Thursday, February 25, 2010

42 Captive Killer Whales

42.

From source: Two mammal-eating Image via Wikipedia



That's how many killer whales are in captivity today. It would be many more if capturing was still in favor, but fortunately that is now frowned upon in most areas of the world.

Sadly, an experienced trainer was killed at Seaworld yesterday by Tillikum, a 12,000 pound killer whale. Much has been made in the news about the two previous human deaths caused by this whale - in 1991, another trainer was killed in Victoria BC after accidentally slipping into the tank and, in 1999, a man was found in the tank after breaking into the park after hours and either accidentally or intentionally swimming with the 12,000 pound whale.

To me, these reports are missing the point. The whales shouldn't be in captivity in the first place. These are intelligent, social creatures who should be left in the wild. What's the difference between these animals and those in zoos and aquariums?

Mostly, it comes down to money. Aquariums and zoos are non-profit organizations focused on conservation and education. These parks, on the other hand, have working animals who generate millions for their owners. Until just a few months ago, Seaworld was owned by Anheuser-Busch (owner of Budweiser). It was sold to The Blackstone Group (owner of Universal Orlando). Of course, to entertain the crowds, the whales need to do tricks. Splashing people gets a lot of laughs and they learn quickly that the way they earn their food is to jump, flip, and perform.

I'm hoping this tragic case generates enough attention to make some permanent changes. Remember, you get the chance to vote with your own pocketbook. Next time you're in San Diego, consider the San Diego Zoo Wild Animal Park instead. They are all about saving endangered species. I haven't taken my family to Orlando, so I don't know a good animal venue to recommend, but the point is to think about what your money is supporting.

And, what about Tillikum? Seaworld says they won't euthanize her. Sadly, releasing Tillikum isn't an option either. He was captured at a young age 26 years ago from Iceland and little is known about his family (which he would need to reintegrate into the wild). Most of the 42 whales were actually born in captivity. There are a few older whales that could be argued to be good candidates for release. Corky and Lolita are usually the top two on this list because their whale families are known, but their owners, SeaWorld California and Miami Seaquarium, are not in the market to sell.

I had a chance to visit Keiko while he was living at the Oregon Coast Aquarium which was a huge facility compared to the tiny little pools these whales live in today. What if something along those lines was available to the whales that aren't able to be released? It would be a chance to let them live out their lives in peace and put this captive whale practice to an end once and for all.

Dawn Brancheau was the trainer who died yesterday. Let's hope this tragedy brings about positive changes for the animals she loved and respected.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Olympics Day #5 - Honoring the First Nations

Transportation Day #5
9 Skytrains
1 Accessible shuttle (Glad they were thinking of people like my Mom and her artificial knee!)

Today was our last day of Olympic events and we watched 3 curling "matches." Still not sure if I have the lingo down - maybe they're called games? I had played once before long ago with a friend from Manitoba and at least knew the basics of the game. The US won, as did Great Britain, but China was the true star of the show, winning 11-1 after 6 ends (the other teams played 10 ends). Apparently, they have a mercy rule in curling if you're winning by such a large margin.
One of the great things about being in Vancouver right now is all the other attractions. One we visited earlier in the week was the Aboriginal Pavilion which honored the Four Host First Nations. These nations - Lil'wat, Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh - are four of the over 600 nations who were make up one of the three groups of Aboriginal people of Canada (Inuit and Metis are the other two groups). Their gracious message (they intentionally thanked the crowds of people repeatedly) was a simple one - "We are here." In other words, they are among the Canadian people every day.

From a sustainability perspective, I think there is a lot we could learn from all of these first nations. Not only have they survived this long against great adversity, but they've also respected the Earth in the process.

Olympics Day #4: Capitalism and The Plastic Bottle

Transportation Day #4
2 Skytrains
2 City Buses
2 Olympic Buses (the nice ones with bathrooms – perfect for kids!)

An awesome day at Cypress Mountain for the Ladies Halfpipe Snowboarding! There was enough snow for the event, but that was about it - they trucked in just enough snow for the halfpipe and snow/skicross area. They are starting to refer to these as the Spring Olympics - it was so warm people were actually wearing tank tops early in the day!

The amount of plastic bottles that are being consumed at these Olympics must be in the millions. The recycling bins are easy to find, but all the Dasani water bottles I’ve been purchasing this week have left me questioning the corporate influence on our choices here.

We knew in advance we wouldn’t be able to bring water bottles or food into the indoor Olympic venues, but had also read they would be allowed at the outdoor mountain venues. The rules, however, seem to be a bit more murky than that. Dasani water bottles can get by security if they are factory-sealed (meaning no refilling and no bringing your own from home).

