Lacandon jungle burned for agriculture in Chiapas, Mexico (Photo by Jami Dwyer) Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai made her mark with a simple but effective idea: Plant trees to stop erosion and restore the ecology in Kenya. In 1977, she started the Green Belt Movement, which is credited with planting 30 million trees. The movement brought poverty-stricken Kenyans together to replenish natural resources as a means to boost the local economy. But Professor Maathai, aka "The Tree Woman," hasn't stopped there. Now, she's tackling global warming. How? Yup, you guessed it: Plant more trees! Why? Carbon dioxide, the major culprit of global warming, is readily consumed by trees. Because of rapid worldwide deforestation, we can no longer depend on natural forests to take care of our global surplus of CO2. Replacing dwindling forests not only helps to prevent climate change, but also beautifies our expanding cityscapes. So, join Maathai in her venture, the United Nation's Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign, and go plant your tree of choice -- for Earth's sake. Suggested Sites... United Nations Environmental Program: The Billion Tree Campaign - hoping to plant at least seven billion trees. Can you help? The Green Belt Movement - much more than just planting trees. National Geographic News: Global Warming Fast Facts - pictures presenting the consequences of climate change. Union of Concerned Scientists: Global Warming FAQ - direct answers to common global warming questions. The Global Warning Hoax - of course, not everyone believes we're in trouble.

Directory categories: Deforestation, Global Warming, Carbon Sequestration, Trees, Restoration Ecology

Archived under: Environment, Global Warming, Nobel Prize, Science, Society and Culture, Trees, United Nations

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Shoppers following their own advice. (And , no, we didn't have to pay to use this image.) (Photo by Brave New Films) When getting or giving a gift, we often hear, "It's the thought that counts," implying that it doesn't matter what we buy, as long as we buy something. So, every year on the day after Thanksgiving, American shoppers hurl themselves into malls in a frenzy, desperately hunting for Black Friday bargains. After the shelves been picked clean and the registers closed out, economists anxiously await the day's totals, hoping to forecast a strong economy for the upcoming holiday season. But there are some who believe that the only forecast this consumerism points to is damage to ourselves and our planet. And if folks like the Reverend Billy have anything to say about it, we won't be buying anything. The good Reverend is one of those critics of rampant consumerism who urge you to participate in the holiday madness by not participating in it. "Reverend Billy" is the nom du theatre of performance artist Bill Talen, who founded the Church of Stop Shopping. His mock gospel of anti-consumerism became deadly serious when he attacked a certain mouse-headed corporation for its "Disneyfication" of New York's Times Square, and Starbucks for driving out small local businesses in the name of creating a "fake Bohemia." It's not that Billy is anti-capitalist; rather, he stands for a "real human experience" and against corporations that seek to homogenize or erase the uniqueness of small mom 'n' pop stores in the name of efficiency and profit. But it's not just Reverend Billy. On this day of all days, there's a whole movement that asks you to buy nothing at all -- not even gas, bread, or coffee! Proponents of "Buy Nothing Day" claim that it serves as a brake on the rampant consumerism that has spoiled society. If you do decide you must shop this weekend, remember that wise spending -- such as understanding where purchases come from and what kind of an impact they'll have on our environment -- may make all the difference between wasteful overconsumption and practical resource conservation on our planet. So before you make that rush to the mall over the next few weeks, ask yourself if you're doing all that shopping just for shopping's sake. And pause to think if your purchase will be the one that brings on the Shopocalypse. Suggested Sites... Adbusters: Buy Nothing Day - information on observations worldwide. Reverend Billy and the Church of Life After Shopping - stop the insanity. Buy Nothing Day.org - sit around the house and get to know your family. What Would Jesus Buy? - official site for the documentary about Reverend Billy's work. But would it be a sin to buy it? Money Can't Buy Happiness, Er, Can It? - Nobel Prize-winning economist asks whether America's consumption boom is really a good thing.

Directory categories: Buy Nothing Day, Reverend Billy, Black Friday Sales, Anti-Consumerism, Consumer Advocacy

Archived under: Business, Consumer Advocacy, Counterculture, Culture Jamming, Economics, Environment, Events, Issues and Causes, Shopping, Society and Culture

