My daughter and are at present studying the Biomes of this planet, and the Rainforest. In our home studies we must learn those integral parts that make up this Earth. The biosystems, ecosystems and all that lives in the natural world and keeps this planet in balance. It is quite disturbing to try to answer her many questions, and she is becoming quite alarmed with the current events happening around our planet, and with good cause. It is sad to think of what the world will be when she is grown, and the daunting task we are setting forth for our children. She asks me “What will I tell my children, Mama?”.

I try so hard to paint a picture of all the wonders in nature, yet it is quite difficult to do when nature is disappearing so rapidly. The virgin Rainforests are home to 61.8% of all the biological diversity on Earth. In this, the richest environment for life, we are destroying a land area which is equivalent to the size of the city of Tokyo Japan ( 240 square miles ) every day. This equals 6417 acres per hour, 107 acres per minute or 1.78 acres per second. This issue of Rainforests destruction and mass species extinctions is the #1 issue facing humanity. If we do not stop this NOW, it will be too late.

It is believed, based on the Fibonacci series of numbers which are found throughout nature, that there are approximately 560 Rainforests species extinctions per day. This equals one Rainforests species extinction every 2 minutes and 33 seconds. We are but a strand in the fabric of life, all intricately interdependent on one another. And yet here we are, in the mere geological blink of an eye, eroding the very foundation of our own existence with mass species extinctions. This 6th great mass extinction period on Earth that we are insanely causing by the suicidal annihilation of the Web of Life, will very soon bring about our own extinction.

The Omega Point is the point in time, when all of the devastation we have inflicted over the years to our life support ecosystems finally becomes too much and they irreversibly fail, no longer able to sustain Homo Sapiens. What this translates into for our future generations is an ever increasingly nightmarish slippery slope to extinction.

Rainforests are some of the world’s most ancient and complex ecosystems. They cover a mere 2% of the Earth, yet more than half of all plant and animal species live there. The rainforest is home to creatures as famous as the jaguar and poison dart frog, as well as lesser-known and even unidentified species.

I will be following up soon with more about the life that still exists within the rainforest.

“This we know: The earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like the blood that unites us all. Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.”
Chief Seattle

With a population of slightly less than three million, spread over 1.2 million sq-km (0.5 million sq-mile), much of the Tibet Autonomous Region is wide open space. China has established 38 reserves to protect the region’s natural environment, which includes mountains, lakes and forests. But global warming is changing the landscape. Temperatures in Tibet are rising at more than twice the worldwide average, melting glaciers that feed some of Asia’s major rivers.

Tibetan Life and Tourism

Outside towns and cities, people mostly rely on farming to survive. Tibetans grow crops or herd animals, such as cows and yaks. Common crops include barley, potatoes and turnips. A few years ago, watermelons were introduced to the region and now seem to be the summer fruit of choice. Farmers sell them directly from roadside stalls.

China hopes to attract three million tourists to Tibet by 2020. But there are concerns that these tourists, who will need hotels, restaurants and shops, will destroy Tibet’s unique character. More visitors could lead to ugly developments around major tourist sites and damage to the region’s natural environment. Local officials maintain this will not happen, but bold statements and action are often two different things.

Buddhist tradition

Tiger’s Nest Monastery, perched precariously on the edge of a 3,000-feet-high cliff in Paro Valley, is one of the holiest places in Bhutan. Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche, the second Buddha, flew onto the cliff on the back of a tigress, and then meditated in a cave which now exists within the monastery walls. The monastery, formally called Taktshang Goemba, was built in 1692 and reconstructed in 1998 after a fire. Now, the monastery is restricted to practicing Buddhists on religious retreats and is off-limits to ordinary tourists.

Religion remains important for ordinary Tibetans, many of whom make pilgrimages to the region’s monasteries and temples. Pilgrims are as prominent as tourists on Lhasa’s streets, as they walk around sacred sites chanting and clutching prayer beads. Many sites have been restored after being destroyed in China’s Cultural Revolution, when the country was plunged into virtual civil war. China says there are now more than 1,700 places of worship in Tibet, and about 46,000 monks and nuns.

