The G2 Gallery

The G2 Gallery has only been open for a year, but it is already generating lots of buzz in both the art and environmental world. Located in Venice, CA, the Gallery showcases the art of wildlife photographers and donates the proceeds from all art sales to environmental causes. Yeah! Another champion to help stave off the effects of our man-made messes.

Mom loves the current exhibit at the Gallery because it showcases an animal that she studied intensely before she got interested in sea turtles - penguins. Cold Feet: Penguins of the Antarctic is on exhibit through April 5. The artist J.J. L'Heureux made her first trip to Antarctica in the winter of 2000-2001 and she has returned nearly every year to photograph the amazing wildlife that call the frozen continent home. Her amazing photographs capture the essence of the penguins in a way few have. Mom wants to go to Antarctica so bad, so maybe she should contact J.J. to see if she needs a porter for her luggage. Mom would have a lot to talk to J.J. about because J.J. is also a certified docent at the San Franciso Zoo.

Even if you can't make it to the Gallery in person, check out it out at http://www.theg2gallery.com/. The exhibits are sure to awe you and may even inspire a few of you to dust off your cameras and head outdoors.

Helping Save Marine Mammals

Mom's turtle buddy Carole spent a day this week babysitting this baby harp seal on a beach in New Jersey. Carole is a marine mammal stranding volunteer and when she received a call that there was a stranding, she headed straight for the beach to do whatever she could to help save it.

Carole is a volunteer with the Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) which is based in Brigantine, New Jersey. Staff and volunteers work to ensure that animals that are stranded are either helped back into the water or are taken to the Center for rehabilitation. As a non-profit organization, the Center has relied on donations from concerned citizens all over the country since its inception in 1978.

Seals are not the only animals that wash ashore on the beaches of New Jersey. The Center has responded to strandings of a 25-ton humpback whale and as well as many species of sea turtles. The number of strandings has increased through the years as ocean going animals face added threats on a daily basis. According to their website, the Center has seen an increase in species of seals and sea turtles that are far out of their range strand in New Jersey. This is bad news for my little ocean buddies.

The baby harp seal that Carole took care of was a young male who weighed in at almost 60 pounds. The little guy ended up going back into the water around 6pm and it is thought that he was okay and simply wanted to rest. A happy ending indeed thanks to Carole and the staff at the Marine Mammal Stranding Center!

Adelita the Loggerhead

In 1999, Adelita the loggerhead was the first sea turtle ever tracked across the ocean using satellite telemetry. While millions of people around the world shared her migration on the Internet, her migration helped to prove that loggerhead born in Japan, feed off the coasts of California and Mexico before making their way back home to Japan to nest. The story that Adelita tells is an amazing one as she reminds us again that our oceans are connected and that we are all in this together.

Everyone everywhere must work together to protect sea turtles and their habitat. Sea turtles need us to fight for them and we must pull together to get the word out about their plight. Sadly, this migration was Adelita's last - she drowned in a shrimp net off the coast of Japan. A PBS documentary Voyage of the Lonely Turtle was created about Adelita and her journey. The documentary showed the many dangers Adelita faced on her 9,000 journey across the Pacific, in addition to showcasing giant schools of fish, dolphins, and jellyfish. Please take a moment to watch this short video about Adelita's journey and witness the spectacle that is animal migration.

Wednesday Wag Out!

Seed Earrings

Mom is loving these earrings. The big seed is a jupati seed and the small red one is a tento seed. Both seeds are from the Amazon rainforest, are ecologically sustainable, and accessible for local, indigenous artisans to access. By purchasing these earrings, you are helping the local artisans provide for their families, plus you are getting a one of a kind masterpiece.

One Village Gifts is committed to selling green and fair trade goods from all over the world. Approximately 70% of all their artisans are women and most of the time these women are mothers. They are often the sole bread winners for their families and the best way to earn a living is to produce handcrafted items that are based on cultural traditions. This is another win-win for everyone. Pick up these great earrings and other equally impressive gifts at http://www.onevillagegifts.com/.

Chopstick Basket

This is another one of those items that you have to see to believe. Mom's zoo buddy Jen sent this idea to me and I love it. I don't eat with chopsticks but a lot of people around the world do. Any single use object is a waste, but this smart guy from Eugene, Oregon decided to upcycle chopsticks into works of art.

