Lecturer - Loránd Eötvös University, Budapest, Hungary
Today's Date: Nov. 14. 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Two dogs kept (consecutively) on the 2nd flood of an urban apt. building.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
The hills around my home town, Budapest.
Now? The same and Lake Balaton in Hungary.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
They are hard to compare. Dogs and cats for companion, but I have always adored moose and okapi for looks.
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
CO2 emission rates and the storage of nuclear waste.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Optimize the use of energy and water.
Thanks to my sister Michelle McIlroy for designing the logo!
November 15, 2006
November 10, 2006
Jim DiPeso
Policy Director, Republicans for Environmental Protection
Today's Date: November 9, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
My work as a journalist covering Lake Tahoe turned me onto a path dedicated to taking good care of the natural endowment that takes good care of us.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
The sunny, mostly empty beaches in Morro Bay, California.
Now? Anywhere near saltwater. Must be genetic. My ancestors were fishmongers in southern Italy.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Any member of the cat family. Their sleek grace and solitary nature open doors to a mysterious world where human vanity is a fleeting, irrelevant abstraction.
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
Global warming now, global warming decades from now. It is the most vexing, complicated, all-encompassing problem ever confronted by a dominant species that, for the sake of self-preservation, must learn new habits of foresight and self-discipline that are contrary to eons of wired-in and cultural drivers.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
To borrow a thought from John Muir, everything is connected to everything else. Whatever we do, for good or ill, radiates outward in astonishing ways. Think carefully, act wisely.
Today's Date: November 9, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
My work as a journalist covering Lake Tahoe turned me onto a path dedicated to taking good care of the natural endowment that takes good care of us.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
The sunny, mostly empty beaches in Morro Bay, California.
Now? Anywhere near saltwater. Must be genetic. My ancestors were fishmongers in southern Italy.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Any member of the cat family. Their sleek grace and solitary nature open doors to a mysterious world where human vanity is a fleeting, irrelevant abstraction.
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
Global warming now, global warming decades from now. It is the most vexing, complicated, all-encompassing problem ever confronted by a dominant species that, for the sake of self-preservation, must learn new habits of foresight and self-discipline that are contrary to eons of wired-in and cultural drivers.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
To borrow a thought from John Muir, everything is connected to everything else. Whatever we do, for good or ill, radiates outward in astonishing ways. Think carefully, act wisely.
November 06, 2006
James Siegel
PhD candidate Anthropology Univ of Georgia, Biologist with Yakama Nation in Toppenish, WA
Today's Date: Nov 5, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Had large ornamental pond in my childhood in the backyard with fish and frogs. I lived in the suburbs of New York City. It was like having an aquarium in the backyard you could fall into.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
The Roslyn Duck Pond in Roslyn, NY, A Victoria era public park with ducks, geese, gulls, and terns. Lots of fish and salamanders in the area.
Now? My favorite place right now is a BLM Umtanum Creek, off the Yakima River in the Yakima River Canyon between Ellensburg and Yakima, WA
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Turtles by far – any kind land or water turtles.
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
I think the loss of biodiversity is the present problem and global warming will be the future huge problem, if not now. The Arctic regions will be particularly vulnerable.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Although most environmental problems today seem biological in nature, they are actually cultural and social problems having to do with land use, economics, environmental decisions and cultural models of nature. All the environmental problems flow from sociocultural conditions. The solutions are as much cultural as biological.
Today's Date: Nov 5, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Had large ornamental pond in my childhood in the backyard with fish and frogs. I lived in the suburbs of New York City. It was like having an aquarium in the backyard you could fall into.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
The Roslyn Duck Pond in Roslyn, NY, A Victoria era public park with ducks, geese, gulls, and terns. Lots of fish and salamanders in the area.
Now? My favorite place right now is a BLM Umtanum Creek, off the Yakima River in the Yakima River Canyon between Ellensburg and Yakima, WA
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Turtles by far – any kind land or water turtles.
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
I think the loss of biodiversity is the present problem and global warming will be the future huge problem, if not now. The Arctic regions will be particularly vulnerable.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Although most environmental problems today seem biological in nature, they are actually cultural and social problems having to do with land use, economics, environmental decisions and cultural models of nature. All the environmental problems flow from sociocultural conditions. The solutions are as much cultural as biological.
