Thursday, November 20, 2008

Marine Peace Parks


Dear Children

One of the schools in Hawaii sent me this message yesterday.

"Our charter school has an initiative to build a sustainable vegetable garden integrated with aquaculture of food fish. The project is focused towards development of a garden that will be built in two years time on board a marine vessel which will sail around the globe beginning 2011, escorting the Hokule'a, a traditional Hawaiian voyaging canoe. Our school has adopted the task of building a prototype for this food system which will feed/supplement the crews rations of fish and vegetables. While sailing around the globe, the escort ship a "floating classroom" will stop at 25 ports and school groups will be invited onboard to learn about various environmental issues."

How exciting is this for their students. I wrote back and said:

"Your vision is fantastic. Ofcourse it fits perfectly with the International School Peace Gardens' vision. It also fits with Stage 3 Marine Peace Parks. The dedicating of your aqua-culture vegetable/food ISPG with an ocean journey will teach students will engage the students in a sustainability curriculum. It integrates food security, with research. This is truly global sustainability education.

IHTEC can share this with other schools around the world. If you Blog the students jouney, I can link it to my blog, so others can see your achievements over time. I will also add a comment to my 'Granny Julia's Children' Blog.

Have the students been involved with the October Marine Debris Awareness Month re the plastic mat in the Pacific Ocean?

I would like to see how we can support the clean up the plastic mat, and all the plastic that might go into the Pacific Ocean. Brainstorm how people in Hawaii, can help prevent plastic going into the ocean. Discuss the flow of plastic from the mountains, along rivers to oceans. Find out how the oceans flow together. Then look at how many countries are around the Pacific Ocean. Ask questions about how to work together to prevent it. Plastics are made from oil. How can we reuse what comes out of the plastic mat in the ocean? How are the species being affected by plastic? Here are some of the questions I would ask.

This is exactly why I designed IHTEC. The Tourism Industry should be involved with you.

Love
Julia

Hawaiian Visit to Schools and Teachers

Dear Children

On November 30, 2008 to December 7, 2008 we are visiting schools in Hawaii. Granny Julia and Fraser will be dedicating peace gardens, talking to teachers, visiting the big Volcanic Island called Hawaii. They are holding a dinner created with locally grown food, with students helping in the process.

The menu will include only food that was grown, raised or caught in Hawaii. With sustainability as one of Dame Morton-Marr's primary focuses, this dinner will serve as a launchpad for many exciting projects and partnerships. The student organizers of this event will demonstrate some of the important reasons to "eat local
food" including:

* Locally grown food tastes better and is better for us. Traveling thousands of miles before reaching Hawaii tends to also affect the nutritional value of the food.

* Eating locally grown food supports a cleaner environment and helps decrease our dependence on imported oil.

* It also supports our local agricultural industry and economy and helps maintain
open, green space on our islands.

Here are some links for you to look at.

http://www.hawaii.edu/pdknews/Dame_Morton_Marr_Visit.html

http://www.hawaii.edu/pdknews/pdkhawaii.html

and the PDK Hawaii Newsletter

http://www.hawaii.edu/pdknews/documents/112008_PDK_Hawaii.pdf

We are both very happy to see so many schools involved. The challenges are great for all of us on the planet.

Islands are exciting places to live.
Love

Granny Julia

Watershed Peace Pathways Curriculum

IHTEC has worked with Postive News Youth Views / Humanity 4.0 for many years. Our team work this time, has produced a full colour water newspaper for you and your teachers to download and print. Click on the title to this blog, and it will take you to the document on IHTEC's website. Each page has ideas for research on water issues, that will prompt public outreach, discussion, research from teachers and students. There are enough pages for several classes to each take one or two pages and work with the content. Hope you will read at least one page and see if you can achieve some action.

www.cafeweltgeist.org/ihtec/GIPWaterRT/WaterEdition-76pg-26Nov08-medres.pdf

Donate $15 on www.ihtec.org Click on the Canada Helps button.

