PlanetWildlife Given Seal of Approval Says International Wildlife Charity

Posted on April 27, 2013 by Brian Alan Burhoe

International wildlife…

Eagle flying free - international wildlife

International wildlife charity champions fair treatment of animals.

PlanetWildlife has been given a seal of approval from RIGHT-tourism, an international wildlife charity focused on the way animals are treated by tourists.

Taking part in the global celebration of Earth Day, PlanetWidlife is pleased to announce this new partnership focused on responsible travel and the fair treatment of animals.

“RIGHT-tourism is about helping people enjoy the animals they see on holiday, without harming them. Travelling with a tour company which understands and cares about wildlife is therefore very important, so it is great that we have been able to team up with PlanetWildlife,” says Philip Mansbridge, CEO of Care for the Wild International, the non-profit, which runs RIGHT-tourism.

“PlanetWildlife clearly cares about both the communities and the wildlife that they come across, so we are happy to add them to our list of RIGHT operators.”

PlanetWildlife is now featured on RIGHT-tourism.org, a website dedicated to providing travellers with factual information on animal tourism in every country in the world. Dubbed the “TripAdvisor for animal tourism,” the website gives tourists information on how to enjoy viewing animals while on vacation, without doing them harm. It also talks about events and places to avoid like bull fighting arenas or badly managed zoos.

“Responsible travel and the fair treatment of animals are important foundations on which we build travel products.”

“Our alliance with RIGHT-tourism showcases this commitment,” says Mytri Indukuru, Director & COO of PlanetWildlife India. “We are very pleased to be listed as one of their tour operators who are ‘Getting it RIGHT.’”

PlanetWildlife’s clients are now given RIGHT-tourism’s list of dos and don’ts before they travel, so they can remember to be responsible tourists on their PlanetWildlife journeys. This list is an excellent supplement to PlanetWildlife’s pre-departure pack, which includes a comprehensive section on responsible tourism.

Building for the future: Saving International Wildlife.

RIGHT-tourism is not only educating travellers about responsible practices, but is trying to build good practices within the industry. PlanetWildlife wishes to be a part of this change and is committed to furthering this cause. Indukuru adds, “We hope that this work and the work of RIGHT-tourism will make travellers and companies alike think consciously about responsible wildlife tourism.”

“Live Free, Mon Ami!” – Brian Alan Burhoe

 

For further information on PlanetWildlife, its responsible tourism practices, itineraries and tours, please visit http://www.planetwildlife.com, or email: info(at)planetwildlife(dot)com. For global media inquires please contact Talia Salem at talia(at)planetwildlife(dot)com.

About PlanetWildlife
PlanetWildlife is an international sustainable travel company that specializes in wildlife travel. It is backed by highly successful entrepreneurs and managed by a professional team who are passionate about wildlife and have been involved in a variety of conservation activities over the years. PlanetWildlife.com features more than 300 itineraries to Africa, Asia, and the Americas comprising a diverse range of photography safaris, hiking expeditions and bird-watching adventures, as well as ocean cruises to the Arctic and Antarctica.

Most tours offer flexible departures and are well organized, competitively priced, environmentally responsible, and tailored to suit the requirements of group or individual travellers. All tours are led by highly qualified and experienced leaders, and aim to leave a minimal negative impact on the environment.

Respected travel industry professionals and wildlife experts work in consultation with PlanetWildlife and are instrumental in designing each itinerary. The company takes a comprehensive approach to sustainability by promoting a greater understanding and respect for local cultural, social and environmental issues through tourism and its corporate social responsibility initiatives. It is part of PlanetWildlife’s corporate policy to fund select awareness drives and wildlife conservation programs and welcomes suggestions from the public in this regard.

About International Wildlife Charity and Care for the Wild International:

Care for the Wild International, established in 1984, is a charity dedicated to the conservation and welfare of wildlife around the world. The RIGHT-tourism.org project was set up to help inform people as to how “animals in tourism” are treated around the world. Tourists are invited to feedback information to the site if they witness good or bad practices. RIGHT-tourism stands for Responsible, Informed, Guilt-Free and Humane tourism. http://www.RIGHT-tourism.org offers factual information on animal-related tourist attractions in every country on the planet.

PlanetWildlife Given Seal of Approval Says International Wildlife Charity

Keywords: animal rights, animal tourism, international wildlife, international wildlife charity, planet wildlife, wild international.

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RSPCA Under Fire for Badger Cull Protests in England

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Brian Alan Burhoe

End the Badger Cull!

 

End Badger Cull

Badger Cull Protests in England

The RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) is the planet’s oldest and largest animal welfare organisation.  Now it’s at the centre of an increasingly bitter row over how it conducts its campaigns.

The Charity Commission has confirmed that it’s assessing a complaint that the organisation’s protests against live exports and badger culling have seen it stray too far into the realm of politics.

The commission polices strict rules governing the role and remit of charities. It can take action if it deems charities are abusing their position, including whether they are using it for political purposes. But its latest intervention has prompted fears that voluntary organisations will be deterred from speaking out on issues they feel strongly about.

In recent months the RSPCA has been vocal against the badger cull.

It’s expressed outrage “that the government have ignored public, parliamentary, EU commission and scientific opinion.”  And proclaimed its intention to “stop the slaughter”. The charity gathered tens of thousands of signatures for a petition against the cull, which it said went against “overwhelming scientific, public and political opinion” and would completely wipe out badger populations in some areas.

It was also criticised for launching a private prosecution against the Heythrop hunt, whose past members include the prime minister, David Cameron. Two of the hunt’s members pleaded guilty to unlawfully hunting a wild fox with dogs.

Following complaints against the RSPCA after the case, the commission wrote to its chief executive, Gavin Grant, demanding that his charity’s trustees review its prosecution policies “given the amount of adverse publicity and the allegations of political bias that the charity has attracted as a result of the case”.

Further criticisms were levelled against the charity in March when it failed in a renewed attempt to challenge the legality of the export of live sheep through the port of Ramsgate in Kent. Now the commission has confirmed it is taking another look at the charity.

“Concerns have been raised with us about the charity’s campaigning activities in relation to the badger cull and live animal exports,” a spokeswoman for the commission confirmed.

