Seacology Island Environment Blog

Baseball, Wrestling and Seacology

2009-07-02T17:31:57Z

You are probably thinking, what does baseball or wrestling have to do with Seacology? The tale begins a little over one month ago when former development assistant Ellen Kamoe suggested nominating me for the All-Stars Among Us (ASAU) contest. This is a joint promotion by People Magazine and Major League Baseball (MLB). The purpose of ASAU is to find 30 individuals who are helping people and causes around the world, one to represent each Major League Baseball team. The nominations would be culled by the editors of People and representatives from MLB. Three finalists would be selected for each team and there would be a two week period of public voting. I told Ellen I was flattered by the thought but please don't spend more than a few minutes of your time nominating me as I doubt if I would have much of a chance of winning a national contest.

]]> Much to my surprise, out of several thousand nominees throughout the nation I was chosen to be a finalist to represent the Oakland A's. After a few weeks of online voting - 750,000 votes were cast - I was even more surprised to find out that I won and will be representing the Oakland A's at the July 14 All-Star Game in St. Louis. Better yet, President Obama will be throwing out the first pitch there and MLB is tying his appearance to community work and the All-Stars Among Us presentation.

The next thing I know I get a message from the very friendly and very competent Bob Rose, director of media relations for the Oakland Athletics, inviting me to come out to the Coliseum to throw out the first pitch before an A's game. And what a day and night this was. Upon arrival I was interviewed about Seacology by Marty Lurie whose Right Off The Bat radio program is highly regarded throughout baseball. Marty is one of the great baseball raconteurs. I could listen to Marty talk baseball for hours which is why his show is so good. If you're interested, listen to the interview.

Afterward I went down to the dugout where I was interviewed by Robert Baun who does the Extra Innings A's post game radio show. This segment will air after the A's game on July 4. I must admit it was fun hanging out in the dugout and even using the dugout restroom whose door former A's manager Ken Macha kicked in when pitcher Joe Blanton got stuck inside. Bob Rose then presented me with an A's jersey with Seacology and the number one on the back. At least I looked like a real player. Now came the true test. I was led out onto the field to throw the first pitch. I climbed the absurdly high mound. I stared down at my catcher who was Vin Mazzaro, one of the A's hottest pitching prospects. Something is wrong here. The mound is supposed to be only sixty feet six inches away but it appears to be six hundred feet away. Did the groundskeepers measure wrong?

I went into my windup, let the ball go and ... let's just say I have renewed appreciation for any major league pitcher who can throw a strike. My pitch was inside, perhaps a bit low but with the tremendous sinking action who wouldn't have swung at it? Okay so the count is 1-0. I'll get the batter the next time. Perhaps I was just setting the batter up so he would be afraid to crowd the plate on me. Would you be leaning over the plate if you were facing a combination of Rick Ankiel (as a pitcher) and Ryne Duren?

Back in the stands I was seated just a few rows behind the dugout in back of a huge man and his rather small-of-stature companion. I don't know who they are but lots of people are approaching them for their autographs, particularly the big guy. It turns out it is John Cena, five time WWE wrestling champ. His companion is Dylan Postl, a wrestler better known by his ring names - Shortstack, Hornswoggle or Little B**tard. Cena kindly obliges the many fans seeking a photo or an autograph. Can the night get any more unusual?

Perhaps. In between innings I am interviewed on the Colisuem's big screen about the work of Seacology. But the day is still not over. I returned home to find an email waiting for me from the mayor of my home town of Albany, CA. The city council wants to honor me with a proclamation next week. A bizarre ending to a most interesting day. It's off to the All-Star game in a few weeks and I am sure I will have tales to tell when I get back.

Seychelles Seacology Travel

2009-06-30T17:18:36Z

According to the Lonely Planet guide, "Among the 115 islands that make up the Seychelles are some of the most beautiful island getaways in the Indian Ocean, or indeed the world. Here you can find the lush tropical paradise you may have seen in seductive advertisements." The group of islands around Mahe (home of the international airport and the capital city of Victoria) are made of granite while the remaining islands are coralline atolls. The Seychelles lie 1,600 kilometers off of East Africa, its nearest neighbor. As a result of this isolation the Seychelles are rich in rare plants which flourish nowhere else on the planet. Perhaps the most famous of these is the coco de mer, the world's largest coconut weighing as much as 20 kg. In addition to their prodigious size the coco de mer is famous for its rather erotic shape (pictured right). I will let readers' imaginations run wild on this but if you want to see this coconut in person head for the beautiful Vallee de Mai on the island of Praslin. I recently led a Seacology group to visit the Seychelles and some of us are still blushing after seeing these rather evocative coconuts. The Seychelles visitors bureau knows a good thing when it sees one and the coco de mer not only appears on posters and brochures everywhere but the Seychelles official passport stamp is in the shape of this naughty coconut.

