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Virginia King's suspended sculpture AETHERIUM Ancestral vale is a memory of Kauri forests lost, ghosts of the past and a pertinent warning of the current threats of Kauri dieback and the need to protect our environment. The aluminium trunks suspended from the trees have an ethereal beauty, the subtlety of the silver fronds shimmering in the light almost disappear with the chiaroscuro effect.
Throughout her practice, Virginia King often utilises recycled materials in her artworks. She is an environmentalist and a recurring theme running through her work is to draw awareness to our environment and the earth's delicate ecosystems. She abstracts forms from nature, often magnifying the scale and places the work back within a specific natural landscape it is synonymous with.
Kauri are indigenous to the forests of northern New Zealand, where they are a centrepiece, stretching tall. The biggest Kauri can reach heights of over 50 metres and as some of the longest living tree species in the world, they can live for over 1000 years. Kauri provide shelter and protect many smaller native trees and flora that grow under its giant canopy, which is why they have the role of the greatest rangatira of our forests and need to be protected. Kauri dieback disease was discovered in New Zealand forests in 2009; it is a pathogen that destroys the trees from the roots and is threatening kauri with functional extinction.
This work was originally commissioned in 2000 as a central atrium installation at Botany Town Centre. Decommissioned in 2019, the artwork was returned to the artist who has gifted it to the Brick Bay Sculpture Trail. It has been reconfigured and installed in the Kahikatea Forest on the Brick Bay Trail.
The land mass of this island shrank by 50% in one year. Environmentalist were going crazy trying to figure what was happening. Turns out, a bunch of old geezers with metal detectors where digging up the island at night.
Raft Island, Washington 2017
Right after having a flock of 51 common curlews (Numenius arquata) above me on our island today, I was told that today is the international World Curlew Day.
World Curlew Day was established by the English environmentalist, author and producer Mary Colwell in 2017 to raise awareness of the curlews' plight. It is commemorated each year on 21st April, the date Mary began her 500-mile walk for curlews in 2016.
We have had large flocks of common curlews in our neighbourhood the last days, having a break in their migration on our skerries and fields.
This is the first common curlew I met this year, already on January 10th on Jæren. It must have wintered here. I felt a little sorry for it there in the snow.
(Storspove, i anledning spovens dag idag, in Norwegian)
Check out one more photo of it in the links below!
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A stone quarry turn Garbage dump turn municipal Park.
Name after a great artist and environmentalist Mr Frédérick Bach
Oscar winner for is animated movie The Man Who Planted Trees.
Compared to Northern hemisphere fires this is totally not on the radar of the news media or environmentalists. And no, I'm not implying the world is burning down, but I am interested if these fires are natural or part of agricultural practices or living conditions.
Grok3 AI:
The Windy application’s global fire view, which likely incorporates data from sources like NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS), shows numerous small fires across Africa south of the equator due to a combination of human activities, environmental conditions, and ecosystem dynamics. Below, I outline the primary causes of these fires, focusing on regions south of the equator, such as southern and central Africa, during their respective fire seasons. Primary Causes of Small Fires in Africa Below the EquatorAgricultural Practices (Slash-and-Burn and Land Clearing):Slash-and-Burn Agriculture: In southern and central Africa, particularly in countries like Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, small-scale farmers commonly use fire to clear land for agriculture. This practice, known as slash-and-burn, involves cutting vegetation and burning it to create nutrient-rich soil for crops. The ash fertilizes the soil, and the practice is cost-effective for smallholder farmers. These fires are typically small, localized, and widespread, contributing to the pattern observed on Windy’s fire view.
Crop Residue Burning:
After harvests, farmers burn leftover crop residues to prepare fields for the next planting season. This is common during the dry season (April to August in southern Africa), when vegetation is dry and flammable, leading to numerous small fires.
Land Management for Grazing:
Fires are deliberately set to manage rangelands for livestock. Burning removes old, dry grass, encouraging fresh grass growth for grazing animals. This practice is widespread in savanna ecosystems, which dominate much of southern Africa. These controlled burns are typically small and scattered, aligning with the pattern seen in the Windy application.
Seasonal and Climatic Conditions:
Dry Season Dynamics: South of the equator, the fire season peaks from April to August, coinciding with the dry season when vegetation dries out, creating abundant fuel. The savanna and grassland ecosystems, prevalent in southern Africa, accumulate dry biomass during the wet season, which becomes highly flammable during the dry months.
Climate Change and Drought:
Increasing temperatures and drought conditions, exacerbated by climate change, enhance fire susceptibility. In some areas, hotter and drier conditions have extended the fire season and increased fire frequency, particularly in regions like the southern Congo Basin.
Natural Causes (Lightning):
Lightning strikes during the transition from wet to dry seasons can ignite fires in savanna and grassland ecosystems, which are fire-dependent and adapted to periodic burning. While less common than human-induced fires, lightning contributes to the overall fire activity observed.
Deforestation and Land Use Change:
In tropical forest areas, such as parts of the Congo Basin, small fires are increasingly linked to deforestation. As forests are cleared for agriculture or logging, fragmented landscapes become more fire-prone. These fires are often small but numerous, as they occur in patches of cleared or degraded forest.
Aerosol Feedback Mechanism:
Research indicates that fire-induced aerosols (e.g., smoke particles) in Africa create a feedback loop that sustains fire activity. Aerosols influence local climate by reducing rainfall and increasing temperatures, drying out vegetation and making it more flammable. This mechanism amplifies fire seasons, particularly in central and southern Africa, contributing to the widespread small fires seen on Windy’s map.
Why Small Fires DominateFire Size and Detection:
Many fires in Africa south of the equator are small (<100 hectares) because they are set intentionally for specific purposes (e.g., clearing small plots or managing grazing land). These fires are often missed by coarser-resolution satellite data but are detected by higher-resolution tools used by platforms like Windy, which likely integrates data from MODIS or VIIRS sensors. Small fires account for a significant portion of burned areas (up to 41% in sub-Saharan Africa) and contribute substantially to emissions.
