I am happy to report another day of peace at the cove. No blood was shed in these waters today. In fact, since Sept 7, the day they slaughtered the first pod of Risso’s dolphins — there has been no killing. They did capture of a large pod of bottlenose a few days ago, but they pulled one dolphin out for captivity and set the rest of the pod free. But the lack of killing around here is not for a lack of trying, the dolphin hunters have been going out every day except one when the weather would not allow it. They have been chasing pods each day, but day after day, the pods have either escaped or they have been unable to locate a pod at all.
I have settled into a routine here. Every morning my alarm goes off at 430am, I brush my teeth, grab a coffee, put my hair in a ponytail and I’m out the door by 445am. I meet the dolphin hunters at the Taiji Harbor at 5am. I use the word “meet” loosely. I sit in my rental car in a parking lot across the dock from the Taiji Fishermen’s Union and watch from afar as they have their morning meeting filled with cigarettes before they set out to sea in their boats to search for dolphins.
The police meet me there every day as well. They know me quite well by now, as I do them. I even know one particular English speaking policemen’s shift schedule. And they know my schedule as well. That’s when you know you’ve spent some serious time in Taiji. One of the most amusing moments of this trip was when the police pulled me over for the first time (for not using my blinker) and as they walked away said “Welcome back.” That’s when you know you are a regular in Taiji! We are even starting to have deeper conversations with each other, thanks to their good English (I’m working on my Japanese). A couple days ago, one of the policemen asked me, “Do you fight for other animals, or just dolphins?” so when I got back to my hotel, I made this video:
The more time I spend here, the more I am in awe of the beauty of this place and the more I can see the potential of what it could be without the horrific dolphin slaughter. If only they would turn these dolphin hunting boats into dolphin watching boats — like Izumi Ishii-san, a dolphin hunter in Futo who had an epiphany years ago when a dolphin he was killing looked into his eyes. Ishii-san immediately retired his hunting boat and now takes tourists on dolphin watching trips. With it’s beautiful shrines, waterfalls, turquoise waters and incredible coast line, the juxtaposition of the horror of what happens here is difficult to grasp. I tried to capture both the beauty and the sadness of Taiji in this video:
This is my third trip here, and I know it won’t be my last. During this trip I experienced my first typhoon, which led to a very important lesson for me. For the first time in my life I had to live without clean water for several days. Living without access to water was an experience. I will never forget finding out there was no water in our hotel and going to the grocery store thinking I could buy some and then seeing all the shelves for water completely bare. Beyond drinking water, there was no water for the shower, sink, or toilet. It was an important lesson for me, and one I don’t think I could fully understand without having this experience. I will never take for granted the ability to take a shower, wash my hands or flush a toilet ever again. You truly appreciate the simple comforts in life. Yesterday I had my first ice cube in two weeks and I must say, it was a treat. When the owner of my hotel gave me a small bucket of ice, I felt like she was giving me a bucket of gold. I now understand water stress in a way in which I never could before. Over 1.1 billion people who share our planet live in water stress every day. I was lucky I only had to go through it for a few days. There is no better way to understand an issue than to live through it yourself.
I was scheduled to return to the USA a few days ago but I have extended my trip. Something changes in you when you come to Taiji. It started happening on my first trip here last year. It’s hard to leave because you begin to feel a responsibility to the dolphins, to make sure their lives their lives (and deaths) are recorded so that the world remembers them and hopefully change will come.
On a more personal note, I am also grateful for my husband, who arrived at our home today from New Zealand after six months away, and because I decided to stay here with the dolphins in Taiji, I wasn’t there to welcome him home. I’m so glad that he loves the dolphins as much as I do.
We’re happy introduce the latest additions to the 1% for the Planet family–the ten companies that joined in the last week of September are about as diverse as can be.
OK, it’s nowhere near 5PM… but Bluewater Distilling vodka could be just the right way to kick off the weekend. Made with pure alpine water and organic wheat, how can you go wrong? We’ll leave that to your boss to decide.
Cosimo Books, based in New York City, is a specialty publisher for independent authors, not-for-profit orgs and innovative businesses, dedicated to publishing books that inspire, inform and engage readers around the world.
Greenster is an online community for people looking for ways to green their lifestyle without having to break the bank or refuse rides to Whole Foods in Aunt Marge’s Escalade this Thanksgiving. Stop by to learn something new or to share tips that have worked for you!
