INSPIRED BY ANTARCTICA

Alaska to Antarctica...on a bike!

2012-02-01T18:00:00.000-05:00

Each day I'm learning more about the exciting new group of people I'll be meeting on my next Antarctic adventure. Today I heard from Joost Notenboom of the Netherlands, who is currently en route to Antarctica...via Alaska...on a bike! He and Michiel Roodenburg started Cycle for Water and are raising awareness of the global water crisis. They are currently in Patagonia, on their way south to Ushuaia on their bamboo bicycles (promoting sustainable materials and limiting their footprint to the bare minimum). AWESOME! Can't wait to hear the stories from these two...

Third time’s a charm!

2012-01-29T01:42:00.002-05:00

I’m thrilled to share that I’ll be joining Robert Swan and the 2041 team in Antarctica once again. On February 24^th I’ll depart for Argentina, where I’ll meet up with the rest of the team leaders. This year, an exciting new group of people will join us, including corporate leaders, journalists, energy experts, students, and two members of the Wounded Warrior Project. The most exciting news is that this expedition will be featured as a TEDx event. Those of you familiar with TED will know how awesome that is!

Stay tuned for more details. In the mean time, please follow me on Twitter, "Like" this page, and all that other fun stuff that will help spread the word and bring awareness to the mission of 2041.

“The biggest threat to the planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” Robert Swan O.B.E.

Inspired by...Costa Rica

2011-06-06T19:15:00.005-04:00

I am not the only one that is experiencing a milestone birthday these days. My mom is turning 70 in October, and to celebrate our milestones we decided to go somewhere together. Since I’m really just a chip off the old block, my mom and I like similar types of adventures. She’s climbed Machu Picchu, rowed down rivers in Alaska, and she hikes and showshoes weekly in her hometown in Eastern Oregon. She’s my ultimate inspiration. I hit the gym for a month before the trip, just so I could be sure to keep up with her! I wrote the following while I was there, and now that I’m back “on the grid” as of yesterday, I’m sharing it with all of you…

We chose Lapa Rios on the Osa Peninsula as our destination. It’s won all sorts of sustainability awards, and is known as one of the top eco-lodges in the world. It is completely off the grid just south of Corcovado National Park, high on a ridge in the rainforest. It’s a strange sensation, to have no television, no phone, no Internet, no walls. I am perched at the edge of a mountain in a bungalow, and can hear the ocean breaking a few hundred feet below me. The howler monkeys signal their bedtime with prehistoric-sounding wails, and, as the sun sets, I hear the rainforest come even more alive as the nocturnal population awakens. When I got here, I found an ant in the shower and killed it. Now, I think ants are spectacular. Have you ever watched an army of leaf-cutter ants at work? Incredible. We went on a night walk on our first night here…we saw snakes, tarantulas, and scorpions. In fact, I should probably put on some shoes, for there is a very real possibility that a tarantula or scorpion will crawl on my feet as I sit on my deck and write this. But this is the adventure I always desire…one that challenges me, encourages me to face my fears, and teaches me something that I don’t know. And they are doing amazing things here…composting, solar energy, biodiesel, hydro, everything is measured and accounted for, and everyone pitches in to make it happen. Their values are all about making this place sustainable. Right on, Lapa Rios, right on.

It seems strange, since it’s hot and humid, but I am reminded of Antarctica almost daily here. For one, I am surrounded by people who chose this as a destination because of their love of nature and desire to preserve it. On a boat trip along a tropical fjord we passed untouched rainforest reaching all the way to the sky…it was just like the Lemaire Channel, but green, not covered with white ice. When I jumped off the boat into the warm Gulf, it reminded me of my Polar Plunge (until I hit the water of course). And, the humpbacks I love to watch in Antarctica are expected here soon for their breeding season. It occurs to me that this is a perfect example of a world connected. Of balance. Of similarities and differences. It is a demonstration of how precarious the world is. Signs of climate change are all around here, even in what is known to be one of the most diverse and healthy ecosystems in the world. The rainforest, like Antarctica and the Arctic, is another canary in the coal mine.

So, as I reflect on what I’ve learned here, and what I learned in Morocco, I can’t help but wonder…perhaps there will be a day when more people look beyond only themselves, their house, their job, their town, their state, and their country….to find that there is actually a whole world out there. What stopped us from thinking of ourselves as global citizens? Just because something is different, doesn’t mean it’s wrong. After all, sleeping with ants and spiders certainly felt different a few days ago, and while I won’t be turning my apartment into a jungle anytime soon, I may think twice before killing the next critter I see.

This photo was taken by one of the Lapa Rios guides looking through a telescope with my camera..a howler monkey eating lunch in a huge tree behind the entrance to the lodge.

Inspired by...Morocco

2011-06-05T20:00:00.004-04:00

Well, hello again. It’s been awhile. It’s not that I haven’t been “inspired”, it’s just that I haven’t written about it. So without further ado, I’ll pick up where I left off six months ago...

