sustainability

foam foam and more foam

| Ana Elisa Fuentes

ocean.foamThe unpredictable and mysterious ocean foam

washes ashore Arroyo Burro Beach in Santa Barbara, California..

Yes, it is as toxic as it looks.

Some of the causes are as you might expect;

crude oil discharge from tankers at sea, motor oil, detergents, etc .. Contact with the foam

can cause skin irritations and respiratory discomfort.

All rivers and storm drains lead to the sea.

#worldoceansday

image copyright anaelisafuentes

from my photo assignment archive

ocean.foam2

What are you waiting for?

| Ana Elisa Fuentes

IMG_1344

Why is the Arctic important?
The Arctic is our planets refrigerator, it is our cooling system.

Imagine
You have a refrigerator at home, but the cooling system is NOT WORKING

What would you do?

Most likely replace it. Go out and buy another one.
Right?

The heart of the matter is this
We cannot buy another Arctic.
It is not for sale. We cannot replace it.

The Arctic is  unique.
Like you and me,  your children. Your pets.

I ask you from my heart to yours,

for YOU,  for me,  for YOUR children
and for your children’s children, to take one moment

  add your name to the GLOBAL  DECLARATION making the Arctic a GLOBAL SANCTUARY

One planet. One Arctic.

What are you waiting for?

Wheel of Time

| Ana Elisa Fuentes

Kalachakra

Monks from the Namgyal monastery create the sand mandala known as the Wheel of Time or the Kalachakra at the Watts Towers Arts Center in Watts, a community of Los Angeles, California. More about the Kalachakra here http://www.buddhanet.net/kalimage.htm

 

webimg069

Melva, a community member contributes to the sand mandala.

photograph copyright, Ana Elisa Fuentes

Photographed using Fuji RDP medium format slide film

A Line in the Sand: Are Environmental Issues Influencing Your Election Decisions?

| Ana Elisa Fuentes
Keenan G., 20, Cellular Biology student, Santa Barbara, California: “I feel like in the beginning, it didn’t. But now, it is a bigger deal. Issues like global warming, ice caps melting and our diminishing resources; these must be difficult decisions for our next president. I feel like the candidates need to listen to the people more and be less concerned with the popularity that comes with being President. Maybe I ought to look into and invest more time in the green party. These are issues that the entire planet is facing, not just the United States.”
Trudy B., 63, Vocalist, Santa Barbara, California: “Yes. I’ve always been interested in environmental issues. I don’t like some of the things we are doing to mother earth. I feel very strongly about our precious mother Earth. In many ways we have been unconscious about how we treat her and her resources. We need to wake up.”
Julie C. 69, Retired Nurse, Shreveport, Louisiana: “To a certain extent. I don’t want us to be foolhardy. I’m from a red state, Louisiana. I want us to be energy independent whether, it’s oil, gas, or solar. I’m a conservative. I study both sides of the issues. There are a lot of resources that should be taken use of. This will provide jobs. We need to be smart about what we do. Take every opportunity, be careful and watchful about how we protect our environment.”
Gerald D. 80, Retired Electrical Engineer, Portland, Oregon: “Environmental issues are not going to convince me one way or another. Period. They are not going to end up doing anything about it anyway.”
Oscar M., 60, Musician, Santa Barbara, California: “The environment is important to me. If I was voting, it would be somebody who is not representing corporate interests. I think we are due for big changes, on all levels, including our environment and our voting system.”
Todd G., 34, Electrician, Sheridan, Oregon: “No, not really. But, I think nuclear is the cleanest energy. I think it has the smallest environmental impact per square foot.”
Kyle D., 22, Unemployed, New Mexico: “I will not base my decisions on political discussion. They are roundabouts and the issues in question are constantly changing. I will decide in my own way. I will do my research then. I will vote based on who they are as a person. Specifics don’t matter.”

All replies and photographs are published with the participants permission. Photographs taken using an iPod touch.

A Line in the Sand column copyright, Ana Elisa Fuentes.

This blog post powered by foot and public transportation.

My sincere thanks to the participants.

Are Environmental issues influencing your election 2012 decisions?

A Line in the Sand

| Ana Elisa Fuentes

Welcome to A Line in the Sand – my new weekly column that will address pertinent questions about our environment in open public spaces.

Question: What does climate change mean to you?

Johnathan G. and Bridget M. both 19, students, of Rancho Cucamonga, California
” We were just talking about this. Climate change is caused by human activity. People need to pay attention. People need to be aware, about everything we consume and how we consume, and how we obtain what we consume, and our disposal. We need to be aware of our ecological footprint. All of this affects our biodiversity, especially when it starts killing things around us. It is so easy to ignore.”
Paolo M., 29, scientist, Lugano, Switzerland: ” I think it’s a measure of concern. It is underestimated. Our life is short, but the effects are long-term. We don’t do enough to prevent it. It’s important to try to make people aware of it, especially in the U.S.A. where people drive their car for an errand five minutes away. And plastic. I have been here two weeks and have a hundred bags. In Europe, the glaciers are disappearing.”
Oscar G., 32, window washer, Chula Vista, California: A variation of hot and cold weather. Stormy weather. Hot winds, cold fronts, dramatic and not normal weather patterns.”
Shao-Ya Hsu, 37, student, Scripps Ranch, California: Awareness of the environment. Before I was not so aware. Personally, I try to do more – recycling, not wasting our resources. Just to be here and observe the ocean. I just appreciate it. We have only one earth and we need to protect it.”
Ramona B. 49, housewife, Louisiana: I’ve heard about it on T.V. It’s all I can think of.”

All replies and photographs are published with the participants permission.

A Line in the Sand column copyright, Ana Elisa Fuentes.

My sincere thanks to the participants.

What does climate change mean to you?

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