“The Language of Conservation” is a program that hopes to promote awareness of the environment through poetry installations in zoos, and participating public libraries (New Orleans, Milwaukee, Little Rock, Jacksonville, and Chicago). Each city will have a poet in residence who will get the chance to interact with the zoo animals, wildlife biologists and exhibit designers to create exhibits which will highlight poetry that celebrated nature and the connections between species.

“El lenguaje de la Conservación” es un programa que pretende promover el conocimiento del medio ambiente mediante instalaciones de poesía en parques zoológicos y varias bibliotecas públicas que participan en el proyecto (Nueva Orleans, Milwaukee, Little Rock, Jacksonville, y Chicago). Cada ciudad tendrá un poeta en residencia que tendrá la oportunidad de interactuar con los animales del zoológico, biólogos y diseñadores de las exhibiciones para crear exhibiciones que destacan poesía que celebra la naturaleza y las conexiones entre las especies.

The program is a collaboration between the ALA Public Program Office and Poets House, a national poetry library and literary center.

El programa es una colaboración entre la Public Program Office de la ALA y Casa de los Poetas, una biblioteca de poesía nacional y centro literario.

What a lovely idea, and lucky poets who get to hang out at the zoo!

¡Qué idea tan bonita, y suertudos los poetas estarán pasando tanto tiempo en el zoológico!

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Yesterday the Guardian posted an article about a new database the BBC put together called Wildlife Finder. The site gathers hundreds of video footage, from over 30 BBC programs,of wild animals the world over. Videos are organized by type of animal, habitat, adaptation features, or ecozone.

Each entry also includes the animal’s scientific classification, adaptation information which comes from the Animal Diversity Web, habitat, and a couple paragraphs providing some basic information, the content of which comes from Wikipedia. You’ll also find information on the animal’s conservation status, and outside links for further information. There is also a short clip of the sounds each animal makes. Sir David Attenborough is featured in a number of the videos.

The site seems like a great resource, but I’ve been trying to access it for two days now, but instead of videos all I get is a notice saying “This content doesn’t seem to be working. Try again later.” I’ll keep trying, but hopefully the folks at the BBC will fix this soon.

10/01/09 – I heard that the videos are only available to viewers in the UK. Even without the video portion this is still a great site.

Ayer The Guardian publicó un artículo sobre una nueva base de datos de la BBC llamado Wildlife Finder. El sitio reúne cientos de vídeo de más de 30 programas de la BBC, de animales salvajes en todo el mundo. Los vídeos están organizados por tipo de animal, hábitat, características de adaptación, o ecozona.

Cada entrada incluye también la clasificación científica de los animales, la información que proviene Animal Diversity Web, su hábitat y un par de párrafos proporcionar cierta información básica, cuyo contenido proviene de Wikipedia. Usted también encontrará información sobre el estado de conservación de los animales, y enlaces externos para más información. También hay un  clip breve de los sonidos de cada animal. Sir David Attenborough aparece en varios de los videos.

El sitio parece un gran recurso pero he estado tratando de acceder desde hace dos días y en vez de vídeos lo único que consigo es un aviso que dice “Este contenido no parece estar funcionando. Inténtelo de nuevo más tarde.” Voy a seguir intentando, pero espero que la gente de la BBC arregle esto pronto.

10/01/09 – Escuche decir que los videos sólo están disponibles para los usuarios en el Reino Unido. Incluso sin la parte de vídeo esto sigue siendo un gran sitio.

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Curious where math, coral reef, education, saving the environment, and the domestic arts intersect? My friend Abby showed me the video below that explains this intersection brilliantly. Take a look!

¿Tiene idea de cómo las matemáticas, el coral, la educación, la protección ambiental, y las artes domesticas se encuentran? Mi amiga Abby me mostro el siguiente video que explica esta intercesión brillantemente.

Video source.

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I just read about a call for help to assist in the saving of hundreds of years worth of information on birds’ migrating patters. The North American Bird Phenology Program has 6 million note cards, dating back to the 1880s sitting in a Basement in Virginia, which they need help converting into digital files. There’s a call for volunteers to help transcribe this information, which they explain can help scientists trace bird patters, which in turn can help explore patters in climate change. Volunteers are asked to take a 15 minute online tutorial, and are then given access to hundreds of these cards to be manually transcribed into a database. Volunteers can work from the comfort of their home while helping preserve this information. If you wish to help, here’s the contact link.

