A debate rages whether human beings are the cause of climate change in the form of global warming. I've read arguments on both sides and feel it is caused both by people and natural forces that have caused climate change since the planet formed. But one thing is certain : humans are the main cause of air and water pollution, species extinction, deforestation, strip mining, nuclear proliferation, urban sprawl, infrastructure disasters, habitat degradation, wetland elimination, the list goes on and on. Those are the things that humans cause which we should be concentrating on fixing. With those things addressed, climate change will take care of itself.
11/6/09
When you eat shrimp, you may be inadvertently killing sea turtles, unless the shrimp were caught by U.S. fishermen. Boats from other countries use nets that catch shrimp but trap and drown sea turtles as well. The turtles need to come up for air periodically and the nets, which are 6 to 7 miles long, prevent that. These foreign boats are making billions at the expense of these magnificent sea creatures. American boats use special nets that are designed to allow the turtles to escape. Check with your grocer where your shrimp come from.
10/24/09
Support 350.org to help reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. Go to their website and learn what you can do.
4/4/09
A bill presently before Congress represents a grave threat to American small farmers, including organic growers. The bill is back by the huge conglomerate Monsanto who wants control of how food is grown in this country. It is an insidious bill and must be stopped. Read the following letter and take action immediately by calling your Senators and Congresspeople to register your opinion. This must be done soon since the bill is being rushed through while the country is preoccupied with the economy.
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Here is the letter, which I received via my wife's daughter in Brazil:
Hello World,
If you are one of the many American Alumni please spend a few moments acting on this email, if you can otherwise/also forward forward this to any people/organisations you know in the US and/or write to the US Senate directly then please do so (urgently).
Best,
Simon.
'Please read through the following information. When you're finished, please make the calls and send this to everyone including small local farms that you know
This is really frightening and substantially takes away our crucial rights. We must do all we can to ensure that something like this is never allowed to happen.'
Dear Friends,
'US House and Senate are about (in a week and a half) to vote on a bill that OUTLAWS ORGANIC FARMING (Bill HR 875). The name on this outrageous food plan is Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009
... And, there is an enormous rush to get this into law within the next 2 weeks before people realize what is happening.
This bill must have been handled in a really stealthy manner, since it came out of nowhere in the last week
No doubt, the way it's backers, "the Agri-Giants" wanted it. Perhaps a coincidence with "Spring Break" and many people out of town in the weeks before. With enough congressmen signing bills without reading them, there's no time to sleep on this one.
How do you organize all these small farmers to fight the big guys? Spread it far and wide my friends. Make a noise.
The main backer and lobbyist is Monsanto - chemical and genetic engineering giant corporation (and Cargill, ADM, and about 35 other related agri-giants).
This bill will require organic farms to use specific fertilizers and poisonous insect sprays
dictated by a newly formed agency to "make sure there is no danger to the public food supply".
This will include backyard gardens that grow food only, for a family and not for sales
If this passes - then NO more heirloom, clean seeds will be allowed, but only Monsanto genetically altered seeds that are now showing up with unexpected diseases in humans
Here's a link that gives you an idea how this can be happening and information about the bill:
I you live in California, the info you need to contact your state senators, is at is right here:
Barbara Boxer
112 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-3553 DC office
(415) 403-0100 San Franicisco office
Dianne Feinstein
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-3841 DC office
To those in other states please go to: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml all you have to do is put in your zip and it will give you your congressperson and how to get in touch with them. When you call their office someone will answer the phone,
just tell them (politely) that you are calling to express your views on HR 875.
Tell them your views, they'll take your name and address and pass your comments along to the congressperson.'
#2 From: Sally
Monsanto is trying to make "organic" illegal
I have watched hours of youtube videos pertaining to Monsanto.
I am convinced, that amongst stiff competition,
Monsanto is easily the most evil corporation on the planet.
Please help by taking action asap!!
This is serious.
This is a typical corporate ploy to pull "a fast one" while everyone is looking the other way. (i.e. the economy).