I blog for many reasons, and to help those less able to help themselves is way up there at the top. People are dying, and those who are living in these refugee camps are suffering beyond our imagining. Not only are these people displaced with little hope of finding homes, they are the victims of disease and targets of militia outbreaks. Children are the victims of rape. Plagued by foul weather and the minimal of shelter, if any, there is little hope for these families and we who are free must find it in our hearts to help in whatever way we can.

This seems a daunting task, and a hopeless mission if we truly look at the scope of this global tragedy, as it is told that the numbers are as high as 42 million uprooted by war around the world. This is a staggering number if you ask me, and in this modern day of supposed ‘enlightened’ human beings, it is puzzling to imagine such barbaric behaviour occuring to such a large degree. If we remind ourselves that these are not just numbers, and are living, breathing human beings just like you and I, then we can begin to realize that it could just as easily be us living this nightmare.

There are those who dedicate their lives to helping those suffering, with assistance of food, shelter, medical attention and supplies. If you would like to further educate yourself and others, perhaps you would like to visit Doctors Without Borders to see what is happening on an alarming scale, and possibly help with donations of your time, or even offer financial assistance if you are in a position to do so. Spreading the word and raising awareness is a great first step towards helping these lost ones, and will go a long way to bringing hope to these people.

I will be doing more research, and dedicating more time to these humanitarian efforts in the future. Meanwhile, you may be interested in a refugee camp blog that has just finished up a tour to raise awareness called 42 Million Uprooted by War: A Refugee Camp in the Heart of the City. These people dedicate their lives to helping refugees, and I believe their dedication, courage, compassion and love for their fellow humans in danger and dire straits, will encourage others to follow suit and join in this totally worthwhile cause.

The coastline of County Antrim from Ballycastle to Larne and the world famous Glens of Antrim contain some of the most beautiful and varied scenery in Northern Ireland. The area is dominated by a high undulating plateau cut by deep glens which open north and eastwards to the sea. It is an area of contrasts: gentle bays are separated by blunt headlands; exposed moorland gives way to sheltered valleys; wide open expanses to enclosed farmland.

Entwined amongst the rich history and traditions of the communities within these mysterious glens is the constant sense of a dual landscape; one of breathtaking nautral drama and beauty that opens up as you negotiate the hills and bends, and another more hidden landscape of mists and myths, of legends and folklore and tales of giants, fairies and other wonderful creatures. Let us explore them all.

Glenaan - The glen of the colt’s foot or rush lights, a rugged glen - having the site of the legendary Ossian’s grave, with the Cushendall-Ballymoney mountain road. The Celtic poet Ossian is said to have resisted St Patrick, arguing that Christianity was too strict for the exuberant Gaels.

Glenarm - The glen of the army, with Glenarm village, eleven miles north of Larne, on the famous Causeway Coastal Route. The oldest of the villages, with narrow streets leading to Glenarm Forest with its paths and waterfalls. A gold and Silversmith’s workshop and a pottery in the village are worth a visit. Glenarm Castle, with a striking resemblance to the Tower of London, is the home of the Earl of Antrim.

Glenariff - The arable or fertile glen, the best-known of the nine as the ‘Queen of the Glens’, sweeps majestically towards the village of Waterfoot. A series of waterfalls plunge down through a gorge traversed by rustic bridges. One cascade has the name ‘tears of the mountain’. The park is also a national nature reserve with easy access to a caravan and camp site. There is a wonderful view from the visitor centre down the glen which Thackeray described as a ‘Switzerland in miniature’. Waterfoot is the village at the foot of Glenariff, by lovely Red Bay, so called because of the reddish sand washed by streams from the sandstone. Fishing boats can be hired at the harbour here. There is a series of caves in the Cliffs, which were once inhabited, with the fragmentary ruins of Red Bay Castle above.