Originally, I thought it was a concern over alcohol, but there is plenty of Canadian beer at the venues! I think it comes down to the money flow. I saw one woman finish her water bottle at the security stop, only to be told that to take the empty water bottle into the venue, she would have to remove the label! Dasani is a Coca-Cola product and her bottle was a competitor to one of the biggest Olympics sponsors.

Since snowboarding was a 6+ hour event in the mountains, we came prepared – water bottles we had filled at the hotel, Coke Zero, snacks, etc. When we went through security, we were told that we would need to empty all the liquids. We dumped the water, and my husband quickly drank the Coke Zero (all the while wondering why that can was a problem – perhaps because he didn’t pay $3 for it?). Of course, a few hours later we were back at concessions buying $3 water all over again.
I guess my objection is to buying it all in the first place when there are other alternatives. Coke is actively pitching their new bottles which are made out of 30% plant material. Good idea, but what if we just bought less bottles in the first place? I know, I know… that’s not the way of capitalism. Personally, I just wish they had refill spots where you could pay the vendor and fill your own bottle.

Recycling issues aside, the snowboarding was amazing! The grandstands were quite the athletic feat for spectators as it was 350 steps straight up to get to our seats - and that was after a healthy walk from the bus to the mountain. The best part for me was seeing the Slovenian snowboarder come sit with her family (on her mom’s lap!) right in front of us while she waited to find out if she made it into the finals. She made it and we cheered her on! We also met one of the Japanese snowboarders who posed for a picture with us.
Seeing them flip, jump, and fly makes you wonder if they weren’t born with wings.

Olympics Day #3 - "Reuse" Hockey Style

I had an Internet connection while in Vancouver, but not one that supported picture uploads very well (wait, wait, wait, crash, start over, wait, wait...) so I'm home now and recapping the week. If I had to pick two words to describe my Olympic experience, I think I would go with exhausting and exhilarating. I feel like I know this city better than my own after all we’ve covered! Transportation Day #3
4 Skytrains - the best part is all transportation is free all day to anyone with an Olympic ticket.

For a city who has won the Olympics bid, the next several years involve a lot of construction. New venues must be built for the competition, and, of course, the hope is always to be bigger, better, faster, and more innovative than any previous Olympics. Vancouver did a lot of building, but as a huge hockey city, this was one area they didn't need to build something new.

Canada Hockey Place was already here, as well as the UBC Thunderbird Arena so they were simply used their existing venues for the Olympics. This means that the games are played on North American size hockey rinks (60 x 26m) instead of international size (60 x 30m). I don't play hockey, but from my perspective, that was a good compromise given they already had 2 great hockey venues in downtown Vancouver. So many of the international players are on North American teams already that it didn't seem to ruffle any feathers. In keeping with Vancouver's sustainability goals, they saved money, trees, energy - and made the hockey fans happy because there were more seats available!

We were cheering on Finland who beat Belarus 5-1. Amazingly, a Finn they interviewed before the game predicted the exact score! We also saw Teemu Selanne (from the Anaheim Ducks) get the Olympic scoring record for ice hockey - he's in his fifth Olympics! Nice to see a 39 year old in the Olympics! That's him below just after slamming the Belarus guy into the wall - hard to get the action shot in a fast moving hockey game!
Here's my shot at the end of the game - after all that aggression on the ice, everyone shakes hands and plays nice...

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Olympics Day #2 - Pine Beetles and Parks

Transportation - Day #2
7 Skytrains.
2 Streetcars.
Millions of miles walked (okay, maybe not, but it felt like it!)


Today was our first chance to see an event at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics and I was impressed on so many levels. We went to the women's 500m Speedskating - what amazing athletes! The medals went to Korea, Germany, and China, but there were also some super fast skaters from USA, Canada, Japan, and Holland. Their were a lot of Canadians at the Richmond Olympic Oval, but I'm quite certain the Dutch outnumbered everyone. Just in case their orange wasn't visible enough, Benetton was passing out neon orange gloves for free.


This was the one venue I was most excited to see because it plays a big part in Vancouver's sustainability message for the Olympics. The massive roof of the oval is built entirely out of pine from British Columbia's forests that were devastated by the pine beetle. Of their 47 million hectares of forest, seven million were ruined by the pine beetle. Vancouver is hoping to show people that the dead trees can be put to good use as lumber and used a million board feet in the ceiling to prove their point. It's beautiful too!


We're definitely getting to know all of Vancouver while we're here and today we were down in Richmond walking along the river. There were some great parks to play at along the riverwalk leading to the Olympic venue and that provided some nice distraction and entertainment.


Monday, February 15, 2010

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (Minus the Plane)




One Amtrak train.


Six Skytrains.


One taxi.


One citybus.



That's the total after our first day of travel to the Vancouver Winter Olympics. Definitely the greenest international vacation I've ever taken! All is well in Canada and I just thought I'd share a few observations...