Love your planet
Julia

Monday, November 17, 2008

Global Issues Project Expert Roundtable on Water




Dear friends

Over the weekend of November 7-9, 2008 I was part of a group of water specialists from around the world, who talked about the water issues on planet earth. The event was called the "Global Issues Project, Expert Roundtable on Water". It was held at Trinity College, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

If you click on the title of this blog, and it will take you directly to the papers and powerpoints on the IHTEC website, from this event. It was wonderful to have a Prof. Jennifer McKay from the University of South Australia with us, as South Australia has such a terrible time with the lack of water due to drought affecting the Murray-Darling Basin.

Please write and tell me what you do to ensure that you have enough clean drinking water. How do you conserve water? There is a zerofootprint counter with the list of items on this link.

Love your water
Cheers
Julia

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Web 2.0 TOOLS - TCC2008

Dear friends

Here are a few more web 2.0 tools for you to try. I learn't about these at the TCC2008 online conference this year.

www.Googledocs.com

www.griffy.com

www.commoncraft.com/twitter

www.slideshare.com


Other things to try:

Roll Play a peace garden using terms such as 'peace tree', 'friendship benches', 'path of peace', 'solving water issues' to create a story.

Visit CIA World Factbook for how the world works.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Earth Day April 22, 2008



Dear friends

Earth Day, the one that most people know about, is next week on April 22, 2008. Julia has the privilege to speak to several high schools at Niagara Falls, in Ontario, Canada. The students are part of Schools in Bloom. They have planted many species of vegetation. I am talking about the role of peace parks and gardens, of working working peace and environment together, and learning about survival on planet earth.

I have created another slide show for them. If you can't find it here, then look on the slide show page on the IHTEC website.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/2518229/EarthDayNiagaraFinal

http://www.ihtec.org/index.php?id=137

China celebrated Earth Day with a stamp. You can find it on this blog.

http://www.globio.org/glossopedia/article.aspx?art_id=35


Maybe you can design an Earth Day stamp for your school.

Cheers
Julia

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Sacred Tree from India



Hallo again

Children (girls) at the Sandipani Muni School, Vrindavan, India are making sacred trees, and a friend sent me one of these. The children are the poorest of the poor, and they are doing this is to raise money for their education at school. The trees are called "Kalpa Vriksha Trees" made from old copper wire, with amethysts and other gems strung onto the end of the wire. The wooden beads are made fron the Tulsai Devi tree, a very sacred tree in India. I think it is very beautiful, don't you?

Maybe you too can create a sacred tree, which represents your country. Use any kind of craft.

Their website is: http://www.fflvrindavan.org

Cheers
Julia

Monday, March 24, 2008

Kiln Building on Hawaii


Volcano Kiln Workshop

Monday, March 24, 2008 - Friday, March 28, 2008

Kowalke Residence
53-4177 Akoni Pule Highway
Kapaau, Hawaii 96755
Peter Kowalke
Phone: 808-937-7556
Email: peterantrim@gmail.com

http://www.regonline.com/volcano_kiln

Yesterday my friend John Southworth, invited a group of us to meet and participate if we can in his 'holiday' at the Volcano Kiln Workshop held on the northern point of the big island called Hawaii. This is the island where there is an active volcano. I 'google earth' to find out where they were and did a 'print screen' on my computer, so that I could insert it into a slide show.

John introduced me to Hugh Jenkins and Peter Kowalai, who are running the workshop.

"Hugh works with Ohio Valley Creative Energy www.ohiovalleycreativeenergy.org on sustainable equipment design and is a founding member of the BioGlass Group www.bioglass.org . For more information on Hugh, please visit: www.bigislandglass.com " from Hugh's bio.

Peter Kowalke, a local artist originally from Oahu, now resides on the Big Island and is a painter, sculptor and ceramicist. Young students and community members work together learning about local ecology, history, culture, science and much more as they create public works of art. Each project and resulting artwork emphasizes the island ecosystems and a holistic psychology based in the belief of "interconnectedness." For more information about Peter's fine art and community works go to www.artinsight.us and www.artinsight.us/hiddenjewels (community work).

A young university student from Hawaii, who is an artist, who hopes to learn how to blow glass more sustainably. This is because of the new way of re-capturing the heat from the kilm. Each participant will be helping in building the kiln. I wonder if they will also create a pot with the volcanic earth, and then fire them in the kiln?

John is hoping to be able to document the process in nicenet, using digital photos and individual stories. Maybe I can write a few ideas for schools on sustainability.

