Denver Post Front Page Article Link

I'm delighted by who's reaching out to me because of yesterday's Denver Post Article.  Relatives of expeditions members, authors, publishers, customers and friends!  Today, I took questions from Gibbs Elementary, in Rochester, MN first graders.  They had very thorough inquiry about Antarctica and my trip.  There's more to say about audiences 7th grade and younger!

Doubt is a weapon in the PR industry!

Thanks again to Richard Branson's blog Antarctica log 2 "No lie is forever".  He posted Climate Realitiy Project's Doubt video to emphasize that the information about global warming is being treated, in the media, like the truth about the addiction of nicotine.  My colleagues at Deep Democracy Institute do an amazing job of  addressing the polarization around global issues, such as climate change.  Their first Open Forum on Climate Change will take place in Portland, OR on June 2. Stakeholders of different opinions will gather for an interactive process to seek out and hear all the voices around climate change.  The beginning questions for this forum are:

Is facing Climate Change as urgent as some suggest - And what if anything needs to be done about it?

What are you thoughts and feelings? Feel free to comment!

Also, check out Barefoot Leaders Camp for youth!!

 

Antartica is on our minds and hearts!

I found out yesterday that Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Group is touring Antarctica.  More great footsteps to follow!  He's blogging everyday.  His Antarctic log 7 :Antarctica is closer than you think" is something to think about.  More people every day are realizing climate change is important to understand.  This has been a busy week.  I made presentations to 55 seventh graders at Fitzsimmons Middle School, who fired great questions at me for 20 minutes.  Yesterday,  a local home school group gathered for my presentation.  Students of all ages (3 to 9) were very engaged for an hour!  I brought some my clothing for the trip.

Here's some of the girls and their parents from the WWA Home School Connection Fine Arts and Enrichment Program saying, "We are All Antarctica!"

Complexity, Learning and Change

Global challenges such as population control, climate change, global economics, environmental justice are complex. Complexity requires learning, creativity and collaborative action.  I see a future in which we understand that collaboration is essential to move through local community and global challenges. All stakeholders are inspired to take responsibility in collective outcomes.
  My work aligns with Cameron D. Norman's thoughts on complexity. Another great piece by Olivier Oullier and Mark Turrell, Complexity, Leadership and New Policy Making

Thanks to April Rinne for the latter!

We Are All Antarctica project update

If you've been following me, since December 2011, I'm sure you've seen this project unfold with increasing clarity! I have three schools following my trip to Antarctica: Platte Canyon Fitzsimmons Middle School, Bailey, CO; Gibbs Elementary in Rochester, MN, (1st grade class) and a Free school group who will do a field trip to Denver to learn more about climate change and how we are personally connected through our thoughts, feelings and history.  Start Some Good is a partner for the next phase.  I will design and pilot interactive, curricular materials for students to realize the value of collaboration, based on my father’s community leadership, Antarctic history and climate change. If you have interested groups or leads for schools to participate, please contact me.  A big thanks to Matt Nathan for his coaching and production of the latest video!

Will Icebergs Become a Thing of the Past?

Gorgeous photos by explorer Camille Seaman from the Artic and Antarctica. Camille, is amazed by these "unique, almost alien, natural features" that may soon become a thing of the past. - from the U.K. Telegraph

Clothing for Antarctica Summer finalized

In the last few days, I've been laser focused on clothing for Antarctic summer. King George Island is considered the banana belt of Antarctica. That's why 12 countries have year round research stations. My final decision on clothes was made with a friend who's husband is an ice climber. He insisted that the wind factor plays a huge roll in what to wear. Point well taken. Also, he said that injuries occur in extreme places, because most people don't have the right gear. Since I live in Colorado, I can always wear the gear again!

We found a sale on a new technology in Columbia clothing. It's called Omni- Heat Thermal Reflective material. (move over polar fleece) It keeps 20% more of your body heat in. I tried it last night, it works. My new challenge is the right amount of layers so I don't sweat to much on the hikes! And yes, merino wool is still preferred for wearing your first layer for many days before cleaning. I found Icebreaker from New Zealand. It's very soft. They should know! (close to Antarctica)

Today in 1940 Gibbs set foot on Antarctica!

From George W. Gibbs, Jr's journal January 14, 1940
"Jan. 14 Anchored this morning in the Bay of Whales at the South Pole and digging holes in the ice with picks and shovels. This was the only way of tying the ship up along the ice. There aren’t any docks at all, was I surprised?? When the Bear came up to the ice close enough for me to get ashore, I was the first man aboard the ship to set foot in Little America and help tie her lines deep into the snow. I met Admiral Byrd; he shook my hand and welcomed me to Little America and for being the first Negro to set foot in Little America."

Gibbs Elementary, Rochester, MN to Participate in the Project!

We are All Antarctica is about personal awareness of one's own thoughts and feelings and how that connects to they way we treat others. Our social connections flow into the environment or climate we create in our family, our school, our neighborhoods, society and the planet. We are stewards our ourselves, as well as our community and planet.

Climate change is uncertain. Our ability to collaborate to solve complex social and environmental issues will make all the difference in how we co-create our future. Gibbs Elementary mission of Learning together . Caring for each other . Believing in our future is in perfect alignment with We are All Antarctica. In preparation for my trip, we will count down starting Jan. 13th to Feb. 13th initial flight date. During this month, we are learning together about climate change and how we can have a personal connection to it, in our daily lives. How do scientists work together to discover the mysteries of climate change? What is the ice saying to us as it melts? What is the wildlife experiencing?

Learning vs Education

I'm preparing my proposal for a new organization called Start Some Good. After my travel to Antarctica, I plan to pilot curricular materials for Gibbs Elementary. The purpose is to connect the concepts of 'we are all in the same boat' and thttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhat "other" is also "me". How does our inner climate of thoughts and feelings impact our actions in the outer climate of our family, our school, our neighborhood and ultimately the planet? What steps can we take to make the climate of our minds and hearts match with what we want the climate of our world to be?


Jerry Michalski of REXpedition:navigating massive change together says it nicely in Seeing Abundantly-our schools.