I'm suppose to be working on homework right now. I'm sitting in the library at school, listening to Mozart on my laptop trying to work, but my brain just isn't focusing. So in distracting myself I thought I'd share with you all what I just read.
- Half the world's wetlands were lost during the last century.
- Logging and conversion have shrunk the world's forests by as much as half. Some 9% of the world's tree species are at risk of extinction; tropical deforestation may exceed 130 000 sq/km per year.
- Fishing fleets are 40% larger than the oceans can sustain. Nearly 70% of the world's major marine fish stocks are over-fished or are being fished at their biological limit.
- 20% of the world's fresh water fish are extinct, threatened or endangered.
- Soil degradation has affected two-thirds of the world's agricultural lands in the last 50 years.
-Since 1980, the global economy has tripled in size and population has grown by 30% to over 6 billion people.
Hmmm, a little depressing and humbling. Who are we as humans -stewards of this world God that has graciously provided us with- seem to think we can abuse everything? We have done unfathomable and irreversible damage to this earth with little or no foresight. Ugh.
I am very thankful that I grew up in a family, and married into a family, who showed me at an early age the wonders of camping and being outside, and being told since a child that humans are not at the top, but God is. I attribute those two things to where I am today and my perspectives on the world. Thanks Guys! I only hope that I can help make this world a better place for my children.
[We] cannot use the same methods that got us into this problem to get us out of it.
- Albert Einstein.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Monday, March 26, 2007
Why I go to UVic...
Victoria is amazing, I am so happy that spring is here, daffodils are blooming, bees are out, and there are bunnies! UVic always has rabbits running around campus - the myth is that someone let a few out for an April Fool's joke, and well, they reproduced like rabbits. Needless to say, this makes me very happy. Even when I've had a crappy day there's always something fluffy and lovable eating grass outside. So I'm smiling all the time right now, because it's spring time and there's real bunnies. Baby bunnies. :D
Yesterday Joel and I had to go to the school to work on some homework, but before I could concentrate I needed to take pictures to show all of you.
Look! I found one! That wasn't very hard!
So there you have it. I love UVic. Well, I love the bunnies.
Unfortunately life is more than just bunnies, and school is insane. So many things to do, so little time. I think there's some sleepless nights coming up. But it'll all be done soon and Joel and I will have most of April off. Yea!
Joel and I have decided to move. It is sad leaving our big beautiful house, now that we've really made it a home. We just can't commit to signing another years lease, and that's what the landlord wants. We have a couple of options, one is to try and find something for ourselves, and the other is with our roommate, Kevin, who is looking to buy a house in Victoria. And if he finds something with a suite, Joel and I may move in there. Everything super up in the air right now...as it always seems to be at this time of year.
I love bunnies.
Yesterday Joel and I had to go to the school to work on some homework, but before I could concentrate I needed to take pictures to show all of you.
Look! I found one! That wasn't very hard!
Curious oh Cute One?
It's okay, you can come to me...
I won't hurt you...
I promise...a little pet will feel nice...
How about I pick you up...*Jen squeal in delight!*
And some other girls come over in amazement...we all have a beautiful moment together
Yea! It likes me, it really likes me!
So there you have it. I love UVic. Well, I love the bunnies.
Unfortunately life is more than just bunnies, and school is insane. So many things to do, so little time. I think there's some sleepless nights coming up. But it'll all be done soon and Joel and I will have most of April off. Yea!
Joel and I have decided to move. It is sad leaving our big beautiful house, now that we've really made it a home. We just can't commit to signing another years lease, and that's what the landlord wants. We have a couple of options, one is to try and find something for ourselves, and the other is with our roommate, Kevin, who is looking to buy a house in Victoria. And if he finds something with a suite, Joel and I may move in there. Everything super up in the air right now...as it always seems to be at this time of year.
I love bunnies.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Remember John?
So do you guys remember John? I talked about him in Inadequate People.
Well for a refresh, he's the Conservative Parties appointed Environment Minister. What you say, Conservatives and Environment? Can those two words be together in the same sentence. Well, yes they can when you add inadequate into it.
Why the ranting this time? Well the Federal Government is providing an initiative for developing a Hydrogen Highway. Natural Resource Canada says The Canadian Transportation Fuel Cell Alliance is a $33 million federal government initiative that will demonstrate and evaluate fueling options for fuel cell vehicles in Canada. I'm happy that the government is looking at initiatives for reducing our Green House Gases (GHGs), but I don't think that Hydrogen is the way to go.
In the Long Emergency by James Howard Kunstler, he says: The widespread belief that hydrogen is going to save technological societies from the fast-approaching oil and gas reckoning is probably a good index of how delusional our oil-addicted society has become. The idea is enticing because the only by-product of burning hydrogen is water vapour, and that would seem to obviate most of the world's global warming and air pollution worries...[however] the problem is that hydrogen is not exactly a fuel. It takes more energy to manufacture hydrogen than they hydrogen itself produces.
