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iLCP February 2010 Newsletter | blog.artwolfe.com

I’m a long-time fan of Art Wolfe’s work. It has been a critical component of my evolution as an environmentalist. His work taught me to appreciate the wild places, the wild things. With that appreciation came a desire to preserve. It delights me, then, to learn that he is part of a group, The International League of Conservation Photographers. Interesting, really, that this org, which encompasses two of my core passions, had completely escaped my awareness. My world is now richer.

I just finished up “Greasy Rider”, by Greg Melville. The premise captured me: two guys (dudes per the cover) driving across the country (from Burlington, Vermont to Berkeley, California) in a veggie-oil powered car. That, to me, sounds awesome. A nice book, more than just a travelog. Melville takes a pretty good (if not in-geeky-depth) look at the alternative fuels industry, it’s players and their motivations. He also side-trips, so to speak, into other areas of the green-movement (such as green building).

He has one observation that I agree with wholeheartedly: America, as a society, has lost (to a large degree) it’s ability to sacrifice. People do seem to want their solutions handed to them, in pretty packaging. Those of us who try to see things at a larger level, who try to live with some kind of higher calling tend to be regarded with ridicule and contempt. The greatest irony is the worst of the contempt-mongers delight in cloaking themselves in a shroud of morality. Sad, disturbing and exhausting.

All in all, a nice book. Worth the read. Much lighter reading than “The Omnivore’s Dilemma”.

I love books.

I can’t help being liberal, and wouldn’t if I could. That’s the heart I’ve been given. Compassion is my core directive. It’s where I try to focus. I often fail, but the call remains. I’m weary, though, of those “conservatives” somehow deciding compassion is a moral weakness. That demanding equality for all is “ungodly”. Expecting all people to be treated with dignity is evil. What is wrong with them?

I can’t help being liberal, and wouldn’t if I could. That’s the heart I’ve been given. Compassion is my core directive. It’s where I try to focus. I often fail, but the call remains. I’m weary, though, of those “conservatives” somehow deciding compassion is a moral weakness. That demanding equality for all is “ungodly”. Expecting all people to be treated with dignity is evil. What is wrong with them?

At work, part II – The Big Picture – Boston.com

A collection of well done photographs featuring workers working. I’m sure it’s fine to be impressed and glorify workers, as long as we keep it distinct from Labor. (Thanks, Jenny, for the link)

Anyway, this is one of my favorites…but I love books.

From Boston.com
An employee shelves books in the old books collection area at the Municipal Library of Lyon, France on January 15, 2010. The government of France is currently undertaking a 750 million euro ($1 billion) project to digitize its libraries and museums. (REUTERS/Robert Pratta)

A quick sketch for my son. He wanted a tulip, and this what I crunched
out without any reference.

Story: Vancouver police chief says innocent man beaten by officers did not resist

Brief synopsis: a man is beaten by police after a domestic disturbance call. Problem: police were at the wrong place and the man was completely innocent. Initial press statement says the chap was beaten because he resisted arrest. This story retracts that assertion.

I’ll leave it to others to ascertain the “wrong-ness” of the police officers’ actions (read the comments in the story if you want to see that discussion). However, I feel a need to look at the way the department managed the press. The initial statement was destructive. Their credibility was significantly damaged. Leadership looks out of control, dumb, inept or unscrupulous. There are folks claiming that the powers-that-be knew full well the falseness and the only reason they’re coming “clean” is that they were caught. I have no insights into the department, so I can’t comment to the veracity of such a claim. However, this sort of error/poor judgement only feeds that sentiment, and the surrounding distrust. With the Olympics coming, the accompanying attention provides additional embarrassment.

I firmly believe that it’s better to say nothing (for a while) then to risk a gaff of this magnitude. I know that the press hungers, implores for statements NOW. That’s ok…YOU don’t need to address that. That’s not your problem. Quality information is more critical. I saw the same with the coverage of Haiti. We had estimated death-tolls minutes after the quake. That’s simply ridiculous. This is why I stop following a disaster story after I get the original details. I wait for a few days until the fog of disinformation clears. But I care more for quality data than quantity and speed. Yeah, I’m weird.

Story: Vancouver police chief says innocent man beaten by officers did not resist

Brief synopsis: a man is beaten by police after a domestic disturbance call. Problem: police were at the wrong place and the man was completely innocent. Initial press statement says the chap was beaten because he resisted arrest. This story retracts that assertion.

I’ll leave it to others to ascertain the “wrong-ness” of the police officers’ actions (read the comments in the story if you want to see that discussion). However, I feel a need to look at the way the department managed the press. The initial statement was destructive. Their credibility was significantly damaged. Leadership looks out of control, dumb, inept or unscrupulous. There are folks claiming that the powers-that-be knew full well the falseness and the only reason they’re coming “clean” is that they were caught. I have no insights into the department, so I can’t comment to the veracity of such a claim. However, this sort of error/poor judgement only feeds that sentiment, and the surrounding distrust. With the Olympics coming, the accompanying attention provides additional embarrassment.

I firmly believe that it’s better to say nothing (for a while) then to risk a gaff of this magnitude. I know that the press hungers, implores for statements NOW. That’s ok…YOU don’t need to address that. That’s not your problem. Quality information is more critical. I saw the same with the coverage of Haiti. We had estimated death-tolls minutes after the quake. That’s simply ridiculous. This is why I stop following a disaster story after I get the original details. I wait for a few days until the fog of disinformation clears. But I care more for quality data than quantity and speed. Yeah, I’m weird.

Rain flows gently down
Pools slowly, circles reach out
Damp chill feels like home

Odd that this came to me today as we were quite free of rain. Actually, sunny and warm…like spring time warmth. However, I’ve lived in the Seattle area a good portion of my life. I guess this just comes naturally.