Colorado wolves

I have a tremendous passion for wolves. My wife and I went to the Colorado Wolf and Wildlife Center in Divide, Colorado Saturday night for a Full Moon Tour. As you can see, the interaction with the wolves is remarkable. They are an endangered species and ill-informed people (nice way to say it) continue to try to destroy them. Their role in the ecosystem is complex and significant, including controlling exploding elk and deer populations. No - the hunters aren't very good at that. Populations (as a whole) continue to grow.

The other smaller animals are red foxes...even the white ones. They are bred in captivity for fur, then killed in a most inhumane way. An electrical rod is violently shoved into one of their 2 main orifices - really - then the power is turned on. Obviously, that's horrible but it gets worse. Sometimes it doesn't kill them. Dead or dying, they're hung from a hook and skinned - yes, oftentimes alive. Their fur then goes to coats and other furs - it can take 40 or more foxes for one coat, depending upon the style and size. So, the next time you see Jennifer Lopez, remember what happened and what suffering went into making that coat.

Anyway, I'll try to stop preaching here. To see much more about the wolves and foxes (and coyotes), go to http://www.wolfeducation.org/. To learn about what you can do to try to stop the slaughter, check out http://www.wildearthguardians.org/.

It matters.

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Fall surf catalog - some great ideas for snowboarding too

Let me just say - I love Patagonia. Most of their stuff is extraordinary. It's functional. Maybe most importantly, they give back so much to the environment.

Now they're doing online catalogs. Trees live. Videos are available. We all win.

Even if you don't intend to buy anything, check it out here.

You'll find videos and incredible photography. Hell, it's a couple of months before snowboarding season. Let's go surfing.

As always, if you can't see the links, go to http://snowboardingjapan.blogspot.com/ and see everything.

A tree worth hugging

For those of us who haven't yet seen Sequoias in person, this is definitely the next best thing.

Thanks again to Rocky at http://thegoat.backcountry.com.

If you can't see the video, go to http://snowboardingjapan.blogspot.com/ and see everything.

The Cove on television

This is a major movie and deserves even more exposure. See it starting Sunday, 29 August at 9PM ET/PT on the Animal Planet.

Bugs eating the BP oil spill?

Some scientists are saying that the BP oil spill is being reduced - well, nearly eliminated - by a newly discovered strain of bugs...er, oil-eating microbes.

The authority on everything, Wikipedia, says that microbes are tiny organisms too small to be seen by the human eye. Yes, I had to look that up.

The scientists that believe this seem to believe that the microbe may have adapted over time because there's always some oil in the Gulf.

Other scientists say this isn't correct.

I, personally, want to believe it. After all, the Gulf is my ocean. I grew up on it and still love it. If somehow the oil will just go away, great.

I admit, however, that I remain a skeptic, as other scientists recently reported that there was lots of oil still there. I guess the results depend upon who sponsors the study. That's not very original.

However, I have other concerns - remember you heard it here before Stewart, Cobert, Leno, Letterman, etc tell this on their shows.

If the microbes are now getting more oil than ever before, won't they evolve?

Maybe they'll become enormous and we can have our own Godzilla-type monster in Galveston Bay? Coming ashore, they seek oil - not just petroleum but cooking oil. No McDonalds' is safe. Who will save our cheeseburgers? Who will save our fries? Will the microbe monster supersize it?

Okay, I'll take my medicine now.

If you can't see the links on this, go to http://snowboardingjapan.blogspot.com/ and see everything in living color!

Here kitty, kitty, kitty

I've got little doubt that this guy will soon be eaten. Still, this is amazing footage of a man who plays with wild lions. He's certainly braver than me...or dumber.

Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservancy

Between the salt water, music, and bars lie elements of enlightenment and grand amusement. A chance to see butterflies from around the world is a terrific opportunity not to be missed. If you can't see the video, go to http://snowboardingjapan.blogspot.com/ and see the whole thing.

The Majestic Plastic Bag

So amphibious, so brave, so persevering, the plastic bag should be inspirational to all of us. Check it out!

I'm reposting this from YouTube but Rocky at http://thegoat.backcountry.com pointed it out to me. If you can?t see this video or any links, check out the full thing at http://snowboardingjapan.blogspot.com/

Local environmental action works!

What can you do about the environment? Privately funded, local organizations are extremely effective. Check it out below. If you can't see the video, go to http://snowboardingjapan.blogspot.com/.

Japan and whales

Some Japanese argue that Japan has a long-standing history of whaling. While that's a convenient argument, it's a bit disingenuous. Actually, only a few areas in Japan have the history and there's is only of hunting whale in nearby waters. The tradition of whaling to feed the nation began after WWII - hardly a long-standing thing.