Cultural and Historical Practices:
Fire has been used for thousands of years in African savannas and forests for land management, making small, controlled burns a traditional practice. These fires are less intense than large wildfires but are numerous and frequent, creating the dense pattern of fire hotspots on Windy’s global fire view.
Regional ContextSouthern Africa (e.g., Angola, Zambia):
The savanna-dominated landscapes experience widespread burning during the dry season (April–August). Angola and Zambia, for example, saw 67,162 and 21,034 fires, respectively, in a single week in 2018, many of which were small agricultural burns.
Central Africa (e.g., Democratic Republic of Congo):
The Congo Basin, while historically wet, has seen increased fire activity due to deforestation and drier conditions, particularly in its southern and northeastern parts. Small fires in these areas are often linked to forest clearing.
Environmental and Social Impacts:
While these small fires are often intentional and culturally significant, they have consequences.
Air Quality: The cumulative smoke from numerous small fires degrades air quality, affecting rural communities and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., 1.44 PgC annually from African fires).
Ecosystem Effects:
Savanna ecosystems are fire-adapted, but excessive burning can lead to soil degradation and biodiversity loss, especially in deforested areas.
Climate Feedback:
The aerosol feedback loop and climate change exacerbate fire frequency, potentially increasing the number of small fires over time.
Conclusion:
The massive number of small fires observed on the Windy application’s global fire view in Africa south of the equator is primarily driven by traditional agricultural practices like slash-and-burn and land clearing for grazing, amplified by dry season conditions and, increasingly, climate change and deforestation. These fires are typically small and intentional, reflecting long-standing cultural practices in savanna and forest ecosystems. However, their frequency and environmental impact, including emissions and air quality degradation, highlight the need for monitoring and sustainable land management. For real-time data, platforms like Windy and NASA’s FIRMS are valuable tools for tracking these fires.
Grok3 Further Question:
What percentage of these fires are due to charcoal fuel production?
There is limited specific data directly attributing the percentage of fires in Africa south of the equator to charcoal fuel production, as most studies focus on broader causes like agricultural burning, land management, and natural fires. However, charcoal production is a known contributor to fire activity in the region, particularly in forested areas, and I can provide an informed estimate based on available information. Key Points on Charcoal Production and FiresCharcoal Production Process: Charcoal is made by cutting trees and burning them in low-oxygen conditions (e.g., in kilns or pits) to produce charcoal for cooking fuel. These fires are typically small and controlled but can spread if not managed properly, contributing to the fire patterns observed on platforms like Windy’s global fire view. In some cases, the initial clearing of forests for charcoal production involves slash-and-burn techniques, which also generate fires.
Prevalence in Sub-Saharan Africa:
Charcoal is a critical energy source, with over 70% of sub-Saharan African households relying on woodfuel (including charcoal) for cooking. In urban areas like Kinshasa, up to 90% of residents depend on charcoal, driving significant demand and production-related fires.
Environmental Impact:
Charcoal production contributes to forest degradation and is often unregulated, leading to fires that may escape control. A 2019 report notes that charcoal production in countries like Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo is linked to widespread tree cutting and fires, exacerbating deforestation and desertification.
Fire Characteristics:
Studies indicate that fires in southern Africa, particularly in savanna and grassland ecosystems, produce small, elongated microcharcoal particles, some of which are associated with charcoal production. However, these fires are often smaller than agricultural burns and may not dominate satellite-detected fire points.
Estimating the Percentage:
While no source provides an exact percentage of fires south of the equator caused by charcoal production, we can infer from related data:Dominance of Agricultural Fires: Research shows that savanna and grassland fires, primarily for agriculture and land management (e.g., slash-and-burn, grazing land preparation), account for 82.6–85.9% of burned areas in sub-Saharan Africa, with small fires (<100 ha) contributing 41% of total burned area. These agricultural fires are the primary driver of the numerous small fires seen on Windy’s fire view.
Charcoal Production as a Subset:
Charcoal production is often categorized under human-induced fires, which include agricultural, pastoral, and fuelwood-related activities. A 2020 study on East Africa notes that charcoal burning is one of several human activities causing fires, alongside slash-and-burn and pastoral burning, but does not quantify its specific contribution. In tropical forests like the Congo Basin, fires linked to deforestation (which includes charcoal production) have increased, but they remain a smaller fraction compared to savanna fires.
Indirect Evidence:
The high dependence on charcoal (e.g., 90% in Kinshasa) suggests that charcoal production contributes significantly to fire activity in forested regions south of the equator, such as the southern Congo Basin, Angola, and Zambia. However, savanna fires for agriculture and grazing likely dominate the total fire count due to the vast extent of savanna ecosystems.
Best Estimate:
Based on the available data, charcoal production likely accounts for a small but non-negligible percentage of the fires observed south of the equator. Given that agricultural and pastoral fires dominate (likely 80–90% of total burned area), and considering charcoal production’s role in forested areas, I estimate that 5–15% of the small fires in Africa south of the equator may be directly or indirectly linked to charcoal production. This range accounts for:Controlled burns for charcoal kilns and forest clearing for charcoal, which are smaller in scale than agricultural fires.
Regional variations, with higher contributions in forested areas like the Congo Basin compared to savanna-dominated regions like Angola or Zambia.
The lack of precise data, as most studies do not isolate charcoal-related fires from other human-induced fires.
LimitationsData Gaps:
No recent, comprehensive study specifically quantifies charcoal production’s contribution to fire counts in southern Africa. Satellite data (e.g., MODIS, VIIRS) used by Windy may detect charcoal-related fires but does not distinguish their purpose.
Regional Variability: The contribution of charcoal production varies by country and ecosystem (e.g., higher in forested Congo Basin areas than in savanna-dominated Zambia).
Uncontrolled Fires: Some charcoal-related fires may spread unintentionally, but these are likely a small fraction compared to intentional agricultural burns.
