Dec
16
President Bush Addresses Global Warming: A Video
December 16, 2007 | 2 Comments
I read a post a few days ago about how climate change is taken “too seriously” and how few are ignorant of its dangerous realities. After reflecting on the sentiment, I realized that the blogger was correct and that conservationists are in dire need of some bouyancy. So, without further ado, I give to you a rare and candid interview with President Bush at his Crawford, Texas ranch…
Dec
4
Track Facts: Discovery of Yeti Tracks Improbable
December 4, 2007 | 1 Comment
Josh Gates, host of “Destination Truth” on the Sci Fi channel, claims that his camera crew found prints of the legendary Yeti in the Himalaya of Nepal on November 28th. According to Gates, the crew managed to lift 3 plasters, 2 of which were partial, from “rock and sand.” Having read Matthiessen’s “The Snow Leopard” while traveling through the Himalaya 3 years ago, I have since subscribed to the belief that an enigmatic creature exists there.
The cultural history of the area, the extreme terrain, and consistent, documented encounters are not all for naught, in my opinion. Gate’s report, however, smacks of publicity-mongering. Ang Tshering, president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, spoke with the crew and remained skeptical, noting that it was probably a Himalayan black bear, and that traditional legend holds the Yeti has 4 toes.
Let us examine the track facts, which is all we have: 3 were made in rocky soil on the bank of the Manju river, only one of which yielded a complete cast, seen above. There were no other tracks or sign left in the area, indeed nothing except these tracks that “were relatively fresh, left some 24 hours before we found them.”
Gates, unfamiliar with the area and not a tracking expert, is quite comfortable making assessments in a medium that is difficult, dynamic, and unreliable. Gate’s appearances in “Ghost Hunters,” “Destination Truth,” and other sensational media do not lend the actor much credibility, either. Is the Yeti cool? Yes. Does the Yeti exist? Maybe. Did Josh Gates discover Yeti tracks? Doubtful.
Dec
2
My First Earthquake! A 7.4 in the Eastern Caribbean!
December 2, 2007 | 1 Comment
I experienced my first earthquake this Thursday! I was in class reviewing for an exam when the walls, desks, and chairs began to shake. A friend of mine sitting beside me, an Antiguan, was the first to notice and calmly told me what was happening. My reply was something along the lines of “Shut up, it’s probably a cement truck passing by!” But it grew more intense and I saw trees outside quake in the windless afternoon. My friend called out, “Hey teacher, earthquake!” but she took no notice until his mantra grew to a quick roar. All the students began to scream and run outside of the building. Trees shook, glass rippled, first-timers such as myself laughed nervously for the twenty seconds it lasted. Stories about the quake of ‘74 began to make their ways through the crowd…
The epicenter was located approximately 15 miles north of Martinique, 90 miles below sea level, and the tremors were felt from Suriname to Puerto Rico. It was the first earthquake I have ever been awake for, having slept through numerous ones in Alaska. Fortunately, no one was hurt, little structural damage occurred, and I walked away with an invaluable experience!
Nov
26
Extreme Skiing: Jamie Pierre Video
November 26, 2007 | 3 Comments
Here, Pierre skis off a 255 foot cliff, lands on his head, and lives to tell the tale. Did I mention he doesn’t wear a helmet? Stephen Regenold’s Gear Junkie is where I first heard about this madman. Check out Gear Junkie to read Regenold’s interview of Pierre.
Nov
17
How to Green my Sex Life? A Quick Look into the Ubiquitous Green Trend
November 17, 2007 | 2 Comments
I read an article written by Jacob Gordon entitled “How to Green Your Sex Life” which underscored some important questions we should be asking ourselves as individuals, companies, and countries. Has the green trend gone too far? Is the rise of the sustainable, environmentally-friendly public relations campaigns self-inflated by the media; is it bandwagon hype, greenwashing? Is my underwear hurting poor indigenous farmers? And curiosity, last but not least, begs to know whether corporations are investing in marketing schemes out of self-interest or in sustainability models out of profit-driven incentive and true ethical motivations.