After my first expedition to Antarctica, I realized that a goal of setting foot on all seven continents was suddenly attainable, and, since I already had six under my belt, it was attainable before the end of my (insert an unmentionable milestone birthday here) year. Last fall, when a girlfriend of mine sent out an e-mail asking if anyone was interested in joining her on a camping trip in the Sahara the following month, I jumped on it. Africa? Check. Seven continents? Check. My favorite? Still Antarctica. BUT…Africa was amazing. Now, it wasn’t sub-Saharan Africa…I still need to do that…but riding on a camel at sunset, into the darkness of the Sahara, and camping out on the top of a sand dune under magnificent stars wrapped in wool blanket? Brilliant. Waking up at sunrise and watching the sand turn to movie-set red in front of my eyes? Magic. I wanted to stay in the desert for a week. I was sucked back into the Antarctica-like feeling of isolation that I love…the feeling that no one else existed in the world except for the few of us on that dune. Here we were, three American girls, with three Berber Moroccan guides, singing, drumming, laughing, and drinking tea. They tried to help us understand jokes in Arabic, we tried to teach them American campfire songs. We were all the same…people living life and enjoying it, learning about differences and respecting them. Learning about similarities and feeling dismayed that such judgment exists in the world between our two cultures. Not there. Not on that dune.

I’ll summarize my Moroccan inspiration with a story. Khalid, our new friend and talented guide, had patiently taught me to speak some of his language, answered my questions about his culture and religion, showed me how to eat traditional Moroccan food, and made sure I didn’t freeze on that dune. On the way back to Marrakesh, we stopped in the mountains to shop and I asked Khalid where I could get a tajine dish to take home. He told me that the best place would be coming up in a little while. I forgot all about it. We arrived to our riad in the old city and began to say an emotional goodbye to our new friend. Khalid reached into a bag and presented me with a tajine…a gift. A gift?? From my tour guide? That demonstration of heartfelt generosity will never be forgotten. You see, in Morocco I learned about true generosity, but also about family values, about the beauty and origin of the word “inshallah”, about discipline, and that most people who seem very different from me are, in fact, not at all.

COP16 begins today in Cancun, Mexico...so what?

2010-11-29T12:37:00.006-05:00

Well, you won't see it on CNN's home page, and it's buried near the bottom of BBC's, but the COP16 climate talks indeed started today. While there is little hope for any real progress to come out of the first climate talks since the failed Copenhagen talks last December, there has been a shift in climate action strategy this past year, according to what I'm hearing at various events that I've attended. This article from The Guardian answers some basic questions about COP16, and mentions the big players who will be in attendance. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/oct/08/cancun-cop16-climate-talks

In September I represented my company at the Carbon Disclosure Projects's Global Forum here in New York. The UN "Climate Chief", Christiana Figueres, is highlighted in this article and spoke to us at the Forum. She shared what's reported in the article today - that she holds little hope of significant action by governments at COP16 - but she added something that isn't in this article, and that offers a more optimistic view of climate action. In a nutshell, she and the other big players have now put their hope in corporations and in local government. In the last couple of years, many international corporations have identified “green business” as a huge opportunity, regardless of their personal views, and have restructured products and processes to be able show consumers that they are serious about sustainability and addressing the issue of global climate change. Financial institutions are also in the game, with top banks committing billions of dollars each in capital dedicated to climate change. Local governments, California being a prime example, have turned their back on the stalemate of federal government and moved forward with the most aggressive climate policy in the US.

All of this independent action confirms that what will ultimately drive climate action is, of course, money. The question is: who is going to be resistant to jumping on the bandwagon to capitalize because they’d prefer to point fingers at “activists, tree huggers, and alarmists”? While I personally wish that people would act because they understand the severity of the climate crisis, I’ll take the action any way I can get it.

One day I hope that the governments of the world will be able to agree to a binding treaty, but until then, I guess it’s up to us.

Lauren

Puttin' Solar On It: Breaking News from the White House!

2010-10-05T10:27:00.000-04:00

Here comes the sun: White House to go solar

A huge boost was given to environmental activists this morning, particularly a group I work closely with, 350.org. Several weeks ago, Bill McKibben and some students from Unity College in Maine drove down the east coast with one of the solar panels that President Jimmy Carter had installed on the White House roof in the 70s. Ronald Reagan took them down in 1986, but this particular panel has been churning out power to unity college for decades. I signed it on it's way down to the White House, with great hope that a symbolic gesture would be made by President Obama and he would agree to install solar panels on his residence. Alas, Bill and the students were denied the immediate gratification of a "Yes", and were told the White House would "follow their deliberate process" and would look into it. I, like many, assumed this was just another way for the government to say "No".

I was wrong! Today, the White House plans to announce that it will be installing solar panels, and President Obama will join other world leaders who have agreed to do the same for 350.org's Global Work Party on 10/10/10. To learn more or find out how you can join the biggest day of climate action is history, go to http://www.350.org/. Currently there are over 6000 events planned in 184 countries.

Lauren

Climate Week 2010 Kicks Off

2010-09-20T13:18:00.001-04:00

I just attended the kickoff event for Climate Week NYC...the launch of the Global 500 and S&P 500 Carbon Disclosure Project Reports - http://www.cdproject.net/. CEOs, UN negotiators, and government representatives were all saying the same thing: we have a moral imperative to act, and there is a business opportunity in the" green race". The key now is for industries and cities to move forward with implementing carbon reduction plans, since larger governments aren't rushing to set the targets they need to...we (the voters, consumers, companies) need to push them in the right direction by our actions. Another key point...we have the technology, so let's use it!

More later...and if you are in the NYC area, be sure to check out the Climate Week action this week!

http://www.climateweeknyc2010.org/

Lauren

The challenges of communicating about climate change

2010-05-26T19:25:00.000-04:00

I have spent two years researching the motivations behind "climate skepticism", and it's a very interesting topic. The following two articles cover a few points that I bump into over and over again. The first is about how the media and politics easily manipulate data interpretation and change public perception, and second is around communication and psychology. Both are interesting reads.

This article from The Economist is an excellent tool for understanding some common arguments from "climate skeptics", and addresses why we should not be thrown off course by media and political arguments on whether or not climate change is happening.