Conclusion:
While agricultural and land management fires dominate the fire landscape in Africa south of the equator (80–90% of burned area), charcoal production likely contributes 5–15% of the small fires observed on Windy’s global fire view, particularly in forested regions like the southern Congo Basin. This estimate is based on the high reliance on charcoal as a fuel source and its association with deforestation and burning practices, though precise data is lacking. For more accurate figures, region-specific studies or higher-resolution fire purpose analysis would be needed.
As I walked around to the back of the cottage at the Oura Oura Conservation Reserve, I came across a group of people gathered around a little camp fire. There is still no power connected to this property, so it's an old fashioned brew of billy tea that is being enjoyed.
"I'm just taking some photographs of this beautiful place, so I hope I'm not disturbing you," I said. The man in the cap turned, smiled and said, "Hello, I'm Bob." "Hello Bob, of course I recognise you," I answered. After that little exchange he stood up and we had a lovely conversation. It wasn't long before the subject turned to my camera, lenses and of course Peter Dombrovskis.
Bob then gave me a quick rundown of the place and its history since he bought the entire reserve for just $8,000. Bob Brown is of course one of the best known Tasmanians in the world. A pioneer environmentalist and hero of the Save the Franklin campaign, sometime controversial Australian senator, but in person a very down-to-earth and humble man.
Let's put politics aside here, and listen to what Bob is saying in this fine little interview about the spirit of this place. Feel his passion for the land as he speaks about "Oura Oura", a conservation reserve he has gifted to all Australians:
Macro of a small section of a peony blossom (a very old cultivar). As it opens it is fringed with red, when it matures it turns almost completely white. I took this an hour or two after a light morning rain. (Shot in June, uploaded in August.)
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"You don't make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved." Ansel Adams, American photographer and environmentalist, 1902 - 1984
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Many thanks for visiting. Your views, comments and/or faves are greatly appreciated. Apologies to everyone whose photostream I follow - the gardens consume most of my waking hours.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Death of David Chain
David Nathan "Gypsy" Chain (June 17, 1974 – September 17, 1998) was an environmental activist. He was killed by a falling tree in suspicious circumstances during a protest in California Redwood Forests against the Pacific Lumber Company.
Background
Chain was a member of the Earth First! environmental advocacy group and was engaged in a campaign of tree sitting in order to stop what they considered was illegal logging, in breach of California Forest Practices Act, in the Headwaters Forest, 350 miles (560 km) north of San Francisco, near Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park. Headwaters was the largest private holding of old-growth forest in the world. Following a hostile takeover of Pacific Lumber Co., the Murphy family (the largest minority stock holders at the time) and countless previous stockholders, mostly company employees, were relieved of their stock by Charles Hurwitz and his Maxxam, Inc. corporation of Texas.[3] Between a desire to turn a higher profit and the need to start paying off the debt incurred from acquiring the company, Hurwitz's Maxxam replaced the sustainable growth policy of the previous owner-managers with one of clearcutting. The new practices led to the so-called Redwood Summer campaign by environmentalists, and ultimately forced the 140-year-old company to declare bankruptcy.
Many residents of the area made their living through logging. On the one hand, some members of the community in the nearby mill town of Fortuna strongly resented the presence of activists from other areas, as these were not aware of the potential economic impacts of logging stoppages. On the other hand, environmental activists like Chain believed that clearcutting was not sustainable and highlighted that the choice of jobs or the environment was a fallacy.
Circumstances of his death
According to Humboldt County Sheriff Department, Chain was struck by a falling tree while trying to stop logging. He was killed instantly and died of massive head trauma. In response to his death, a Pacific Lumber Co. spokesperson said their logging crew did not see anybody in the area and were unaware of Chain's presence. Earth First! said that the loggers had been deliberately felling huge trees, in a perpendicular manner rather than downhill, in the protesters' direction. One of the protesters also noted that the tree fellers were fully aware that they were there, as the activists had been "yelling at them, walking towards them, telling them 'Don't fell this tree'". On a videotape supplied by Earth First!, Arlington Earl Ammons, the 52-year-old logger responsible for falling the tree that caused Chain's death can be heard shouting expletives and threatening the protesters.
Based on the local sheriff's probe, Humboldt County district attorney Terry Farmer decided not to press charges, concluding Ammons had not knowingly aimed a tree at any of the protesters.
Civil suit and settlement
Following the reticence of the district attorney to file criminal charges, Chain's mother started a civil suit against Ammons, Pacific Lumber and its parent company, Maxxam, alleging they were reckless and responsible for the death of her son.
A wrongful death settlement was reached three days before trial was scheduled to commence. Its financial terms remain undisclosed but other parts were made public, as a reminder of the tragedy, the 135-foot tree (41 m) that struck Chain will remain where it fell, and a 100-foot buffer zone (30 m) prevented any nearby logging. A memorial was also erected.
Consequences
Soon after Chain's death, it was revealed that the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection had charged Pacific Lumber with at least 250 violations of the California Forest Practice Act between 1995 and 1997. These violations continued to accumulate in 1998, and in November of that year, Pacific Lumber became the first company ever to lose its logging license in California.
As a condition of reinstating their license, Pacific Lumber agreed to the creation of the Headwaters Forest Reserve. It received $380 million of public funds in return for the purchase. A Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) was also developed and approved to allow limited logging on the remaining 211,000 acres (850 km2) of Pacific Lumber Company timberland.
Trash Grabs Back is based on the idea that our environmental actions such as littering and dumping all kinds of toxins will come back to haunt us in the end (at least this is how I would interpret it). I liked the political statement here as I am also an environmentalist. Many Americans forget all about their carbon footprint and, as long as they don't see where their trash goes or the actual environmental toxins, it is out of sight and out of mind and unfortunately we have a president trying to get out of all climate agreements and get rid of the Environmental Protection Agency. However. this line of thinking has already started to catch up to us and will continue to catch up to our generation and all the ones that come after.