Glenballyeamon - Edwardstown glen, at the foot of which is Cushendall - more or less at the centre of the nine glens. Tieveragh Hill is supposed to be the capital of the fairies (living inside it). Above the village soars the table-top mountain of Lurigethan.

Glencorp - The glen of the slaughtered, close by Glenaan and roughly parallel to the main road from Cushendall to Cushendun. A prominent round hill on the east slope of Glencorp is called Tieveragh. This is famed as the home of multitudes of fairies, said to emerge in a procession on May Eve (30 April). Those who doubt the existence of the little folk will not see them, for they reveal themselves only to believers.

Glencloy - The glen of the hedges, two miles north of Glenarm, with the village of Carnlough at its foot. Lying about 14 miles north of Larne, this glen takes its name from the stone ditches in the upper glen and on Garron mountain. Some of these have been shown to date from the Bronze Age. The main village is Carnlough (population about 1000) stretching along most of the bay. A further 500-600 people live in the upper glen. Archaeological excavations at Bay Farm have uncovered evidence of Neolithic occupation (around 4000 B.C.) and further excavations in the same general area uncovered a Bronze Age settlement dated between 2000 and 1500 B.C.

Glendun - The glen of the brown river, adjacent to Cushendun village; spanned by a viaduct on the main Cushendall-Ballycastle road.

Glenshesk - A pleasant glen lying on the eastern side of Knocklayde mountain opening out to the sea at Ballycastle. It is quite easy to visit and explore this glen and Glentaise in the course of a couple of days. Like Glentaisie, on the other side of Knocklayde, it is also full of historic lore and at its foot lie the ruins of the Franciscan Friary of Bunamargy which was built for the friars by the local chieftain, Rory MacQuillan in 1485. As a result of a few fierce battles it became the property of the MacDonnell Clan who had no qualms about setting fire to the friary when it was occupied by the English forces under the command of Sir William Stanley in 1584. This glen is peppered with standing stones marking the burial places of saintly men and women and of brave clan leaders killed in battle. A castle in Drumenia is called after Goban Saoer who is celebrated in folklore as the icon of all skilled builders and craftsmen. Folklore - You do not have to travel far in County Antrim to encounter Finn MacCool, whether in his legendary giant form or as a Celtic warrior. In the latter guise he is said to have slain his favourite hunting dog Bran in Glenshesk - at a spot now known as Doonfin - during an incident in the pursuit of deer. Hunting features frequently in tales of Finn and his band of fighters, the Fianna, and Finn’s two dogs, Bran and Skolawn, are recorded as being a type of greyhound, but no doubt larger and heavier than today’s refined racing dogs.

Glentaisie - The most northerly of the nine glens and, lying as it does at the foot of Knocklayde mountain, is probably the most sheltered. It is about five miles long and opens out to a fine sandy beach at the beautiful historic town of Ballycastle. named after the Princess Taisie, the daughter of King Dorm of Rathlin Island. According to legend, Taisie, renowned for her great beauty, was bethrothed to Congal, heir to the Kingdom of Ireland. The king of Norway also sought her hand in marriage, and when he arrived to claim his bride her wedding celebrations to Congal were underway. The King of Norway and his army tried to capture Taisie but in the subsequent battle he was killed and his army fled leaderless and empty handed. More recent history deals with the arrival of the MacDonnell Clan from Scotland and even more recent is the fact that the first ever wireless message across a stretch of water was transmitted by Guglielmo Marconi from Ballycastle to Rathlin in 1898.

Surely the lands of Northern Ireland are of great interest to me, and I am of a mind to visit soon. To take part in the festivities and explore the glens, the lands of my ancestors, is a desire I cannot resist. I cannot possibly even properly express the beauty and wonder of such places without a personal visit. Surely these places must be experienced in person to allow our spirits to absorb the magnificence and mystery of the natural creations on this earth. I hope you enjoy a glimpse into this Place of Outstanding Natural Beauty which is just a small part of our Mother Earth.

