Whales + User Generated Content

Whales made news headlines this week. First, the appearance of an endangered Pacific Gray Whale in the San Fran Bay Area. His transoceanic journey is being tracked by The Marine Mammal Institute. Feeding areas of Western Pacific Gray's are impacted by offshore oil & gas drilling near Russia. Russia controls more prospective drilling area in the Arctic Ocean than the United States and Canada combined.

Yesterday, Japan called of its annual arctic whale hunt after being hounded by activists.

Sperm whale photo, courtesy of Brandon Cole © Brandon Cole

Closer to home is Whales | Tohorā, a feature exhibit at the Ontario Science Centre. The show explores the cultural and historical significance of whales to Māori and Pakeha cultures of New Zealand & other Pacific nations. With specimens from the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, its an show worth seeing rich with history, culture and whale'y might. To March 2o.

Nature Unleashed is also at the Ontario Science Centre, examining the science, history and the headlines of natural disasters. The exhibit includes haunting images of vacationers on a Thailand beach reacting to the 1st of 6 Tsunami waves.

At a recent Toronto Social Media Week event, a panel of journalists discussed the role of user generated content (USG) in news gathering -- natural disasters included -- immediately capturing our attention and impacting our collective memory, empathy and compassion.

A quote from William Shakespeare at Nature Unleashed reads "One touch of nature makes all the world kin" -- perhaps more true now, than ever before.