Vote Earth! Switch Off Lights For Earth Hour

In March, 2009, world leaders meet in Copenhagen to agree on a post-Kyoto policy for tackling climate change. One billion people voting with their light switch during Earth Hour will create a powerful mandate for our leaders to take strong and decisive action on climate change in Copenhagen. Earth Hour is asking us to help spread the word about the importance of turning your lights out for one hour at 8.30pm on March 28. In California the Golden Gate Bridge goes dark, in Times Square the Coca Cola billboard goes dark, and so much more. This is a call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet.

To learn more, click here:

www.earthhour.com

In the Shadow of a Rainbow

The following story was emailed to me by my good friend, Jeff Billings. It was so inspirational - both  from the photographer's determination and the spiritual aspect - that I wanted to share it with you. After a brief Google search, I was able to contact the photographer, Tom Sears, and obtain his permission to do so. Tom asked that I include his web address, saying that the sales of his photographs are his only source of income except for Social Security. Sound familiar? Sooo, here's his web address:   www.tomsears.com     And, here's Tom's story . . .

The Bears and I

Black bears typically have two cubs; rarely, one or three. In 2007, in northern New Hampshire, a black bear Sow gave birth to five healthy young. There were two or three reports of sows with as many as four cubs, but five was, and is, extraordinary. I learned of them shortly after they emerged from their den and set myself a goal of photographing all five cubs with their mom - no matter how much time and effort was involved. I knew the trail they followed on a fairly regular basis, usually shortly before dusk. After spending nearly four hours a day, seven days a week, for six weeks, I had that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and photographed them. I used the equivalent of a very fast film speed on my digital camera. The print is properly focused and well exposed, with all six bears posing as if they were in a studio for a family portrait.

I stayed in touch with other people who saw the bears during the summer and into the fall hunting season. All six bears continued to thrive. As time for hibernation approached, I found still more folks who had seen them, and everything remained OK. I stayed away from the bears as I was concerned that they might become habituated to me, or to people in general, as approachable friends. This could be dangerous for both man and animal.

After Halloween I received no further reports and could only hope the bears survived until they hibernated.

This spring, before the snow disappeared, all six bears came out of their den and wandered the same familiar territory they trekked in the spring of 2007.

I saw them before mid-April and dream nightly of taking another family portrait, an improbable second once-in-a-lifetime photograph.

On April 25, 2008, I achieved my dream.

When something as magical as this happens between man and animal, Native Americans say, "We have walked together in the shadow of a rainbow."

And so it is with humility and great pleasure that I share these photos with you.

Sincerely, Tom Sears

First Decent Snowfall of the Year

This is a photograph - taken January 1, 2004 - of the cabin where I lived in Wild Basin.

Melody is standing in the snow in front of the cabin.

I have since moved to another location two miles away.

We finally received, what I consider, our first really decent snowfall this winter.  Although, I have yet to venture outside, it's up to Diana's stomach when she went out a little before 5 a.m. this morning.

I love quotes and one-liners; and since Thoreau's writings have had a major influence on my life-style, I would like to share the following verse by him . . .

I frequently tramped eight or ten miles

    through the deepest snow to keep an appointment

        with a beech-tree, or a yellow birch,

            or an old acquaintance among the pines.

                                        - Henry David Thoreau

Today is The Day!

Is There Only One?

On January 2, I voiced my concerns for the well-being of our wild brothers and sisters and put out an invitation for others to join me in the formation of an organization for their protection. The next day, I followed up with a few ideas regarding focus, organization, etc., etc.

So far, only ONE person has responded. Are there no more? Once again, I put out an invitation; NO, this time it's a plea. Please, our wild brothers and sisters need our help. Contact me:

Weldon Lee

P.O. Box 487

Allenspark, CO  80510

303.747.2074

weldon@weldonlee.com

Change.gov

President-elect Barack Obama has a website, where you can ask questions regarding issues that concern you; and, vote for or against issues raised by others.

Please go to this site and cast your vote regarding the need to protect our wild brothers and sisters.

1.  Sign in at http://change.gov/openforquestions   You will have to set up a log-in for yourself at that site to vote

2.  In the "Search questions" box, type the word WILDLIFE

3.  Every post containing the word wildlife will appear. Scroll through the list and cast your vote for those questions that address concern for protecting wildlife.

Please cast your vote as soon as possible, as the voting may close at any time.

Your vote will let the Obama Administration know that you, along will millions of other Americans, are concerned about the fate of our wild brothers and sisters.

Don't forget to post a question. Although not a question, this is what I posted (before eliminating a number of characters in order to fit the available space) . . .

There are so many issues facing our wild brothers and sisters - the stripping of legal protection for some and the failure to protect others. The problems are not limited to the U.S. They are global. Henry David Thoreau wrote, "In wildness is the preservation of the world." Let us cherish and protect those wild places and the creatures that inhabit them.

A Few Ideas of My Own

Tabatha Osborne, a good friend and fellow photographer who posted a comment on the blog just below this one, asked for me send her an email containing a few of my ideas concerning an organization for the protection of wildlife around the world. However, I believe it is important that I also share my thoughts with others, especially since my vision regarding the proposed, new organization is all about YOU and our wild brothers and sisters.

First, I want to make it clear that the organization being formed will not belong to me or any other individual. My vision is that it will be a non-profit entity, administered by a group of individuals that share my love and passion for our wild brothers and sisters, along with an army of volunteers who share that same compassion. TOGETHER, WE CAN SAVE OUR WILD BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

Here are the steps . . .

Prioritize the issues and determine which one/ones to tackle first

• Global climate change
• Zero population growth
• Save the Polar Bear
• Wildlife corridors

Frame the issue creatively and buy the web domain

• SavingWildlife.org
• WildlifeInPeril.org
• ZeroHour.org

Build a website

• Domain registrars (GoDaddy.com)

Give people an action to take

• Write their Representative (USAlone.com)
• Petition (PetitionOnline.com)

Blog

• News
• Organizing

Enlist complementary partners

• Staff
• Expertise
• Connections
• Money

Put together a business plan

Incorporate

• non-profit

Form a broad coalition

• Reciprocal links
• Email blast
• Press conference

Enlist a dedicated politician

Get publicity

• talk shows
• columnists
• street actions
• press conference

Ask for money

• Paypal

Ideas for consideration:

   I.  Issues (locally and worldwide) that need to be addressed

       A.  Global warming and climate change

       B.  Habitat destruction

       C.  Apathy

       D. Stripping legal protection

       E.  Expose lies perpetrated by corporations and governments

       F.  Poaching

       G.  More greenbelts in metropolitan areas

       H.  Corridors between greenbelts, parks, and wilderness areas

     for the maintenance of healthy gene pools

      among animal populations

        I.  Zero population growth

        J.  Etc., etc., etc.

 II.  Focus on items that fall through the "cracks"

       of other environmental organizations

III.  Involve school children around the world

       A.  Develop syllabus

       B.  Make the syllabus to teachers at no cost to them

IV.  Utilize utube

       A.  Apply the Obama Campaign's method

     of using utube for success to our campaigns

       B.  Contact public frequently via email

     regarding issues and successes

       C.  Ask for small donations

 V.  Work together with other organizations

       on specific campaigns

I welcome any and all thoughts, ideas, and suggestions. Together, we can make a difference.