**All photos are copyrighted. Please don't use without permission**
Glen Canyon is a natural canyon carved by a 169.6-mile length of the Colorado River, mostly in southeastern and south-central Utah, in the United States. Glen Canyon starts where Narrow Canyon ends, at the confluence of the Colorado River and the Dirty Devil River. A small part of the lower end of Glen Canyon extends into northern Arizona and terminates at Lee's Ferry, near the Vermilion Cliffs. Like the Grand Canyon further downstream, Glen Canyon is part of the immense system of canyons carved by the Colorado River and its tributaries.
In 1963, a reservoir, Lake Powell, was created by the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam, in the Arizona portion of Glen Canyon near Page, inundating much of Glen Canyon under water hundreds of feet in depth. Contrary to popular belief, Lake Powell was not the result of negotiations over the controversial damming of the Green River within Dinosaur National Monument at Echo Park; the Echo Park Dam proposal was abandoned due to nationwide citizen pressure on Congress to do so. The Glen Canyon Dam remains a central issue for modern environmentalist movements. Beginning in the late 1990s, the Sierra Club and other organizations renewed the call to dismantle the dam and drain Lake Powell in Lower Glen Canyon. Today, Glen Canyon and Lake Powell are managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
I love bees, and I think most flower shots are more interesting with a bug on them. I also have a thing for Austin Powers! Yeah Bay-bee, Yeah! We actually have an Austin Powers guest room in our house, aka the room in which no one can BEHAVE baby! LOL There are a few old photos in my stream, and I realize the room has evolved quite a bit since those, new artwork, and rearranged. I’ll put re-shooting it on “the list”. =o) It’s not just Austin Powers-esque; it’s kind of psychedelic, kitschy, pulp fiction, humanist, hippy, environmentalist, not necessarily in that order.
Hope you’re having a nice long weekend. I’ve been relaxing, taking some photos and doing stuff around the house. I can feel my creativity coming back. YAY! =o)
Hugs and thanks for viewing! =o)
***All rights to my images are STRICTLY reserved. Please contact me if you are interested in purchasing my images or if you are an educator or non-profit interested in use. copyright KathleenJacksonPhotography 2011***
The Bee Lab Goes Crazy...with Cicadas. The Bee Lab used to be an endangered Whooping Crane production facility and as such had about 100 pens, and to provide cranes with a bit of shade in their pens (we all like shade) in the Maryland summer heat the crane keepers planted a tree in most pens (mostly the Bradford Pear, notorious for spawning baby pears in vast numbers in order to wreck native environments and cause environmentalists to become hooked on herbicides, we are gradually taking them down (I now officially have my chainsaw safety certificate!) but now I am glad that we have been slow about removing them as you will see after I stop this parenthetical business, which has gone on too long), each tree surrounded by open land mown only once or so a year and is the definition of perfect 17-year cicada habitat. I have NEVER seen so cicadas (and I have been through several cicada events) you literally could walk across the backs of their exuviae throughout the area. Anyway am stopping now as we will present a series of shots of the players of the drama. Here, look, this is the mini-species Magiciada cassinii, smaller than the dominant emerging species. Photo by the prodigal technician Anders Croft. ~~~~~~~~~~{{{{{{0}}}}}}~~~~~~~~~~
All photographs are public domain, feel free to download and use as you wish.
Photography Information:
Canon Mark II 5D, Zerene Stacker, Stackshot Sled, 65mm Canon MP-E 1-5X macro lens, Twin Macro Flash in Styrofoam Cooler, F5.0, ISO 100, Shutter Speed 200
We Are Made One with What We Touch and See
We are resolved into the supreme air,
We are made one with what we touch and see,
With our heart's blood each crimson sun is fair,
With our young lives each spring impassioned tree
Flames into green, the wildest beasts that range
The moor our kinsmen are, all life is one, and all is change.
- Oscar Wilde
You can also follow us on Instagram - account = USGSBIML
Want some Useful Links to the Techniques We Use? Well now here you go Citizen:
Best over all technical resource for photo stacking:
Art Photo Book: Bees: An Up-Close Look at Pollinators Around the World:
www.amazon.com/Bees-Up-Close-Pollinators-Around-World/dp/...
Free Field Guide to Bee Genera of Maryland:
bio2.elmira.edu/fieldbio/beesofmarylandbookversion1.pdf
Basic USGSBIML set up:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-_yvIsucOY
USGSBIML Photoshopping Technique: Note that we now have added using the burn tool at 50% opacity set to shadows to clean up the halos that bleed into the black background from "hot" color sections of the picture.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdmx_8zqvN4
Bees of Maryland Organized by Taxa with information on each Genus
www.flickr.com/photos/usgsbiml/collections
PDF of Basic USGSBIML Photography Set Up:
Google Hangout Demonstration of Techniques:
plus.google.com/events/c5569losvskrv2nu606ltof8odo
or
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c15neFttoU
Excellent Technical Form on Stacking:
Contact information:
Sam Droege
sdroege@usgs.gov
301 497 5840
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******************************************************************El gran Parque Pumalin es uno de los proyectos de conservación privada más grande y diverso de Sudamérica, ubicado en la Provincia de Palena en Chile, al sur de la ciudad de Puerto Montt. Fue creado por Douglas Tompkins un controvertido ecologista y empresario multimillonario estadounidense ex dueño de marcas de moda como Sprit o North Face, fallecido después de volcar su kayak, en el Lago General Carrera (Chile) el 2015. Luego de su muerte dono el parque al estado Chileno para conformar un un gran parque nacional que sumado a otras reservas nacionales en la misma area tendra mas de 700 mil hectareas. Asi 4.5 millones de hectareas, el 20% del territorio nacional estaran bajo protección convirtiendose esto en un hito mundial sin precedentes.
Se extiende desde el corazón de Los Andes hasta los fiordos de la Costa del Pacífico y fue declarado "Santuario de la Naturaleza" en el año 2005 por el gobierno Chileno. Protege ecosistemas únicos en el mundo como el Bosque Patagonicoo Templado Lluvioso de los Andes Australes o Selva Valdiviana incluyendo especies orignarias como viejos Alerces de mas de 4.000 años, areas montañosas con varios volcanes como el Chaiten y Michimahuida, multiples rios lagos y lagunas asi como tambien ecosistemas costeros con bahias y fiordos intocados, haciendo de este lugar uno de los bordes costeros más espectaculares de la Tierra; un paisaje de naturaleza y belleza extraordinaria. Ademas el parque ofrece numerosos senderos, sitios de camping e instalaciones públicas, permitiendo que cada año miles de visitas puedan disfrutar este majestuoso paisaje. La Carretera Austral cruza el parque en casi toda su extrension permitiendo un facil acceso a sus principales atractivos.