House of Reboot owners Brie and Michael are hard at work making great looking clothes from organic and reclaimed materials. Check out their current line if you’re looking for gear to keep you warm and to warm your heart. Just don’t wait too long to order, or I’ll get it first.
in progress
the finished product
Not From Here has all the info you need for life’s explorations. An online community for the intrepid and adventurous, Not From Here is a place to share your stories, photographs and blog entries. Check them out and benefit from the knowledge of kindred souls who’ve already done the legwork!
OsmosIT joins 1% from Belgium, where they specialize in customized web design and hosting. They’ve worked on projects for clients ranging from the European Parliament to Siemens. Give owner Kevin Renson a call if you need help with a web project, he’d be happy to help!
If you’d rather spend your time playing outdoors (or playing Guitar Hero) than searching for documents and information that you know is hiding somewhere in the labyrinth of your company’s server, PolySpot has a solution for you. Information management, storage and retrieval are their specialties.
QCM Consultants joins 1% from France, where they offer consulting services in a variety of industries, from food safety to information technology.
mapping urban air quality with SensPods
Sensaris joins 1% for the Planet with their SensPods brand. While at first blush SensPods seem like technology from a sci-fi film, they are cutting edge units that sync with mobile devices to record and transmit data from the user’s location and can be used for myriad novel tasks, from tracking visitors to urban furniture to recording changes in local air quality.
Trail Sherpa is an online community of hikers, backpackers, and outdoor adventurers where members can post status updates, share photos and video, and join or create groups around their favorite topics. Additionally, their Design Team of time-tested web designers and programers offer web design and digital marketing strategy guidance.
Well, we may be a day late, but we wanted to be sure to give a nod to National Coffee Day. Kelsey, owner and founder of Grounds For Change, passed this video along to us–it’s the perfect accompaniment to your morning cup! Part of 1% since 2003, Grounds For Change is one of the longest standing members in our network.
If you notice someone on a pogo stick on the commute today, wave! (On second thought, maybe don’t; they need both hands!)
The Crazy Sustainable Commute is a one-day green commuting challenge. Organizers want you to get eco-creative. Last year, people canoed, kayaked, and pogo-sticked (that’s actually a verb!).
News1130 in Vancouver, BC caught up with the world’s foremost extreme unicycler, Kris Holm of Vancouver, about taking one wheel to work or school. After pioneering mountain unicycling and then touring places like Mongolia, the Great Wall of China, and down volcanoes in Mexico, unicycling to and from work every day is no big deal.
“Oh yeah, I do it every day,” says Holm. “I live out by UBC so it’s about a 21-kilometre round trip.”
He loves the idea of the Crazy Sustainable Commute, adding you can make meaningful changes in your life; that’s the lesson of an event like this. “If you start by doing something that’s crazy, pretty soon it won’t be that crazy because everyone is doing it.”
On the off-chance those changes do involve unicycling, Holm has some tips:
“Just get started. It’s one of those things that seems impossible when when you first get on. I think people forget that so did bikes. People take a month to learn when they’re five years old and by the time they’re 20 they have forgotten how hard it was at one point.”
Organizers of the Crazy Sustainable Commute call it a campaign to get us all thinking creatively about alternatives for our daily travel.
Videos showcasing the Crazy Sustainable Commute and Kris Holm’s unicycling:
I recently had the delightful pleasure of attending Patagonia’s Tools for Grassroots Activist Conference. Five days spent with engaging individuals across all lines of work – government, film & entertainment, economics, business, technology, grassroots activism, education – every sector was present and every person had a story of success to share.
After five days of inspiring stories, engaging lectures, collaborative workshops and gusty paddle boarding adventures, the conference facilitators asked us to sum up the week into one key takeaway. One group’s response:
Work with business. Get more businesses to join 1% for the Planet.
Bingo! I returned to 1% for the Planet reenergized and further inspired.
Just for grins, and because the environmental movement tends to lean (too often) toward dreary facts and sad figures, here’s a sampling of inspirational stories to share with our network:
Annie Leonard– if we’re to shift behavior and really redesign, everyone needs to watch her videos. Here’s a woman who has nailed her messaging and exemplifies effective communication in all aspects of her work.
