Aug 09 2011
Wanted to share this link to an article about a Stanford biologist, Gretchen Daily.
Here is my favorite passage, and makes me think of my land, PR, and how the current government would never consider something so brilliant.
“”Part of Dr. Daily’s interest in natural capital emerged from her research in Costa Rica, where she became intrigued with an innovative government initiative known as Payment for Environmental Services. The program, initiated in the 1990s, pays landowners to maintain native forest rather than cut it and has contributed to a significant reduction in Costa Rica’s deforestation rate.”"
Information is power.
Enjoy.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/09/science/09profile.html?_r=2&ref=science
May 28 2011
Earlier this morning, I was performing the usual morning routine of drinking tea, checking emails, and perusing my Facebook home page when I came upon a video a friend shared with me entitled “Why I Am Leaving Vancouver British Columbia Canada – Thanks, Fukushima Japan.” The title caught my attention instantly being that it was both sarcastically witty and alarming all at the same time. Trusting that my friend had a solid reason for sending me the link, I watched the video. Now, I’m in a bit of a quandary.
You see, as the world knows, not long ago did Japan suffer from a very tragic natural disaster combined with an even more tragic nuclear one. Grief stricken at the thought of more loss of life (caused by, I believe, the direct result of reckless human actions upon our planet’s fragile environmental state), we watched the aftermath of yet another massive natural breakdown. But little did we know, and quickly did we find out, that we were also witnessing the breakdown of a man-made disaster…and a lethal one, at that.
I was at my home in Oakland, California, when the earthquake and tsunami hit. Although Japan is pretty far, it still hit quite close to home. After all, we share a common ocean separated only by the wee bit of state called Hawaii, and California is known for being on a fautline hotbed. It’s just time before “The Big One” hits, and we’re either riding on a sliver of the state now considered an island, or we’re the new residents of Atlantis 2.0. So, it’s no wonder that we Californians went into mini-crisis mode, waiting with bated breath, wondering “Could those tsunami waves actually get to us over here?” while revamping our (or in my case, making one for the first time) Earthquake Preparedness Kits (aka….box of Cliff Bars, cans of beans, a can opener…necessary to get to the beans… and some clean underwear). And well, we got our answer… and it was yes. However, fortunately for Californians, all we got were some pretty “sick” surfing waves.
But quickly all the thoughts of tsunami waves were washed away by an even more-pressing issue…nuclear fallout. Nuclear fallout?! But…this isn’t 1986. Haven’t we updated from the old Fisher Price Baby’s First Nuclear Plant to something a bit more adult? And how come we still have reactors that are older than Hugh Hefner? And why, pray tell, are we still using nuclear energy anyway?!
As these questions floated in my mind, Japan’s plant had gone into full breakdown mode despite all the desperate (and heroic) attempts to keep the plant operational enough to stop its falling outedness and divert disaster. Sadly, as we all know, those attempts were futile as our planet received yet another hefty dose of radioactivity through air we breathe, the water we drink, and the land which cultivates our food. (Forgive us, Gaia, for we have sinned…)
And of course, in keeping with the ripple effect motif, all this radioactive junk was crossing the oceans and heading straight for the good ole US of A… and first up to bat, California. It’s one thing to prepare for an impending earthquake. That we got covered. But now we’d have to prepare for nuclear fallout, as well. Where does one begin? Nuclear shelters haven’t really been on the market since the Cold War ended, and you can’t necessarily buy anti-radioactive clothes at Marshalls. Save for the potassium iodide pills that flew off the shelf before you could say “nucl-”, there was nothing we could do. We were S.O.L. The sky was falling…literally.
With a heightened sense of human frailty permeating my daily life, I took solace in the fact that soon I would be in France, with my husband, far away from this whole nasty nuclear mess, happy to be eating quiche and drinking rose in a radio-active free zone. But that blissful ignorance only lasted about a day, when my husband regretfully informed me that France is home to 58 nuclear reactors and is the only country in the world that uses nuclear energy as its main source of power. (A moment of silence to reflect on this, shall we?) My love affair with Paris seemed doomed.
