photo : Julia Marois / Ile aux asp / 2011
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My friend Zero
My only post for today...too late, too much, too tired.
Great news, Jeremie, our youngest daughter, wrote from Koh Panghan, for Full Moon Fiesta, lovely mail, she is back in Thailand after a 48hour bus trip...(last news 12 days ago..). A little relieved knowing all is well.
Thanks to our Julia also, who sent me this picture, taken today, of our dog Zero, spending the weekend at L'ile aux Asperges,The island of Asparagus translated...A little island 30 minutes from Montreal. Where the other half of our tribe as a camp setting.
My dearest pal Zero is the one in black. I was told he rolled himself in a dead fish so he stinks !!
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Indonesia 2009
tropical transformation palm trees deforestation
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All THIS FOR A KIT-KAT
It may look like caramel to some, but it isn't. We addressed the topic of activism today in class, I was really excited. And still am. It is among my favorite topics, with environment, and both combined are interdependent for me. It is what I also try to teach. Always challenging and fascinating to exchange on topics that are deeply embodied. But I am reflecting on new perspectives that are proposed to us now. More positive messages, forget the -first- era of hard guilt messages. A real issue to think and talk about...And I will come back, but now, bed...

Tomorrow, in class, some role tasks. I will be...a lumberjack fighting against a mayor and his politics! Well forgive me for even daring say that.

Do those word, activism and environment have a meaning for me even more then ever, since we talk, and try to living up to it all the time in this residence. I can't just sit there. (well for another week I will no choice)

This is a 2010 post I gave my students when, in my former life I was a teacher, (here we say instructor). Now I am the student and I love it. I feel privileged to have the time (well...not in a short term perspective, I'm dead tired, but I see it and mean it in the long run, not like the acts that need to be taken..). Protest and Greenpeace campaign, accusing Netslé to contribute to massive tropical forest deforestation in Indonesia, for palm oil, a few years back. Responsible sourcing> in this case, they didn't even seem to know there was such thing it could seem, but they do. I had invite students to boycott the chocolate bar their own coffee shop had. And our coffee shop to cease buying from them. It's might feel ok to have a few Caminos on our shelves, but it isn't enough.

I saw a documentary, on orang-outang in this case. Doing this master's degree or volunteering for a year with orang-outang were both as appealing to me.

In 2008, Greenpeace had protested against Unilever ; in a few weeks, the international group had reacted and announced major changes in their practice towards responsible sourcing (french article).

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RESIDENCY DAY , I don't know which...

Elizabeth from KOMAZA on Vimeo.

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We talked a lot about gender particularly in Peta's class. We taked about activism as well, in both. We are invited to refelct on education every day of course. Environment and social issues being interdependant is quite clear in many ways and communication can adress that very well. I often think of my students and the things we share together in class, and outside, or through my course blogue. I will come back to writing but in the meantime, I will share here some of the things I had visioned and shared in my -former life!- .
This morning I woke up tired, lack of sleep as well as much more that is too long for the journal time I have tonight, since I have a meta reflection to write and hand in tomorrow...probably exhausted, I bursted in tears. But, someone, I mean not anyone, well...Maia, a person who makes everybody and feel good and welcomed, asked me how I was, and BAM. Again. Maia and Ami were not just sweet but listening. I got hugs today, which I needed. Hugs and some closeness don't seem it is a feel good or needed thing for my team at the moment, in our young relationships, as opposed to other teams, to share the warmth of being together, but that's ok, everyone deals with her/his own -feel goods- chocolate, an enquiry, a hello a little warmer then usual, and that feels so nice as well. But today only huge hugs could do it. I got more, even Liza hugged me. I need spontaneous talks gestures warmth. It felt so good. Peta was not feeling too well herself and it made me think I should take care of her. Maybe i should have hugged her :-)
Well anyway. I found a great spot today to shed my tears away. A tree probably older then me, with 2 little cats wondering.
I think it all started helping me gain my confidence back. Sylvie is a dear. She is always careful and laughing. She made me a bowl of fruits. Anyway, I should go to my meta reflection now.
I have been having problems with my links. Hope these work.
Lien >
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Women. Another animation in the continuity of The clock is ticking. They are great.




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TakePart: Participant Media - Waiting For 'Superman' - Infographic

from Jr.canest on Vimeo.

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RESIDENCY DAY 8

photo : Lyne Lefebvre / France 2011
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NICE WAY TO START THE DAY
I got the environment back! (in my computer....) Well at least, Botanical Beach is safe!
Reading the International guidelines for environmental-related Education, which somehow uses the metaphor "I think therefore I am" leaving all the non-thinking, which doesn't only says to exclude non-human but also humans who would not be able to think the way others do, because of mental handicap they would have for example, out of the whole interdepenpent picture of who we are, and only altogether that can be...(to be continued)
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RESIDENCY DAY 7

photo : Lyne Lefebvre / BC, none, 2011
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GREAT SATURDAY / HUDGE DECEPTION
Really big deception feeling, as I was going to post all my pictures from our amazing trip to the Botanical beach this weekend. I love taking pictures, they feel like an extension of my brain and heart to remember everything, after being somewhere, surrounded by -someones-. I often think of my mom and her Alzheimer now when takimg pictures. In the beginning, post-its everywhere and pictures, were her escape back form her mixed up memory. I miss her so much...She had loved BC, the mountains, the East Coast.

From fish, to planctons, kids, dogs, amazing skies and smiles, water colors and seal, nice food, sun, wind, smell, Maia taking a hole swim, Liza taking her time for us, Savanah and Elie running and getting hurt or lost, Liz driving us safely, Rick sharing discoveries, Julie talking biology, -anemones-, sand, Kaytlin and Sophie speaking french and telling great kid stories, greys, greens, whites, browns, blues, cones, branches, birds, rocks, trees, -escargots- they all have disappeared.. now what kind of metaphor to nature is that...