Global warming, as we know it today, is largely irreversible. But it can be slowed, giving us time to come up with viable, creative solutions for future generations . What have you done today to reduce your carbon footprint on planet Earth? Think about your use of energy and how you can make a difference. Consider your use of electricity, fossil fuel, water consumption, and transportation. Consider the foods you eat, how they're grown and transported, and what you do with waste. Before you use, peruse.
1/19/09
High on the list of Alerts is protection for the polar bear; protection for the wolves of the greater Yellowstone area; and proposed oil drilling in sensitive U.S. coastal areas. Please contact your congressional representatives about your concerns for these vital issues. Or join the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) , one of the best environmental action organizations.
4/4/08
Twenty-six million acres. Let me write that another way: 26,000,000 acres. That's how much wild land is included in the National Landscape Conservation System, a collection of national monuments, wilderness areas, scenic rivers, trails, and historic sites in the American West. They include such gems as the California Trail, the Lewis and Clark Trail, the King Range National Conservation area, the Headwaters Forest Reserve, and the Pacific Crest Trail.
It was created in 2000 by President Clinton, and was considered an important step in protecting some of our most precious natural resources. Only one problem: There were never any provisions to make the NLCS a permanent system that would insure the protections would remain in place for years to come.
On Wednesday, April 9, the House of Representatives will be doing just that: voting on making the NLCS permanent. Please contact your representatives and tell them to support this vital bill. For more information and an excellent video on these lands put together by The Wilderness Society, called Hidden Treasures of the American West, go to NCLS treasures.
If you love the outdoors, this is your chance to help preserve a huge amount of it for present and future generations.
Please help!
2/19/08
After 35 years of preserving open space in Marin and Sonoma through county agencies, David Hansen, a friend of mine, is retiring. Hiking the hills of these counties, we owe a great debt of gratitude to David. His determination, dedication, and competence has made this planet a better place. Thank you, David. Looking forward to more hikes and backpacks with you, my friend.
With climate change already upon us, we are seeing at least two major problems emerge, both involving water. One is drought and the other is flooding. In California, and other similar climates, to counter current drought conditions, I suggest the book, Designing California Native Gardens: The Plant Community Approach to Artful Ecological Gardens (University of California Press, 2007) . What we don't need are water wasting lawns. This book shows how to have a lovely landscape in keeping with a dry climate.
As for flooding, read an important report, Before the Deluge: Coping with Floods in a Changing Climate by Patrick McCully, executive director of International Rivers Network. Download the report at www.irn.org.
Government has generally not done well in dealing with these problems, nor have unenlightened building contractors. The above sources can give you the tools to take your own actions to help solve these critical environmental issues.
Check AHS site for events in your area.
4/16/07
There is no more important cause than the call to action to save our planet, says Stop Global Warming. Get involved: Check out this fine website, spearheaded by singer Sheryl Crow. You may pick up her passion and commitment for this cause, and that is exactly what we need to tackle this critical problem.
2/20/2007
From the Natural Resources Defense Council:
On April 14th, environmental writer and NRDC friend Bill McKibben (see his comments about The Mindful Hiker on the Home page) will lead Step It Up 2007 -- a day of rallies across the country to urge Congress to impose an 80 percent reduction in global warming emissions by 2050. NRDC staff and BioGems Defenders are helping organize rallies in Montana, Colorado, Florida and elsewhere to highlight the effects of melting glaciers, droughts, pest outbreaks, rising sea levels and other global warming dangers on our BioGems. Visit Step It Up 2007 to find out more about taking part in this historic event.
1/18/2007
This from Nikko Ambroselli of the Coalition to save California’s Parks and Beaches:
"The coalition I am with is working to save a beach in southern California,
specifically the beach at San Onofre State park. They want to build a 6-lane
toll road through the middle of it. We are trying to inform people about
what’s going to happen to this park! It’s going to destroy 60% of the park."
Please help save this park that even Ronald Reagan vowed to protect. Now, the highwaymen, acting out of greed and ignorance, want to destroy a valued piece of nature in a part of California that needs beautiful beaches and parks much more than roads. Help out by first visiting the Coalition's website and getting involved. Help save this wild and special place!
12/31/06
See wild Coho salmon spawning in Lagunitas Creek in West Marin county, California now through February. Go to Spawn USA for more info on location and docent-led walks. If you're at all near this area, this is a must-see event.