I know what you're thinking - yuk! Old chopsticks that were once in someones mouth are now a bowl that might hold some fruit? The chopsticks are clean and sanitized before being used to create this highly functional piece of art basket. The baskets are so multi purpose that you may find yourself with one in every room of your house. They also make great gifts for the person who has everything. Head on over to http://www.chopstickart.com/ and fall in love with their unique designs.

Recycled Watering Can

Mom has a thing for watering cans. I really don't get it but she has lots of them. She does not have a watering can made from recycled sheet metal - at least not yet.

This great recycled watering can is as practical as it is stylish. It is made from sheet metal that was once commercial product packaging, but was saved from the landfill. Each design is unique and all are made in and fairly traded from India. The lid is removable so even if you have no use for a watering can, you can always use it as a vase. I'm sure there are other uses for it as well, but it would look great just hanging out in the garden or on a window ledge.

The Hunger Site funds food for the hungry people worldwide. It is a GreaterGood Network Store (one of six) which is run by Greatergood.org. They distribute funds to charitable organizations in need. By purchasing the recycled watering you are helping feed the world. Check out the recycled watering can and other great items at www.shop.thehungersite.com/store.

Where Do Great Ape Stars Retire?

Mom is always telling me that people keep the strangest animals as pets. Stranger than a pug? Yep, even stranger than a pug. Just last week a chimpanzee was killed when he tore off the face of his owner's friend. The owner did not have a permit to keep exotic animals and something like this was just bound to happen. Chimpanzees are wild animals and should not be kept at pets. They grow up to be big strong animals whose owners can no longer handle them. What happens to these animals when they have outgrown their welcome? Luckily, there is a place in Florida where they can live out the rest of their life in the company of other apes.

The Center for Great Apes is located on over 100 acres in south central Florida. Here chimpanzees and organutans that were either once kept as pets or were Hollywood stars live and play in one of twelve large three story enclosures. According to their website, the mission of the Center "is to provide a permanent sanctuary for organutans and chimpanzees who have been retired from the entertainment industry, from research, or who are not longer wanted as pets. The Center provides care with dignity in a safe, healthy, and enriching environment for great apes in need of lifetime care." Lifetime care for each animal is very expensive, around $15,000 per ape per year. The Center relies on grants and donations, though it is not open to the general public. Private donors events allow donors access to the facility and donors who dig deep in their pockets can even stay at the Center in one of three rustic cabins. Since the Center does not have a research component, the apes are free to spend their days living as apes.

So who lives at the Center? You may remember Bam Bam the organutan from the soap opera Passions. He arrived at the Center when he became too strong to work. Chuckie is a hybrid Bornean and Sumatran organutan who was born at the Memphis Zoo. Because he was a hybrid he was sold and eventually ended up in the circus. Geri the organutan worked on films like The Flinstones and Dunston Checks In. Kodua the chimpanzee was in the first CareerBuilder.com tv ads. Mowgli the chimpanzee was also in the first Careerbuilder.com tv ads, was a regular on the Dennis Miller Show, and was featured in the movie Shaggy Dog.

The Center has taken in over 42 apes since its inception in 1993. Director Patti Ragan, who volunteerd with organutans in Miami and Borneo, saw a need for the Center after realizing that zoos would not care for orphaned and abandoned apes. Since these apes could not be released in the wild, she committed herself to creating the Center where the apes could live out their lives.

I wish I could visit the apes at the Center, but since it is not open to the public (and that means pugs too), I cannot. Mom told me that she would like to become a donor and that even if she can't visit the apes in person, she knows that her donation will be well spent caring for these amazing animals. Please leave wild animals where they belong - in the wild. They do not make good pets because they are wild. If you would like a pet, consider adopting a pug. We make excellent pets because we are low maintenance. In the meantime, check out the Center for Great Apes at www.centerforgreatapes.org.

Finally Some Good News!

With so much bad news in the world everyday, I was really glad to come across some good news the other day. Small wins are important for every species and no win is too small to celebrate.

So what is the good news? Drum roll please. At least 32 new right whale calves have been observed this season off the coasts of Georgia and Florida! Whoo-hoo! This is the most that has ever been recorded and a sign that this endangered species may be making a comeback. With only about 400 right whales in existence, 32 babies is a significant addition to the population.

