I need to name him/her/it. What do you think?
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
2009 Far North Conservation Film Festival
"Featuring a diverse group of films about the conservation of wildlife, cultures, and wild place around the world"
The Sectret Weapon (5 minutes) When attacked by a voracious sunflower star, the helpless keyhole limpet relies on others for its defense. Watch and find out who will come to its aid!This was the first year that I attended FNCFF and I definitely plan on returning next year. This year the films ranged from 2 minutes to 85 minutes. The topics covered everything from sea slugs to how to reorganize our energy usage.
Normally the FNCFF is held in November, but I guess there was a complication with the dates so it was held this weekend. Attendance was very low because it was a beautiful summer evening in Fairbanks, but it was still disappointing that more people didn't show up. I was not able to go to the Saturday's films at UAF Schiable Auditorium due to a rad Citizen Cope concert, but the line up was as follows:
SATURDAY
Addicted to Plastic (85 Minutes) For better and for worse, no ecosystem or segment of human activity has escaped the shrink-wrapped grasp of plastic. Addicted to Plastic is a global journey to investigate what we really know about the material-of-a-thousand uses and why there's so darn much of it. On the way, we discover a toxic legacy and the men and women dedicated to cleaning it up.
The New Environmentalist (27 minutes) The New Environmentalist features intimate portraits of seven passionate and dedicated activists. These are true environmental heroes who have placed themselves squarely in harm's way to battle intimidating adversaries, while others are creating partnerships with unlikely allies. Their goal: Safeguarding Earth's natural resources from shortsighted exploitation and unbridled pollution.
Plight of the Puffins (14 minutes) Off the coast of Iceland and off the beaten track like the Westman Islands, a unique stretch of volcanic activity runs rampant and migratory sea birds are abundant. The world's largest breeding colony of Atlantic Puffins is found here, and for generations hardy islanders hunted the clown-facedbirds for survival. Today puffins provide a link to the past, but Earth's changing climate is threatening Iceland's puffin population. Plight of the Puffin explains the impact of changing global seas on this unique island community.
Recipes for Disaster (63 minutes) Concerned about the world's addiction to oil and it's disastrous environmental consequences for the planet, the filmmaker of Recipes for Disaster convinces his family to go on an "oil diet" for one year. Aiming to reduce their contribution to greenhouse gases, Webster--if not his wife and two sons, who are very reluctant participants--is eager to learn from their experiment and becomes a man on a mission.
SUNDAY: These were all the films that I saw. I think my favorites were Waste = Food and Good Food and the Sea Slugs.
Woven Ways (50 minutes) Woven Ways shares the stories of five Navajo families, the land and the livestock that sustain their culture and economy, and the grave environmental injustices that threaten their health and well being. Deadly uranium and dirty coal power pose serious problem to all those who live on the Navajo reservation in eastern Arizona and western New Mexico. Told in their own words with no scripted narration, Woven Ways is a story of Navajo beauty, hope, and determination to protect the land, air, and water--not just for themselves, but for generations that will come.
Listen to the Ice (7 minutes) The glaciers of Alaska, and Kenai Fjords in specific, have been telling us about climate change for many years. We are only now starting to listen. Join USGS Research Geologist Dr. Bruce Molnia as he investigates the glaciers of Kenai Fjords using repeat photography to document a century of change.
Attack of the Sea Slugs (2 minutes) Bright orange sea pens bring color to the cold stark landscape of the subtidal sand flats of the Puget Sound. Although these sand flats appear desolate, hiding in wait is a creature with an acquired taste for sea pen.
Good Food - Sustainable Food & Farming in the Pacific Northwest (57 minutes) Something remarkable is happening in the Pacific Northwest- After leaving the land for decades, family farmers are making a comeback! They are growing much healthier food at higher quantities, all the while using less energy and water than factory farms. To top it off, all of this food is organic!
