Tag Archives: Great Barrier Reef

Chinese Freighter Strikes Section of the Great Barrier Reef

A 755-foot Chinese freighter loaded with coal and headed for China ran aground on part of the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia Saturday. The ship, Shen Neng 1, was going full speed when it crashed into the reef. Just hours before, it had left the port of Gladstone, loaded with 72,000 tons of coal and 1,000 tons of bunker fuel. The fear now is that the ship will break apart because of the damage done to it. For safety measures, 23 crew members were rescued by an Australian police boat. There has been a report that the … Continue reading →

How We Affect Cultural Landmarks – Part 1

As I age, I realize how older things just naturally deteriorate. Many of the world’s cultural landmarks are hundreds, if not thousands, of years old. When things last that long, you may tend to think they will last forever, but there are a few landmarks that are seeing their deterioration accelerated due to pollution and tourism. One such landmark is the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. The construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632 when Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan had it build in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Her round, white mausoleum is easily recognizable by most of … Continue reading →