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2008 1,300 Mile Kayaking Odyssey: Young Wisconsin couple circumnavigating Lake Sup...
(Marquette, Michigan) - It’s a 1,300 mile, two month odyssey - kayaking around the always beautiful and sometimes treacherous Lake Superior
Ashland, Wisconsin residents Alissa Weitz and Brian Castillo are promoting the protection of Lake Superior - the world’s largest freshwater lake.
The twenty somethings departed Bayfield, Wisconsin on July 1 and hope to complete their journey by September.
The kayaking duo left Marquette, Michigan on Tuesday afternoon, July 22, 2008 to continue their journey.
They arrived in Marquette for Lake Superior Day 2008 - this year that was July 20 2008.
Lake Superior Day is sponsored by the Lake Superior Bi-national Forum and is held annually on the third Sunday of July.
Alissa and Brian spent Lake Superior Day hiking with friends and swimming including jumping off the tall cliffs at the city's "black rocks."
A big part of their quest is educating the public about protecting Lake Superior and why the largest of the Great Lakes is so important..
The trek takes them through the Canada and the United States including Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Averaging 25 miles a day - with their longest day was about 40 miles.
They encountered water temperatures as low as 38 degrees, fog outside of Marquette, rough waves outside of Houghton, Michigan that prevent them from rounding the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula - and instead cut through the Keweenaw Waterway.
Thanks to Down Wind Sports in Marquette, Brian picked up a new kayak because of problems with the one used during the first part of their trek.
Weitz is a native of Dubuque, Iowa and Castillo is a native of Madison, Wisconsin.
Alissa is 26 years old and Brian is 23 years old.
Graduates of the Northland College outdoor education program in Ashland, Wisconsin, the couple were competitors working for different kayak guiding companies when they met two years ago and fell in love.
The Kayaker's (Alissa Weitz, Brian Castillo) "Session on Superior" blog about trip around the lake:
http://www.sessiononsuperior.blogspot.com
This video was made in cooperation with the Cedar Tree Institute, the Earth Keeper Initiative, the Earth Healing Initiative and the Turtle Island Project – all northern Michigan-based non-profits seeking to protect Lake Superior.
And special thanks to the Lake Superior Binational Forum for helping make this video possible..
Greg Peterson for Earth Keeper, Earth Healing and Turtle Island TV
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News coverage of Alissa, Brian:
Marquette paper:
http://www.miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/513...
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Ashland paper:
Marquette Photo:
http://www.ashlandwi.com/articles/2008/07/24/news/doc48...
Story prior to trip:
http://www.ashlandwi.com/articles/2008/07/02/news/doc48...
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WX Channnel:
http://uservideo.weather.com:80/item/GY56YQ4K0TH0B3CS
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Lake Superior Binational Forum
Lissa Radke, LSFB US Coordinator
715-682-1489
http://www.superiorforum.info
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Northland College in Ashland, WI:
http://www.northland.edu/Northland
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Down Wind Sports:
http://www.downwindsports.com/index.html
Owners: Bill Thompson, Todd King, Jeff Stasser and Arni Ronis
Marquette: 906-226-7112
Houghton: 906-482-2500
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Sea Kayak Specialists:
http://www.seakayakspecialists.com
Sam Crowley, Nancy Uschold
906-250-4238
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EcoSuperior Enviro:
http://www.ecosuperior.com
Environment Canada:
http://www.ec.gc.ca
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Video made in cooperation with:
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Turtle Island Project official website:
http://www.turtleislandproject.org
Earth Healing Initiative official website:
http://www.EarthHealingInitiative.org
Cedar Tree Institute: (Michigan Earth Keepers, Manoomin Project and the 2008 Zaagkii Wings & Seeds project)
http://www.cedartreeinstitute.org
Earth Keeper TV
http://www.youtube.com/yoopernewsman
Turtle Island TV (youtube)
http://www.youtube.com/MunisingWhiteHorse
Earth Healing TV
http://www.youtube.com/user/EarthHealingTV (Marquette, Michigan) - It’s a 1,300 mile, two month odyssey - kayaking around the always beautiful and sometimes treacherous Lake Sup... more -
Green News Update
To help offset rising food costs, around 1, 000 families in the Kiang Valley, Malaysia ill recieve free bread or a year.