November 05, 2006
Lynda Collrin
Cherry Brook Zoo Inc.
Today's Date: November 5, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Having lived in a zoo since 1979 it is difficult to single out one animal that has had the biggest impact on me. As a primatologist at the beginning my area of expertise was of course primates but working in a small nonprofit facility I have worked with every species from hoofstock to carnivores. Perhaps the defining moment was in 1981 when our Celebes Ape rejected her baby and it was brought to me to hand raise. There was not much information on hand rearing at this time and the baby was not doing well, I knew that the life of this tiny primate was in my hands and my decision to change it's diet from the standard one made me responsible for whether this animal lived or died, but having it look straight into my eyes and feeling the complete trust this animal put in me it was to me a milestone in working with animals. I am happy to say that my diet worked and the primate went on to be reintroduced back into another troop. My masters thesis was on working with these primates having hand raised five of them and finding out how to reintroduce them back to their own kind (this was not done prior to my research).
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yes, the small family farm before they became large conglomerates and put small farmers out of business. My favorite time was hand milking the dairy cows in the early morning in the barn before letting them out to pasture.
Now? The Cherry Brook Zoo - mostly before the public is in or at night when I listen to the sounds of the animals through the night. The zoo is a noisy place and I guess not many people live withe the sounds of a zoo at night. I am one of the lucky ones.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
That is truthfully a question I cannot answer - each animal has it's own unique personality and though I can't say I love them all I can say I respect each and every one of them - all animals deserve to be respected for what they are, not because you can pet or feed them - we have no feeding allowed and there is no petting area in our zoo. We want to teach children that animals are worth something for their place in our environment and not because you can pet or feed them.
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
I believe our greatest challenge is over population of our planet, the loss of habitat, the loss of animals and the decline of our oceans is a direct link to over population and our course to reaching a level that our planet will not be able to sustain.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
We must recognize the ties between our global environment and how they affect all of us. We must realize that what happens in another country does affect us and most importantly that one person can make a difference. By reducing our use of everyday products such as gas, lights, etc and reducing the amount of waste one person can make a difference, and if we approach it on a personal level then one person will affect another and hopefully it will have a domino effect. I also believe that our governments can do more but at this time they will still give money to save the painting of the tiger rather than support those facilities working to save the animal itself. Preserving the works of man and not funding the preservation of the works of nature.
Today's Date: November 5, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Having lived in a zoo since 1979 it is difficult to single out one animal that has had the biggest impact on me. As a primatologist at the beginning my area of expertise was of course primates but working in a small nonprofit facility I have worked with every species from hoofstock to carnivores. Perhaps the defining moment was in 1981 when our Celebes Ape rejected her baby and it was brought to me to hand raise. There was not much information on hand rearing at this time and the baby was not doing well, I knew that the life of this tiny primate was in my hands and my decision to change it's diet from the standard one made me responsible for whether this animal lived or died, but having it look straight into my eyes and feeling the complete trust this animal put in me it was to me a milestone in working with animals. I am happy to say that my diet worked and the primate went on to be reintroduced back into another troop. My masters thesis was on working with these primates having hand raised five of them and finding out how to reintroduce them back to their own kind (this was not done prior to my research).
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Yes, the small family farm before they became large conglomerates and put small farmers out of business. My favorite time was hand milking the dairy cows in the early morning in the barn before letting them out to pasture.
Now? The Cherry Brook Zoo - mostly before the public is in or at night when I listen to the sounds of the animals through the night. The zoo is a noisy place and I guess not many people live withe the sounds of a zoo at night. I am one of the lucky ones.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
That is truthfully a question I cannot answer - each animal has it's own unique personality and though I can't say I love them all I can say I respect each and every one of them - all animals deserve to be respected for what they are, not because you can pet or feed them - we have no feeding allowed and there is no petting area in our zoo. We want to teach children that animals are worth something for their place in our environment and not because you can pet or feed them.
