Last night I watched Blackfish on Netflix. The movie is a documentary about the Killer Whales at SeaWorld parks and the issues surrounding them. Unfortunately the movie came about because a mother, Gabriela Cowperthwaite, learned of the death of Killer Whale trainer, Dawn Brancheau that had occurred around the time she had taken her children to SeaWorld and something didn't sit right with her. She decided to dive in and find the truth.
Unfortunately she found that this was not an isolated incident, but a big problem within the SeaWorld community. One thing that the movie does not go into is the fact that SeaWorld does do some good, by taking in hurt animals, rehabbing them and getting them back into the wild when possible. The question you must ask yourself is does this then allow them to turn around and steal Killer Whales from their pods, forcing the families into mourning (remember these are very intelligent animals).
According to the movie, these animals tend to live 60-100 years in the wild, only about 35 years in captivity. Since they tend to live with animals from different pods while in captivity, they don't get along like they do with their family. In fact it is believed that Killer Whales taken from different parts of the world, actually speak different languages-kind of like humans. This obviously causes them distress, then add in the fact that these are animals made to roam (up to 100 miles in a day) and they are forced to live in small pens with other whales that they do not know. This often leads to biting and even killing of each other.
SeaWorld had known since they got Tilikum from Sealand, 20 years prior to Dawn's death, that he had killed another trainer. Despite this fact SeaWorld wanted him for his sperm as well as to perform. They knowingly took a problematic animal and put trainers in with him. It was a timebomb waiting to happen. On top of that, 54% of SeaWorld's Killer Whales are descendants of Tilikum, thus creating another potential time bomb(s) for years to come.
SeaWorld has been planning a six week concert package with likes of Willie Nelson, the Barenaked Ladies, Heart, REO Speedwagon and more. All of these bands and others have canceled their gigs and the list seems as if it will continue to grow.
Please watch the movie and educate yourself, then let SeaWorld how you feel about the inhumane treatment of these animals.
Monday, December 16, 2013
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Hollywood Pretending
In my day job as a visual effects camera operator, I worked on a set this week that was free of plastic bottles. We were asked to bring reusable containers, which I always have anyway, as the only available water would be from a 5 gallon dispenser.
Great...or so I thought.
As it turns out, on top of the 5 gallon container were plastic cups.
I was left wondering....what's the point?
It is another example of Hollywood pretending to be something it's not.
Great...or so I thought.
As it turns out, on top of the 5 gallon container were plastic cups.
I was left wondering....what's the point?
It is another example of Hollywood pretending to be something it's not.
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Global Warming
I came across this infographic on global warming the other day on Upworthy.
It's easy to read and makes it easy to discuss climate change with others and have plenty of great discussion points.
1. Approx 97% of scientists believe we humans are the cause of global warming.
2. Seven of the eight years hottest years on record have occurred since 2001.
3. Since 1900 the average temperature on earth has risen 1.5°F (.8°C). 2005 and 2010 were the hottest years.
4. National Climate Assessment drafted a report that states that future generations of Americans can expect "heat waves, heavy downpours and in some regions floods and drought"
5. The US Army says that global warming is a national security threat because it may produce scores of refugees and food shortages due to displacement, droughts and possibly war and/violence.
It's easy to read and makes it easy to discuss climate change with others and have plenty of great discussion points.
1. Approx 97% of scientists believe we humans are the cause of global warming.
2. Seven of the eight years hottest years on record have occurred since 2001.
3. Since 1900 the average temperature on earth has risen 1.5°F (.8°C). 2005 and 2010 were the hottest years.
4. National Climate Assessment drafted a report that states that future generations of Americans can expect "heat waves, heavy downpours and in some regions floods and drought"
5. The US Army says that global warming is a national security threat because it may produce scores of refugees and food shortages due to displacement, droughts and possibly war and/violence.
Now, I'm no scientist, but I've certainly never heard that any scientist has proven that we are not causing climate change and the evidence is pretty overwhelming that we do. Shouldn't we error on the side of caution? Especially since the downside is so destructive to future generations.
