tagged w/ Eco Travel
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I scour the net for innovative and inspirational stories of sustainability eco-innovation. I usually use search terms like, "eco hero" "sustainability" "eco-geek", "green", but my favorite stories are the ones that you stumble upon where people are just doing their thing, following their passion, and it just happens to be a righteous example of living in alignment with the planet.
Enter Aric S Queen. Today's awesome inspiration comes from Current old-timer (you might remember Aric from his Shanghai Diary days. Aric was eventually kicked out of the country for these video diaries).
So here is his craziest adventure:
Cairo to Capetown…with no money.
A quote from Aric's blog:
[the only cash I'll keep will be for internet access, as this depends on it - $15 a week]
no money.
overland.
quick - look at a map.
that’s a long way down.
and into some dicey areas.
Sudan? dangerous in places, yes.
even Brother Scott had a few words of warning for me about Sudan - and he’s the bravest cat I know.
so, a week or so ago, I wrote it off and was just going to try and find a few NGO’s to work with.
but it kept at me, this little thought.
and then there was this fantastic lady I shared a cab with who just so happened to have lived/worked in Sudan....
.......
...I’m living proof to the kindness of strangers.
I’m living proof on how Facebook/Twitter helps you meet people.
and I’m living proof you need not be educated, wealthy, nor informed to travel."
We'll be following Aric's adventures. Aric is selling photos of his trip to make sure he has a few coins in his pocket to buy a mug of beer for people who help him out, "Cause we’re all on a little adventure of some sort..."
A video blog from the China Quake last year:
Related content:
Bye-Bye Blobfish face
Wade Davis: on Magic, Mystism, and putting ancient culture in the context of the modern world
Youth stage sit-in inside the Bella Center: Protesters outside experience violent interactions with policeI scour the net for innovative and inspirational stories of sustainability... more
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leahl
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2 years ago
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A few reflections after a busy day on the Big Island. I went out on the boat with Captain Nancy of Dolphin Journeys with high hopes to swim with a dolphin but came back with reflections on relationships:
This footage is not from Dolphin Journeys, but it is of dolphins swimming in Hawaii, so enjoy!
Video footage of dolphins swimming with the boat:
A brief intro to sustainability efforts on the Big Island at the Hawaii Gateway Energy Center:
A few reflections after a busy day on the Big Island. I went out on the boat with... more
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leahl
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2 years ago
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On a daily basis we are bombarded with information that tell us that we need to heal the planet. And yet, I find one of the reasons I have come to love the wilderness is because it (the natural world) heals me. So while in Kauai, I wanted to take some time to connect in with some of the local healers and learn about their relationship to healing and if their is a practice of healing with the land. I ended up getting introduced to Kahuna Valley and aqua craniosacral therapy.
The I worked with Kristen Lukus who worked in a natural salt water tub, who describes the technique below:
So how did it feel? What did Krsten do? She had me wear floats so I floated on the surface of the water and gently moved my body through the water. It was very different, and incredibly relaxing. We had been rushing around at full speed trying to interview as many people as possible about sustainability issues and I had wound myself up into a little anxiety ball and the next thing I knew I was grounded and had a deep sense of calm. I think the thing I remember most was this moment when I was breathing and all of a sudden I was taking a deep breath in and I could continue to breathe in and in, and in, and in, and it seemed like was no limitation to the amount of air I breathe in, it's hard to explain to be true.
At the end of session, we talked about her teacher, Rebecca Geoff, who has special permits to work out in the open ocean and practice this healing technique in the presence of whales and dolphins (it is usually required that you leave the location and are not within a specific distance of whales). She authored the book, Kissing Whales Healing Dolphins. I was fascinated by the idea, and later met an amazing woman on the big island, who takes people out to swim with dolphins. The stories she told me were amazing stories about the healing abilities of dolphins (more on that soon).
Related content:
Eco Travel in Hawaii: the difference between being a tourist and a guest
What lies beneath: Diving into the belly of the planetOn a daily basis we are bombarded with information that tell us that we need to heal... more
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leahl
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2 years ago
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When you ask most divers why they took up diving, you’ll hear the same thing repeatedly:
1) It’s the last frontier
2) They can’t afford to go to space but they can afford to dive in the ocean
3) They want to experience weightlessness
I took up diving because I am a pragmatic Capricorn:
1) I am afraid of the open ocean. I hate having things around that scare me.