Right whales migrate to give birth between late November and March off the coasts of Georgia and Florida. Volunteers from the Whale Watch Survey Team stand on beaches for hours on end, tirelessly scanning the oceans for signs of these massive mammals. The data they collect helps scientists track patterns and trends of right whale populations. The data also provides clues to the migratory path the mothers and calves take.

Right whales got there name from hunters who said they were the "right whale" to kill. By harpooning the whales for their blubber, they killed them to the point where they were seriously in danger of extinction.

Right whales are huge animals that can grow to 70 tons. How big is that you ask? 70 tons is more than a dozen elephants would weigh. They are do not have dorsal fins and are jet-black, so they are difficult to spot in the ocean. This is a good thing and a bad thing. It is a good thing if you are being hunted, but a bad thing if boats cannot see you, the later of which is the greatest threat facing them today. A new rule that requires ships to slow down to 10 knots as they cruise through the whales' habitat seems to be helping and that is exactly where the volunteers and others come in. Many groups of people scan the waters and alert ship captains, cruise lines, airplanes, submarines and others to the whales' whereabouts. Mom's turtle buddy Mike Frick was part of the Early Warning System Surveys for Right Whales back in the late 1990's. He would participate in water and aerial surveys to track the whales during their migration and alert the previously mentioned of the locations of the whales.

Hopefully people will see these volunteers and researchers, binoculars stuck to their eyes, and stop to ask what they are looking for. "Right whales" they will be told. "Right whales - what are those?" they will asked. "I'm so glad you asked" the smiling volunteer will respond. Mom always says that it all begins with education. You cannot teach someone to want to save a species until you teach them to love it. The world needs right whales and the right whales need us to protect them and their habitat. Please educate yourself and others about the plight of these amazing mammals. Every species deserves a chance in this uncertain climate, so do the right thing by the right whale.

Guess What's Back?

This is what I woke up to today. I know it looks pretty but the old snow was all gone and now we have more - yuk! I heard on the news last night that it was going to start snowing after midnight, but I really didn't believe it. I was sound asleep at midnight so I couldn't check the prediction first hand, but I couldn't believe my eyes when I woke up.

You can see that the pond only has a little open water. Last week, there was triple the open water and we had quite a few visitors. This morning we only had a few sleeping ducks. I don't know how they can sleep on the cold ice, with the wind whipping their feathers and the snow falling on their heads, but Mom tells me it doesn't really bother them. I will take a nice warm cozy bed over a cold pond anytime. I am glad that I'm not a duck.

By mid morning when the snow finally stopped, we had received about 5 inches of snow. Of course I had to go out to do my business, but I needed to go so bad that I didn't even wait for Dad to snovel me a path - I was blazing my own trail. Luckily Mom did not get any photos of this event because I am really too quick for her.

I have decided that I need a day off, so I am going to stay in and relax today. Mom has lots of work to do and Dad is busy in the basement making furniture. I am going to find a nice warm place to curl up and sleep. This will probably be me later today, dreaming of warm weather and of course, Popeye's.

Look What We're Getting!

Mom finally talked Dad into getting a rain barrel this year. I don't know why Dad has been so anti-rain barrel in the past, but this year he is on board and is ready to go green.

Our local forest preserve district, the Lake County Forest Preserve District, is currently selling rain barrels through their website, and via phone, fax, and mail. Simply place your order by April 29 and then pick it up on either May 15 or 16 at the Lake County Fairgrounds. What could be easier?

Rain barrels collect and store rainwater from your roof that would otherwise just go to waste. The water can be later used to water your plants and lawns when there is no rain. This is a great way to save money and water because every time you water the traditional way your water bill goes through the roof. Using a rain barrel also reduces the volume of water flowing into sewer treatment facilities. This can be a real problem when we get heavy rains.

But how much water can you really save? Mom is not good at math, so she found this statistic: one inch of rain on a 1,000 square foot roof yields 633 gallons of water. Dad will have to calculate the entire yield of our roof by multiplying the square footage of our roof by 623 and dividing by 1000. The look on Mom's face when she heard this formula was priceless. She couldn't figure this out is her life depended on it. I could probably figure it out, but the keys on the calculator are too small for my paws.

The rain barrels for sale are 55-gallon drums with a two-hose connection, plastic spigot, a bottom drain plug, and a screen to keep out debris. They are upcycled because they were previously used for food product shipping. Available in two colors, terra cotta or grey, Mom decided grey would be the best color for us since our house is a light grey color.