Further Study and Information

Here is a Guide to the Glens of Antrim. Can you separate truth from myth?

The sense of community in Blackdown Hills is simply heartwarming, and makes this a thoroughly enchanting place I would love to visit. They have Mushroom forays, an ever-popular event for adults and kids, where one can forage for fungi in nearby woods before returning to the Farmers Inn in West Hatch to sample wild mushrooms. How totally cool! (I know I am weird, yet this is a delicious type of fungi we are talking about!)

Then there is the Autumn Apple Celebrations. Cider with Roadies will once again be touring the Blackdowns each autumn to champion the local apple! We can join in the celebrations as they touch down in the villages bringing their travelling apple press, Pomona. Have your own apples pressed into delicious juice, learn about planting and growing, and enjoy original music, drama and fun. Hmmm… sounds so country and old time to me, which makes this something I would love to be a part of.

A chance to take part in the ancient practice of coppicing hazel, or a Natural Christmas Decorations workshop, makes visiting this lovely English countryside even more inviting. Not to mention a walk through scenic Otterford, approx. 6½miles (11km.), about 3 hours, and a moderate walk for those who wish to enjoy the scenery with little discomfort (except the rain, the reason for the lush green landscape).

Ah, now here is something I find truly interesting. They have a group of fibre farmers dedicated and totally commited to offering the very best Alpaca, Cashmere, Mohair and wool products in a sustainable, environmentally friendly way. Blackdown Hills Natural Fibres has a way of processing of local fibre in an environmentally sensitive way but without the compromise on quality this sometimes means. I would just love to gather some of these most amazingly high quality, absolutely unique yarns and finished items, as they have to offer. What a treat!

Well then, it is settled. Here is another place I will add to my itinerary of places to visit when I make my way to England, Scotland and Ireland. This is a trip I will thoroughly enjoy planning! Especially if I can learn the traditional skill of hedgelaying with the Blackdown Hills Hedge Association. Blackdowns hedges are renowned for their craftsmanship and as habitats for wildlife - they have a course where we can learn from the experts. This is a quaint part of the English lanscape I love most. And of course I will simply have to visit a castle, and explore the countryside’s wild places to my hearts content. Here we will find a treasure trove of Mother Earth’s natural wonders, although man has tampered with her work a bit, yet I believe the land has been preserved in a good way, which makes me very happy.

If you wish to learn more, and get the scoop on events in this area, you may visit Blackdown Hills AONB.

There are many variations of rock formations, caused by the Millstone Grit being eroded by water, glaciation and wind, most of which have achieved amazing shapes. Many of the formations have been named, though some imagination is required and the correct viewing angle is helpful. Examples are The Sphinx, The Watchdog, The Camel, The Turtle and The Dancing Bear. If you wish to enjoy the view, the property is open all year around; typically from 8 a.m. until dusk. These are indeed quite fantastic works of art formed by nature and adding a beautiful and wonderous image to the landscape of Mother Earth.

For instance, did you know the entire plant is edible? Its true! I’ve always loved their bright yellow flowers, and I am happy to learn they are little powerhouses of healing. I remember a snatch of conversation, and writings of old which mention “Dandelion Wine”. From the roots to the tips of the leaves, these little beauties serve many healthy purposes, and are enjoyed around the world to this day. So next time someone looks upon this wonder of nature with disdain, which is actually one of Mother Earths finest specimens, perhaps they should have a little more respect.