“We are currently assessing these concerns. As part of our assessment, we have written to the charity’s trustees, asking how they ensure their campaigning activity legitimately meets the test of furthering their objects in accordance with our guidance.  And that they have fully considered the impact on their charity’s reputation. We will carefully consider their response in order to determine what, if any, regulatory action is required.”

The RSPCA faced questions from the commission in 2006 over its “Back off Badgers” campaign. In a letter sent to the commission on Friday, Grant expressed surprise that its campaign against the cull was once again under scrutiny.

“Given that the RSPCA’s policy of opposing the badger cull has been very thoroughly examined by the Charity Commission on at least two previous occasions and found to be ‘clearly within the charity’s purposes’, it is surprising that the charity is now being asked to explain its opposition to the cull in relation to the charity’s objects,” Grant said.

He demanded to know the identity of the complainant and to be given a copy of all correspondence between the complainant and the commission.

Since Grant took over as chief executive, the RSPCA has found itself in the midst of a storm. Grant has come in for heavy criticism from shire Tories after suggesting that those hunting with the Heythrop are “no different from badger baiters – apart from their accents”.

A judge criticised the charity’s “staggering” 326,000 prosecution costs when it took the Heythrop Hunt to court – reportedly almost ten times the cost of the defence’s legal bill. The judge asked whether the cash could be more “usefully employed”.

The Conservative MP, Simon Hart, a former chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, has been vocal in his criticism of the charity following the Heythrop case, accusing it of pursuing an “aggressive political agenda”. Others have accused Grant of seeking to turn the RSPCA into a militant organisation.

But Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, said charities had a right to speak out on issues that concerned them.

“The law clearly allows for this and charities have been part of public debate for decades,” Etherington said. “The RSPCA’s supporters expect it to speak out on issues they feel strongly about. I am surprised and disappointed by the commission’s fierce interrogation of the RSPCA over what seems an entirely legitimate activity. I hope this does not set a precedent for the commission’s approach to charities that campaign.”

Privately, some in the third sector question whether the commission’s decision to flex its muscles represents a change in its philosophy since the former journalist and royal biographer William Shawcross was appointed its chairman last year. Three Members of Parliament on the public administration select committee voted against Shawcross’s appointment, claiming he could not be considered politically impartial, having urged people to vote Conservative.

“If a badger is injured and is in the road, please call us on 0300 1234 999. Because cruelty and neglect calls are our top priority, it might take us longer than…” SEE  RSPCA – Badgers | Wildlife Advice.

 

==>> And to see my Rant on Circuses & Zoos, go to Animal Rights, Circuses, Tarzan & PETA XXX

 

RSPCA Under Fire for Badger Cull Protests in England.

Keywords: animal rights, badger cull, cruelty to animals, protests, rspca, wild fox.

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Message to Rescue Dogs Groups: Save Yourselves First

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Brian Alan Burhoe

Rescue Dogs are loving dogs…

Message to Rescue Dogs Groups!

Listen!  Rescue dog groups are made up of some of the kindest (but determined) folks I know.  But the very nature of their activity makes them vulnerable to legal action.

Attorney Kenneth M. Phillips Tells Dog Rescue Groups How To Avoid Liability:

Over 1 million web pages mention “dog rescue groups legal liability” according to Google. The reason: dog rescue groups and adoption organizations are being held legally liable for dog bites. Being non-profit, having limited resources, and doing good works are not grounds for defense when someone gets hurt.

But there are steps that such organizations can take to protect themselves, according to Attorney Kenneth M. Phillips, the author of Dog Bite Law and owner of DogBiteLaw.com.

Phillips talked about several of them at the Santa Barbara – Ventura Veterinary Medical Association’s mini-symposium for shelter and rescue groups.

One such step is to avoid taking ownership of dogs that come into the shelter. Phillips explained that owning a dog is the key ingredient for liability in states that have dog bite statutes. As he puts it, in those jurisdictions, “if you own the dog, you’re ‘it’!” In other words, the owner is liable for bite injuries simply because, generally speaking, he is the owner of the dog. So, to avoid incurring automatic liability, he counsels against taking ownership.

Message to Rescue Dogs Groups: Save Yourself First!

A “bailment” relationship is preferable. When the owner of property puts it into the hands of another person but retains ownership, the arrangement is referred to as a “bailment.” Adoption and rescue groups need to make it clear that they are nothing but “bailees” and not “owners” of the dogs in their custody.

Another protective measure is a waiver form that is signed by people who come to the shelter to hopefully adopt a new dog. He explained that even laying out a room incorrectly can lead to liability for certain accidents.

As an example, he told the audience about a client’s injury at a humane society office. The young woman brought her dog there to register it. The seats for customers were in the middle of the room. New dogs, fresh off the street (so to speak), were brought in from a door on her left, and taken out through a door on her right.

When one such dog was led along that path, it went after her dog, which was on her lap.

In the fracas that ensued, the woman’s hand was bitten severely, causing very serious damage. Phillips said he won a sizable settlement for her, in what he referred to as “the waiting room case.” The point of the story: have clients and customers sign waivers of liability when they enter the premises.

You can view a video of Phillips’ entire address to the symposium at the Dog Bite Law website: http://dogbitelaw.com/33k

 

rescue huskies - dogs - puppies

==>> And be sure to read my popular online short story WOLFBLOOD, a Northwestern yarn in the Jack London and George Marsh Tradition at WOLFBLOOD: A Wild Wolf, A Half-Wild Husky, & A Wily Old Trapper

 

 

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About Kenneth M. Phillips:

Kenneth is the only attorney in the USA who does nothing other than represent people who have been seriously injured by dogs. Widely recognized as the nation’s leading authority on dog bite law, he has earned tens of millions of dollars for dog bite victims all over the USA. He has been a frequent guest on ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, MS-NBC, and NBC.  And has been called “the dog bite king” (Today Show and Lawyers Weekly), “a leading expert in dog bite law” (Good Housekeeping), and “the nation’s best known practitioner of terrier torts” (Los Angeles Times).

Message to Rescue Dogs Groups!

Keywords: animal rescue, dog bite law, dog rescue groups, humane socity, legal liability, pet rescue, rescue a dog, rescued dogs, rescue dogs, small dog, you.