What an unexpected invitation to participate via the webcam. I am so thankful.

Update: John and I did a powerpoint presentation with is uploaded into
http://www.scribd.com/doc/2374440/HawaiBigIsland

Julia

Sunday, March 23, 2008

World Water Day March 22, 2008



Dear friends

Yesterday was World Water Day, but we know that 'water day is everyday'. In this picture you can see the results of the drought, on the River Murray at its Mouth in South Australia. All this part of the river is usually covered with water. The situation is very serious. I have created a slideshow using Helen and Scott Irvine's photos. Thank you to David Morton for flying in his new helicopter around the Lower Lakes and the Murray River's Mouth. Also thank you to Frank Refchange for your important photos.

First open the Port Elliot Flyers song "Let the Murray Flow" written by Shane Howard and Anne Todd in 2004. It was sent to me by Carol VanDalen and goes well with the slide show of the River Murray situation below.

http://ihtec.podbean.com/

Here is the slide show

http://www.scribd.com/doc/2518860/MurrayDarlingBasinAust

Do hope you can see and understand the differences from Granny's photos taken in 1987and Scott and Helen's photos in 2008.

Here is another slide show about water in South Australia.

http://www.savethemurray.com/facts_coorong_lower_lakes_and_murray_mouth.php

We all need to listen to the Ngarrindjeri Sea Country Plan. It is found here

http://www.environment.gov.au/indigenous/publications/pubs/ngarrindjeri-scp-2006-1.pdf

I am planning an online Water Round Table for young people during the year. Also IHTEC will participate in the 'Global Issues Water Round Table' in November 2008.

Do hope you will study the water situation where you are and join us.

Cheers
Julia

More WEB 2.0 Tools

Dear friends

I have spent more time finding more useful tools for you to try.

For Schools

edu20 - http://www.edu20.org/
they will be adding virtual worlds soon.

Schoopy- a new platform for schools to communicate with each other.
http://www.schoopy.com/

Uploading ppt's and pdf

Scribd www.scribd.com upto 1 GB of free room

http://yousendit.com

http://www.slideshare.net


Mind Maps

Mind42 - http://mind42.com/
a collaboratry mind mapping tool for two people - this is a Beta mode and is new but looks interesting it let me sign in, but didn't send me confirmation.


Bubbl.us http://www.bubbl.us/
online collabortory min mappin tool for more than two people


NEWS - Press Releases

http://www.instablogs.com/

http://opencalais.com/

pipes.yahoo.com


Virtual Avatar Creation Fun

http://www.fix8.com/


Invitations to Events Create an event

Pingg http://www.pingg.com

EventWax http://www.eventwax.com

Eventsbot http://eventsbot.com/

Love Julia

Friday, March 21, 2008

Spring Time - Bees & Honey


Hallo Sam

Hurray. It is Spring Time again. The snow is beginning to melt here and soon the birds will migrate back for the summer. The winter silence causes me to be sad. Triple glazed windows protect us from the environment outside. So I welcome the sounds of life as spring approaches.

In Spring the bees start their outside work again, when the flowers bloom. Bees don't hibernate in the winter, they snuggle together in a ball, constantly moving their bodies to keep the temperature at 90o F or 32.2o C. A beehive has between 20,000 and 30,000 bees.

Did you have honey for breakfast? Well this morning I ate the lifetime work of several dozen worker bees. What I eat in 1 year takes bees 55,000 miles or 8,8513 kms. They visit about 2 million flowers a year. One worker bee produces 1/12 teaspoon in its lifetime.

The queen bee lays 1,500 eggs a day and is the only bee to lay eggs.

How many times does a bee flap its wings in a minute? 11,000 times.

How fast does a bee fly? Ans: 15 miles per hour while it visits between 50 - 100 blossoms per trip.

How much honey can a hive create in a day? 2 lbs of honey.

So please look after the bees. They work hard for all of us.

Love
Julia

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Didgeridoo


What fun we had yesterday, learning how to play a Didgeridoo. Do you know how to do circular breathing?