Normally the FNCFF is held in November, but I guess there was a complication with the dates so it was held this weekend. Attendance was very low because it was a beautiful summer evening in Fairbanks, but it was still disappointing that more people didn't show up. I was not able to go to the Saturday's films at UAF Schiable Auditorium due to a rad Citizen Cope concert, but the line up was as follows:
SATURDAY
Addicted to Plastic (85 Minutes) For better and for worse, no ecosystem or segment of human activity has escaped the shrink-wrapped grasp of plastic. Addicted to Plastic is a global journey to investigate what we really know about the material-of-a-thousand uses and why there's so darn much of it. On the way, we discover a toxic legacy and the men and women dedicated to cleaning it up.
The New Environmentalist (27 minutes) The New Environmentalist features intimate portraits of seven passionate and dedicated activists. These are true environmental heroes who have placed themselves squarely in harm's way to battle intimidating adversaries, while others are creating partnerships with unlikely allies. Their goal: Safeguarding Earth's natural resources from shortsighted exploitation and unbridled pollution.
Plight of the Puffins (14 minutes) Off the coast of Iceland and off the beaten track like the Westman Islands, a unique stretch of volcanic activity runs rampant and migratory sea birds are abundant. The world's largest breeding colony of Atlantic Puffins is found here, and for generations hardy islanders hunted the clown-facedbirds for survival. Today puffins provide a link to the past, but Earth's changing climate is threatening Iceland's puffin population. Plight of the Puffin explains the impact of changing global seas on this unique island community.
Recipes for Disaster (63 minutes) Concerned about the world's addiction to oil and it's disastrous environmental consequences for the planet, the filmmaker of Recipes for Disaster convinces his family to go on an "oil diet" for one year. Aiming to reduce their contribution to greenhouse gases, Webster--if not his wife and two sons, who are very reluctant participants--is eager to learn from their experiment and becomes a man on a mission.
SUNDAY: These were all the films that I saw. I think my favorites were Waste = Food and Good Food and the Sea Slugs.
Woven Ways (50 minutes) Woven Ways shares the stories of five Navajo families, the land and the livestock that sustain their culture and economy, and the grave environmental injustices that threaten their health and well being. Deadly uranium and dirty coal power pose serious problem to all those who live on the Navajo reservation in eastern Arizona and western New Mexico. Told in their own words with no scripted narration, Woven Ways is a story of Navajo beauty, hope, and determination to protect the land, air, and water--not just for themselves, but for generations that will come.
Listen to the Ice (7 minutes) The glaciers of Alaska, and Kenai Fjords in specific, have been telling us about climate change for many years. We are only now starting to listen. Join USGS Research Geologist Dr. Bruce Molnia as he investigates the glaciers of Kenai Fjords using repeat photography to document a century of change.
Attack of the Sea Slugs (2 minutes) Bright orange sea pens bring color to the cold stark landscape of the subtidal sand flats of the Puget Sound. Although these sand flats appear desolate, hiding in wait is a creature with an acquired taste for sea pen.
Good Food - Sustainable Food & Farming in the Pacific Northwest (57 minutes) Something remarkable is happening in the Pacific Northwest- After leaving the land for decades, family farmers are making a comeback! They are growing much healthier food at higher quantities, all the while using less energy and water than factory farms. To top it off, all of this food is organic!
Bottle This (11 minutes) Bottle This is a pictoral essay on the merits of drinking tap water over bottled water.
Waste = Food (51 minutes) In a world where more societies with high consumption rates generate excessive amounts of waste, traditional environmental notions of reducing or recycling waste products are no longer sufficient. This movie explores the new theory of ecologically intelligent design that producers' products, when discarded should be recyclable and biodegradable.
TRAILER:
FULL MOVIE:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3058533428492266222
Kilowatt Ours - A plan to Re-Energize America (12 minutes) Kilowatt Ours traces the wires from our light switches to environmental catastrophes such as air pollution, childhood asthma and global warming. The filmmaker takes viewers on a thought - provoking search for solutions and save consumers money, strengthen America's economy, and improve the quality of our lives and the environment.