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Power of Wind: How to Finance Wind Energy for Your Home

Posted on January 1, 2013 by Brian Alan Burhoe

Wind energy…

home wind energy

Q. “When is Earth Month?”

A. “EVERY month — or else it’s all over!” [1]

Going Green?

How much power does a wind turbine make?

Power of Wind: How to Finance Wind Energy for Your Home

Maybe turning your property into a traditional farm isn’t workable — although growing a few veggies is certainly a good step.

But the most effective strategy is to produce your own energy: wind, solar or water powered generation.  It’s a truly Green solution, while saving a lot of money and making you independant of the Grid.

“Wind power is developing rapidly at both the European and global level. Between 1992 and 2008, the global installed capacity of wind power increased from 2.5 GW to more than 120 GW, an average annual growth rate of more than 25%. Due to ongoing improvements in turbine efficiency, wind power is increasing in economic competitiveness against conventional power production.”   Source: The European Wind Energy Association.

A very substantial share of the heat and electricity produced all around the world is generated by a coal, gas or nuclear powered plants.

By using Wind Energy Systems the following will be avoided, comparing to more conventional methods:

1. The emissions that in turn contribute to poor air quality and global warming
2. The Depletion of fossil fuel reserves
3. Price volatility created by global energy commodity market fluctuations
4. The health and safety issues related to mining, processing, consumption and disposal of fuels and wastes

Wind Electric Power offers attractive alternatives to conventional electricity generation. Among today’s renewable energy choices, Wind Electric Power is one of the market’s most attractive options.

Wind Electric Power Solar is:

1.  Clean – No carbon footprint or harmful emissions.

2.  Cost Effective – Current tax incentives make wind electricity cost-competitive with conventional electricity.

3.  Dependable – wind turbines may last 20 to 30 years, or longer

Uneven heating of the atmosphere is the main cause of wind, also the spin of the earth and irregularities of the earth’s surface, add a small amount of winds. Humans have many uses for a wind flow, such as: pumping water, sailing boats, but also generating electricity.

Solar and Wind EnergyGenerating electricity from the wind energy (or wind power) refers to the process by which wind turbines convert the movement or kinetic energy of the wind into electricity.

Wind energy has really become integrated into our culture, worldwide in fact, over the last couple of decades.

We developed wind mills that harnessed energy, started popping them up a little bit everywhere, then the technology developed even more methods of storing energy.

Then there are offshore wind farms that developed, and today you can buy your own wind mill and power your house yourself!

Wind power energy today is the part of the social consciousness trend.

And our culture’s growing green energy trend.  So the demand for a renewable energy financing has been increasing dramatically.

The first and the most important thing for any Wind Energy Project is the wind survey done by a reputable third party firm that would provide a proof of constant and high amounts of wind for the future project.

Although the wind’s energy is free, special equipment is needed to convert it to electricity. The up-front costs of this equipment can be a daunting barrier to any startup or even income producing Wind Project. That is why the majority of the Wind Projects look for financing.

For small home-based wind projects the financing is most readily provided by adapting your own Green Strategy: as with any other lifestyle change, you must reevaluate your priorities.

What is most important to you and your family?  Worth spending money on? [2]

What is no longer needed in your lives?  Is it time to STOP letting them call you a “consumer” — but become a full living human being again?  A loving, spiritual, creative, dreaming, independent Human.

Time to cut up credit cards and stop building up debt just to buy consumer Stuff that will be garbage in two years.  The money is there — and the savings will more than pay it back.

“Live Free, Mon Ami!” – Brian Alan Burhoe

 

WANT TO READ MY STORIES, BOOK REVIEWS & ARTICLES ON YOUR MOBILE CELLPHONE OR TABLET?  Go to my Mobile-Friendly BrianAlanBurhoe.com…

Power of Wind: How to Finance Wind Energy for Your Home

[1] EARTH MONTH is held every APRIL Worldwide!  But, as I said above, we should observe it “EVERY month — or else it’s all over!”

[2] Guest Blog content by Yury Iofe, MBA, Managing Partner of UB Solution.

“UB Solution is equipped with specialized knowledge of the marketplace. By examining every aspect of our client’s business UB Solution is able to engineer affordable financing quickly and efficiently.” Update: Saturday, June 17, 2023. UB Solution’s website can’t be reached at this date. But their expert advice remains spot-on.

Updated Saturday, June 17, 2023.

How much power does a wind turbine make? Financing, earth month 2023, earth month 2024, free, green, green day, power of wind.  Solar energy, solar power, wind energy, wind power energy, wind power generator, wind turbine, you, when is Earth Month?

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It Really Isn’t Easy Being Green – A Green Rant!

Posted on December 25, 2012 by Brian Alan Burhoe

Being Green…

Green forest

It Really Isn’t Easy Being Green – A Green Rant!

 

“We’re in a giant car heading towards a brick wall and everyone’s arguing over where they’re going to sit.” – David Suzuki

More of us are “Going Green” eh?  We know we have to be green.  But we also know that Kermit was right: It isn’t easy being green.

Here, from Sydney Green, is a guest blog that lays out an attainable plan…

“Is it Easy Being Green? A Nurse’s Opinion” a Guest Blog by Sydney Green, RN-C

I have been a nature girl since I was a little girl. I could live outdoors. Just give me a tarp and a warm beach!

I believe I was born green and not just by name. I always loved growing things and have planted and tended vegetable and flower gardens since I was able to lift a shovel. I once plowed under half my parents’ one acre property, by hand with a shovel and hoe, to plant a whopping vegetable garden.

My two year old son loved that and came to me at the end of the day with a pocket full of worms in his Osh Kosh overalls. I have embraced recycling, composting, organic gardening, shutting off lights, turning the thermostat up or down. I moved to a small town away from traffic and I am able to bike to the post office, pharmacy and grocery store. Now I plant to increase cover and attract birds, lizards, frogs, butterflies and other small creatures remaining in our development.

With this said, I have recently re-evaluated my always enthusiastic commitment to sustainable and environmentally friendly practices.