Three international automobile makers commit to reserving 300 hybrid cars per month to assist in New York City's goal of a green transformation for all 13, 000 taxicabs.
As Nigeria is considered one of the countries highly affected by climate change, a meeting was held in Sokoto to urge for limiting greenhouse gas omissions, along with urgent adapation and sustainable development measures.
The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization and partnets are collecting field data about forests worldwide to better assess deforestation and land use, and will publish a report within two years.
To help offset rising food costs, around 1, 000 families in the Kiang Valley, Malaysia ill recieve free bread or a year. ... more -
Urban farming flourishes in Detriot, USA
The goal of the Detroit/Michgan based charity Urban Farming, is to turn unused city land into free vegetable gardens for the communiity. Started by singer Taja Sevelle three years ago, the community gardens have met with great siccess amd sipport from city dwellers. Some of the now regu;ar gardeneres orginiated in inmate rehabilitation programsx, wiith crime rates also noted to have decreased in the Ubran Farming neighbourhoods. I applaud these wonderful efforts, Ms Sevelle and all participnt, for restoring a sense of community spirit, and bringing back a healthy was of life. May Urban Farming continue to grow and spread this new culture of togetherness and plentiful sustenance to many more cities around the world.
The goal of the Detroit/Michgan based charity Urban Farming, is to turn unused city land into free vegetable gardens for the communii... more -
Barely Alive, Seafloor Microbes Might Resemble Exo-Organisms
Deep below the sea floor live massive colonies of primitive microbes.
Almost like one-celled zombies, these microbes use so little energy that it might be more accurate to call them undead rather than alive.
Yet scientists think that the species might provide a model for life on other planets. Even on this planet, such microbes might account for a whopping 10 percent of the Earth's biomass.
"In essence, these microbes are almost, practically dead by our normal standards," said Christopher House, a geosciences professor at Penn State University, and the lead author of the paper, in a release. "They metabolize a little, but not much."
The cold, lightless and energy-poor conditions under the seafloor provide a promising research analog for the harsh conditions in subsurface Martian soil or near hydrothermal vents on Europa, Jupiter's second moon.
"We do not expect the microbes in other places to be these microbes exactly," said House. "But, they could be living at a similar slow rate." Deep below the sea floor live massive colonies of primitive microbes. ... more -
The fourth dwarf planet has a name: Makemake - Science Fair - USATODAY.com
The 4th dwarf planet has a new name: Makemake. Click the link for more information.
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The devastation of the rain forest
About 22% of the earth's original forest coverage remains. Western Europe has lost 98% or so of its primary forests; Asia 94%; Africa 92%; Oceania 78%; North America 66%, and South America 54%. Approximately 45% of the world's tropical forests, originally covering 1.4 billion hectares, have disappeared in the last few decades.
One and one-half acres of rainforest are lost every second with tragic consequences for both developing and industrial countries. Rainforests are being destroyed because the value of rainforest land is perceived as only the value of its timber by short-sighted governments, multi-national logging companies, and land owners
Nearly half of the world's species of plants, animals and microorganisms will be destroyed or severely threatened over the next quarter century due to rainforest deforestation.
Experts estimates that we are losing 137 plant, animal and insect species every single day due to rainforest deforestation. That equates to 50,000 species a year. As the rainforest species disappear, so do many possible cures for life-threatening diseases. Currently, 121 prescription drugs sold worldwide come from plant-derived sources. While 25% of Western pharmaceuticals are derived from rainforest ingredients, less that 1% of these tropical trees and plants have been tested by scientists.
There were an estimated ten million Indians living in the Amazonian Rainforest five centuries ago. Today there are less than 200,000.