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As beautiful as the beaches of the Seychelles are, and as interesting as the coco de mer may be, it was not these attractions that brought us to these Indian Ocean islands. The Seychelles are home to one of the world's most successful nature reserves - Cousin Island. Founded by BirdLife International and run by Nature Seychelles, the Cousin Island Reserve, though only 1 km in diameter, is home to 300,000 nesting seabirds. Because they are protected, the birds are not afraid of humans so you can get up close and personal with some beautiful and endangered birds. The reserve is responsible for saving the Seychelles Warbler and the Seychelles Magpie Robin from the brink of extinction. The reserve is also the western Indian Ocean's largest nesting site for hawksbill turtles. A highlight of any visit is seeing some Aldabra Giant Tortoises and whoever named them was not kidding when they used the word giant. Seacology, the world's premier NGO with the sole focus of preserving island environments, was so impressed with the critically important role Cousin Island is playing that we have supported several projects there. The waters surrounding Cousin Island are a no-take marine reserve and Seacology was pleased to provide funding for demarcation buoys so that local fishing community will know where they can and can not fish. Because Cousin Island is a major tourist attraction Seacology also provided signage (pictured above left) so visitors will understand the importance of the various bird and turtle species living on Cousin and the reserve's vital role in protecting these species. Finally, Seacology provided funding for state of the art composting toilets for rangers and visitors as another important step in keeping the ecosystem pristine.

Our visit to Cousin Island was a very moving experience. It is truly a natural paradise and reminds me of the Galapogos Islands - only smaller and prettier. Outside the Galapagos I can't think of anywhere else in the world where one can observe wildlife from such close range. We were often within a meter of some of the 300,000 Cousin island birds and not one of them seemed to care that we were there. And to see some of the birds that just a few years ago were on the verge of extinction is nothing short of miraculous. Dishon Murage, Seacology's Kenya based east Africa field representative, said of this visit, "It is such a humbling experience to see conservation success within one's own lifetime. I feel lucky to be here."

No discussion of Cousin Island would be complete without a mention of the very charasmatic and extremely competent director of Nature Seychelles, Nirmal Shah. In many ways Shah is "Mister Environment" of the Seychelles. He has followed in his father's footsteps and between the two of them they are likely responsible for almost every major environmental achievement in the Seychlles in the last 30 years. Shah is also a world recognized expert on island ecosystems. In the words of Nirmal Shah, "Many islands are, in the face of global changes, tethering on the brink of catastrophe. Because of the clear and present danger, one would have thought there would have been many dedicated organizations funding island conservation. But Seacology is the only one that has understood the vital nature of saving these precious and unique island environments."

The Seychelles are home to some of the world's most beautiful beaches. The forests and granite rock formations are breathtaking. The creole people and creole cuisine are wonderful. All of these are good reasons to visit this island paradise. If you do go, make sure you take a moment to visit the birds of Cousin Island that were saved from extinction and reflect on what an incredible environmental success story this is.

New Study Supports Seacology's Conservation Work

2009-06-04T22:22:42Z

A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that, as far as conserving biodiversity goes, Seacology is on the right track. The species richness on islands is 8 to 9 times greater than that of mainland environments according to this study performed by Holger Kreft and colleagues at the University of Bonn, UC San Diego and the University of Applied Sciences Eberswalde. To read more about this fascinating topic please see the associated article, Islands top a global list of places to protect, as well as the actual study, A global assessment of endemism and species richness across island and mainland regions.

Climate Change in Islands

2009-05-15T21:00:07Z

Growing up in the Philippines, tornados, hurricanes, and the floods that would follow were a common occurrence in my childhood. In the rainy season (between July to December), it would not be uncommon for low-lying areas of my island (called Panay, in the Western Visayas Region) to have floods as high as four meters. Can you imagine Katrina happening every year? During intense hurricanes, people living in these areas would be in a rush to get everything out of their houses to be taken to higher ground. Anything that could be carried, including refrigerators, TV sets, etc, are immediately taken out. One time, a cousin of mine was in such a mad rush to leave that he forgot his pregnant wife in the bedroom (he came back to get her of course). More recently, people back home have also been complaining to me about the intense heat. When I visited about a year and a half ago, I myself noticed that the temperature was much higher than when I was living there only 5 or 6 years previous.

]]> While the whole world will suffer from unmitigated climate change, island states are prone to experience it first and suffer the most. Recent findings published by the Fourth Assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) revealed that the effects of global warming and climate change are far more catastrophic in small island developing states. These island nations (51 countries in Africa, the Caribbean, Oceania and the Indian Ocean) are in the greatest danger of being literally wiped out of the planet. In addition to rising sea levels, climate change also causes an increase in the frequency and intensity of hurricanes. A rise in the temperature and acidity of sea water would also destroy coral reefs and coastlines, and with it an entire region's biodiversity.