There is a new housing development south of me. It was featured on the local television news as the “greenest development in the United States.” That got my attention. The homes are also smart, with the ability to control functions via your cell phone. Any new housing, especially in this economy, is anti green in that it destroys habitat.

The small town I live in is surrounded by natural lands full of deer, wild boar, cougars, raccoons, possums, armadillos and other wildlife. Oh yes, and there are alligators. I have frequent enough sightings of all these animals to know that their habitat is full and they are spilling over into developed areas, especially the alligators. There’s quite a community of gators, in the ponds of the golf course and dog park. I don’t begrudge any of these creatures their space. I just don’t know what green solution there is for destroyed habitat already covered with homes and stores.

Once you get over the destroyed habitat though, these new homes incorporate amazing solutions like a storm drain system that recycles water and returns it better than it was. The homes all come with tinted windows and have all energy efficient appliances.

That’s why being green is complicated. I was searching the web in my quest for a definitive answer on the progress that has been made, or setbacks, in the green movement. What I see makes green initiatives a murky area where it is not very clear what is ultimately good for our environment.

green life - fishing bear

For example, I like salmon and it is healthy for me. I recently researched farm raised versus wild salmon and surprisingly I found more support, health and environment, for eating wild salmon:

*** David Suzuki Foundation: In January 2001, BBC News produced a program “Warnings from the Wild, The Price of Salmon”. The program cited a pilot study conducted by Dr Easton with David Suzuki Foundation. The study found that farm raised salmon and the feed they were fed appeared to have a much higher level of contamination with respect to PCBs, organo-chlorine pesticides and polybrominated diphenyl ethers than did wild salmon. It concluded that it seems that contamination in farm fish comes from the feed.

*** EWG Report: In July 2003, the Environmental Working Group EWG released a report stating that farm raised salmon purchased in the United States contain the highest level of PCBs in the food supply system. In the report, EWG reported that farm raised salmon have 16 times PCBs found in wild salmon, 4 times the levels in beef, and 3.4 times the levels in other seafood. EWG recommends that consumers choose wild salmon instead of farm raised salmon, and they should eat an 8 oz serving of farm raised salmon no more than once a month.

*** Science Journal: In January 2004, the journal Science warned that farm raised salmon contain 10 times more toxins (PCBs, dioxin, etc.) than wild salmon. The study recommends that farm raised salmon should be eaten once a month, perhaps every two months as they pose cancer risks to the human beings.
(Extracted from the internet on October 29, 2012)

Wild Alaskan salmon is caught in a managed, environmentally sound way, while farm raised salmon increase pollution. I have always preferred red Alaskan salmon, but now I know that it is also a greener choice. Not something that would be obvious when farm raised fish are supposedly saving us from overfishing wild fish.

There are a lot of choices we make each day that impact the re-greening of our planet, in theory, everything one does has an impact on someone and/or something, so you could drive yourself crazy trying to always stay green. I recommend several options to stay green and sane…

  1. Recycling, composting, planting to sustain wildlife and other age old practices are still good to go green.
  2. Choosing to use fewer chemicals in your life in almost always a good, green choice.
  3. Energy saving appliances and energy efficient houses use less energy and so is an obvious advantage over those old appliances.
  4. Walking or biking to your destination is good for your waistline and the planet.
  5. We all have to drive sometimes, but thinking about whether each trip is necessary helps our planet stay healthy. Carpooling and doing combining errands helps, so does driving a car with good gas mileage or one of the alternative automobiles.
  6. Stay informed and research choices that raise doubts.

I’m staying green and now I am committed to staying more aware of the environmental effects of my choices. The obvious choices are not always the best and not all Green initiatives are what they seem. Sometimes time makes it apparent that we went down the wrong path. Support for monitoring green projects to see if they have hidden problems is needed. We need to stop initiatives that time shows to be flawed.

Our children and grandchildren are the last and probably most important key to keeping our planet viable. Children should be exposed early to the wonders of nature, and not just by looking at monumental examples of what nature has to offer.

Walking the beach

It’s wonderful to take children to see whales or the Grand Canyon or Yellowstone geysers. What is missing many times is immersion in the environment.

Kids need to get dirty, hold worms, lay in crunchy leaves, take a quiet walk in the woods, desert or on the beach and see what wildlife and plants are there, plant flowers and food plants and watch them grow, or sit quietly in their own back yard and just wait to see what happens. Our children should be given the experiences they need to love nature.

I live out in the sticks and I am amazed at all the stars I can see. I have never lived in a place that was this dark at night. I have seen stars in this way when camping, but now I go outside and get psyched every night. When I look out into space it is with gratitude and a gasp of amazement.

I mention this because of an incident with my dear sister. She was recently visiting us. She and her husband now live near Washington DC. I mentioned that she should check out the stars and she did, and then admitted that she has never noticed the night sky much.

I love my sis like crazy, but it was kind of sad to think she never looked at the stars with the feeling you get when a great piece of music is played.

You feel awe at the genius of the musician and the wonder of creation of the universe. You do not have to be a deist to appreciate the fact that all this was somehow created and unfolds according to natural laws.

My earnest plea to my fellow human beings is to take your children and grandchildren outside. Take some time away from the digital age and leave your smart phone inside. Lie on the ground, be quiet and look around you. Hold hands and share what you see.

Or go to the beach and cover yourself with sand, look up and think about what it is like to be a little crab buried in the sand. I bet that crab is not excited about cigarette butts, soda cans and plastic strewn in his environment.

I’ve tried as a mother to spend most of my time outdoors with my kids. Now they are grown and I can see the result of their love for nature in my grandchildren. I am committed to experience green with my grandchildren who are the future keepers of the gate.

“Thanks for listening!”  – Sydney

“Live Free, Mes Amis!” – CIVILIZED BEARS! Visit Us at Our Bears’ Den Now

 

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Sydney Green is an accomplished Registered Nurse who specializes in personal well being and has received special certification pertaining to self-help. Proper diet without being a calorie counter and organ health are her personal passions. You can find her on Facebook. Posted on Christmas Day, 2012.

It Really Isn’t Easy Being Green – A Green Rant!

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Ecopsychology: Revisioning Ourselves and All Living Things

Posted on November 18, 2012 by Brian Alan Burhoe

What is Ecopsychology?