The Amazon Rainforest has been described as the "Lungs of our Planet" because it provides the essential environmental world service of continuously recycling carbon dioxide into oxygen. More than 20 percent of the world oxygen is produced in the Amazon Rainforest.
More than half of the world's estimated 10 million species of plants, animals and insects live in the tropical rainforests. One-fifth of the world's fresh water is in the Amazon Basin.
At least 80% of the developed world's diet originated in the tropical rainforest. Its bountiful gifts to the world include fruits like avocados, coconuts, figs, oranges, lemons, grapefruit, bananas, guavas, pineapples, mangos and tomatoes; vegetables including corn, potatoes, rice, winter squash and yams; spices like black pepper, cayenne, chocolate, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, sugar cane, tumeric, coffee and vanilla and nuts including Brazil nuts and cashews.
The Brazilian government is currently trying to protect its section of the rainforest, but it can not stop huge multinational companies from coming in a doing illegal logging.
About 22% of the earth's original forest coverage remains. Western Europe has lost 98% or so of its primary forests; Asia 94%; Africa... more -
Shrinking planet
Mercury, the smallest planet in the Solar System since Pluto was deemed not to be a planet after all, seems to be shrinking as its core is cooling. Could its proximity to the Sun also have an influence in this process? Mercury, the smallest planet in the Solar System since Pluto was deemed not to be a planet after all, seems to be shrinking as its cor... more
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Saving Our Youth
Revolutionary Sista Damali Abrams and BETJ Host Abiola Abrams discuss what's happening with our youth and the solution to the problem. Revolutionary Sista Damali Abrams and BETJ Host Abiola Abrams discuss what's happening with our youth and the solution to the problem.... more
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Greenpeace: Supermarkets harming ocean wildlife
The environmental group says the grocery stores, need to own up to their share of blame for "the collapse of the fish and seafood stocks." The environmental group says the grocery stores, need to own up to their share of blame for "the collapse of the fish and seafood stoc... more
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Astronomers' findings suggest Earth-like planets may be very common
European researchers havediscovered a batch of three "super-Earths" orbiting a nearby star, and two other solar systems with small planets as well. They said their findings, presented at a conference in France, suggest that Earth-like planets may be very common.
European researchers havediscovered a batch of three "super-Earths" orbiting a nearby star, and two other solar systems with small pla... more -
CO2 emissions may rise 130%, oil demand 70%: International Energy Agency
"A leading energy body is calling for a $45 trillion (£23 trillion) green revolution to tackle global warming.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) said nations must spend 1% of annual economic output on new technology to halve carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.
It warned that without action, CO2 emissions would rise by 130% and oil demand would jump by 70% by the middle of the century.
But the IEA added that meeting the new target would be a formidable challenge." "A leading energy body is calling for a $45 trillion (£23 trillion) green revolution to tackle global warming. ... more -
Mysterious skies
The roof of our planet is amazingly mysterious as this collection of photos show.
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Rethink What It Means to Be Green
Wired Magazine gives us 10 solutions that can help fight climate change. These solutions are things people thought wouldn't work.
10 GREEN HERESIES
LIVE IN CITIES:
Urban Living Is Kinder to the Planet Than the Suburban Lifestyle because less people own cars, more people use alternative means to get around, and large apartment buildings are the most efficient dwellings to heat and cool.
A/C IS OK:
Air-Conditioning Actually Emits Less C02 Than Heating. It takes less energy to cool a given space by 1 degree than to heat it by the same amount. Then how come there are so many blackouts during summer?
ORGANICS ARE NOT THE ANSWER:
Surprise! Conventional Agriculture Can Be Easier on the Planet. A single organically raised cow puts out 16 percent more greenhouse gases than an industrial one. Organic vegetables aren't that much better.
FARM THE FORESTS:
Old-Growth Forests Can Actually Contribute to Global Warming. There comes a time in every tree's life when they start taking in less C02 and emit more, so plant new trees lots of them.
