This land has been calling.

This desert nourishes.

It sounds like a metaphor, but the truth is, I’ve lost my appetite for food since arriving  here. All I hunger for are the sounds of the desert. Which is not to be confused with silence.

People who are raised in the city think it’s quiet in the wilderness, and once they get there they can’t sleep because of all the noise.

As we walked over the red sand stone, imagining the scarring and imprints as snow angels made by God rather than geological imprints~ I remembered something Any Lipkis once thought about out loud~ what if nature has created us to be it’s healer?

Celia asks what if the desert was calling to me not because I needed her/it/him, but because she/he/it needed me? Called because she/he/it needed to be adored, to be admired in awe and and have her magnificence and beauty reflected to her as pure perfection as a new lover does before they meet our shadow…

New stories begging to be told flood in, old stories knock on the door, my hands physically ache when a chance encounter placed me before someone who tells me that stories come  to me be told….and on a cold morning walk with my breath clouding before me,  I consider how to write my obituary~ will it be written through the lens of a lover and admirer, or someone disastified between the difference between potential and how the life was actually spent?

This land is still. Celia says the locals say people think of Moab as a place where they can eddy out of life. The river rolls gently through town, no crazy rapids requiring complete focus and attention, no epic momentum propelling you forward, it is easy to get off and sit for awhile.

And now…for the letter that inspired this…..

So~ while in deep consult about next steps ~ I was advised to request the support of magic from my friends. And so I am reaching out to you on this day of the new moon. If you are in Berkeley~ and feel called to meet at my house for a little magic, or dance a little magic at ecstatic dance, I would welcome the opportunity to be in person this eve. If not~ can I be so bold as to request that you hold my intention in the highest light~ and perhaps even send a line or 2 of blessing I can print and place into the bowl in the center of my alter? Thank you~ I realize this is quite a request~ and I feel beyond grateful that I have a flock of allies such as yourself I can ask to throw light into the bowls.

One bowl I am holding is  for People and the Planet: I woke this morning from a dream where I was unraveling a batik banner that a bunch of us had made~ it was for people and the planet. The word on the banner: INSPIRE. I asking the universe and my community to call in the people and resources who can help midwife this project into life in right timing, right action, and in joyful way~ that this a great affective and efficient team of allies come together to create and distribute a meaningful offering and stories that help with the great transition in the world.

The second bowl I am holding is for my novel. I have identified a midwife, and even a completion date for the 2nd draft (Dec 31, 2011). It’s an ambitious goal, and will require a lot of focus and a rewiring of the daily schedule and capacity to show up in community. It will required the continued financial support from the universe to afford my writing midwife, and perhaps a short time away of focused writing.

Both of these projects are calling, harassing, tapping, on my shoulder and psyche. Both are requesting that I break through some very old and deep and crunchy stuff in the core of my resistance~ My prayer is that this be done with an ease and grace that will surprise and delight!

This morning I built two alters~ one for each of these projects~ birds have been flying for the first time outside the window of my desk. Humming birds have been perching outside my window. Energy is moving. I hope you will join me in moving some more. And in case you think I’ve gone all crazy~ I will be sending out a few letters of support for People and the Planet, and then getting out of the way while the energy we builds until Jan 2012.

Sending you all love and light and deliciousness, and all my love,
Leah

It was an epic adventure to shoot this initial segment~ only because we landed on Maui the day the tsunami arrived. You can hear all the sortid details about our first shoot and interview with Rebecca Goff about AquaCranial Healing here. It’s one thing to talk about telling people you are going to tell people a story about a woman who heals with whales, but it’s entirely thrilling to get to show people a 3 minute film introduction. Of course~ now the next phase begins, which includes introducing the next feature stories and raising the funds to complete this project. Our next step with this short is to interview scientists on the healing nature of the ocean and the electromagnetic energy of whales, in addition to interviewing some of Rebecca’s clients. There is one story I find particularly inspiring and hope to tell~ it is a young girl who was told she had 6 months to live, and after her contact with dolphins and AquaCranial~ has continued to live for another 6 years. I know~ you’re raising your eye brows and filled with reasonable skepticism. So was I, until I experienced it for myself and had my world rocked.  I’ll have to do an update on that in another post.