2) This past new year eve I promised myself I would make two commitments to the land. The first was going to be a commitment of time and resource to an organization. (I selected The Woman’s Earth Alliance because I am inspired by the organization’s mission and leaders.) The second promise was that I would focus on one environmental issue that I could have a hands on relationship with. The first thought that came to mind was the images of sea turtles drowning in plastic and getting caught by fishing lines. So I figured what better way to engage than to go into the great mystery of the ocean: source of life, of food, holder of our garbage... and take on the simple project of removing the garbage that I am personally responsible for? (There has to be a stat for that.)
3) I made a new years resolution to have more fun, and I do believe this will fit in that category.
And... the ocean just so happens to be the place whales calls home. I like whales. After all, they are the only mammal that has migrated out of the water, onto land, and back into the water.
I think I feared the ocean because I couldn’t see into it, all I could imagine was a deep dark place teaming with wild creatures prepared and waiting to eat me if I don’t eat them first. Ok, actually, all I could imagine are dead zombies waiting just inches beneath the surface of the water waiting to pull my feet to the bottom of the ocean. But the fact that 71 percent of the planet is covered in water, and that there is this entire world under just under the surface that has volcanoes and deserts and valleys got the best of me~
...so I got my diving certification. I started at my local dive shop in San Francisco, but my schedule didn’t match up with their open water training schedule so I went down to Monterey for the first two open water dives, and then completed my last 2 dives in Maui. While slightly unorthodox to go through 3 different dive shops for my certification (if this of interest, I appreciated each and everyone: The Dive Shop in SF, the one in Monterey (yeah kelp forest), and then finished the open water certification at the Maui Dive Shop in Maui (Juan, my teacher, had the patience of a saint)). I actually appreciated and benefited from the exposure to different teachers, different equipment, and different teaching styles. I’ll also confess that given that I got into this due to my deep seeded fear of the deep dark ocean, I liked the one-on-one attention I received in these individual classes, and eventually managed to succeed at what I now refer to as the highly prized skill of selective thinking.
For me, diving begins on the surface: you begin by floating, then release all the air from BC, and then start the process of sinking to the bottom. It’s in that moment when looking through the goggles: in the top half I can see the sky, in the bottom half I see into the ocean, that I think, "I could die doing this."
And that’s when I start the process of selective thinking. Just as when you are afraid of heights, they tell you don’t look down, I quickly learned not to look up. It is like the container has disappeared and all of a sudden you are in a new planet where there is no end of the world (and btw, no zombies).
There are some things that are used on the surface of the planet that are useless and pointless once inside the belly of the ocean, and time is one of them. I now understand why they teach you to obsessively check your gauge: because once you enter this other world, it's easy to forget you need to return.
The things I had seen and feared turned out to be fine: eels and sharks I swam with turned out turned out be harmless, and after swimming past my first shark in the wild, all I had to do was remind myself that it's name was not jaws.
I became aware that I was the one that could harm this place, and not the other way around. All it took was one moment of carelessness with my fins or fingers, just one touch to the coral and I could kill it. No matter how many times I understand it with my brain, my eyes do not register that that huge rock like structure is by all practical definition an extremely fragile living animal.
It’s hard to comprehend that I was swimming in the belly of one of the sources that sustains this planet.
It’s bazaar to comprehend that we have spent less time and resources exploring the oceans than we have space, that every time the deep water expedition goes down they discover new things.
It’s surreal to imagine that this place which has become a place that feels serene and safe is also a death trap with wayward nets that are killing turtles and dolphins, and that each day it takes in a little more plastics and toxins.
The only rules I need to abide by are don't run out of air, and stay with my partner. Other than that, there are no rules, road signs, right of way, traffic lines, it’s one of the few places you can go on the planet that isn’t regulated. There is space, plenty of space, space to get lost in, a quiet that allows you to get lost in your imagination, in your thoughts, if you can manage to distract yourself from the crazy foot dance of the fish that can’t swim (who knew?) and the pencil fish, and the moray eel, and the parrot fish, and the dolphins, and the mantas...and somewhere out there, the largest beings that have ever lived on this planet are out there, swimming in the same body of water that I am swimming in.
(many thanks to Jack's Diving Locker for providing the video footage)When you ask most divers why they took up diving, you’ll hear the same thing... more
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leahl
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2 years ago
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Waikik reminds more of Miami than Hawaii... but I'm here! And so is the ocean~ so life is feeling pretty sweet. And the exciting news to this nature lover, is that right around the corner are the mountains.
I was hoping to get a real sense of place and get the stories of the land and of the people when I was here, and yet it takes time to gain a true sense of pace, so I figured I would cheat and hook up with a local expert.