If hydrogen was more efficient it may be a plausible option, but everything I have heard about it makes me believe it won't work.
Read the CBC news report about the Conservatives new energy plan, which was released at the G8 meeting in Germany earlier today. It says they're working on something that will surpass the previous Kyoto Agreement, but just last month the Conservatives said they won't even come close to meeting the Kyoto targets. I'm so confused! What are you doing?! Besides investing billions of tax payers dollars on "initiatives" that keep changing!
On a positive note, there is a solar powered community in Okatokes, Alberta! Read about it from another CBC report. They've gone solar powered! Cool!
Well, that's what's on my mind today. Now it's time to go write another essay!
Cheers!
Well for a refresh, he's the Conservative Parties appointed Environment Minister. What you say, Conservatives and Environment? Can those two words be together in the same sentence. Well, yes they can when you add inadequate into it.
Why the ranting this time? Well the Federal Government is providing an initiative for developing a Hydrogen Highway. Natural Resource Canada says The Canadian Transportation Fuel Cell Alliance is a $33 million federal government initiative that will demonstrate and evaluate fueling options for fuel cell vehicles in Canada. I'm happy that the government is looking at initiatives for reducing our Green House Gases (GHGs), but I don't think that Hydrogen is the way to go.
In the Long Emergency by James Howard Kunstler, he says: The widespread belief that hydrogen is going to save technological societies from the fast-approaching oil and gas reckoning is probably a good index of how delusional our oil-addicted society has become. The idea is enticing because the only by-product of burning hydrogen is water vapour, and that would seem to obviate most of the world's global warming and air pollution worries...[however] the problem is that hydrogen is not exactly a fuel. It takes more energy to manufacture hydrogen than they hydrogen itself produces.
If hydrogen was more efficient it may be a plausible option, but everything I have heard about it makes me believe it won't work.
Read the CBC news report about the Conservatives new energy plan, which was released at the G8 meeting in Germany earlier today. It says they're working on something that will surpass the previous Kyoto Agreement, but just last month the Conservatives said they won't even come close to meeting the Kyoto targets. I'm so confused! What are you doing?! Besides investing billions of tax payers dollars on "initiatives" that keep changing!
On a positive note, there is a solar powered community in Okatokes, Alberta! Read about it from another CBC report. They've gone solar powered! Cool!
Well, that's what's on my mind today. Now it's time to go write another essay!
Cheers!
Sunday, March 11, 2007
WDCAG!
So Joel & I were at that Geography conference this weekend, (see post Geography Geek!) Basically it was 250 Geographers (Undergrads, Graduate, PHD Students and Faculty), together for field trips, lectures, presentations, and a dinner & dance. How could it not be a great time?!
There were 18 of undergrads (students working towards a bachelor degree) from UVic who went. We rented a 15 passenger van and used the school's new Toyota Hybrid. (The car was super sweet, and cost like $20 in gas the whole way!) We left Thursday afternoon and got back tonight.
On Friday there were 4 field trips to choose from; Joel and I went on a hike about sedimentary layers. I don't really care much about layers of dirt and rock, but the trees were soooo cool! The forests through Seymour Mountain in North Van are incredibly green and covered in ferns and mosses. If I was a pixie, that's where I'd live. Joel took some amazing pictures...
Lynn Valley
The whole weekend was incredibly inspiring, and I've been left with more questions than answers. Which I guess is good, because that gives me lots of ideas for topics to research, and things I want to get involved with.
On Saturday there were 20 minute presentations, done by students and faculty, which were great. Some of my favourites included ones on Douglas Fir encroachment on Garry Oak ecosystems, one on measuring and comparing life quality in rural and urban areas (which I want to study more of), land and water development and issues in Canada, and some on forestry in BC.
Then on Saturday night we had a banquet, and UVic (being the great school that we are) dresses up ridiculously ever year. Why? I don't know, apparently we've been doing it since the 80's. This years theme: Climate Change, what else! (Past ones have been Mad Scientists, 80's Prom....) So we show up to this dressy occasion in Hawaiian shirts, board shorts, sunglasses, inflatable water toys, and balloons. The balloons were pretty sweet, we had them labeled as different Green House Gases, like CO2, so it was one balloon of Carbon and two Oxygen Balloons. Oh we are cleaver. I'll post some pictures when I get them off someone else because Joel didn't take any.
So on top of the conference being great for learning about geography, it was great getting to know some other Geog students, who are all in school for more than just the credits, but are there because they want to change things in this world. Good stuff.
Now I need to prepare myself for a crazy next 3 weeks. I've never had to do so many things in a short amount of time.