To answer the first question, yes. When I am advised to take showers with my special someone to conserve water and be romantic at the same time, and then risk censure for staying under the water for too long, there exists a problem. I am embarassed for the folks out there who take the following sentence seriously: “A nice bike ride for two is a fossil-fuel-free way to get the blood flowing and can also be quite stimulating, especially for the ladies.” Or perhaps this one: “Go for the green lover. Farmers markets, Critical Mass, your local Green Drinks, Whole Foods checkout isle can be great places to meet people.” All of these places are great venues, I am sure, but do we need to be told where to find dates on grounds of ethical responsiblity? I believe people are intelligent enough to make these decisions on their own. The crux is articles such as this make the green trend more of a trend and less of a catalytic reform movement with true staying power, i.e., sustainability. Does that word sound familiar to anyone?
From various celebrities championing disappearing species to Subaru’s commercials showing deer in forests surrounding their manufacturing plants, we bear constant witness to a new environmental consciousness. Many argue with merit that businesses are only superficially adopting practices because their marketing budgets are absorbing a large measure of these eco-trend initiatives. This much is true. We have seen similar marketing/public relations trends following the entire “do you feel secure” schtik following 9-11, or the new age progressive jab aimed at the boomer demographic. Indeed, there was a similar public relations “greening” in 1990 to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of Earth Day. Today’s green trend, however, has an enormous impact on public perception, corporate identity, and, most importantly, the stock market. The trade association Social Investment Forum calculates that mutual funds investing in companies with SRIs, or “socially responsible investments,” have gone from $12 billion in 1995 up to $178 billion in 2005 . In other words, progressive sustainability has appreciable momentum in the form of big, big money.
Will businesses prioritize their responsibility to the world over profit? Few to none, most likely. We must be realistic and hope that companies current interest in the green trend will lead them to true and lasting reform of structure, finance, and investment based on sustainability. Perhaps companies will begin to see that meeting the demands of a new century will be determined by intelligent and careful use of global resources, and that good things can result from sustainability: long-term profit stability, innovation, flexibility, and consumer trust.
No bamboo leggings were worn during the writing of this article.
Nov
13
Insane Offroad Video: Jeep vs. 20 Story Dune
November 13, 2007 | 2 Comments
What makes a good offroad driver? Judging from this video it is a combination of skill, courage, and just plain luck. This dune is immense! When he rolls onto the uphill passenger-side notice how he waits until the exact second the driverside tires contact the dune to accelerate, spinning around to face downhill. His timing is perfect!
Nov
11
Parrotfish Decline Affecting Reefs in Caribbean
November 11, 2007 | 2 Comments
First, I would like to apologize to my readers and fellow bloggers for the recent lack of posts. My class schedule and study routine have made it hard to get out and make time to write, especially cellular biology. That being said, a Nature research piece by marine biologist Peter Mumby, “Thresholds and the Resilience of Caribbean Reefs,” is making waves in the science community.
Snapper and grouper overfishing have turned commercial fishermens’ attention to the parrotfish, a colorful Nemo-like fellow fond of scraping algae from coral with a tough eponymous beak. Post-glut he will then void his meal as sand, producing up to 2000 lbs. of the stuff a year. I have seen these guys when I am out fishing on the bluffs - and they are gorgeous.
Unfortunately, as more Caribbean restaurants choose to serve them because they’re cheaper and more available, many coral reefs are succumbing to seaweed and algae suffocation. Eli, at Adventure Antigua Blog, bemoaned this in September, explaining how guys pick them off indiscriminately or how they get caught as by-catch in traps. Marine biologists are scrambling to find ways to protect them outside of preserves and protected areas, but the bottom line is that there are few to zero conservation policies or laws in place in a lot of Caribbean countries. According to Dr. Mumby’s team, the most dreadful part is that once the reef systems delicate balance is tipped in favor of the algae, there is little it can do to self-repair. It is imperative then to do what we can now to save what is left of an already devastated reef system around Antigua and the rest of the Caribbean.
I contacted Dr. Mumby with some questions via email and he replied that upon his return to the UK he would by happy to provide more specific information and address any concerns we might have. I look particularly forward to hearing Dr. Mumby’s suggestions about what we can do to counter the parrotfish decline and covering this in a future post.
Photograph courtesy of Evan D’Alessandro.
Oct
23
Get Thee to a Liquor Store: Southeast U.S. Drought & The Neem Tree
October 23, 2007 | Leave a Comment
As drought in the Southeast U.S. worsens, organisms who live in or rely heavily upon the water continue to suffer greatly. I am put in mind of a frequent sight in Antigua, the neem tree, or Azadirachta indica, a recently introduced hardy evergreen well adapted to the island’s arid soil conditions. Introduced from India, it has a strong root network and can brown or shed its leaves in bad times to maximize its water efficiency, surviving dry seasons that last up to 8 months. The tree has a rich, documented history of medicinal use and can serve a number of purposes when travelling through the bush: twig as toothbrush, leaves as antibacterial, flowers (seen above) as food, seed oil as insect repellant.