The Elwha Damis coming out right now in Olympic National Park! This dam removal is a huge milestone in the efforts to restore our rivers and salmon populations, and it is one of many to come. Follow American Rivers to keep up to date on removal progress!
The International League of Conservation Photographers joins EP Films to create the film SPOIL, which exemplifies how powerfully film and photography can document and portray the pristine beauty and significance of threatened ecosystems, such as that of the Great Bear Rainforest. If the Enbridge pipeline plans go through, this area will soon be threatened by potential oil spills from tankers that will begin transporting oil through the narrow and windy coast of the Great Bear Rainforest. This film is an incredibly effective means of spreading awareness and prompting a response as it invokes a strong emotion from its audience. Try and watch it without getting a little teary….
Lastly, as we’re all working to protect the planet we love, it’s important that we remember to take the time to enjoy it.
(1% CEO, Terry Kellogg, slacklines with 1% Development Program Manager, Leah Cameron, at our annual staff retreat in Warren, VT)
Eco Awareness, makers of sustainable promotional products, offers everything from jute wine totes to wood-encased flash drives. Check out their diverse line of corporate gifts, upcycled items and men’s and women’s clothing if you want to spread the word about your company and make a statement at the same time.
Toasted Snow develops web-based software solutions that enhance social collaboration, social media listening strategies and marketing effectiveness of advertising agencies. They have good advice to offer businesses of any size–check them out!
Traverse Gourmet has just launched their new website, and as owner Norm Plumstead told me, “Traverse Gourmet is your online connection to northwest Michigan artisan food. We have created one location from which you can shop some of the tastiest food created by thoughtful artisans. Like you, we want to know where our food comes from and value the relationships that arise”.
In less than a month, 1% for the Planet will be in San Francisco for the Slow Money National Gathering. Slow Money is an emerging network of investors, donors, and farmers committed to building local food economies, and they are playing a critical role at redefining the boundaries between philanthropy and investing. This is their third National Gathering and the first two have launched national activity that holds great promise for all of us who want to see our economy transformed.
1% for the Planet is an early and proud supporter. Our very own, Rebecca Calahan Klein will be speaking on 1% for the Planet’s model of corporate engagement and environmental investing on a panel: Giving Something Back: New visions of corporate philanthropy. See the schedule for details.
As a benefit of our partnership, Slow Money is offering all 1% Members a 10% discount to attend the gathering on October 12-14th. Click here to register at the discounted price.
Click to listen to Woody Tasch, Slow Money Founder, explain how moving towards more local economic principles can benefit our planet and everyone involved.
September isn’t usually a time when I worry about pipes freezing, but this hasn’t been a normal year for weather. Today Leah, our esteemed Development Program Manager, and I are braving indoor temps in the 40′s (the furnace is still down following Hurricane Irene’s visit to our basement) by upping the pace on lunch-time runs and wearing hats 24/7. Better than any furnace for keeping us warm is the glow we get when thinking about the 11 new businesses that joined in the past week! We’re happy to welcome the following companies to 1% for the Planet:
1OakbySara: Owner Sara Reichert makes beautiful jewelry incorporating natural stones like agate and amethyst.
Bonefish Hawaii: Captain Rick will take you on the bonefish trip of a lifetime off the coasts of Oahu, Hawaii.
Destination Surf: A family and surfer owner business since 1980, Destination Surf has you covered for bags, leashes, traction pads and other surfing accessories. They know their stuff.
Green Park Store: Green Park Store carries a full selection of recycled plastic furniture for home, deck and garden, some even with built in bottle openers.
Greenhouse Design Studio: They have you covered for beautiful, environmentally-friendly homewares. JP and Laurie are traveling the world building inventory, but check back soon when their online sales are active!
KAMMOK: KAMMOK, makers of super light weight backpacking hammocks, is building philanthropy into the core of their business, and joined 1% immediately after securing seed funding through an incredibly successful Kickstarter campaign. We’re psyched to have them as a member!
True Clothing Store: True serves up good looking, organic cotton and sustainably made clothing in Del Monte Center. Stop by and pay Luke and AnneMarie a visit.
LV Wood: LV Wood brings high-quality, sustainably harvested flooring to the heart of New York City, and has been in the business since 1985. Father and son team Jim and James have your flooring needs covered.
Les Thés Bourgeon: This is your source for high-quality teas in France, from vert to noire, peach to lapsang.
