April 2009 Archives

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I have always enjoyed looking at aerial photography. It is fascinating how the world we live in can seem so different when viewed from above. A building, for instance, is experienced internally as a series of rooms and hallways- - but look at the same structure on Google Maps and it takes on a whole new form.

Rhett Dashwood took this concept to a whole new level when he decided to use Google Maps to explore the Australian state of Victoria. The 32-year-old graphic designer set out on a mission to create an "alphabet" composed entirely of aerial photographs of natural and man-made features that bare resemblance to the Roman alphabet. His only rules: no manipulating the images in any way--meaning no "photo-shopping," and no rotating.

I'm frequently asked, often with a tinge of skepticism, what National Geographic (MWW's parent organization) is doing to "go green." As an organization with a 100+ year history of "increasing and diffusing geographic knowledge" and a sexy mission statement of "inspiring people to care about the planet"--it's undoubtedly a fair question.

First, the boring disclaimer: As a non-partisan, non-profit/media organization, the National Geographic Society (NG) generally avoids pure-form advocacy. Rather than taking hard-line stances, we aim for objective reporting.

However, to the extent that a general consensus exists over the need to conserve the world's resources, we're on board! And there are a number of things we're doing as an organization to that end. So, to round out what we're calling "Earth Week," this Five for Friday I'm describing--you guessed it--five of those initiatives.

1. Go Green. About two years ago, Nat Geo launched the "Go Green" initiative to define and reduce the Society's environmental impact. Seven subcommittees were formed to tackle issues relating to corporate practices and facilities worldwide: buildings, cafeteria, carbon, employee practices, internal communication & education, purchasing, products & packaging, and travel.

2. LEED Certification. Following careful renovations and retrofitting, NG headquarters in Washington, D.C. became the first existing facility in the country to receive prestigious LEED certification, as well as Energy Star certification.

Arbor Day is our national holiday to celebrate tree planting and care. As New York City is best known as a paved paradise, you might not expect to hear this greeting coming from here. But that is exactly why
I am writing today.

                                                               Angela King. Copyright Geology.com


NYC might not seem that green from first glimpse, even from the air. But there are over 5 million trees in our city! Beyond 6,000 acres of woodlands that stand out on the satellite map, there are trees along our streets, on public property, in commercial and housing developments, and in backyards--yes, we even have backyards here!

Today, April 22nd, is Earth Day- - and what a day it is. No matter where you live, options abound as to what you can do this afternoon. We here at My Wonderful World would like to share some cool activities that you can participate in, some Earth Day related stories and some random tidbits for your reading pleasure.


1. Check out Tuesday's post for suggestions on things to do today.

2. Share the importance of Earth Day with someone you care about by sending a World Wildlife Fund E-Card  or an E-Card from our very own Enric Sala (no paper waste!)

3. On Earth Day, Biden announces funding for clean vehicles.

After declaring that, "every day is Earth Day," Vice-president Joe Biden announced the Clean Cities Alternative Fuel and Advanced Technology Vehicles Pilot Program, which will give $300 million in federal stimulus funding to state and local governments. The money, it is mandated, will result in cleaner and greener municipal vehicles in this country.

4. Go check out "Earth" at a movie theatre near you. Released just in time for Earth Day by the Disneynature label, the film follows three animal 'families' around the globe while they attempt to exist on an ever-changing planet.

4. Finally, you could just buy a $6000 dollar 'Earth Day' bicycle from Seven Cycles and call it day. According to Seven Cycles, they have, among other things, increased their strict standards for energy and resource reduction in the making of these bikes, making it a 'greener' bike than others that are produced worldwide. But then again, $6000?

Cameron for My Wonderful World

This morning I came across a video on CNN that followed a couple of New York's finest throughout their daily beat... but these officers weren't handing out traffic tickets or thwarting robberies. Instead, they were patrolling the fish section of a Chinatown market for the sale of illegal species, wrangling a humpback whale out of the NY Harbor, and performing a roadside smog-test on a panel truck.

 

Meet the Environmental Conservation Police Officers of New York. According to a description from the NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation website:

At the forefront of New York's effort to clean our air and water, save our wilderness, protect our wildlife and make the environment a better place for us all is the Environmental Conservation Police Officer (ECO). As the uniformed law enforcement representative of the Department of Environmental Conservation, the ECO is the person in the field responsible for the enforcement of the environmental laws and regulations of New York and for the detection and investigation of suspected violations.

