Sunscreen for Glaciers to Combat Global Warming

by Iva Skoch on

Last month, Germany spread sheets of reflective plastic foil over its largest glacier, Zugspitze, high in the Alps, south of Munich. A staggering 97,000 square feet of tarps were laid on the ski areas of the mountain, in an attempt to slow the melting of the glaciers there. Apparently, the Swiss have attempted a similar feat in Andermatt.

But, many are now saying that the “sun-screen” may be just a tiny band-aid over a gaping wound. The Swiss have said that the glaciers in their part of the Alps have lost 4% of their mass this year past alone, and predict that 20% will be gone in ten years, and as much as 70% within 30 years.

Now, it they could only figure out a way of making the tarps out of photo-voltaic cells to generate clean electricity too….

Only in OZ: Irwin’s Whale Watching Boat

by Kelly Amabile on

Visitors to Queensland, Australia will soon be able to sign up for whale watching trips aboard a new boat named in honor of Steve Irwin. The Australia Zoo’s latest venture will depart from Mooloolaba Wharf on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast beginning July 1st.

Steve’s Whale One vessel was named by Irwin’s kids, Bob and Bindi, as a tribute to their dad. The 130-seat boat will offer 360-degree views from large observation decks around the ship, educational talks by on-board biologists and an underwater hydrophone so passengers can hear whale songs.

At yesterday’s dedication, Terri Irwin revealed that it was Steve’s dream “…to be a full-on warrior for whales, to tackle the Japanese harpoons head on.” These educational excursions realize his vision and serve as the latest “weapon” in whale conservation.

ComFest: Where Peace, Love and Partial Nudity Survive

by Jamie Rhein on

The one event in Columbus, Ohio that lets me know that summer is here is ComFest. About the beginning of June, the city gets a ComFest buzz of anticipation. This is an art, music and crafts festival for anyone who has a hankering to be a bit alternative-even if during the week, a suit and a tie is the norm for day-job wear. The aim is to be peace-loving and inclusive. This is mellow with a capital M. Beer helps.

This is also a weekend when some people take their shirts off–literally. Actually, men tend to leave their shirts on; some women take them off–not most women, but a few. They paint designs on their breasts that don’t even come close to looking like shirts and walk around in various stages of perky and proud. As long as they stay within Goodale Park where the festival is held, the shirt optional status is allowed. But this is only a small part of what ComFest is about.

Most women do keep their shirts on, and most people relish that this is a place considered dog and kid friendly. To show just how friendly they are some vendors put out bowls with water and signs that say, “Drinking water for dogs.”

A COMFEST dog shot from last year by kjenkins. The dog’s name is Barley. People also have items just for kids. On Friday my son won a Max Escher art button by picking a plastic yellow duck out of a kiddy pool one vendor created just for fun. Here’s a COMFEST kid shot posted by Laura Lewis.

At one entrance you can check your bicycle for safe-keeping. There are also booths sporting information about various non-profit organizations like the Sierra Club and Central Ohioans for Peace. In the mix are crafts booths, food booths and more. If you’re looking for lawn art, earrings, and tie-dyed T-shirts, COMFEST delivers.

Just for the heck of it, there’s a car art show. This car was there last year. I remember seeing it and found the shot on Flickr, thanks to skippy13.

Okay, so it looks a little crowded. Possibly the beer tent was close by, but there’s plenty of room the spread out. This shot is by icadrew and was loaded on Flickr on Sunday. I have a feeling this was taken Saturday though. This looks more like the Saturday crowd.

I was at COMFEST Friday night and again tonight with my shirt most definitely on serving up watermelon as a fundraiser for CORVA (Central Ohio Returned Volunteers Association) . Although, it’s always fun to go to a festival, working at one has its own energy. I did have some time to take in the following two groups.

The above photo is of part of the group Spanda, a Kirtan chanting ensemble that puts their own special spin on Hindu inspired music. Not all of the group is in this picture. Rick Borgia, the guy with the guitar is one of the song writers and founders. He sent me the photo. Check the Spanda Web site for other performance dates.

Another group that blends cultures is the belly dance group Khalida Tribe. Matt Miller took this shot last year. I just saw this group again tonight. Always entertaining. The group often performs at the Ravari Room.

If you happen to be in Columbus next June, the weekend after summer begins, stop by COMFEST. You’ll never find Columbus looking quite the same the other 362 days of the year. Don’t be surprised if you see a woman without a top on with flowers painted on her chest. I warned you.

One for the Road: The No-Nonsense Guide to Tourism

by Kelly Amabile on

This pocket-sized softbound guide from the folks at The New Internationalist is not your typical travel book. It’s a toughie. The No-Nonsense Guide to Tourism takes a harsh look at the often invisible impacts of global tourism and challenges readers to think about some of the big picture effects that travel has on the world. It basically demystifies one of the biggest industries in the world by examining things like labor conditions, the role of travel and vacations in western cultures, and trends like the popular gap year.

In short, concise language, the book covers the history of tourism, the psychological forces that drive Westerners to travel to exotic destinations, and the economic, political and social impact of the tourism industry. Author Pamela Nowicka is a journalist and consultant who has working with organizations such as Tourism Concern, a charity that works with communities in destination countries to reduce social and environmental problems. She has written on numerous tourism and ethics subjects.

Figure out your Travel Carbon Footprint

by Neil Woodburn on

As much as we all love travel, there is unfortunately a serious downside to it: pollution.

Whether we take a road trip in our car our hop on a plane to fly half way around the world, the luxury of travel consistently pumps pollutants into the air that will one day ironically destroy the very places we love to visit.

But you only travel a little bit, you say?

Take a moment to pop on over to the handy calculator on SafeClimate.net to determine how much Carbon Dioxide you pump into the atmosphere on a monthly or yearly basis. I figured I drive about 7,000 miles per year and fly about 20,000 (during a good year). According to the calculator, this means that I add 1521 pounds of Carbon Dioxide to the atmosphere on a monthly basis. Or, 18,252 for the year. Ugh!

There are certainly ways to reduce this carbon footprint but it will have serious repercussions on my travel lifestyle–like taking the train to New York instead of flying, or biking to work, or purchasing carbon offsets.

Man! After realizing my carbon footprint for just plane and car travel, I really have to start figuring out a way to offset those 18,000 pounds. Or, simply start buying beachfront property in Alaska.