Despite clear signs of the looming effects of global climate change, island nations like the Philippines are unable to address the problem adequately due to extreme poverty. Even though dependence on activities like large-scale logging and mining will increase the likelihood of having typhoons and intense heat in the long run, people have no choice but to favor their short-term economic benefits. Seacology's work is extremely important in countries like the Philippines because it provides small island nations (most of which are developing states) an alternative to extraction of natural resources. Seacology provides islanders with their most dire needs, such as schools, medical facilities, and fresh water supply, for which they would otherwise have to sacrifice their precious natural resources in order to acquire.

Scientific studies and findings are not the only indicator of the grim future islands face due to global climate change. Islanders themselves have noticed the loss of land and increase in flooding. Tuvalu, a tiny archipelago in the south-western Pacific Ocean, has been experiencing heavy storms and flooding, which has resulted in a noticeable loss of coastal land. Since the highest point in Tuvalu is just above five meters, rising sea levels could easily wipe it off the planet. Seacology stepped in to assist with the establishment of a two-acre lagoon-based mangrove nursery/reserve and the planting of 1,000 mangrove seedlings along the coastline, providing protection from tidal and storm surges. To provide an alternative to mangrove extraction, Seacology also refurbished their existing handicraft center by adding two rooms to use for training, meetings and handicraft production.

Islands nations are becoming increasing aware and responsive of the threat posed by climate change, but they can only do so much. According to the IPCC study, small island developing states altogether produce less than one percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. The greatest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions are highly industrialized countries like the US and China. Seacology reduces GhG emissions through the establishment of land, mangrove and marine reserves, which serve as potent carbon sinks to trap GhGs, the main driver of climate change. You can help too, by carpooling, recycling, reusing, and perhaps, by supporting Seacology.

Seacology Knows How to Throw a Party!

2009-03-11T16:00:00Z

Seacology is a dedicated environmental/humanitarian organization with an important global mission. In particular, my job as development director is pretty intense. I need to make bank for a lot of projects and programs for some of the most economically impoverished people in the world. It's hard work, but there is a healthy dose of fun involved. It's a well known fact that the best way to fundraise is to raise fun. Seacology is good at this because we take it seriously.

Part of my job is throwing parties for a living. Well not really, but sometimes it feels that way. This is especially true when I get a chance to collaborate on interesting events with generous, cause-oriented people, which I do several times a year.

Each fall we hold an event in San Rafael, California, called "Marin's Glorious Glass Pumpkin Harvest." One of our creative board members and his significant other conceived this event in 2007. Their aim was to raise funds for Seacology, make money for a small coterie of talented glass-blowing artists, bring exposure to an historic regional facility and develop an annual family event. They hit their target. The result is a gorgeous, two-day public "pumpkin patch" that feels an awful lot like a big block party with a purpose. Held on the lawns of a Victorian mansion known as the Falkirk Cultural Center, this event takes place during the most beautiful time of the year in Northern California. Many thanks to Kimo and Kerry. If you are in the area this October, we invite you to drop by.

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We've also had success with intimate theatre events. A celebrity or public personality fills a theatre for an entertaining interview with a moderator, including a question and answer session with the fans. The celebrity speaker then donates the proceeds of the special evening to Seacology. Past donors have included Jared Diamond, Barbara Kingsolver, Oliver Sacks, Robin Williams, Alice Walker and Margaret Atwood to name a few. Last month we staged an interview with the wonderful Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen at Golden Gate Theatre (left), produced by City Arts and Lectures, great friends to Seacology. Hosted by Todd Oppenheimer, the lively evening was filled with the big personalities (but not big egos) of Ted and Mary, whose warm, open manner and hilarious storytelling kept us well entertained. We are so appreciative to all of these philanthropic glitterati and literati who have generously donated their time, treasure and talent to us.

We also create receptions several times a year which are held in the private homes of board members, fellows and donors. Very much like a small cocktail or dinner party, these occasions generally host 15 to 30 people who come to learn more about Seacology's mission. Last year we held two receptions in Manhattan, two in California (Healdsburg and Malibu) and one in London.(Right, Seacology Fellow Wendy Lang and donor Ruth Shapiro at the Malibu reception.)

These personal gatherings always include a beautiful visual presentation on our global island projects and often serve to inform existing members of our latest endeavors. This year we've already held an event in Utah, with plans for more: Tokyo in March, Texas in April, Colorado in August, Florida in September, and both Los Angeles and London in October, (whew!) helping to significantly broaden Seacology's donor base. (Left, Fellow Barbara Meyer, Executive Director Duane Silverstein, and Board Member Shari Sant Plummer.)