Now, I personally think that this is pretty cool. I used to think that the only safeguard against environmental law-breaking was whistleblowers, concerned citizens and watchdog groups... none of which have the perceived authority of a police officer. But with a badge and a uniform, these guys and gals mean business.

Hopefully, this system of ECO police can serve as a model for the rest of the United States, as it would do a 'world of good' to the environment and the communities in which we all live.

Cameron for My Wonderful World

Read the April 2009 Newsletter: "Environmental April"

Inside: Get Outside!
GeoFeature: The Green Effect: Win $20,000 by Designing Your Own Conservation Project
Geography in the News: The Great Turtle Race
Blog: Environmental Education Guest Bloggers

Party for the Planet:

Earth day is tomorrow, and if you haven't already made plans, how about attending a Party for the Planet at your local zoo or aquarium? Your local AZA-accredited zoo or aquarium is the ideal place to connect with conservation in your community. Party for the Planet festivities will feature environmental education activities, amazing animal encounters and fantastic family fun.


Everybody Eats:

Today, whilst reading the ethicurean, I stumbled across a link to a Yes! Magazine article describing how a community food system works. The article was titled Everybody Eats and has a pretty cool downloadable poster that very nicely illustrates how a local food system can work (teachers: use this in your classroom, parents: show your kids).

 Now I know that Earth Day isn't normally associated with feasting (like Christmas or Thanksgiving), but why not start a trend? I like to eat good food, and in my opinion, good food comes from local sources. So this Earth Day, get together with friends and family and have a locally-sourced potluck or holiday feast!

This week, we celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd, Arbor Day on April 24th and National Parks Week from the 18th to the 26th. While the actual dates of "Earth Week" vary depending on where you are and who you ask (UC San Diego's celebrates it from April 19-25 while about.com says it usually runs from the 16th to the 22nd), it generally falls somewhere around mid April... but if you ask me this week sounds like quite the week to celebrate the wonders of the world. So, make sure to check back throughout this exciting week for a slew of updates on the blog!

Remember:

This Wednesday, get out in your community and experience Earth Day. For information about celebrations around the world and actions you can take to help better yourself and the environment, check this Earth Day website here and also the EPA's official Earth Day site here.

Plant a tree this Friday: it's Arbor Day! Originally founded in Nebraska in 1872 by J. Sterling Morton, Arbor Day has come to be a worldwide celebration that encourages tree-planting and care. To find out more about what you can do this Arbor Day, check the official website here.

This is National Parks Week! Take time this week to learn about the history of our grand National Parks System and all the great things that the NPS continues to do for the planet. Maybe even take a little trip to a National Park near you! Check the NPS website for more information about National Parks Week.

That's all for now folks, but stay tuned as we celebrate "Earth Week" here at My Wonderful World.

Cameron for My Wonderful World

1. It's getting warmer outside

One of the biggest 'bummers' for me is dealing with long winters- - and I feel like this last one was one of the longest. The cold winds, wet drizzle and grey skies just don't appeal to me. Luckily, it seems to have come to an end at last. For the past two to three weeks, I've been sleeping with my windows open, and it feels great. In fact, today, I wore shorts and sunglasses to work. Hooray for 'casual Fridays.'

But why is it getting warmer? A common misconception is that the earth is actually closer to the Sun during the spring and summer, causing the weather to warm up... but, that is a misconception.

From Wikipedia: "In spring, the axis of the Earth is increasing its tilt toward the Sun and the length of daylight rapidly increases for the relevant hemisphere. The hemisphere begins to warm significantly causing new plant growth to "spring forth," giving the season its name."


2. I can't breathe

With the nice weather comes higher pollen counts, and for me that means that my sinuses go haywire. Fortunately, I can track the pollen forecast on this website, which will tell me how I won't be able to breathe that day. Of course, pollen counts really depend on the weather (temperature, precipitation, and regular seasonal trends), and the weather depends on where you are geographically located. My buddies in Texas have been "sportin' shorts" for about a month now.