The Eat Local Movement and Energy Conservation
The challenges of energy conservation, preserving our earth, and reversing the damage that we have done, encompasses all aspects of our society. To fully understand the issue we must understand that it is an issue involving the economy, science, politics, philosophy, morals, ethics, public health, and virtually every moment of your existence. The problem has many aspects, but that means with creativity and ingenuity there is the possibility for even more solutions.
The best solutions are those in which every person can help with. "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting the same results" is a famous saying credited to Albert Einstein. If we wish to change humanities effects and attitude toward our planet, we must change our collective behavior.
The eat local movement which has flourished in the pacific northwest is a perfect example of a solution of this kind. Not only does it reduce the negative impact we have on the planet, but it also has a POSITIVE IMPACT. It has created an awareness of the connection between farmer and consumer, as well as how much waste is produced, how expensive, and how much excess energy is used in industrial large scale global farming. From field to fork the average meal travels 1,500 miles (Pirog, Rich. Food, Fuel, and Freeways: An Iowa perspective on how far food travels, fuel usage, and greenhouse gas emissions. Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. Ames, Iowa. June 2001). Another study in Iowa found that a regional diet consumed 17 times less oil and gas than a typical diet based on food shipped across the country. Eating local and buying produce grown in your area saves energy, vitalizes the local economy, gives you the freshest and healthiest possible produce, and gives the consumer a personal connection to what sustains them. I have chosen to highlight this lifestyle change first because I have a personal connection to it.
This summer I decided to work at Calypso Farms in Ester, AK and volunteer at the local school garden at Pearl Creek Elementary where I get work with middle schoolers and help them learn about agriculture, ecology, and gardening. Calypso Farms is dedicated to producing locally grown organic produce and educating the community about the benefits of eating local.
above: me and several of the kids I work with in the garden washing harvested salad greens
The main operation is a Community Shared Agriculture (CSA). People buy shares of produce at the beginning of the year and then every week they get a portion of various vegetables harvested. The five school gardens are an extension of calypso and they run CSA's and this year they began selling produce at the farmers market. I had the opportunity to sell some of the produce at the farmers market. Not only are people buying veggies harvested that day, but they also get to meet the people that grew the veggies. This gives them vital social connection to their food and it's definitely a fun experience.
People are proud to buy locally produced food because the money goes directly to the school gardens, Calypso, and the gardeners, so that they can continue producing the highest quality organic food with the least amount of impact on the earth. Buy buying locally grown organic food you can be assured that the least amount of energy is used, no harmful pesticides or chemicals are used, the people that grew the food love what they do and put their heart and souls into growing, and that you are helping vitalize your local economy. Though it may be cheaper NOW to buy food at a grocery store that was grown on an industrial farm thousands of miles away, it will not be cheaper later when you have to pay for the negative impact on ourselves and the planet.
If you really want to save energy in getting food from the field and onto your table you can try growing your own garden. No fossil fuels are used to get the food into your stomach and to give you energy and life. I have small garden where I grow potatoes, zucchini, carrots, a variety of lettuce and greens, celery, and a variety of herbs. It can be hard work, but it is extremely satisfying knowing that the food you are eating was grown by you and not only didn't harm the planet, but improved it.
Farmers markets and personal gardens are not just for vegetarian hippies. If everyone in the community made a commitment to buy locally, there would be more cash flow in the local economy and thus everyone, from businesses to schools to government, would benefit. As inhabitants of the earth there is also a moral obligation to understand how everyone is connected and to appreciate how we use the land to sustain us.
In Alaska it is difficult to find a large variety of local produce, but eating locally can be expanded to mean buying apples from California instead of New Zealand. Every mile that the food doesn't have to travel is gas that isn't used to transport it and thus carbon that is not emitted into the atmosphere.