Interesting Facts and Lore about Dandelions

In Wales, they grate or chop up Dandelion roots, two years old, and mix them with the leaves in salad. The seed of a special broad-leaved variety of Dandelion is sold by seedsmen for cultivation for salad purposes. Dandelion can be blanched in the same way as endive, and is then very delicate in flavour. If covered with an ordinary flower-pot during the winter, the pot being further buried under some rough stable litter, the young leaves sprout when there is a dearth of saladings and prove a welcome change in early spring. Cultivated thus, Dandelion is only pleasantly bitter, and if eaten while the leaves are quite young, the centre rib of the leaf is not at all unpleasant to the taste. When older the rib is tough and not nice to eat. If the flower-buds of plants reserved in a corner of the garden for salad purposes are removed at once and the leaves carefully cut, the plants will last through the whole winter.

The young leaves may also be boiled as a vegetable, spinach fashion, thoroughly drained, sprinkled with pepper and salt, moistened with soup or butter and served very hot. If considered a little too bitter, use half spinach, but the Dandelion must be partly cooked first in this case, as it takes longer than spinach. As a variation, some grated nutmeg or garlic, a teaspoonful of chopped onion or grated lemon peel can be added to the greens when they are cooked. A simple vegetable soup may also be made with Dandelions.

The dried Dandelion leaves are also employed as an ingredient in many digestive or diet drinks and herb beers. Dandelion Beer is a rustic fermented drink common in many parts of the country and made also in Canada. Workmen in the furnaces and potteries of the industrial towns of the Midlands have frequent resource to many of the tonic Herb Beers, finding them cheaper and less intoxicating than ordinary beer, and Dandelion stout ranks as a favourite. An agreeable and wholesome fermented drink is made from Dandelions, Nettles and Yellow Dock.

In Berkshire and Worcestershire, the flowers are used in the preparation of a beverage known as Dandelion Wine. This is made by pouring a gallon of boiling water over a gallon of the flowers. After being well stirred, it is covered with a blanket and allowed to stand for three days, being stirred again at intervals, after which it is strained and the liquor boiled for 30 minutes, with the addition of 3 1/2 lb. of loaf sugar, a little ginger sliced, the rind of 1 orange and 1 lemon sliced. When cold, a little yeast is placed in it on a piece of toast, producing fermentation. It is then covered over and allowed to stand two days until it has ceased ‘working,’ when it is placed in a cask, well bunged down for two months before bottling. This wine is suggestive of sherry slightly flat, and has the deserved reputation of being an excellent tonic, extremely good for the blood.

The roasted roots are largely used to form Dandelion Coffee, being first thoroughly cleaned, then dried by artificial heat, and slightly roasted till they are the tint of coffee, when they are ground ready for use. The roots are taken up in the autumn, being then most fitted for this purpose. The prepared powder is said to be almost indistinguishable from real coffee, and is claimed to be an improvement to inferior coffee, which is often an adulterated product. Of late years, Dandelion Coffee has come more into use in this country, being obtainable at most vegetarian restaurants and stores. Formerly it used occasionally to be given for medicinal purposes, generally mixed with true coffee to give it a better flavour. The ground root was sometimes mixed with chocolate for a similar purpose. Dandelion Coffee is a natural beverage without any of the injurious effects that ordinary tea and coffee have on the nerves and digestive organs. It exercises a stimulating influence over the whole system, helping the liver and kidneys to do their work and keeping the bowels in a healthy condition, so that it offers great advantages to dyspeptics and does not cause wakefulness.

Harvesting this Medicine Plant

All parts of the plant contain a somewhat bitter, milky juice (latex), but the juice of the root being still more powerful is the part of the plant most used for medicinal purposes.

Only large, fleshy and well-formed roots should be collected, from plants two years old, not slender, forked ones. Roots produced in good soil are easier to dig up without breaking, and are thicker and less forked than those growing on waste places and by the roadside. Collectors should, therefore only dig in good, free soil, in moisture and shade, from meadow-land. Dig up in wet weather, but not during frost, which materially lessens the activity of the roots. Avoid breaking the roots, using a long trowel or a fork, lifting steadily and carefully. Shake off as much of the earth as possible and then cleanse the roots, the easiest way being to leave them in a basket in a running stream so that the water covers them, for about an hour, or shake them, bunched, in a tank of clean water. Cut off the crowns of leaves, but be careful in so doing not to leave any scales on the top. Do not cut or slice the roots or the valuable milky juice on which their medicinal value depends will be wasted by bleeding.

