Nudi Beauty

Nudibranchs are slow-moving hermaphroditic predators related to snails. These wild weirdos dwell on the ocean floor where they creep around munching on corals, sponges, barnacles, other nudis and sometimes jellyfish. There are more than 3,000 species of nudis globally...

What Nature Gives Us

"There is no question that Earth has been a giving planet. Everything humans have needed to survive, and thrive, was provided by the natural world around us: food, water, medicine, materials for shelter, and even natural cycles such as climate and nutrients. Scientists have come to term such gifts 'ecosystem services', however the recognition of such services goes back thousands of years, and perhaps even farther if one accepts the caves paintings at Lascaux as evidence. Yet we have so disconnected ourselves from the natural world that it is easy—and often convenient—to forget that nature remains as giving as ever, even as it vanishes bit-by-bit..." (+Mongabay)

Pesek's baby has done wonders for Earthwise Aware this past WE

Nice boost to Earthwise Aware FB's followers count this weekend. Of course I realize that this little one's cuteness was probably key here...

For those who want to see more pics of Pesek and her baby, check my EwA accounting of the encountering. Next will be few more articles on different aspects of Orangutan research and tourism.

Environment | Week Highlights

[In the News] | [Meanwhile in Massachusetts]

Week: April 1 - 7 2017

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News Highlights

 

[Main topics of the Week] Personally I need a break from the constant flow of bad environment and conservation news coming from the US. So I am going to focus primarily on a single event that happened this week: the birthday of an inspiring leader, a great woman, scientist and conservation: Jane Goodall.

And otherwise make sure you call your senators to get them to hear what you think about the dismantling of Alaska's Izembek National Refuge pushed by the Alaskan Environment thug that Rep. Don Young is. Although he is not alone: the Republicans are acting altogether at dismantling environmental protections, and eradicating conservation areas. [Common Dreams]

Want to know what's going on in the Congress? Check my Congress Watch page — This page highlights urgent issues / bills with actionable items (who to call for support or protest).

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Meanwhile in Massachusetts

 

Keep an eye on...

 

Local Legislature & Campaigns

✧ 350 Mass Legislative Agenda

✧ Massachusetts Sierra Club's Legislative Priorities — 2017-2018 (190th session) 

✧ Environmental League of Massachusetts Legislative  — 2017-2018 agenda

✧ Conservation Law Foundation Campaigns 

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Ark Builders...

Once when chatting with a very nice young lady about some of the ailments that our Earth is living through, she reminded me that some see us environmentalists, conservationists as ones who loath humanity, acting against the interest of our own species...

I answered that quite the contrary and based on the argument of "caring about our own species interest", then we are the ones who love our own species the most. We care about a world where our children have enough food to eat, where they can breath without falling sick, where they can live respectfully with all the other species under the light of whatever spiritual entity or religious god they chose to worship. If we were the people loathers that they think we are, then we would not put up with a fight but rather let the boat sink, let our support systems collapse (which they are doing). At the end and at this pace, we won't prevail but Nature in whatever battered form will. Us (homo non-sapiens)? we'll loose fully responsible as a species of what was done and about what we inflicted to all kinds including our own. We won't go in a pretty way, we won't go peacefully... It won't be without pain and suffering...

In truth, I will admit that I think that the ones who refuse to help, who vehemently act wastefully, toxically, knowingly over consuming, over exploiting, over killing, over-expanding, over-eating - all that hiding behind false pretenses, fake ignorance - these people are the ones who are the people-loather, the world-loather and primarily self-loathers... I feel sadness for all and a deep pity for these lost souls who yes are joyfully taking all of us down. At least I'll depart knowing that I tried as hard as I could to be a moral being...

This reminded of what Scott Russel Sanders wrote about the Ark Builders of our times. I don't like labels, I don't have all of their virtues (yet) but I realize that somehow I fit the profile. We come from every background, every race, every religion and political parties. We work steadily at trying to conserve rather than consume. We are "bound together by a certain joy and boldness in seeking to preserve the diversity of living things and the essential of human knowledge and art". What we "share is a moral vision, one informed by an understanding of ecology and a reverence for life." Sanders's Ark-builders maybe driven by Hope. As "building an Ark when the floodwaters are rising is not an act of despair but an act of hope. To build an ark being about creating a space within life and within which life in its abundance may continue". I will say though that for me Hope is not a driver. I am an Ark builder because we have no other choice: this is the right ethical to do and be, at all times, and now more than ever. And my work is to get more ark builders along with me if I can... 

No, I am not in despair: building this ark and fighting for Life makes me appreciate it more each day. Life is truly a wonderful place to be, one that I want to be able to pass to our children... How about you?