Turns out that there is a World Migratory Bird Day to be held during May 9 – 10. Learn more about the event here.

You can read more about this project from an article in Wired.

Image info.

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March is Women’s History Month in the USA and a number of universities, libraries, and other educational institutions are preparing events to celebrate. This month long celebration started with events for International Women’s Day, which falls every year on March 8th.

Many of the celebrations around this date wish to write women back into history and to make sure we remain part of the narrative for the future. The National Women’s History Project is an organization that works year around towards this end. This year their theme is “Women Taking the Lead to Save our Planet“, an event which will honor women engaged in various effort to keep this planet green.

The USA Library of Congress (LOC) is celebrating by creating a website which highlights many of the treasures they hold related to women’s history. The site currently focuses on women’s contribution to the arts, offering us highlights to musicians, painters, photographer and writers; each with direct links to specific collections with in the library. There is also a section with resources to help teachers and students highlight women in the classroom.

Two more great resources for women’s history from the LOC include the America Women, and  Women at War. The Schlesinger Library is also another excellent collection on women in American history.

Image info here.

En EEUU Marzo es el Mes de la Mujer y universidades, bibliotecas y otras instituciones de educación están haciendo preparativos para celebrar. Este mes de celebración tiene origen con el Día Internacional de la Mujer, el cual se celebra cada 8 de Marzo.

Muchas de las celebraciones en esta fecha quieren recordar a las mujeres a lo largo de la historia, y asegurarse de que continuemos siendo parte de esta narrativa en el futuro. El proyecto Nacional de Historia de la Mujer (National Women’s History Project) es una organización que trabaja a lo largo del año hacia este fin. Este año están organizado eventos bajo el titulo de “Mujeres Tomando la Iniciativa para Salvar el Planeta,” el cual hará honor a mujeres comprometidas en la labor de mantener este planeta verde.

La Biblioteca del Congreso en EEUU esta celebrando con la creación de varios sitios web dedicados a resaltar algunos de los tesoros que tiene relacionados a la historia de las mujeres. Actualmente el sitio hace énfasis en las contribuciones que han hecho las mujeres en el campo del arte, ofreciéndonos muestras de mujeres en el campo de la música, pintura, fotografía, y escritura; cada entrada con enlaces directos a las colecciones correspondientes en la biblioteca. También hay una sección con recursos para maestros y estudiantes que deseen resaltar a las mujeres en el salón.

Dos recursos más de interés en la Biblioteca del Congreso con la colección Mujeres Americana (American Women), y Mujeres en la Guerra (Women at War). La biblioteca Schlesinger también es un recurso excelente en este campo.

Información sobre la imagen aquí.

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A recent article in the BBC shows how recent violence in Kenya sparked from election disputes has affected the flower industry. Usually Valentines means that workers can expect to work longer hours, and make some extra money. Others can take temporary work on these large farms, but this year ethnic violence has forces many of these workers to flee their homes and jobs, leaving the Kenyan flower industry in a difficult situation for the highest demand of the year. The industry seems to be running on about 80% of it’s usual workforce, while some of the more fortunate workers have been offered housing on the farms, and have thus been able to keep their jobs, many have been forced to send their families to live elsewhere. The most unfortunate ones had to leave everything behind, or worst yet were killed.

Violence has also disrupted transportation routs forcing flower farmers to incur more expenses by having to charter flights to deliver their product. And while we can hope that this violence will be passing, failing to deliver on the industry’s most important day can damage confidence in the Kenyans flower industry for years to come.

In Colombia Valentine day has been adopted by workers in the flower as International Day of Flowers Workers; a day designed to raise awareness about the poor conditions in which many workers toil. This movement is being highlighted by Florverde certification which places its symbol on flower production which meets their social and environmental standards. Now Florverde is trying to increase labor standards and work with trade unions to continue improving the industry.

Florverde certification covers about 25% of the Colombian flower industry, and its criteria include standards such as sealing fumigated areas to protect workers. Although these seem like obvious steps it is actually commons to have workers in the same area where pesticides are being used. In the past the industry has also seen some very nasty disputes over labor issues and attempts at unionizing. Currently there are some farms that have greatly improved conditions for workers offering decent wages, and daycare, but many other farms still have a very long way to go.