WHY EAT LOCAL:
-more money in local economy
-food travels shorter distances and therefore less energy is used, less carbon emitted
-better for air quality and reduction in pollution
-tastes better, fresher, no chemicals
-keeps you in touch with the seasons
-gives you a vital social/community connection to your food, you know who grew it
-reassurance that the food was grown with heart and soul
-explore a different aspect of your home
-discover new flavors
-be healthy
A list of farmer's markets in Alaska where you can buy local produce and goods
Also Calypso Farm has a little store on cafepress where you can buy merchandise on ecofriendly products with various eat local and calypso logos on it. check it out!
The best solutions are those in which every person can help with. "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting the same results" is a famous saying credited to Albert Einstein. If we wish to change humanities effects and attitude toward our planet, we must change our collective behavior.
The eat local movement which has flourished in the pacific northwest is a perfect example of a solution of this kind. Not only does it reduce the negative impact we have on the planet, but it also has a POSITIVE IMPACT. It has created an awareness of the connection between farmer and consumer, as well as how much waste is produced, how expensive, and how much excess energy is used in industrial large scale global farming. From field to fork the average meal travels 1,500 miles (Pirog, Rich. Food, Fuel, and Freeways: An Iowa perspective on how far food travels, fuel usage, and greenhouse gas emissions. Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. Ames, Iowa. June 2001). Another study in Iowa found that a regional diet consumed 17 times less oil and gas than a typical diet based on food shipped across the country. Eating local and buying produce grown in your area saves energy, vitalizes the local economy, gives you the freshest and healthiest possible produce, and gives the consumer a personal connection to what sustains them. I have chosen to highlight this lifestyle change first because I have a personal connection to it.
This summer I decided to work at Calypso Farms in Ester, AK and volunteer at the local school garden at Pearl Creek Elementary where I get work with middle schoolers and help them learn about agriculture, ecology, and gardening. Calypso Farms is dedicated to producing locally grown organic produce and educating the community about the benefits of eating local.
above: me and several of the kids I work with in the garden washing harvested salad greensThe main operation is a Community Shared Agriculture (CSA). People buy shares of produce at the beginning of the year and then every week they get a portion of various vegetables harvested. The five school gardens are an extension of calypso and they run CSA's and this year they began selling produce at the farmers market. I had the opportunity to sell some of the produce at the farmers market. Not only are people buying veggies harvested that day, but they also get to meet the people that grew the veggies. This gives them vital social connection to their food and it's definitely a fun experience.
People are proud to buy locally produced food because the money goes directly to the school gardens, Calypso, and the gardeners, so that they can continue producing the highest quality organic food with the least amount of impact on the earth. Buy buying locally grown organic food you can be assured that the least amount of energy is used, no harmful pesticides or chemicals are used, the people that grew the food love what they do and put their heart and souls into growing, and that you are helping vitalize your local economy. Though it may be cheaper NOW to buy food at a grocery store that was grown on an industrial farm thousands of miles away, it will not be cheaper later when you have to pay for the negative impact on ourselves and the planet.
If you really want to save energy in getting food from the field and onto your table you can try growing your own garden. No fossil fuels are used to get the food into your stomach and to give you energy and life. I have small garden where I grow potatoes, zucchini, carrots, a variety of lettuce and greens, celery, and a variety of herbs. It can be hard work, but it is extremely satisfying knowing that the food you are eating was grown by you and not only didn't harm the planet, but improved it.
Farmers markets and personal gardens are not just for vegetarian hippies. If everyone in the community made a commitment to buy locally, there would be more cash flow in the local economy and thus everyone, from businesses to schools to government, would benefit. As inhabitants of the earth there is also a moral obligation to understand how everyone is connected and to appreciate how we use the land to sustain us.
In Alaska it is difficult to find a large variety of local produce, but eating locally can be expanded to mean buying apples from California instead of New Zealand. Every mile that the food doesn't have to travel is gas that isn't used to transport it and thus carbon that is not emitted into the atmosphere.
