NPR is getting ready to do a series of broadcasts from China. Melissa block is in Chengdu in prep for the series and is keeping an interesting journal. Chengdu is the nearest major city to where we work and one of the central staging points for folks working in or visiting Tibetan areas. I've placed links to some of NPR's previous China series and the Chengdu Blog to your left.
I'm currently reading The Big Open by Rick Ridgeway. It's an account of a team of climbers that pull 250-pound rickshaws across a portion of the Chang Tang nature reserve to help protect the chiru (Tibetan antelope). This area is just a tad to the west of where we are also working to protect this endangered species. The fur of the chiru makes some of the finest, warmest, and most expensive scarves and shawls in the world. However, each one costs the lives of 3 to 5 antelopes and drives a dangerous and illegal poaching industry on the Tibetan Plateau. The book is good, and so is the film Mountain Patrol that covers the Kekexili area right between the Chang Tang and the San Jiang Yuan (where we work). NPR also has a page with several videos, interviews, and stories on the chiru and other aspects of Chang Tang.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Friday, April 4, 2008
40 years
April 4th 2008- 40 years since the assassination of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. 41 years since his "Beyond Vietnam" speech. Interesting where history finds us 40 years later. If you've not listened to it recently, the "I Have a Dream" speech is worth listening to and contemplating.
Although it is not often publicly acknowledged, racism in general and against Blacks in particular is alive and well in the US today. Scores of scientific studies show beyond doubt that Blacks face discrimination in every aspect of American life from the lower pay they receive for their work to the fewer loan options and higher rates they are offered by banks to the stiffer penalties they receive for crimes. If you are unaware of these issues, I recommend doing some research and beginning to become aware of the incredibly skewed playing field of American life that places Blacks at a tremendous disadvantage.
Some materials on the subject:
Washington Post Article
American Apartheid
The Suburban Racial Dilemma
Harper's Article
Example of Housing Discrimination
Harvard Article on Perceptions and Justice
Although it is not often publicly acknowledged, racism in general and against Blacks in particular is alive and well in the US today. Scores of scientific studies show beyond doubt that Blacks face discrimination in every aspect of American life from the lower pay they receive for their work to the fewer loan options and higher rates they are offered by banks to the stiffer penalties they receive for crimes. If you are unaware of these issues, I recommend doing some research and beginning to become aware of the incredibly skewed playing field of American life that places Blacks at a tremendous disadvantage.
Some materials on the subject:
Washington Post Article
American Apartheid
The Suburban Racial Dilemma
Harper's Article
Example of Housing Discrimination
Harvard Article on Perceptions and Justice
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Environmental Performance Index
Check out the Environmental Performance Index. The index covers a really neat spread of indicators and displays them all graphically- pretty cool! Click the methodology link to see an interactive diagram of what indicators go into the model and how they are weighted.
Where is Tibet, exactly?
Because Tibet on a map and Tibet in fact are rather different constructs, I often find myself fumbling through an explanation of cultural, lingual, and historical ties on the plateau region while drawing maps in the air with my finger to try to explain "Tibet". I will fumble no longer- the BBC has a good explanation and a map that's much clearer than the palm of my hand.
They also have a rather succinct explanation of the recent turbulence.
Although there is animosity between some elements of the two groups in some locations, both have welcomed us with great hospitality again and again. Our work could not continue without the active participation and support of both Chinese and Tibetans. In the Nature Reserve where we work deep in cultural Tibet, Chinese and Tibetan scientists, administrators, and community members work alongside to advance environmental protection and community development.
They also have a rather succinct explanation of the recent turbulence.
Although there is animosity between some elements of the two groups in some locations, both have welcomed us with great hospitality again and again. Our work could not continue without the active participation and support of both Chinese and Tibetans. In the Nature Reserve where we work deep in cultural Tibet, Chinese and Tibetan scientists, administrators, and community members work alongside to advance environmental protection and community development.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
6 Degrees (Celcius)
If you've not already seen it, I highly recommend National Geographic's film Six Degrees. If you've got the time, read the book. They compile research on global climate change and present the effects in degree by degree scenarios. Very interesting and very important.
Another good book is Cradle to Cradle by Bill McDonough. I'll let one of his quotes speak for the book... "Why not shift the focus of green design from managing the environmental impact of a destructive system to creating buildings and materials that generate wholly positive effects for people and nature."
Another good book is Cradle to Cradle by Bill McDonough. I'll let one of his quotes speak for the book... "Why not shift the focus of green design from managing the environmental impact of a destructive system to creating buildings and materials that generate wholly positive effects for people and nature."