La Carretera Austral es uno de los mayores atractivos de la Patagonia chilena. Esta larga carretera que nació como un sendero de colonización a fines del siglo XX, actualmente es una ruta turística de un creciente interés para viajeros y aventureros de todo el mundo que quieran recorrer la salvaje belleza patagónica. Se ha consolidado como destino por ser una de las mejores 10 rutas escénicas del mundo para viajar ya sea en auto, motocicleta o en bicicleta.
La Carretera Austral o Ruta CH-7, nace en la ciudad de Puerto Montt, recorriendo mas de 1.240 kilómetros, en su trayecto cruza varias veces la cordillera de los Andes, junto con bordear el litoral y los fiordos de la Patagonia Occidental, para luego internarse en los bosques australes siempre verdes, acercándose a numerosos glaciares, grandes lagos y los ventisqueros de los Campos de Hielo Norte para finalizar en Villa O’Higgins, a unos cuantos kilómetros del Campo de Hielo Sur.
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The huge Pumalin Park is one of the largest and most diverse private conservation projects in South America, located in the Province of Palena in Chile, south of the city of Puerto Montt. It was created by Douglas Tompkins a controversial environmentalist and entrepreneur Northamerican billionaire former owner of fashion brands like Sprit or North Face, deceased after his kayak overturned, in Lake General Carrera (Chile) in 2015. After his death, he owned the park to the Chilean state to form a large national park joining with other national reserves in the area to will have more than 700 thousand hectares. By this way 4.5 million hectares will be under state protection, 20% of the national territories becoming an unprecedented global milestone.
It extends from the heart of Los Andes to the fjords of the Pacific Coast and was declared "Sanctuary of Nature" in 2005 by the Chilean government. It protects unique ecosystems in the world such as the Patagonian Rainforest of the Southern Andes or best known as Selva Valdiviana including native species such as Alerces of more than 4,000 years old, mountainous areas with several volcanoes like the Chaiten and Michimahuida, multiple rivers lakes and lagoons as well as coastal ecosystems full of untouched bays and fjords, making this place one of the most spectacular coastal edges of the Earth; a landscape of extraordinary beauty and nature. In addition, the park offers numerous trails, camping sites and public facilities, allowing thousands of visitors every year to enjoy this majestic landscape. The Carretera Austral crosses along in almost its all entire extension park avoiding access to the main atracctions.
The Carretera Austral is one of the biggest attractions of the Chilean Patagonia . This long road that began as a path of colonization in the late twentieth century , is now a tourist route of a growing interest for travelers and adventurers from around the world who want to explore the wild beauty of Patagonia . It has become destiny as one of the top 10 best scenic routes in the world to travel either by car , motorcycle or bicycle .
The Carretera Austral or Route CH -7, born in the city of Puerto Montt , traveling more than 1,240 miles in its path crosses several times the Andes along with skirting the coast and fjords of Western Patagonia then deep into the southern evergreen forests approaching numerous glaciers large lakes and the glaciers of the Northern Ice Field to finish in Villa O'Higgins a few kilometers from Southern Ice Field .
A lucky chance encounter with a coopers hawk landing on a BC Government sign warning of protected wildlife habitat.
I came around a corner in the trail and it was standing right in front of me. I slowly walked backwards so that I could fit it in the frame, and I was shocked when I lifted the camera to my eye and it was still there!
Autumn is almost upon us and across areas of the country snow will begin to fall. It will fall not just as silent icy flakes, but also as cacophonous feathered fowl. In this photo snow geese fly out to the fields in New Mexico's Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, after a long migration from the northern reaches of the American continent. Snow geese are foragers that feed on a variety of roots, shoots, and grains. They are some of nature's most successful animals. Some environmentalist believe that they may be too successful, and that their large numbers may be damaging the delicate northern tundra. It is an area that requires more study. These large flocks are, without doubt, I sight to see and hear. #ILoveBirds #ILoveNature #ILoveWildlife #WildlifePhotography in #NewMexico #Nature in the #USA #SnowGeese #ItsSnowingGeese #Geese #Birds #Birding #Photography #Picoftheday #Photooftheday
Ocean defenders
How far should activists go in the name of protecting the environment?
He's been called a pirate and "eco-terrorist" by his critics. On Thursday, The Stream speaks to environmental activist Captain Paul Watson about his efforts to end whale hunting and defend ocean life around the world. His fleet’s aggressive “direct action” tactics toward Japanese whaling vessels in particular have drawn both praise and controversy from environmental activists.
The Stream - Ocean defenders :
this place is just a gold mine of opportunity. the range and textures of the tufa give you so much to place with.
in order to get this shot i had to wade out to about thigh deep into the lake. for those that have never been here the water is unlike anything that i've experienced. due to the high salinity of the water, 2-3 times higher than the ocean, it almost feels like the water slimes around you. next time i'm bringing my bathing suit.
during the mid-1900's this lake was mired in a political struggle between los angeles county who was siphoning off water for l.a.'s growing needs, and environmentalists seeking to protect this ecological haven. as the lake's waters started disappearing to l.a. the water level dropped over a 1/3rd which is what revealed these textured tufas. the most notable change though was to the migratory patterns of millions of birds. seems that this was a resting, and breeding, grounds for several different species of birds. in fact i read that over 80% of seagulls originated or migrated through these waters.
due to some significant judicial victories by environmental conservationist they were able to secure the lakes future for many years to come. since the 90's water levels have risen to a 'safe' level and the bird population has once again risen to new highs.