12/21/06 (Winter Solstice)
This from Peter Browning, board member and president of the High Sierras Hikers Association (HSHA):
"I am constantly amazed and appalled at the shenanigans of the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service. It often feels as though we're dealing with Mafia-type organizations. The HSHA's major concern is with the ongoing use of stock animals (horses, mules, burros, and llamas) in NPS and USPS wilderness areas. It's a destructive and polluting practice. But anyhow, we send many detailed critical letters to both those govt. agencies, and usually receive no answer or a non sequitur answer. These agencies are supposed to be protecting the wilderness, but instead actively encourage economic exploitation and inappropriate use of those lands. The HSHA, usually in conjunction with other environmental groups, has been involved in one lawsuit against the NPS and two against the USFS--and we've won all of them. After receiving one particularly useless letter from the NPS, I remarked by e-mail to my colleagues and our attorneys that writing to the NPS was like writing an anguished, heartfelt letter to Ann Landers of Miss Lonelyhearts, and getting only a meaningless, boilerplate response...."
In my own experience hiking the high Sierras, I propose renaming the John Muir Trail (with apologies to Mr. Muir), the John Manure Trail, with all the smelly crap from these animals laying about . It makes this spectacular trail virtually unusable for this mindful hiker.
Thanks to Peter for raising our consciousness on this important issue. Letters to the NPS and the USFS would add to the protesting voices and perhaps force some changes. On this particular issue, the comment period ends January 12. Please go to High Sierra Hikers for instructions in sending supporting letters.
6/14/06
Grist Magazine reports that because of an alarming decrease in polar ice, polar bears are increasingly stalking, killing, and eating each other. The bears usually eat ringed seals but these have been in short supply due to conditions brought about by global warming. The findings were based on a two-decade long study of the region. Again, more direct evidence that global warming is upon us and that Mother Nature is very pissed off.
5/26/06
The House, in an obvious political move, has approved drilling in the Arctic. Now it's on to the Senate. So please, call your senators immediately and urge them to oppose this misguided plan to destroy one of our last truly wild places. Thank you.
5/24/06
The Republicans in the House are at it again in their relentless assault on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Here's what's happening, as reported by the National Resources Defense Council. Please call your representative in Congress immediately:
Just when you thought the House Republican leadership had run out of excuses
for destroying the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, they come up with a new
reason to do Big Oil's dirty work.
This week they're dangling jobs and money in front of the American public.
Their so-called "American-Made Energy and Good Jobs Act" (H.R. 5429) uses
wildly inflated numbers to claim that drilling the Arctic Refuge is good for
labor and good for the federal treasury.
The truth? The big winners in this plan are the oil companies; they'll be
stuffing their already bloated coffers with billions more in profits. And the
biggest losers are the American people; we'll sacrifice our greatest wildlife
sanctuary while we stay addicted to high-priced oil.
This Arctic wildlife destruction bill is being rushed to the floor for a vote
this week!
Please express your outrage at this bill by calling your member of Congress
right now.
Tell your Representative to put the public interest ahead of oil company
profits by voting NO on H.R. 5429.
This particular bill is especially dangerous because it will appeal to a few
dozen swing Democrats who sometimes vote for energy industry interests. We've
only got one or two days to shore up support among moderate Republicans
and to hold the Democrats together in defense of the Arctic.
That's why generating a flood of calls in all 435 Congressional districts is
vitally important.
Please pick up the phone right now, call your Representative, and urge a NO
vote on H.R. 5429.
And if you want to do even more to expose and defeat this shameless bill, go to
https://www.nrdcactionfund.org/arctic/donate.asp
right now and make a donation so we can escalate this campaign in defense of
the Arctic Refuge. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Frances Beinecke
President
NRDC Action Fund
5/1/06 This urgent alert from Robert Redford and the National Resources Defense Council:
Please drop what you're doing because here we go again. Senate leaders are
again exploiting rising gas prices to rush a bill to the floor that would
destroy the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and boost oil industry profits. The
vote could come as early as Tuesday.
