Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Mining the Moon: Energy for 10,000 Years

10,000 Years Worth of Potential Energy in Moons Helium Reserves
In 2004, then President George Bush announced his vision to send another manned mission to the Moon by 2020. To many, the Presidents interest in the Moon, like most of Mr. Bush's interests seemed almost childlike. Most when thinking about the excitement of the lunar landing remeber the space race, as the United States and Russia struggled to demonstrate who's ideologies would be at the forefront of world adoration. Until last Monday, July 20th, the anniversary of the first lunar landing, I had forgotten about Mr. Bush's adolescent day dreams and the excitement of the space race. So began my research into potential reasons that another trip to the Moon might actually prove worthwhile. I knew of little that could be accomplished from such a mission other than a few nice pictures and the stroking of the American pride. To my suprise, I stumbled across information on Moon mining and what seemed like an L. Ron Hubbard esque substance that could potentially yield enough clean energy to power the world for 10,000 years called Helium 3. Scientists believe that this substance laying in the soils of the Moon is potentially pollution free and would generate only slight amounts of radioactive waste. Being dubbed the, "second Moon race" it seems there may be more players in competition for this clean relatively everlasting resource . Since Oct. 4th 1957 when Russia put Sputnik into orbit the United States, France, Japan, China, UK, India, Israel, Ukraine, Russia and Iran have all sent rockets into space. With enough energy to cleanly power the world until the year 12,000 the seond trip to the Moon may shape up to be more then a sight seeing tour.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Opening the Lens to Sustainability

Ed kashi -Nigeria, 2006 Series: Curse of the Black Gold: 50 Years of Oil in the Niger Delta

The Prix Pictet is an award presented each year by former head of the U.N. and Prix Pictet Honorary President Kofi Annan. The prize symbolizes the best in combining artistic photography with contemporary sustainability issues. From deforestation to famine the award recognizes images that hope to inspire compassion and action aimed at educating the world on the scars being left on the face of the world by humanity.

Bush Era Loggin Expansion Halted by Obama Administration... Hip Hip Hoooray

Northern Spotted Owl 1 - Bush Administration 0
Among the many duche-bag moves the Bush administration made one that hit very close to home was the WOPR or the Western Oregon Plan Revision. This WOPR's direct goal was to open 2.6 million acres of land from Salem to Roseburg and over to Coos Bay for logging. The old growth forest of the Pacific Northwest were at even great risk until yesterday when Interior Secretary Ken Salazar noticed that the proposed plan broke the law. What the federal government has come to discover is that the science of the proposed logging "revision" had been purposefully and illegally skewed by the former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife Julie MacDonald. If it was that easy for a former Deputy Assistant to revise scientific information for personal and political agenda you can only imagine what the more powerful decision makers have had there fingers in. This decision not only comes to the defense of some of the most beautiful old growth temperate rainforest in the country but it also comes to the defense of the endangered Norhtern Spotted Owl.

To read a more detailed article click here.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

The Lost Coast


Lost Rocks


Lost Rocks


Lost Rocks


Moonstone Beach


The Promontory (in the foreground to the right)

July 4th afforded Alyssa and I the opportunity to venture south. Having heard from Aaron and Keri about the great bouldering next to the Humboldt county surf we made our way Thursday night to Golds Beach campground in Prairie Creek Redwoods National Forest. The campsite was of great demand and to our dismay but not our surprise the first come first serve campground was full-up with Oregonians, Wash-a-tonians and Californians. With a little luck we snuck my little truck into the single parking spot left and transferred our supplies to the cab laying 0ut our sleeping pads in the bed and spending the night in the truck, out of the sight of the pesky rangers.

Waking the next morning to the sound of the surf inspired us to venture about 5 miles north on highway 101 to the beach directly south of the Klamath River delta, Klamath Beach aka Lost Rocks. Being early enough out to the beach we were the first to hit some classic problems made famous by Joe Kinder and Chris Linder in Spray. The fog stayed on strong throughout the day but the rock miraculously stayed dry. We spent the majority of the day taking in the scenery napping on the beach and climbing some great problems.

That evening we ventured inland to the Kamp Klamath campsite where we were surprised to meet our new friends Brian and Maria. Both of whom were also from Minnesota and had attended the University of Wisconsin River Falls. Sharing a campfire we talked for a few hours as elk rustled in the woods not far away.

The next morning we headed for Arcata to spend some quality holiday time in style. Fortunate for us we found a hotel on the town square and spent the day at the local fair and the night watching fireworks. Arcata is an interesting town, as a seaside industry hub and settling ground for the die hard hippies of the sixties it makes for an interesting mix of art galleries and warehouses.

On Sunday we decided to briefly visit Moonstone Beach. Known as much for its surf as its bouldering we started our day with some great climbs and good views of the local swells. Unfortunately, Alyssa's cold had gone from bad to worse and we decided to call it quits and make the journey back home. On our way we pulled over to look at what was to be the icing on our cake The Promontory, a sport climbing spot just off of 101. We both decided it was a good reason to come back and continued the seven hour hike back to Portland.

The foggy weekend was one of the most gorgeous we have ever had. The scenery is beyond words and left us both wanting more.