The fights, the wins and losses….

Hi everyone!

This latest post in what I guess is environmentally focused news I have found of significance centers around some recent major milestones, incredible victories (big and small) as well as not so pleasant “losses” – especially in the U.S and Canada.

For starters, a positive note, Greenpeace is celebrating 40 years! If you aren’t already a part of this incredible movement, you are missing out on some great leadership opportunities, knowledge on global issues, and being part of transforming human business and behaviour into a more sustainable form!

They love to poke fun to make change, even at themselves!

Their success is highlighted by a string of recent victories in which 4 of the largest clothing and apparel chains in the world – Puma, Nike, Adidas and H&M (in that order) – were made to Detox! What does that mean? The goal was essentially to work with the companies to create a long-term management plan to remove all hazardous exiting chemicals from every part of the production cycle. The result, commitments by all 4 companies to globally transform how they produce and manage their wastes, with goals to eliminate all hazardous waste by 2020! Incredible!
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/toxics/water/detox/

An amazing global event (also supported by Greenpeace) just happened on September 24th – Moving Planet! Be inspired by this amazing international call (and response) to action and strong communities hosted by 350.org!
http://moving-planet.org/

And for my original home, good news too!
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/07/solar-farming-a-transformative-resource-for-india

And then the battles not won (or not yet!):

A major loss for Canada, there are petitions and protests to overturn this, but it looks grim for our fragmenting atmosphere:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/story/2011/09/16/environment-ozone-monitoring.html

The jokes on us, and on them.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/09/bill-clinton-gop-climate-denial-us-look-like-joke.php?campaign=TH_rotator

Truth and beauty…
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/09/the-sadness-and-beauty-of-taiji.php

The best way perhaps to end this are these neat video trailers and starters with a theme of “change” and “rethink”, enjoy!

Have an organic day, everyone!

Feeding Seoul and me!

Hi everyone,

I should start things off by correcting a rather ambitious statement I made in my first post: seeing how intense class, socializing, eating and seeing is here (not that much sleeping!) I will have to lower my frequency of posts here to once a week! :[

Not sure if that makes you sad or happy but there is other news regardless, I am starting weekly posts in the 3rd category of my blog, Natural news and common thought!

So there has been lots of questions to me on what I have been up to while here, so aside from the obvious school work (language class + earth/env. courses) that rest of the time has been the following:

-learning
-food eating, food buying...
-sightseeing, photoseeing, seeing
-food buying...
-transit/walking
-socializing
-computer work + not work
-sleeping/reading?

So boring list right? WRONG! What is key here is the picture behind the word...yes picture! The snaps below try and cover the past few days, the words are the filling to this blog sandwich...I think I need to do more food buying.

So as the title suggests, I have been putting a lot into Seoul, mostly in the form of money (albeit it at an incredible exchange rate; come to Seoul, you Canadians!) but also in amazing conversations that have left me rather happy…really happy!

I guess the best part here is meeting so many people (everyone) for the first time in my life, its almost like a child exploring the new world around him, every moment for me is truly an adventure. I think this feeling is a bit exaggerated for me since, as some of my friends know, I like to get as much info and depth from my surroundings and places as I can. It used to mean lots of silly moving and games but nowadays it is much more sophisticated: photos and discussions…and moving and games. :]

So what to add…ah yes there was what I promised in my past blog, my checklist for any future Seoulites (made up) of this city…

For starters, get all those forms ready and prepped, this is a list best consulted with your university, parents, advisers and program staff – so listen and ask questions, especially from the host University and its groups/exchange branch when you can!

So…Going? Files and pre-departure all done? Well assuming you got all your shots, made backups and digital copies of ALL important docs and aren’t sick or trafficking anything, here’s what the luggage should have!
-Clothes, seasonally adjusted (buying here will be inevitable, so stay focused)
-Food; limited to legal, dry, small, delicious and “rare” goods…avoid meat (a piece of life advice too!)
-Hygiene products (so that you feel as good as you did here, bring some toilet paper and deodorant!)
-Technology; safe and only the essential, or if you don’t have, buy here for cheaper!
-Your stuff; this could be a few books, notes, and instrument, games, etc.
-Critical stuff: such as first-aid kit, umbrella, medication for full stay supply, cables (but buy special plugs here), pillowcase/blanket, water-bottle, local guide depending on your taste ad needs, and anything else you feel.

