Canada
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Posted on May 18 2008 at 04:41AM by 461834_star
Theme: Water, My Opinion, Global Warming
Views: 529
In this painting, I tried to depict how I felt a different sense of warmth -- such a heart-warming embrace -- in the Arctic, although the Arctic is a cold place..
Read more on this topic »Posted on May 19 2008 at 08:09PM by 461834_star
Theme: Water, Natural Habitats and Wildlife, Low Impact Living, My Opinion, Clean Energy, Global Warming, Waste & Pollution, Sustainable Transport, Mobile Living & Working, Local and Sustainable Food
Views: 2415
Sure, the ice is melting. But there is still hope, and the key to our success in saving our Earth is to stay hopeful. (a picture I took in the Canadian Arctic)
Read more on this topic »Posted on May 25 2008 at 10:48PM by 461834_star
Theme: Water, Natural Habitats and Wildlife, Low Impact Living, My Opinion, Clean Energy, Global Warming, Waste & Pollution, Sustainable Transport, Mobile Living & Working, Local and Sustainable Food
Views: 933
A slideshow of my photos from the Arctic along with some messages.
Read more on this topic »Posted on May 19 2008 at 08:09PM by 461834_star
Theme: Water, Natural Habitats and Wildlife, Low Impact Living, My Opinion, Clean Energy, Global Warming, Waste & Pollution, Sustainable Transport, Mobile Living & Working, Local and Sustainable Food
Views: 2415
Sure, the ice is melting. But there is still hope, and the key to our success in saving our Earth is to stay hopeful. (a picture I took in the Canadian Arctic)
Read more on this topic »Posted on May 25 2008 at 10:48PM by 461834_star
Theme: Water, Natural Habitats and Wildlife, Low Impact Living, My Opinion, Clean Energy, Global Warming, Waste & Pollution, Sustainable Transport, Mobile Living & Working, Local and Sustainable Food
Views: 933
A slideshow of my photos from the Arctic along with some messages.
Read more on this topic »Posted on May 17 2008 at 01:29AM by 461834_star
Theme: Natural Habitats and Wildlife, My Opinion, Global Warming
Views: 917
I am by no means an accomplished environmentalist (although I wish to be sometime in the future) or a qualified writer in any sense. All I really have is a single passion and love for nature and that's what drives me. And I want to share how I have been trying to foster this motivation in ways that I, a 17-year-old high school student, could in my life, in hopes that it would inspire any other young environmentally interested students out there wondering what to do with their passions for the environment. Sure, I guess I was always 'fond of' nature. Ever since I was little, I played in nature, learned from nature, and felt a comforting sense of embrace in nature. Anything that twitched with life in front of my eyes interested me. But little did I know that this would completely change soon. About a year ago from now (August 2007) I was privileged to go on an expedition to the Canadian Arctic, more or less by arbitrary chance (I am forever thankful for this event in my life). I still have not found an adequate description to do justice for the profound experience I had. It was such an inspiring experience that even almost after a year, I still have not fully absorbed the true value of it. But in simple words, I can say that I witnessed both infinitely wonderful things as well as threateningly alarming things. All in all, the Arctic expedition sparked a huge burning passion inside me. Passion is the most wonderful thing. It is simultaneously an extremely frustrating thing because it is impossible to share it in human words - because such a wonderful thing cannot be humanly reproduced. This proved to be very true after my return home from the Arctic. Despite my desperate efforts to share the experience and the feelings with friends and family, I just felt like I was mute and couldn't say anything. Bottled under this cork were passionate desires to do something for the (natural) world and to inspire other people as well. I thought about other ways besides words with which I could do the work. I remember one evening on the expedition ship's deck quite clearly. I was enveloped in a magical atmosphere of an Arctic sunset in the middle of Davis Strait, after a brief Arctic art workshop with an artist on the expedition whose initials are LM. Art was another passion of mine. That evening on that deck, the idea of combining my passion for nature and passion for art hit me, rather quite suddenly. It was a great relief from my worrying that I would return home and the newly sparked passion for the environment would just evaporate as another lofty dream, for it would be hard for me to do anything as a young student. But this realization that I can in fact do something within my boundaries gave me an overflow of joy and satisfaction. So almost right after my return home, I contacted LM, who was the founder and president of a group of artists from the Polar nations creating art about the Arctic in order to spread the word about the beautifully fragile place. I painted a few Arctic paintings within a few