So go on, get out there and spread the word.
Friday, September 13, 2013
Tesla-"It's so choice"
My 14 year old son and I took a test drive in the Tesla S yesterday at our local Tesla dealership in Woodland Hills, CA. Heather was our guide and she was full of great information and very pleasant too. While it is not a car that I can get today (I will get one one day) it was important to do for motivational purposes, if nothing else.
It is a car I have loved checking out online and occasionally in person, since it first came on the market. I even watched the Model S delivery event live in June 2012, while I was working on a little movie down in New Zealand.
I was worried that driving the Tesla S might be a letdown.
It is a car I have loved checking out online and occasionally in person, since it first came on the market. I even watched the Model S delivery event live in June 2012, while I was working on a little movie down in New Zealand.
I was worried that driving the Tesla S might be a letdown.
Well I was wrong! It is an absolutely the coolest vehicle I have ever driven. Sorry Porsche.
The 17" touchscreen display is incredible in and of itself. There are few actual physical buttons on the dash. Most everything is on the display and you can navigate most things through the steering wheel too. Whether you are checking out traffic, need directions, surf the web, control the speakers or the sunroof, it is all at your fingertips.
You can even set your driving style. You want tighter handling? Touch the screen. You want to conserve energy by regenerating power when you slow down? Touch the screen. You get the idea.
My favorite part though, was the acceleration. From a stop, it accelerates so fast that it slams you into the back of the seat (Performance Model goes 0-60 mph in 3.9 sec). My son had the biggest smile on his face when I hit the accelerator and he found himself jammed into the seat. While cruising on the freeway next to other cars, you hit the "gas" and you leave the other cars in the dust. It responds instantly and is absolutely AMAZING!
The Tesla S isn't just a great performance car with all the bells and whistles, Tesla has also invested a lot into the safety of its customers. Recently the Tesla S received 5 Star Safety Rating from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in all categories, although not without some critiques. Some complain that most other luxury cars are not even tested and that Tesla does not have features like collision avoidance features that some other luxury models have. Still the Tesla S apparently managed to break the machine that tests the roof after putting the equivalent of 4 Tesla S's on it (that's over 18,000 lbs of force). So where does it really stand? Not sure, but take it for what it is worth, I'm sure we will be hearing more soon.
Now don't forget the Supercharging stations that Tesla is working hard on right now. As we speak there are only about 21, mostly in California, but by next year, you will begin seeing them pop up all across the country, and the map of 2015 Supercharging stations looks remarkable. In 30 minutes, you can get enough charge to drive 200 miles. While you won't get range anxiety on most days (range of over 208-265 miles depending on the battery you get), the Supercharging stations will allow you to go on road trips without the hassles that you might now encounter.
If you can afford a Tesla S, I highly recommend it. As Ferris Bueller might say "it's so choice".
Don't forget the Tesla X comes out next year and they are taking reservations now. I can't wait!
I know this probably looks like an advertisement for Tesla, but I get nothing from Tesla and just simply believe it is one of the best products that I have experienced.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Why Don't People Care About Taking Care of the Planet?
If your body was acting up and you knew that things weren't right, most of us would do something about it. Unfortunately that doesn't seem to be the case when it comes to taking care of the thing that takes care of us-The Planet, Earth, The Blue Marble.
It seems that most people are living in denial that anything is wrong with the environment and/or that if there is something wrong that "they" (whoever "they" are) will take care of the problem. Guess what, we are all "they". We all need to pitch in.
While there are some really passionate groups, like 5 Gyres, Surfrider and Greenpeace, in the world trying very hard, there is relatively little being done to really solve the problems. It's not for lack of effort, but rather lack of caring by the greater population. Until we can change the mindset of the masses, and governments get serious about of pollution, over consumption, energy entitlement, and educating the public on the enormity of the situation, we will continue a downward spiral of destroying the very thing that gives us life.