Seacology does musicals, too, sort of. We secure tickets to Best of Broadway productions in San Francisco and hold private celebrity receptions after the event. We've had a couple of great evenings with Jersey Boys and Billy Crystal's 700 Sundays, both of which turned out to be successful fundraisers. Our donors saw a terrific Broadway show and were feted afterwards while supporting their favorite charity. (Below left, Board Member Larry Barels, Wendy Barels, Board Member Marsha Williams and Duane Silverstein) It's a lot of good will, which brings me to Spamalot.

We will again be hosting a spirited evening on May 27th, 2009. It's San Francisco's opening night of Broadway's Tony award winning Spamalot, a musical comedy lovingly ripped off from the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail. This is promising to be another momentous evening for Seacology's fundraising efforts. Of course we'll be hosting a splendid post-show reception, because . . . Seacology knows how to throw a party!

Diving the Red Sea

2008-12-11T22:21:12Z

Because it is close to Europe the Red Sea attracts more dive boats than any other region of the world. The Red Sea's frequent encounters with thresher and hammerhead sharks and the beauty of its hard and soft corals help account for its popularity. However, if not managed well, too many divers and dive boats could ironically help destroy this beautiful dive destination. Every time a boat drops an anchor on a coral reef a large section of the reef is damaged. Multiply this by the large number of boats in the Red Sea every day and the potential for significant damage is great. However, by tying up to mooring buoys, boats no longer have to drop anchor.

To help preserve this beautiful marine environment a local ngo called HEPCA has installed the world's largest mooring buoy system. Nonetheless more mooring buoys were needed around five islands in the 494,100 acre marine reserve adjacent to Wadi El Gemal (Land of the Camel) National Park off the Egyptian coast of the Red Sea. Seacology, an international ngo with the sole purpose of preserving the environments of islands throughout the globe, provided the funding needed to help HEPCA install 25 mooring buoys in the Wadi El Gemal area.

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A group of Seacology board members and donors recently chartered the Royal Evolution, perhaps the nicest liveaboard in the entire Red Sea. We were met on board by Amr Ali, the executive director of HEPCA. Ali is a very savvy ngo operator who will do whatever it takes to protect the reefs. After a fascinating presentation Amr tells me and several Seacology board members it is time to put our dive gear on and actually install the last remaining mooring buoy surrounding Wadi El Gemal Island. We gear up and descend down to 40 feet. The HEPCA team is waiting for us with a large underwater pneumatic drill. After a quick bit of instruction I am the first to begin drilling the mooring buoy attaching device deep into the surface of the sea bed. Board members Larry Barels (above left) and Doug Herst (right) and Seacology donors Jeff Yonover and Paul Bartlett then follow suit. Our bodies and the very water are shaking with the vibration but we ascend to the surface with a feeling of accomplishment.

Diving in the Red Sea was quite good though a bit uneven. Some dives such as the world famous Brother Islands sites delivered big time with an incredible thresher shark encounter. Other sites such as Daedalus Reef disappointed. On the whole the diving was very good and well worth the trip. If one is thinking of going I highly recommend the Royal Evolution. The boat and crew were fantastic. (All photos credited to Jeff Yonover.)

When the Water Cooler Runs Dry

2008-11-18T23:30:00Z

Last month at the office, the water cooler ran out and we had to wait three days for a fresh supply. To avoid the dreaded tap water, I brought two water bottles to work, filled with filtered water from home. This got me thinking about how this ubiquitous office perk is such a big deal, while we in the US have perfectly safe tap water. In fact, Seacology has provided 14 fresh water delivery systems to communities that do not have safe and reliable sources of drinking water.

In many places around the world, safe water is impossible to find. When I lived in Samoa, the campus had a filtering system and we boiled or treated our water with iodine. It wasn't as dire as in Uganda, where I brushed my teeth with mouthwash instead of water. And travelers can barely touch an ice cube or fruit juice in countries like Mexico and India. The picture at right illustrates one of the problems water shortages can cause: here, a boy in West Bengal, India is pumping water in a flooded area. The Water Encyclopedia says that "floodwaters can contaminate cisterns and improperly designed wells, compounding problems caused by river currents and inundation." And yet here in the United States, we hardly consider what it would be like to live without our tap water - and we still buy expensive bottled water because "it tastes better" or we like the commercials or the pretty packaging.

This year Seacology launched our first project in Kenya, on Wasini Island, where there is no known natural source of fresh water.

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What's more, advocates for fresh water supply argue that water scarcity leads to gender inequality. According to Water Partners International, in Kenya "only 61% of the rural population has access to an improved drinking water source, and the time-intensive pursuit of water collection often prevents women from taking up income generating activities, or in the case of girls, prevents them from attending school." There is even a UN Task Force on Gender and Water to study this, and that's certainly another very strong argument in favor of reliable fresh water.

So next time you're standing around the water cooler gossiping and the bottle runs dry, you can remember those Kenyan children (pictured left), collecting their first taste of fresh water from a water tank provided by Seacology. And take a trip to the tap.

