Growing cocoa is a valuable industry for smallholder farmers in Samoa, and more generally provides a significant national social and economic benefit. The climate of Samoa is currently suitable for growing cocoa, although there are various climate impacts on the industry, including: periodic flooding that damages farms; tropical cyclones, noting that the main impact is the flooding (so as connected to the first risk) while wind speed has little negative impact; heavy rainfall that damages flowers and subsequent levels of fruiting on the trees, and also causes damaging (‘black pod’) fungal disease outbreaks – annual rainfall and associated humidity is often high enough for the fungal outbreaks to be severe, and heavy rainfall and humidity promotes the spread of fungus between cocoa pods.
On January 31st, 2019, Sea Shepherd’s MV Farley Mowat was attacked by poachers while patrolling the Vaquita Refuge for Operation Milagro.
Posing as fishermen, these criminals launched Molotov cocktails at the Farley Mowat, setting the ship on fire. They also hurled large rocks and other deadly projectiles at the ship and crew, causing damage to our vessel. Fortunately, no crew was seriously injured during the attack. Sea Shepherd is working with Mexican authorities to protect the Vaquita Refuge – a UNESCO-recognized and federally protected area, and home to the most endangered marine mammal in the world, the vaquita porpoise.
A triple board certified physician, master healer & consciousness, Zach Bush, MD is the founder and director of M Clinic, an integrative medicine center in Charlottesville, Virginia and simply put, one of the most compelling medical minds currently working to improve our understanding of human and environmental health. Enjoy!