How is it that a country so progressive and often tagged as being overly “socialist” would implement a system that would have it so utterly dependent upon such a toxic source of power? I always thought the French were much more “bohemian” than that. I pictured them all in berets drinking Beaujolais and writing poetry about how the nuclear industry is like “The Man.” (An exaggeration of course, but you get my drift.) I sure know how to pick ‘em. I left a hotbed of fautlines for a hotbed of nuclear energy…I wasn’t hot, I was burning up.
Mini-positivity meltdown ensued…some time passed…daily life took over.
And here I am today…I reflect as I watch the posting my friend shared with me on FB, quandary bumping spheres in my mind like a lively round of bumper cars. As I sit here enjoying the comforts and safety of my tiny, yet centrally located Parisian apartment I call home, sipping my cup of organic tea and lazily perusing the vast world wide web, I am once again reminded that there is nowhere to run. We are all in this thing together. No matter where we live, what we do, or how much money we make, these are the facts of life we share as a global community. And if we want new facts, it’s up to us to make them happen. We can’t hide behind the croissants forever.
It’s like Gandhi always said…”Be the change you want to see in the world.” (It’s not just a bumper sticker, folks.)
I am inspired to join the anti-nuclear power coalition (Nouveau Parti Anticapitaliste) here in France. Now, I just need to learn how to say “Down with the man!” in French.
(Guest post from Sra. Blanc @ Postcards from Everywhere)
May 27 2011
A 5-Day Intensive with Soil Foodweb Expert, Dr. Elaine Ingham, PhD
July 11th-15th San Rafael, CA
Price for 5 Day Intensive is $800.
Individual days available.
Lodging starting from $22/night Camping $12/night
Day 1 & 2: Intro. to the Soil Foodweb – Dr. Elaine Ingham uncovers the basic principles of the Soil Foodweb, plant relationships, and bacterial to fungi ratio’s in this, in depth two day primer. Not only will you gain the fundamental understanding of the way soil biology drives plant nutrition, you will learn how modern agriculture selects for disease and pests. A must for anyone wanting a complete understanding of any soil.
Day 3: Compost Technology – Not all compost is created equal. Dr. Elaine Ingham breaks down the difference between good compost and reduced waste. One of the biggest mistakes people make when building a compost pile is not selecting the different C:N ratio’s for the plants their growing. There is a major difference between the soil in a dessert and the soil in an old growth forest. Learn how to select the proper organic matter ratio’s that will give your plants the exact biology they need to thrive.
Day 4: Compost Tea Technology – Dr. Elaine Ingham guides us through the extract process that will maximize biologic diversity while getting the most bang for your buck. Compost tea and liquid compost extract (LCE) give you, the plant and soils manager, the most efficient method for bringing back the diversity. This allows you to eliminate inorganic fertilizers and herbicides that decrease diversity and degrade one of earths most precious resources, our soils.
Day 5: Light Microscope Training – Dr. Elaine Ingham leads this very special one day training on effective light microscope techniques and identification. Learn from the master herself on what constituents good compost or compost tea on a microbial level. This part of the class is essential for anyone who wishes to gain “eyes on” knowledge of the soil universe and what really goes on under our feet. Get the necessary training to identify the bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes that drive the health and well being of our plants.
To Register and for more information visit:
http://sweetsoil.eventbrite.com/
Or Call: (415) 699-0916
Location: Fellowship Hall
240 Channing Way San Rafael, CA 94903
Dates: July 11th-15th 9am – 5pm
May 15 2011
Fecha: 4/24/2011
La aprobación e instalación del incinerador de Arecibo representaría el comienzo de muchas otras instalaciones de incineradores a través de todo Puerto Rico. Este artefacto para quemar basura es el segundo método más caro del mundo para generar electricidad, ya que necesita un alto consumo de combustibles fósiles para poder secar e incinerar la basura mezclada, la cual contiene sobre un 60% humedad.
Estas instalaciones de incineración cobran cantidades insostenibles por recibir la basura, que luego de quemarla y engordar sus ganancias a través de la venta de electricidad, nos devuelven la basura quemada a través de la chimenea y las cenizas altamente toxicas atrapadas, las cuales hay que disponer en un vertedero especializado. Por cada 100 libras de basura incineradas se generan 25 libras de cenizas altamente toxicas, asi que claramente incinerar no es una solución al manejo de nuestros desperdicios sólidos, ya que crea otro peor.