#176
Earth Day Hawaii Mural by Wyland in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii
Robert Wyland is a famed marine artist, photographer, philanthropist and environmentalist. One of his homes is in Hawaii, so it seems fitting that nine of his 100 Whaling Walls are in the state. This is #67, called Earth Day Hawaii, and it features three humpback whales. It is located on the side of the Royal Aloha Condominiums on Ala Wai Boulevard in Honolulu. It was painted by Pat Morita in 1995 in celebration of the 25th anniversary of Earth Day.
Pete 5D's photos on Flickriver
Maya Bay is a stunningly beautiful bay that's sheltered by 100-metre high cliffs on three sides. Inside the bay there are several beaches, most are small and some only exist at low tide. The main one is around 200 metres long with silky soft white sand, underwater colourful coral and exotic fish in exceptionally clear water; the whole bay is one big reef.
Maya Bay has become the main tourist attraction of Phi Phi since The Beach was filmed here in 1999. It was always very popular before the film but now people around the world who haven't even heard of Phi Phi have certainly heard of Maya Bay.
You can only visit Maya Bay from November to April, as large waves make the entrance dangerous for boats during the other months of the year.
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The Beach by Alex Garland is Penguin Books' best ever seller. The story is about young travellers who drop out of society and go to live in a hidden lagoon in Southern Thailand.
Fox bought the rights to the book, signed up Leonardo DiCaprio to play the lead role and then searched for a location. Maya Bay was perfect. Fox decided that the perfect beach needed some palm trees and less vegetation so they rearranged the beach to fit a Hollywood stereotype.
Beforehand, environmentalists said removing vegetation would increase the risk of sand erosion and that the delicate natural ecosystem may not ever recover. The vegetation was replanted after filming had finished and additional bamboo fences were put in place to support the dunes.
The following year during high tides and a strong storm the dune collapsed, the sand flowed down the beach and killed coral in the sea below. Fox went to great lengths to leave Maya Bay as they found it however the debate still goes on whether the damage was due to the rearranging or not, many say that the replanted vegetation had not yet 'taken'.
PLEASE: VIEW ON BLACK IN Flickriver
Equipment:
- Canon 5D Mark II
- EF 24-70 f/2.8L USM
The Legacy Pole, carved by Jaalen Edenshaw, was erected at Hlk'yah Llnagaay in Windy Bay (Hlk'yah GawGa) on Lyell Island in 2013 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the creation of the 1993 memorandum of agreement creating the 1,495-square kilometre Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site. The agreement followed an acrimonious standoff between Haida citizens and environmentalists protesting the clear-cut logging of the old-growth forests on Lyell Island (Athlii Gwaii). The raising of this pole marks the first time in 130 year that a memorial pole had be raised in the Gwaii Haanas region. Top to bottom: Eagle; Three Watchmen; Dog, Marten, Visitor; Waasco (sea wolf); Sacred One; Raven; 5 Good People; Grizzly; Sculpin.
15/07/2021 www.allenfotowild.com
While I love the O'Dea photos and think that he has done us and the history of Railways in Ireland an invaluable service recording the demise and vandalistic destruction of the railways not all his photos are that good! This shot however is crisp and clear and really, to my mind, first class. Continuing our love of steam driven vehicles here we have a steam traction engine in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. The environmentalists among us will be horrified at the "Tar - Bitumen" tank in the background and the 40 gallon drums to collect overspills but they were different times.
Photographer: James P. O'Dea
Collection:James P. O'Dea
Date: July 3rd 1962
NLI Ref.: ODEA 31/70
You can also view this image, and many thousands of others, on the NLI’s catalogue at catalogue.nli.ie
The Scribbly gums are shedding their bark, leaving their old skins on the woodland floor. The most distinctive features of this eucalypt are the ‘scribbles’ made by moth larva as it tunnels between the layers of bark. Several species of smooth-barked eucalypts feature ‘scribbles’. In SE Queensland where I saw these, I believe the species is ‘Eucalyptus racemosa’. I came across this lovely poem by Australian poet and environmentalist Judith Wright.
Scribbly-Gum - by Judith Wright (from A Human Pattern: Selected Poems), 1955
The cold spring falls from the stone.
I passed and heard
the mountain, palm and fern
spoken in one strange word.
The gum-tree stands by the spring.
I peeled its splitting bark
and found the written track
of a life I could not read.
Two flights of snow geese merge into one larger group. Sometimes these flights stretch across the sky with many hundreds of birds in one flight.
Flocks of Geese are now abundant in Northern California. This has become a real problem as the fantastic numbers of them are threatening the environment. Even environmentalists are pushing for increased hunting pressures to control the population which now exceeds 10 million.
. . . or not at all.
- Bob Brown, former Australian politician, medical doctor, environmentalist and Parliamentary Leader of the Australian Greens
At We’re Here! we are sharing our recommendations for Green Juices. I’m not a fan of those pricey green bottles of liquid with peculiar names I see in the market. But I do enjoy smoothies with spinach or other green leaf veggies thrown in. This one includes greek yogurt, fresh pineapple, and a banana.
We are living through unprecedented times of collective suffering; this is a line in the sand where events after the crease will have little resemblance to those before. The streets outside are in turmoil from old human follies and new viral adversaries. Trying to explain these soul-stirring days to myself has been excruciatingly hard. Harder has it been to explain them to my ten-year-old –– and here I was, comically worried about the big sex-ed talk I would need to have with him someday! The world is boiling like the primitive cosmos where the darkness remains unpunctuated; it appears as if there are no beacons in sight.
So, where does one find solace during such malevolent turbulence? Gretel Ehrlich says (in her renowned book), one could find it in open spaces. Well, if one knows where to look, there are plenty of open spaces in a park near us – Yosemite. As you may know, Yosemite is a mental health asylum of some world-class repute. Since obscure times, it has cured numerous suffering souls, including a few luminaries who were primarily lunatics: Charles Weed, John Muir, Ansel Adams, and Fred Olmsted to name a few. It is located geographically in California's heart and spiritually in hearts of million other human beings who could be taxonomized as naturalists, activists, artists, environmentalists, visionaries, or, plain ordinary people, like, yours truly. When I am in Yosemite – or, find Yosemite in me – I perceive peace. You could say, Yosemite's wilderness is my totem of solitude, solace, and hope.