months, and organized and exhibited my works as well as other student expeditioners' photos alongside LM's group's exhibition, in order to display student perspectives of the Arctic. I am also currently exhibiting at Canada's McMichael Canadian Art Collection in an exhibition called 'Climate for Change', along with a Group of Seven (Canadian natural artists) painting. Also, I am contributing to Ontario Science Centre's International Polar Year exhibition, starting in September. I was never particularly outstanding in art. I just painted on my own for fun because I enjoyed it. Now it is my tool to express and share my passion. When I paint, I don't paint with brushes and paints but with my passion and memories. Those things are truly what taught me everything I know about art. (I have posted a painting called "Exposed, in Auyuittuq" on this website - this is the one that is being exhibited at McMichael CAC right now) One advice I want to share with those young students like me out there wondering how to start working towards their dreams - although I am in no position to give 'advices' - is to not be afraid to talk to people who already have their feet in the field. Like I did with LM, contacting people who have already started on your path is extremely helpful, as they are more often than not very passionate as well and will be more than willing to give you a hand to get on that first step towards the goal. I am very good friends with LM now, and she keeps giving me opportunities for me, which often branch off to even more opportunities. So art was how I got started on my environmental activism (and which I will definitely continue to do). It got me uneasy with an even greater passion, and I wanted to really get out there to build some more hands-on experiences and do some more direct activism as well. I decided to act on an idea I had for a while. I 'called for action' and gathered some environmentally conscious and caring friends. And that's how I created ECS (Environmentally Concerned Students). I believed it was important to establish a solely student-based voice, for we are the ones that will shape the future. And I also believed that student voice and action should be impactive and powerful. We are currently juggling with a few initiative ideas (which I can't go into detail) to help Toronto become more energy-efficient. One more thing that I truly believe in is that the real driving force of future environmental activism will be simply putting more act into activism. This is what I am trying to achieve with our group - more action which actually creates the change. Another action I took was to join WWF. I knew a conservationist / biologist from WWF from the Arctic expedition, and I contacted him to ask general questions about conservation and WWF, and also for some guidance for ECS - just another example of really 'taking advantage' of people who have already gone far in a field of interest. He suggested that I volunteer at WWF's Toronto head office, and introduced me to another person. WWF told me they had a policy of not accepting high school students, but I expressed my passion for learning about conservation, and with some luck due to their need of volunteers at the time, I became a part of WWF. I am learning so much and loving just being there about 5 hours a week. Recently, I found and opportunity to go to Churchill, Manitoba (Arctic's 'edge') during the summer to volunteer as a research assistant. I contacted them and eventually I got the position. I can't describe my excitement at this news, for I had a profound longing to go back to the Arctic ever since my first expedition. It will be exactly a year from my 2007 expedition, and pondering on the year that flew by, my life really was completely changed. I am infinitely grateful for everything and I want to turn this passion and love into even more active activism. This is merely my personal story, but I hope this can give a little hope to at least one person. Because a difference, really, starts with just one person. - John Park
Read more on this topic »Posted on May 17 2008 at 01:29AM by 461834_star
Theme: Natural Habitats and Wildlife, My Opinion, Global Warming
Views: 917
I am by no means an accomplished environmentalist (although I wish to be sometime in the future) or a qualified writer in any sense. All I really have is a single passion and love for nature and that's what drives me. And I want to share how I have been trying to foster this motivation in ways that I, a 17-year-old high school student, could in my life, in hopes that it would inspire any other young environmentally interested students out there wondering what to do with their passions for the environment. Sure, I guess I was always 'fond of' nature. Ever since I was little, I played in nature, learned from nature, and felt a comforting sense of embrace in nature. Anything that twitched with life in front of my eyes interested me. But little did I know that this would completely change soon. About a year ago from now (August 2007) I was privileged to go on an expedition to the Canadian