Since hurricane Sandy hit the Eastern seaboard of the US several weeks ago, the theme of resilient communities has been at the forefront. Coupled with resiliency the impact of climate change has been the underlying theme. One of the greatest challenges of understanding climate change is seeing the connections of episodic weather patterns over time. In addition, witnessing the changes on our planet has been difficult to grasp.
The movie Chasing Ice, Directed and Produced by Jeff Orlowski and featuring the stunning photography of James Balog provides a stunning record of the impact of climate change as reflected on the vanishing ice around the globe. The film conveys the beauty and horror of witnessing melting glaciers in Alaska, Greenland, Iceland among other locations. We learn about Balog's and his team's determination to document the vanishing ice while photographing the melting ice under very harsh conditions over several years.
The melting ice caps and calving glaciers provide a visible and powerful way of seeing how rapidly our planet is changing. And we see how real these changes are and what actions we must take. The website provides useful resources on how to support the scientific work and how to get involved.
Similar to Al Gore's movie An Inconvenient Truth, which elevated the climate crisis to a global level, Chasing Ice will likely follow suit in alerting us about the incredible impacts of our fast changing climate as seen through the melting of glaciers. The movie succeeds in illustrating the passion of James Balog in his quest to tell the story of the vanishing ice, and why we all should wake up and do what we can to reduce the impact of the climate crisis.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Monday, October 29, 2012
Whidbey Geodome Project
One of the most awe-inspiring events at this year's Bioneers conference (Oct. 19-21) in San Rafael, California was the Whidbey Geodome's Earth Portal. As a special project of New Stories (a non-profit supporting emerging stories as a tool for understanding humanity), The Earth Portal provides an immersive multimedia experience where we can take a journey from the Earth to our solar system and beyond to infinite galaxies. The Geodome reminds me of the classic Charles and Ray Eames "Powers of Ten" film where we can play with scale.... only in this case we pull away from the Earth, our galaxy and way beyond to an amazing perspective on our place in the universe. The technology is also very well-suited to learn about the many of the ecological issues that we're confronting here on Earth including climate change, fracking, loss of biodiversity, etc.
Everyone who watched the show with me was awestruck by the remarkable perspective that the Geodome delivers. This is a remarkable tool for schools to inspire students (and adults!) about our planet and ways of understanding our role in the universe. Because it's portable, it can be set up temporarily at schools, conferences, fairs, etc. For the past six months, it was set up in Seattle as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the World's Fair.
I look forward to hearing more about the Whidbey Geodome as it becomes better known and experienced by everyone. Check it out!
Everyone who watched the show with me was awestruck by the remarkable perspective that the Geodome delivers. This is a remarkable tool for schools to inspire students (and adults!) about our planet and ways of understanding our role in the universe. Because it's portable, it can be set up temporarily at schools, conferences, fairs, etc. For the past six months, it was set up in Seattle as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the World's Fair.
I look forward to hearing more about the Whidbey Geodome as it becomes better known and experienced by everyone. Check it out!
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Google Maps Takes to the Sea
Recently, I learned that Google maps are now being developed for the world's underwater world. Treehugger's article, "Google Unveils Stunning Underwater Street View" (9/26/2012) describes Google's partnership with Catlin Seaview Service to map underwater environments.
Underwater views range from Hawaii, to the Great Barrier Reef to the Philippines. For example, see the Google Maps Ocean collection. Remarkable how the technology that has rapidly spread on land for directions and landmarks is now taking to the sea.
I hope the fascination with these ocean maps helps to motivate enthusiasts to take action to get in the water and protect marine biodiversity.
Underwater views range from Hawaii, to the Great Barrier Reef to the Philippines. For example, see the Google Maps Ocean collection. Remarkable how the technology that has rapidly spread on land for directions and landmarks is now taking to the sea.
I hope the fascination with these ocean maps helps to motivate enthusiasts to take action to get in the water and protect marine biodiversity.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Homo Evolutis?