So here is your taste of what People and the Planet is up to~ if you are interested in getting involved~ don’t hesitate to drop me a line. We are in the process of building our team as we prepare to launch the next series of films.

If you want to see a few more images of the behind the scene shoot in Maui, check them out here.

Many thanks to all of the people who made this possible~
Produced by: Micro Documentaries
Director & Cinematographer: Ben Henretig
Additional whale footage by: Wild Focus Films
Find out about Rebecca Goff and Aquacranial Therapy

Our local sponsors in Maui:

The Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau

The Launa Kai Resort

If you feel a deep desire to find out how this vision came to be~ Feel free to check out the initial call out video posted on Kickstarter (we now except tax deductible donations via our fiscal sponsor)

Still want more? Check out this introduction to the project on Huffington Post: Sex, Pandas, Kittens, and Swimming with Whales – Reclaiming the way we talk about the environment

Intensely aware of how they shape our belief systems, paying specific attention to how they shape our belief systems re: what we believe is possible for the future.

The earth quake in Japan has rocked our world, allowing us to feel the impact of our connection~ making the “oneness” so many speak about make sense in extremely tangible terms. How the actions of one nation, one individual, literally has a ripple affect, through the wind, through the water, to influence all in it’s path.

I am watching my communities in the bay area take the potential earthquake preparedness to a new level, even dawning the term, “resilience training.” At first I liked the term: it seemed to claim a different kind of ownership over the term, “disaster preparedness.”

I read an article in TreeHugger today that spoke about the term resilience vs. sustainability. It stated that the sustainability movement was never on the right track given our current models of production..were never… sustainable. They say we should be aiming for a resilience model. There’s that word again.

But then today~ A trend in my news feed shouted a little louder today: New England is speaking about their “battle with the ocean,” a story coming out of Iceland headlined, “A killer whale is terrorizing residents.” Read closer, and the battle with the ocean speaks about how houses are built too close too the shore line, and the Orca in Iceland was captured and placed in a small enclosed area to draw tourists. This is what causes fear in me: when I see common language used to describe our relationship with the world associated with war.  All of a sudden, I didn’t like the term resilience any more, after all, check out what it means:

Well Boo Hoo. It feels…too negative to me. It sounds like we are preparing to survive a war with mother nature. I searched for other terms, and returned to the language we used when I worked as a wilderness guide when we taught youth  the ancient methods of building a fire using a bow drill. We called it self reliance.

Is that what we are going for as we move towards a more sustainable model of living? Self reliant communities, neighborhoods, and individuals who aren’t dependent upon a industrial model that can’t continue?

noun: reliance on one’s own abilities, decisions

But something is still missing~ the word feels cold to me, not fully connected, too independent. So I rolled the word around in my mouth and I heard the alliance in the word.

And THAT feels good. Yes. Alliance training.

The definition (since I knew you were curious):

• a connection based on kinship or marriage or common interest; “the shifting alliances within a large family”; “their friendship constitutes a powerful bond between them”
• an organization of people (or countries) involved in a pact or treaty

And now we are cooking for fire: yes, I want my disaster preparedness, my self sufficiency training, my continued learning about living sustainably on the planet that involves a give take relationship with the planet, my permaculture course to be categorized under:

“Alliance Training.”

Alliance with the natural cycles and seasons of the earth, alliance and respect for animals in the way that I treat and consume them for nourishment, alliance in how I relate to the natural world~as I take part in both loving, and restoring, and yes, alliance with how I respond and recover from large storms, earth quakes, and other naturally occurring events that affect and destroy built societies. Alliance makes me think that even in the face of crisis, we are working together. It’s like signing a contract of marriage~ there will be good days, and there will be bad days, but we are aligned to make it through, we are aligned to stay in relationship. And that is what I want my relationship with the natural world to feel like as we move through this shifting time…aligned.

So I’m signing up for alliance training.