When I heard about Hina Adventures I was beyond excited: they promise to take you on hikes, talk about the local plants and their medicinal meanings, and best of all, tell the local lore and legends.
I remember when I worked as a naturalist in Alaska and how people would go from elated to slightly deflated as soon as they realized I was their guide. They were expecting a rough and tough macho man with a big beard and a checkered shirt and gun to protect them from bears. Instead, they got me and a can of bear spray.
I experienced a bit of that same deflation when I opened the van door to discover my guide was a young white woman. I had been fantasizing about an older Hawaiian native medicine man with tattoos and hula skirt :)
But founder, Ena Sroat won me over in two seconds flat with her authentic interest, sensitivity, love of the land, extensive knowledge, and knack for story telling.
Ena introduces the local gardens (a native plant restoration project): Na Pohaku o Hauwahine (The Stones of Hauwahine = a lizard/dragon shafeshifter goddess/ protector water-spirit of the marsh & ancient fishpond), on the edge of Kawainui Marsh outside of Kailua town on the Oahu.
Taken at the Ulupo Heiau, and aquaculture temple (heiau = place of worship), outside of Kailua on Oahu.
Ena tells the legend of the at Na Pohaku o Hauwahine (the tree you are looking at in this video)
Of all of the travel I did, this was one of the most connective days I had to Hawaii. It provided me a sense of place...total random side bar, but the experience reminded me of this story:
I worked on one of the first environmental expeditions on Everest a few years back. During that time I spent three months coordinating service projects in the Solu Khombu valley, and spent my time toggling between Namche Bazaar and Everest base camp. I mention it now because I was sitting in a tea house talking to another American as she trekked through the area. When she discovered that I was spending my entire three months in Nepal in this one valley she asked with authentic surprise, “How could you spend all of your time only in this valley?” and my response was, “How could you not?” I had gotten the opportunity to participate and get to know the people, experience the culture of sitting in the kitchens rather than just sit on the outside. It changed the way I wanted to travel forever, understanding that less (travel) really can mean more (experience).
Related links:
Coconut! Build with it, eat out of it, heal hang overs…and more~
[re]Thinking sustainability in Hawaii
Video Postcards of Hawaii
Waikik reminds more of Miami than Hawaii... but I'm here! And so is the ocean~ so... more
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leahl
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2 years ago
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Guess what I found on my way to the conference this morning?
COCONUT BASKETS!! So cool. I chatted with Ronnie as he wove baskets from coconut trees on the side of the street. He was kind enough to chat about coconut trees, his wild and unusual life, and of course...sustainability. Ronnie explained that coconut palms have incredibly strong fibers and that these baskets last for years. (He also told me he was able to build a house from coconut. If I disappear, you have 1 hint about where to find me.)
Ronnie went to explain the many uses of coconut trees:
When we started to talk about why I was here, (to explore sustainability issues in Hawaii), Ronnie explained the hot topic on everyone's minds~ that Hawaii only has 3-5 days worth of food at any given time on the island. But then he went on to explain that there are plenty of ways to think about sustainability and living off the land, and that he is able to harvest plenty of fruit and food off of the trees just out of town.
Not a bad way to start the morning (and don't let the cat out of the bag about what I'm giving my family for Christmas this year :)Guess what I found on my way to the conference this morning?
COCONUT BASKETS!! So... more
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leahl
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2 years ago
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What's green and blue and twittered all over? This week: Hawaii. Why? because Christine Lu is at it again~ and has organized an international group of innovators (she fondly refers to them as geeks on a plane) from around the world to come together and [re]think Hawaii.
We’re creating an intersection – bringing an international group of people together who might otherwise never cross-paths – in the certainty that they’ll connect, share and learn from each other who have shared interests in solving problems and rethinking tech, business and sustainability.
I am honored to be apart of the gathering and will be following the sustainability track, speaking on a panel, and exploring the various challenges and solutions Hawaii faces with political leaders and sustainability experts. Why is Hawaii worth looking at? It is a fascinating microcosm to study and learn from given that as an island culture, they are aware of their dependency on fuel and other cultures and the potential affects of the energy crisis unlike other geographic locations. That may sound like jargon in the moment, but stay tuned for more details....
For now I leave you with a short video clip of Stella Burgess, the director of Hawaiian culture and community relations. Stella discusses the meaning of the Hawaiian motto and how it's meaning is integrated as a way of life in Hawaii:
I'll be chattering about all things sustainability on Twitter, but there are plenty of other people who are focused on tech and buisness so if you want to follow along on twitter check out the hashtags #rethink and #goap.
