I'M GOING ON A RETREAT

Looking Within -- photo by Lou Gold

Yup, I'm going to empty my cup of the Internet and take a look at what's been growing within. I've been really wanting a pilgrimage to places beyond my current knowing. Now, I'm going to do it with a deep sense of love, joy and a full heart for all.

I should be back online by April 15th. Perhaps, there will be some good stories or maybe not. We'll see. I'd be very grateful if you'd stay tuned.

Tree hugs and blessings,

lou

BIG BIOCHAR EXPERIMENT IN UK

Profile: The Big Biochar Experiment; using widespread biochar trials for citizen-powered science in the UK

 
The Big Biochar Experiment is a UK-wide initiative and is the largest study on the use of biochar on British allotments to date. The Experiment aims to gather data to assess the effects of biochar on plant productivity and soil health of widely used fruit and vegetable varieties in the UK. The team is comprised of members of Oxford Biochar Ltd, Earthwatch, the Environmental Change Institute (Oxford University), and the UK Biochar Research Centre. Project partner Dr. Dan Bebber of Earthwatch said, “Biochar holds great potential for addressing some of our greatest challenges, including climate change and food security. This novel experiment will provide important insights on biochar's applicability to the UK farming industry, and allow people to get involved in real science."

THE DAILY VIEW

Flood in Acre -- photo by Sérgio Vale


The Taquari neighborhood in Rio Branco -- photo by Sérgio Vale

[UPDATE: View more spectacular new flood photos here and here.]

At 9 am this morning the water level reached 17.45 meters in Rio Branco and it is still rising. The all-time record is 17.66 meters. Expectations are that a new record high will occur in the next days.

MOVING BEYOND SEPARATION OF HUMANS AND NATURE

We are connected and "... that is true ... that is true ..."



Moving beyond the idea of ‘environment’ and falling back in love with Mother Earth. Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh explains why mindfulness rather than economics is needed to protect nature and how a spiritual revolution is needed if civilization is to avoid being destroyed by climate change.

(Filmed in Plum Village, France on the 22nd of December 2011, which, coincidentally, was the anniversary of the 1988 murder of Chico Mendes who is an icon of the save-the-forest movement in Acre and Brazil.)

LATEST RIO BRANCO FLOOD PHOTOS

All photos are by Gustavo Ferreira. They are taken near an important cultural and tourist center on Monday morning. The steel bridge has been closed to vehicles and the base of the city's iconic Acre State flag pole is under water.

WAY COOL INTERACTIVE WORLD MAP

Current national demographic and environmental data plus maps and photos, all on an amazing interactive world map created by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Click on the image above to get started.

BEAUTIFUL PHONE PHOTOGRAPHY

Tatiana Cardeal, whose is my favorite Brazilian documentary photographer, has been showing us how to produce impressive images with a smartphone. Here are some samples:

RECORD HIGH WATER IN RIO BRANCO

Brazil's western-most state of Acre has been the epicenter of recent extreme droughts. Now, it is experiencing near-record flooding.


Flooding in Rio Branco - Foto: Marcos Vicentti

[UPDATE- 12:40pm - Sunday 19 February: The Acre River has reached 17.15cm (the record high water is 17.66cm) and is expected to keep rising as the headwaters tributaries continue to discharge. There are 4,115 homeless people who are under the responsibility of the Civil Defense in makeshift shelters. More than 12,000 homes and more than 49,000 people have been affected by flooding, according to estimates by civil defense. More at the blog of Altino Machado.]

Extreme events are what the models of global warming have predicted and every year the extremes seem to get worse. During the long dry season the soil loses porosity, compacts and becomes less permeable. When the rainy season arrives, the water is not sufficiently absorbed and flooding is the natural consequence. Last August Acre experienced near-record low water. Now, only 6 months later, the forecast is that the flood of 2012 will produce record-breaking high water.

A FLASH FROM THE PAST AND FUTURE

Jasper Neale going hiking with Lou Gold -- photo by Shane Jimmerfield

SAVING A SPECIAL PLACE IN MY OLD OREGON HOME

The tiny town of Williams in Southern Oregon lies over the mountain ridge from the community of Takilma where I lived for more than 20 years. We always thought of Williams as our sister community in the never-ending struggle to protect the local forests, mountains and rivers. Now, Williams is facing a big threat and a great opportunity. The community wants to buy an important parcel of land.  The chainsaws are scheduled to start buzzing as soon as early March and the land is expensive but they are undaunted. With our help (large and small) they just may do it an set a model for the future.

Go to the Williams project page or continue here