Cross fingers tomorrow the battery of my camera will be charged, and pictures will still be in there...but I doubt it. I haven't done my little papers, my journal for a while, so much to do. Relaxing was really nice.

Through planning our Riding@res (Chris, Jen, Nicol, and me) we have encountered little difficulties today. We are learning team work as much as all the rest. I am confident we will find our respectful way to approach the next steps. I have some reading to share with my other team, the Quartet Jen Jamie, Don, so I'm jumping in bed to do so.
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RESIDENCY DAY 5

© photo : Lyne Lefebvre
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GREENWASHING
We again had interesting discussions on a subject I love today. A subject so widely spread that it is sometimes hard to find what is not, then what is. I read and was pleases a while ago, on our most engaged Sustainable Quebec n-line community, Novae , that the Ministère du Développement durable as made a point with the Bureau de normalisation du Québec to get a recycled product certification going. A study from Recyc-Québec had concluded that it was indeed needed, and should allow Quebec consumers to recognize recycled material goods. The standards surrounding this program should be held in 2012. Certifications can be precious tools for as long as we know what they measure, and for as long as a third party can check on their parameters. We must always question those tools, however, and their setting in order to measure their meaning and real scope. It was interesting how we don,t always hold it against some industries for misleading us. Well I like to think I do.
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RESIDENCY DAY 3

No no, we're not having a drink in the woods, yet,
Pakki showed us the plant that makes basket and folds around bottles.
I wasn't taking pictures yet to catch the plant itself.
And missed the Douglas fir, who wanted to be a Grand fir.
(my favorite story...)

Iron wood, lovely hook story for its branch.

Huckle berry, sweet

Oragn grape

Miniature Rose, Story with death ceremonial. (too long tonight)

Good rots for great bread. Only the men know the recipe...



Skunk Cabbage, what a story for Sylvie's feet.

Tadam, the shoe.


Pathfinder, as a name says, helps you find your way.

Indian Pipe ?.

Mother swan and swany. Swany doesn't yet know there is a road up close.

I love models. This was a -chouette- interactvie representation of environmental issues.

Silent and focused Eagle at the Lagoon

One of us from the group is missing of course. Don't we look fulfilled and happy.

In the wetlands.

Sylvie the Latin ocean webmaster, Burl the biologist/photographer and Maia the singing cheerup campgirl.


Our 2 friends waiting at the door every night when we come back.

I will ask PJ the urbanist plant-pro to check names and photo matches, I have a doubt on Pipe and huckle.

photos : Lyne Lefebvre / Victoria BC 2011
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I won't have time to write much tonight, but I wish to put some pictures before time catches me up too much. It was a very beautiful day, after Social media brainstorming with Peta, woods with Pikki, a charming and such native lady (who has also lived in Greenland..wow), brought us on her journey, a path where she shared fascinating moments and knowledge of the past and present, with us. We were all ...pending to her lips (Pendus à ses lèvres. Expression that I don't know how to translate.) We also got a glance at the Lagoon with Nikki and B...Brenda(?), and had time to sit and draw a little -croquis- of a chosen space of the lagoon. A family activity we have been doing with our 3 kids, since they could travel. I usually never miss bringing my moleskine and pen for that matter on any trip (Something Nikki also told us she had in a workshop the day before). I left without the ones Jeremie had bought for me for my trip to Amsterdam, just before coming here. I had left it behind with my sunscreen, raincoat, family, dog, and accent shyness, as I told Matthew in our duo-exchanges the day before (while staring at his nose or lets say blue eyes :-). He had left behind his 2 young sons and a whole bunch of stuff too.
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RESIDENCY DAY 2

Blue sky! Leaving for forest.

Shadows.

Brad, Sylvie, Jamie and Alida?

Much thinner leaves then the ones we have.

Signs are in the forest as well.

But do...

Barely leaving the woods and we can see urbanity in a simple line.


Arriving at the quai architecture.

Our creative instructor in journal writing.




Such beautiful architectural elements. Bird conservation homes.

End of trip to the quai.
photo: Lyne Lefebvre / Victoria, BC,2011
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I am way behing in my DAY journal...I wil start a new serie's with RESIDENCY. DAY 1 was yesterday, I will come back to it. Class starts in 30 minutes. Took my shower in cold water at 6. Still a little bit of reading not finished. Just needed to get this going and put some pictures.

We are asked a reflection upon ourselves through this journal I am aware. I did choose to write basic stuff, down to earth souvenir of what happened during the day not reflecting much inner wise, but simply factually and daily. Taking pictures, documenting without necessarily feeling the need to express myself here. In class, in group, in an email to my boyfriend or family. I like blog writing even if it isn't such a -Journal- space.

I had my little frustrations this morning, but they never last. I would say I am the positive kind and enjoying the people and the instructors makes me pass over little deceptions quickly. I appreciated the moment Peta was reading to us. I like those kinds of moments. I appreciated going in the woods, but this would be such a long post to write what we already did when asked : When I let my life speak it says:...Well take a guess, but better, try it.

Burl taught us a nice conservation attempt regarding Purple Martin species of birds on the quai were we ended our walking in the woods little journey. The birds themselves, reminded me of my childhood -hirondelles- and the birdhouses, my father who built so many of them. It is with him I learned to whistle like a bird, and that birdhouse needed different holes to attract various species.

Well that is it for today, I wish to read, eat, go outside, go to the library to print in order to read outside instead of my computer. Although printing is a mess, if it brings me in nature today...I say it's ok...Oh my colleagues invite me to see the documentary Gasland, that I wanted to see and still haven't. Let's go.
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