The rain barrel sale is sponsored by the Lake County Forest Preserve District, the Lake County Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission. The proceeds of the sale will benefit the forest district's youth stewardship program.

The rain barrel program is only in its third year and already it has become very popular. In its first year, 2007, 467 barrels were sold. Last year, 980 were sold and this year officials hope to sell 1,200. Let's hope the bad economy doesn't affect this great program. A little money spent now will save you money in the long run, right? Plus, the conservation benefits will be reaped for years to come.

Help Save Sea Turtles!

Mom received this e-mail yesterday from Defenders of Wildlife and the subject line read "Will we have to go to court to save sea turtles?" Yikes! My little ocean buddies are in trouble again so I need your help. Please take action today by signing the petition here.


Dear Michele,
It’s a cruel way to die… and it’s happening to some of the planet’s most ancient and endangered creatures. Snagged by razor sharp hooks on fishing lines that span anywhere from four to nine nautical miles, endangered sea turtles are drowning and dying right now off America’s shores.

My name is Bob Dreher, and I run the legal department here at Defenders of Wildlife. To help save these turtles from extinction, I’m overseeing a legal challenge right now to suspend the use of bottom longline fishing gear in vital sea turtle habitat in the Gulf of Mexico.
With your help today, I may be able to avoid a costly and lengthy legal battle that could rage on as more sea turtles die, and to secure immediate protection for imperiled sea turtles off our coasts.
Speak out for endangered sea turtles today. Sign our petition to the National Marine Fisheries Service urging the agency to suspend bottom longline fishing in the Gulf of Mexico so the beautiful sea voyagers have a shot at survival.

Between July 2006 and the end of 2007, the government estimates that the Gulf of Mexico bottom longline fishery, which targets reef fish like grouper and tilefish, resulted in the capture of nearly 1,000 threatened and endangered sea turtles -- and that in more than 80% of these incidents, the turtles were injured or killed. Six of seven species of sea turtles are listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act, and indiscriminate fishing practices are a grave threat to sea turtles around the world. Loggerheads nesting on Florida beaches -- the same turtles captured in the Gulf of Mexico bottom longline fishery -- have plummeted by more than 40% over the last decade.

Take action now to save our sea turtles. Sign the petition to the National Marine Fisheries Service today.

Earlier this month, my legal team and I met with officials at the National Marine Fisheries Service to encourage them to save loggerheads and other imperiled sea turtles with an emergency suspension of the Gulf of Mexico bottom longline fishery. They were receptive, but now federal officials need to hear from you.

Please sign our petition to save the lives of sea turtles today, and we will hand deliver your comments to the agency before the end of the month. With your help, we hope to collect at least 40,000 comments in favor of protecting sea turtles from bottom longline fishing by March 1st.
Sea turtles have been swimming in our planet’s waters for millions of years. With your help, we can help ensure that they are around for future generations to enjoy.

With Gratitude,
Bob DreherVice President for Conservation LawDefenders of Wildlife

P.S. Federal officials need to act now to protect sea turtles. Please sign our petition to save sea turtles today, so we can deliver your comments to the National Marine Fisheries Service before March 1st.

The Meatrix

Mom hates factory farming and is trying to spread the word about why they are bad for the you and the environment. She is this close to becoming a vegan and she would be if it weren't for Dad. She came across this online film "The Meatrix" the other day and wants to share it with you. I liked the film, but I didn't have it in me to watch the sequels. Mom loved all the films and can't wait for another sequel.

"The Meatrix" is an online film that spoofs "The Matrix" films while educating people about the problems with factory farming. The film is really cute and features three superhero farm animals. Hey, why weren't there any pugs in the film? They could have had a super handsome pug named Stubby who, umm, does what? What would Stubby the superhero do? I'll get back to you on that.

Leo the pig gets pulled from the supposedly friendly family farm to go on a journey because he is the one. He is lead on the journey by Moopheus the cow. They visit a factory farm and thus begins their crusade to end factory farming. Chickity the chicken, joins them in the sequels as they meet up with the agri-business bad guys.

In addition to the films, there is also a 360 interactive farm scene. As you move around the farm, your cursor highlights different things on the farm. Click on something that is highlighted and you open a new browser window on sustainabletable.org where all the information you need to know about a part of the factory farm is right there in black and white. All of this information is very eye-opening and needs to be known.