You can read this update in one of 3 ways: skim for the pretty pictures, hit the headlines that speak to the topics you find appealing, or practice the ancient art of reading for the details. I will also note that since the series will go into great detail about how AquaCranial and healing with whales works…this update will focus on a few behind the scenes stories of our first shoot, and you’ll have to watch the video to get the rest!

Meanwhile~ feel free to hang with us in real time on Facebook and twitter.  We wouldn’t be able to share this story without the support of our fiscal sponsor, The Baum Foundation, our backers on kickstarter, The Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau for sponsoring our travel, and the Launa Kai Resort for sponsoring the hotel accommodations.

Remind me what People and the Planet is again? (I forget) People and the Planet was born out of the desire to fill the main stream news and information stream with stories (video and feature articles) that reconnect people to the healing capabilities of the natural world. Just imagine what it might feel like if you were see headlines about earthquakes, war in Libya, and nuclear plant failures next to a story about a woman who is healing people in the presence of whales? The purpose of the 26 part multimedia series is to support and feed a more balanced news stream of information. While our planet is facing some of the largest challenges of our time, we are also learning to live sustainably and in harmonious relationship with the planet at the same time. These will be the stories that will sustain a balance of hope and action as well as give practical skills that will get us through these challenging times.

You swam with whales in Maui? Ha! I wish! With that said, Maui is the hub of the Pacific Humpback whale (approx. 10,000 whales travel through the winter months) and is where Rebecca Goff is based and developed AquaCranial, a healing modality that takes  place in the ocean and addresses both physical and emotional ailments. Whales play a role by informing the modality, and their sound permeates our body’s tissues and bones. (I know you want more info: you’ll have to wait for the video!) 

How did your shoot go? I want the full story! I could tell you that everything went perfectly, but that would be a bold faced lie, and impossible in the wake of a tsunami. Within hours of landing on Maui, the earthquake in Japan occurred and sirens were ringing and police were patrolling the streets evacuating in preparation for the tsunami that was due to hit Hawaii. So we packed our bags and headed for the hills. Literally. We returned to our condo at 4:30am, so needless to say, our plans to go out on the boat at 6am the next morning were squelched. The next day we watched as the tsunami continued to surge (nothing quite like watching the ocean rush up a stream). Glenn and Kimberly, who had flown in to attend the workshop we would be shooting, headed out on a hike. Meanwhile, Ben and I met with Rebecca to discuss our options for the day. I was thrilled that Ben Henretig could be part of this project. He is the co-founder of micro documentaries and is a rare blend of extremely talented cinematographer, editor, and master of creating a short form documentaries designed to succeed online (the cherry on top is that he is also a pleasure to work with). Ben and I figured we would use the day to get as much b-roll (additional video we would use to illustrate the interview) as possible. During the pre-interview Rebecca shared how she first learned about the healing affect of water on her; as a child she was hyperactive, and her parents discovered if they put her under a waterfall it would calm her down. Now before I continue, I need to provide a picture of Rebecca to you~ the terms, “larger than life” and “force of nature” come to mind. When with Rebecca you enter into a stream of stories about her experiences with whales, the ocean, the Kingdom of Tonga, the dolphins, life on Hawaii, her experiences with healing babies and pregnant mothers. As Rebecca shared stories about her life, I quickly understood how important it must have been to learn how to harness and focus all of that energy. So I did what any producer would do on the 1^st day of a 3 day shoot that is supposed to take place in the ocean when interrupted by a tsunami. I asked Rebecca to take us to a waterfall and show us.  So into the jungles we went (I found out later this waterfall was a location used in Jurassic Park). I got to stand in as she demonstrated (and freeze my but off~which was not in my contract).

The next day we went out on kayaks to work with a group of children. At Rebecca’s core, she is dedicated to being of service to the needs of children, and offers free clinics to youth and newborns where she teaches therapists in training. We followed Glenn and Kimberly as they kayaked with the kids into deep water, and then hopped out of the kayaks to learn the AquaCranial technique. Meanwhile, Glenn stuck his head in the water for a moment and came up with the most surprised look on his face. “WHALES!” he said. And sure enough, all you had to do is dip your head into the ocean and you could hear the whales singing. (You can hear the whales singing for yourself by checking out this raw footage. I love this clip because it demonstrates how people are working on the surface of the planet, and the whales are doing what they do best under ceiling of the ocean.) (I know you want to know what the heck I’m talking about, you’ll have to wait for the video and accompanying articles).

