Fire Fire Fire!

FIRE DESTROYS BURMESE REFUGEE CAMP

Posted on February 23, 2012 by umphiemfirerelief

(I just copied this from all text and images taken from http://umphiemfirerelief.wordpress.com/, none of the text or images are mine. This is so sad and scary- sending good thoughts and prayers to all involved!)

At noon on February 23, a fire in a single home in Umphiem Refugee Camp erupted and began to spread to surrounding homes.  Because permanent structures are not allowed to be built within the camps, all houses are constructed from bamboo, wood and leaves, making it extremely susceptible to fire, especially in the dry season.  Within ten minutes, dozens of homes were on fire and in less than an hour, the fire had engulfed one third of the camp, turning houses, mosques, nurseries and schools to ashes.  Umphiem is Thailand’s second largest refugee camp and is home to approximately 20,000 refugees from Burma.
Currently organizations on the Thai-Burma border are meeting to discuss immediate needs and how donations can best be utilized.  We hope to begin collecting donations immediately so that funds will be available as soon as the needs are assessed.  Donations will directly benefit the individuals who have been affected – purchasing building materials, food, water, clothes & blankets and other necessary materials.
We are requesting that donations be made as soon as possible to the Umphiem Fire Relief PayPal Account, in order to meet the immediate need.  If you would like to support relief efforts, but prefer to donate to a larger Non-Governmental Organization, please visit www.tbbc.org or stay tuned for a list of projects that are accepting donations.
For more information please contact us at umphiemfirerelief@gmail.com

Umphiem Fire (2/23/12) from Trish Becker on Vimeo.

Climate Change Video

Plenty of Fish in the Sea?

One more issue I have been learning about in the realm of the oceans is something we have all hear about over light dinner conversations and maybe read a article about in the New York Times but don't give much thought to- overfishing. Overfishing is a huge issue, in fact if we continue to consume fish at the rate we are now there will be no fish in the sea by 2048. That isn't as far off as it seems and the numbers keep going up. The truth is we don't always think about where our food comes from and our fish is no exception. Maybe because the ocean is so vast or maybe because less people are directly dependent on it we assume that the sea is an endless resource. It's not. If you want to learn more about it and what kinds of fish you should and shouldn't eat please please watch End Of The Line. My roommate actually know one of the guys who helped make it and it is a well done film that explains a complicated situation well.



If you want to look at a more case specific film check out The Cove. This film is also mind blowing, it's about the dolphin meat industry and where that meat ends up. Check out these videos and think about where your fish and really all your food comes from. We vote with our dollar and our dollar buys us dinner so vote wisely!

Plastics in the Sea

One of the many things I have been learning about over the last few weeks is the state of our oceans. Being from a land locked state I have always held a a sort of fearful awe for the ocean but had never really made an attempt to understand it or it's environmental threats.

One of the largest threats, and one that you may have heard of, is the huge amount of plastic in the oceans. Plastic never becomes organic material- it breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, even microscopic pieces, but it remains unnatural and a treat to marine life even in its smallest states. The Northern Gyre is a central meeting point of currents in the Pacific ocean where tides carry the plastic trash that make it into the ocean through ether dumping or littering. The plastic will eventually break down into smaller pieces and is often eaten by marine life that will assume it is food. Because tides carry not just trash but many objects in the sea, especially food, the Norther Gyre was previously a rich food source and many animals continue to feed there.

Animals who eat or get stuck in debris and nets are often injured, disabled, or killed. Even if they are able to stay alive the plastic moves through the food chain reaching seals, birds, turtles, wales, and believe it or not, humans!

Other issues with plastic in our oceans include the amount of plastic that has sunk to the base of the ocean ruining natural habitat and the transport of invasive species across vast bodies of water. Maybe the most daunting issue is how to fix it tough. Because plastic is broken down into such small pieces if we cleared it it would remove all other small forms of life, the bases for the entire marine food chain, leaving larger creatures with nothing to eat. Clearing the sea floor could potentially totally ruin the ecosystem. Even if there there was a way to clear the plastic it does not go away. If it is burnt it goes into the atmosphere and moving it it is only a temporary fix. This means the only real way to stop this is by cutting out the production of plastic and re-cycling what we already have made because there is no getting rid of it.

Plastics are like diamonds- they are forever.

up to date!

Ello Ladies and Gents!
Just wanted to do a little check in. I am settling in here in Byron and just had a amazing bike ride/hike out to Broken Head with one of our teachers and his two kids- what a day eh? Earlier this week we went snorkeling and had a barbi (bbq) and class on the beach after. Needless to say I am very happy here. I am experincing my fair share of culture shock coming here from India (odviously) espeshally when it cones to money and the amount of money travelers here spend. All in all though I am feeling more and more settled and happy about it. Great classmates, house by the beach, hiking, biking, maybe even surfing! Next weekend is our first camping trip (it's actually 4 days) and I am pumped- hiking all day is what I'm about. That is one of the best parts of being here- I am in control of my diet and able to exersise in FUN ways. Getting in shape again is nice and I'm starting to tend toward being veg tough if I go more than 2 weeks I need a little chicken or fish.

Just heads up, I may not be posting a ton because, funny as it is, there isn't a ton of internet here and it's a bit pricey to pay for. I will try to at least update you on what I'm doing for the folks back on the ranch but other posts might be a bit spotty.

Anyways, of to read about permaculture.

g

Android Jones

I had a chance a few days ago to be exposed to some transcendental artist- a scene that I am guessing is pretty big here in Byron. It was interesting to see the art and listen to some of the artists talk but what really blew me away was this guy- Andrew "Android" Jones, or just Android. He is an artist who is from the U.S. and did work with major video game creators and other pretty major gigs. He ended up leaving that world and now does illustration for music festivals but he does it live. He tours with artist and draws as they play and his drawing are projected. He has started doing another thing where he coordinates dancers with his drawing and music to create this amazing new combination of performance arts. This video doesn't really do it justice- seeing him do it live with a woman dancer at the cultural center here was really quite amazing. Check him out- he is very talented and it is amazing how he does so much of his work live. It turns art from a individual experience to a very open space for a community to enjoy. Oh, and he also projected onto the Sydney Opera House earlier this year- amazing.