Here are some lessons for you to try.... have fun.

http://www.aboriginalarts.co.uk/howtoplaydidgeridoo.html

Here are some YouTube videos for you to watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC9w4KWEgJE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF_Hw8l01LI&NR=1


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g592I-p-dc&NR=1

Have fun
Julia

Professor Helmut Burkhardt 75th Birthday 2008


My dear children

In our lives there are people who help us to be better than we are at present. I have had some important people help me. Professor Helmut Burkhardt is one of these people. It is Helmut's 75th Birthday this week and so to celebrate, Granny Julia has created a slide show of some of the events that we have shared. Helmut is a Physics and System Scientist. He especially is interested in Solar Energy, and works for Peace and Sustainability. The slide show is on


http://www.scribd.com/doc/2330718/Helmut75Birthday

Love
Julia

United Nations Information


My dear children

You will study the United Nations at school. This organization leads the world and try's to keep peace on earth. If your country is a member of the United Nations (we use UN for short) then YOU are a member of the UN. This will help you to do your best and keep the peace where you are.

I found a new UN link that lots of infomation for writing about global issues.

http://data.un.org/

Granny Julia has been to the UN in New York, for a couple of meetings. The best meeting was to the UN Special Session on Children. The photo is of the concert where they had 5 Nobel Peace Prize winners, and children performing from all over the world.

I have also spoken at the Students Human Rights Conference for 1 hour in one of the Conference Rooms. There were children from Canada and Mexico. It was a great honour, as I had the Canadian Ambassador on one side, and a senior advisor to UNICEF, Newton Bowles, on the other.

Julia was at the UN again in September 2005 for a meeting with the other US and Canadian Women as part of the 1000 PeaceWomen Across the Globe nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 2005.

Cheers
Julia

Google Earth has Google Sky





Good Morning

I did a seach for more information on Web 2.0 tools. I am amazed at how many there are. Here is the link I found when I asked for a "List of Web2.0 tools'

http://www.go2web20.net/

While I was there I found that the new download of Google Earth has Google Sky.

www.google.com/sky

If you go back to an earlier blog on Science of the Planet and the Cosmos, this will help you as you learn about where we live in the cosmos.

Although space is very large, it is important to keep 'Peace in Space'. It we have too much space junk above the earth, we will not be able to leave the earth. Already NASA has had to move space junk so that they don't hit it.

IHTEC has created a project for you called 'MEETS' Mountains on Earth Expansively Touching Space. When you stand on the top of a mountain then you are the closest to space. See
http://www.ihtec.org/index.php?id=72

Cheers
Julia

Monday, March 17, 2008

iGoogle

Dear young people

Have you found that there are so many good things to use on the web? Well there comes a time when I had to find a place that I could organize myself. As you will see in the Web 2.0 tools there are two that I know of. The one that I use is called igoogle. It is important to have all your main tools in one place.

iGoogle

Have fun.

Julia

WEB 2.0 TOOLS

Good morning

Have you tried the Web 2.0 tools? Do you know what they are? I have been working on them daily so I can learn how to use them. Here is a list of the ones that Granny has found. Do you know of any others that I can try? Have you begun a blog? If so let's link together.

Web 2.0 Tools

If you would like to spend time looking for all the Web2.0 tools use

http://www.go2web20.net/


Portal - this can be linked to a website and shows main links that you are using.
Protopage www.protopage.com
igoogle www.igoogle.com

Blogger www.blogger.com
Granny Julia’s Children www.ispg.blogspot.com

Radio
Blog Talk Radio www.blogtalkradio.com

Photos
Bubbleshare www.bubbleshare.com
Flickr www.flickr.com

Brainstorming and organizing
Cmap http://cmap.ihmc.us/


Marketing & Individual Newsletters
Constant Contact www.constantcontact.com ($)

Conference Rooms online
Talking Communities www.talkingcommunities.com ($)
WebHuddle www.webhuddle.com

Courses Structure & Schools interactive input
Moodle www.moodle.com
Nicenet www.nicenet.org
Wikispaces www.wikispaces.com Free & ($)
WiserEarth www.wiserearth.com