Unfortunately we have set up our society to value money and possessions over happiness and the true prosperity of living in a beautiful, healthy world. We can't take the money or belongings with us, but we can leave the world in a sustainable environment, so that the world can continue to prosper. I often worry that in 200 years the world will look back on this time as the most destructive time in the history of the earth. It is destruction in the name of greed.
As we continue putting more people on earth, we will be demanding more resources-but where will these resources come from? The planet is only so big and we are taking the resources at alarming rates.
Quick Thought
Think about a 1500 sq. ft. house.
Now think about filling that home with oil.
Now think about the enormity of 14 million of those homes filled with oil.
That is how much oil the world is pulling from the earth each year.
We are creating a HUGE hole in the earth and it gets bigger every year.
How long can that possibly continue?
We need to change and we all need to be involved.
Making better, more informed purchases, being active in getting laws changed and empowering the world's citizens on how they can help is essential to sustaining the world's resources.
Read labels. Know where your products are coming from and what is in them.
Buy local. Products that don't need to travel far, save transportation resources. You might be surprised what you can find at thrift shops and your local farmers market are great places to start.
Reduce. Reduce your needs. Think about every purchase. Not only will you save money, but you will also be slowing down the need for the earth's resources.
Reuse. So many things can be reused that we just throw away. Don't use plastic grocery bags, bring your own. It sickens me that we use these things for minutes, then send them off to the dump forever.
Before recycling my 8.5" x 11" paper, I turn it into scrap paper. I fold it in quarters, tear it into 4 equal parts and use it to write notes on.
Recycle. Hopefully you don't use plastic bottles, but if you do, please recycle. There are also places to recycle just about everything else. Check out a great app iRecycle, on the app store. They make finding a place to recycle almost any item, a little easier.
Plastic. It's hard to get away from, but there are some alternatives. Bring a reusable water bottle with you, buy whole foods-not packaged, don't drink bottle soda, look for alternatives to plastic whenever possible. Also you may want to check out My Plastic Free Life.
Driving. Maybe you could walk or bike instead of drive. It's good exercise and you will be saving the planet. If you do drive, be conscience about combining trips and your driving habits can make a world of difference too. Keep you vehicle in good shape and hopefully you are driving a vehicle with great gas mileage.
Spread the Word. Let people you know what they can do to help. Remember you are trying to educate, not judge people. Many are conscious about the situation, but don't know where to turn, or think it will be so difficult. By educating yourself, you will be able to help others and build this movement from a trend to a lifestyle of an entire planet.
The earth is sick and needs our help. Are you willing to do your part?
It seems that most people are living in denial that anything is wrong with the environment and/or that if there is something wrong that "they" (whoever "they" are) will take care of the problem. Guess what, we are all "they". We all need to pitch in.
While there are some really passionate groups, like 5 Gyres, Surfrider and Greenpeace, in the world trying very hard, there is relatively little being done to really solve the problems. It's not for lack of effort, but rather lack of caring by the greater population. Until we can change the mindset of the masses, and governments get serious about of pollution, over consumption, energy entitlement, and educating the public on the enormity of the situation, we will continue a downward spiral of destroying the very thing that gives us life.
As we continue putting more people on earth, we will be demanding more resources-but where will these resources come from? The planet is only so big and we are taking the resources at alarming rates.
Quick Thought
Think about a 1500 sq. ft. house.
Now think about filling that home with oil.
Now think about the enormity of 14 million of those homes filled with oil.
That is how much oil the world is pulling from the earth each year.
We are creating a HUGE hole in the earth and it gets bigger every year.
How long can that possibly continue?
We need to change and we all need to be involved.
Making better, more informed purchases, being active in getting laws changed and empowering the world's citizens on how they can help is essential to sustaining the world's resources.
Read labels. Know where your products are coming from and what is in them.
Buy local. Products that don't need to travel far, save transportation resources. You might be surprised what you can find at thrift shops and your local farmers market are great places to start.