The roots are generally dried whole, but the largest ones may sometimes be cut transversely into pieces 3 to 6 inches long. Collected wild roots are, however, seldom large enough to necessitate cutting. Drying will probably take about a fortnight. When finished, the roots should be hard and brittle enough to snap, and the inside of the roots white, not grey

The roots should be kept in a dry place after drying, to avoid mould, preferably in tins to prevent the attacks of moths and beetles. Dried Dandelion is exceedingly liable to the attacks of maggots and should not be kept beyond one season.

**Note - As always, this is not intended to diagnose, treat, or otherwise cure an existing illness… always use good sense and consult your health care provider or naturapath before attempting to use anything new, especially if you are unaware of any potential allergies and such.

Nevertheless, my daughter S and I enjoyed many precious moments amongst the green and colourful space we created. In this we have succeeded in creating our own healthy, personal environment. This is where we would escape to when we just wanted to enjoy peaceful moments, either reading, sharing a meal, beading, playing games, studying and completing homeschool assignments, practicing Qigong (a healing art for inner health and vitality), sharing stories and Dreams, or simply sitting quietly enjoying a lovely sunset. As always, we invited nature’s fairy creatures to visit our garden, so the energy was very sweet. Truly our garden is a place to find peace and tranquility in a life full of unsettling challenges.

We all need a quiet place in which to find our inner peace, and help us to focus on the important things in life. Too many things occur which serve to unsettle us, and bring anxiety and stress, which can lead to dis-ease and illness. It is so important to create or find our own space in which to absorb positive energy, while releasing negative energy, sending it to where it will disperse safely into the universe without harming others. This is a good time to remember our blessings, dwelling upon that which is good in our lives. We can then set goals and visualize all we wish to manifest in the now, as well as the future. It does no good to dwell upon the past, so why waste precious time? All there ever is, is now, so let’s just make the best of it!

Gardening Tip

Have you got a great natural gardening tip to share? I do! I would like to share a tip I learned from my grandmother many years ago. Try adding gelatin to your plant water. I usually add 1/2 tsp to a half gallon container or 1 tsp to a gallon container of water. I like to water with this delightful treat twice a month… your plants will simply love it!

1850 - California admitted as the 31st state of the United States of America. Initial settlement of Humboldt Bay and construction of a primitive sawmill.

1850s - The great San Antonio-Morage redwood forest of the East Bay hills with the largest coast redwoods was completely logged off and nearly eliminated.

1852 - The first legislative initiative to protect California’s trees. Assemblyman Henry A. Crabb’s resolution to ask Congress to preserve all redwood lands fails in California legislature.

1864 - Abraham Lincoln signed an Act to preserve the Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias by giving them to the State of California, and creating the first such park in the nation.

1872 - Nebraska “Tree Planting Day” which becomes Arbor Day, recognizing the importance of trees.

1875 - Centennial Tree, once claimed to be the largest tree in the world, is cut down by John McKiernan.

1886 - California legislator, Joe Russ, dies under indictment for Timber and Stone Act fraud. Tens of thousands of California timberland acres were illegally assembled into vast industrial timberlands through fraud and sometimes with foreign ownership.

1890 - Creation of Sequoia National Park, Yosemite National Park and General Grant National Park.

1890s - A.P. Hill displays photos of California old-growth redwoods in an effort to prevent their destruction.

1892 - The Sierra Club is founded by John Muir. Jesse Hoskins protects 90 acres of old-growth Giant Sequoias by homesteading and residing in the base of the Hercules Tree.

1891 - Congress passes the Forest Reserve Act empowering the President to create “forest reserves” (later known as national forests) where logging was totally banned to protect water.