Do you get frustrated on the morning commute? How about at the airport? Both of those questions are ridiculous for this reason: I already know that your answer is a resounding "Yes."

Everybody gets frustrated at one point or another while commuting in rush hour traffic or getting hassled at the airport. Personally, it is difficult for me to maintain my composure when it takes me 1.5 hours to drive 22 miles. I can ride a bike faster than that!

Is there a better way to get around besides driving a car that is expensive to maintain, pollutes, is noisy, etc? How about better than flying? One solution could be high-speed rail.

Debra Weitzel teaches environmental science at Middleton High School in Middleton, Wisconsin. Debra won the 2007 Richard C. Bartlett Environmental Education Award, presented annually by the National Environmental Education Foundation to an outstanding educator who has successfully integrated environmental education into the curriculum.

This week, April 12-18, is National Environmental Education Week (EE Week.) EE Week promotes understanding and protection of the natural world by actively engaging K-12 students and educators in an inspired week of environmental learning before Earth Day. This year's theme is Be Water Wise! To learn more or get involved, visit www.eeweek.org.


Ride the WAV
By Debra Weitzel

Have you ever engaged students in water testing during a water resources unit, collected data, and then moved on to a new unit? What happened to all the data the students collected? Did you only collect data once that year, during that one unit on water?


At Middleton High School (WI) my AP and general Environmental Science students are monitoring Pheasant Branch Creek, both during the water resources unit, and as part of the Water Action Volunteers (WAV). WAV is citizen science initiative and associated database maintained by the University of Wisconsin-Extension.

Sabriya Rice is a journalist and part-time video producer for Blue Zones, a scientific project to explore "pockets" of the world where people enjoy particularly long, healthy lives; in order to identify strategies for healthy living worldwide. This April 20 - May 1, schools can join scientists in a research expedition to the northern Aegean Sea through the Blue Zones Quest. It's all free, aligned with national standards in reading, language arts, health and geography, and funded by AARP and National Geographic. Visit the Blue Zones education page for details, and read on to find out why Sabriya thinks we should all interview our grandparents.

 

How did you get involved with the Blue Zones Quest? Had you ever been part of a research expedition prior to Blue Zones? 

It was like Kismet! I learned of Blue Zones from a former classmate. I had contacted my university's alumni list-serve in order to gain support for another project I was involved in. I received a response from a friend who had participated in a previous Quest. She was thrilled to receive my email because she had been trying to track me down to tell me about the upcoming Blue Zones in Costa Rica. She thought I'd be perfect for the expedition. So, even though she couldn't help with the project I originally emailed about, she certainly introduced me to a fascinating new opportunity that has changed my life forever. 


What was it like to work and travel with the team of scientists? What was your role? 

As a journalist it's not unusual for me to speak with medical researchers and healthcare professionals over the phone, or even to interview them in person. But to actually travel with them and see exactly how they do what they do is a very unique opportunity. Traveling with the team of scientists really opened my eyes to the intricate details of their work. My role with Blue Zones is video producer, which basically means I help visually tell a story. Experiencing the expedition from "behind-the-scenes" with the scientists really helps enhance the story-telling and make each Blue Zone a one-of-a-kind learning experience.


What was your favorite part of participating in the Quest?

 Being part of a Quest is like being a part of a daily adventure; every day brings something unexpected. Online, students from across the country guide us to help decide what area we should tackle the next day. The suspense waiting for their daily vote and the excitement of embarking on each new topic are my favorite parts of participating in the Quest. 


Describe the most interesting person you interviewed. 

A presentation at the annual meeting of the American Association of Geographers (AAG) held in Las Vegas this March described how geographic analysis can be used to identify the "coolest" places in LA and NYC--depending upon your definition of "cool."

 "The Geography of Buzz" project, conducted by Elizabeth Currid and Sarah Williams, was brought to my attention after being featured in the New York Times. Their methodology: Currid and Williams mined through thousands of stock photographs from the imaging giant Getty Images, carefully identifying photos that showed masses of 'cool people' doing 'cool things.' Then, they located where these photos were taken on a map. According to the two women, the objective of the study was "to be able to quantify and understand, visually and spatially, how this creative cultural scene really worked."