Recently I watch a TED talk by Juan Enriquez: "Will Our Kids be a Different Species." which touch on bind-bending ideas related to human evolution and biotechnology. It's remarkable to think how rapidly science is taking us to the future. Particularly with respect to stem cell research. How, for example, scientists have taken skin cells from a mouse and been able to recreate a duplicate mouse. And how other organs such as livers (as well as bladders and tracheas) are being reproduced from skin cells. So perhaps we can reproduce any body part or an entire person in the future. And what if we're then able to download peoples memories and implant those memories into another person. These are mind-bending scenarios which quickly bring up a whole slew of moral and ethical questions.
In the bigger picture, we have technology moving at lightening speed with minimal awareness by the general public of these types of experiments being conducted. It's also remarkable to think, as Enriquez points out that perhaps we are in the cusp of a new human species— one being adopted by our kids and lived by our grandkids. His description of the astonishing increase in autism rates just in the last ten years brings up issues and some anxiety about what may be causing this change.
I like how Enriquez presents the facts and lets his audience come so their own conclusions. He makes me curious and want to learn more. You might also enjoy another one of Enriquez's TED talk "The Next Species of Human," where he discusses the economy and it's relationship to our evolution.
In the bigger picture, we have technology moving at lightening speed with minimal awareness by the general public of these types of experiments being conducted. It's also remarkable to think, as Enriquez points out that perhaps we are in the cusp of a new human species— one being adopted by our kids and lived by our grandkids. His description of the astonishing increase in autism rates just in the last ten years brings up issues and some anxiety about what may be causing this change.
I like how Enriquez presents the facts and lets his audience come so their own conclusions. He makes me curious and want to learn more. You might also enjoy another one of Enriquez's TED talk "The Next Species of Human," where he discusses the economy and it's relationship to our evolution.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Bridging Climate Change: Science and Psychology
Two articles in the last couple of weeks present important aspects of the climate change issue. The first is Bill McKibben's piece in Rolling Stone Magazine, "Global Warming's Terrifying New Math: Three simple numbers that add up to global catastrophe - and that make clear who the real enemy is." (July 19, 2012), and the second is David Robert's article, "Why climate change doesn’t spark moral outrage, and how it could." (July 27, 2012) in Grist.
McKibben points to very sobering statistics and the dire consequences regarding the global temperature rise, the fossil fuel still in the ground and planned for extraction its implications for all life on the planet. McKibben also points to making the fossil fuel industry accountable by putting a price on carbon. As he says:
"There's only one problem: Putting a price on carbon would reduce the profitability of the fossil-fuel industry. After all, the answer to the question "How high should the price of carbon be?" is "High enough to keep those carbon reserves that would take us past two degrees safely in the ground." The higher the price on carbon, the more of those reserves would be worthless. The fight, in the end, is about whether the industry will succeed in its fight to keep its special pollution break alive past the point of climate catastrophe, or whether, in the economists' parlance, we'll make them internalize those externalities."
On the psychological side, Roberts investigates why the climate issue has failed to gain substantial traction. Roberts alludes to a paper in Nature Climate Change called “Climate change and moral judgment,” by Ezra Markowitz and Azim Shariff, of the University of Oregon Psychology and Environmental Studies departments. Among the reasons cited for why climate change hasn't gained traction: climate's abstract aspect, its difficulty to understand, and its unintentional consequences. Some of the strategies for more effective communication about climate change include: using existing moral values that appeal to a wider audience, emphasizing the burdens instead the benefits for future generations, and highlighting positive social norms and the importance of peer pressure.
There's much to digest in these two articles. Both do a good job of bridging the science, psychology and strategies for solving this critical issue.