The Economist: "Spin, science and climate change"

This next article from The National Times (Australia) explores some of the above topics as well, but goes deeper into the subject of how climate change data is communicated and how "apocalyptic" messaging can induce feelings of "powerlessness" rather that inspire change, and how activists on the issue could benefit from "self-critical examination" of their communication. Quotes philosopher (and activist), Sarah Bachelard, "There can be a tone of self-righteousness, a kind of shrill moral indignation, in the speech of those of us who protest and campaign … We know that we are on the side of the angels, and in our own way we can fail to do justice to the complex reality of most human action and motivation. We get something out of 'being right' … (and) satisfaction from making those who do not agree with us wrong."

National Times: "What we have is the failure to communicate"

Food for thought...

Lauren

It's A Small World After All

2010-04-27T02:10:00.000-04:00

At work today in my San Francisco office, I was lucky enough to be told by a colleague about a conference at UC Berkeley tonight, featuring Professor John Harte from the Energy Resources Group, and Jamie Henn from 350.org. I went, and as I was sitting there watching Jamie's presentation, BAM!, my own face showed up on the screen! It was a picture from the Times Square rally on October 24th's International Day of Climate Action. I'm front and center with my mom. Seeing the 350.org pictures from all over the world, and then seeing my own face, made the world seem both big and small at the same time. Seeing the pictures again after six months also gave me renewed hope that people can be energized to take action, and that we can make a difference!

Next up: 10/10/10!

http://www.350.org/

Finally... A Carbon Footprint Calculator I Can Trust!

2010-04-23T20:27:00.001-04:00

The past two days have been great, as I returned with fellow IATE alum, Joe Spedding, to speak at Marin Catholic and San Domenico in my hometown of San Anselmo, California. Today San Domenico hosted "Green Scene" in celebration of Earth Day, and I cannot tell you how impressed I was with the amazing efforts the school has made to be sustainable! Solar panels provide 83% of the schools electricity, they compost in the cafeteria, and grow their own vegetables. Truly an example for all other schools and organizations to follow...WELL DONE!

I attended a workshop on carbon footprints led by a researcher from the University of Berkeley, Chris Jones, and am now happy to say that I can recommend a carbon calculator for everyone in the US. It's great because it is detailed and uses benchmarks to show how your footprint compares to others with similar circumstances to yours. Then it helps to create an action plan to reduce your footprint even more! BRILLIANT! I'll work on getting the widget for this blog, but in the mean time...

Calculate your carbon footprint here!

Inspired By Antarctica...ON TOUR!

2010-04-16T13:24:00.000-04:00

To all in the SF Bay Area...

I'll be in Marin County next week to speak about my journeys to Antarctica at two Earth Day events. Joining me will be fellow Antarctic expeditioner, Joe Spedding, who is visiting from the UK. If you are nearby with an hour to spare, please come by! Details follow...please let me know if you plan to come to either so I can keep an eye out for you and say hello!

Thursday, April 22nd (40th Anniversary of Earth Day)
Marin Catholic High School - 675 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Kentfield
Performing Arts Center
12:00pm: Gather at the fountain in front of the center
12:15pm - 12:50pm: "Inspired By Antrarctica" (open to students, alumni, general public)
12:50pm - 1:30pm: Q&A & Reception

Friday, April 23rd (6th Annual "Green Your School" Conference)
San Domenico School - 1500 Butterfield Road, San Anselmo
Hall of the Arts
8:15am - Keynote speakers for Opening Ceremony
http://www.sandomenico.org/page.cfm?p=1591

Antarctica helping Haiti

2010-04-10T10:05:00.000-04:00

Last night I was thrilled to be able to use my Antarctic experience to earn $4000 for earthquake relief in Haiti. At my company's annual charity auction, the CEO and CFO went into a bidding war for my item, and ultimately I agreed to do two presentations for $2000 each! I'll be speaking to their kids' schools about my journeys to Antarctica, and what I've learned about environmental sustainability.

Local Action, Global Change

2010-04-05T18:36:00.000-04:00

Legislative change, especially at the Federal level in the U.S., takes a long time. The people who are upset about the passing of health care reform will undoubtedly try to make a point to slow down Obama's next objective, the climate bill. Personally, I am disgusted at the amount of political bickering and associated violence attached to the health care bill, and saddened that a likely victim is the climate bill. We don't have time to waste.

I was, however, encouraged by some student action I read about in the Terre Haute, Indiana Tribune-Star. The article and people involved are right on the money about how we can't wait around for federal action. We must start locally, and at a state level. Indiana certainly isn't the only state where local action is brewing, and that's great news! Keep it up, people!

Students rally for green laws

Earth Hour and We Add Up

2010-03-29T17:58:00.000-04:00

Hello to all, and a Happy Belated Earth Hour! I hope that you all were able to participate on Saturday night, or at least have been able to see some of the amazing reports from all over the world. Earth Hour 2010 trended top ten on Twitter and is being touted as the "largest mass demonstration in history". Reports of significant reduction in energy consumption for the hour are coming in from utility companies worldwide.

http://www.earthhour.org/

You may have noticed that I've been away for awhile...at least from my blog. I'll be posting again more regularly now, and I'll start with this link that contains a nice article on my recent Antarctic expedition, along with a mention of this blog. Before leaving for my expedition, I was given t-shirts by a great company called We Add Up, and I took a shot of some of us wearing them in Antarctica. The t-shirts feature an energy-saving tip on the back, and a unique number on the front...to keep track of how many people have "pledged" to do that particular action. A fantastic idea!

http://www.weaddup.com/blog/archives/inspired-by-antarctica/#comments

Until the next post...
Lauren

Robert Swan speaking in Copenhagen on Dec. 15!