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
I believe our greatest challenge is over population of our planet, the loss of habitat, the loss of animals and the decline of our oceans is a direct link to over population and our course to reaching a level that our planet will not be able to sustain.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
We must recognize the ties between our global environment and how they affect all of us. We must realize that what happens in another country does affect us and most importantly that one person can make a difference. By reducing our use of everyday products such as gas, lights, etc and reducing the amount of waste one person can make a difference, and if we approach it on a personal level then one person will affect another and hopefully it will have a domino effect. I also believe that our governments can do more but at this time they will still give money to save the painting of the tiger rather than support those facilities working to save the animal itself. Preserving the works of man and not funding the preservation of the works of nature.
November 03, 2006
Kate Povey
Communications Officer, The Gaia Foundation (www.gaiafoundation.org)
Today's Date: 3rd November 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
One that I've remembered recently is being shown around an orchard by the owner when I was about 8 years old. The orchard was near to where my grandfather lives and Mum used to help pick apples during harvest time. She was getting a bit old and was said to be quite a prickly person! But she seemed to take a liking to me and showed me around the whole orchard.
The grass was very lush and dewy as it was a damp misty morning, and the apples trees loomed up ahead, field after field. We walked over an old stone bridge and caught a glimpse of a kingfisher - the first one I'd seen. The flash of brilliant blue and orange has stayed in my mind ever since, and I suppose you could say it had an impact because I've just moved back to Devon with my partner and we are about to regenerate an old orchard there, in order to conserve old apple varieties and do small scale fruit juice and cider production.
I love the heritage of the English apple - the folklore surrounding it, the powers such 'sacred' trees can hold - I don't want all this knowledge lost.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
I grew up in the countryside and had lots of favourite places. One was an old oak tree, in the field next to our garden. My friends and I would climb in it and sit and have picnics in it. Down the middle was a huge hole (probably struck by lightning) and once we'd lost our flask of orange juice down it. It was too far down to be able to rescue it! The roots of the tree were also exposed and were just high enough to help me get on the pony that a friend of ours kept in the field and could ride bareback around the field before it decided to stop and have a roll!
Now? Now, I am still discovering our new farm. We have a woodland of about 5 acres but I haven't yet explored it properly. The most relaxing spot is at the back of the cow shed in the evening, when the sun is going down and it's nice and warm and protected from the wind.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
The animal I form most attachment with is probably my cat! I don't know if you were talking about pets and domestic animals or prefer what wild animal is my favourite but I think cats I have most experience of relating to. I like any native British wild animal but you can't get too emotional about them as you see so much road kill nowadays and farmers have problems with badgers, deer, rabbits and foxes - it can be quite a sensitive issue in the country!
My favourite wild animal would probably be the blue whale or killer whale - such magnificent creatures with strength and grace to take your breath away. I haven't seen one in person though.
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
Climate change - has been my greatest concern for over 10 years, now hopefully everyone else is waking up to it too. I think it will dominate the future too - together with how we live, carbon emission, use of energy, transport etc - it really does affect everyone's whole lives.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Don't waste anything! People buy so much rubbish that doesn't last. Think about every little thing you buy and dispose of - and try to cut it down drastically. It is not just a matter of governments taking the lead with regulations and legislation, EVERYBODY has to think and act.
Today's Date: 3rd November 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
One that I've remembered recently is being shown around an orchard by the owner when I was about 8 years old. The orchard was near to where my grandfather lives and Mum used to help pick apples during harvest time. She was getting a bit old and was said to be quite a prickly person! But she seemed to take a liking to me and showed me around the whole orchard.
The grass was very lush and dewy as it was a damp misty morning, and the apples trees loomed up ahead, field after field. We walked over an old stone bridge and caught a glimpse of a kingfisher - the first one I'd seen. The flash of brilliant blue and orange has stayed in my mind ever since, and I suppose you could say it had an impact because I've just moved back to Devon with my partner and we are about to regenerate an old orchard there, in order to conserve old apple varieties and do small scale fruit juice and cider production.