Arctic, more or less by arbitrary chance (I am forever thankful for this event in my life). I still have not found an adequate description to do justice for the profound experience I had. It was such an inspiring experience that even almost after a year, I still have not fully absorbed the true value of it. But in simple words, I can say that I witnessed both infinitely wonderful things as well as threateningly alarming things. All in all, the Arctic expedition sparked a huge burning passion inside me. Passion is the most wonderful thing. It is simultaneously an extremely frustrating thing because it is impossible to share it in human words - because such a wonderful thing cannot be humanly reproduced. This proved to be very true after my return home from the Arctic. Despite my desperate efforts to share the experience and the feelings with friends and family, I just felt like I was mute and couldn't say anything. Bottled under this cork were passionate desires to do something for the (natural) world and to inspire other people as well. I thought about other ways besides words with which I could do the work. I remember one evening on the expedition ship's deck quite clearly. I was enveloped in a magical atmosphere of an Arctic sunset in the middle of Davis Strait, after a brief Arctic art workshop with an artist on the expedition whose initials are LM. Art was another passion of mine. That evening on that deck, the idea of combining my passion for nature and passion for art hit me, rather quite suddenly. It was a great relief from my worrying that I would return home and the newly sparked passion for the environment would just evaporate as another lofty dream, for it would be hard for me to do anything as a young student. But this realization that I can in fact do something within my boundaries gave me an overflow of joy and satisfaction. So almost right after my return home, I contacted LM, who was the founder and president of a group of artists from the Polar nations creating art about the Arctic in order to spread the word about the beautifully fragile place. I painted a few Arctic paintings within a few months, and organized and exhibited my works as well as other student expeditioners' photos alongside LM's group's exhibition, in order to display student perspectives of the Arctic. I am also currently exhibiting at Canada's McMichael Canadian Art Collection in an exhibition called 'Climate for Change', along with a Group of Seven (Canadian natural artists) painting. Also, I am contributing to Ontario Science Centre's International Polar Year exhibition, starting in September. I was never particularly outstanding in art. I just painted on my own for fun because I enjoyed it. Now it is my tool to express and share my passion. When I paint, I don't paint with brushes and paints but with my passion and memories. Those things are truly what taught me everything I know about art. (I have posted a painting called "Exposed, in Auyuittuq" on this website - this is the one that is being exhibited at McMichael CAC right now) One advice I want to share with those young students like me out there wondering how to start working towards their dreams - although I am in no position to give 'advices' - is to not be afraid to talk to people who already have their feet in the field. Like I did with LM, contacting people who have already started on your path is extremely helpful, as they are more often than not very passionate as well and will be more than willing to give you a hand to get on that first step towards the goal. I am very good friends with LM now, and she keeps giving me opportunities for me, which often branch off to even more opportunities. So art was how I got started on my environmental activism (and which I will definitely continue to do). It got me uneasy with an even greater passion, and I wanted to really get out there to build some more hands-on experiences and do some more direct activism as well. I decided to act on an idea I had for a while. I 'called for action' and gathered some environmentally conscious and caring friends. And that's how I created ECS (Environmentally Concerned Students). I believed it was important to establish a solely student-based voice, for we are the ones that will shape the future. And I also believed that student voice and action should be impactive and powerful. We are currently juggling with a few initiative ideas (which I can't go into detail) to help Toronto become more energy-efficient. One more thing that I truly believe in is that the real driving force of future environmental activism will be simply putting more act into activism. This is what I am trying to achieve with our group - more action which actually creates the change. Another action I took was to join WWF. I knew a conservationist / biologist from WWF from the Arctic expedition, and I contacted him to ask general questions about conservation and WWF, and also for some guidance for ECS - just another example of really 'taking advantage' of people who have already gone far in a field of interest. He suggested