Related Links:
Video post cards from Hawaii (video)
Bio-Beetle in Maui
Carbon 2.0: Carbon calculators and footprintsWhat's green and blue and twittered all over? This week: Hawaii. Why?... more
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leahl
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2 years ago
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San Francisco’s mayor Gavin Newsom just announced the world's first airport carbon offset kiosk at San Francisco International Aiport. The Climate Passport Program kiosk will allow travelers to calculate the carbon impact of their flights and purchase offsets.
While I like the concept of carbon offsetting, in everyday practice it feels like a scam. It seems like the first place entrepreneurs go to hijack the term “green” to make a buck off off of people’s green conscious (sometimes known as guilt). Not to mention it’s a high-speed vehicle for loopholes in legislation designed to protect against pollution. With that said, not all programs are bunk, and you can check out an old post for suggestions from our community about carbon offset programs they love and trust.
“The Carbon Offsets purchased through the Climate Passport Carbon Footprint Calculator are sourced from the Garcia River Forest, a conservation-based forest management project located in Mendocino County, California. The project achieves multiple goals including: increased sequestration and storage of carbon in native redwood forests, wildlife habitat restoration, and a sustainable supply of certified wood products.”
In this case, The carbon offsets will go towards the Garcia River Forest which (with your purchase) will be supplied with new Redwood and Douglas Fir trees that absorb and store carbon dioxide. A minimal amount of the kiosk's offset sales also go to the San Francisco Carbon Fund, which works on local carbon reduction projects like a publicly-owned biofuel filling station.
It just turns out that my coworker Andrew Fitzgerald mentioned that he and his girlfriend are flying to Boston tonight, so I thought I would help them out and test out the system for them.
I entered San Francisco to Boston, 2 passengers, and Viola! It is ready to accept my credit card payment of $48.77 ($24.38 per person).
"No one is saying this is the silver bullet or justifies air travel; having kiosks at the airport mainstreams the idea that you can contribute to environmental projects. We worked with 3 degrees (one of the most well respected offset providers in the US and abide all of the verification and protocols that have been developed. We wanted to bring basic and easily consumable information to a captive audience (in the airport) where they can contribute. -Wade Crowfoot, former mayor advisor now West Coast Political Director Environmental Defense Fund
Ok, so you’ve got to hand it to them, for the cost of an airport dinner, you can rid yourself of some guilt. But really, when you’re rushing through the airport trying to catch a flight do you have time to feel guilt or socially responsible? Time will tell...
What is Carbon offset?
“A Carbon Offset, also known as a Verified Emission Reduction (VER), represents one ton of greenhouse gas (GHG) carbon equivalent prevented from being emitted into the atmosphere. Carbon Reductions allow you to “balance” your emissions by supporting GHG reduction projects across the U.S.”
Related Content:
Guilt for sale! World's First Airport Carbon Kiosks in San Francisco
Artificial Trees To Cut Carbon Emissions
Eco-Question: Carbon efficiency or carbon offsetting?
In addition to that offset program, we are working to create a localized carbon fund, so you can contribute to a fund that affects carbon rates in your local region. Earlier in the year we passed an ordinance that all city travel must purchase or contribute to 13% of the cost of the trip to the carbon fund." -Wade Crowfoot, former mayor advisor now West Coast Political Director Environmental Defense FundSan Francisco’s mayor Gavin Newsom just announced the world's first airport... more
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leahl
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2 years ago
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Before heading off to Hawaii, I asked the good people of Current what they wanted to learn more about while I was there. The list was extensive. I won’t pretend, I got a bit stressed when trying to figure out how I was going to cover all of the topics and have enough time to have the experiences that would provide me the opportunity to speak to the topic I was most invested in: connecting to the land and people of that place.
As I write the title of this blog post, I hesitate. I think back to the high speed pace of my trip to Hawaii, and wonder how authentic I can be when speaking about my connection to that land. When I worked as a wilderness guide, I learned about connection, when I garden, I learn about connection, when I lived in the same valley in Nepal for three months, I learned about connection, and one of the prevailing themes I learned from each of these experiences is that it takes time, quiet time, to develop connection with a place.
So when Kelvin Ho sent me an email offering to facilitate a blessing at sunrise, I stopped worrying about if I was going to get enough interviews and see enough things, and relaxed into the idea that I was in good hands.