Podcasting
Gcast www.gcast.com
Podbean www.podbean.com
Podsafe www.podsafe.com

Video Casting
Screencast www.screencast.com
YouTube www.youtube.com

Survey’s
SurveyMonkey www.surveymonkey.com
Zoomerang www.zoomerang.com

Publishing
Wikipedia www.wikipedia.com

Video Conferencing
iVisit www.ivisit.com
Marratech www.marratech.com

Training through games
Thiagi www.thiagi.com

Love
Granny Julia

Saturday, March 15, 2008

International School Peace Gardens Slide Show

Hi again

We have made the ISPG slide show and recorded the sound in Audacity. Next we linked the MP3 file to the slide show in Talking Communities, followed by uploading the file into the TC archives, so that we have a .url

Look for ISPG Slide Show as an audio mp3 file on

Just audio
http://ihtec.podbean.com


With slides
http://talkingcommunities.com/wm/archives/rsa90853355ad1/Ispgbasic1/


Cheers
Julia

EARTH DAY MARCH 20, 2008 - CLIMATE CHANGE & ENERGY


Hallo dear children

This year IHTEC is encouraging children to celebrate Earth Day, in 2008 on Climate Change and Energy.

John McConnell, was the founder of Earth Day. Granny Julia has met Mr. McConnell, he is over 90 years old. The original date was March 21, 1970, on the Equinox each year, but as schools became involved the date was changed. The flag above is the original Earth Day flag.



School Earth Day April 22, 2008
http://ww2.earthday.net/~earthday/

I have found you some interesting ecological games to play with your family members. They are online calculators. Let me know what your footprints are today.

Earth Day Footprint http://www.earthday.net/footprint/ has a map of the world with many languages to choose from.

Global Ecological Footprint Calculator http://www.ecologicalfootprint.org/Global%20Footprint%20Calculator/GFPCalc.html

Australia Ecological Footprint Calculator http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/ecologicalfootprint/calculators/default.asp

New Zealand Ecological Footprint http://www.mfe.govt.nz/withyou/do/footprint/

UK Carbon Footprint http://actonco2.direct.gov.uk/index.html this is a fun picture for you.

ZeroFootprint Calculator http://zerofootprint.net/profile/sign_in

Safe Climate Calculator http://www.safeclimate.net/calculator/

List of Carbon Calculators http://www.earthfuture.com/climate/calculators/

Wikipedia on Footprints http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_footprint

Have fun. I will let you know mine when I have calculated it out. I do hope you copy this and take it to school.

Love Granny Julia

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Sacred Trees in Goolwa, South Australia





I did some research for your peace garden in Goolwa for the State or Sacred South Australian Trees. It seems to me that the Canoe Tree, on the Currency Creek Road, a River Red Gum Tree, is the closest that I found for your area. On the Famous Australian Trees website, I found the following and I quote:

Famous South Australian Trees
http://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/trees.htm

"Canoe Trees.
Whether alive or dead, canoe trees are the remnants of an important Aboriginal industry. Most of them can be found along Lakes Albert and Alexandrina, the Coorong and the River Murray and its tributaries.

It was mainly the river red gum, (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), from which the Aborigines cut and peeled long sheets of bark to make their canoes.

The art of making these rafts was practised by most Aborigines in Australia from the rivers to the coasts. "


I also found some other 'Famous Australian Trees' web links

http://www.touringaustralia.de/Trees/Licuala-ramsayi.php

http://www.mdavid.com.au/trees/unusualtrees.html

http://www.mdavid.com.au/trees/bigtrees.html

http://www.touringaustralia.de/trees.php

Cheers Julia

Peace Arch Park Sculpture and Art




A school I was teaching in is creating a peace garden in Goolwa, South Australia. I am so proud of their drawings, paintings, ability to compose such wonderful songs and sing them yourself.

Some gardens have sculptures in them. Have you tried that art form? Christina Alexandra who lives in Washington State, nurtures the Peace Arch Park, on the border of Washington, USA and British Columbia in Canada. They have an annual 'Art in the Park' sculpture competition. There is a lot of information on their website. Christina stayed with Granny Julia in February 2008, and has given us the song she wrote about the Peace Arch called "Children of a Common Mother" which are the words on the Peace Arch. She also gave us a video with the history of the Peace Arch. Here is their website:

http://www.peacearchpark.org/
Cheers
Julia

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Manoa Heritage Center - Hawaii


Have you every visited the Hawaiian Islands? Do you know where they are on the map? Go to Google Earth from your home, and find the Hawaii & the Manoa Heritage Centre. http://www.manoaheritagecenter.org/

You can visit their website to see the photos of their biodiversity - trees and flowers that grow on the Hawaiian Islands. Their Native Hawaiian garden is called 'Kuka'o'o Heiau. Granny is asking them to help talk about the International School Peace Gardens. If you visit a park or a Heritage Centre, you can also plant these ideas into your school peace garden.

