer-themed game, Earthopoly, a green version of Monopoly, The Green Game and Environchallenge, all of which are available to buy at amazon.com and other retailers.
A range of environmentally educational games are also available online. Perhaps the most successful is Fate of the World, which won "best artistic response" at the 2011 Climate Week Awards and was nominated at the eighth annual Games for Change awards. Players of Fate of the World take charge of an international organization which must make choices on energy usage and emissions while continuing to ensure the stability of the Earth's growing population; the game can be downloaded for $9.95 (roughly €7).
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