that I volunteer at WWF's Toronto head office, and introduced me to another person. WWF told me they had a policy of not accepting high school students, but I expressed my passion for learning about conservation, and with some luck due to their need of volunteers at the time, I became a part of WWF. I am learning so much and loving just being there about 5 hours a week. Recently, I found and opportunity to go to Churchill, Manitoba (Arctic's 'edge') during the summer to volunteer as a research assistant. I contacted them and eventually I got the position. I can't describe my excitement at this news, for I had a profound longing to go back to the Arctic ever since my first expedition. It will be exactly a year from my 2007 expedition, and pondering on the year that flew by, my life really was completely changed. I am infinitely grateful for everything and I want to turn this passion and love into even more active activism. This is merely my personal story, but I hope this can give a little hope to at least one person. Because a difference, really, starts with just one person. - John Park
Read more on this topic »Posted on May 17 2008 at 01:29AM by 461834_star
Theme: Natural Habitats and Wildlife, My Opinion, Global Warming
Views: 917
I am by no means an accomplished environmentalist (although I wish to be sometime in the future) or a qualified writer in any sense. All I really have is a single passion and love for nature and that's what drives me. And I want to share how I have been trying to foster this motivation in ways that I, a 17-year-old high school student, could in my life, in hopes that it would inspire any other young environmentally interested students out there wondering what to do with their passions for the environment. Sure, I guess I was always 'fond of' nature. Ever since I was little, I played in nature, learned from nature, and felt a comforting sense of embrace in nature. Anything that twitched with life in front of my eyes interested me. But little did I know that this would completely change soon. About a year ago from now (August 2007) I was privileged to go on an expedition to the Canadian Arctic, more or less by arbitrary chance (I am forever thankful for this event in my life). I still have not found an adequate description to do justice for the profound experience I had. It was such an inspiring experience that even almost after a year, I still have not fully absorbed the true value of it. But in simple words, I can say that I witnessed both infinitely wonderful things as well as threateningly alarming things. All in all, the Arctic expedition sparked a huge burning passion inside me. Passion is the most wonderful thing. It is simultaneously an extremely frustrating thing because it is impossible to share it in human words - because such a wonderful thing cannot be humanly reproduced. This proved to be very true after my return home from the Arctic. Despite my desperate efforts to share the experience and the feelings with friends and family, I just felt like I was mute and couldn't say anything. Bottled under this cork were passionate desires to do something for the (natural) world and to inspire other people as well. I thought about other ways besides words with which I could do the work. I remember one evening on the expedition ship's deck quite clearly. I was enveloped in a magical atmosphere of an Arctic sunset in the middle of Davis Strait, after a brief Arctic art workshop with an artist on the expedition whose initials are LM. Art was another passion of mine. That evening on that deck, the idea of combining my passion for nature and passion for art hit me, rather quite suddenly. It was a great relief from my worrying that I would return home and the newly sparked passion for the environment would just evaporate as another lofty dream, for it would be hard for me to do anything as a young student. But this realization that I can in fact do something within my boundaries gave me an overflow of joy and satisfaction. So almost right after my return home, I contacted LM, who was the founder and president of a group of artists from the Polar nations creating art about the Arctic in order to spread the word about the beautifully fragile place. I painted a few Arctic paintings within a few months, and organized and exhibited my works as well as other student expeditioners' photos alongside LM's group's exhibition, in order to display student perspectives of the Arctic. I am also currently exhibiting at Canada's McMichael Canadian Art Collection in an exhibition called 'Climate for Change', along with a Group of Seven (Canadian natural artists) painting. Also, I am contributing to Ontario Science Centre's International Polar Year exhibition, starting in September. I was never particularly outstanding in art. I just painted on my own for fun because I enjoyed it. Now it is my tool to express and share my passion. When I paint, I don't paint with brushes and paints but with my passion and memories. Those things are truly what taught me everything I know about art. (I have posted a painting