1897 - Timber lobbyists slip in “Organic Act” budget rider, which opens Forest Reserves to logging, mining, and grazing.

1900 - While still Governor of New York, Theodore Roosevelt urged the Federal government to purchase of both North and South Groves of Calaveras Big Trees.

1901 - 1,437,260 Americans petitioned for the Federal purchase of Calaveras Big Trees, Congress failed to act.

1902 - Sempervirens Club successfully lobbies the California legislature to set aside the area of old- growth redwoods that became Big Basin Redwoods State Park.

1903 - William Kent borrows money to purchase Muir Woods to save this Marin County old growth from logging and a reservoir. Nero Tree was cut down by promoter John McKiernan at Mountain Home.

1905 - The Humboldt Chamber of Commerce, managed by George A. Kellogg of the Pacific Redwood Shingle Company, petitioned the state legislature to create a public redwood park “to be forever maintained in its primeval state.”

1906 - Theodore Roosevelt establishes the Monterey Forest Reserve.

1908 - President Roosevelt establishes Muir Woods National Monument of old-growth Redwoods on land donated to the Federal government for that purpose by future Congressman William Kent. 2,000 Eureka public school students petitioned Theodore Roosevelt and the USFS asking “that representative groves of these trees should be preserved for ourselves and future generations of children.”

1909 - Congress finally creates the Calaveras Bigtree National Forest, but fails to protect the South Grove.

1914 - Carson Woods proposed as a national redwood park by Congressmen Raker and Kent, supported by women’s’ clubs. Bill died in committee. Carson Woods were logged.

1918 - Save-the-Redwoods League is formed to preserve ancient forests that are quickly disappearing.

1924 - After its failed maneuvers to block park supporters, Pacific Lumber began clandestine logging on Dyerville Flat (Founders’ Grove) destroying the area for park purposes. Laura Mahan stood in the fall path of trees being cut while her husband alerted county officials and the press and took legal action.

1928 - California voters approved funds to establish a State Park System and allocated six million dollars in state park bond funds for acquisition of parklands.

1931 - J.D. Rockefeller Jr. and the Save-the-Redwoods League rescues the old growth of what became the Rockefeller Forest.

1954 - South Grove of Calaveras Big Trees, scheduled for logging, was finally purchased with public donations, including a $1 million donation from J.D. Rockefeller Jr., by the Save-the-Redwoods League after the Legislature repeatedly failed to act.

1955 and 1964 - Logging destroys the slopes above the Rockefeller Forest, which erode, and collapse, wiping out 800 old-growth trees previously believed preserved by donations.

1960 - Avenue of the Giants Parkway, a narrow sliver of old growth, dedicated in Humboldt Redwoods State Park after 40-year-long acquisition progress by the Save-the-Redwoods League.

1964 - Donald Rusk Currey cuts the oldest living tree on earth, a 5,000 year-old Bristlecone Pine.

1974 - Congressmen John and Phil Burton introduce a bill to enlarge Redwood National Park to 132,000 acresžthe bill fails.

1988 - FORESTS FOREVER is formed to create and promote the Forest and Wildlife Protection Initiative on the November 1990 ballot, which narrowly failed. Corporate industry spent over $16 million to defeat this citizen initiative.

1990 - Activists Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney are victims of a car bombing in Oakland.

1996 - 1033 people arrested in protest of cutting the ancient trees of Headwaters Forest.

1997 - October, Non-violent forest activists have pepper spray poured into their eyes. November, 8,000 people attend a rally to save Headwaters Forest in Stafford. December, Julia “Butterfly” Hill climbs up into the magnificent old redwood, Luna, for a two-year treesit.

1998 - March 15th Governor Gray Davis makes the promise that if elected governor he will ensure that “wetlands are preserved, rivers are clean, and all old-growth trees are spared from the lumberjack’s ax.”