Kelvin met me at my hotel, and we headed out to the ocean. As we became acquainted, I felt instantly at ease. Kelvin was a kind and gentle soul who spoke with a slow cadence, and a reverence for the land and the traditions of Hawaii. We stopped for a moment to listen to the earth breathe. No really, look for yourself! :)
I couldn't help but immediately open the can of worms and inquire about the role of the green movement and the surge of eco tourism. Kelvin shared, “The Green movement and eco tourism holds environmental sustainability as a guiding light for its awareness, action and interaction. The host culture here sees this as an awakening to a basic truth that the Hawaiian and all native peoples hold as sacred. That we as humans are not separate from the environments we live in. Recognizing and educating oneself of the huge impact that tourism has on these fragile islands is the first step. Realizing your presence here does make a difference, ask yourself what kind of difference you would like to make.”
Once reaching the ocean, we stood in the water, and faced the mountain. Kelvin explained that the process was similar to the tradition that might have taken place in Hawaiin communities: when a visitor entered a village for the first time, they would were introduced to the community elder or leader. In this case: that elder was considered the mountain. And so we stopped and acknowledged the mountain. Then Kelvin dropped me off a spot that overlooked the ocean to experinece what he called a "wind out." I couldn't resist pulling out my camera so I would be able to share the experience with you.
I loved the paradigm shift. After flying 2,460 miles across the Pacific, the process of stopping, placing my feet in the water, my eyes and intention on the land, brought me into the present. And before I could think or plan: I was doing exactly what I wanted most: taking time to connect to the land. I immediately sensed the difference: it wasn't just the land, it wasn't just the ocean, it was the island, it was the people, and it was the history and the stories of this place. I could tell that two days on this island was not going to be enough, and found myself wondering how I was going to break it to my boss that I wanted to start working remotely…permenentlty...
We parted ways, and the next morning I woke before dawn to meet Kelvin for an awakening ceremony.
We met just as the sun was rising and began our morning by shredding Ti leaves as a way of making Lei that we would then wear during the ceremony. Kelvin explained that different Lei were used in different ceremonies, and that we were making a kind that was used as a vessel for intention.
On our way back to the hotel, we chatted about Kelvin's work with youth at risk and his efforts to reunite youth with traditional practices.
"The connection I offer here is to support the reconnection of youth at risk in the islands with the timeless wisdom and values of their native culture. To help them heal through the process of interaction with nature and learning the roles, skills awareness of conscious stewardship. Our program’s intention is to embrace the youth entrusted to our care, its cultural focus is to give a direct experience with and instill respect for unity.
In this time of economic recession it is tragic that everywhere our youths pay the price of having access to fewer services and opportunities. We (The Haleopip Organization) reach out for help and support from the green community and ecotourism to make a difference in the future of these sacred and fragile islands by supporting cultural sustainability."
I didn't have time to volunteer with The Haleopip organization because we headed to another island the next night.
But thanks to Kelvin, I did have the opportunity to connect with Kuai. So, do I get to eat crow? Is it possible to connect to a place when traveling at a high pace? Perhaps this is why people spend years of their lives meditating: so they can always be present (heh). The verdict is still out, but I can't pretend that the time spent in consious refelction deepened my connection to that place. I can't wait to go back.
"If the success or failure of this planet and of human beings depended on how I am and what I do,
How would I be? What would I do?"
R. Bucky Fuller
You can learn more about The Haleopip Organization at their website and can participate by volunteering while on vacation and of course they are accepting donations.Before heading off to Hawaii, I asked the good people of Current what they wanted to... more
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leahl
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2 years ago
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I have always wanted to go to Hawaii. When I was a child growing up in rural Vermont, my father visited and brought back my first pair of earings. They were a soft orange and pink stone, unlike anything I had ever seen. So my associations of Hawaii were of soft, gentle, exotic, Elvis, and…well surfers of course. But that was it.
I came with the desire to explore Hawaii’s place in the sustainability movement, find out why everyone started every email with Aloha and ended it with Mahalo, and make a study of what it meant to explore and travel with an eco conscious. To be introduced to the idea that the connections to the land was woven into the way of life for Hawaiians not only as a spiritual practice but also governing practice, was quite the intro into this enquiry.
Our first stop was Oahau. Needless to say, Honolulu was not the Hawaii I was expecting. It was a bustling busy bona fide city. But before my bubble could be burst, I was experiencing the spirit of Aloha as my seatmate offered to help me find my way to my hotel.