I love the heritage of the English apple - the folklore surrounding it, the powers such 'sacred' trees can hold - I don't want all this knowledge lost.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
I grew up in the countryside and had lots of favourite places. One was an old oak tree, in the field next to our garden. My friends and I would climb in it and sit and have picnics in it. Down the middle was a huge hole (probably struck by lightning) and once we'd lost our flask of orange juice down it. It was too far down to be able to rescue it! The roots of the tree were also exposed and were just high enough to help me get on the pony that a friend of ours kept in the field and could ride bareback around the field before it decided to stop and have a roll!
Now? Now, I am still discovering our new farm. We have a woodland of about 5 acres but I haven't yet explored it properly. The most relaxing spot is at the back of the cow shed in the evening, when the sun is going down and it's nice and warm and protected from the wind.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
The animal I form most attachment with is probably my cat! I don't know if you were talking about pets and domestic animals or prefer what wild animal is my favourite but I think cats I have most experience of relating to. I like any native British wild animal but you can't get too emotional about them as you see so much road kill nowadays and farmers have problems with badgers, deer, rabbits and foxes - it can be quite a sensitive issue in the country!
My favourite wild animal would probably be the blue whale or killer whale - such magnificent creatures with strength and grace to take your breath away. I haven't seen one in person though.
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
Climate change - has been my greatest concern for over 10 years, now hopefully everyone else is waking up to it too. I think it will dominate the future too - together with how we live, carbon emission, use of energy, transport etc - it really does affect everyone's whole lives.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Don't waste anything! People buy so much rubbish that doesn't last. Think about every little thing you buy and dispose of - and try to cut it down drastically. It is not just a matter of governments taking the lead with regulations and legislation, EVERYBODY has to think and act.
Berol Robinson
Environmentalists/Ecologists For Nuclear Energy (EFN). I am a member of the Scientific and Medical Committee and president of the affiliated EFN-USA. Website www.ecolo.org
Today's Date: 02 November 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
[no answer given]
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
I was a city boy. When I was young, Boy Scouts was the thing to do, and I was an Eagle Scout. That was the most outdoor thing I ever did, and it didn't take.
Now? I'm still a city type.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
I think penguins are real cool ! I watched them one day in the penguin house at the Detroit Zoo, and I could watch them forever. The recent film "The March of the Emperors" was very moving.
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
The world's population is much larger than the Earth can support. We live in an economy based on cheap oil - not only for electricity and transport but also for the very food we eat. We have new crops which feed us - the so-called Green Revolution has changed India from a famished land to a grain exporter, for example. But those new crops depend heavily upon fertilizer - derived from petroleum. It is said that "the soil is a tool for turning oil into food". And the oil is now running out - reserves of oil and natural gas are estimated to last a few decades, and we are discovering new deposits at a rate much less than current consumption - so we are living up our diminishing capital of energy.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Another source of energy is at hand: clean, safe, reliable, economical, and almost inexhaustible. It is nuclear fission; the technology is mature but subject to great improvements in the next 20 to 40 years. My fear is that the energy of nuclear fission may be set aside - that we may refuse to use it - for essentially trivial considerations: fear of radioactivity and radiation, the non-existent "problem" of radioactive waste management (dubbed "insoluble" by many), and fear of another accident like Chernobyl.
The problem of nuclear weapons proliferation remains, but that horse got out of the barn a long time ago. Every effort must be made in international politics to slow proliferation, but in the long run it is inevitable. Civilian nuclear power must not be sacrificed on the altar of weapons non-proliferation.
Today's Date: 02 November 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
[no answer given]
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
I was a city boy. When I was young, Boy Scouts was the thing to do, and I was an Eagle Scout. That was the most outdoor thing I ever did, and it didn't take.
Now? I'm still a city type.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
I think penguins are real cool ! I watched them one day in the penguin house at the Detroit Zoo, and I could watch them forever. The recent film "The March of the Emperors" was very moving.