Knut Hamsun quote - Ecopsychology

HAVE to look after our planet.  If we don’t, it’s Omnishambles.

We simply cannot afford a human lifestyle of greed and corruption and Ineptocracy.

It’s not just that we share our planet with all other living things, we are just one small species among ALL living things.

What is Ecopsychology?  Here, from Len Cruz is an essential Guest Blog Post:

“Ecopsychology: Revisioning Ourselves and All Living Things”

Ecopsychology is more than the conflation of two words, ecology and psychology. This nascent field expands the horizon of the deep self beyond the frontiers of the individual. James Hillman said, “The deepest self cannot be confined to ‘in here’ because we can’t be sure it is not also or even entirely ‘out there!’ The exaggerated emphasis on the personal, interior, individual psychology has contributed to a denial of the world ‘out there’.”

Several trajectories can be subsumed under the broad canopy of ecopsychology and the field is distinguishable from other related subjects. There is an arc that begins with the personal unconscious, traverses the collective unconscious, and leads to a planetary unconscious. The near apotheosis of mankind that installed our species with a belief in our dominion over flora and fauna may be coming of age.

The Navi race depicted in the movie AVATAR is a pop culture reflection of an emerging archetype or at least a cultural complex. As Thomas Singer points out, “Failure to consider cultural complexes as part of the work of individuation puts a tremendous burden on both the personal and archetypal realms of the psyche.”

Depth psychological influences have shaped out language appearing with phrases like Biophilia (Erich Fromm, E.O. Wilson), Ecosophy & Deep Ecology (Arne Naess), Terrapsychology (Chalquist) or Ecotherapy (Clineman). There is an ecological imperative forcing itself on our consciousness through images environmental catastrophes, species and habitat destruction, and threats of irreversible climate change.

Lifton’s concept of psychic numbing regarding the threat of nuclear disaster applies to the ecological crisis upon humans. But this festering wound can no longer be located solely within nor strictly outside of people. Ecopsychology attempts to restore the intimate connection between the ego and the world. And with the added the richness of the archetypal strata a more inclusive psychology is emerging.

The Asheville Jung Center was founded in 2008 to advance the psychology of Carl Jung and promote an international Jungian community. It is affiliated with innerQuest Psychiatry and Counseling, a regional psychiatrist group.

If a planetary consciousness is developing and it should be expected that there will be a planetary unconscious developing alongside. In the pioneering days of psychoanalysis, Janet, Freud, and others were cartographers of a vast inner landscape. A centrifugal force developed in the generations following Freud.

Ego psychology pressed beyond the id, social psychiatry and later self-psychology expanded into the interpersonal and social milieu, and Jung expanded the personal notion of the unconscious into vast territory of the collective unconscious.

However, all these trends established human beings at the axis of the psychological world. Ecopsychology revisions this singular focus upon man. It is a restorative psychology, where place matters and the distinction between inhabitants of the earth is removed, hierarchical disappears. Ecopsychology grounds our existence and psychology in a broader context of the ecosphere.

Conclusion: Let it be agreed upon that human activity is causing rapid and profound changes to the climate, to the water cycle, to the soil, and to species extinction.

Special thanks to Len Cruz for these wise words!

To learn more about Dr Cruz and his work in Jungian Psychology, visit Asheville Jung Center.

“Live Free, Mon Ami!” – Brian Alan Burhoe

 

And See My Most Popular (and Personal) Spiritual Post: ORNITHANTHROPUS — the Winged Human in Dream, Myth, Religion & Literature.

Ecopsychology: Revisioning Ourselves and All Living Things
Keywords: animal rights, carl jung, definition ecology, ecopsychology definition, ecopsychology meaning, ecopsychology programs, ego psychology, ineptocracy, Jung and ecology, omnishambles, what is ecology?

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SOMEDAY THERE WILL BE CENTAURS – Science Fantasy Story by Brian Alan Burhoe

Posted on October 14, 2012 by Brian Alan Burhoe

Science Fantasy Short Story…

SOMEDAY THERE WILL BE CENTAURS – A Science Fantasy Short Story by Brian Alan Burhoe

 

Science Fantasy Story

 

We’ll go Out There, of course.  And we’ll homestead.  We’ll do whatever it takes.  We’ll adapt.  Genetic engineering, if necessary.  We’ll have wings.  Or gills.  Maybe not WHEELS (Ejler thought that one was over the top).  And Someday…

 

 

SOMEDAY THERE WILL BE CENTAURS

 A short science-fantasy by Brian Alan Burhoe

 

Beneath Proxima Centauri’s red glower:

Imagine a golden centaur standing poised in expectation at the edge of a worldwide grassland that begins at his forehooves.

The wind touches the golden hair along his proudly held body and pulls his mane across his joyful, laughing face — and oh! his great mirth! his taunting vanity! — and the wind sweeps away from him like a green shadow across the prairie.

He stands naked except for the woven quiver worn arrogantly across his wide shoulders, paper-vaned bolts and stringed bow filling the hair-lock decorated quiver.

If there is any memory of his human beginnings in those jovial brown eyes, it is dim.

That great golden centaur haughtily snatches a grassfruit up in one hand, contemplates its honey-yellow shell, drops it to the black earth and steps on it with one savage forehoof.

Lifting the broken caryopsis: he explores his world’s taste.

And beneath the huge red ball of Proxima (its flare-wreathed outline seemingly even too big for its apparent bulk to be gathered into the two powerful arms he outstretches in welcome): not really suns, but more than stars, fiery gold and fiery brass: Alpha C. rises.

*

Laughter rumbles in the centaur’s stallion chest.

He throws the broken grassfruit out over the shivering prairie.

He sees the silver teardrop coming from out of Alpha C.
And his haunches quiver.

His hooves dance with the grass.

“I am ready,” he rumbles.

And a bubble, shining redly amber beneath the looming sun, comes out of the teardrop ship.

Inside the gently floating bubble; like a dark, hungering insect; there is a man: basicform: Earth-born: imposing in his own gloomy way; pale and dark; long, hollow face; gaunt hands grip Earthener devices of the hunt.

He is like a sudden dark shadow across the multi-sunned world.

The Earthener says, “You know who I am, centaur?”