Try and stay within limits, you shouldn’t have more than 2 suitcases and a bag for a full year! This list is most useful for the residence Seoulite!

So for you (and me) while here, there have been many interesting expenses, most wonderfully cheap (to Canadian standards!):
-There will be lots of events to attend here – be it with clubs, groups, friends or exchange planned gatherings – and they mostly cost money! Yay!
-Food, mostly from the cafeteria at $2-$3CDNE (Canadian Equivalent)
-Other food, where the big flavor and diversity can shine is surprisingly, often pricey, averaging so far about $15CDNE but ranging $4-$40CDNE (the $40 brings tears of joy though, so its worth it!).
-Transit, incredibly cheap at $0.80 for local bus or any subway trip (complete with smart pay-by-distance, auto transfer with bus and subway, 13 line epicness and artistic-architectural symmetry)
-Goods not brought – limitless cost apparently! So this includes the initial bedding and pillow, later blankets and clothes, foreign plug, cellphone, probably a good shoe pair and refilling hygiene supplies!

Overall though, the stay here is cheap and comfortable, the view is mind-blowing on campus and life can come under $500 per month for everything (yes including residence if you’re on campus!). The key for me is slowly integrating the sustainability and often obvious places for improvement where I can in my life and environment around me…everyone should do this all around them!

With the exception of replacing and upgrading things that still have life in them to work well, you should always ask – how can I do this more efficiently, with less stress, fewer resources and minimal waste as the end/summation product? This excludes eating, then just choose the local/organic/vegan/veggie if possible! I feel if you start with this, you’re stay/life will become much greener without any of the denying, silly ads or dangerous green-washing needed in the world around us. So cheers to living abroad and keeping it real!

Chuseok joy and strange good and bad on the next leaf! All for now!

This incredible world in green and black…

Hi everyone,

So I haven’t been adding too much to this section of my blog due to my current trip and all it entails in Seoul, South Korea. I will try and add some of my perspectives and interests here as it relates to the environment since, well, it is kinda the center of my life.

Here are some news stories I recently read, they gave me quite a bit to think about…

Humanity changing the course of evolution?

More than just diamonds, a smart astrophysicist!

Too much heat and not enough delicious cooked food – why not both!

Climate change land baby…

Turning back the clock on a healthy, green US…one congress.

A war worth fighting for – 40 years and counting

Finally,

Some common thought?

Whats your favorite moment in nature?
Favorite picture of the outdoors (perhaps one you took yourself?)?
Most exciting thing you want to do in/for the environment!

Feel free to discuss or perhaps ask yourself these questions, the answer may surprise you!

Have a green day! :]

Starting School and wrapping it all in!

Settling into the city but sometimes still got my head in the clouds…

The past week in Seoul has been incredible…

After adjusting to the culture, place, people and food (or atleast the most I can in a week) I have started to really relax and enjoy this bustling and dynamic city.

Then school started.

Haha ok its not that bad, school is certainly difficult (my classes are in English though!) but I am incredibly grateful for every moment of what is truly a rare and precious opportunity. I get to learn another language, take amazing courses in environment/earth science and finish my B.Sc and meet great new Korean and exchange students from all over the world! All this, plus the excitement and sights in one of the largest and most advanced cities in the world makes me feel spoiled. Thus I’m making sure to work as hard as I can and learn a thing or two! My education on this campus (Seoul National University) is for now composed of a 4-hour per weekday intensive language class + a once-a-week course in International Environmental Organizations, a dream for me to learn about, actually. If any of you have any cool organizations you want to let me know about or research, that would be really useful to expand both my horizons and topic choices for an essay (any are welcome as essay topics for this course are as diverse as the course title!).