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
The world's population is much larger than the Earth can support. We live in an economy based on cheap oil - not only for electricity and transport but also for the very food we eat. We have new crops which feed us - the so-called Green Revolution has changed India from a famished land to a grain exporter, for example. But those new crops depend heavily upon fertilizer - derived from petroleum. It is said that "the soil is a tool for turning oil into food". And the oil is now running out - reserves of oil and natural gas are estimated to last a few decades, and we are discovering new deposits at a rate much less than current consumption - so we are living up our diminishing capital of energy.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Another source of energy is at hand: clean, safe, reliable, economical, and almost inexhaustible. It is nuclear fission; the technology is mature but subject to great improvements in the next 20 to 40 years. My fear is that the energy of nuclear fission may be set aside - that we may refuse to use it - for essentially trivial considerations: fear of radioactivity and radiation, the non-existent "problem" of radioactive waste management (dubbed "insoluble" by many), and fear of another accident like Chernobyl.
The problem of nuclear weapons proliferation remains, but that horse got out of the barn a long time ago. Every effort must be made in international politics to slow proliferation, but in the long run it is inevitable. Civilian nuclear power must not be sacrificed on the altar of weapons non-proliferation.
October 30, 2006
Standingontherock
Cedarville Band of Piscataway Indians
Today's Date: October 30, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Perhaps to many to mention.................Turkeys, owls, dogs, cats, eagle, chicken, horses, ants, butterflies, dragonflies, birds.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Grew up in the country in Southern Maryland on a farm.
Now? Still live in Southern Maryland, but the country is leaving fast........many farms are gone. Been blessed to live near my great great grandparents home with over 60 acres and we can go there to retreat from the cares of the world.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Elephants...........I can't say I know why maybe their size.
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
1. The inability to listen
2. To break free from the system
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
All things created are apart of the circle of life; there is nothing Created that is separate from the other, but all things were Created to work together.....Destruction of one......... is the destruction of all. The earth and all non-human life cries out with a loud voice to the Creator to put an end to mans deadly grip, and so man must wake up from his slumber and cry out too!........for all things that were created to work together............will die together.
Today's Date: October 30, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
Perhaps to many to mention.................Turkeys, owls, dogs, cats, eagle, chicken, horses, ants, butterflies, dragonflies, birds.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
Grew up in the country in Southern Maryland on a farm.
Now? Still live in Southern Maryland, but the country is leaving fast........many farms are gone. Been blessed to live near my great great grandparents home with over 60 acres and we can go there to retreat from the cares of the world.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Elephants...........I can't say I know why maybe their size.
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
1. The inability to listen
2. To break free from the system
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
All things created are apart of the circle of life; there is nothing Created that is separate from the other, but all things were Created to work together.....Destruction of one......... is the destruction of all. The earth and all non-human life cries out with a loud voice to the Creator to put an end to mans deadly grip, and so man must wake up from his slumber and cry out too!........for all things that were created to work together............will die together.
October 28, 2006
Ellen Evert Hopman
Druid Priestess, Order of the Whiteoak - Ord na Darach Gile (www.whiteoakdruids.org)
Today’s Date: 28 October, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
I live in an Oak forest in Western MA. I started writing when I moved to this house and the trees continue to inspire me, twenty years later. I now think of myself as a forest creature, just like the bears, moose, foxes, eagles, ravens and deer that visit my garden.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
We moved a lot when I was a child (State Department brat). I always gravitated to the wildest area near the house; the ocean, a forest, or a field filled with sheep.
Now? I love waterfalls and visit all the local ones regularly.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Meerkats, because they are so civilized. They know how to co-operate. They take care of each others children, watch out for the group as a whole, and perform heroic acts of self sacrifice for the good of the tribe. For example they will stand guard and not eat or drink for many hours just to make sure the tribe is safe. If humans become extinct I am quite sure that Meerkats will rule.
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
Global warming. Instead of spending a billion dollars a week on violent wars to capture other nations’ oil supplies, we could be spending that money to re-vamp our entire energy infrastructure. We could be on a "war time" footing to convert to wind, solar, geothermal, biomass fuels sources. For $100.00 every car in the current fleet could be converted to ethanol. Farmers would benefit and we could cut our dependence on oil. It is time for an energy revolution, not more pre-emptive wars.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
See #4. War is the most barbaric, primitive and stupid approach to solving our energy needs. We need to be smarter than that. Oil is on the way out as a fuel (most analysts agree that we have already hit the peak of world production and it is downhill from here) what legacy are we leaving for future generations?