There is hunger in the way he says the word “centaur.”

“Your coming was foreseen by the Wise Ones. You are a Collector.”

“Wise Ones? So — Earth isn’t the only world where those kind of powers develop. Yes, centaur. I am a Collector. You are –”

“I am the one chosen to be here to meet you,” says the centaur, tossing back his head and shaking his long golden hair from his face.

The basicform nods grimly. “That is wise. Yes, one sacrificed is better than me having to choose. The — choosing can be bloody. You will fit well into my collection of forbidden otherworld things. And the best of my collection are you adapted-form colonists. Truly, the Designers were the greatest artists of all. To reshape humankind… First, you realize, you must die!”

*

Laughing: “Perhaps, Earthener.” And the golden centaur rears magnificently and leaps at the sky-filling sun.

And he runs across the grassland as no man should ever run, so beautifully, so much the glorious creation of humankind, that the gloom-shrouded Earthener floats surprised in the sky for long moments before he stabs at his device-bloated belt and gives chase, leaving his teardrop ship behind.

He runs, that stallion man, as fast as the eternal wind, so that it seems it is he who ruffles the velvet grass in his wake.

His black hooves scarcely seem to touch his world, and yet they spit dark earth behind him.

He runs — oh! how he runs!  And he laughs.

Born to race: but never such a race as this.

Behind him, the Earthener-in-amber matches the pace but cannot gain enough to bring his hunting devices into action.

The grassland dips and the centaur splashes across a shallow river, throwing sheets of water out to his sides; water falling from his flanks like medieval trapping, he thunders back up a hill.

He looks over his bronzed shoulder and taunts his insectoid hunter: “With all your sciences, I’m still the better man!”

And he runs on.

Across the alien prairie.

The triple suns of Alpha Centaurus rise higher in the cloudless blue of the colony world’s sky, and still he gallops:

Centaur!

But finally the centaur’s head drops, just for a moment, but it drops.

And the Collector smiles grimly inside his force field, knowing the inevitable.

The centaur drinks in more air, drums the ground harder.

The spittle gathers on his face.

His body strains, the magnificent muscles pull and push along his body.

“You are finished,” comes the amplified voice of the Earthener.

“Not yet,” rumbles the stallion man.

He pulls up his bow and puts a bolt with a head of bronze and a varnished shaft to the string.

Turning his torso as he continues to run, he sends the arrow at the hovering Collector.

The tiny missile catches the force field that contains the Earthener: the bolt seems to penetrate the bubble but bursts into flame as the field goes inert.

The centaur swerves in his course and watches the now-gray bubble continue to fly on its original course, away from the adapted form.

The bubble goes transparent again but before its occupant has a chance to see where his victim has gone, a second bolt causes the field to go inert once more.

A fine strategy, but soon the centaur has taken himself out of bow range and the basicform is after him again; his amplified voice booming: “Where did you learn that trick, centaur?”

Shaking from increased exhaustion, he takes another arrow from his woven quiver and twists to fire.

Shouting in surprise, he stumbles over his own forelegs, crashing mightily to the ground.

Grass stalks and dust shower up around his fallen form.

The race is done.

“A fine chase,” applauds the Collector, continuing: “Now, your death will come with little pain.”

And the Earthener aims his devices at his living trophy.

The centaur rises clumsily to his feet to face his hunter, his hands on his knees as he breathes deeply.

His bow is broken at his feet….

*

But there is still haughty laughter in those brown eyes.

The Earthener is paler and darker than before as he shakes the devices in his gaunt hands: “They don’t work!?”

The golden centaur’s mirth and exhaustion combine into racking peals of laughter.

And in the sky above them appears something with immense dark wings spread and the ancient emblem of the Scales of Justice flickering on its bright bow.

And the centaur says, “I told you that your coming was foreseen, Collector.”

“No!”

“While we were lost in our race, they wove their own sorcery about you. With all your sciences, now you are theirs!”

“No!”

And the insectlike man pokes fiercely at his device-bloated belt to bring powers to bear that are no longer his to control.

As the Earthener is drawn screaming up to the Justice ship, the centaur says, “It was a good race, Collector.”

And the great golden centaur shakes himself and turns to trot off alone into the winds — and oh! his great mirth! his taunting vanity!

And beneath Proxima Centauri’s red glower, as the wind sweeps toward him like a green shadow across the grass sea, he again races, seeming to fly, though his hooves spit dark earth behind him.

THE END

 

NOTE: This science fantasy short story was written to honour writers of a younger time: Hal Foster, Andre Norton, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Leigh Brackett, Otis Adelbert Kline and Robert E Howard.

My first published story dealing with Human colonists biologically adapted to survive and thrive on alien worlds was my Science Fantasy short story ORNITHANTHROPUS, way back in 1971 in IF Magazine, Dec, 1971, edited by Ejler Jakobsson, published as by B Alan Burhoe.   Ornithanthropus was reprinted in a number of Best Science Fiction anthologies in 1972, 1980, 1992, 1993 and 2018.  It’s been translated into German and Russian.

This was another.

– Brian Alan Burhoe, creator of the Civilized Bear Tales

Ornithanthropus Flying Man==>> To learn more about my early fiction, and read my first published story — a Science Fantasy — for Free, SEE  ORNITHANTHROPUS — the Winged Human in Dream, Myth, Religion & Literature

==>> To see links to my published Online Fiction, go to THE LIFE AND WORKS OF BRIAN ALAN BURHOE  Right Here, Mon Ami!

==>> See my Tribute to Andre Norton –  Animal Communication: Pet Stories, Whispering, Telepathy & Andre Norton

 

SOMEDAY THERE WILL BE CENTAURS – Science Fantasy Story by Brian Alan Burhoe.

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Andre Norton, B Alan Burhoe, Civilized Bears, Ejler Jakobsson, Ornithanthropus, Otis Adelbert Kline, Science Fantasy.

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Silent Spring: 50 Years and Counting – silent spring summary

Posted on September 6, 2012 by Brian Alan Burhoe

Silent Spring Celebration…

 

Silent Spring: 50 Years & Counting – Silent Spring Summary

It doesn’t seem like 50 years ago that I first took Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” out of the school library.  It was an education in itself — a look at what our industrial society was doing to our living world.  It was a shocking read for one so young.  Especially back in the innocent Sixties.