Do you know what the word 'culture' means? Hawaiian's have many great cultural things that they do.
  1. A Hawaiian feast is called a Luau (say: loo-au). http://kohalacoastweb.blogspot.com/2007/06/best-hawaiian-luau-show.html
  2. Can you dance the hula? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huFf0uZGKEg&feature=related
  3. They use their beautiful flowers in their designs for making quilts. Have you folded a piece of paper in quarters and then cut design's in the middle? When you open it out you have matching patterns in each section. They do the same with material. You back the flower with wonder under, and sew the patterns onto a material square. They sew all the squares together to make a quilt. Here are some free patterns to try. http://nvo.com/poakalani/nss-folder/freecushionpatterns/
  4. Can you find the words for hallo, goodbye, in Hawaiian? http://www.aloha.com/~hvguides/HwnGlossary.html
  5. Their sacred tree is a Kukai.
  6. Look for their flower names http://www.alohafriendsphotos.com/
  7. Learn how to make a new plant out of a living plant.
  8. Find out how to plant a tree. You will need a spade and a bucket of water.
  9. What else do you need to keep the tree alive?

Julia

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Water - You are made of it




Good morning


A friend sent photos taken from Liverpool Road, Goolwa, SA. (see Photo 2 taken by Frank Refchange 2008) The river is in a serious state. I have also uploaded a photo of the normal height of the River Murray, at Liverpool Road, Goolwa, SA. (Photo 1 taken by Julia Morton-Marr in November 1987).
So for the last two days I have been focused on the Murray - Darling Basin, where I have taught so many of you, in South Australia. The river is drying up and you are experiencing a long drought. I know you all know how to protect your water supply and don't waste a drop. Some of you are experts at having a 3 minute shower. I know that you are collecting water in your rain water tanks, not watering your gardens except with your shower and bath grey water. I know that many of you don't have a dish washer, or a swimming pool, because of the lack and cost of water. Children in Africa walk for miles to the river to get water.

I was sent a petition from Goolwa, South Australia which I have signed. Here is the link please sign it.
Also here is a link so that you can calculate your water footprint
for more information on your water footprint go to
Julia

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Climate Change & Energy - Scientific Wisdom

In September 2007, top scientists from the 'Global Issues Project' met in Ontario Canada. They worked on ideas for people in the world, so that they could stop the Climate Change and Energy problems. Their suggestions are called the 'Wasan Action Framework". http://www.pugwashgroup.ca/

They are asking us to take them to our parents, teachers, Principals, Mayors, and parliamentary representatives at State, Provincial, and Federal levels of government. Here are their suggestions:
  • Preserve forests especially rainforests everywhere, as these are the earth's lungs.
  • Help plant a forest with all the other plants that help the forests to grow.
  • Only buy what you need. Think about what you throw away as there is "no where to throw away to".
  • Make your own toys. Waste nothing. Recycle everything.
  • Have only two children when you grow up.
  • Keep farming land for food not for fuel.
  • Use solar, wind, geothermal, hydro electricity, ocean energy, to power your buildings, factories and cars.
  • Keep oil for other products that your grandchildren will need.
  • Be WISE...Use current technology so that it reduces your carbon footprint. http://www.carbonfootprint.com/ Calculate your footprint http://calculator.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx
  • Check that women and girls are included 50% with men 50% at places where decisions are made that effect the web of life and all species.
  • Know you rights and responsibilities. Read the Earth Charter.
  • Keep the peace ... never buy war toys.
  • Use only water that you need in small amounts.

Please talk to your family members and take this to your school.