* My local train station (Everett, Washington) is way more beautiful than I would have guessed. Sort of a cross of Frank Lloyd Wright and local Pacific Northwest glass.

* Vancouver, British Columbia is rocking and ready to win! I don't know if they always wear maple leaves on their hands, heads, and necks, or have flags hanging out their apartment and car windows, but I will definitely not forget what country I'm in. Great local spirit.



* Canada seems to have thought of everything to make this as green as possible. I'll mention the specifics of the venues when I get to see them, but the transportation is what has most impressed me so far. Many streets are open to pedestrians and driving single-occupant vehicles is discouraged in every way possible. All public transportation is free on any day you have a ticket and easy to navigate. Any time you look lost, a turquoise uniformed City of Vancouver person approaches and asks how they can help.

* They have garbage and recycling bins on every corner - nice way to keep the city and Earth clean at the same time.

All in all, it was a great day. We got to know the area, met a woman on the Skytrain who is in the Opening and Closing ceremonies, received some Olympic pins from some nice Americans, and took in the excitement of Canada getting their first gold medal. We're cheering for the US, of course, but being in a fun local BBQ restaurant (Dix, in case you're headed up this way) with the Canadians when Alexandre Bilodeau accepted his moguls gold medal would get anyone in the spirit.

We're ready to see the rest...

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Composting Choices

I have never done my own composting, but am happy that my garbage collector is now allowing me to compost all my food scraps and soiled paper along with my yard waste. I'm no expert, but a friend asked me how to get started so I did some quick research for those of you that are wanting to compost. It's a great way to get all those nutrients from our food back into the ground. Who knows, maybe I'll jump on the bandwagon eventually...

Compost binImage by hockeyshooter via Flickr



There is essentially a continuum with the low-cost, needs-a-lot-of-space version on one end and the high-cost, small-area versions on the other. A Recycling Revolution provides some straightforward pros and cons of each to help you decide which is right for you. The lowest cost method is simply a compost pile, but this requires a decent sized yard and some tolerance for "wildlife" (I translate that into rats in my area, but I imagine wildlife varies by location). On the other end of the spectrum, you can purchase all kinds of bins that spin, toss, and circulate your compost. The middle of the road options include build-your-own compost bins and cone structures that can be partially inserted into the ground.

If you're ready to start composting, here are some options:
* If you want to build your own, check out Seattle Tilth has some great online directions on everything from compost bins to worm systems.
* If you want to buy a compost container, a good first step is to check with your local utility. For example, Seattle residents can purchase a "cone" system for $25.
* Check local nurseries or hardware stores. Since I have a lot of Snohomish County readers, I checked with two local stores - Wight's Home & Garden and Emery's Garden both expect to be receiving their bins in about another month. The Home Depot also has one for $179.

The friend that asked me about this is hoping to work with her local grocery store to get their damaged or spoiled produce. She asked what they do with it and was disappointed to hear that it all goes straight to the garbage. If all goes well, they're hoping to offer the compost to neighbors - a great family project!
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Wednesday, February 10, 2010

The World's Best Sporting Competition

The Olympic Flag flying in Victoria, British C...Image via Wikipedia

I know we're just coming off of an exciting Superbowl, but for me life wouldn't be the same without the Olympics. I have loved these events since I was a little girl watching Dorothy Hamill and Nadia Comaneci and now love to watch them with my boys. The events are in my backyard this year - Vancouver, Canada - and I am thrilled to be going! Getting tickets wasn't easy (or cheap), but this is truly a trip I've looked forward to all my life.

For families, I think the Olympics offer some truly great entertainment and life lessons. Amateur athletes from over 80 countries will be attending and chasing their Olympic dreams. I know there is a lot of carbon involved in getting all these people to Vancouver, but I think the benefits far outweigh the cost. Uniting young athletic competitors from around the world is one way of forging those bonds we need to realize we all have a responsibility for this planet.

I hope you take a chance to take in some of the Olympics with your families. Beyond the exciting competitions, it's also a great chance for fun geography and cultural lessons. The Opening and Closing Ceremonies are great because they represent all the countries (in alphabetical order, I believe) marching into a stadium parade-style. Kids will have a chance to see their flag, as well as some of their local dress and customs. One fun activity is to pull out a world map and have the kids locate the countries as the athletes stream by. They can also check out an online interactive map with details on the athletes (including a cross-country skier from Kenya!) The athletes come from five different continents - that is actually what the five Olympic rings symbolize (no Antarcticans have entered yet!)

Two days and counting! I'll be up there shortly after and hope to blog my way through my trip. Vancouver has gone to great lengths to use sustainable building practices in creating the Olympic venues and I can't wait to see them up close. We are leaving our car at home so this will be public transportation from door to door. Thanks to Vancouver for promising to make it easy! Stay tuned...
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Wednesday, February 3, 2010

The 11,000 Mile Local Crab

Living in the Pacific Northwest means I have the benefit of local seafood. But, what if something is caught locally, processed elsewhere and then returned to its home? By then it's lost all the benefits of being local - the freshness, the lack of energy spent moving it around the world...

