Help Stop the Hunting of Endemic Birds

It is incredible what some people do for enjoyment. A hunting group in the Philippines was discovered to be wantonly shooting endemic and some endangered birds for sport. Josef, one of my blog guests, happened to come across their website by accident. His outrage and sorrow spurred him to action. An online petition he created explains and shows the atrocities occurring under our very noses. It really is very sad and disturbing. We need more signatures to reach the 10,000 mark. Please sign!

Bali Climate Change Talks End

There was quite a lot of drama, and it seems the talks ended on a good note with the US agreeing to 2-years of negotiations on decreasing greenhouse gas emissions together with the rest of the world. It wasn't Al Gore, whose criticism of his country's behavior garnered a round of applause, nor was it the scathing remarks of green NGO's, nor was it the threat of political suicide at home, that at the very last minute changed the mind of the US delegate and join the rest of the world in legally binding negotiations to avert further climate change. It was the very stern reprimand of Papua New Guinea that changed the tides. I quote the Papua New Guinea representative, "If you are not willing to lead, leave it to the rest of. Please get out of the way."

Although, I am skeptical about how thing will proceed in the next two years, I am hopeful because IPCC chairman Rajendra Pachauri is satisfied with the outcome of the talks. The IPCC, together with Al Gore, have jointly been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their work on the film An Inconvenient Truth.

Watch the last days of Bali on video.

Press Conference on UN Climate Change Meeting

The consensus at the Bali UN Climate Change Meeting is that there is one country whose seems to have come to the meeting with a sinister attitude of destroying the talks that all other countries have come to with an attitude of goodwill. That country is the USA. The US is the top emitter of greenhouse gases, yet is unwilling to cooperate with other countries in placing caps that will significantly lower emissions. The Bush administration even had the absurd idea that countries should meet with them at a meeting in the Whitehouse and take talks on climate change from there. The United Nations is the only place that countries can meet and make decisions that are legally binding. Not only is the administration isolated from the talks but from their own country as well. Back in the US historic legislation and laws on reducing CO2 emissions have just been passed into law by individual states and the senate.

Watch the press conference with representatives of NGO's that are involved on OneClimate Virtual Bali.

Wildlife Photographs

These images of wildlife by National Geographic are beautiful. My favorite is the one of the penguins surfing the arctic waves.






Download for desktop is available on their website.

Point Reyes National Park

Like a girlscout on an adventure, I went with my Biogeography class on a field trip to Point Reyes. Kurt, our enthusiastic and very knowledgeable professor, showed us the different biomes and types of disturbances that exist in this relatively small area. Biomes usually describe the different plant communities on a global level, but PR happens to have several biomes going on around the area. This is usually the case when mountains are present. We have the Forest, Shrubland, Grassland and the coastline.

Correction from my Professor:

Cool to see that on-line! I especially like the composition of that one marsh shot.

One note, however (since it is on-line for all to see...I can't help suggesting a clarification): the entire field trip was in one biome--the Mediterranean Biome--but we were in different biotic communities (oak savannah, redwood forest, pine forest, coastal sage and scrub).

I need to pay more attention!




Fire is a disturbance that occurs in this area. Although most people think of fire as an environmental hazard, it actually allows the forest to regenerate. Some plants, like Pine trees, need fire to release the seeds from its cones.




The most amazing thing I've seen on my field trip to Point Reyes is the separation of a creek by a man-made walking path and the resulting creation of a new and distinct biota. These two pictures are of the same creek, I took the pictures of both sides while standing on the walking path. One side has dry grasses and shrub growing around the water's edge, while the otherside seemed lush with tall grasses, green groundcover and fauna such as deer and birds.




A sad phenomenon is happening in this grassland, and that's the proliferation of an invasive specie from Africa. I forget what it's called but it's the pretty red and green plant in the middle picture. Invasive species are a sad occurrence because they dominate the landscape destroying the original vegetation and consequently the animal life as well.





We ended the trip at the beach where it was warm and windless. It almost felt like I was in a tropical beach. I would have stayed to veg-out and enjoy the sun if I didn't have a wedding to attend that night.

IPCC & World Governments Will Meet On Climate Change Issues

The UN climate panel will meet with 130 governments in Valencia, Spain next week. The panel will seek tougher measures from countries, especially the US and China, in curbing climate change. There is no doubt as to the cause of climate change and to the solutions that need to be applied. According to the scientists, climate change can still be averted with tougher measures.