The Senate front men for Big Oil are doing their damnedest to convince
Americans that sacrificing the Arctic and sending each of us a $100 rebate
check will solve all our problems at the pump.
There's only one way to expose these lies and prevent the sacrifice of
America's greatest wildlife refuge: Help light up the Senate switchboard today!
Please call your two Senators right now: ( in California:)
Senator Dianne Feinstein: (202) 224-3841
Senator Barbara Boxer: (202) 224-3553
Tell them to vote NO on the Gas Price Relief and Rebate Act. Tell them you will
not trade the Arctic Refuge for $100 or be fooled by policies that do nothing
to solve the real problem of America's dangerous dependence on oil. Urge them
to get to work on cutting oil consumption by improving the mileage of our cars
and promoting clean and renewable energy.
Here are the facts: the Energy Department says that drilling in the Arctic
Refuge would save consumers only one penny per gallon at the pump in 20 years!
Meanwhile, anyone who drives will be forced to take the Senate's $100 rebate
check -- paid for with our tax dollars -- and sign it over to ExxonMobil for
their next two tanks of gas.
Only an oil company could love a bill that picks the taxpayers' wallets for $12
billion in gas money. The Gas Price Relief and Rebate Act should really be
called the "Guaranteed Profits for Big Oil Act!"
Remember: these are the same Senators who passed a pro-polluter energy bill
last summer that refused to make America's gas-guzzlers more fuel-efficient,
but instead doled out billions of tax dollars to oil and coal companies. This
latest bill is just more of the same corporate welfare.
Call your Senators right now and tell them you will not surrender the Arctic
Refuge or line the pockets of the oil companies with your tax dollars.
And if you want to do even more to expose and defeat this shameless bill, go to
https://www.nrdcactionfund.org/arctic/donate.asp
right now and make a donation so we can escalate this campaign in defense of
the Arctic Refuge over the next critical days. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Robert Redford
NRDC Action Fund
PLEASE ACT NOW!
4/15/06
If by some twist of fate, you had been born a red-legged frog, the one Mark Twain made famous, you would be nervous today. According to the SF Chronicle:
"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated about 450,000 acres on Thursday as "critical habitat" for the rare California red-legged frog, far less than the 4.1 million acres originally proposed.
Environmentalists called the ruling a devastating loss for the amphibian that Mark Twain made famous in "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," while housing industry officials said the remaining acreage was still too much.
Federal regulators, meanwhile, said it may not matter because harming known frog habitat is still illegal without regulatory approval.
Still, Jeff Miller, a spokesman for the Center for Biological Diversity, called the ruling "a plan for extinction.''
Seems the Home Buiders Association would like to see the Endangered Species Act scuttled, ala the infamous Rep. Richard Pombo. Why not call your elected representatives in Washington and tell them you support the protection of endangered species threatened by the greed of commercial interests who would eradicate them for their own financial gains. The red-legged frog, who has no voice of his own in Washington, will thank you, with a lovely croak, the next time you meet one on a hike.
2/27/06
A few years ago, I had the great privilege of seeing a grizzly bear covorting on a snow-covered slope in Montana. It was one of those thrilling images that will stay with me forever. Now the Bush Administration wants to remove the grizzly bear from the endangered species list in Yellowstone National Park, yet one more assault on the ecological integrity of wilderness in the West. There are only 600 grizzlies in the entire United States, and if delisted, this magnificent mammal, which has been protected since 1975, would probably be hunted and harassed into extinction.
This is eco-illogical, and should be stopped in its tracks. Send your opposition to delisting the grizzly bear in Yellowstone to Grizzly Bear Recovery Coordinator, U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, University Hall, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812; or email Grizzly Bear Coordinator.
2/19/06
The latest data are conclusive: Greenland's glaciers, one of the world's largest sources of fresh water, are melting at a rate twice as fast as previously suspected. The reason is global warming, caused by the increase in greenhouse gases that result from the burning of fossil fuels. The United States is the largest producer of these gases, accounting for about 25% of the world's total.
You can, of course, write or call Washington about your concern about this, but even better is to make adjustments and changes to your personal life. You know what they are. They've been well documented. There is now a sense of urgency that I hope inspires you to act to reduce your energy consumption.
