Hi,

The past while has been fairly eventful.

I have retired and have been supply teaching. It's more fun than I expected. I have taken a course in geology, which was really interesting. I particularly enjoyed doing online tutorials and mini quizzes. I didn't know that I liked geology.

My cottage has been a challenge, with deferred maintenance getting caught up. I bought a little kayak, and actually got out in it a few times last summer. I'm planning to increase that activity this summer. It's fun, and not terribly challenging. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to handle it well, but it wasn't a problem.

Biking weather is back, and I am going out right now to enjoy a little spin.

More on extinction

I found this website on extinction rates which totally supports Edward O. Wilson's estimation of the present rate of extinction of species:

http://www.bio.miami.edu/tom/bil160/bil160goods/10_extinct.html

Again, I say, "Is anybody out there?" What are we doing to reverse the trend? Does blogging help? Or am I spitting into the wind? Hello? YOU-HOOO!

More on the Future of Life: extinction rates

I'm going to quote from "The Future of Life", by Edward O. Wilson:

"Although it is possible to predict species extinction for the near future ---say, over the next decade or two---such a projection is impossible for the more distant future. The obvious reason is that the trajectory depends on human choice. If the decision were taken today to freeze all conservation efforts at their current level while allowing the same rates of deforestation and other forms of environmental destruction to continue, it is safe to say that at least a fifth of the species of plants and animals would be gone or committed to early extinction by 2030, and half by the end of the century. If, on the other hand, an all-out effort is made to save the biologically richest parts of the natural world, the amount of loss can be cut by at least half.

The sombre archaeology of vanished species has taught us the following lessons:

• The noble savage never existed.
• Eden occupied was a slaughterhouse.
• Paradise found is paradise lost.

Humanity has so far played the role of planetary killer, concerned only with its own short-term survival. We have cut much of the heart out of biodiversity. The conservation ethic, whether expressed as taboo, totemism, or science, has generally come too late and too little to save the most vulnerable of life forms.

If Emi the Sumatran rhino could speak, she might tell us that the twenty-first century is thus far no exception. And I would respond with another reassuring touch of my hand. We know more about the problem now, Emi; it is not too late. We know what to do. Perhaps we will act in time."

This book is now five years old. I wonder what has become of the 300 or so Sumatran rhinos. What will become of the planet???

I Googled Sumatran Rhinos, and found video clips of Emi giving birth to a baby. It's fabulous! the baby looks like a stuffed leather toy, with big googly eyes!

http://www.cincinnatizoo.org/Conservation/GlobalConservation
/SumatranRhino/BirthAnnouncement/Video/video.html

The main reason for the near extinction of the Sumatran Rhino? Poaching for the medicinal powers of the horn..... Of course, the loss of habitat is a big problem as well, but, according to Wilson, poaching is the main problem.

I have a small hope in the back of my mind. Apparently, there has been a huge change in Chinese society, due to the magic of the internet. People have gone, in 20-30 years, from wearing Mao suits to having all the gewgaws of modern western society. Perhaps a side effect of this phenomenon will be education on the topic of killing large numbers of animals and endangering species in order to get things like penises, horns, etc.

Water Transportation

Do you have experience with kayaking? I want to buy a boat, but I don't want a motor. Ultimately, I would like a rowboat like my friend's, pointed at both ends, cedar strip...really nice....there's probably a name for the style....It requires work to keep it up, though, and it's not cheap.

For the moment, I'd like a cheapish kayak which I could manage in slightly windy weather. I wouldn't go out in choppy water, at least, not unless I got to be very proficient. I'm not proficient right now. I've only been in a kayak a few times.

I'd love a line or two of advice on the subject, re makes, styles, etc., of kayaks that would be appropriate for me.

Another book

I'm reading a different book, "The Future of Life", by Edward O. Wilson. It is very interesting. His first chapter deals with the diversity of life forms, and the variety of places they are found. I've heard of things that live near undersea volcanic vents, but apparently there are many more examples of "extremophile" bacteria, microbes and such.

Another fun bit of info he provides is that there are more cells in and on our bodies that DON'T belong to us than DO. The number of bacteria in our gastrointestinal tract, as well as on our skin, etc., outnumbers our body cells. However, there is more mass in our body cells......thank goodness! Wouldn't we look cute if you could see all these creepy-crawlies on us.... It doesn't bear thinking about.

A third interesting piece of information is that most of the flora and fauna in Hawaii are foreign, and most of the native species are extinct. One picturesque species which was imported as a form of control is the rosy wolf snail. That brings up quite an image.

I want to go read some more.

Shopping Green

I went to the Gardening Show today. I was looking for a rain barrel. I found jacuzzis, pool equipment, etc., but no rain barrels.

To be fair, I did see a few companies selling solar heating systems, and one selling heat exchangers. Green stuff is creeping onto the market.

I guess my best bet is the internet. I like being able to see and touch things, and ask my questions on the spot.

I was going to spend my break reading books about climate change, to educate myself, but I got busy with a business deal. Instead,I've just managed to finish Roughing It in the Bush by Susannah Moodie. One interesting thing in it is how to make "coffee" from dandelion roots. Just dig up, wash thoroughly, cut into coffee bean size, and bake in the oven till brown and crunchy. Grind and brew just as with regular coffee. She also recommended putting a board over the plants, and harvesting the white leaves for salad. I'm going to try it.

Political Pressure

There was a rally on Sunday, which I attended. It would have been nice to see 10,000 people there, instead of 1-2000 at best. I got there a bit late, I admit. Maybe some had left when the food ran out. By the time I got there, it was gone.

Anyway, it's important, in my opinion, to be visible in supporting causes. Otherwise, how does anyone know that the cause is important? Elections let people know, but they don't happen often enough. Getting up and out, listening to speeches, et cetera, seems embarrassing, useless and silly to some, but I feel that it gets issues that are important to people into the media. It also allows some networking and sharing to take place. I talked with someone who saw my Bullfrogpower bag, and let him know a bit about it. I'm sure he went home and checked out the website. If he did, who knows? Maybe a whole series of new people will sign up, just because of that chance encounter. Word of mouth is good.

Stephen Harper needs to know that the Kyoto Accord must be honoured:

1-for our survival as a planet, not that compliance with the accord is enough, but it's definitely a start
2-for our word and reputation as a nation to be taken seriously
3-for leverage with such countries as China and India... if they don't see us cutting back our emissions, they may well not be convinced to work on theirs

I was inspired by the young men who organized the rally to begin to organize one of my own.

It will coincide with a host of rallies across USA, on April 14, to try to get the message to Congress to reduce CO2 emissions by 80% by 2050. Congress needs a fire lit under it...one that doesn't produce CO2....hm. The project is called Stepping It Up! and is organized by NRDC in the US.

My next change is to drive more slowly on highways, so that I don't burn 20% more fuel than necessary. I can get there a bit later. I'm also making an effort not to drive more than necessary. I haven't given up my car altogether. I feel that it's only possible in the city, where transit is better established.