March 19

The Flat Earth Society's leader dies, and bluefin tuna is on its own.

Tue, Mar 19 2013 at 7:00 AM

March 19, 1922: Hiroo Onoda, founder of the Onoda Nature Schools, is born. Mr. Onoda knows a thing or two about getting by in nature. As a young Japanese intelligence officer in 1944, Onoda was ordered to disrupt the enemy and never, ever surrender. He outlived several colleagues, survived gun battles, and killed about 30 Philippine citizens during his 29 years in the jungle. He came out only after a superior officer found him and withdrew the original order.

March 19, 2001: Charles K. Johnson, leader of the International Flat Earth Society, dies in Lancaster, California. The Society claimed 3,000 members and is based on a literal interpretation of the Bible. They really, really believe the earth is flat.

March 19, 2010: Meeting in Doha, Qatar, the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) rejects protection of bluefin tuna (at right).

Photo: Christophe Ena/AP

This feature is compiled by Peter Dykstra, an MNN contributor and publisher of Environmental Health News and The Daily Climate.

The opinions expressed by MNN Bloggers and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of MNN.com. While we have reviewed their content to make sure it complies with our Terms and Conditions, MNN is not responsible for the accuracy of any of their information.

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