An article in the New York Times Friday described how one middle school in Scarsdale, New York, is incorporating lessons about empathy across the curriculum:

 English classes discuss whether Friar Laurence was empathetic to Romeo and Juliet. Research projects involve interviews with octogenarians and a survey of local wheelchair ramps to help students identify with the elderly and the disabled. A new club invites students to share snacks and board games after school with four autistic classmates who are in separate classes during the day (Hu, NY Times).

Principal Michael McDermott provided context for Scarsdale's efforts, saying, "As a school, we've done a lot of work with human rights. But you can't have kids saving Darfur and isolating a peer in the lunchroom. It all has to go together."

McDermott's remarks reminded me of a post we did this February on the "Every Human Has Rights" campaign and companion book. Produced by National Geographic, "Every Human Has Rights: A Photographic Declaration for Kids" puts this counsel into practice by compelling students to engage with and apply the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights to their everyday lives.

Some argue that "soft skills" like empathy are better cultivated at home and in religious and other extracurricular contexts. But others, like educational experts Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe, consider empathy a core component of academic learning and comprehension. The folks at the Partnership for 21^st Century Skills attest that exclusion of such "life and career skills" from the classroom is a chronic oversight with detrimental consequences for students--and for the U.S. workforce. They point to surveys of employers who cite skills like professionalism, teamwork, oral communication, ethics and social responsibility among the most paramount competencies for the workplace.

Yesterday, at a joint session of the Arctic Council and the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for tighter controls over tourism and other forms of pollution in Antarctica. Citing environmental and scientific research value, she urged greater global cooperation in preserving the continent.

Since 2000-01, visits to Antarctica have increased nearly four-fold, with 46,000 visitors to the continent during the last tourist season. The implications of this increase in tourism are, of course, devastating to such a pristine ecosystem. And with the continued rise in adventure tourism and nature-oriented travel, scientists and preservationists are understandably concerned over the future of the continent.

This is the second post in our EE Week Guest Blogger Series. Read the previous entry, "Wondrous Wetlands," by 4th grade teacher Tasha Kiemel of Sammamish, Washington, to learn more about how educators across the country are incorporating hands-on environmental field work into the curriculum.
 
Dave Wood teaches 8th grade Environmental Science at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC, and he serves on the National Environmental Education Week (EE Week) Teachers Advisory Committee. EE Week promotes understanding and protection of the natural world by actively engaging K-12th grade students and educators in an inspired week of environmental learning before Earth Day. This year's EE Week celebration occurs April 12-18, 2009, and the theme is Be Water Wise! To learn more or get involved, visit www.eeweek.org.


After teaching 8th grade environmental science at Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C. for over a decade, I came to realize that our students did not know some fundamental facts about the water upon which their lives depend.  For them, water just magically came out of the tap, and it had to be clean and healthy because, evidently, no one was getting sick from drinking it.  And, when my students dumped anything and everything down the drains or toilet, they assumed that, of course, the sewage treatment plant would take care of it all--because that's why it was called a "treatment" plant.   Where their drinking water came from, how it was treated, and what happened to it after it was flushed down the drain; they couldn't say.  And, I had to admit, neither could I.
 

2.

To do this bike trip, of course, requires a LOT of gear, so I was thinking about heading to REI this afternoon to look at some pannier bags for my bicycle. While discussing this with my editor, we reflected on how it's pretty hip to dress like you are a serious outdoor enthusiast, while not actually being an outdoor enthusiast. This fashion style shall henceforth be referred to as "wilderness chic." I say, if you are sporting your North Face jacket but haven't gotten out to a local park to do some hiking yet, this spring is your chance to 'walk the walk' and 'talk the talk.'

 

My Wonderful World and National Geographic invite you to follow Enric Sala on his journey to the Southern Line Islands deep in the South Pacific. While there, Dr. Sala and a team of scientists will study and catalog one of the world's last marine ecosystems "untouched" by humans. The islands present an example of what the oceans looked like hundreds of years ago--before human impacts--and, therefore, will offer a glimpse of how a healthy marine ecosystem should really work... and how to best keep it that way.

The website, which launches later today, will feature a layout enabling visitors to interact directly with the crew of the expedition and view daily photos, videos and stories.

So what are you waiting for? Get 'on board' by going to Oceans Now!  

Cameron for My Wonderful World