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Canadian National Parks: Something To Be Proud Of

7 Nov

It was 100 years ago that the National Parks system was created in Canada. The first of its kind in the world, the National Park system has grown to encompass more than 42 National Parks, 4 National Marine Conservation Areas, one National Landmark, and 167 National Historic Sites. Managed by Parks Canada, these areas have been set aside by Canadians to protect them from development, and to preserve the natural landscapes and wildlife of the country. With that I find it fitting to include a gallery of photos of some of the countries national parks, you can see the photos below.

 

Starting with the first national park in 1885, Banff National Park was merely a stepping stone into the network of terrestrial and marine areas in the park system today. By 1911 the Dominion Parks Branch was created, the beginning of our current system, and by 1930 the National Parks Act was put into legislation protecting all National Parks. These parks play a familiar role in the lives of many Canadians, from canoe trips on great rivers, camping in thick boreal forests, to skiing and snowboarding one of the world’s most spectacular mountain ranges. The expansiveness and the privilege of the natural beauty can often be overlooked, however it is important to value what so many other places on earth do not have, a natural beauty that attracts visitors from all over the world to see.

2011 is the anniversary of this century old system and the Royal Canadian Mint is commemorating the milestone with special coins that you might just come across in circulation and a pretty cool commercial as well. So the next time your find yourself in one of Canada’s Parks, take a minute to appreciate not only the wilderness around you, but the effort involved to create such an icon of sustainability in our great country.

Photos courtesy of National Geographic, you can view the gallery on their website here.

You can also visit the Royal Canadian Mint website here.

Music for Today

2 Sep

Another day begins to the sound of rain on the window. Here are some fitting songs to any morning. Enjoy.

All About Japan

12 Mar

In the wake of the recent events in Japan, I was inspired to share some of my favorite short films and videos about Japan. As the death toll pushes into the thousands, I know that the Japanese people will remain strong and push onward through this tough moment in their history. With strong memories of Japan, I was lucky to experience the culture, food, and the people of this wonderful country one warm summer back in 2009. From hiking in the beautiful mountains, early morning Tsukiji sushi stops, riding the Nozomi trains, and meeting cool people in every city, it is a place I always wanted to go back to. Japan has contributed so much to the world, and they are an amazingly friendly, compassionate, respectful and creative people.

Check out some of these videos all about Japan.

A fantastic portrayal of a day in the busy capital city of Tokyo.

Great video by MylesInLondon.

I have to put the dancing storm trooper in Tokyo video up here too.

Another great video by markusman25.

8.9 Earthquake in Japan: Tsunami Videos

11 Mar

1:47am, March 11, 2011. Many in North America will be waking up to news of the earthquake in Japan. The 8.9 magnitude quake was measured by the U.S Geological Survey, with an epicenter 373 kilometers from Tokyo, according to CNN coverage. This massive earthquake comes just a day after a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Japan’s Honshu island. To put this recent quake in perspective, the largest ever recorded earthquake was measured at 9.5 in Chile in 1960.

The earthquake has been said to last for minutes, and could be felt throughout the region. And although tsunami warnings were quickly issued for over 20 countries, it was little warning for the walls of water that are hitting Japan. The process of issuing warnings can offer little help to those areas which would be affected by a tsunami by a tsunami 30 minutes after an earthquake. According to BBC, the waves moved at speeds up to 800km/hr. [Update 3:07am: Tsunami warnings are now being issued as far as Hawaii, and the west coast of the U.S.] Shocking footage of the resulting waves are coming in as media from around the world is covering the story. If you haven’t already seen, you need to watch these videos:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/03/11/sot.tsunami.hit.japan.cnn?hpt=T1

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/03/11/sot.tsunami.hit.japan.cnn?hpt=T1

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/03/11/sot.tsunami.hit.japan.cnn?hpt=T1

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/03/11/sot.tsunami.hit.japan.cnn?hpt=T1

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/03/11/sot.tsunami.hit.japan.cnn?hpt=T1

Home

7 Oct

I just finished watching a documentary called ‘Home’. It’s a film about our home, not the roof over your head but the planet you live in, earth. I sat in my dark living room learning about our planets extraordinary beginnings, and its progression through its own life. Then came humans, you and I, and as the music and images build tension, you start to lose faith in the role of mankind. The film paints a gloomy picture of the effects of humans on the planet, and it builds up to a climax where you think the film couldn’t get any more depressing. But luckily there is a turning point in this film, as the good things that mankind has done, and can do are outlined, leaving you with a spark of hope in a dreary mind.