CHINA IS THE SOLUTION:
The People's Republic Leads the Way in Alternative-Energy Hardware. China is the number one dealer in alternative-energy hardware and yet they have a lot of coal power plants. Hypocrites!
ACCEPT GENETIC ENGINEERING:
Superefficient Frankencrops Could Put a Real Dent in Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Genomics experts have been optimizing food crops for decades, punching in traits for lower herbicide use, less tilling, and higher yields — carbon cutters.
CARBON TRADING DOESN'T WORK:
Carbon Credits Were a Great Idea, But the Benefits Are Illusory. Instead of reducing our own carbon emissions, we'll pay other people to reduce theirs! No gains there.
EMBRACE NUCLEAR POWER:
Face It. Nukes Are the Most Climate-Friendly Industrial-Scale Form of Energy. Coal-fired power plants release 520 times more atmospheric carbon per megawatt-hour than Nuclear Power. But don't forget about other alternative energies, such as solar power and wind power.
USED CARS — NOT HYBRIDS:
Don't Buy That New Prius! Test-Drive a Used Car Instead. Building a Prius contributes more carbon to the atmosphere than building a Hummer and driving a Prius won't make up for that for a long time.
PREPARE FOR THE WORST:
Climate Change Is Inevitable. Get Used to It. We're not all going to die, but we will have to adapted a little to a warmer planet. Hopefully it won't be that bad if we change our ways.
Be sure and read the counter point for this story.
http://www.wired.com/science/planetearth/magazine/16-06...
Wired Magazine gives us 10 solutions that can help fight climate change. These solutions are things people thought wouldn't work. ... more -
I give up, says Brazilian minister who fought to save the rainforest
Brazil has been accused of turning its back on its duty to protect the Amazon after the resignation of its award-winning Environment Minister fuelled fresh fears over the fate of the forest. The departure of Marina Silva, who admitted she was losing the battle to get green voices heard amidst the rush for economic development, has been greeted with dismay by conservationists.
"She was the environment's guardian angel," said Frank Guggenheim, executive director for Greenpeace in Brazil. "Now Brazil's environment is orphaned."
In a letter to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Ms Silva said that her efforts to protect the rainforest acknowledged as the "lungs of the planet" were being thwarted by powerful business lobbies. Brazil has been accused of turning its back on its duty to protect the Amazon after the resignation of its award-winning Environment M... more -
Top Ten to Save the Planet
Here are 10 things you can do to help the planet, whether it's Earth Day or not.
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Space debris: evolution in pictures
Holly crap, there's a lot of junk out there!
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Critical Decision Time for Humans: Earth's Kyros Moment, learn focus through jubil...
The founders of the Turtle Island Project believe residents of Earth are facing a Kyros moment because of the abuse of the environment.
Kairos is Greek for seizing the moment.
The Turtle Island Project promotes respect for the planet, nature, wildlife and fellow humans.
Turtle Island Project founders say we can learn a lot from Earth-based cultures like the Celts and Native Americans.
Dr. Cairns said a former of chanting called jubilation (that he demonstrates in this video) helps him focus on the problems he wants to tackle - plus demonstrates the interconnection between humans and the Earth.
TIP volunteer media advisor Greg Peterson reports
TIP website:
http://www.turtleislandproject.org
Turtle Island TV (blipTV)
http://turtleislandtv.blip.tv/
Turtle Island TV (youtube)
http://www.youtube.com/MunisingWhiteHorse
Turtle Island (myspace)
http://www.myspace.com/TurtleIslandProject
Turtle Island Project websites/Blogs:
http://groups.msn.com/WhisperingTurtle
http://turtleislandproject.wordpress.com/
email:
TurtleIslandProject@charter.net
White Buffalo Calf Woman Society:
http://www.wbcws.org
Solastalgia is a term by Glenn Albrecht to describe profound sadness over the effects of the long-term drought in Australia
Glenn Albrecht, environmental philosopher, University of Newcastle:
http://healthearth.blogspot.com/
http://healthearth.blogspot.com/2007/03/solastalgia-new...
http://home.iprimus.com.au/tammie1/Publications%20-%20J...
http://www.newcastle.edu.au/news/2006/09/newsyndrome.ht...