2009-12-14T20:28:00.000-05:00

IMPORTANT ANNOUNECMENT to anyone in the vicinity of Copenhagen!

2041 Voyage for Cleaner Energy presents:
Free Lecture by renowned Polar Explorer, Robert Swan O.B.E.
7pm on 15 Dec. @ Tietgen Kollegiet
Rued Langgaards Vej 10-18, Entrance 16
Nearest tube station is Islands Brygge or University.

I was "Inspired by Antarctica" and Robert....go to this and you will be too!

Lauren

Back to life, back to reality...

2009-12-03T19:50:00.000-05:00

As you can tell from the previous posts, I've completed my latest adventure and now am safely back in the concrete jungle of New York City. I think the oddest transition has been adjusting to darkness again. I had become used to 24 hours of daylight. My body clock seems to be confused as I deal with my re-entry into reality and the world.

I'll post more thoughts in the upcoming days. In the meantime, visit the 2041 expedition blog if you'd like to read the day by day account of the expedition.

http://expedition.2041.com/iate

Surrounded by the "Iceberg Graveyard" at Charcot Harbour, Antarctica

A Day in Paradise

2009-12-03T19:33:00.000-05:00

The following is an excerpt from one of my entries from our expedition blog. The day had special significance for me, as it brought me back to Paradise Bay, where I had scattered some of my father’s ashes the year before. The second landing at Orne Harbour was fantastic as well. It’s not often one has the chance to lie down in the snow and take a catnap on the top of a ridge, with no one in sight, in a blizzard, in total silence, with an occasional penguin passing by.

From November 26th…

We’ve reached a point in this experience where words begin to fail to describe the beauty, emotions and inspiration that we are feeling. Antarctica has become something special to each of us in different ways, but collectively we share the belief that this is a spectacular place beyond conventional description. A poet would find it the ultimate muse.

Above photo courtesy of Jack Robert-Tissot

Today the magic of Antarctica was revealed as we arrived at Paradise Bay. Aptly named, this protected bay has been described as the most beautiful place in the world, and while it certainly was impressive this morning when we woke up, it was hard to see its depth and grandeur through the thick white clouds and falling snow. We dressed warmly for our landing, which was intended to offer us some time for individual reflection, and set out in the zodiacs to Almirante Brown Station, named for the Argentinean hero. About 15 minutes after our landing, Paradise Bay transformed when the sun parted the thick cloud cover and broke through to reveal a bay that reflected majestic mountains in its stillness. The temperature rose dramatically and we switched from goggles to sunglasses to take in the precious warmth and stunning scene. Then, moments later, a portion of the glacier across the water calved, in clear view as we hiked up a mountain above the station, and it was as if Paradise Bay had awoken and decided to welcome us to her shores personally. Appreciating the special gift we had been given, we took time by ourselves to let the magical morning sink in.

Hike above Paradise Bay

After lunch we had an optional landing and hike at Orne Harbor and those who went were treated to a steep climb up a ridge to a chinstrap penguin rookery. We crossed over the ridge to the other side and the silently falling snow was entrancing.

Me & a couple of chinstrap penguins hiding in the flakes of a blizzard at Orne Harbour

Upon our return to the ship, we gathered for Robert’s third Leadership on the Edge installment. We also heard from members of the expedition on various topics. Steven Blumenfeld, a student from Yale University, spoke about how the Antarctic Treaty that was formed 50 years ago can serve as a model for climate policy today, and Ken Townsel of the Ron Clark Academy inspired us all with a motivational speech about seizing each moment of this expedition.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving for the Americans on board the ship. The chef will be preparing a special feast and all send their love to families celebrating at home.

There's a Price for Everything

2009-12-03T18:50:00.001-05:00

The following was written on the crossing to Antarctica on November 20th. A different version was posted on the 2041 blog...this was my personal journal entry:

The Drake Passage is a beast. The fact that I knowingly am traveling through it again for a second time speaks to the power of Antarctica. The Drake is like a mental and physical test, not unlike what astronaut must feel going to outer space. Different of course, but in the sense that you are traveling where few have gone before and putting your mind and body through hell to get there, it is pretty similar. We are well past the Antarctic Convergence (where the Atlantic and Pacific waters meet and result in a major temperature drop) and the power of the ocean here cannot even be described. It’s ferocious, and mesmerizing, and beautiful, and frightening. As I type this in my cabin, there are massive waves crashing onto my window, and I’m not even on the bottom level of the ship.

The stabilizers on this little ship, the Clipper Adventurer, have helped. I don’t think I would be very happy on the MV Ushuaia right now. Zero stabilizers in the worst crossing that the captain of that ship had ever seen (March 2008) – that was not fun. It’s been slow-going, therefore, it looks like we are going to head further south and come back to the E-base and Bellingshausen on the way back. We have been radioing the Russian ship that was stuck in the Weddell Sea, to get advice as to what our best path will be to avoid remaining pack ice.

With any luck we’ll be in calmer waters by nightfall. We’ve been rocking and rolling for 2 days now and although I’ve technically avoided getting sea sick (I’m wearing a seasick patch), I’ll be happy to move out of the Drake – at least for a week until we have to do it all over again on the way back!

Only a matter of hours before we see our first iceberg!

I'm off!