Fiji Travel With Seacology

2008-10-09T16:00:00Z

In August 2008 a Seacology group traveled to Fiji to open two new projects. In Ketei Village, located on the Fijian island of Vanua Levu Seacology funded the construction of a community center in exchange for the creation of a 900-acre forest reserve. Our visit to Ketei began with a traditional kava ceremony. Kava is the ground up root of a pepper plant which acts as a calming agent. It has been the center of Fijian traditional life for hundreds of years. (Right, water is being poured into a kava bowl to begin the kava ceremony.)

]]> The village chief then presented the Seacology delegation with a whale's tooth called a tabua in Fijian. This is the highest honor that can be accorded in Fijian society. (Below left, village chief presents the Seacology delegation with a tabua; the Seacology community center is in the background.) Then it was time to unveil the plaque and officially open the community center. (Below center, Seacology fellow Michelle Friend next to the community center plaque.) As always after the center was opened the villagers served us a feast of Fijian food followed by music and dancing. (Below right, the author dancing with a local village woman.)

Our home base for this trip was the beautiful Jean Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort (left).

The Seacology group also visited Nukubalavu Village on Vanua Levu Island. There Seacology funded construction of a preschool building in exchange for the creation of a 25,600-acre marine reserve. (Below left, Seacology group and young children in the new preschool.)

The celebration continued with the typical kava ceremony, feast and dancing. Per local tradition the Seacology group thanked the village for their hospitality by wrapping some of the local dancers in much needed fabric. (Above center, a beautiful village girl; above right, presenting cloth to the local children.)

As always the trip was fun, rewarding and fascinating.

For information about Seacology's 2009 trips please see the travel page of our website.

All photos (excluding the Cousteau Resort) are credited to Nicole Friend.
© 1999-2008 Seacology. All Rights Reserved.

Berlin the Beautiful

2008-10-01T16:00:00Z

2008 marked the inaugural year of Seacology Germany, our first affiliate in Europe. The creation of this chapter of Seacology was spearheaded by board director, Peter Pistor. Peter grew up in West Berlin and his profession led him to the USA, where he settled in Los Angeles. He returns to Berlin each year for business during the summer with his lovely American wife, Zina, and their two very active young sons.

Peter has been on Seacology's board of directors since 2003 and has a real passion for Seacology. He knew it would resonate with the German psyche because of their love for traveling to faraway lands (wanderlust!), natural affection for animals and keen awareness of and interest in the environment. As a nation, they even have a Green Party which is, amazingly, already 28 years old.

One of the benefits of speaking other languages is that you are sometimes given unique opportunities. Because I speak German and am acquainted with the culture, I've been asked to serve on the board of Seacology Germany, a task I relish. The fledgling operation is made up of a handful of dedicated Germans headquartered in Berlin who feel compelled to make a difference in solving environmental challenges worldwide.

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My trip to Berlin for our board meeting was a revelation. Having traveled all over Germany at different times in my life, somehow I had never been to Berlin. I'm glad I saved the experience, unintentionally, to savor at this time. Peter and Zina were super tour guides and kind enough to introduce me to friends and favorite places, which brought the city to life. Next year marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall, so the metropolis has had a few years to steady itself economically and politically. Always world class because of its art and architectural riches, Berlin currently stands in the middle of a renaissance of spirit and creativity, and it shows. They mix the past with the present and future in the most wonderful way.

Just a day after my arrival, Peter and I made a visit to Brandenburg. He wanted me to meet someone very special to Seacology Germany, Philipp Dressel, managing director of the General German Automobile Association driving safety center. Taking a course in driving safety is mandatory for Germans in order to keep their driver's licenses current, so schools are located throughout the country. The Linthe driving safety center near Berlin attracts 50,000 drivers per year. Just one week before I arrived, Peter and Philipp signed a contract with Linthe to offset the carbon emissions that occur during these required driving tests.

For each completed training session, Linthe donates 1.60 Euro to Seacology's environmental fund. This year the donation will fund development of a solar plant in the Philippine fishing village of Manamoc, where three schools will be able to replace cost-intensive and environmentally harmful Diesel generators. In exchange for the gift of solar power, the community has committed to set aside a marine-protected area of 267 acres and ban all dynamite fishing. The result is a win-win for the environment: reduction in carbon emissions from the Diesel generators and protection of threatened marine habitats and species.

We gathered in the offices of high tech firm MatFlow for Seacology Germany's first board meeting. Nestled in the Ku'damm, a bustling commercial district of former West Berlin, the offices are generously donated by board members Jörg Krumrei, Andreas Pranschke and Andreas Steffen. Additionally joining us were board member Susanna Jamieson, office manager Antje Zimmerman and media consultant, Andrea Schnoor. We hammered out many details for a few hours and concluded the meeting by officially adding board member Philipp Dressel. Philipp is dedicated to diminishing the carbon footprint produced by the driving center through his support of Seacology Germany.