To most, Yosemite’s totem is the Half Dome – a giant granite monolith that stands in congruent humility with its surrounding rocks and clouds. It is unique among all Yosemite domes in having a sheer cliff and a steep vertical face (northwest side), which actually displays a human face in blockprint (a story for another day). Glaciers, time, and light have ebbed and flowed over the humpbacked dome for millions of years, but ‘Tis-sa-ack’ stands proud in deft defiance. The oft-pictured image of Half Dome – the one with the helmet curve, as Ansel put it – is from the West (Glacier point area). From our vantage point the other day, the iconic steward of the park displayed its unglamorous hind side, which features a prominent hump, the eastern sub-dome. In his National Geographic article, William Least Heat-Moon described this view of Half Dome as, “… watching a Shakespearean play from backstage, where old and familiar lines seem different, strange, new”.
Our contemporary times are somewhat similar... old and familiar ways of life now appear ‘different, strange, new’. In his letter to Ansel Adams in 1953, art historian Beaumont Newhall wrote, “In the face of all the present turmoil and unrest and unhappiness… what can a photographer, a writer, a curator do? …To make people aware of the eternal things, or show the relationship of man to nature… is a task that no one should consider insignificant… These are days when eloquent statements are needed”.
Eloquence is not my thing, but here above, you have my statement against everything that attempts to stir darkness in our societies, lives, minds, and hearts.
PS: The title is borrowed from Sylvia Plath’s sonnet Ennui, which was written in 1950s and published in 2006:
“The beast in Jamesian grove will never jump,
compelling hero’s dull career to crisis;
and when insouciant angels play God’s trump,
while bored arena crowds for once look eager,
hoping toward havoc, neither pleas nor prizes
shall coax from doom’s blank door lady or tiger.”
Yves 60 ans, il ne vit pas dans la rue, mais plutôt hors du System dans lequel on vit, un genre d'écologiste de l'an 1. il utilise l'environnement urbain pour s'alimenter et se laver, il considère la vie qu'on mène comme un gâchis planétaire.
Yves 60, he does not live in the street, but outside the system in which we live, a kind of environmentalist of the year 1. it uses the urban environment to feed and wash it he considers the life we lead as a global mess
The Rhone Glacier in the Swiss Alps is one of the oldest know glaciers in the Alps, and an important one ‘cause it gives rise to the Rhone River – a major river of Europe –, and is also one of the primary contributors to Lake Geneva. Because of climate change and rising global temperatures, the glacier has retreated dramatically over the last 120 years, shrinking by more than 1300 meters and leaving back a track of naked stone.
Every summer, environmentalists in Switzerland take up the task of covering the Rhone Glacier with miles of white blankets to try and minimize the melting. The innovative method of protecting the ice draws hordes of visitors who come to witness the ancient ice from an entirely unique perspective.
Researchers have been trying various tricks to protect the glacier. In 2008, a geography professor accompanied by his students installed a 50 feet by 10 feet windscreen which they hoped would trap cold winds that blow down off the mountains and keep them over the Rhone Glacier.
Being one of the most accessible glaciers in the Swiss Alps, Rhone Glacier is already a popular tourist destination. Each year, a 100-meter blue ice tunnel with an ice chamber is carved out of the glacier for visitors to walk through. The ice grotto moves along with the glacier, at approximately 10 cm per day downstream. Due to this reason, each year, the tunnel has to be rearranged.
Eight thousand years ago, the glacier was the largest in Europe with arms that reached all the way to Lyon, in France. Now, it is only the fifth largest glacier in Switzerland, and experts foresee the day, probably in this century, when the glacier, all six miles of it, will melt away to nothing.
source: www.amusingplanet.com/2013/07/rhone-glacier-covered-in-bl...
As far more accomplished bird photographers than me have suggested, be at eye level with the bird. In this case, this meant lying flat on my stomach in the rain, in the incoming tide, at imminent risk of being doused in buckets of sea water by well-intentioned environmentalists before trying to roll me back into the sea. On a more serious note, it is a great tip though, and some of my more pleasing results recently have come when getting as low as I can with all-important eye contact.
Nonostante le incongruenze che alcuni giorni fa il Quirinale aveva rilevato nel Decreto Legge Agricoltura del ministro Lollobrigida, ieri il Presidente della Repubblica Italiana Sergio Mattarella ha firmato il testo che le associazioni animaliste e ambientaliste avevano contestato.
Chi controllerà i cacciatori se nella loro attività venatoria rispettano la legge?
Gli stessi cacciatori!
L'ennesima sconfitta per ambientalisti, animalisti, e, ovviamente, un altro passo contro i diritti degli animali.
Questo governo di destra (conservatore) è un flagello, un Attila in doppiopetto.
Despite the inconsistencies that the Quirinale had detected a few days ago in Lollobrigida's Agriculture Legislative Decree, yesterday the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella signed the text that the animal rights and environmentalist associations had contested.
Who will monitor the hunters if they respect the law in their hunting activity?
The same hunters!
Yet another defeat for environmentalists, animal rights activists, and, obviously, another step against animal rights.
This right-wing (conservative) government is a scourge, a double-breasted Attila.
Artist - Yinka Shonibare
Series: Earth Kid
Each figure represents an essential element: Earth, Air, Water and Fire
From the James Cohan Gallery website:
In Earth Kids, Shonibare makes a connection between the history of colonial domination and humankind’s domination of the natural world and exploitation of its limited resources. The quartet of child-scaled sculptures champion the next generation of environmentalists fighting for climate justice—including young activists, such as Greta Thunberg—who have thrown a spotlight on the failings of previous generations of policy makers. These works, Shonibare states, are a call to action to protect the planet for our children."