WHY EAT LOCAL:
-more money in local economy
-food travels shorter distances and therefore less energy is used, less carbon emitted
-better for air quality and reduction in pollution
-tastes better, fresher, no chemicals
-keeps you in touch with the seasons
-gives you a vital social/community connection to your food, you know who grew it
-reassurance that the food was grown with heart and soul
-explore a different aspect of your home
-discover new flavors
-be healthy
A list of farmer's markets in Alaska where you can buy local produce and goods
Also Calypso Farm has a little store on cafepress where you can buy merchandise on ecofriendly products with various eat local and calypso logos on it. check it out!
reading list!
I've been neglecting my personal responsibilities to the yeti project recently. However, I did get through most of the reading I had planned and I feel slightly more informed about energy conservation and living an ecofriendly lifestyle. As with most interesting and complex subjects, the more you find out, the more you realize there is to learn. I've been rather overwhelmed. If you want some more than light reading to occupy you on your down time I highly recommend all of these books listed below:
Carbon strategies : how leading companies are reducing their climate
change footprint / Andrew J. Hoffman ; with contributions from Douglas
Glancy ... [et al.].
Not only did this book give interesting strategies and solutions to energy conservation and reducing the carbon footprint on a business level, it also proved that it saves a business money to go green. A business is at risk of losing money and creating otherwise unnecessary costs if they chose to remain ignorant of the changing world around them.
Climate Change 2007 : the physical science basis : contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change / edited by Susan Solomon ... [et al.]
Basically a compilation of a lot of studies proving that climate change is real and even more suggestions on how to prevent it.
Climate change : science, strategies, & solutions / Eileen Claussen,
executive editor, Vicki Arroyo Cochran, managing editor, Debra P. Davis,
editor.
Concise overall view of the issues we are faced with and will be faced with and possibly practical solutions.
Human-induced climate change : an interdisciplinary assessment / edited by Michael E. Schlesinger ... [et al.].
An attempt to identify all the ways humans have caused an impact on the climate and the underlying sources.
Perspectives on climate change : science, economics, politics, ethics /
edited by Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, Richard Howarth.
Various essays that individually attack the problem of climate change from within one area, but when read as a compilation, solidify the idea that climate change is an issue that spans every area of our society.
Any way that you can be more informed is beneficial. Browse the internet, read an article in the newspaper, glace at a magazine; whatever gives you more knowledge than you had before. And then tell your friends!
Carbon strategies : how leading companies are reducing their climatechange footprint / Andrew J. Hoffman ; with contributions from Douglas
Glancy ... [et al.].
Not only did this book give interesting strategies and solutions to energy conservation and reducing the carbon footprint on a business level, it also proved that it saves a business money to go green. A business is at risk of losing money and creating otherwise unnecessary costs if they chose to remain ignorant of the changing world around them.
Climate Change 2007 : the physical science basis : contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the IntergovernmentalPanel on Climate Change / edited by Susan Solomon ... [et al.]
Basically a compilation of a lot of studies proving that climate change is real and even more suggestions on how to prevent it.
Climate change : science, strategies, & solutions / Eileen Claussen,executive editor, Vicki Arroyo Cochran, managing editor, Debra P. Davis,
editor.
Concise overall view of the issues we are faced with and will be faced with and possibly practical solutions.
Human-induced climate change : an interdisciplinary assessment / edited by Michael E. Schlesinger ... [et al.].An attempt to identify all the ways humans have caused an impact on the climate and the underlying sources.
Perspectives on climate change : science, economics, politics, ethics /edited by Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, Richard Howarth.
Various essays that individually attack the problem of climate change from within one area, but when read as a compilation, solidify the idea that climate change is an issue that spans every area of our society.
Any way that you can be more informed is beneficial. Browse the internet, read an article in the newspaper, glace at a magazine; whatever gives you more knowledge than you had before. And then tell your friends!
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