Solastalgia:
http://vector1media.com/spatialsustain/?p=255
http://www.collisiondetection.net/mt/archives/2005/12/s...
http://watershed.typepad.com/watershed/drought/index.ht...
http://www.greendaily.com/2008/01/07/word-of-the-day-so...
http://fermiparadox.wordpress.com/2008/01/05/solastalgi...
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Huston Smith: Scholar, writer and a Thomas J. Watson Professor of Religion and Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Philosophy, Emeritus Syracuse University
http://ethics.sandiego.edu/video/Kenan/Smith/index.html
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Species Extinction/Endangered Species
http://www.ecosyn.us/ecocity/Challenges/index.html:
http://eelink.net/EndSpp
http://www.animalinfo.org/rarest.htm
http://www.unep-wcmc.org/
http://www.teamhumanity.com/News-Environment08012004.ht...
http://www.planetguide.net/book/chapter_5/extinction.ht...
http://www.sciencenewsden.com/2007/riskofextinctionacce...
http://www.grconnect.com/murals/html/n2252462.html
Voluntary Human Extinction Movement - Plus Graphic by Nina Paley:
http://www.vhemt.org/aboutvhemt.htm
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/afp/20030721/carbon.html
http://www.zeroextinction.org/charts.htm
http://www.nhbs.com/averting_extinction_tefno_63272.htm...
Robert Camacho:
http://www.robertcamacho.com/paintingpic4.htm
http://www.archbold-station.org/fai/species4.html
Eco Kids
http://www.ecokidsonline.com
Kyros (Greek) unique moment in time, gives people a platform to serve God.
Kairos (Kyros), a fullness of time, an appointed time purposed by our creator.
Kyros (KIR os): The Greek word for power that is legitimate, but limited and compassionate
Kairos’ is Greek for ‘occasion’ or ‘timing.’ Kairos is the art of seizing the moment.
Kairos, or kairotic time, refers to God's eternal time.
Kairos is the ancient Greek term that can roughly be interpreted as a rhetorical combination of understood context and proper timing.
Kairos: ancient Greek word meaning right or opportune moment
http://english.ttu.edu/kairos/layers/start.html
http://www.kairospower.org/whowe.asp
http://www.kyros.org/NEWKyros_AboutUs_TheMeaningOfKyros...
http://www.kairostherapy.com/why_kairos
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kairos
http://www.kyros.org/NEWKyros_AboutUs_TheMeaningOfKyros...
Jubilation:
http://www.envoymagazine.com/backissues/2.3/ihaveaquest...
http://blip.tv/file/480070 The founders of the Turtle Island Project believe residents of Earth are facing a Kyros moment because of the abuse of the environment... more -
Powersharing The Economical Way
The EU is considering spending £5m on lining the Mediterranean desert shores with giant solar power stations.
They are aiming to funnel the power gained into Europe and Britain by using underwater cables.
This is estimated to provide Europe with enough electricity to power 1/6 of their energy needs.
They also hope to chop carbon emmissions by using this process.
This means that countries with lots of open desert are going to ripe for the picking, so to speak.
Does this mean their economies might flourish as a result? The EU is considering spending £5m on lining the Mediterranean desert shores with giant solar power stations. ... more -
Organic sugar and coffee in Brasil
A great post about sustainabilty awareness en Brasil!
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Melting Away
For the climate change skeptics: this isnt a bit of worst-case-scenario animation from Al Gores An Inconvenient Truth. Its actual time-lapse photography taken by NASA that shows just what happened to the Arctic ice cap this summer. For the climate change skeptics: this isnt a bit of worst-case-scenario animation from Al Gores An Inconvenient Truth. Its actual t... more
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