1999 - Two of six groves in the 60,000 ac. Headwaters Forest are purchased with a buffer area totaling approximately 7400 acres. David “Gypsy” Chain is killed while trying to protect old growth sacrificed by the Headwaters deal.

2002 - Sue Moloney of the Campaign for Old Growth embarks on a 52 day “Fast for Old Growth.” John Quigley goes up into “Old Glory” to protect this old growth Oak from the saw. The battle to save the remaining old growth trees of California continues.

People and predatory animals have been living side-by-side in the Carpathians for millennia. Farmers using traditional methods have developed protection systems that lead to a harmonious coexistence: shepherds sleeping with their flocks at night; deer and boar populations are maintained in the forests as prey; inhabited villages marking the limits of the carnivores’ roaming.

Indeed, the biggest threat to the Carpathian people’s traditional life, and to the survival of wildlife, is not predatory beast, but predatory man. Privatisation of forests since the collapse of Communism is leading to overlogging. Deforestation, due to climate change, is also occurring, threatening wildlife habitat. In some areas, poaching is out of control and the traditional nature protection methods practiced by livestock breeders are under pressure from the difficult economic situation faced by most Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries.

In addition, five of the Carpathian countries will join the European Union over the next few years. The prospect of EU accession will see new economic development in the region. Roads, factories and hotels could ruin the Carpathians unless a comprehensive system of habitat protection is established. New nature conservation standards are needed in the eastern Carpathian countries—the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine—if wildlife and traditional communities are to be preserved.

One of my dreams is to visit the homelands of my ancestors… Ireland. I want to visit the green Isle and really see it from the locals point of view. Tourists may visit key attractions, but I am an explorer by heart, and wish to adventure ‘off the beaten path’, so to speak. I believe I would have to actually live there for a few years to see for myself what wonders the lands hold in store for me, and to even come close to satisfying my curiosity. Ireland is a land full of mystery, as well as a rich culture and history. I know for certain that I will attain my dream of visiting the mysterious places of my ancestors in this lifetime, and I am very excited to hold this dream close to my heart.

For now, I will indulge in viewing the stunning countryside through the eyes of a friend, and brilliant photographer, Jordan Clemments. The images in this post are courtesy of Jordan from his website at Irishviews.com.

I really needed to take some serious action and get my body back on track. Whereas before these health issues began to arise and I did not have to devote so much active thought to my weight or health, lately I have had to actually pay even closer attention to what I eat, and raise my metabolism to a desirable stage to burn off the excess fat. This is a challenge, but I do know how to work out safely, and my martial arts background gives me the confidence to reach my goals. I just have to be consistant and work a little harder than when I was younger, yet I know I will be back in tip top shape in no time at all.

I am actively practicing Qigong, an ancient Chinese form of health and healing designed to bring inner health, which I will elaborate upon as I progress. Along with this I am always curious to find new ways to shape and sculpt my outer self to where I wish to be. I will not be satisfied until I attain my goals, and I do love a good challenge.

Even though I am quite skilled in  physical training, I would like to try something new and exciting. I believe I may have found what I am looking for in XFLOWSION, which claims to be an exercise program that efficiently and effectively gives us all three workouts in one convenient workout, combining the proven best moves from martial arts, power yoga, and dance, providing jaw-dropping results in 1/3 the time.

XFLOWSION really sounds fun, and I will be sure to offer up a better opinion as I take myself to the next level. From what I can see celebrity trainer Eric Paskel, who has shaped up some of the hottest bodies in Hollywood, combines his leading-edge fitness and psychology background to bring fresh, constantly shifting moves which are specifically designed to promote continuous fat burning and muscle toning. Well, I can honestly say this meets the criteria I am looking for in a workout, and I love dance, martial arts, and yoga. Sounds perfect to me!

Note: As always, I suggest everyone uses their own good judgement when choosing a new form of excercise, and chech with your health care provider before beginning a new program.