We commemorated our important debut by gathering for dinner at a zany, ultra-arty restaurant in a converted warehouse on Berlin's Spree River. Our newly-formed group enjoyed delicious food from around the world gathered together on giant floor mattresses, enveloped in curtains of diaphanous fabric. After a year of working very hard to launch Seacology Germany, the whole experience ended on a celebratory note. This was perfect for Seacology's win-win mission. As with all those involved at a grassroots level with our important work, Seacology Germany is just a group of ordinary people with extraordinary vision translated into action.

Report from the Philippines, Part Two!

2008-08-07T18:59:09Z

After three days of sitting out the typhoon during my recent trip to the Philippines, our Philippines Field Representative Ferdie Marcelo and I flew to the beautiful island of Palawan.

After overnighting in Roxas, Ferdie and I met with representatives from project partner SIBAT and drove to Barangay Bagong Bayan. This remote village has a true "ridge to reef" ecosystem. With SIBAT's expertise, Seacology is funding the rehabilitation of a micro-hydro power plant. After meeting with community leaders, we viewed the non-functioning powerhouse. There is a nearby ice plant, which when powered will make a dramatic difference to local fisherman who will be able to chill their catches to keep fish fresh longer for marketability. The power plant also has an herb dryer, which when functional will enable community members to dry medicinal herbs to sell.

The Bangong Bayan watershed (right) is truly beautiful. The source for the microhydro system is above a lovely waterfall. The catchment at the top was not configured to maximize flow, so community members are working on that while they wait for generator parts to arrive. After staying back in Roxas for a night, Ferdie and I traveled to El Nido, on the northern tip of Palawan. I had heard for years about the beauty of this area, and stunning Bacuit Bay with its dramatic limestone islands and turquoise water.

]]> The El Nido Foundation (ENF), our project partner is this locale, is very much in alignment with Seacology's core philosophies. They work to improve the lives of local people while protecting the area's glorious natural resources. The ENF staff took me out to Tres Marias to snorkel the site where Seacology-funded artificial reef modules were installed in 2006. Due to the recent typhoon visibility was not great, but I could see some of the reefs regenerating at the site. Below left is the enforcement boat, which was hanging out at Tres Marias to thwart poachers.

The next day, we visited the villages whose breathtaking mangrove forest and coral reef are the subject of our Fifty Simple Things project. These four communities are working on agreements to establish a 470-acre marine protected area and a 2,410-acre mangrove reserve. After a meeting with community members, we took boats out to the proposed marine area for a snorkel and scuba dive. I had never snorkeled in such wonderful conditions! The coral was healthy and there were many species of fish as well as myriad small jellyfish. Ferdie reported that he saw a Hawksbill turtle and a large blue lobster during his dive. Sadly, he also heard blasts from dynamite fishing in the distance. The four communities are worried about the future of their natural resources and encroachment from outside. The El Nido area's population is growing close to five percent each year, putting more pressure on the reefs. We are proud to work with the ENF on this project, and applaud the foresight of these communities.

We also saw their vast mangrove forest, pictured below right. The villages have already agreed to stop harvesting mangrove wood for making charcoal. Part of the 50 Simple Things project is to provide some cashew-processing equipment for the villages, as cashews from their many orchards are primarily sold unshelled. Shelling and roasting whole cashews will mean that the villages can gain a higher price for their product.

This coastal area is also home to dugongs, and one had been seen the previous day, but in all honesty, I was a little glad I did not see one, as that would have been far too lucky. My trip had enough magic without one! I came away humbled and inspired by all the hard work that the local communities and NGOs are doing in the Philippines to carry out Seacology's goals of protecting island ecosystems and species, while simultaneously improving the quality of life of island people.

Madagascar Delights

2008-07-30T16:00:00Z

Wow. The hype is not hype; Madagascar delivers on its promise of exotic animals, dramatic landscapes, rare botany and friendly people. This island lost in time keeps alive the dream of a faraway land with mystical creatures and magical landscapes.

Seacology's 15 person expedition began with a brief stint in the capital of Antananarivo ("Tana"), and the architecture did not disappoint. A bustling city of nearly two million people, its history is rich with dynasties boasting some of the longest names in the world. To the left is King Andrianampoinmerina's palace which sits on the highest of the capital's 12 hills, standing as a sentinel overlooking the city.

We flew to the extreme south of the island to begin our trek to the project site, a Seacology supported nursery for rare and endangered plants at Ft. Dauphin. Riding for hours over seriously rugged roads, we shared the terrain with a constant chain of Malagasy people traveling on foot -- generally barefoot -- carrying their impossibly heavy wares from market to home and back. The indigenous plant nursery was thriving and we spotted a grove of Madagascar's unusual pitcher plants (right) and a small stand of critically endangered water palms along the way; only four remain in their original habitat.