Less than 5% of the folks in Japan eat whale with any frequency at all.

For more on whaling and some interesting videos, go here. The whole (origin of this post) story can be found here.

Why the Arctic matters

Why does the Arctic matter?

There are lots of reasons, from the beauty to the environmental effect. Yet, it too is easy to forget. This video may make it easier to remember. Be sure to stay with it until the last part of the story. It's worth it.

Check it out below. If you can't see the video, go to http://snowboardingjapan.blogspot.com/.

Visions of the Arctic WS from Florian Schulz on Vimeo.

Freedom to Roam - local solutions to big problems

Often, my fellow environmentalists and I get flack for being unrealistic. Imagine that! However, here’s a group of folks who get it; they get the problem, the get the solution, and they get that we all need to work together and make some compromise to get things done.

Animals need to roam. This is for migration, for breeding, for eating, and more. Yet, while we have some isolated areas protected for them, often there is no way for them to move from one area to another. Freedom to Roam folks are trying to address that issue.

They’re not saying “No development.” Rather, they’re using tested methods to create corridors for animals to move while improving the lives of those folks living in the area.

Check it out below. If you can’t see the video, go to http://snowboardingjapan.blogspot.com/. A hint: when I watched it, the site was running slow. Let most of the video download before trying to watch it. It’s worth the effort.

Freedom to Roam Multimedia presentation from Freedom to Roam on Vimeo.

Want to see more? Go to http://freedomtoroam.org/about/

The true cost of energy

What does it cost when you turn the light switch on? We know what the bill is at the end of the month but what do other people pay? How much does the coal (for the coal-fired electricity) that use really cost? What do we really pay for our energy?

For me, coal mining evokes images of brave men going below the surface to earn a meager living for their families. That’s the history of West Virginia and Appalachia. However, today’s coal mining often involves mountain top removal and the literal destruction of the valleys below.

We don’t know about it because Appalachia’s not the most exciting place in the world. Living conditions there may, in some cases, approach Third World existence. Now, we’re making it worse with our hunger for cheap energy.

What will our grandchildren say when they see what we’ve left them?

As always, if you can’t see the video below, go to http://snowboardingjapan.blogspot.com/ and see everything.

Sea Shepherd and the whales

Saving whales is a noble task. Their intelligence is phenomenal. Their beauty breathtaking. Most importantly, their survival is threaten - at least for many species. So, most nations consider whaling not only wrong but illegal. Sea Shepherd takes the whale far more seriously than most, putting their lives on the line routinely to intervene between whaling ships and whales. I'm a member and contributor.

Below is Captain Paul Watson's appearance on the tonight show. He's pretty persuasive. It's in two parts. As always, if you can't see the videos or the links, go to http://snowboardingjapan.blogspot.com/ and see everything!

Wolves fishing

Seeing wolves fishing is somehow inspirational. The first video is short and a bit grainy. The second one shows a very young wolf learning the technique. Both are worth a few moments for the smile factor.  If you're reading this somewhere and can't see the videos, go to http://snowboardingjapan.blogspot.com/ and see the whole thing!

Safety for wolves...at least for now

Friday US District Judge Donald Molloy ruled that that Rocky Mountain Gray Wolves should remain on the Endangered Species List. While no surprise, it's a great relief to many of us and to the wolves.

Amazingly, the judge who first ruled to allow them off the list predicted this. You might ask why he would make a ruling that he knew would be overturned. Lots of taxpayer dollars are lost from this decision and at least 100 wolves were killed.

Idaho said it would ask for permission to have its wolf hunt anyway. There's a few more wasted taxpayer dollars but they're apparently wealthy in Idaho so taxpayer dollars are in good supply.

The handling of the wolf issue is one of my pet peeves against President Obama.  I've written about it before so I'll just say that environmentalists' votes shouldn't be taken for granted. It's not so much that we'd vote against you but it's hard to get out to vote when you feel betrayed.

Wolves are endangered and need the protection. Wondering what you can do? Check out this site and they'll get you started.

Can't see the links? Just go to http://snowboardingjapan.blogspot.com/ and see everything.

Time to go green - corporate style

Recently I reported on an Army attempt to go green here.  It's both funny and tragic.

However, some corporations are starting to go green. The idealist in me wants to believe it's because they really want to make the world a better place. The cynic in me says it's a marketing advantage.

The realist in me says it doesn't matter why they do it - just that they do it. Burt's Bees hasn't been run by Burt in years but they're really trying to do better. Their resolution - nothing goes to the landfill. The result - they're considered the number one "green" brand. That's worth some money and good karma. Read about it here. Amazing how well things work when the private sector takes the initiative.