Today, we try to buy organic veggies — in fact we grow our own.  Agrobiz talks about “organic pesticides,” whatever they are.

“Silent Spring” was a dreadful look at the future, more profound than Orwell’s.

Fifty years ago this month, Rachel Carson released her seminal work, “Silent Spring.” The publication of this book began the most significant environmental movement ever seen in the US.

Carson warned of future health problems due to organophosphate pesticides, substances first developed as chemical nerve gas weapons around the time of WWII, which today amass to over 2.5 million tons sold annually. Globally, pesticide exposure is a common source of acute poisoning with an estimated 25 million poisonings and 200,000 deaths in the developing world each year. Equally concerning are the chronic effects of pesticide exposure.

At the time of her writing, Carson had documented the adverse effects of pesticides in the ecosystems of birds, fish and other animals. Carson interpreted the use of pesticides as a chemical war against nature. “Man is a part of nature … his war against nature is inevitably a war against himself.”

Silent Spring Rivers of Death

 

Pesticide residues remain on food and are often resistant to washing. Following the ingestion of pesticide contaminated food, the pesticides store in human fat, and the brain, often for long periods of time. Recently, the CDC began to measure these chemical residues left in the body, and found 13 different pesticides in the urine or blood serum of over 70% of Americans (including children).

What makes pesticide residues retained in the body so concerning, is their possible linkage to many varied health problems including childhood cancers, leukemia, breast cancer, lymphoma, diabetes, obesity, Parkinson’s disease, birth defects, autism, and infertility. Dr. Carson commented in Silent Spring, “It is ironic to think that man might determine his own future by something as seemingly trivial as the choice of an insect spray.”

Industry struck back with an info-barrage, believing that most adults were “too scientifically unaware” to understand Rachel’s book…

Silent Spring DDT Good for Me ad campaign

 

Eight years after the publication of “Silent Spring,” and to some extent in response to “Silent Spring,” President Richard Nixon boldly established the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Shortly after its formation, the EPA banned DDT, the major culprit Dr. Carson highlighted in her book. The EPA was convinced by Dr. Carson’s argument that the domestic use of DDT posed unacceptable risks to the environment and potential harm to human health.

Other nations followed the EPA’s lead, including Canada.

Unfortunately, the export of the toxicant to developing countries was still deemed acceptable and continues to this day. Scientists have since learned that atmospheric wind patterns often bring this banned substance back into our backyard.

The ubiquitous usage and easy availability of pesticides to consumers suggests a measure of safety that is often untrue. Unfortunately, proving safety is not required before a pesticide is allowed to reach the market. When it comes to pesticides, history teaches us that what is sought is evidence of harm years and often decades after product introduction. Only then, and often with significant industry resistance is a ban on a harmful pesticide imposed.

Dr. Carson endorsed a philosophy that is today called the precautionary principle. This principle places the burden of “proof of harmlessness” onto the manufacturer. Carson believed that precautionary principles should be imposed when harm was suspected even without definitive proof; plausibility of harm was itself sufficient to keep a product off the market.

Outside the US, the ideas behind the precautionary principles are accepted and in fact, such principles are explicitly incorporated into The Maastricht Treaty of the European Union in 1992.

Today, the precautionary principle could not be more relevant as local health authorities weigh the risks and benefits of spraying pesticides over local communities in order to diminish mosquito populations that carry concerning infectious diseases.

These vectors are anticipated to become an increasing problem as global warming changes the survival characteristics of mosquitos. Illnesses due to the West Nile virus, Dengue, and perhaps Malaria are predicted to increase in the United States.

Should our approach to these potential problems rely upon airplanes spraying pesticides onto our communities?

While newer classes of pesticides are likely less toxic to humans than those banned in prior years, all pesticides have adverse effects on ecology and aquatic life and effects on human health cannot be ruled out. For example, several epidemiological studies now suggest that exposure to a class of presumably safer pesticides (Pyrethroids) may in fact have adverse effects on the intellectual development of children.

If alive today, Carson would likely continue to question the wisdom of the unbridled usage of pesticides. She would likely continue to insist that society find more sensible alternatives.

“Live Free, Mon Ami!” – Brian Alan Burhoe

 

AUTHORS:

  • Eric Hecht MD, MSPH is a voluntary associate professor in the department of epidemiology at the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami.
  • Yasmin Dias-Guichot MS obtained her master’s degree in public health at the University of Miami.
  • Brian Alan Burhoe is a writer of hundreds of online articles and the creator of the Civilized Bears.

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Keywords: animal rights, canada environment, carson silent spring, ddt, living environment, organic pesticides, pesticide, the environment, the silent spring, silent spring summary.

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Go Green School: New Green System at University

Posted on September 2, 2012 by Brian Alan Burhoe

Go Green!  Green System…

Nova Scotia Forest - Green System

Go Green School:

It’s been the youth of the world who have led the Go Green Environment movement.  Why not?  It’s them who will inherit this planet — if we are around to hand it over.

The Green movement is an essential elemement of 21st century human civilization.  After all — there will be a green Earth ten thousand years from now, filled with thriving wildlife on the land, in the air and in the sea.  The only question is: will Humankind still be here?

It’s critical that we older folks help the Go Green movement in the schools.

New Green System Featured at Big Ten Ambassador School, Michigan State University

MSU to test out Sports Art’s revolutionary Green System for purchase by schools in the Big Ten athletic conference.

Spartan sports stars at Michigan State University are testing out Sports Art Fitness’s self-generating exercise machines as part of a program to Go Green, by consuming less energy in the school recreation center.

The self-generating machines, also known as “The Green System”, are a “pod” of fitness products attached to an inverter that harnesses human-generated power from exercisers and feeds it back into the power grid as useable energy. MSU is the first university ambassador for this revolutionary program.

“Live Free, Mon Ami!” – Brian Alan Burhoe

 

SportsArt Fitness is committed to leading the fitness industry in eco-friendly action through research, design and education on sustainable business solutions and practices. Their forward-thinking innovation provides an easy way for college campuses to go green in a time where sustainability programs are asking universities to reduce the garbage and pollution they produce, and to reduce the amount of energy they use.