]]> Our visit to the Berenty Reserve the next morning was a wonder. We were greeted by a Madagascar day gecko, ringtail lemurs (national symbol of Madagascar), and the spectacular dancing lemur, Verreaux's sifaka. Both lemur species are listed as vulnerable. This guy on the left was awesome (photo credit: Kathryn Fox Winokur), and when he graced us with his unlikely ballet our hearts were captured. If you love lemurs too, check out this Monty Python legend who's also goofy for them.

Our next project visit brought us to the remote highlands of Perinet east of Tana, where seven communities have come together to protect the endangered Madagascar flying foxes (fruit bats), vital pollinators for the island's endemic flora. Their lives hold many survival challenges, yet these communities work hard to protect the prehistoric-looking bats in exchange for the 11 new or repaired schools Seacology funded. In their new classrooms, the village children are learning the importance of Madagascar's vibrant natural legacy; they told us the bats gave them their schools. The warm and enthusiastic reception from these highland villagers took our breath away.

While in the region we visited Andasibe National Park to view the native fauna. We caught only a brief glimpse of the Indri -- the island's largest lemur -- but its famous haunting cry could be heard all around us. Our luck held out for sighting the vulnerable brown lemur, the beautiful and endangered black-and-white ruffed lemur, the endangered Diadem sifaka, the odd and brilliant Parson's chameleon (left) and the insanely camouflaged leaf-tailed gecko. It was species heaven!

We traveled west back toward Tana for our last project preview on Mt. Angavokely, a granite dome that juts out starkly from the gently sloping cultivated hills of the area. While Perinet was a bonanza for creature spotting, this striking mountain was a botanist's fantasy. Our robust hike took us to dizzying heights of the mountain, on top of which a small plateau presented us with a thrilling array of rare plants. This toadstool was a favorite. Seacology's efforts here, in conjunction with Madagascar native Dr. Rabakonandrianina, have helped preserve 120 species of orchids found nowhere else on earth, among other treasures. In addition, preserving this great mountain has presented employment opportunities for the surrounding communities through park service and sales of natural handicrafts, encouraging environmentally-friendly tourism. (See the related article, Madagascar: Can tourists help save the "Noah's Ark" of wildlife?)

Visiting Seacology's successful projects halfway around the world was immensely gratifying. Seeing firsthand the mysterious beauty of Madagascar was a privilege and strengthened my understanding of the island's vulnerability. Because of its extraordinary biodiversity, Madagascar is the number one priority in the international community for conservation of endangered species and preservation, and rightly so. Though one of the poorest countries in the world, the Malagasy government plans to increase habitat preservation, both admirable and necessary. Habitat destruction from subsistence farming and charcoal production for a rapidly growing population remains the biggest threat, but they are committed to finding solutions.

As a living world symbol of island species diversity, Madagascar is a priority for Seacology as well. We look forward to supporting even more projects in the future, working with these remarkable people to protect their extraordinary captive zoo. (Right: Diadem sifaka. Photo credit Kathryn Fox Winokur.)

Report from the Philippines

2008-07-22T23:35:22Z

I recently returned from the Philippines, where I visited a total of five Seacology projects with our Philippines Field Representative Ferdie Marcelo. Sadly, we missed one site visit - to the ram pump project and forest protection project at the Municipality of Murcia, Negros Occidental. This was due to Typhoon Fengshun, which started as a tropical depression east of the islands then intensified. It was the first time I had experienced the power of these storms that batter the Philippines so frequently. My hotel in Manila never lost power, and it was strange to see coverage on cable TV of the wildfires ravaging parts of California while the Philippines was hit so hard by high winds and relentless rains.

Our first site visit was to the community of San Pedro, on Biri Island in Samar Province. Seacology has funded the construction of a community-managed medical dispensary in exchange for a 25-acre marine reserve, to be protected for a duration of 20 years.

The community is accessible only by boat, and we we fortunate to visit during the barangay (community) fiesta. The small dispensary is situated on the barangay's plaza, right next to the day care. The structure is nearly complete; wiring will be completed soon.

Shown in the photo is Jhoanne Culo of our local partner project organization Center for Empowerment and Resource Development, Inc. (second from left) and Seacology Philippines Field Representative Ferdie Marcelo (third from left), flanked by two local women who will serve as health care workers once the dispensary opens. The community is respecting the marine protected area, where we snorkeled to observe the regenerating marine life.

Our second site visit was to Barangay Manamoc, Northern Palawan. This village has a population of 1,900. With the assistance of Seacology Germany, Seacology has funded a solar energy system to provide power to the community's schools, barangay hall and medical clinic in exchange for an agreement to protect a 267-acre marine area.]]> The Andres Soriano Foundation has administered the funds and coordinated the project, and foundation representatives were on hand to take us to the island and show us around the community. When the boat reached the island, we were greeted warmly by local schoolchildren, teachers and community leaders.