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This is an old shot but it captures the mood in the city—it's been cloudy, drizzling in the afternoon, and there is an ever present smog which environmentalist say is due to industrial pollution and volcanologists claim is from the ash fall from a volcano some 100km away from the city. Whatever the cause is, it serves as another reason to keep our masks on when we go outdoors.
The view from Hunts Mesa and Monument Valley looking toward Cedar Mesa and the myriad of beautiful and archeologically rich canyons that make up the brand new Bears Ears National Monument in Utah. The two buttes on the skyline on the right side of the vista are the namesake Bears Ears.
Thanks to President Barack Obama's proclamation yesterday this region, sacred to five Native American cultures (Navajo, Ute, Ute Mountain, Zuñi, and Hopi) will be managed to protect its environmental and cultural resources. The establishment of the monument is controversial and likely to be challenged by a few local governments, but work on preserving this area has been in the works for almost 80 years, and is welcomed by environmentalists and recreationists, who make up an increasing and sustainable part of the local economies. (#1)
n.b. I posted a very similar photo, but not the same, 2 years ago
Happy New Year everyone- sweet light to you this year!
For further Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet, is a public art exhibition designed to raise awareness of solutions to climate change. Cool Globes grew out of a commitment at the Clinton Global Initiative in 2005, and was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 2006. Since that time, Cool Globes premiered in Chicago and went on tour across the country from Washington DC to San Francisco, San Diego, Sundance, Los Angeles, Houston and Cleveland. In the fall of 2009, Cool Globes opened the first international exhibit in Copenhagen. From there our globes were in Geneva, Marseille, Vancouver, Amsterdam, Jerusalem and Boston. It is our hope that the millions of people who have experienced the exhibit, leave with a vast array of solutions to climate change, and with one clear message….we can solve this.
Message from Wendy Abrams, founder of Cool Globes
I never considered myself an environmentalist. To me, an environmentalist was a guy in a raft protesting to save the whales as he drifted in the Pacific. But in 2001, that changed when I casually stumbled upon a Time magazine article about global warming, depicting potentially catastrophic consequences within the century. As a mother of four, this hit a nerve – the next century is my children’s lifetime. I was suddenly motivated to act and spent the next five years educating myself by joining environmental groups, attending conferences, meeting with scientists and becoming engaged in the political debate.
The more I learned, the more I was bewildered by the discrepancy between the scientific community’s alarm and general public’s silence. The public seemed relatively unconcerned by the scientists’ daunting predictions, if they were even aware of the predictions at all. The American press showed disproportionately little interest in covering global warming, given the magnitude of the problem. When the press did cover the issue, studies showed that many people tuned out because they felt overwhelmed by the problem and helpless as to the solutions.
I was intrigued by the question of how to capture the public’s attention on a subject as complex as global warming. One night, in a casual discussion with friends, we came up with an idea – “public art with a purpose.” The idea was to put sculptures on the sidewalk, each depicting a solution to global warming, forcing people to confront the issue, but in a non-threatening manner.
As a participant at the 2006 Clinton Global Initiative, I was asked to make a commitment to take action. With the incentive to return to the next annual conference, I put my pledge in writing. I committed to raise awareness of global warming using the medium of public art, and established the non-profit organization, Cool Globes, Inc.
Over the next year, what I discovered was that this was an issue that people were eager to address, particularly when we mentioned the emphasis on solutions. People whom I had never met prior to this project devoted themselves entirely to Cool Globes.
The Chicago exhibit, which featured more than 120 globes, was hugely successful. Millions of people experienced the globes and the exhibit inspired more than 5,000 online pledges by individuals to adopt solutions to global warming. The popularity of Cool Globes in Chicago has inspired other cities across the country and around the world to inquire about the possibility of replicating the project. Cool Globes has gone on the road during across the United States from Washington DC to California to inspire more individuals to implement simple solutions in their lives to fight global warming.
This has been an exciting project from day one. I’m proud of all the hard work by so many who have made this possible. I do believe Cool Globes is inspiring people to make a change and fight global warming.
Form information please contact Megan Scarsella at megan.coolglobes@gmail.com
“The Eye Moment photos by Nolan H. Rhodes”
Theeyeofthemoment21@gmail.com
www.flickr.com/photos/the_eye_of_the_moment
“Any users, found to replicate, reproduce, circulate, distribute, download, manipulate or otherwise use my images without my written consent will be in breach of copyright laws.”
I purposely chose a grainy filter for the photo, in order to create a gloomy atmosphere. Greta’s long days leaning up against the Swedish parliament buildings, striking for stronger action on climate change must have been cold, and sometimes wet.
Clearwater was founded by Pete Seeger, legendary musician, singer, songwriter, folklorist, activist, environmentalist, and peace advocate, and one of the most influential people of the twentieth century. In 1966, in despair over the pollution of his beloved Hudson River, Seeger announced plans to “build a boat to save the river.” At the time, the Hudson was rank with raw sewage, toxic chemicals and oil pollution; fish had disappeared over many miles of its length. Seeger, along with many other concerned individuals, believed a majestic replica of the sloops that sailed the Hudson in the 18th and 19th centuries would bring people to the river where they could experience its beauty and be moved to preserve it. Inspired by that vision, the organization began with the launch of the sloop Clearwater in 1969 —a majestic 106-foot long replica vessel.
The sloop Clearwater is recognized as America’s Environmental Flagship and is among the first vessels in the United States to conduct science-based environmental education aboard a sailing ship, creating the template for environmental education programs around the world. More than half a million people have experienced their first real look at the Hudson River estuary’s ecosystem aboard Clearwater. In 2004, the sloop Clearwater was named to the National Register of Historic Places for its groundbreaking role in the environmental movement.
Today, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. and the iconic sloop Clearwater are carrying forward Pete Seeger’s legacy by partnering with Hudson Valley schools and community leaders to raise the bar of environmental education and encouraging youth to become involved as active stewards of their environment and the Hudson River. Through the organization’s multiple environmental education programs, youth empowerment programs, environmental action campaigns, Green Cities initiatives, and unique approach to public outreach, the sloop Clearwater is recognized as a symbol of grassroots action through hands-on learning, music, and celebration.