We slept well that night, but not for long.

We woke in the dark, and met at a boat landing lit by the stars. The mission was to fit two days into one by shooting the deep-water treatment we had to cancel on the first day, (and given that we would be going out into the open ocean had high hopes of coming into close contact with whales*) as well as shoot the children’s clinic in the afternoon.

Roger Payne, who produced the first sound recording of a whale, says that, “…There is no way to get a whale to adopt to a human time scale.” When I was a natural history guide I learned that whales arrive upon their own desires, needs, and curiosities, and when you travel into the wilds to have experiences with them the only thing you can do is hope for the best, and decide to enjoy every moment of the experience. We were provided the opportunity to explore what it means to be effected by (and potentially healed) by something you can not see (aka, we didn’t have close encounters with whales*). On a less philosophical note we are also grateful to be collaborating with the talented Marnie Harrison of Wild Focus Films who has spent years filming whales with Rebecca.

After a few hours of touring the area, we shot Rebecca demonstrating a deep-water treatment on Glenn. A side note: Rebecca explained that where you receive your treatments will influence how it affects you. For example, when you go to a psychologist, your thinking patterns are addressed, when you go to a heart surgeon, your vascular/muscular system is addressed. In this case, deep water affects your consciousness, and shore treatments are good for body adjustments.

After the boat, we headed to the beach to shoot the newborn babies clinic~

C’mon, what was it like to get a treatment in the ocean? While immersed in the experience of  conveying the healing nature of water via this production, I actually experienced it in several profound ways. During the entire shoot the question lingered, “Why are we shooting a film about how the ocean can play a role in a healing process in the wake of a tsunami?” I will continue to ponder,  but I can share it was the perfect beginning to this series~ that as the world experiences forces of nature that are destructive, we are hear to tell to the story that balances our understanding and reminds us that the natural world can be the ultimate source of health and wellness.

During the 3 day shoot there were several moments when I experienced stress or doubt. I share this not so sexy side so I can also share that as soon as I dipped in the ocean or jumped in the pool I instantly refocused and joyful about what we were doing. The fear and stress and chatter in th eback of my mind that we were going to blow our chance to share this amazing story with the world subsided. As for what an AquaCranial treatment felt like~ well! It’s hard to articulate to be true, and I didn’t have a specific physical ailment of issue I was there to address. (Rebecca has hundreds of stories of treating children with severe physical disabilities, children with cancer, athletes with injuries). On the day that Rebecca and Ashley worked on me and used the tuning fork, what I can share is that a surge of emotion rose, that when I got out of the water, I felt very open, very raw, like something in me had shifted, and I felt…gentle. In the following days I noticed I was able to navigate the waters of life in a more fluid way~ and was able to respond to situations where people were edgy and snappy in a less reactive way.  I recently learned how the effect of the earthquake literally moved the axis of the planet, and how we have had hundreds of smaller quakes since then around the world as a result. AquaCranial is all about recalibrating your system, and there we were, recalibrating our systems in the belly of the planet as the earth itself was recalibrating and re-balancing. All I can say is that it was a profound experience, and I can’t wait to share the video and more stories with you.

WOW!! I want more more more! (and some real details about how this actually works) If you would like to follow along, I will be updating our facebook page (feel free to friend us), and twitter, as well an my blog. Over the course of the next month we’ll be releasing our first two minute preview which we will use to complete the fundraising for the full 7-10 minute documentary, along with raising funds for our website which will serve as an educational hub for this kind of content. If you care to support the project via introductions, become a financial backer and make a tax deductible donation through our fiscal sponsor, or want to learn about future shoots that you can join, please feel free to contact me.