Unfortunately, the ecosystems of the Southeast, unlike the neem tree, are not set up to withstand extended droughts. Many online reports herald this as the worst drought in a century; for North Carolina it is the second in less than ten years. As waterfowl impoundments run low, the forecasts make no promise of heavy rains in the coming months.The News and Observer reports that Duke Energy has reduced hydroelectric power for the state by 63%, a pretty significant amount. When Hurricane Fran tore through the Piedmont in ‘96 Governor Hunt declared a state of emergency; perhaps we are looking down a barrel of the same bluing. So, my advice to my fellow North Carolinians and Southerners is this: get thee to the liquor store, as they are not allowed to sell once the state of emergency is declared!
Oct
13
Gotta Light? Petzl’s Zipka Plus Headlamp
October 13, 2007 | 2 Comments
Weighing in at an impressive 65 grams with batteries, I just received Petzl’s Zipka Plus headlamp as a birthday present from my friend Kat. Accustomed to the traditional adjustable strap, I was at first a little hesitant to fit the rectractable Dyneema cord around my big head. After a few times though, it felt perfectly natural. What is Dyneema you might ask? According to the manufacturer, Dyneema is the world’s strongest fiber, a polyethylene synthetic that is 15 times stronger than steel, used in industrial fishing nets, military armor, and so forth. Cool right, but what are the advantages of the rectractable cord? It cuts down on bulk and weight, can secure around a wrist or tentpole, and does not require adjusting if lent to a friend.
I have to say that the Zipka Plus’ 4 LED beam, regardless of the three variable intensities and a strobe setting (who has ever used the strobe setting, really?) is magnificent. Last night I went searching for two lost puppies in nearby fields and was able to cover ground quickly and thoroughly. It puts my Tikka Plus to shame, although my Tikka is pretty worn out. I have yet to see how efficiently it uses the batteries and whether or not it and the spring on the cord will stand up to consistent abuse in the field. That being said, my first impression of the little lightweight is a good one: I give him a 8.5 out of 10. If any readers own one and want to post their impressions feel free as I am curious to see what others think of it. Thanks Kat for a lovely birthday present!
Oct
3
America’s Report Card on the Environment
October 3, 2007 | 4 Comments
A growing majority of Americans are concerned, even pessimistic about the fate of the environment, a recent poll conducted by Stanford University’s Woods Institute for the Environment and the Associated Press shows. In a country that seems to equate environmental health with verifiable evidence of global warming, an impressive 84% of Americans believe that global temperature is increasing. Demonstrating an interesting shift, 65% said that they are now extremely sure that global warming is occurring, a significant increase from 2006’s 47%. This increase can be partly attributed to Al Gore’s Academy Award winning documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth,” and the aggressive media campaign that followed in its wake. There are other factors as well.
President Bush’s decision last week to again sidestep the Kyoto protocol, an international treaty signed by 90 countries to reduce greenhouse gases, and hold his own global climate change conference (consisting of 15 countries) in Washington, is a clear indication that the current administration cares only for an American economy free of international controls. According to the poll, a staggering 20% of Americans believe that the President is taking good care of the environment. What is sad, I think, is that the economy will eventually surrender to the forces we are now deprioritizing. We will forsake tomorrow, it seems, for today. In the summer of 2003, I worked with five other guys chainsawing swathes through fallen spruces that lay like pick-up sticks across 100 miles of trails in the Katchemak Bay backcountry of Southcentral Alaska. Spruce species account for most of the canopy, and increasingly mild winters saw higher populations of spruce bark beetles surviving and then chomping their fill.
Stories such as this one put a face on the statistics and politics. For those interested in reading more about the infestation, check out Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game website.
Despite the fact that most Americans agree on this issue, the most frustrating angle to America’s Report Card on the Environment is that in the last seven years we have clearly failed to hold the Bush Administration accountable for their actions and or the lack thereof. Congress remains putatively impotent to effect positive change, the environment continues to suffer, and we are left to content ourselves with CNN’s coverage of such tragicomic charades as Bush’s “global climate change” conference. It seems we have all bought tickets to the play, so we might as well watch it, right?