2009-11-18T08:43:00.000-05:00

I'm about to board the ship and set sail for Antarctica. This will be my final post on this blog until December 1st, but you can follow me from now on at http://expedition.2041.com. I will get comments if you write them on the message board, so please do!

See you on the flip side!

Lauren

Publish Post

Preparing for departure...

2009-11-17T20:46:00.002-05:00

I am blown away by the passion of the people on this expedition…and we haven’t even set foot on the boat. There are about 50 people from all over the world here – Vietnam, India, Australia, New Zealand, Serbia, Turkey, Germany, Netherlands, Finland, United Arab Emirates, Canada, US, UK, Columbia, China, and more - all about to embark on an experience that will change their lives. It’s really amazing to observe their excitement, as I remember the same eager anticipation that I had the night before departing for Antarctica the first time.

Just as with my first expedition, my future shipmates each have amazing stories about what led them to this place at the bottom of the world, and goals that they want to achieve while here. We will be learning about climate change and energy from an expert from Shell, and about the Antarctic Treaty from one of the foremost experts from the British Antarctic Survey, and about the concept of carbon offsets from an advisor from Native Energy. My job on the ship is to help define the ultimate mission for the team’s post-expedition work and to launch the Alumni Program that will give the team the tools to stay connected and inspired. I introduced the program earlier tonight and already have been approached by enthusiastic team members who already have plans for actions when they return home.

We had a fantastic hike up the Martial Glacier today. It was quite a different hike than last year because of the snow, and it was certainly better coming down…we practically floated down the glacier on all the fresh powder! I’m about to have a big traditional Argentinean dinner a good night’s sleep…’cause I’m leaving for Antarctica tomorrow!

Photo taken by Tony Piedade on the way up Martial Glacier early this morning.

Looking down on Ushuaia...

A different look at Ushuaia

2009-11-16T20:35:00.001-05:00

When I was last in Ushuaia, it was the middle of March at the end of the summer, and the snow had melted off of most of the Patagonian mountains surrounding the town. In November, the spring snow is still covering the range and tomorrow we'll be hiking in it up to our knees when we climb up towards what is left of the Martial Glacier. Another difference at this time of year is the sunlight. Dawn breaks around 5am, and the sun doesn't go down until about 10:30pm. In Antarctica, the daylight will be even longer.

It's been a pretty relaxing couple of days, and until the expedition members began arriving this afternoon, I spent most of my time hanging out with the other team leaders, discussing the agenda for the leadership program I'll be helping to facilitate on the boat.

Now that everyone is here, it's hit me that this is actually happening. It's also presenting me with moments of déjà vu, and I fondly remember this time only a year and a half ago when I was the one arriving with that look of excitement on my face and meeting strangers that would become my close friends. I still have that excitement, and undoubtedly have already said hello to people today that I will know for the rest of my life.

It's 8:45 and I'm off to dinner…considering whether or not to put on sunscreen.

Travelling

2009-11-15T09:12:00.000-05:00

My mom worked for Pan Am and my dad regularly had business overseas, which meant that I grew up travelling. Since we would travel on my mom’s free passes in “space available”, it usually resulted in us sitting in First Class. In fact, as a little girl, I had to go to the airport dressed in a pretty dress and stockings so that I would be deemed acceptable to sit up front. Oh my, how times have changed.

My flight from JFK to Buenos Aires was relatively tolerable, thanks to my Ambien-induced 8 hour slumber (someone I know once referred to Ambien as “Business Class in a bottle”). The plane was bizarrely small for that long of a flight and I felt like a sardine. I actually had to get acrobatic at one point to launch out of my seat since the guy next to me wouldn’t wake up.

I am not sure why I feel so intrigued by the concept of travel as I write this. Maybe it is because I have spent much of the past year and a half studying climate change, or maybe it’s simply because I’ve just completed a 25-hour travel day. It never ceases to amaze me that I can leave the bustle of Manhattan on a Friday in rush hour, take off on a plane in an early winter Nor-Easter storm at night and land on a warm, Spring morning in another hemisphere, speed in a taxi through Buenos Aires to another airport and another plane, only to then again find myself in the freezing cold dark night 8 hours later, looking at the faint outline of mountains covered in snow in the southernmost city in the world. This planet is truly an amazing creation, and to think how humankind has found a way to jump all over it in contraptions that fly 35,000 feet in the air is nothing short of mind-boggling…if you really think about it.

So, I can’t help but think, as I embark on this journey to deepen my understanding of the urgent need to change how we use the planet’s resources, “why can’t humankind figure out a way to move our technology forward in a way that preserves this planet and enables future generations to live a comfortable life? Are we so spoiled, like little girls in First Class, that we can’t imagine doing things differently or making investments for the sake of those who will come after us?”

Wait, does that last paragraph sound like Carrie Bradshaw opening a “green” episode of “Sex and The City?”

Changing humankind’s behavior will not be easy, but as I reflect on the last year and a half since returning from my first trip to Antarctica, the signs that we may be on the road and travelling in the right direction seem to be present all around me. I live in New York City, and there is not a day that goes by that a bus with an advertisement with the word “green” doesn’t pass me. The trashcans in the subway now have stickers that explain that everything is recycled so that commuters won’t feel guilty disposing of their morning newspapers. My local farmers market not only provides me with everything I need to eat for the week (locally grown); I can also give any unwanted clothes to them to recycle, and there is someone sitting there every week signing up New Yorkers to “switch to wind energy”. This means that I pay a couple of extra dollars per month on my electric bill, but it’s creating a market and subsidizing more wind farms.

