You can help save a precious rainforest in Costa Rica

Two of my friends have become active in a non-profit organization dedicated to saving a Costa Rican rainforest. While discussing their new interest, it has become a delight to know that people I know are doing more than talking in the abstract about saving the Earth. I've recently learned from my friends that Friends of the Children's Eternal Rainforest has focused its efforts toward purchasing and preserving a 55,000 acre multi-elevation tract of land that is has far more than its share of threatened species. Consider the extensive biological diversity of this preserve:

  • 154 species of amphibians and reptiles
  • 121 kinds of mammals
  • 450 bird species
  • 3,000 different kinds of plants including 800 species of trees and 500 types of orchids
  • 1 million insect species
If you'd like to learn more, or get involved, you can follow these links. You can even take an eco-tour. If you live in the St. Louis area, consider attending a talk by Dr. Peter Raven at the St. Louis Zoo on Thursday, April 26, 2012, from 6-8pm. Here's a glimpse at Dr. Raven's upcoming talk and his bio:
Saving the Forest, Saving Ourselves: An awareness and fundraising forum BY DR. PETER RAVEN Keynote speaker: Dr. Peter Raven, one of the world’s leading botanists and advocates of conservation and biodiversity, is described by TIME magazine as a “Hero for the Planet.” He is President Emeritus of the Missouri Botanical Garden after serving 40 years as Director. In addition, he is chairman of the National Geographic Society’s Committee for Research and Exploration, and chair of the Division of Earth and Life Studies of the National Research Council.

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The Earth is full, but abundance is our future. What?

We have done nothing to change course, despite the rapid rate at which we are exhausting the Earth's resources. In a recent TED talk, Australian Paul Guilding tells us that it is beyond dispute, beyond any margin of error, that "the Earth is full." To sustain current human activity, we'd need 1.5 Earths. Therefore, we are at the "end of growth," and Guilding says it's well underway. The evidence is all around us. So how are we going to respond and react to this crisis? And now for an opposing point of view, also at TED: Peter Diamandis makes a case for optimism -- that we'll invent, innovate and create ways to solve the challenges that loom over us. "I’m not saying we don’t have our set of problems; we surely do. But ultimately, we knock them down.” OK, so one expert says we're in massive trouble and the other says things have never been better. No wonder people are so suspicious about experts.

Continue ReadingThe Earth is full, but abundance is our future. What?

Meanwhile, in Barcelona

I've written before about Reverend Billy Talen. His latest action was in Barcelona:

About 80 people accompanied Reverend Billy and Savitri D - founders of the New York City based Church of Stop Shopping - to a political ritual, "Naked Grief" in the lobby of the Deutschebank in Barcelona's Placa Catalunya at noon today. The action was organized with activists and artists of The Influencers Festival. After entering the bank lobby, the crowd began dramatically weeping. Savitri D disrobed, and as the Barcelonans around her cried, Reverend Billy implored the "God of Deutsche Bank" to stop investing in CO2 emitting coal-fired power plants. Eventually coal was poured over the head and shoulders of the "Naked Mother" as the crying crowd shouted "Earthalujah!"

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