The hotel provided a tour of the grounds, and the guide introduced me to the sacred coconut grove where the royalty used to hold court, but also to the state seal which was carved onto every door of every room. It read, UA MAU KEEA OKA AINA, “The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.” As I stepped into my room, I realized I was stepping over a threshold, that I was being introduced to a new world that I hadn’t dared to fully imagine.
I pondered the term, and had to ask for clarity. Did it really mean what I thought?
The life
Of the land
Is perpetuated in righteousness.
To live righteously: words that come to mind include courage, stamina, strength, and bravery. So if I am to understand, in order for the life of the land to continue: we must perpetually live righteously. Now this is a new paradigm.
The next day I would speak to Kelvin Ho about the topic, as well as Stella Burgess, the director of Hawaiian culture and community relations as my hotel (how cool is that??) and would learn that looking at a life of enquiry: do you live in balance? What will serve? Do you hold yourself in balance understanding what you are connected with? Do you do your part as humans as stewards for the land. Check out Kelvin and Stella speaking for themselves.
I couldn’t have put words to it before I arrived, but yes, this is why I came, because Hawaii is a place where the people live so closely and intimately with the physical elements, that their relationship with the land is written into their state motto. I was beside myself to understand how that translated to the way they looked at how they cared for their physical environment and addressed sustainability issues.
As I opened the windows to feel the warm humid air, I also took in the lush and exotic scent of flowers, plants, and trees I had never seen in person before, and I couldn’t help but wonder if the land was prepared to grow over the buildings at any moment if the gardeners allowed it. That I didn’t know, but I did know one thing for sure, “Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore.”
I might just be in heaven. Suddenly the continent (how Hawaiians refer to the states) felt very, very far away.I have always wanted to go to Hawaii. When I was a child growing up in rural... more
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leahl
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2 years ago
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So there I was, sitting in my cubicle at work when I got the call of a life time, "Want to eco-blog from Hawaii?" Of course I did what any normal person would do: I hemmed and haawed for all of .5 seconds before saying, "Hellz Yeah!" The call came from Christine Lu, a self created new media maven who was working with the Hawaii Tourism Authority on an experiment that utilized new media and blogging as a way to spread their message about Hawaii. While I was excited to go to Hawaii, I also wanted to make sure that I was being true to my peeps at Current Green. So I explained to Christine, if I go, I'm going to need to be able to cover the interests of our community: an inquisitive, take-no-prisoners-don't-waste-my-time-with-green-washing, well informed group. She said, (much to my amazement) "No problem, come as you are, write what you would normally be drawn to write."
So I put a call out two call outs the Current community that asked: what issues are you interested in or want to know more about?
Mike_Johnson requested info on the carbon cap, the emission standards, and the smart grid; PJacobs51 asked (can't tell if there was a tone of (well deserved) snark) How do you travel Green?; MBK20 asked about organic coffee farms, while RCS commented, " there is a lot of work being done now to try preserve Hawaii's endemic plant and animal species, so if you have any extra time whilst there, you might want to investigate the progress, or lack thereof, that is being made on that front."
estee_arie put in a request about recycling plants and the pollution they are causing, JanforGore put in a request about info on the GMO's and and an update about Tarrot debate, and mako2424 asked about my carbon footprint and aquaculture (among a few other things).
I took all of that into account, and added a few more ingredients into the mix: 3 cups of love for the oceans, 5 tablespoons of interest in ocean conservation, 2 pinches of eco-travel, 1/2 cup of cultural history, mixed it all together (with a lot of help from MJ) and ended up with 1 very very busy action packed trip. I thought I would be able to get it all in: 5 islands, 9 days and write something thoughtful and meaningful that would be worth the time you might take to read it. But at the end of the day, there was too much to say! I'm not the type that can sit down at 11pm and bust out a cohesive sentence, plus I was a tad busy planning that little interview with Gavin Newsom. And frankly, the experience was too incredible and rich experience to shove it into a few rushed sentences. I wanted to take the time to explore what happened to me when I traveled on through Hawaii, how it was different, how the culture affected and informed me, and what it meant to explore and develop a new sense of place and connection to that part of the earth. I also had the good fortune of meeting many amazing bloggers who were both local and a part of the Hawaii trip and you can check out what their experiences and perspectives. It was an added treat to get to see Hawaii through their eyes as well.
So, over the course of the next week, I will have Makana on repeat in my headphones, and you will find a lot of posts on Hawaii. And now you know why.
MahaloSo there I was, sitting in my cubicle at work when I got the call of a life time,... more
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leahl
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2 years ago
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A glimmer of hope for CA State Parks - for now.