Cheers
Julia

COSMOS - Earth and Galaxy's

Science is one of the most important subjects we learn. For if we know the 'Laws of Nature' on Earth then we can also understand all about the stars, planets, galaxy's in the Universe. I have been watching COSMOS DVD series by Carl Sagan. In this he reminds us that:
  • Science is a language that we need to understand all of life including space
  • The Laws of Nature are the same everywhere, in every galaxy.
  • Light from a candle on earth is the same as the light from a star.
  • Chemicals on earth are the same chemicals in outer space.
  • That atoms and molecules are governed by physics everywhere.
  • The spiral storm patterns in cyclones on earth are the same as the spiral forms on Jupiter.
  • Gravity is the same everywhere in space. Gravity is sometimes stronger or weaker in different places, but it is same force.
  • Technology is the way species on earth will talk to each other. Earth uses 'Radio Astronomy' and is listening to sounds from space.
IT WOULD BE UNFORGIVABLE TO DESTROY THE EARTH - Humans have several ways that we can destroy all life on earth. So we all need to learn the science behind climate change, and change our actions. WE CAN ALL DO IT TOGETHER.
Chapters DVD and Book. http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/dvd/Carl-Sagan-Cosmos-Disc-Collectors/804387101097-item.html?ref=Search+DVD%3a+%2527cosmos%2527

Cheers
Julia

Monday, February 18, 2008

CREATURE CORRIDORS






Hallo again


Did you know that betweem 30,000 & 100,000 species of the animals and birds, insects and plants are dying every year? However we must keep water over land first as this is more important than species. Some scientists think that all species are now at risk. Those that we think are OK may die too. So here is something we can do together.


To Do List.
  • Plant food supplies for migrating creatures in your peace garden.
  • Google your local walking trail group and ask them how you can help plant food for creatures on walking trails. These might be milk weed for the monach butterfly, between Canada and Mexico.
  • Use only your feet, horses, or bicycles on walking trails.

For more information on Creature Corridors go to http://www.ihtec.org/index.php?id=75

Oceans, Whales and Plastic Bags




Hallo again....

This morning I was reminded of the whales that are dying. I saw a TV program yesterday where researches were looking into a whales tummy. Guess what they found? Yes you have it, lots and lots of plastic bags, bottles, tops, 6 pack plastic all mixed up in a big mess. What do you think we can do about this?

So what I did was to find a map that showed Oceans pollution. Here is a link to a map.
http://environmentalresearchweb.org/cws/article/research/32885/1/6913

To Do List...
  • Make a list of all the things humans have put into oceans.
  • Find more images of Oceans pollution and post them in your comments.
  • Stop using plastic bags and ask you family and friends to join you.
  • Collect plastic bags and recycle them
I know we can 'Turn the World Around". Will you help me please?

Sunday, February 17, 2008

CLIMATE CHANGE IN YOUR SCHOOL





HELP WITH CLIMATE CHANGE IN YOUR SCHOOL.

Welcome to International School Peace Gardens (ISPG) blog. Granny Julia want's to share ideas her own grand-children, and all the children that I have taught on planet earth. These children were in South Australia, Darwin and Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Germany, India, Sri Lanka, Mexico, many children in the USA, especially in Hawaii, California, Vermont, Florida. Hallo to all schools who have a peace garden. To find peace garden information go to www.ihtec.org

You may have called your gardens different names. You may have created your garden with Evergreen Foundation in Toronto, a memorial gardens, friendship garden, reconciliation garden, biodiversity garden, solar garden, a children's garden, musical garden, and all these gardens help the planet with solving climate change and energy especially if they support your local biodiversity.

You can join all these gardens with a 'path of peace'. Here is a TO DO list. In your school, have small teams of students allocated to work on your garden every day. Sit on your Friendship Benches and think of others things you can do to help the planet.

  • Draw a plan of your peace garden. Invite all your friends to draw their peace garden plan.
  • Plant trees, bushes and foods that are native to your area. Ask your local park what these are.
  • Plant foods for migrating species.
  • Clean out the weeds around the trees so that they can breathe.
  • Feed the birds.
  • Sit on the friendship bench to make friends and solve problems
  • Collect and plant original seeds.
  • Walk to school if you are close.
  • Make your school a Green School.
  • Re-cycle waste, pick up garbage using tongs or a stick.
  • Create your own blog and send me the link.