Now, I realize this is New York City, where you don’t need a car, apartments are small, and it is very easy to have a small carbon footprint. Even with its millions of inhabitants, New York City is becoming one of the “greenest” big cities in the world. However, the signs I see in my community are also appearing on national magazine covers bearing the words “Green Issue”, on national TV sitcoms that have “green” episodes, and most notably, a presidential campaign last year where both candidates acknowledged the importance of the issue of climate change.

While all of this is encouraging to me, it must seem odd to my European friends who have been recycling since they were born. I’m afraid the United States has a lot of work to do to catch up. I went to a debate the other night at the Japan Society near the U.N., to listen to several authorities from Japan, China and the U.S. share news of the negotiations leading up to December’s Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December. All had been active in the Kyoto negotiations and some even further back to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1989. It was made very clear that the world is waiting for the U.S. government to decide what they are willing to commit to. One gentleman from Japan described it as “holding the rest of the world hostage”. That same man, however, was encouraged by the Obama administration’s progress. The Ambassador from China was very quick to point out that while China recently surpassed the U.S. as the top carbon emitting country, they also have 21% of the world’s population while the U.S. has only 5%, leaving their per capita carbon emissions much lower than ours. It is also very obvious that they are already positioning themselves for the future green economy, particularly global solar panel production. I love my country and feel fortunate to have been born here (it is, after all, totally random where we end up finding ourselves as new lives on earth), but we share our atmosphere with the rest of the world and we need to take the lead in cleaning it up. Even if the thousands of scientists who have agreed that anthropogenic climate change is happening were all of a sudden found to be wrong, so what? The world is wasting time arguing. It is still happening! It doesn’t matter whose “fault” it is. When I asked the debate panel a question about leadership at Copenhagen, mentioned that hours before the President of the Maldives and leaders of ten other nations had pledged to go carbon neutral, and asked about grass roots activism happening all over the world, and what effect, if any, it was having on the negotiations, I didn’t really get a straight answer. It’s a very complicated negotiation process, maybe the most complicated treaty that world leaders have ever had to face, but they need to stop playing politics, come up with solutions, and get this planet on the road to recovery…quickly.

So, as I wind down this marathon day of travel and get ready to start my longer journey south to the white continent (yes, my entire trip is offset…a complicated notion and I am sure the subject of a future blog entry), I am focused on the power of people and what they can accomplish: they can invent an airplane and change the world, they can study science in school and grow up to invent a wind turbine or solar panel, they can use the internet to spawn a grass roots movement that results in a coordinated International Day of Climate Action in over 180 countries, they can be ambitious and pledge to make their climate-vulnerable countries carbon neutral as a statement to the rest of the world, and they can be leaders who travel to Copenhagen and put politics aside and the future of the planet first by signing a fair and ambitious treaty. The first four have happened…I pray the fifth will too. That would be a trip worth taking. Anyone have an extra plane ticket to Copenhagen?

Lauren Wylie
Ushuaia, Argentina

And so it begins...

2009-11-13T19:04:00.000-05:00

I'm off! Next stop, Buenos Aires...

Thank you to everyone for all of your support and well wishes!

I'll post again as soon as I can.

Lauren

48 hours to go...

2009-11-11T23:33:00.000-05:00

I'm packing frantically, and even packed a can of yams to open on Thanksgiving. Hopefully Argentina's customs officers will go easy on me...it's a big can. It's been a crazy week, but hopefully I'll have some time on Friday to write about the debate I attended last night called "Copenhagen & Beyond: A Multilateral Debate about Climate Change Policy" at the Japan Society. Really interesting...

In the meantime, be sure to bookmark, follow or subscribe to this blog!

Jeans vs. The Planet

2009-11-07T18:00:00.001-05:00

As the news comes in that a firm global treaty is less and less likely to be signed at Copenhagen in December, I'm reminded of this video that was featured at "The Age of Stupid" premiere in September. If only the world leaders could be bold enough and brave enough to actually lead. It still shocks me that people are so passionately opposed to the government investing in alternative energy and individuals spending a little too...like $150 a year per US household (just one of the many similar figures thrown out there - some are more, some are less). That's a pair of designer jeans!! And studies from all over the world (example: a recent TD Bank-funded study in Canada called "Climate Leadership, Economic Prosperity") detail how investing now can offer a better standard of living and create more jobs for the future. Not to mention how more renewable energy solutions would reduce our dependence on foreign oil. How can the world's leaders be so short-sighted...and so afraid to acknowledge that climate change is THE global issue of our time?

Personally, I'd rather buy a long and comfortable future for my generation's grand-kids than a few new pairs of jeans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FVYUTr61rc

My Formidable Opponent

2009-11-07T09:33:00.000-05:00

Stephen Colbert vs. Stephen Colbert in another hilarious debate.

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/255173/november-04-2009/formidable-opponent---global-warming-with-al-gore

Heading south soon...too soon?

2009-11-06T18:53:00.000-05:00

This one's for those of you who have asked how my ship will be able to reach Antarctica this early in the summer season. Here's your answer...warmer water = faster pack ice melt & more rapidly calving ice shelves.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/11/ice-loss-antarctic-peninsula-unprecendented-14000-years.php

Countdown....7 days!

The Countdown Begins

2009-11-03T11:42:00.001-05:00

TEN DAYS until I leave for Antarctica! With all of the 350.org excitement, combined with Robert's book launch (have you bought it yet?), I am only now getting my head around all the preparations for the journey south. This post will test my ability to sent blog entries via e-mail, so l can keep you all updated for as long as I can before disappearing off the edge of the world without any way to communicate.