Reduce. Reduce your needs. Think about every purchase. Not only will you save money, but you will also be slowing down the need for the earth's resources.
Reuse. So many things can be reused that we just throw away. Don't use plastic grocery bags, bring your own. It sickens me that we use these things for minutes, then send them off to the dump forever.
Before recycling my 8.5" x 11" paper, I turn it into scrap paper. I fold it in quarters, tear it into 4 equal parts and use it to write notes on.
Recycle. Hopefully you don't use plastic bottles, but if you do, please recycle. There are also places to recycle just about everything else. Check out a great app iRecycle, on the app store. They make finding a place to recycle almost any item, a little easier.
Plastic. It's hard to get away from, but there are some alternatives. Bring a reusable water bottle with you, buy whole foods-not packaged, don't drink bottle soda, look for alternatives to plastic whenever possible. Also you may want to check out My Plastic Free Life.
Driving. Maybe you could walk or bike instead of drive. It's good exercise and you will be saving the planet. If you do drive, be conscience about combining trips and your driving habits can make a world of difference too. Keep you vehicle in good shape and hopefully you are driving a vehicle with great gas mileage.
Spread the Word. Let people you know what they can do to help. Remember you are trying to educate, not judge people. Many are conscious about the situation, but don't know where to turn, or think it will be so difficult. By educating yourself, you will be able to help others and build this movement from a trend to a lifestyle of an entire planet.
The earth is sick and needs our help. Are you willing to do your part?
Thursday, August 29, 2013
The Dirty Dozen
The Dirty Dozen is a list of the 12 foods that tend to have the most pesticide residues, as put together by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). These are some very healthy foods, that you might consider buying organic to reduce your daily intake of pesticides. Many of these foods also contain pesticides that are believed to be connected to the colony collapse disorder and our faltering honeybee population.
1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Cherry Tomatoes
4. Cucumbers
5. Grapes
6. Hot Peppers
7. Nectarines
8. Peaches
9. Potatoes
10. Spinach
11. Strawberries
12. Sweet Bell Peppers
but wait there's more....
13. Kale/Collard Greens
14. Summer Squash
NEXT...look for the Clean 15.
1. Apples
2. Celery
3. Cherry Tomatoes
4. Cucumbers
5. Grapes
6. Hot Peppers
7. Nectarines
8. Peaches
9. Potatoes
10. Spinach
11. Strawberries
12. Sweet Bell Peppers
but wait there's more....
13. Kale/Collard Greens
14. Summer Squash
NEXT...look for the Clean 15.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
My favorite new blog
Recently my son decided to start his first blog.
He is 14 years old and in June of 2012 he changed his life for the better. After a great deal of difficulty in school and beyond due to OCD, anxiety and more, he changed his diet, added supplements to his life and began chelation therapy.
Before his treatments began, his grades were suffering and he had a difficult time just going to school. Last year his grades were up significantly and his STAR testing results were absolutely remarkable, especially in math and science.
He now wants to share with the world what he has learned and is continuing to learn through his journey. Being a gluten free vegetarian, he has had to deal with a great deal of changes and has done so with remarkable courage. Have you ever seen a 14 year old read every ingredient on every label? I see it almost daily. He really has made me a proud papa!
Check out his Healthy Eating blog to follow him through his journey.
He is 14 years old and in June of 2012 he changed his life for the better. After a great deal of difficulty in school and beyond due to OCD, anxiety and more, he changed his diet, added supplements to his life and began chelation therapy.
Before his treatments began, his grades were suffering and he had a difficult time just going to school. Last year his grades were up significantly and his STAR testing results were absolutely remarkable, especially in math and science.
He now wants to share with the world what he has learned and is continuing to learn through his journey. Being a gluten free vegetarian, he has had to deal with a great deal of changes and has done so with remarkable courage. Have you ever seen a 14 year old read every ingredient on every label? I see it almost daily. He really has made me a proud papa!
Check out his Healthy Eating blog to follow him through his journey.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)