Gov Schwarzenegger's office released a statement today stating that now CA State Parks will be closing for the rest of this fiscal year, but there will be numerous cuts to park hours and park maintenance. While this seems like a major win for park goers all over the world, the headache isn't over yet.
CA State Parks faces a larger budget cut next year of $22 million, and will be facing this deficit at the end of the fiscal year (June 2010).
Do I smell a measure on the November 2010 ballot???A glimmer of hope for CA State Parks - for now.
Gov Schwarzenegger's office... more
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San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom just announced the world's first airport carbon offset kiosk at San Francisco International Aiport. The Climate Passport Program kiosk will allow travelers to calculate the carbon impact of their flights and purchase offsets.
The carbon offsets will go towards the Garcia River Forest which is continually being supplied with new Redwood and Douglas Fir trees that absorb and store carbon dioxide. A slice of the kiosk's offset sales also go to the San Francisco Carbon Fund, which works on local carbon reduction projects like a publicly-owned biofuel filling station.
Usually carbon offsets feel like a scam, what do you think about this use of carbon offsets?San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom just announced the world's first airport carbon... more
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leahl
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2 years ago
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This year, you've decided you want to do more on your vacation than lounge around like a beached whale, eh? Well why not volunteer, but not just volunteer anywhere, why not check out the Los Amigos Biological Research Station which allows guests to work alongside and with researchers in the Peruvian Amazon. Pretty cool, right?
Last month I got to see the Los Amigos Biological Research Station first-hand when I traveled with Green Living Project as they documented this sustainability project. What makes the Los Amigos so special? Well, in terms of biodiversity, this is a hotspot, with over 4,000 species (including humans) identified on the 160,000 hectare preserve. The station itself borders a 360,000 acre Los Amigos Conservation Concession, meaning that an enormous area around the site is protected which is all the better for doing research on. Being so remote, it does take a little bit to get there - including a 4 hour boat ride from the nearest city, but this affords you the chance to stay at and see the most active research station in the Amazon basin, with on average 25 researchers at the station every day.
What Will Volunteers See and Work On?
Volunteers at the station agree to work a few hours each day, doing things like catching and counting beetles, trail maintenance, working in the kitchen and a variety of other scientific and general maintenance activities. In return, they get access to all facilities, three square meals a day (most of which are made from foods grown sustainably on the property), plenty of free time to explore over 60 miles of trails and This year, you've decided you want to do more on your vacation than lounge around like a beached whale, eh? Well why not volunteer, but not just volunteer anywhere, why not check out the Los Amigos Biological Research Station which allows guests to work alongside and with researchers in the Peruvian Amazon. Pretty cool, right?
Last month I got to see the Los Amigos Biological Research Station first-hand when I traveled with Green Living Project as they documented this sustainability project. What makes the Los Amigos so special? Well, in terms of biodiversity, this is a hotspot, with over 4,000 species (including humans) identified on the 160,000 hectare preserve. The station itself borders a 360,000 acre Los Amigos Conservation Concession, meaning that an enormous area around the site is protected which is all the better for doing research on. Being so remote, it does take a little bit to get there - including a 4 hour boat ride from the nearest city, but this affords you the chance to stay at and see the most active research station in the Amazon basin, with on average 25 researchers at the station every day.
What Will Volunteers See and Work On?
Volunteers at the station agree to work a few hours each day, doing things like catching and counting beetles, trail maintenance, working in the kitchen and a variety of other scientific and general maintenance activities. In return, they get access to all facilities, three square meals a day (most of which are made from foods grown sustainably on the property), plenty of free time to explore over 60 miles of trails and use of canoes/kayaks to explore the Los Amigos River which borders the property.
More at the link . . .This year, you've decided you want to do more on your vacation than lounge around... more
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Or is it a vessel to put your money where your mouth is and pressure one of the largest industrys in the world? What is the lesser of two evils: saying less is more and turning your back or getting in there and transforming the industry?
What say you?Or is it a vessel to put your money where your mouth is and pressure one of the... more
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leahl
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3 years ago
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Report from the Hawaii: how to offset the travel. A brief introduction to a few carbon calculators and carbon offset programs.
"I’ve been catching some slack (and for good reason) for the carbon footprint I’m creating while on this trip. In the name of full transparency, I’ll be tracking my carbon footprint as I go. I’ve just begun researching carbon calculators and am learning there is one main feature that distinguishes them. Do you want to go macro and get an overall idea for your carbon footprint for the year, or do you want to go micro, and calculate the details of your carbon footprint? I going for the micro management program, as well as the convenience of tracking as I go. I’m toggling between two iphone applications: Carbon Tracker (personal addition) uses a GPS system that you begin and end with each leg of your trip, and Twavel (made by Netscribe). Ed Begley says it’s “fantastic,” so I have high hopes.