Recap of the 350.org Brooklyn Bridge Walk

2009-10-26T23:05:00.013-04:00

Saturday was a magnificent day. The International Day of Climate Action began in New Zealand at sunrise, and continued to fan out all over the globe. At the end of the day, 350.org reported that over 5200 actions in 181 countries had taken place, and we became the top story on Google News, CNN, and many other news outlets on Saturday night. Here's a re-cap of how I spent the day...

At 11:30am on Saturday, October 24th, a crowd started to gather near the Manhattan entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge. It was relatively mild in temperature, but the rain was on and off and I was afraid that it would turn off people from coming out to march. And then they came...and kept coming, until I lost count. Among those gathered was Robert Swan and others from my first expedition to Antarctica, many friends, and even my mom, who was visiting from Oregon. Somehow, in the midst of the chaos, I found myself next to Robert and being given a banner to hold. Turns out we would be leading the throng of several hundred across the bridge! We started out in some light rain, and after about an hour, reached the other side and continued to the DUMBO park. Robert gave an inspiring speech to the cheering crowd and then we headed off to our next stop...Times Square.

Approaching Times Square, it began to rain again, and as we got close to the center we started to see dozens of blue and white 350 signs dotting the plaza. The celebration began at 3:50pm when music played, people danced, and pictures that had been sent from around the world were were shown on four big screens overhead. At one point I looked up and saw a picture of myself leading the Bridge Walk earlier in the day. Bill McKibbon, the founder of 350.org spoke, then introduced 3 other leaders in the movement, including Robert Swan. Once again Robert inspired the crowd, announcing his upcoming "Return Journey", where he will make another polar walk, this time without the use of any fossil fuels.

It was a magnificent day, filled with hope and enthusiasm, but what struck me as truly remarkable was the way people from all over the world came together to support a common cause. There were no religious or political divides with those involved, only concerned citizens of the world. That should speak pretty loudly to decision makers...it's not often that citizens from warring nations can come together and agree whole-heartedly on something. They did on Saturday.

Check out some pics and video here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/26/350-protests-in-new-york_n_334051.html

WOW, talk about action...

2009-10-21T22:26:00.000-04:00

It's amazing what can happen in a week. Since my post on October 14th, the International Day of Climate Action has nearly doubled in size to over 4300 actions in 171 countries, and the buzz is EVERYWHERE! To find a common cause that brings together people from nations at war with each other is rare and precious, and to see how fiercely determined young people are to spread this message is inspiring. There are over 300 events planned across China alone...that is mind-boggling.

Please join me in experiencing this special day. Wherever you are.

And New Yorkers...I'll see you on the Brooklyn Bridge!

Blog Action Day - short and simple

2009-10-15T23:21:00.001-04:00

It's Blog Action Day and so far almost 25,000 bloggers all over the world have written about this year's chosen topic: climate change. I only have one thing to say: October 24th has the chance to be "one of those days" in history. BE THERE.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqof641pWys

See you on the Brooklyn Bridge at 12pm! And if NYC is too far away...find an action near you at 350.org...

ATTENTION NEW YORKERS!

2009-10-14T15:27:00.001-04:00

10 GREAT REASONS TO JOIN ME ON 350.ORG’S BROOKLYN BRIDGE WALK ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24TH:

Robert Swan, who is in town for his big book launch on October 27th, will be walking with us! How often do you get a chance to walk alongside someone who has walked to both the North and South Poles?
It’s FREE, unlike most NYC events...plus you get a free t-shirt.
It’s at 12 noon, which means you can sleep off a hangover first, or walk off a big brunch.
Since I was out of town on my birthday, THIS is the party! And you don’t even have to bring a gift. Your presence will be my present.
Have kids? ALL AGES welcome. Get them away from the video games and DVDs and out into the fresh air!
Live in the suburbs? If so, #5 is likely so see above.
You’ll get to meet my mom. She’s awesome.
Brooklyn has cool brunch spots that you can go to after the walk. OK, I know I really don’t ever go to Brooklyn, but I did go to brunch there once…the last time I walked across the bridge.
If the Yankees go to a Game 6, it won’t start until 4:13pm…plenty of time to walk the bridge then get to the stadium or a TV.
World leaders will be gathering in Copenhagen in December. They must come away from that meeting having signed a strong global treaty on climate change. As of today, over 2400 actions in 155 countries are planned for 350.org’s Global Day of Climate Action on October 24th. We’re New Yorkers! Time to show our strength in numbers and take a stand in the “most widespread day of environmental action in the planet’s history”! How cool is that!?

If these 10 reasons haven’t convinced you or if you are unavailable to attend, PLEASE spread the word to anyone who you think might be interested!

E-mail me with questions…laurenwylie99@gmail.com, and be sure to sign up on Facebook, 350.org, Greenpeace, or just tell me so we can have an idea of numbers.

When: Saturday, October 24th, 2009 at 12pm

Where: Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge (there is an open plaza area across from the entrance to the bridge)

There will also be a press conference in Times Square later in the afternoon (around 3pm). Robert Swan will be an MC at that event and if you can't make the walk...come to the press conference!

Rain or shine...SEE YOU THERE!