Este incinerador propuesto para Arecibo, requiere una inversión de 500 millones de dólares y solo creara unos 60 empleos directos, utilizando como comparación una planta más grande de la misma corporación en EEUU. Como contraparte, por cada tonelada reciclada se crean entre 4 a 11 empleos más que por cada tonelada incinerada o quemada. Toda oportunidad de crear miles de empleos a través de cientos de empresas locales se perderían, ya que el incinerador va en sentido contrario al reciclaje, el reúso y el compostaje.
La oportunidad de reutilizar la materia prima se pierde al enterrar estos recursos y/o quemarlos ya que al quemar estos recursos hay que extraer nuevos elementos vírgenes (madera, petróleo, arena), para hacer nuevos productos, en lugar de reutilizar el material ya extraído. Clasificar la energía generada por un incinerador como energía renovable es errónea, ya que los recursos quemados no son infinitos y comprometen el futuro de las generaciones venideras.
El 35% de la basura se puede convertir en composta y abonos orgánicos que ayudarían a mejorar nuestros terrenos agrícolas, disminuir nuestras importaciones de abonos químicos, abaratar nuestra agricultura, disminuir la importación de alimentos, aumentando nuestra seguridad alimentaria. Todos estos recursos y oportunidades se perderían con el establecimiento de estos incineradores, ya que el contrato entre el pueblo de Puerto Rico y la compañía incineradora, representa una obligación de llevarle basura por los próximos 30 años. El incinerador estaría quemando nuestra basura, nuestros empleos, nuestras empresas, nuestro dinero y nuestro futuro.
Jose Luis Alsina
Director Conservación
Sierra Club de Puerto Rico
787-630-0660
Basura Cero es el desvío gradual de los desperdicios sólidos del vertedero.
May 11 2011
China\’s Ghost Cities (click this link for Video Detailing Subject) http://youtu.be/X28q1sQb2js
This report shows the VAST sums China is spending only to build Cities of Nothing and No one. The sum spent is vast…first obviously Money. But think of the man hours in building these cities (10 a year is the goal), the wasted resources of energy, materials…add in the waste of these people’s lives in tying them to this building, business ventures. I think of the art work, possibly in the city, no one sees. The bubble that will burst crippling things further, the loss of agricultural land. It is stunning, especially as you add in Southern Madrid & Seville that have smaller versions of these-almost exact styles- of buildings and districts also 80-90% empty. Description of video Below:
“Vast new cities of apartments and shops are being built across China at a rate of ten a year, but they remain almost completely uninhabited ghost towns.
It’s all part of the government’s efforts to keep the economy booming, and there are many people who would love to move in, but it’s simply too expensive for most.
Video journalist Adrian Brown wanders through malls of vacant shops, and roads lined with empty apartment buildings… 64 million apartments are said to be empty across the country and one of the few shop owners says he once didn’t sell anything for four or five days.
So are the efforts to boost the economy going to end up having the opposite effect and creating a financial crisis for China?
May 02 2011
This is a link to my Etsy store, since I am a ‘struggling artists’ and trying to recover from being a downsized Corporate guy it is what I have for now. However it shows the items I find and recreate, they are from Levi’s, DKNY, Marvel, and dozens of other brands I re-appropriate. In many cases the items cost a few dollars compared to the ACTUAL price they were bought for as NEW. Some are political (Captain Zombie America), some are sexual, some are provocative and most are fun. Yet they all come together as a new alternative to dumping clothes at Goodwill, overseas, or just plain dumped. What I like most about what I do is I retake the MASS produced items and recreate a unique one of a kind art outfit that a person would want for YEARS to come, not just as a new fad for the week.
My friend sent me this article.
It is exiting that wind can produce so much power. Encouraging, in order to enroll the skeptics that insist we need fossil fuels to survive. But all its supportive systems have to be thought of at the same pace. Grids have to become as sophisticated as the turbines…
So much space for innovation!!!!!
http://www.kincardineshireobserver.co.uk/news/scottish-headlines/row_after_wind_farms_turned_off_1_1603960