Now partnerships with European markets may help improve the situation. In order to sell in European markets, Colombian flowers would have to meet UK’s Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI). Complying with ETI includes freely chosen employment (no prison labor), freedom of association and respecting collective bargaining, safe and hygienic working conditions, the absence of child labor, living wages, reasonable working hours, the absence of discrimination, having regular employment, as well as no tolerance for harsh or inhumane treatment (read their full code here).

It would be great if the other large consumer of cut flowers would also step up to the plate and help improve conditions in this industry that brighten our days, while exploiting so many others.

You can read the BBC article about Kenya here, Colombia here. You can read another article on the situation in Kenya from the Washington Post here.

Image from AP Photo/Bernat Armangue.

Un artículo reciente de la BBC muestra cómo la reciente violencia en Kenia, creada por los resultados de las elecciones, ha afectado a la industria de las flores. Por lo general, el día de San Valentín significa que los trabajadores tendrán que trabajar más horas, y podrán hacer dinero extra. Otros podrán trabajar horas extras, pero este año la violencia étnica ha obliga a muchos de estos trabajadores a huir de sus hogares y puestos de trabajo, dejando a la industria de las flores de Kenia en una difícil situación. La industria parece estar funcionando con aproximadamente el 80% de sus empleados, algunos de los más afortunados han logrado conseguir alojamiento en estas fincas, lo cual significa que han sido capaces de mantener sus puestos de trabajo, pero muchos otros se han visto obligados a enviar a sus familias a vivir en otros lugares. Los más desafortunados tenían que dejar todo atrás, o peor aún fueron asesinados.

La violencia también ha interrumpido las rutas de transporte de flores obligando a los agricultores a incurrir en más gastos al tener que contratar vuelos privados para entregar su producto. Y si bien podemos esperar que esta violencia pasara, la incapacidad de entregar pedidos de flores en esta fecha tan importante podría afectar la confianza en toda la industria de flores de Kenia.

El Día de San Valentín en Colombia ha sido aprobado por los trabajadores como Día Internacional de los Trabajadores de Flores, un día destinado a crear conciencia acerca de las malas condiciones en que trabajan muchos de estos trabajadores. Este movimiento se destacó por la certificación Florverde, que sitúa su símbolo en la producción de flores que se ajuste a sus normas sociales y medioambientales. Florverde ahora está tratando de aumentar los estándares laborales y el trabajo con los sindicatos para seguir mejorando la industria.

La certificación Florverde abarca alrededor del 25% de la industria de las flores de Colombia, y sus normas incluyen criterios tales como sellar en área de fumigación para proteger a los trabajadores. Aunque estas medidas parecen evidentes en realidad es común que los trabajadores estén en la misma zona donde se utilizan plaguicidas. En el pasado, la industria también se ha visto envuelta en desagradables disputas sobre asuntos laborales y los intentos de sindicación. Actualmente existen algunas granjas que han mejorado las condiciones de los trabajadores ofreciendo salarios decentes, y guarderías para los hijos de estos, pero muchas otras granjas aún tienen largo camino por recorrer.

Ahora la colaboración con los mercados europeos puede ayudar a mejorar la situación. Con el fin de vender en los mercados europeos, las flores colombianas tienen que cumplir con el Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) del Reino Unido. El cumplimiento de la ETI incluye trabajos no forzados (sin mano de obra esclavizada), la libertad de asociación y el respeto a la negociación colectiva, seguridad e higiene en las condiciones de trabajo, la ausencia de trabajo infantil, salarios decentes, horas de trabajo razonables, la ausencia de discriminación, aseguramiento de empleo regular, como así como el rechazo a la trato inhumano (lea el código completo aquí).
Qué bueno sería si el otro gran consumidor de flores cortadas también empezara a exigir mejores condiciones para esta industria, cuyo producto nos alegra el día a todos.

Puede leer el artículo de la BBC sobre Kenia aquí, Colombia aquí. Puedes leer otro artículo sobre la situación en Kenia en el Washington Post aquí.

Imagen de la AP Foto / Bernat Armangue.

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Being that we can’t go back in time to study previous climate patterns, Prof. Zerefos of the National Observatory of Athens has begun a study of old master pieces to learn more about global weather patterns.