Go Green School: New Green System at University

Government environmental and energy-consumption rules now allow colleges to save money by conserving. Going green means changes in the way universities construct buildings, maintain grounds, and even teach courses.

More-so than just environmental responsibility, a large number of universities are being motivated by a responsibility to current and future students who care about green initiatives. It’s often the students who push for more environment-friendly policies on their home campuses.

The benefits of campus sustainability could reach beyond the universities. Sports Art’s green systems have been installed in hotels and gyms as well – both major consumers of energy. Social media marketing company RoryMartin.com – who are spearheading the Green System campaign – are excited to pursue both environmental and educational incentives, citing the value in cutting energy costs on campuses.

Of the experience, owner, Rory Martin says, “Our company really values sustainability and the green effort. So we’re excited to be working with a company that’s focused on green initiatives, and bringing revolutionary new technology to schools that are looking to reduce their carbon footprint.”

 

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Keywords: go green, go green school, green day, green movement, green system, green to go, i go green, posters, wallpaper.

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The Great Puppet Bears: Fozzie, Bobo & Ojo Bear

Posted on August 25, 2012 by Brian Alan Burhoe

Greatest Puppet Bears, starting with Fozzie Bear…
Fozzie Bear puppet

The Great Puppet Bears: Fozzie, Bobo & Ojo Bear.

Fictional bear characters dominate out culture.  From our own personal teddy bear to the literary greats and famous bears like Winnie the Pooh and Paddington.  Here, with her own memories, is Joan…

“Bears on Strings and Sticks – A Reminiscence” A Guest Blog by Joan C

Here’s a confession, I actually am not all THAT fond of puppets. I prefer cartoons. Yogi Bear, Booboo and company.  But my obsession with bears stretched all the way to the puppet world too. So here are just a few puppet bears that played a part in my childhood and continue to do so up ’til today.

For those of you out there who grew up with Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, may this be a trip down memory lane for you too.  After all, Jim Henson was the Master of Puppets.

Fozzie Bear

Ah, Fozzie! Who can watch the pale orange bear trot about on screen and not think he’s adorable? Everything about him, from his brown hat to his polka-dotted necktie and his open-mouthed grin, is just so cheerful! It doesn’t matter that his jokes are lame, I thought and, still think, that he’s great.

One of my fondest memories of Fozzie was this Muppets episode where Harry Belafonte (I think) was a guest star on Muppet Show. He sang The Banana Boat Song with the Muppets helping him with the chorus. The first part everyone had to sing the signature ‘Day-O’ beginning together in unison.

Everyone was able to sing the ‘Day’ at the same time, on cue, except Fozzie. First time he was slower than everyone else – his ‘day’ came after everyone else had ‘day-ed’. And to the exasperation of everyone, he continued to miss the cue many times after that (he was either too slow or too fast). I thought that was simply hilarious! Now, I can’t remember if they ever completed the song or even got beyond that very first ‘day'(I suppose they did), but I’ll remember that scene with Fozzie missing the cue forever!

Another fond memory of Fozzie happened while I was pursuing my degree. I had a good friend, C, in the same course of study, who is as fond of bears as I am. One day, we were in Macdonald’s for lunch. Mac’s was selling Muppet character stuffed toys with each meal purchased. We were really poor then, and happened to be broke just at the time Fozzie came on sale.

So we stared at the stuffed Fozzies on display longingly. We actually hatched a semi-serious plot to distract the staff and steal a Fozzie each. Ah, tertiary education certainly does have its merits. It really was a great plot. Well, C, you know who you are. And if you happen to read this, call me!

Bobo Bear

The Muppets Bobo was only added as a Muppet way after Fozzie. Although he’s a boring brown colour, I thought his hang-dog face and his heavy brows were very charming. I think he’s a watch man or security guard on Muppets Tonight.

He’s also really delightfully slow-witted at times. The episode I remember him most vividly was the time Cindy Crawford guest starred in Muppets Tonight. My brother and I were wathing the show together. Bobo was so taken with Cindy he could barely speak when she was around! He just made his funny ‘Ahhhh…’ sound. M brother and I guffawed so loudly my dad thought we had gone crazy! It made me wonder how Cindy could NOT like this bear!

Ojo Bear

Ojo is the little cub from Bear in the Big Blue House. My first encounter with this little bear happened only a few years back when I was already (supposedly) a matured adult in a responsible profession. I was on board a plane and flipping through the channels and programmes offered. I remembered watching a movie or two.

Then, I got so bored with the other programmes I channel surfed to the children’s channel. There, I saw Ojo (didn’t know his name then) talking to Bear. And he was the cutest thing I’ve seen in a really long time! The cutest part about Ojo is the way his nose and snout moves whenever he speaks. How did the animators do it? Kudos to whoever came up with the idea of moving Ojo’s nose in such a manner! I literally couldn’t bear to change channels until the programme ended.

From that day on, whenever I happen to see a trailer for Bear in the Big Blue House, I think of plane travel. And when I travel in a plane, I think of Ojo.

About the Author: Joan C is a bear collector and former host of a website for bear lovers to share pictures.

 

Did You Enjoy this Puppet Bears & Bear Stories Post?

How the Bear Lost its Tail – A Traditional Bears in literature folk taleIf so, then you’ve gotta read our retelling of the oldest known Bear Story of them All!  Listen!

“Long ago — when our Sacred Green Earth was young and much more alive — Bear, like his cousins the Wolf and the Fox, had a long beautiful tail.

“One chilled winter day, Bear shuffled down to the lake and saw that Fox was feasting on some fish.  Licking his chops, Bear asked him, ‘Say, Fox, ol’ friend, how did you manage to catch all those fish?’
“The cunning fox saw his chance to make a fool of Bear…”

CLICK HERE TO READ:  HOW THE BEAR LOST ITS TAIL

 

WANT TO READ MY STORIES, BOOK REVIEWS & ARTICLES ON YOUR MOBILE CELLPHONE OR TABLET?  Go to my Mobile-Friendly BrianAlanBurhoe.com…

 

The Great Puppet Bears: Fozzie, Bobo & Ojo Bear.

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