Traveling Back to Florida

If you're reading this, you will know that I am on the road again!  Traveling back to Florida, from Montreal!  I am beginning a fabulous new project, one which I have dreamed of doing my whole life!  I will be producing a Children's half-hour TV Show for WGCU Public Media (PBS) in Fort Myers, so lots of work, but an amazing opportunity to share knowledge, inspire kids to get outside and discover the marvels of the natural world, promote wellness and demonstrate our interconnectedness to the Earth and each other!

I will be resuming my Blog Posts in a few weeks, so please come back and visit!  In the meantime, if you scroll through the archives, you will find a wealth of information and ideas as well as links to some great stories and resources!

I hope your summer is going well and that we will connect again soon!
In gratitude for life and this precious Earth,
Rosie

The Boys Do Their Share!

It’s a weird thing, that three o’clock in the morning, wide-awake situation that happens every now and then.  Usually I just toss and turn, counting sheep and reciting every mantra I’ve ever learned ad nauseum; but this a.m. I was zapped with a sudden inspiration to write this Post.

Father’s Day’s coming up (June 20^th) and my interest in all things “father” was peaked by Natural Papa's Blog Post featuring the Good Men Project.    (Interesting that it is also World Solar Day June 19^th and the Sun is called “Father Sun”  by many indigenous peoples.)

  

Obviously I think it’s really important to nurture environmental stewardship in both boys and girls, however, through my experience visiting hundreds of schools I have noticed that girls seem to gravitate more toward eco-clubs and earth-friendly projects.   I am sure it all evens out as they all grow into adulthood, but nevertheless it can do no harm to share with kids some of the male role models in nature whose paternal attributes are worthy of notice.

Here are some examples to share with your kids or students:

1.  The Sea Horse:  This uniquely delightful fish is one of the only animal species on earth in which the male bears the unborn young!

2. Emperor Penguins: While the females make an arduous trek in search of food, it is the males who delicately balance and protect the eggs from the bitter cold elements.

3.  Emu:  The female emu lays the eggs, but it is the male who incubates them and once hatched, takes care of the chicks for up to six months!

If we are to overcome the challenges of the future, we need every boy and girl to understand that it is all of our responsibilities to care for and protect the living systems of this earth.  World Governments voted last week to set up an international body to spearhead the battle against the destruction of the natural world!  Imagine that we have to do such a thing!  One day, our children’s children will look back on this time and say “what were they thinking?”

Song: The Boys Do Their Share!– sing the song to celebrate this Father’s Day!

And here’s a Fun Video: Why's Daddy Crying? -  by JC Little of Little Animation Inc.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I am writing shorter posts over the summer, particularly over the next week or so, as I am traveling and working on a new project.  I will, however, be writing from time to time and come the fall will continue with more prolific posts!  I appreciate those of you who are followers and anyone who happens to take the time to read my ramblings!  Have a great week!

In gratitude for life and this precious Earth!

Rosie

Photo of Penguins: Ian Duffy - Wikimedia Commons

The Ocean is Bleeding.

I was going to take a break from blogging over the summer, and I confess that my posts will be shorter and slightly less in-depth; however the practice seems to have seeped into my weekly routine and therefore I am going to try and write some short pieces and share information I find along the way!

Obviously the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has heightened everyone’s awareness of the fragility of the oceans, the vulnerability of our dependence upon its bounty and the devastating effects our reliance on oil has wrought.  With globs of red tar washing up on Florida beaches last week I heard a newscaster say that it was almost as if the ocean was bleeding.  As my heart breaks with every picture of an oil covered bird, marsh grasses tainted brown and fisher folk despairing over how they will survive the future, I wonder how we explain all this to the children.

Educator David Sobel cautions us to be careful of how much doom and gloom we expose young children to and yet with this recent incident it is hard to imagine that children have escaped the painful images.  Perhaps one way to talk to children about such events is to focus on the gifts and beauty that the oceans provide; and to remind them that while we are currently so dependent on oil, that in their lifetimes they will bear witness to an incredible transformation as we switch to clean Energy sources.  Get them excited about this, ask them about their ideas to become part of the Solution!! 

Learning about the ocean must also include learning the basics about water – here is a great website with Resources and links.  World Ocean Day is June 8^th – maybe a bit late to organize something this week, but plan for next year, although simply acknowledging and celebrating the ocean on that day is a start!  The Smithsonian’s  Ocean Portal provides a wonderful view into the ocean for anyone to explore with an Educators Corner providing resources.

Songs:  The Coral reef song and Dolphin teach Us To Play are up on my MySpace Page  and Raffi's Baby Beluga is always a favorite!  Sing one of them on World Ocean Day!

Story:  Here is an amazing website with Stories of the Ocean from around the world!

Yes, the oil spill is a terrible disaster that will have repercussions for years, but lets hope that out of it may come a stronger resolve to lessen our collective addiction to oil and work to bring clean energy solutions everywhere.

Have a great week everyone.

In gratitude for life and this precious Earth!

Rosie

More Clean Energy Resources:

http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/

Drawings by: Rosie Emery

PS If you'd like to become part of my new Kids CD "I Saw Butterflies Kissing Today!", please pledge your support to be the first to receive it! Thank you!