BTW - I use many of their products and love them.

BP and oil - where is it?

Suddenly, there's no BP (British Petroleum) oil spill. At least the major part is missing. Where did it go and why does that matter to the environment?

The answer - chemical dispersants.  Why does that matter?

Imagine you're a young man seeking a young woman to be your life-long partner. I apologize for telling this from the straight male perspective. It isn't the best perspective but (alas) it's the only one I have. And, it fits so well.

Do you seek your companion at church? Do you seek the life-long partner at political rallies (assuming something in common)? Do you seek her at clubs (assuming an addiction to Captain Morgan and cola)? Do you seek her at yoga class (assuming some flexibility in life)?

Not if you're the EPA.

They find a femme de noir. While she may not be everything they seek, her makeup covers up the flaws and the pain.

In my long life, particularly the cab driving years, I've known some excellent women of the evening. And, while I knew them as friends and clients, I never forgot the choices they made. I've worked hard, albeit unsuccessfully, to change things so those choices didn't have to be made by others who came later. Still, as nice and smart and funny as some of them were, the simple reality is that after a number of years in the trade, the makeup didn't hide the truth any more. I'm sorry. Sometimes after I took them to their homes and dropped them off, I cried. It was sad. It damn sure wasn't a goal.

Kids, the EPA doesn't get it.

Chemical dispersants hurt sea creatures. They allow damage. But, if you're not looking closely and the light is poor, they hide the truth.

It turns out the EPA has routinely allowed chemical dispersants to be used by BP.

That's both bad science, bad politics,  and against the law.

I take it personally because the Gulf of Mexico is my ocean. I grew up on it. It cured me both physically and metaphorically many times. Now, some jerk is destroying it. Some jerk is killing the dolphins I surfed with, killing the brown pelicans I worshiped, and killing the fish that sustained me.

That's my f***ing ocean. It's bad enough that you keep lying to people but you're killing my ocean.

Now, I find out my government is cooperating. I'm really mad. I'll vote mad and I'll contribute to candidates who share my rage.

Yes, President Obama, I'm mad at you too. I'm mad because you aren't. Step up. I voted for change. I voted for integrity. I even sent money. Please do the right thing and hang these guys out to dry.

Throw Salazar in the pit with them while you're at it.

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Hell, subscribe while you're there and don't miss a single rant...at least those when the medication works well enough for me to type.

BP to Texas - Trust me

With all respect to journalistic integrity, I need to confess that I'm from Texas (originally). Maybe that's why I find this so funny.

I don't want to oversimplify, but Texas is an oil state. The state continues to be dominated by the petrochemical industry and its governor, Rick Perry, sleeps on a waterbed inflated with oil, combs his hair with oil, uses it to clean things, and worships the sacred PetroGod. No one could possibly be a bigger supporter of oil than Guv Rick.

The BP Oil Spill hasn't affected Texas beaches to the extent that it's affected other states, yet there have been some tar balls washing up on its beaches. Of course a former Texas governor (Preston Smith, Dolph Briscoe...they all run together in a giant oil slick of corruption) once said that tar balls were natural and had nothing to do with oil production.

The former governor's opinion on tar balls notwithstanding, Guv Rick went to his Big Daddy BP and ask for a 25 million dollar cash advance to pay for future Texas oil spill clean ups. After all, Guv Rick figured, Big Daddy BP gave it to his other kids (Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi).

It seems only fair. After all, Texas should have "most favored son" status, as BP's U.S. operations are headquartered in Houston and BP is heavily invested in Texas.

BP said no. They did make a small (comparatively) pledge to the Texas Coastal Protection Fund.

Now, Son of Oil Guv Rick is in a snit. He wrote a nasty letter to BP and someone gave it to Reuters. Nice. Reuters quotes him as saying to BP "you are essentially asking Texas to just trust you."

Very nice.

How does Guv Rick explain to the voters that the oil god doesn't love them as much as the other children? How does he explain that, even though they pledged their souls to PetroGod, they don't get their handout?

Finally, will Guv Rick get a new polo pony to make up for his hurt feelings?

For more thoughts on BP, click here.

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Electric cars

Environmentalists love them. Business people hope they'll save the auto manufacturers. They're great...even though they're pretty difficult and expensive to obtain.

GM is bringing their Volt out soon. It costs over $40,000 before rebates, incentives, etc.

Is it right that they cost so much? Are manufacturers making them expensive for reasons known only to them?

Hard to answer those questions but one Oregon 14-year old built his own. Really. It costs him about $4,000 and he didn't get rebates or incentives.

Exactly who is zoomin' whom?

See more environmental stories here. See the complete version of this story here.

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