Using impressionist pieces created mostly in the 19th century, scientists are focusing on the differences between the usage of red and green hues to create hypothesis of how much pollution was in the skies specially after the eruption of large volcanoes. The redder the sunsets, the more pollution was in the air.

Impressionist artists of the time did a great job of capturing real scenes to the extent that scientist have been able to see patters between the art and periods of high pollution after major volcanic eruptions. Such is the case when various artists created richer sunsets for three consecutive years after the eruptions of Tambora in 1815, Bubuyan (Philippines) in 1831, Consiguina (Nicaragua) in 1835, and Krakatoa in 1881. Some of the artists being used include J.M.W. Turner, Rubens, Rembrandt, Gainsborough, and Hogarth. Edvard Munch‘s red skies in The Scream are thought to be the effect of Krakatoa as seen from Norway.

The scientists involved in this project are already looking into extending their research to include paintings from the 20th century.

You can read more about this from an article in the Guardian, or more specifically about the impact of major volcanic eruptions and their effects world-wide in Simon Winchester’s Krakatoa: The Day the World Exploded, August 27, 1883.

Image info. here.

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The latest update of the Red List of Endangered species is bringing attention to a number of new animals now threatened with extinction. According to the World Conservation Union, we are facing an extinction rate 10,000 higher than was expected. According to the report, one in four animals is threatened, as well as 1 in 8 birds, 1 in 3 amphibians, and 70% of the worlds plants.

Species added to the list are labeled as extinct (EX), extinct in the wild (EW), critically endangered (CR), endangered (EN), vulnerable (VU), lower risk/ conservation dependent (LR/CD), near threatened (NT), least concern (LC), or DD for data deficient.

All this information is housed in a major database with the World Conservation Union and can be accessed here. When searching the database you can type in the common name for a species and will get results including the species scientific name, and level of endangerment. Clicking on a specific species will provide more information on taxonomy, and citation information relating to how the species was evaluated for inclusion in the Red List. In the photo gallery you can find photographs of a few of the endangered species along with a brief explanation of its current situation.

This new list should make us all aware that while there are efforts out there to preserve wildlife, they are not providing the desired results, and further action should be taken to correct the situation.

You can read more about this from an article in The Hindu. There is another article in Practical Fishkeeping about discussing fish on the Red List.

Image info; Golden Lion Tamarin, (Leontopithecus rosalia), EN. Image from the World Conservation Union.

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In the 1970′s the various Apollo missions took a number of highly detailed photographs of the moon which have been seen only by a handful of scientist. For three decades these photographs have been preserved in a freezer, but now Arizona State is making these images available through the web.

The photographs are being scanned at a 14 bit resolution, meaning that digital versions of the these black and white images have about 16,000 shades of gray, there are also a few highly detailed color images. The high resolution will allow for maximum conservation of detail, and accurate geometric fidelity.

NASA expects to gather many more images of the moon with their 2008 lunar reconnaissance mission. You can see some of the Apollo images at The Project Apollo Image Gallery (although they aren’t very well labeled); or try Google Moon.

You can read an article on the subject from the BBC here.

Image from The Apollo Image Gallery.

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A few days ago the Christian Science Monitor had an interesting article about conservation efforts for bufeos, (also known boto, pink dolphins, or fresh water dolphins). Scientist Fernando Trujillo from the Colombian based Omacha Foundation is behind a five nation project which also includes Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Venezuela. Their research hopes to gather information on population numbers and the current state of the species in order to help project it, and to use the bufeo as the poster child for a larger preservation campaign of the Amazon and Orinoco rivers.

Hopefully these efforts won’t be coming too little too late, as was the case just last week with the less fortunate fresh water dolphin in the Yangtze River whose extinction seems to have been confirmed. The Indus, Ganges and Mekon rivers also have fresh water dolphins, the populations of none of which are in good shape.

I’ve been lucky enough to have seen pink dolphin while drifting down the Orinoco river many years ago, but the memories are as fresh as if it had been just yesterday; they really are an impressive sight, and hopefully this charisma will help preserve them and the larger river ecosystem in which they live.

The International Society for the Preservation of the Tropical Rainforest has some more information on pink river dolphins here, so does Project Boto, here. A good book on the subject is the Journey of the Pink River Dolphin by Sy Montgomery.

Boto image by Pasajero on Flickr.

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