"There is no reason to question the science any longer," said Achim Steiner, head of the U.N. Environment Programme, who said states should act "in the collective interest of humanity."

The fear of environmentalists is that pressure from some governments might water down the conclusion of the IPCC 20-page summary for policy makers in order to stall action.

full story: UN Climate Panel to Meet, Add Pressure for Action

Al Gore & the IPCC Win the Nobel Peace Prize

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2007 went to Al Gore and the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Gore in a statement said he was " deeply honored ... We face a true planetary emergency. The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity."

"It is the most dangerous challenge we've ever faced, but it is also the greatest opportunity we have had to make changes," he later said at a brief news conference in Palo Alto, Calif.

~ MSNBC, Oct. 12, 2007

This really gives me hope for the future of our environment. I was beginning to see this fight for environmental causes as an exercise in futility.

Thanks Al.

Apple Day: Huguenot Tort

Now-a-days I make meals that do not require to much preparation and is fairly quick to make, but is still quite delicious. Yes, I joined the American rat race when I moved back to San Francisco a month ago. Busy busy busy. This recipe for Huguenot Tort, made with Granny Smith apples and pecans, was shown on the Martha Stewart show and I've been wanting to make it since. I love the combination of the tart green apples with the nuts and sweet meringue-like tort. The whole thing takes a few minutes to mix up using one bowl. It's a perfect dessert to end a luncheon.

Gorbachev - Fashion Model

Did I hear right? The big news in the fashion industry is that Mikhail Gorbachev, former President of the Soviet Union, will be modeling for Louis Vuitton’s new luggage line. If that’s not enough to make you do a double take, he will be donating all proceeds from his modeling gig to Conservation International, whose spokesperson is none other than Al Gore. Talk about crossing political, ideological and stereotypical barriers, this really takes the cake. Go Gorby!

Hello SF!

I am all settled in beautiful San Francisco and truly enjoying this wonderful city. My arrival on the other hand wasn’t so pleasant… I arrived on Aug. 14 at eight in the evening and got home at 10 pm because I was sent to the Homeland Security room. Why why why??? What took up most of my time there was the waiting, and then I was asked some incredibly inane questions that took all of three minutes. I have absolutely no idea why they called me in and I had no intention of prolonging my stay at the airport by demanding to know the reasons why I was directed to them. I’ve been coming to SF for the past twenty years and staying in the same apartment. Whatever reasons they may have, it’s insane. And to top it all, when I got home to the apartment my keys didn’t work because, apparently, the locks were changed a year ago and no one bothered to tell me. Luckily my neighbors, the Ziegler’s, were awake and let me in. Still none of that could bring me down. I was glad to be in SF and that was the last of my bad luck.

The next day I cleaned up the apartment and shopped for my necessities. The first place I went to was Whole Foods and I bought some of the things I love about SF – unpasteurized raw milk, artisan bread, miso mayo, soup in a carton (wasn’t to good, but very convenient), salmon smoked in ginger and tea, sliced turkey with bits of chipotle pepper, parma ham, some very fresh veggies and Odwalla juices. I think I have enough food for two weeks.

The weather is perfect and everything is working out smoothly. It took me some time to decide what laptop to get and to order internet access. I finally decided on a MacBook, I love it! My PC in Manila was giving me to much trouble, which is one of the reasons I hardly updated my blogs. Well, that all changes now…

As for my garden/farm, I left it as is and told the remaining farmers they could plant their own produce and sell it on their own. In return they are caretakers of my property. Before I left, Mario planted corn and I got a batch of delicious sweet corn in time for my Bon Voyage party. I had to leave my pets, who will be well taken care of, at my apartment with my helper. I miss them terribly. Thank god my cousin will be moving in with her fiancé in a couple of months. Hopefully they have a happy home life once again. My Mom and sister Marta took me to the airport, lots of hugs all around.

Open-faced Smoked Salmon Sandwich

a slice of Italian rustic bread
miso mayonnaise or plain mayo
mixed clover & radish sprouts
smoked wild salmon

Spread mayo on lightly toasted bread. Top with sprouts and smoked salmon. Delish.