Your Daily Breeze

Lizard Runs on Water!

The Basilisk Lizard, or "Jesus Christ Lizard" runs on water to escape predators. Cool!

Amazing Bower Bird!

New Design!

"I'm in a Symbiotic Relationship" is SustainabiliTees' newest design featuring a Rhinocerous and an Oxpecker who, although totally different species, have grown to compatibility. Check it out today, this tee is currently the only one available on the thinnest organic cotton yet!

Live Video of African Animals

Image from AboveBelowPhotos.com.

Though the sun just came up and it's cold and icy here in Northeastern U.S., it's mid-afternoon and hot in Sabi Sands, Africa. It's sometimes hard to imagine a world that can feature so many climates, animals, and landscapes, but not anymore. Now you can see it live!!!

The strategically placed webcams or Africam, capture the world in real time. It's amazing, comforting, and suspenseful all at the same time. Even if no one shows up, the varying background noises will keep you entertained and notify you when someone comes to drink or walks past the camera.

Your Opinion Needed

Image from mongabay.com

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), has opened its doors to public opinion on the subject of carbon dioxide emissions. Please take a minute to tell them it's absolutely necessary to regulate the emissions spewed from countless sources all over the U.S., which adversely affects the entire world.

77,725 people have already signed it, join in today and make a difference for tomorrow!

Jumping Lemurs

Superb footage of Madagascan Sifika Lemurs!

Petition

Photo from Last.fm.

Please sign this petition opposing the aerial gunning of wolves in Alaska. It's horribly cruel, and we need wolves to balance the ecosystem! Takes 2 minutes, thank you!

Make Your Own Mittens

Image from One Pearl Button.

If you have a sweater that you've loved to frumpy-ness, try making it into warm, useful, no-cost mittens! Imagine the potential you have in your closet right now? Use this easy pattern to cut and sew a pair of custom falangee warmers.  Follow the pattern or get creative, you may even love it enough to make holiday gifts for your friends and family...at no cost to you or the environment!

I'm going to go do it right now, results in a few days...

Before it's too Late

This clip is from the up-coming documentary "Before It's Too Late", and it is spellbinding.

Act to Help Protect Hawaiian Monk Seals

Wild Hawaiian Monk Seals can be thought of as a calm, curious, vacationer who just wants peace and privacy. They bask in the Hawaiian sun, swim in the warm waters, and as an added bonus, they balance the ecosystem surrounding the island and beyond. Currently there is less than 1,200 of these seals remain because of multiple reasons that include nets, global warming, and human disturbances. Please write to Krista Graham, of the National Marine Fisheries Service and tell her to expand Monk Seal habitat to the main island where the wonderful rare creatures seem to be doing better.

Photo from Reiter8.

Reiter8 is home, to what I personally consider, a genius movement of turning sturdy fabrics into useful fashion. A bag made from sails; it's such a concept. Romantic...yet robust. Even fine details of the sails, like seams and grommets, are used to enhance the one-of-a-kind nature of each piece. Uses for these large bags include grocery shopping, book lugging, and the especially appropriate, a sailboating picnic on and island.

Here's a great video on Katherine, the founder or Reiter8 where she talks about her aspirations, her mission, and the benefits of reusing materials to create something new, unique, and beneficial.

Image from Sierra Club.

The awfully persistent Bush Administration is still trying to delist wolves from The Endangered Species Act, allowing over two thirds of the population to become unprotected. "...the current proposal is the product of a flawed process and will likely result in the same types of policy conflicts and legal battles that have plagued wolf management in the past" says Defenders of Wildlife. You can voice your opinion until Nov. 28th, 2008; my email included: "...wolves are needed to balance the environment, encourage tree growth, and so much more. They are also a symbol of the American people's hope for conservation and preservation."

Tell the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to leave the wolves on The Endangered Species Act! Send your letter today! (it takes 5 min. max).

More information:
StopExtinction.org
Natural Resources Defense Council

Diving Birds - Incredible!

How to Feel Good

Photo from: Canku Ota
Amidst all the poisons and snap traps, there is my old Have-a-heart, a mouse trap that comfortably keeps mouse or mice until you can release them elsewhere. The obtainment of this, or similar equipment can cost nothing at all - 14 bucks, but the feeling you get from it is priceless.

After months of rodent free living, a mouse finally moved in. I set out my Have-a-heart last night, and this morning a fuzzy, healthy looking mouse was peering out at me. It's cold out, and although the mouse is not tame*, it has been living in the comforts of humans (heat, food, water). So, as I headed out on my walk this morning, I coaxed the gentle, surprisingly non-spastic mouse into a box filled with recycled toilet paper and the treat that he ate in all entirety while in the trap at night, a piece of tortilla, and a wet piece of tortilla (most little rodents do not prefer to drink water from a bowl).

Then I walked to where there were no houses or roads in sight, set the box down, and left (don't worry, I'll go back for the box). I used to watch them gingerly come out, and practically tear up when they'd seemed to look back at me, saying "thank you". But, really did the mouse have any clue about what could have happened to it, if Have-a-heart didn't exist? Whether or not it knew, is irrelevant, the pleasant feeling of using an alternative to a commonly dire situation is what made my day. Plus, compassion, mixed with a little bit of successful human animal conflict resolution feels really good.

* Please DO NOT ever release store-bought/tame mice into the wild.

Bubble Blowing Dolphin - Amazing!

Express Your Coal Views

Coal, whether it's 'clean' or dirty, is not a feasible way to produce the long-term energy we need. There are literally tons of other safer and more efficient ways to produce energy (if you're curious, check out the other posts on this blog). In the meantime, you could be the next person to think up a super slogan that'll change the world!

Some of the submissions so far include the sarcastic "Coal means good jobs for miners" and evocative "Coal...like oil you breathe". Participate today! It's easy and fast! Check out YourDailyBreezes' submission: "Coal or Windpower. Coal or Windpower. Cough or Whoosh."

Animals Save the Planet

This little animation, produced by Aardman Animations Ltd., is one of a series of playful and informative pieces that helps raise awareness about our impact on animals and the environment.

Image from Orcaweb.org.

The sonar emitted from Navy ships has been thought by many scientists to harm, and sometimes kill whales. "A species of whales called beaked whales is particularly susceptible to harm from sonar, which can cause them to strand themselves onshore." That is an excerpt from The Associated Press, the article of which can be found on NPR.org

To improve the situation for the whales without grossly interfering with the Navys' sonar exercises, write to Donald Winter and tell him to keep at least some restrictions on these Navy sonar experiments and tests. It is not one or another (whales or the safety of the Navy), but rather a thing that could feasibly work, if done correctly.

PBS Nature

Nature, on PBS, features some of the most beautiful filming of wild animals, this amazing video is no exception.

Video clip from "Andes: The Dragon's Back".

Maine Foliage

Photo by: Emily Dodge.