Organic Tan: Made in the USA of organic ingredients, Organic Tan is the way to go. Skip the UV rays, and if you’re feeling generous, send your pasty Vermont-based friends at 1% for the Planet a bottle or two for Christmas.
Relaa.com/Ulko Oy: Based in Finland, Relaa.com is an online community for all things outdoor. If you’re looking for recommendations on where to head this weekend (and speak Finnish) be sure to check them out!
If the world were filled with people as committed to a tripple bottom line (and as stylish) as Todd Berger and Lucian Föhr, proprietors of new member company Berger and Föhr, we’d live on a very different planet. Obama’s speech last night might have sounded a little different with a US economy kicked in to overdrive by businesses using Berger & Föhr’s design services to create a better world and grow their business simultaneously.
If you own a company based in Europe and you are looking for transportation solutions for your business, AndCo, a new company based in Tour d’Aigues, France should be an obvious choice–be sure to check them out.
Biberons Cloud is a French company that’s making BPA free baby bottles. If you have a little one, or one on the way, their unbreakable, portable and safe bottles are a great choice for feeding on the go.
EcosKids is a Brazilian company that operates a forum that offers folks in the southern hesiphere a place to discuss environmental issues and solutions and a place to find youth-oriented products for a sustainable lifestyle. It’s very cool to see consumers around the world making environmentally sound choices, and we’re delighted to welcome EcosKids to 1%!
Great Western Bicycle Rally, which takes place on Memorial Day weekend in San Luis Obispo County, CA is near the top of my list for next year’s riding season–participants can choose to take on a one or three day challenge, with beautiful views and vineyards galore along the way.
Great Western participants hard at work in wine country
Swiss Natural Beauty is producing high-quality and innovative skin products in Europe. They joined at the recommendation of our good friend and French correspondent Jacques Fath, and we’re happy to welcome them to the family!
Feeling overwhelmed? The Bacana Plan has you covered. The Bacana team, lead by Naomi Peters, will help you with personal organization, work flow and time management, accounts management and technical advising. Bacana is Brazilian Portuguese for excellent, great, or wonderful, and Naomi will help you get to that feeling 24/7.
It’s hard to believe that September is upon us already. Here in Vermont we’re already beginning to see the leaves show a hint of their fall colors and students are getting ready to head back to class (they’d be there already were it not for Hurricane Irene’s only silver lining, another week off for grade schoolers! Sorry parents).
A warm welcome to our newest members!
Bedrock Sandals offers minimalist sandals designed for running, hiking and walking, made right here in the USA. Check them out if you’re a subscriber to the minimalist school or just looking for your next pair of cool sandals.
Bière et Montagne, to whom I owe an apology (and a beer) for not including them in an earlier post, is a company that brings together two of my favorite things in the world: beer and mountains. Based in Annecy, France, Bière et Montagne is born of their founders’ passion for the outdoors and good suds. Their store offers more than craft 400 beers from around the world, all at reasonable prices. Be sure to pay owners Nathan and Karim a visit if your travels take you to France!
ClanEco is a Brazilian addition to the 1% for the Planet family. www.claneco.com is a place where folks who are concerned about the health of our planet can go to share ideas, find inspiration and purchase sustainability-minded products.
Federal Coffee will put the bounce in your step. They’re makers of premium coffee that packs an extra punch with elevated levels of caffeine.
Garrett Grove Photography showcases the impressive work of photographer Garret Grove. Featured in publications including Rock and Ice, Powder, British Airways magazine, and Patagonia catalog, Grove knows how to “capture dynamic movement juxtaposed against static natural landscapes.” His skill shows.
The Bergeman Group has the architecture, engineering and construction fields covered. Based in Hawaii, proprietor Dana Bergeman should be your go-to if you’re in the area.
Korpi Consulting‘s founder Hendrik holds an M.Sc. in Corporate Environmental Management. He offers environmental education seminars, environmental management consulting services, and environmental certifications for companies of all sizes and he’s a certified wilderness guide to boot. If your company wants to walk the talk, Hendrik is a great resource.
Rocky Mountain Sherpas is a leader in the adrenaline sports film industry. Their unique blend of youthful spirit and technological savvy have led them to create some of the best winter sports films–check out the All.I.Can. teaser for a taste.
