Wednesday, December 31, 2008

My wish for 2009....

"Today is all bare and bright, bare limbs and bright sky and I thought there is a way to face the truth we actually know far inside us, our nakedness, our peril, and let it invigorate every cell. There is a way of becoming so alive that anything on earth that happens is a privilege."
Margery Latimer 1928

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Introducing Thalia Chaltas


I can't wait, I can't wait! I've been saying this to Thalia since she first told me of her debut novel. Up until today I did not know the title or subject matter, she kept her cards very close to her, sharing little and inciting great interest. I will admit that I love books and yes, have a fascination with Young Adult literature. Really, who can resist Harry Potter or the Twilight phenomenon? (If these two references elude you... go directly to the sites and start educating yourselves.) There are also the books by Philip Pullman, Juliet Marillier, do I need to even mention JRR Tolkein?!

I have been waiting ever patiently for Thalia to announce the release of her book. Like most publishing endeavors I'm sure there are many hurdles. So I kept checking the internet waiting, hoping to find more information. Today I hit the motherload ... the book is listed at AMAZON as well as several pre-release reviews HERE and HERE and HERE.

The release date is April 16th, 2009, I don't know how I will be able to stand it. The reviews are already pronouncing tremendous literary success which will be the precursor to many more novels in future. I'm already proud and thrilled. It's wonderful to be witness to the success of a friend and fellow artist. Bravo Thalia!!

Monday, December 15, 2008

Take Action


It's the holidays and it's also the time between, time between our incoming President Elect and outgoing President. It's a time when things fall through the political cracks as we glide through the holidays with our focus on family and friends. In a year full of upheavals and a very long political campaign, everyone is tired, most are worried, if not downright anxious about what is to come. However, the current administration will continue on making decisions for the collective "us" until inauguration day on January 20th. They are making decisions and hoping we're not looking. For instance.... approving drilling in our sacred natural spaces like Dixie National Forest and the Red Rock Wildnerness in Southern Utah.

photo credit Robert Riberia web page here

Environmentalist are doing their best to keep track of all that is being considered and are asking those of us who care about the preservation of these amazing natural wonders to speak out. They go so far as to prepare letters for you that can be easily emailed to your state representatives. I'm putting in the links so that you can go directly to the action pages where you can make your voice heard.

Whether or not you personally have interest in these incredible parks and forests how about your children? your grandchildren? I certainly think they are worth shouting about.

Here is where to have your say.... note there are two separate action letters, one for each location, the forest and the redrocks.

A note from Robert Redford on the NRDC website:

Stop Bush's Giveaway of America's Redrock Wilderness
Tell the Bush Administration to cancel the December 19 auction of Utah's Redrock wilderness to oil and gas speculators. These natural treasures belong to the American people in perpetuity. They are not Bush and Cheney's to give away. Once the drilling begins, this majestic wilderness can never be restored. Please SEND YOUR MESSAGE opposing this disastrous plan.

Tell the Bush administration not to allow destructive drilling in Dixie National Forest
Go to Natural Resource Defense Council and TAKE ACTION

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Hurray for the polar bears!

News from the Natural Resources Defense Council
Dear Nicole,

I'm thrilled to report a major victory for polar bears, endangered bowhead whales and other species that live in and around the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

A federal appeals court has just ruled that the Bush Administration's approval of Shell's plan to drill for oil next to the Refuge in Alaska's Beaufort Sea is illegal.
NRDC and Earthjustice -- along with a coalition of Alaska Native organizations and conservation groups -- went to federal court and proved that Shell's rush to industrialize this fragile ecosystem posed a greater threat to wildlife and the Inupiat people than the Bush Administration was willing to admit.

Now the court is sending the government back to the drawing board to study and disclose the "significant harm" that Shell’s drilling could cause.

Our courtroom victory shows that oil companies can't get away with simply killing wildlife and destroying the Inupiat's way of life, which depends on that wildlife.

The government's own experts predicted that drilling in the Beaufort would cause at least one oil spill, which would have been an unmitigated disaster for wildlife as there is no known method for cleaning up oil in this icebound sea.

That's why we are so determined to keep Shell -- and all the oil companies -- out of our most sensitive Arctic environments.

Thank you again for steadfastly standing with us and defending the coastline of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge!

Sincerely,
Frances Beinecke
President
Natural Resources Defense Council

P.S. The polar bear is not out of danger yet. In fact, right now NRDC is fighting the Bush Administration, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and America's biggest polluters for the sake of polar bear survival. DONATE NOW to help us win two critical cases that could help save the polar bear from rampant industrialization of its home.
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