called "Exposed, in Auyuittuq" on this website - this is the one that is being exhibited at McMichael CAC right now) One advice I want to share with those young students like me out there wondering how to start working towards their dreams - although I am in no position to give 'advices' - is to not be afraid to talk to people who already have their feet in the field. Like I did with LM, contacting people who have already started on your path is extremely helpful, as they are more often than not very passionate as well and will be more than willing to give you a hand to get on that first step towards the goal. I am very good friends with LM now, and she keeps giving me opportunities for me, which often branch off to even more opportunities. So art was how I got started on my environmental activism (and which I will definitely continue to do). It got me uneasy with an even greater passion, and I wanted to really get out there to build some more hands-on experiences and do some more direct activism as well. I decided to act on an idea I had for a while. I 'called for action' and gathered some environmentally conscious and caring friends. And that's how I created ECS (Environmentally Concerned Students). I believed it was important to establish a solely student-based voice, for we are the ones that will shape the future. And I also believed that student voice and action should be impactive and powerful. We are currently juggling with a few initiative ideas (which I can't go into detail) to help Toronto become more energy-efficient. One more thing that I truly believe in is that the real driving force of future environmental activism will be simply putting more act into activism. This is what I am trying to achieve with our group - more action which actually creates the change. Another action I took was to join WWF. I knew a conservationist / biologist from WWF from the Arctic expedition, and I contacted him to ask general questions about conservation and WWF, and also for some guidance for ECS - just another example of really 'taking advantage' of people who have already gone far in a field of interest. He suggested that I volunteer at WWF's Toronto head office, and introduced me to another person. WWF told me they had a policy of not accepting high school students, but I expressed my passion for learning about conservation, and with some luck due to their need of volunteers at the time, I became a part of WWF. I am learning so much and loving just being there about 5 hours a week. Recently, I found and opportunity to go to Churchill, Manitoba (Arctic's 'edge') during the summer to volunteer as a research assistant. I contacted them and eventually I got the position. I can't describe my excitement at this news, for I had a profound longing to go back to the Arctic ever since my first expedition. It will be exactly a year from my 2007 expedition, and pondering on the year that flew by, my life really was completely changed. I am infinitely grateful for everything and I want to turn this passion and love into even more active activism. This is merely my personal story, but I hope this can give a little hope to at least one person. Because a difference, really, starts with just one person. - John Park
Read more on this topic »Posted on May 18 2008 at 04:41AM by 461834_star
Theme: Water, My Opinion, Global Warming
Views: 529
In this painting, I tried to depict how I felt a different sense of warmth -- such a heart-warming embrace -- in the Arctic, although the Arctic is a cold place..
Read more on this topic »Posted on May 18 2008 at 04:41AM by 461834_star
Theme: Water, My Opinion, Global Warming
Views: 529
In this painting, I tried to depict how I felt a different sense of warmth -- such a heart-warming embrace -- in the Arctic, although the Arctic is a cold place..
Read more on this topic »Posted on May 19 2008 at 08:09PM by 461834_star
Theme: Water, Natural Habitats and Wildlife, Low Impact Living, My Opinion, Clean Energy, Global Warming, Waste & Pollution, Sustainable Transport, Mobile Living & Working, Local and Sustainable Food
Views: 2415
Sure, the ice is melting. But there is still hope, and the key to our success in saving our Earth is to stay hopeful. (a picture I took in the Canadian Arctic)
Read more on this topic »Posted on May 19 2008 at 08:09PM by 461834_star
Theme: Water, Natural Habitats and Wildlife, Low Impact Living, My Opinion, Clean Energy, Global Warming, Waste & Pollution, Sustainable Transport, Mobile Living & Working, Local and Sustainable Food
Views: 2415
Sure, the ice is melting. But there is still hope, and the key to our success in saving our Earth is to stay hopeful. (a picture I took in the Canadian Arctic)
Read more on this topic »Posted on May 19 2008 at 08:09PM by 461834_star
Theme: Water, Natural Habitats and Wildlife, Low Impact Living, My Opinion, Clean Energy, Global Warming, Waste & Pollution, Sustainable Transport, Mobile Living & Working, Local and Sustainable Food
Views: 2415
Sure, the ice is melting. But there is still hope, and the key to our success in saving our Earth is to stay hopeful. (a picture I took in the Canadian Arctic)