McKibben points to very sobering statistics and the dire consequences regarding the global temperature rise, the fossil fuel still in the ground and planned for extraction its implications for all life on the planet. McKibben also points to making the fossil fuel industry accountable by putting a price on carbon. As he says:
"There's only one problem: Putting a price on carbon would reduce the profitability of the fossil-fuel industry. After all, the answer to the question "How high should the price of carbon be?" is "High enough to keep those carbon reserves that would take us past two degrees safely in the ground." The higher the price on carbon, the more of those reserves would be worthless. The fight, in the end, is about whether the industry will succeed in its fight to keep its special pollution break alive past the point of climate catastrophe, or whether, in the economists' parlance, we'll make them internalize those externalities."
On the psychological side, Roberts investigates why the climate issue has failed to gain substantial traction. Roberts alludes to a paper in Nature Climate Change called “Climate change and moral judgment,” by Ezra Markowitz and Azim Shariff, of the University of Oregon Psychology and Environmental Studies departments. Among the reasons cited for why climate change hasn't gained traction: climate's abstract aspect, its difficulty to understand, and its unintentional consequences. Some of the strategies for more effective communication about climate change include: using existing moral values that appeal to a wider audience, emphasizing the burdens instead the benefits for future generations, and highlighting positive social norms and the importance of peer pressure.
There's much to digest in these two articles. Both do a good job of bridging the science, psychology and strategies for solving this critical issue.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Climate Change and Faith in Humanity
I recently saw a speech that Senator John Kerry delivered which does a great job of encapsulating the context and background of the climate change issue. (video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yI_V-3KJtJM&feature=youtube_gdata_player). Kerry traces the commitment that the US Administration made in 1992 at the Rio Summit to take a leadership role and how that has failed to materialize over the last 20 years. He also refers to David Orr's book, Down to the Wire, which does a superb job of outlining the choices before us with regards to climate change. Now that the Rio+20 Summit has concluded, there is no binding agreement signed. It appears that the real leadership on many environmental issues and particularly on climate change is being taken by cities from around the world that recognize the importance of implementing climate adaptation strategies. There have also be advances made by parts of the commercial sector that see the importance of economic savings in these strategies.
In a larger context, a colleague sent me a link to an encouraging set of photos describing acts of heroism and kindness. These stories titled, "Restore Your Faith in Humanity" provide an uplifting view of the positive capacity of the human spirit. Check out photos at: http://www.buzzfeed.com/expresident/pictures-that-will-restore-your-faith-in-humanity).
In a larger context, a colleague sent me a link to an encouraging set of photos describing acts of heroism and kindness. These stories titled, "Restore Your Faith in Humanity" provide an uplifting view of the positive capacity of the human spirit. Check out photos at: http://www.buzzfeed.com/expresident/pictures-that-will-restore-your-faith-in-humanity).
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Climate Change Education
Understanding climate change is challenging. Many people feel that because they are not scientists climate change is beyond them. In fact, part of the challenge in understanding climate change is that it's one of these complex issues, like the "green economy," that can quickly become overwhelming. Although having a science background is certainly useful to get an in-depth scientific understanding of the climate change issue, everyone can get educated about the environmental, economic, and social implications of this important global issue. Then, we have a better idea of ways in which to act.
To this end, I want to point to two websites that I've found particularly useful in understanding and keeping up to date with topics related to climate change.
1) CAMEL (Climate, Adaptation, Mitigation, E-Learning); An incredibly well-reserached, free, resource for educators.
2) Climate Communication. A comprehensive site covering the science, current info., action steps, etc. related to climate change. Concise and well-researched.
With the enormous amounts of information about climate change, it's useful to identify a couple of sources that provide accessible, clear information.
To this end, I want to point to two websites that I've found particularly useful in understanding and keeping up to date with topics related to climate change.
1) CAMEL (Climate, Adaptation, Mitigation, E-Learning); An incredibly well-reserached, free, resource for educators.
2) Climate Communication. A comprehensive site covering the science, current info., action steps, etc. related to climate change. Concise and well-researched.
With the enormous amounts of information about climate change, it's useful to identify a couple of sources that provide accessible, clear information.
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