Tag Archives: environment

Blue Marble Planet lover Lea Haratani dives deep

02 Friday Jul 2010

Posted by in environment, ocean & fisheries, poetry & poets

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“A lot of people attack the sea. I make love to it.” —Jacques Cousteau

Lea Haratani has had a lifelong passion for the ocean, and every day she tries to show it. Some days, it means not eating fish. Other times, it’s all about taking a walk on the beach—or diving off the coast of Belize with Jim Simon, the vice president of one of the nation’s largest ocean conservation organizations, Oceana. She might also be found circulating petitions against offshore drilling with her children at Bookshop Santa Cruz, or organizing a fundraising event for Oceana at the Saint Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco.

Read more about Lea and ocean activism, featured in Good Times this week.

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A whole new world—Eaarth

22 Thursday Apr 2010

Posted by in Book Reviews, environment

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Eaarth by Bill McKibben

Bill McKibben was right 20 years ago, and he is right today. Then, The End of Nature offered dire predictions about global warming. His new book, Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet is named for the new planet we are creating. The news is not good. In December 2009, as the United Nations climate change meetings got underway in Copenhagen, Denmark, a team of computer jockeys from institutions including MIT built a model which demonstrated that the impact of global warming had already crossed seemingly irreversible thresholds.

“But now….it’s time to think with special clarity about the future. On our new planet growth may be the one big habit we must finally break.”—Bill McKibben, Eaarth

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Think Pink this Earth Day

09 Friday Apr 2010

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Coral reef

Coral reef display at Hot Pink Flamingo exhibit

Monterey Bay Aquarium’s new exhibit Hot Pink Flamingos did what was expected—providing insights into species, habitats and migration. But this was only the beginning. Hot Pink Flamingos ties together the climate change catastrophe now underway with examples of global cause and effect. Pulling no punches about projections, the displays show the waterline in a few short years, demonstrating that most of the exhibit itself will soon be underwater.

Coral reefs are dying at an astounding rate. Many species are facing extinction each day.

At least 19 percent of the world’s coral reefs are already gone, including some 50 percent of those in the Caribbean. An additional 15 percent could be dead within 20 years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

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The Cove: Stranger than Fiction Investigative Journalism and Eco-Adventure

27 Saturday Mar 2010

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For a fast-paced 92-minute documentary, The Cove, is many things at once—action, adventure, activism, marine biology and biography. Winner of this year’s Academy Award for a feature length documentary, veteran National Geographic director Louie Psihoyos brings together marine mammal specialist Ric O’Barry and a cast of extreme athletes, adrenaline junkies, event and special effects experts. Together they expose Japan’s horrific dolphin sales and slaughter while educating the viewer on both whaling law and why we might regard dolphins as sentient beings.

“…a provocative mix of investigative journalism, eco-adventure and arresting imagery, adding up to an unforgettable story that has inspired audiences worldwide to action.”—from www.thecovemovie.com

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Lovely song, sacrificed without a passing regret

23 Tuesday Mar 2010

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Poetry and the arts take an important place in the realm of influencing change, raising awareness and stirring the pot. Poets, writers and film makers have been my catalysts and guides along the sometimes confusing trail of conservation and direct action.

Hip Pocket Press publishes a newsletter sharing poets views on the environment. Named Canary for the unique place this lovely songbird held as a harbinger of deadly mine gas, this collection of loosely themed writings informs us of an inner life nurtured by nature.

“The canary in the coal mine” was a primitive early warning system used by miners to alert themselves to poison gases seeping into the mines.  If the canary was found dead, it was time to get out quick.  As a metaphor, its significance for me includes not only the salvation of the humans, but also the casual loss of the canary, that fragile and innocent bird with its lovely song, sacrificed without a passing regret….”—Gail Entrekin, Editor, Hip Pocket Press

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