Pûpûkâhi i holomua,

(a hawaiian proverb which means unite to move forward; by working together we make progress)

Leah

*Maui has very strict conservation laws that we were very careful to abide. The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary was created by Congress in 1992 to protect humpback whales and their habitat in Hawai`i. Approximately 10,000 whales come to this area in winter to have their calves. The sanctuary, which lies within the shallow (less than 600 feet), warm waters surrounding the main Hawaiian Islands, constitutes one of the world’s most important humpback whale habitats. Boats are not allowed to come within 100 yards of a whale, and the only time a close encounter is legal is when a whale chooses to approach a boat that is not moving.

Today was the first day I fully emerged for air, and while the element of fear has coursed through me with the earth quake in Japan, the tsunami in Hawaii, then the tsunami hitting the bay area (my home), then the nuclear melt downs, then wondering if we are going to be radiated in Hawaii, and then remembering that there is a war breaking out in Libya, mourning the men and women in Japan who sacrificed their lives to manage the nuclear plants, then the GMO issues breaking out in Australia, and New Zealand, how is New Zealand? And what am I forgetting? My grandmother who is being transferred into a nursing home, yes. I’m still forgetting something. I can feel it. There is something else I should be concerned about.

The fear took over me today, I got stuck in conversations that down spiraled into fear, and then friendly disagreements turned not so friendly, about facts and stats about the status of the melting down nuclear plants. And I started to feel like I was living in a futuristic movie, and then I felt even more fear, when it hit me. Right. We live in media and entertainment systems that are designed to profit off of our fear.

And then I remembered, or rather, for the first time, I felt so fully in the moment, why People and the Planet is so relevant to the times we are living in. I knew it when I created it, I felt it today. The concept of the project was born out of the BP spill. I couldn’t stand to absorb any more guilt, blame, and fear when taking in news about the environment. For a moment I saw how the narrative that is coursing through the veins of our newspapers separates us from the environment. It begins by making it sound like something separate from ourselves, This…thing. This…noun. Rather than a source of life that we are intrinsically intertwined and interdependent upon.

I kept having these peek-a-boo experiences. Peek: Look at my computer, read the news, feel horrified and like the world was going to end. A-boo: Walk outside, absorb the sun, swim in the ocean, walk through the forest, feel refreshed, revitalized, energized, satiated, happy. Ok, so I worked in online outreach and as an online producer. I know how the system works. If you are searching for it, or if it is sensational or eye catching, editors will headline it. But. As news and information goes, that’s not the whole story. Heck. That’s not even half the story. That’s just…a few letters in the alphabet of news and information, and we are stuck on repeat. And so, People and the Planet was born to fuel us during these hard times; to ground us in our connection to the natural world; to constantly remind us that the environment (aka our waters, oceans, rivers, winds, mountains, butterflies, clouds) is our ally, our friend, a sources of healing and wellness, our source of connectedness, and a source of pleasure and joy. It was a treat to be reminded of this mission, when I was secretly scanning through my brain trying to figure out what form of escape I could use for my own stresses, I was reminded! HA!! I’m producing it!!! Over the next few days I’ll be writing all about or experience filming our first segment that features Rebecca Goff, a woman who works with the element of water and the energy of whales in her healing practice. I can’t wait to share.

Meanwhile, on a slight side note, just after realizing, “I am doing something in the world that could make a difference,” I was driving down the street and came to a narrow spot on the road. I slowed to let the oncoming driver pass, but the guy in the oncoming traffic lane pulled over and waved me forward, and flashed me a “hang loose” sign.  We both appreciated the consideration of the other and beamed smiles at each other. It was one of those silly simple moments: amazing how a random act of kindness can make all of the difference. Something in it~ in this particular moment in time~ left me with the understanding that it takes courage to move beyond fear, and courage, well they say that is fueled by love. And love can be expressed…anywhere…and have the most unexpected ripple affect.

When I dug in to explore how to respond, I realized what continues to motivate and give me strength in the face of what, at times,  feels impossible, are the relationships and the people I have met on this path. After all, it was just this question that motivated me to move to the bay area, so I could swim in a sea of people who are acting on what they care about. So while I toil with coming up with a decent response to Sarah~ I want to invite you to respond as well. I believe the worse thing that could happen is for one to feel like they are alone in addressing the needs of out planet. So it makes perfect sense for me to call on all of you and to stand with me (or rather, sit and write) and share your personal responses  to Sarah’s question. Please leave your comments below, and I will use them in a post I place on Huffington Green.