Here is some of the good and the bad, according to the film:

Over 50% of the grain traded around the world is used as livestock feed or biofuels.

13 million hectares of forest disappear every year.

100L of water produces 1kg of potatoes, 4000L produces 1kg of rice, 13000L produced 1kg of beef.

Since 1950, fishing catches have increased from 18 million to 100 million metric tonnes per year.

The average global temperature in the last 15 years is the highest on record.

1 in 10 rivers in the world no longer reach their delta’s for months at a time due to heavy irrigation.

95% of soybeans produced in Brazil are used to feed livestock and poultry in Europe and Asia.

3/4 of the varieties of crop developed through mankind’s history have been wiped out.

Antarctica has immense natural resources which no country can use for themselves.

2% of the worlds territorial waters are protected, not much, but thats 2 times more than 10 years ago.

13% of the continents of the world are covered in natural parks.

South Korea restored 65% of its depleted forests through reforestation.

The U.S, China, India, Germany and Spain are the biggest investors in renewable energy.

Although the dialogue and text may be a little rough around the edges, the imagery is stunning, and the message is important and clear. We must change.

 

Fall is Here

3 Oct

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I apologize for not posting in a while. I had been working for roughly 2 months straight up north. But recently returned home last week. My time up north for work is very different from my life at home, its a different life that most of my friends, or family do not know much about. This summer in 2009 I experienced more of northern Canada than the 5 years I have been working up there. I am grateful for being able to travel to places in the arctic and see things that few Canadians let alone anyone else ever get a chance to see. For those who are interested, I rather crudely put together some highlights in a short video. You can watch it on my youtube channel, or watch it here:

Its raining outside, and the weather is changing, summer has left us, and fall has taken over. Icy frost on your windshield at the break of dawn, the leaves blowing in the wind across the backyard, and halloween itching closer and closer with each day. So with raindrops stuck to my window on a chilly autumn evening, I decided it was a perfect moment to update my blog.

I have been working in my basement doing long awaited project work these last few days. And trying to enjoy every evening to the best of my ability. What a difference it is to sleep in your own bed after not being able to have that luxury for so long. Some of the many simple things in life that if you take the time to notice, you truly have to appreciate. I think this is going to be a good season, with a possible canoe trip in the works, and halloween just around the corner, and even talks of another journey on the other side of the world. Your life is defined by opportunities, even the ones that pass you by.

Sydney Plagued by Dust Storm

22 Sep

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Karen from Dulwich Hill, in Sydney’s inner west, says she woke up to find the red dust had covered her floors and birds had been blown out of their nests.

“It did feel like Armageddon because when I was in the kitchen looking out the skylight, there was this red, red glow coming through,” she said.

According to witnesses reporting to ABC news in Australia today, its an eerie feeling of Armageddon sweeping across parts of New South Wales including Sydney. You can read the article here.

It is already September 23, 2009 in Australia, and residents in Sydney woke up to something quite surreal this morning when they took a look outside. A dust storm is currently covering the city and is expected to last for most of the day. With a rush of photos emerging on facebook, blogs, and media websites currently, the city looks more like images from mars than the sunny coastal city that most people know Sydney to be.

Winds up to 100km/hr have been pushing red dust from inland Australia to the east coast, blanketing the city in a redish tinge. There has been a spike in calls for emergency services from people with breathing difficulties, ferries have been disrupted and international flights  being cancelled and diverted is causing chaos for passengers. The storm is only expected to get worse, with current winds in the city at 60km/hr but expected to gust up to 100km/hr later in the day.

And exclusive to fivepuddles.com are some photos taken recently in Sydney. Thanks to my friend Teall for these.

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