If you are into the quick fix of getting an estimate of your early carbon foot print, you may want to check out the iphone application Carbon Calc. The application summarizes your carbon debt and then links you to paypal and “lets” you pay off your guilt right there and then. Something about this rubs me the wrong way. I see the upside, in theory, people are consciously giving a few bucks that will either fund sustainable technology, or plant trees in the Amazon. But I can’t get around that this feels like a cheap quick way of feeling like you did something (and note taken: this is hopefully step one...step two is waiting to be created...by you.) My pet peeve with all of the calculators I found to date, they don’t calculate public vs. private transportation (dude, I want my karma points)...."
Full post is here: http://blogs.current.com/green/2009/05/29/carbon-20-carbon-calculators-and-footprints/Report from the Hawaii: how to offset the travel. A brief introduction to a few carbon... more
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leahl
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3 years ago
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Ok! So it's 10:10pm, and my plan to be packed and in bed by now are a FAIL. So it goes. I am extremely grateful to have been invited by the Hawaii Tourism Authority (http://www.somuchmorehawaii.com) to visit for a week as an eco travel blogger. As many of you know, I did a shout out to the current community for topics of interest, and will be covering GMO issues, the energy grid, coral reef protection projects, biodiesel...and more.
Meanwhile: I am still selecting a good carbon footprint calculator, and am in the process of selecting a carbon offset program. What's your take on carbon offsets? Do you think it's a clever form of greenwashing? Have you seen a program that you feel good about and trust is adding value to climate technology advancement?
If you are interested in following along, for the next week I will be hyper twittering every last random detail from @leahlamb, and if you just want to catch the green news on the Hawaii sustainability culture, I'll be tweeting from @current_green. More in detail blog posts will be posted to the Current Green Blog.
Alright...looking forward to hearing your thoughts on carbon offsetting....Ok! So it's 10:10pm, and my plan to be packed and in bed by now are a FAIL. So it... more
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leahl
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3 years ago
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Hey folks!
I'll be blogging from Hawaii next week covering various environmental topics. As always, I want to hear from you about what would be of interest.
I would deeply value and appreciate the following info from you...
1. Links to articles about Hawaii and specifically environmental issues unique to Hawaii
2. Are you interested in a segment dedicated to creating the most minimal carbon footprint as possible?
3. Do you use, or have, a favorite iphone carbon foot print calculator?
Thanks for your feedback! Have a great memorial day!
and... a link to the blog post if you want to see a few random vids on Hawaii...http://blogs.current.com/green/2009/05/23/how-eco-can-you-go-eco-blogging-from-hawaii/Hey folks!
I'll be blogging from Hawaii next week covering various environmental... more
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leahl
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3 years ago
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Two literate men called Martin and Alfred who have been living over the past few years from the excessive waste generated by other people and supermarkets.In a way they have chosen to go against the societal norm of having steady, paid jobs and yet survive comfortably by not participating in the process of earning money and adding to the burden of existing over-consumption.
As they put it 'being content to live off less' .
They will in the film take this hard stand of living on just what you need to the next level.By walking around London for 7 days and being able to find enough from people/markets to live off it. Its survival extreme!
Two literate men called Martin and Alfred who have been living over the past few years... more
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sonal
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3 years ago
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The film is story of two men called Martin and Alf who have been living over the past few years from the excessive waste generated by other people. In a way they have chosen to go against the societal norm of having steady, paid jobs and yet survive comfortably by not participating in the process of earning money and adding to the burden of existing over-consumption.
As they put it 'being content to live off less'.
What do they do then?
Martin and Alfred live in a old camper van which runs on vegetable oil.
As a result of their lifestyle change they have more time to give back into society through free,voluntary work,distributing helpful literature which they print themselves.And inspiring people to change their habits on over consumption our society.
They have taken this hard stand of living on just what you need to the next level. By walking around London for 7 days. With the strong conviction that by helping and serving people and not worrying about where their next meal comes from ,one truly begins to live.
So what motivates these two to opt out of a way of living that we all are desperately aspiring to? To climb out of the wagon of riches and fame? And what kind of a beliefs would inspire them to do something like that?
This film takes a closer look at their world and the way they choose to live.The film is story of two men called Martin and Alf who have been living over the past... more
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sonal
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3 years ago
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