Garry Foley Video

This is a great video of Garry Foley talking about what it means to be an Aboriginal activist in Australia. He starts the conversation of how do I, a person who profits from injustice no matter if I want to or not, act to change the system. Look at myself, look local- that's a place to start.

99% Spring

This is why I'm excited. I know there are issues with Occupy- there will always be issues and room for debate on big things like these but the bottom line is this is powerful. The chilly winter months may have put a bit of a damper on Occupy physically but the fire is still burning- brighter and stronger than ever. Here is a quick summery from The Guardian. For some reason I can't embed the video so here is the link.

From the Mayday general strike to the July 4th protests things are going to get LOUD!
As one of my friends recently said in an email, it's a good summer to get involved in activism- in fact I can't think of a better one!

Global Warming and May 5th

Hello everyone,
I know I've been off the blog for a bit but I'm back! I feel totally overwhelmed by all the things I could post about, but I thought I'd start with this: 350.org and May 5th action!

I don't know how to start describe the importance of the environment or how we are negatively impacting the planet. We need the earth for food, shelter, water, in fact without it we would not be alive. Not only that but we need a world that had weather that will allow us to live on it. This is hard when floods are increasing with sea levels, CO2 emissions are till rocketing, the oceans are being more acidic, our oxygen-producing forests are being turned into cutting boards at alarming rates, and droughts and fires are becoming more and more welcome. How can we plant our crops when there is no predictable weather pattern? How can we build our houses for our families when we don't know if we will be under water in three months or out of water all together? Even if we do have water, it may just be flammable! (gasland) Our world is changing- it already has.

Now, Bill McKibben is a probably one of the best known environmentalists and he has been writing and speaking out for our good old earth for quite some time. He has written loads of books, most recent and horrifyingly important being Eaarth, a book about how global warming has already impacted and continues to impact our lives in irreversible and uncontrollable ways. He is one of the amazing team that make up 350.org, a website dedicated to environmental activism and education.

First, please read Eaarth- I can't think of anything you could read that is more important than this book.

Second please check out 350.org. Below is a video that McKibben put up about fighting the government on oil subsidies.

Finally, the title of this post- as you may see on 350.org, has to do with what is happening on May 5th. On May 5th people are rising up, connecting the dots, and speaking out against the coal and oil industry. This video says it all.

Here is a petition to sign if you are interested. Stay active, stay aware, stay informed. 350.org is also a part of the 99% spring- it's going to be a big summer for us all!

Without an earth to live on that we CAN live on not much else matter- it's not political, it's not hippie, it's not something to be ignored!

Connection to the Natural Environment!

Here is a video Nature, Cristy and I made for my natural environment class!
Enjoy!

The Shins

Have a new album called Port of Morrow and all the songs are magggicccalll. This one I love because it's so much a part of my life right now but they are all good.

Check it!

-g

I'm still alive!

Hello troops!
I know my blog has been suffering lately- not having internet access+heaps of work= little blogging. It's ironic because every class I have is worthy of a blog post- interesting, important, and relevant. Ah, such is life. I can say that I'll be blogging more when I get back to the U.S. which is on April 25th! (well 24th, Bozeman on the 25th!) So I'll be seeing some of you lovely people in a little more than a month and for that I am excited! I'll also be making a long drive from Bozeman to Maine so I'll be seeing some of you that are farther from good old MT as well!

As for now, I am writing papers, doing presentations, reading, and on occasion sleeping. And making Thai curry. Yesterday I did some bush regeneration work for class and learned about the importance and complexity of bringing back the environment once it has been removed. Two other students and I are creating a sustainable community as a part of our final. It's exciting but a lot of work budgeting roads and houses, figuring out water and sewage, getting the energy sustainable, turning a profit, and so much more! Good experience and it feels good to apply some of the knowledge I have been accumulating. I am also writing about Aboriginal education systems and doing another paper on modern rights of passage especially in surf culture. SO that's a little of what I'm up to.


Here are some photographs from my last camping trip!
enjoy and have a lovely day!
g

figured I should post a picture of Olivea seeing as I have lived with her for almost 2 years... plus Kelly is priceless

Camping Trip!

Hi guys,
Don't have a ton of time but here are some photos from our last camping trip! It was great fun and we have another one next weekend.

lot's of love always!
-g