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Possible algal bloom in Canada's Bowman Bay (Photo by Pierre Nordique) It seems there are still mysteries to solve on this planet. Following the recent discovery of the "Alaskan blob" (insert your own Sarah Palin joke here ... ), there's been a flurry of news stories covering the explosion of colonies of microorganisms on both sides of North America. The furry-looking slick located off the shores of northern Alaskan has so far baffled scientists as to why it's appeared where it has. It's something generations of locals have never seen before, and whether it will hurt the local wildlife and eco-systems or not is something they can't yet answer. Just a simple news search on "algae bloom" gives you the skinny on who's dealing with harmful algal blooms (or HABs, for short) at this very moment. In June, there was an algae bloom in Tampa that stretched for more than a dozen miles, and which could still cause a large fish kill. And off the entire coast of Maine, a red tide has virtually shut down clam-digging and other local fishing industries. As of last week, the most current research vessels on the scene have concluded that the bloom is finally ending, though. And these examples represent just saltwater occurrences, we haven't even begun to touch on the freshwater bacteria that can wreak all sorts of havoc ... something that visitors to Vancouver Lake in Washington found out about last weekend. And now that we've got you worried about that, what's up with those big globs of oil washing up on the beaches in Texas? Suggested Sites... National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service - investigating the ocean algae blooms with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Harmful Algae: Red Tide - comprehensive resource for information about harmful algal blooms. The Bioluminescence Web Page - some varieties of algal blooms can produce a ghostly glow in the dark. The Biotech Weblog - researchers find a diatom that can reduce the toxicity of a red tide.

Directory categories: Harmful Algal Blooms, Phycology, Microorganisms, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Archived under: Alaska, Bacteria, Beaches, Biology, Canada, Environment, Fish, Fishing, Mysteries, Nature, Science, Scientists, Underwater, Weird Stuff

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The view from Ravens Roost If you're itching for a different kind of road trip this summer, motor down South to the Blue Ridge Parkway. This scenic drive along the crest of the Blue Ridge mountains in Virginia and North Carolina started as a Depression-era project to put people back to work. Its 469 miles of pure motoring pleasure wind through spectacular mountain vistas, wildflowers, trails, and waterfalls. Designed by landscape architect Stanley William Abbott, this is a drive that's all about the journey -- not the destination. Discover Native American settlements and old farmsteads, as well as handicrafts inspired by over 200 years of Appalachian culture. Take some time to explore the Linville Caverns or hike across the mile-high bridge on Grandfather Mountain. Fuel up on the homemade apple pie at Famous Louise's Rock House restaurant, or pick up supplies at a country general store. Most importantly, when you're on the Blue Ridge Parkway, take your time and enjoy the drive. Suggested Sites... The Blue Ridge Parkway - Parkway map and things to see and do every mile of the way. Cherokee, North Carolina - the end of the trail on the south end. Check out Oconaluftee Indian Village. Virginia's Explore Park - living history demos, outdoor recreation, and historic Brugh Tavern. National Park Service: Blue Ridge Parkway - get the scoop on the most visited unit of America's National Park System.

Directory categories: Blue Ridge Parkway, Road Trips, Scenic Highways and Byways, Desitnation Guides, Travel

Archived under: Autos, Conservation, Driving, Environment, Hiking, History, Outdoors, Parks, Recreation and Travel, Roads, Roadside Attractions, Small Towns, Tourist Attractions, Travel, United States, Vacations

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"Say 'cheese!'" (Photo by Robert Mann) Summer is nearly here, so it’s time to officially come out of hibernation. For those of you who have an itchy shutter finger, today is an especially good day to venture out and about with your camera. June 15th is Nature Photography Day -- a great excuse to pause and observe the wild world and contemplate its conservation. Fortunately, you don't need to be the next Franz Lanting in order to participate in this event, or even to plan a trip to an exotic location. The North American Nature Photography Association has a very low-pressure approach. They'll be posting members’ photos in their newsletter, but they offer a few rules to follow. The main rule is that your photographs must be taken within walking or biking distance of wherever you are on June 15. This provides you with an opportunity to find the glimpses of nature that you might otherwise miss amid your ordinary day-to-day routines. You might see the sidewalk in a new way, or gain an appreciation for backyard visitors. Maybe you won’t end up with a print you want to frame at the end of the day. That’s fine. Stopping to "snap the roses" is its own reward. On the other hand, maybe you’ll be inspired to develop your skills as a photographer. The next challenge: kids! Suggested Sites... Wildlife Theater - pics taken in one suburban back yard. Wild Light - Rick Lieder's images of the birds and the bees. A Walk Through Durham Township, Pennsylvania - corn in morning fog, and other cool things. The photo.net Nature Photography Pages - guides, equipment reviews, field ethics, and much more. Nature Photography Day on Flickr - public Flickr group.

Directory categories: Nature Photography, Personal Nature Photography Exhibits, Resources for Photographers, Photo Contests, Nature Photography For Purchase

Archived under: Animals, Arts, Cameras, Conservation, Environment, Events, Hobbies, Home and Garden, Photography, Wildlife

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