I have included a few excerpts from Sarah’s emails:

“I care deeply about our environment. I’ve always felt I had a connection with the world around me. I’m in the 10th grade, but I just recently heard about a garbage pile in the middle of the ocean. This concerns me a lot….

I care and I want to do something about it but when I look around no one else cares. It hurts to see that us, human beings are hurting exactly what we are a part of, nature…

I get worried that we are harming the one place all of us call home. I don’t know how to explain how much I care. I just want others to see this beautiful gift we are throwing away…

You have a chance to inspire people while their still young and pure to do the right thing. I, a typical teenage girl, is begging you to do so. I thank you very much for your time. I hope to hear from you soon.”

On one hand it was an incredibly considerate gift and reflected some of my values. But lets get real. I didn’t jump for joy ~ because it wasn’t attached to a personal issue I’m passionate about, and to be frank, it lacked the “cool” factor.   I’m all for green gifts removed from the in-the-process-of-being-improved supply chain. But they should still be things that make you jump for joy and ignite a spark of excitement. So for those of you hunting for the perfect gift for your ocean/water loving friend~ are you in luck~ check out these thoughtful green gift ideas for water lovers.

Become a Lord of the Oceans

Lets begin by dedicating a small plot of the ocean to your loved one through the Ocean Registry. The Ocean Registry ^® is a gift giving program designed to promote ocean awareness. The program offers a virtual ocean experience (using google ocean) where you can plot a piece of the ocean as a commemorative location registered to someone as a unique gift. 50% of proceeds are donated to ocean conservation.

Give the Gift of Story

This holiday season I would like to suggest that you give one of the most powerful, long lasting, impactful, influential gifts of all time:  The gift of story.

Become a media mogul, and take part in producing the stories that have the potential to influence and shape our culture and relationship to the natural world.  Here are three worthy film projects that are in production and are addressing water issues through a variety of stories. You (and your loved one) could be a part of bringing these movies to the big (and small) screen.

Elemental

This feature-length documentary explores three very different lives, each of which has been transformed, in some way, by water. In India, the effervescent “Water Gandhi,” Rajendra Singh, brought seven Rajasthani rivers back to life and now turns his attention to the greatest of Indian rivers, the Ganges. In Canada, indigenous activist Eriel Deranger struggles to save her people from the genocide wrought by living downstream from the world’s largest industrial development: Alberta’s Oil Sands. And in Australia, inventor Jay Harman draws on his lifelong obsession with water to attempt to halve the world’s energy use. Depending on how much you contribute you can get a signed copy of the DVD, tickets to the pre-release in the bay area, or your name in the credits.

Patagonia Rising

Over the past century more than 45,000 large dams have redefined the course and health of the planet’s rivers with disastrous impacts that continue to unfold. Tracing the hydrologic cycle of the Baker from ice to ocean, Patagonia Rising brings voice to the frontier people caught in the crossfire of Chile’s energy demands. Juxtaposing the pro-dam business sector with renewable energy experts, the documentary will bring awareness and solutions to this global conflict over water and power. Patagonia Rising finished production in December 2009 and now seeks post-production support.

People and the Planet: Healing with Whales

(Full disclosure, that’s me! I’m producing People and the Planet)

This multi phase media project  launches with a 24 part online video series. The series is designed to invoke your curiosity while telling extraordinary real stories about people healing in the presence of the natural world. Our first story is about a woman who heals people in the presence of whales. When you donate, we’ll put your picture in our video (scroll to bottom of the post for the example).

Books:

Sea Voices

Sea Voices is a coffee table who’s who of the ocean activism world. The book features prominent people from around the world who care about our environment and want to help protect our world oceans and includes interviews with oceanographers, artists, Authors, Photographers, Environmentally Conscious Celebrities and Musicians, filmmakers, and surf industry leaders.

