Friday, March 26, 2010

Earth Hour

Tomorrow at 8:30 PM local time, millions of households around the world, and hundreds of governmental, educational, public, and private buildings will be turning out the lights in honor of Earth Hour. Earth Hour was started by the World Wildlife Fund to draw attention to the need of governmental action against climate change, one of the biggest threats to wildlife and nature. (not to mention entire Country-Islands)

I might not exactly be an environmental activist, but I do appreciate the world I live in and everything in it. (well maybe except for mean people - they suck) I've switched to Low E lighting, use products packed in greener packaging, recycle, and even drive a Prius (at the oh-so horrifying risk of going into sudden acceleration and being unable to stop it).

Some people don't believe in Global Climate Change, or that if it does exist, it's a natural cyclical phenomenon and there's nothing we can do about it. However, there's no denying that we as a world community, through exploitation of natural resources, have shaped the earth into an uglier place to live, contributing to polluted skies and waters, depleted rainforests, constantly warring and genocidal oil states, corrupted governments, and threatened or completely wiped out species.

There's also no denying that the governments throughout the world can enact laws that fight these exploitations, and perhaps if enough votes are rallied up they will be more motivated to do something about it.

We can vote by simply turning off our lights for an hour.

Monday, March 22, 2010

The Desert in Bloom

The Sonoran Desert in Arizona isn't always the brown, barren, lifeless terrain that one's mind might conjure up. Thanks to a large amount of El Nino rainfall so far this year, the landscape is blanketed with a variety of Spring wildflowers and abundant with wildlife. The scents of engorged creosote bush leaves and sweet pollen, and the sounds of birdsong permeate the air.








I shot the above photos yesterday a short walk from home. The images are clickable for a full screen view.