Showing posts with label conservationist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label conservationist. Show all posts

Tuesday, 24 May 2016

Types of Treehuggers

Here is a little personal project I did a long ago with a few cue cards.

All these characters were drawn on cue cards I cannot find yet, but that can be another post for another time. (Update: Found them, here they are!)


It was a lot cooler when I was sitting at the kitchen table explaining it in a extemporaneous babble to relatives and my dog a little differently each time, but it and went something like this and I hope you find it amusing :)




The Hippie/Flower Child
The classic treehugger stereotypee right out of the 60s who really got environmental movement started. Clad in tye-dye and hemp, and sitting cross-legged in front of trees preaching their message of love, peace, and unity, they are also known for making some lovely tunes to get people in a mood and mindset of unity.




The Rebellious Radical
Sometimes seen as a close younger cousin of the hippie, The Rebellious Radical is loud and grabs attention, and sometimes that might be the exact push people need. Louder the better; think activists chaining themselves to trees maybe with some funky coloured hair. These people make bold statements pointing to the goal of drawing attention and spreading awareness of big issues that really matter.



The Wild Child/Conservationist
It's that kid that's always climbing trees and running around exploring outside with messy hair. They really are in their element/natural habitat outside, probably making mud pies and isn't afraid of getting dirty or touching creepy crawlies. These are the ones who probably know the common, maybe the scientific, and given personal names of backyard wildlife. These friends of the forest, conservation officers, camp counselors, and more have a contagious sense of wonder they are often eager to share with others.



The Humanitarian
The Humanitarian  recognize that people are part of the ecosystem just like other animals, and sincerely care about the wellbeing of fellow humans. Whether they be doctors, aid workers, or concerned citizens, they see how people around the world are affected by environmental issues and are ready to see how can to help. From pollution putting people's health at risk to climate change displacing entire communities, they recognize sustainability as a must, and clean air and water as basic human rights which they will fight for and seek to see as many people as possible having access to.



Engineer/Technician
These are the ones that really make all these advancements work. A lot of what they do is behind-the-scenes, but they use the power of their minds to make it possible to drive new sustainable technologies forward such as in renewable energy. The research they do also gives treehuggers the world over something to actually work with to show the world that what the heart says is the right thing to do also makes logical sense.



Politician/Consultant
"Work The System" is the name of the game here. These guys in the big leagues kind of have to be disguised in big business suits sometimes and they work undercover. Sometimes they develop "green" products, creative marketing to inspire people to take to them, or policies to help change the world. Among politicians and corporates, the suit-wearing or clip-board-yielding ones advocate for the environment in the big leagues using the system to further their agenda, to help the environment on a big scale.

Thanks for reading, and feel free to share your thoughts on which treehugger stereotypes you and your friends relate to in the comments, as well as any ideas for green activities people of different types might like participating in!

Edited April 9, 2018... also finally uploaded the photos!

Friday, 17 January 2014

Dian Fossey: Primatologist and Conservationist

    Throughout her career as a zoologist and activist, Dian Fossey was a shining example of dedication. I was touched by her courage and hard work put towards protecting gorillas of the Rwandan Mountain Forest, and her clear passion for them.

"When you realize the value of all life, you dwell less on what is past and concentrate on the preservation of the future." – Gorillas in the Mist

    Born January 16, 1932, Dian Fossey was an American primatologist and conservationist who studied endangered gorillas of the Rwandan Mountain Forest. She published an autobiographical book retelling her experiences, Gorillas in the Mist, in 1983. A film of the same title was released in 1988. Fossey's interest in primates was immediately sparked on a trip to various countries in Africa in 1963 where she witnessed gorillas' individual personalities and relationships with one another. She said, "I left Kabara with reluctance, but with never a doubt that I would, somehow, return to learn more about the gorillas of the misted mountains."
    She later returned to Democratic Republic of the Congo, where she stayed saying, "I have made my home amoung the mountain gorillas", to learn about the "gentle giants" and working to protect them and their habitats from anthropogenic threats. She passionately fought against government officials who sought to use the habitats for farmland in the media, and physically destroyed poachers' traps and dogs. She stayed working and carrying a 20 pound knapsack every day until she had to escape to Rwanda because of civil war, where she continued her work to protect the gorillas. In 1967, Fossey established the Karisoke Research Foundation (which was originally named Digit after a gorilla who was killed by poachers), and in 1976 she earned her Ph.D at Cambrige University for her research.
    Tragically, Fossey was found brutally murdered at her camp in the Rwandan Forest on December 26, 1985, likely killed by poachers, though they were never found. Her legacy lives on through the Karisoke Research Foundation which researches under the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. The institution has expanded to protect other endangered species living in the same habitat, and other gorillas as well, including eastern lowland gorillas, and those living in Virunga National Park.


References
Biography.com. Dian Fossey biography. bio. Retrieved January 16, 2013 from http://www.biography.com/people/dian-fossey-9299545


The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. Dian Fossey - Biography. The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International. Retrieved January 17, 2013 from http://gorillafund.org/page.aspx?pid=380