Read more on this topic »Posted on May 19 2008 at 08:09PM by 461834_star
Theme: Water, Natural Habitats and Wildlife, Low Impact Living, My Opinion, Clean Energy, Global Warming, Waste & Pollution, Sustainable Transport, Mobile Living & Working, Local and Sustainable Food
Views: 2415
Sure, the ice is melting. But there is still hope, and the key to our success in saving our Earth is to stay hopeful. (a picture I took in the Canadian Arctic)
Read more on this topic »Posted on May 19 2008 at 08:09PM by 461834_star
Theme: Water, Natural Habitats and Wildlife, Low Impact Living, My Opinion, Clean Energy, Global Warming, Waste & Pollution, Sustainable Transport, Mobile Living & Working, Local and Sustainable Food
Views: 2415
Sure, the ice is melting. But there is still hope, and the key to our success in saving our Earth is to stay hopeful. (a picture I took in the Canadian Arctic)
Read more on this topic »Posted on May 19 2008 at 08:09PM by 461834_star
Theme: Water, Natural Habitats and Wildlife, Low Impact Living, My Opinion, Clean Energy, Global Warming, Waste & Pollution, Sustainable Transport, Mobile Living & Working, Local and Sustainable Food
Views: 2415
Sure, the ice is melting. But there is still hope, and the key to our success in saving our Earth is to stay hopeful. (a picture I took in the Canadian Arctic)
Read more on this topic »Posted on May 19 2008 at 08:09PM by 461834_star
Theme: Water, Natural Habitats and Wildlife, Low Impact Living, My Opinion, Clean Energy, Global Warming, Waste & Pollution, Sustainable Transport, Mobile Living & Working, Local and Sustainable Food
Views: 2415
Sure, the ice is melting. But there is still hope, and the key to our success in saving our Earth is to stay hopeful. (a picture I took in the Canadian Arctic)
Read more on this topic »Posted on May 19 2008 at 08:09PM by 461834_star
Theme: Water, Natural Habitats and Wildlife, Low Impact Living, My Opinion, Clean Energy, Global Warming, Waste & Pollution, Sustainable Transport, Mobile Living & Working, Local and Sustainable Food
Views: 2415
Sure, the ice is melting. But there is still hope, and the key to our success in saving our Earth is to stay hopeful. (a picture I took in the Canadian Arctic)
Read more on this topic »Posted on May 25 2008 at 10:48PM by 461834_star
Theme: Water, Natural Habitats and Wildlife, Low Impact Living, My Opinion, Clean Energy, Global Warming, Waste & Pollution, Sustainable Transport, Mobile Living & Working, Local and Sustainable Food
Views: 933
A slideshow of my photos from the Arctic along with some messages.
Read more on this topic »Posted on May 25 2008 at 10:48PM by 461834_star
Theme: Water, Natural Habitats and Wildlife, Low Impact Living, My Opinion, Clean Energy, Global Warming, Waste & Pollution, Sustainable Transport, Mobile Living & Working, Local and Sustainable Food
Views: 933
A slideshow of my photos from the Arctic along with some messages.
Read more on this topic »Posted on May 25 2008 at 10:48PM by 461834_star
Theme: Water, Natural Habitats and Wildlife, Low Impact Living, My Opinion, Clean Energy, Global Warming, Waste & Pollution, Sustainable Transport, Mobile Living & Working, Local and Sustainable Food
Views: 933
A slideshow of my photos from the Arctic along with some messages.
Read more on this topic »Posted on May 25 2008 at 10:48PM by 461834_star
Theme: Water, Natural Habitats and Wildlife, Low Impact Living, My Opinion, Clean Energy, Global Warming, Waste & Pollution, Sustainable Transport, Mobile Living & Working, Local and Sustainable Food
Views: 933
A slideshow of my photos from the Arctic along with some messages.
Read more on this topic »Posted on May 25 2008 at 10:48PM by 461834_star
Theme: Water, Natural Habitats and Wildlife, Low Impact Living, My Opinion, Clean Energy, Global Warming, Waste & Pollution, Sustainable Transport, Mobile Living & Working, Local and Sustainable Food
Views: 933
A slideshow of my photos from the Arctic along with some messages.
Read more on this topic »Posted on May 25 2008 at 10:48PM by 461834_star
Theme: Water, Natural Habitats and Wildlife, Low Impact Living, My Opinion, Clean Energy, Global Warming, Waste & Pollution, Sustainable Transport, Mobile Living & Working, Local and Sustainable Food
Views: 933
A slideshow of my photos from the Arctic along with some messages.
Read more on this topic »Posted on May 25 2008 at 10:48PM by 461834_star
Theme: Water, Natural Habitats and Wildlife, Low Impact Living, My Opinion, Clean Energy, Global Warming, Waste & Pollution, Sustainable Transport, Mobile Living & Working, Local and Sustainable Food
Views: 933
A slideshow of my photos from the Arctic along with some messages.
Read more on this topic »Posted on May 25 2008 at 10:48PM by 461834_star
Theme: Water, Natural Habitats and Wildlife, Low Impact Living, My Opinion, Clean Energy, Global Warming, Waste & Pollution, Sustainable Transport, Mobile Living & Working, Local and Sustainable Food
Views: 933
A slideshow of my photos from the Arctic along with some messages.
Read more on this topic »