Jen's School To Do List (to be done by April 4th):
Ahhh!!
Cheers!
There were 18 of undergrads (students working towards a bachelor degree) from UVic who went. We rented a 15 passenger van and used the school's new Toyota Hybrid. (The car was super sweet, and cost like $20 in gas the whole way!) We left Thursday afternoon and got back tonight.
On Friday there were 4 field trips to choose from; Joel and I went on a hike about sedimentary layers. I don't really care much about layers of dirt and rock, but the trees were soooo cool! The forests through Seymour Mountain in North Van are incredibly green and covered in ferns and mosses. If I was a pixie, that's where I'd live. Joel took some amazing pictures...
Lynn Valley
And this is the forest I'd frolic in if I were a pixie...
And these are the streams I'd play in...
On Saturday there were 20 minute presentations, done by students and faculty, which were great. Some of my favourites included ones on Douglas Fir encroachment on Garry Oak ecosystems, one on measuring and comparing life quality in rural and urban areas (which I want to study more of), land and water development and issues in Canada, and some on forestry in BC.
Then on Saturday night we had a banquet, and UVic (being the great school that we are) dresses up ridiculously ever year. Why? I don't know, apparently we've been doing it since the 80's. This years theme: Climate Change, what else! (Past ones have been Mad Scientists, 80's Prom....) So we show up to this dressy occasion in Hawaiian shirts, board shorts, sunglasses, inflatable water toys, and balloons. The balloons were pretty sweet, we had them labeled as different Green House Gases, like CO2, so it was one balloon of Carbon and two Oxygen Balloons. Oh we are cleaver. I'll post some pictures when I get them off someone else because Joel didn't take any.
So on top of the conference being great for learning about geography, it was great getting to know some other Geog students, who are all in school for more than just the credits, but are there because they want to change things in this world. Good stuff.
Now I need to prepare myself for a crazy next 3 weeks. I've never had to do so many things in a short amount of time.
Jen's School To Do List (to be done by April 4th):
- 1000 word paper on Forestry Practices in BC
- 2, 4 page lab papers on GIS assignments
- 3, 2500 word papers, one on Agro-Forestry in S.E. Asia, one for my Latin America class, and one for my China class
- Presentation on Agriculture practices in China
- 5 Final Exams & 1 lab exam
Ahhh!!
Cheers!
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Tourist in Your Own Hometown!
So my roomie Gemma and I went on a fun-filled adventure yesterday; it's time again to be A Tourist in Your Own Hometown! I went last year with my mom and brother, Brian, when they came and visited.
We went to the Undersea Gardens, where you Descend Beneath the Sea, to see what our Pacific Northwest Waters look like. However, it's in a "controlled environment" aka, a tank. But it was still pretty cool. There was an octopus. Did you know that the largest octopus was caught off the coast of Vancouver Island in 1857, it measured 35 feet across!
Jen Descending Beneath the Sea.... ahh...
The Octopus, but this guy's only a meter or so across
After emerging from the Sea we hopped on over to The Wax Museum. Good times.
Gemma Pondering in the Field of Knowledge
Jen being a tree hugger, it's a slice from a 1000 year old Red Cedar on the Queen Charlotte's!
There was a torture chamber in the Wax Museum, but we didn't take any pictures there because it was too scary. Even fake gore freak me out.
Next we went and got delicious Noodle Box. Mmmm, it's the yummiest Noodle food in the whole world. Hanna, we have to go when you visit next!
To finish it all off we went to the IMAX, to see a film on Greece. It was beautiful and I can't wait to one day go there. I love the cities, white buildings, one on top of another, and the Mediterranean Sea, so blue with big waves. Ahh!
One day....
We went to the Undersea Gardens, where you Descend Beneath the Sea, to see what our Pacific Northwest Waters look like. However, it's in a "controlled environment" aka, a tank. But it was still pretty cool. There was an octopus. Did you know that the largest octopus was caught off the coast of Vancouver Island in 1857, it measured 35 feet across!
Jen Descending Beneath the Sea.... ahh...
The Octopus, but this guy's only a meter or so across
After emerging from the Sea we hopped on over to The Wax Museum. Good times.
Gemma Pondering in the Field of Knowledge
Jen being a tree hugger, it's a slice from a 1000 year old Red Cedar on the Queen Charlotte's!
There was a torture chamber in the Wax Museum, but we didn't take any pictures there because it was too scary. Even fake gore freak me out.
Next we went and got delicious Noodle Box. Mmmm, it's the yummiest Noodle food in the whole world. Hanna, we have to go when you visit next!
To finish it all off we went to the IMAX, to see a film on Greece. It was beautiful and I can't wait to one day go there. I love the cities, white buildings, one on top of another, and the Mediterranean Sea, so blue with big waves. Ahh!
One day....
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