Our trip around the beautiful islands of the Philippines was then interrupted by the typhoon, but after the weather cleared we flew to Palawan, home to three more Seacology project sites. I'll post more about those visits in two weeks!

Pacific Arts Festival July 20 - August 2

2008-07-21T16:00:00Z

This week kicks off the 10th Pacific Arts Festival, this year hosted by American Samoa. Twenty-seven countries are expected to participate in the festival, bringing their talents, tastes, and tales to Pago Pago in American Samoa.

The Pacific Arts Festival began in 1972 and is held every four years in a different host country. Previous host countries have been Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, French Polynesia, Australia, Cook Islands, Samoa, New Caledonia, and Palau. The festival includes workshops as well as performances and allows each participant country to share and learn from each other. Indeed, the theme of the festival is Su'iga'ula a le Atuvasa: Threading the Oceania 'Ula'. Ula is the Samoan equivalent of lei and according to American Samoa's Governor, Togiola T. A. Tulafono, the theme represents the "coming together of Pacific people to share their values, traditions, and spirit on the soils of Samoa."

]]> The list of events for the two-week celebration of Pacific arts is incredibly inviting: traditional arts, contemporary arts, culinary arts - not to mention fascinating topics like traditional healing arts and navigation and canoeing. Of course, the biggest draw for me would be performing arts. I would love to watch the dancing from all 27 nations. When I studied abroad in Samoa, I wrote my independent studies project about traditional dance and music and the perpetuation of culture through the arts. And as a former Polynesian dancer, I could watch the Hula Kahiko (traditional Hula) and Siva 'Afi (Samoan fire-knife dance, at right) for hours.

Seacology has an astounding 78 projects in Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia combined. I am proud that we are helping those nations most in need. In fact, four of the Pacific countries in which we work are classified by the United Nations as Least Developed Countries: Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

These Pacific nations are very important to me, both personally and professionally. Being so isolated in the Pacific Ocean, it is wonderful to see this gathering at the Pacific Arts Festival. If only we at Seacology could join the fun!

Own Your Own Island

2008-07-10T16:21:39Z

Always wanted to own an island but never thought you could afford it? Then take a peak at the following blog entry:

10 Beautiful Private Islands for Sale (That You Could Actually Afford)

The article highlights 10 islands being sold or auctioned from different sellers that are from different climates, areas of the world and stages of development. Most are for sale for a *fraction* of the cost of buying a new home in, say, the San Francisco Bay Area.

It's a fabulous dream for many of us to have the chance to own an island - now that dream could come true!

Seacology board of directors approves 7 new island projects

2008-06-11T16:00:00Z

I've been at Seacology for nine years now (I was the first paid employee, beating Executive Director Duane Silverstein by around a week). Each time a board meeting comes and passes, I'm astounded at both how time flies, as well as how we have grown as an organization. At their June 9 meeting, Seacology's board of directors approved seven new projects, bringing our total number of projects to 176. Moreover, a really cool milestone has been reached - Seacology now has projects on 100 islands in 44 countries throughout the world.

Wow.

Following are short descriptions of the projects passed by Seacology's board of directors at their June 9 meeting. You can find full descriptions on our website.

AMERICAN SAMOA, Pago Pago Village, Tutuila Island - Phase 3: Eradicate the dense stands of the destructive Falcataria moluccana tree adjacent to the National Park areas of American Samoa (NPSA). *

Left: Children on the mangrove walkway, Wasini Island, Kenya.

]]> INDONESIA, Umbu Langang Village, Sumba Island - Fresh water system in support of the protection of 7,414 acres of rainforest and savannah for a minimum duration of 10 years. *

KENYA, Wasini Island - Rehabilitation and construction of water collection and storage tanks in exchange for the protection of 1,236 acres of mangrove forests for a minimum of 10 years. *

PHILIPPINES, Barangay New Bulatukan, Municipality of Malasila, North Cotabato, Mindanao Island - Micro-hydro power generator and fruit tree nursery in support of the protection of 744 acres of watershed forest for a duration of 30 years.

PHILIPPINES, Palaui Island - Renovation of multi-purpose hall in exchange for the establishment of a 5,369-acre forest reserve (right) for a duration of 20 years.

TUVALU, Nanumea Atoll - Refurbishment of a handicraft center and the establishment of a two-acre lagoon-based mangrove nursery/reserve, and the planting of 1,000 mangrove seedlings along a one-kilometer (.62 mile) coastline for a duration of 10 years.

YAP, Maaq Village - Construction of causeway culverts and extension of the village's household waste system in exchange for a 35-acre pristine mangrove sanctuary as a no-take area in perpetuity.

* Support for asterisked projects is provided fully or in part by the Nu Skin Enterprises Force for Good Foundation.