Announcement: Robert Swan to join Brooklyn Bridge Walk with 350.org

2009-10-12T20:21:00.001-04:00

I've just received confirmation that Robert Swan, who will be in New York City for his book launch on October 27th, will be arriving early in order to be able to join me and other New Yorkers in 350.org's Global Day of Climate Action in a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. To quote 350.org's website, "350 parts per million is what many scientists, climate experts, and progressive national governments are now saying is the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere". The 350.org grass roots movement exists to raise awareness leading up to the Climate Change Conference in December in Copenhagen, and to "hold our decision-makers accountable to producing a treaty that is strong, equitable, and grounded in the latest science." As of today, there are 2,252 actions planned in 152 countries on October 24th. Following the bridge walk, 350.org will be holding a press conference in Times Square where pictures from these actions all over the world will be shown. Robert will be speaking to the crowd after the walk, and hopefully again as an MC at the Times Square event.

New Yorkers...PLEASE come walk with me! We'll meet on the Manhattan side at 12 noon. You can sign up at http://www.350.org/node/7423

Robert Swan's new book ON SALE Oct. 27th

2009-10-11T22:27:00.001-04:00

Robert Swan, with help from Gil Reavill, details his extraordinary life so far in this wonderful new book. Robert tells the story of why he was inspired to be the first person to walk to both the South and North Poles, and how he came to dedicate his life to preserving Antarctica. On unbelievable adventure after adventure, Robert shows commitment, leadership and unwavering pursuit of educating young people about sustainability and leadership. The book is filled with humor, emotion, suspense, and inspiration. It is thoroughly entertaining (I couldn't put it down), yet it also finds a way to speak very clearly about the serious environmental issues facing our world today and illustrates how the polar regions are the "canaries in the coal mine" of climate change. Robert's focus on 2041's mission to promote renewable energy and educate young leaders about sustainability is an example of how one person can make a difference.

Please buy the book and support the mission to preserve Antarctica! Pre-order here:

http://www.amazon.com/Antarctica-2041-Quest-Earths-Wilderness/dp/0767931750/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1249508901&sr=8-1

Chapter Two...Back to Antarctica in November!

2009-10-10T17:52:00.003-04:00

I am thrilled to announce that Robert Swan and 2041 have invited me back to Antarctica on an expedition celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty. I have been asked to help develop and launch the new 2041 Alumni Program, and will be speaking to this year’s Antarctic expedition team about what to do post-expedition to stay inspired and push the mission of 2041 forward. That mission is to "inform, engage and inspire the next generation of leaders to take responsibility, to be sustainable, and to know that now is the time for action in policy development, business generation and future technologies".

Please sign up to follow this blog and stay tuned for more details!

To learn more about my first trip to Antarctica, please visit http://www.inspiredbyantarctica.com/

2009-06-05T19:21:00.005-04:00

Today I spoke to some of the graduating class of the Young Women's Leadership School in East Harlem, NY. The school boasts a 100% college acceptance rate! I'm back row, fourth from the left.

Switch to wind power...it's easy!

2008-11-06T14:24:00.004-05:00

Did you know that most electricity providers offer you the option to purchase wind power through an alternate energy services company (ESCO)? For an average New York City customer, the cost is about $10 more a month. Installing energy efficient light bulbs will save the average customer about as much, therefore, the cost factor is lessened or eliminated.

This is an important action that we can take that will deliver immediate impact. When you choose the wind power option on your electricity bill, the extra money you are charged will go directly toward building new wind farms. Your action also helps to create a market. The more we demand, the more the wind power companies will need to supply. They will be able to raise money to develop better wind technology and produce it faster. By selecting the wind power option on your electricity bill, you are becoming an “investor” in wind energy development.

Wind isn’t perfect...not yet. There are still concerns with noise and with bat and bird populations. But this should not stop us from creating the market. Using our voices to demand clean energy and to demand investments in improving current systems is something we all should be doing.

New York Con Edison customers switch here: http://www.newwindenergy.com/switch

Use this link to find out if your provider offers clean energy solutions: http://www.epa.gov/grnpower/pubs/gplocator.htm

Advocate of Green

2008-10-26T13:00:00.001-04:00

I took a class yesterday at NYU with other like-minded individuals who are searching for ways to make a positive impact on the environment. I met one woman who has an excellent blog dedicated to educating others on how to be more ‘green’. Check it out..

Great job, Danielle...love the site!

http://www.advocateofgreen.com/

Calculate your carbon footprint

2008-10-12T17:35:00.002-04:00

There is a lot of talk about reducing carbon footprints these days, and so many different websites that offer carbon calculators. It gets very confusing and it’s hard to figure out which has the best and most comprehensive calculator. I’ve discovered that the most useful information from these calculators comes from the questions themselves, not the ultimate score. I suggest that you look a a couple of different versions of calculators, and focus on educating yourself about the ways to reduce your footprint. The value is in changing your habits; the score is just a benchmark to inspire you.

BP calculator (simple and basic): http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/carboncalc/

An Inconvenient Truth: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/carboncalculator/

Count Down Your Carbon (challenges you with actions for each area of reduction): http://www.countdownyourcarbon.org/calculator.php

For a good list of ways to reduce your carbon footprint: http://www.wecansolveit.org/content/pages/20/
For general understanding of the concept of footprints: http://www.footprintnetwork.org/gfn_sub.php?content=app_carbon_footprint

Eliminate your junk mail

2008-10-11T16:00:00.005-04:00

Cutting back on junk mail will have a positive environmental impact by saving trees and reducing the amount of landfill needed for the waste if not recycled. It will also reduce garage collection bills and taxes.

Here’s an easy and free way to start cutting back on junk mail: https://www.greendimes.com/

And another link which was recommended by one of my blog readers...thanks for the tip, MJ! http://www.catalogchoice.org/

2041 Website

2008-10-10T17:31:00.007-04:00

For more on Robert Swan, Antarctica, the Voyage for Cleaner Energy and climate change, go to http://www.2041.com/