Games:

Rowboat card game

Rowboat is the fun, award-winning, family card game of mind bending strategy and mind boggling suspense! This beautifully designed ocean-themed game is  ideal for travel and game nights! If you like bidding or trick-taking card games like Spades, Euchre, or Bridge you will love Rowboat! (and…While this is not EXACTLY a green gift (they are working on their packaging) the creators of Rowboat are giving half the proceeds purchased through the above link to People and the Planet~ double hitter!).

Sponsor an Ocean Advocate
Because behind every great leader, there is a mountain of supporters. Here are two ocean stars who have mastered the social network space and are prolific and spreading the message of ocean conservation by sparking interest, intrigue, adventure, and pretty pictures. (Just think of the good you could do by sponsoring them).

Wallace J. Nicols: The People’s Scientist
I first met J at Bioneers a few years ago and was inspired by his efforts to protect the turtles. J is a speaker, mentor, ocean advocate, author, and a true “people’s scientist”. He inspires people to stay engaged with ocean conservation offline and online, and was one of the first to inform the general public about the affects of the BP spill on Turtles. I was so inspired by his Blue Marbles campaign (a play it forward game in the ocean conservation world), that I sent a marble to all of the donors of People and the Planet. J is unique in that he is a scientist who is working out side of the field of academia, which provided more freedom of expression. J recently started a Blue Angels Campaign; a team of independent supporters who make a monthly contribution to support his ability to travel and campaign on behalf of the oceans.

Roz Savage: Ocean Rower
I met Roz during a skype video interview when I covered the Copenhagen Climate Talks. Over the course of the week I interviewed over 15 people but she was the darling who won people’s hearts and minds. (Ok, 350.org’s dancing penguins were a hit as well). Roz Savage is a British ocean rower, author, motivational speaker and environmental campaigner. She has rowed solo across the Atlantic Ocean and is attempting to become the first woman to row solo across the Pacific. A latecomer to the life of adventure, Roz Savage was previously a management consultant and project manager at an investment bank, before realizing in her mid-thirties that there might be more to life than a steady income and a house in the suburbs. In 2005, she competed in the 3,000-mile Atlantic Rowing Race, the first solo woman ever to compete in that race and the sixth woman to row solo across an ocean.

What’s happening next? See Eat Pray Row – the Indian Ocean, starting in March 2011, and The Homecoming Row, launching May 2012. Roz has a quite the shopping list of things that are needed to make this last row the best one yet.

Alright~ so there are a few suggestions for you~ if you have additional ones~ please feel free to tell me~ I’ll be happy to add them to this post.

Creating the vision and concept for People and the Planet, and identifying  stories about people healing in the presence of the natural world has been fun. Let’s get real. For me~ figuring out how to raise the funds necessary to get a three person crew to the Dominican Republic in February to tell our first story about a woman healing people in the presence of whales is a game.

So when I was sitting there trying to figure out how to ride the wave of the  holiday/purchasing season….I started looking for a product that represented the core values of People and the Planet~ which is connection.

So imagine my excitement when my friend Julie told me about her friend David Schiller, who invents games, and had created a game called ROWBOAT, an ocean themed mind bending card game (ages 13+)!

Now here is the great part~ when I first started sharing this news with friends, they would said, “Game?? Like video game?” HA! No~ it’s an old fashioned shuffle-the-deck and-hand-out the cards game!

So I did a little more digging, and David shared that he and his friends were always inventing games, but once they created this one, they couldn’t stop playing it. (Sounds fun to me says the girl who skipped class in high school to play spades). Don’t you want to know why the game has a nature theme? (so did I!) David’s answer: “We’re nature enthusiasts~ our best ideas were centered around our love of being outside. I mean, everyone likes a good hike (everyone we know anyway).”

So, I couldn’t be more thrilled to be sharing this super fun game with you that will create opportunities to share 1:1 time connecting with people, AND help support People and the Planet. Of course if you are wanting to make a larger charitable contribution through our fiscal sponsor, The Baum Foundation, we could really use your support to achieve our 60K goal be January 15th. Want to more info? Learn more about People and the Planet.

P.S. * The first ten people who purchase the cards will receive a copy of the first story upon completion (eta March 2011).

P.P.S. You may notice that the packaging of this product isn’t exactly green. The founders of the company are working on a greenr design for their next game~ (yay).