Today’s Date: 28 October, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
I live in an Oak forest in Western MA. I started writing when I moved to this house and the trees continue to inspire me, twenty years later. I now think of myself as a forest creature, just like the bears, moose, foxes, eagles, ravens and deer that visit my garden.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
We moved a lot when I was a child (State Department brat). I always gravitated to the wildest area near the house; the ocean, a forest, or a field filled with sheep.
Now? I love waterfalls and visit all the local ones regularly.
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
Meerkats, because they are so civilized. They know how to co-operate. They take care of each others children, watch out for the group as a whole, and perform heroic acts of self sacrifice for the good of the tribe. For example they will stand guard and not eat or drink for many hours just to make sure the tribe is safe. If humans become extinct I am quite sure that Meerkats will rule.
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
Global warming. Instead of spending a billion dollars a week on violent wars to capture other nations’ oil supplies, we could be spending that money to re-vamp our entire energy infrastructure. We could be on a "war time" footing to convert to wind, solar, geothermal, biomass fuels sources. For $100.00 every car in the current fleet could be converted to ethanol. Farmers would benefit and we could cut our dependence on oil. It is time for an energy revolution, not more pre-emptive wars.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
See #4. War is the most barbaric, primitive and stupid approach to solving our energy needs. We need to be smarter than that. Oil is on the way out as a fuel (most analysts agree that we have already hit the peak of world production and it is downhill from here) what legacy are we leaving for future generations?
Karen Coshof
Stonehaven Productions
Today's Date: October 28, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
seeing the red sandstone Utah desert for the 1st time
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
any woodland
Now? my woods in Vermont
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
They are all my favorites, especially parrots, dogs, elephants and dolphins
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
CLIMATE CHANGE [Stonehaven Productions created and produced the new feature film The Great Warming, www.thegreatwarming.com which opens November 3, 2006 – JT]
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
[no answer given]
Today's Date: October 28, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
seeing the red sandstone Utah desert for the 1st time
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
any woodland
Now? my woods in Vermont
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
They are all my favorites, especially parrots, dogs, elephants and dolphins
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
CLIMATE CHANGE [Stonehaven Productions created and produced the new feature film The Great Warming, www.thegreatwarming.com which opens November 3, 2006 – JT]
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
[no answer given]
October 26, 2006
Charity Kirk
Climate Protection Campaign, ecobabes calendar (www.ecobabes.org)
Today's Date: October 26, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
I'm not sure. Looking at the insides of a turkey one thanksgiving and realizing where lamb came from started me on a path to veganism.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
The local creek where I played.
Now? Any place beautiful
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
When I was a child it was the snow leopard. Now, I'm very fond of dogs because I love interacting and experiencing them.
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
The greatest environmental challenge is human apathy and selfishness. Also the current system we're in where it's very hard to change things.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Live simply and lighting. Enjoy the world rather than stuff. Think about the total repercussions of your choices, not just the immediate ones. Learn, learn, learn -- don't be afraid that it might make something you did in the past seem unnecessary or even wrong.
Today's Date: October 26, 2006
1. What interaction with an animal and/or nature in your life has had the biggest impact on you?
I'm not sure. Looking at the insides of a turkey one thanksgiving and realizing where lamb came from started me on a path to veganism.
2. Did you have a favorite place in the great outdoors during your childhood?
The local creek where I played.
Now? Any place beautiful
3. As a former zookeeper, I would love to know what your favorite animal is, and why?
When I was a child it was the snow leopard. Now, I'm very fond of dogs because I love interacting and experiencing them.
4. What do you think is the greatest environmental challenge facing us now, and what do you think will be the greatest challenge in the future?
The greatest environmental challenge is human apathy and selfishness. Also the current system we're in where it's very hard to change things.
5. If you could give everyone one piece of advice regarding the environment and our natural resources, what would it be?
Live simply and lighting. Enjoy the world rather than stuff. Think about the total repercussions of your choices, not just the immediate ones. Learn, learn, learn -- don't be afraid that it might make something you did in the past seem unnecessary or even wrong.
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