Please check out the film and the 360 interactive farm scene. We must do all we can to stop factory farming because it is ruining the environment and our bodies. I love the environment and I only have one body, so take action and do your part.

Happy Valentines' Day!

Pugs and kisses to all!

Confessions of an Eco-Sinner

Mom got this book from the library the other day. I didn't really understand what it was about until Mom gave me a synopsis. I didn't think Mom was an eco-sinner, but after hearing about this book, I think she is. Even though she is super conscience of living a green life, there are just too many ways to be an eco-sinner in our global economy.

What would happen if you took a journey around the world to find where the source of all your 'stuff' comes from? This is exactly what Fred Pearce did and it is not only shocking, it is a eye opening wakeup call. He went through his house, from his wedding ring, to the food he eats, to the furniture he sits on, to the clothes he wears, and tracked the raw materials back to their origin. He traveled more than 110,000 miles on his journey which begs the comment "Nice carbon footprint". Pearce is more concerned about personal footprints than carbon footprints because so few of us know anything about the people and places that enable our nice, sweet Western lifestyle.

I admit that I don't need much and that I consume very little, yet I am still guilty of being an eco-sinner. I am what I like to call guilty by association. I live with Mom and Dad who, like the rest of the Western world are eco-sinners, so that makes me one too. I believe that the global economy is good for the world and that the real lesson from this book is awareness. All of us need to be aware of where our 'stuff' comes from so that we can make educated choices when shopping. There are right and wrong choices when purchasing almost everything, and when you make yourself aware of the right choices, you become part of the solution instead of part of the problem.

All of us cannot take a global journey of 'stuff' discovery, but thankfully Fred Pearce did. His book will open your eyes and your heart to the way people around the world make a living - by producing our 'stuff'. The conditions most people work under are not pretty - they are exploited, forced into slave labor, exposed to toxic chemicals, etc. - but the people are almost always beautiful. They all want what we have - prosperity - and we must remember that we are the most fortunate people in the world, despite current conditions.

The world - our world, their world - needs us to take action right now. Educate yourself about your 'stuff' and then spread the word. This book is a must read for you and for your neighbor, for your best friend and your enemy. Read it, discuss it, and live it.

Happy 200th Birthday Darwin!

Peace, Love and Evolution!

Wednesday Wag Out!

Shoe Cause

What a great company! Not only do they sell shoes, but for every pair that is purchased, they give a pair to a child in need. I love it!

Toms has shoes for men, women, and babies. All of the womens styles are flats and there are even some vegan shoes which makes Mom happy. Would you believe that they even have some limited edition styles? They sure do.

Since May 2006 Toms has given away over 10,000 pairs of shoes to children in Argentina and over 50,000 pairs to children in South Africa. Mom loves their get involved motto: changing a life begins with a single step. Everyone, everywhere needs and deserves a pair of shoes, so do something good for someone in need by purchasing a pair of Toms at http://www.tomsshoes.com/.

EarthLust Bottles

Mom loves her Sigg bottles but she is always looking for new bottles. She recently found Earthlust bottles and has decided to give them a try. These bottles are made from high quality #304 food grade stainless steel, which is naturally safe unlined and each is a custom design, with most of the designs limited editions. By using use non-toxic paints and BPA-free safe polypropelene #5 caps, EarthLust ensures that their bottles are safe for you to use.

Mom likes this design on the 20oz bottle, but there are many to choose from so there is something for everyone. If you need a new

bottle or need a great gift for a friend, get an EarthLust bottle at http://www.nubiusorganics.com/.

Therapeutic Dough

When Mom first showed this stuff to me I didn't really get it. You do what with it? I guess it didn't make sense to me because I don't have hands, but Mom tells me that people need this stuff. Whatever!

Aroma Squeeze is dough scented with essential oils. You squeeze the dough to release the essential oils and this provides instant aromatherapy to de-stress, energize, revitalize, etc. The de-stress version contains pure essential oils of sandalwood, neroli, & lavender that are blended in a base of grapeseed oil, cocoa butter, and beeswax. Mom is not as stressed as she was a few years ago, but at certain times of the month Mom gets really crazy. Maybe this stuff will work for her. If you need aromatherapy in your life, check out http://www.aromasqueeze.com/.