I was thinking about all of this last week while standing at the seafood counter. My son was going to a party where there was going to be crab - a food we never eat since my husband is allergic to it. I wanted my son to try the new food with us first just to make sure he wasn't allergic. I was thinking about getting a small amount (since I wasn't sure who was actually going to be eating it), but was shocked by the price - $29/pound for crabmeat vs. $5.99/pound for a whole crab. I know that you're paying for the shell there as well, but still - the price difference was huge!

Later that night, I was leafing through my son's copy of The Omnivore's Dilemma which has all kinds of cool pictures and charts that weren't in my book, when I read that much of the Seattle crab gets sent to China for processing. China?!? That's an 11,000 mile roundtrip for a local crab. I originally thought that was the reason for the high price on the processed meat. Partially, but apparently the reason they are shipped there is to save money.

This really does happen and it isn't just crab. According to Food & Water Watch, 15% of wild-caught salmon and 12% of cod were processed in China and shipped back into the US in 2006. If it's all about the cost of labor, I would guess the outsourcing trend has only continued since then.

My initial thought was that all this meat must be getting turned into crabcakes or fishsticks or something, but actually I think it may be that wild-caught fish I'm buying at my local grocery store. According to a report from the Seattle Times, some of the work is just de-boning and cutting it into portion sizes. There is no requirement for a "Processed in China" sticker, but it sure seems like there should be.

How do you make sure your local seafood is local? Buy from the source - farmer's markets, waterfront seafood markets - and ask questions. Was this caught here? Was it processed here? Also, buy it fresh. The processed seafood is frozen when it's caught, partially thawed to allow for processing, and then frozen again. Sounds like a food safety issue just waiting to happen...

For our meal, I went with the whole crab and the kids had a great time cracking the legs and fishing for the meat. Only one of them ended up liking it, but we didn't identify any new allergies, so it was a success in my book!

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Dark Days Challenge Week Twelve

You have to love a group that allows you to drop out, but still invites you to their parties! The concept of cooking one entirely local meal each week went by the wayside for my family about a month ago, but I was remotivated when the host of the challenge, Laura from (not so) Urban Hennery, invited all the local Dark Days Challengers to her farm.

I ended up taking a Portabello mushroom quiche. I was excited for the chance to make an egg dish - since my son is allergic to eggs, we never have quiche for a meal. It was very yummy and provided me with a chance to make my first-ever homemade pie crust. I made it with brown rice flour, which I realize isn't the norm, but it was the only local flour I had on hand and actually it turned out quite well. Recipes are below.

I took the boys along for the Dark Days Potluck and they had fun roaming the farm and meeting the chickens, horses, and Jake the Lab. Stephen got to go in the coop to pick out the fresh eggs and I loved his comment - "They're warm!" Talk about fresh! Ryan managed not to electrocute himself while running his hand along the horse fence - thanks Laura for turning it off in advance!

The eggs were four different colors and we got an education from Laura on what determines their eggshell color. It's the color of their ears! Ok, I'll admit my first thought was...Chickens have ears? I didn't necessarily think they were deaf, but I hadn't given a lot of thought to their ears - turns out they have little ear holes and they are different colors. Who knew?!? The four eggs Stephen pulled out ranged from pink to speckled brown. There are green ones as well (from the Araucana chickens), but we didn't see one. That would have been fun - real green eggs and ham! Look closely at the one below and I think you can see his ears - tan eggs, maybe?

Thanks Laura for opening your home and farm to us!


Portabello Mushroom Quiche
The filling was adapted from a zucchini recipe on recipezarr and the crust recipe came from Chaotic Cooking

Quiche Filling Ingredients
1 portabello mushroom
1 medium onion, chopped
3 T butter
1/2 pound sharp cheddar, grated
1/4 pound swiss, grated
1/4 pound ham, chopped
5 eggs beaten
1/2 c. half-and-half
1T flour
1/4 t salt
pepper

Quiche Crust Ingredients
1 cup brown rice flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 large egg, slightly beaten
1/4 cup butter, cut into small pieces
3 tsp cold water

Crust Directions: Put flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Add cold butter pieces and use a fork or pastry knife to mix them into the dry ingredients. Add the egg and water and stir until sticky. Use a piece of waxed paper with rice flour on it to roll the dough out on. Then, turn the piece of waxed paper upside down into the pie pan. Cover the crust with aluminum foil and bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes.

Filling Directions: Saute onions in butter. Mix together onion, cheese, and ham. Add the remaining ingredients. Mix well. Pour into crust. Cook at 350 for 35 minutes.