Though my trip focuses on the experience of an exchange and learning in a new environment, the added challenge (and bonus) of dealing with a newly written and spoken landscape is the real highlight for me. I really do recommend to anyone who wants to learn a language to go on an exchange or internship or even vacation to the homeland of that language – it will make all the difference. For me it has proven so true…thanks to my Korean class and the “class” all around me, I can now fully read Korean – in just a week!

So yes, as my above post suggests so far I have not seen that many mystical or majestic sights of what is a fitting description for the city. That will come in time once I have bought and settled and well, had an actual break between campus life and homework! And so the other end of my days is finding and learning all there is to do on campus, joining new clubs, meeting my Korean buddy group and new foreigners, events, a movie or two, and lots of networking and laughs!

A coming holiday of “Chuseok” – similar to Thanksgiving – will undoubtedly give me pictures and stories to share with whomever may read this! I hope my blog gives you all ideas and inspiration on what to see and do and perhaps eat in Korea (especially if you are vegetarian or like Indian food! ;] ). Most of all I hope this blog can give you lessons and insight into the emotional experience I hope this trip will be for me, and maybe eventually you, too.

Next post will be all things needed for my Seoul life – then Chuseok, enjoy these final days of summer and welcome fall with open arms everyone! :]

A day…longer, more free and definitely hotter!

So my first full day in Seoul began today, and there certainly was an incredible amount to take in.

First – what I assumed and turned out being true:

South Korea is well, mostly Koreans. I guess what I mean is I expected more foreigners in the main city known to the world but really out in the open there are very few living a day-to-day life…it almost seems like they are all in hiding indoors.

Which leads to my next assumption: still extremely hot due to long summers…I thought i would be escaping the remnants of now 25 degree heat in Toronto, but Seoul has been enjoying 30+ and another 5-10+ in humidity/smog all this week! I am glad I brought sunscreen, insect repellent, t-shirts and my previously unused asthma meds!

Sigh…ok well I just lost the rest of my post after saving so I will now type what I remember below!

Another thing I expected was the cheap cost of food and wide variety in Seoul, its everywhere! You can literally find something you want to eat in any corner or alley of Seoul, especially at night where every edge of the city is bathed in neon hues and colorful signs, it feels like a Korean Las Vegas market! On the other hand finding goods for my inner vegetarian is somewhat difficult but if Google is honest with me, the stores and places are just spread out but indeed sufficient! Just need to find them, some good grocery stores and a backup Indian restaurant for those homesick days and I should be set! Even though I may eat out nearly every day, with food so cheap here I can spend my money on what really matters in Seoul, socks and school!

As for my assumptions which were wrong:

I had though that since Seoul is in a similar East coastal setting at the same latitude as Southern Ontario, the climate and ecology wouldn’t be too different, ah I was so wrong! As fall comes in Ontario, Seoul continues to cook in high humidity and smog with 30+ degrees almost every day! This tropical weather comes complete with lush rolling hills and an amazing variety of colorful birds and insects (very loud insects) as well as trees and plants I have never seen before! What perhaps amazes me most is that I am so entranced by all this scenery and architecture and food, I haven’t pulled out my camera yet! But don’t worry, soon I will adjust and start snapping (just no government buildings!).

Realizing that Seoul and the greater area has a massive rail, subway and bus system, I had assumed getting around would be a breeze, but it really isn’t, atleast not yet! The system is so massive and complex that it made my head spin at one point – although I must give them credit for the fantastic one-card-fits-all transit device, basically what Presto will eventually be they already have (and it is based on distance, the ultimate strategy!). The amount of commuters on the subway is also staggering, at times there can be 500-1000+ people waiting in mobs outside subway entrances during rush hour…it would put the concept of crowded New York subways to shame! Did I mention rush hour is all day, every day? As for biking…lets just say it doesn’t seem safe, or even possible atm…

I think I will get used to the system eventually, I am really impressed that they have 15 subway lines (many which are over 20 stations!) as well as a 4-class colored bus system and the high speed rail system, KTX…considering how many cars there are still in Seoul, this transit goes a long way in helping keep commuting green!

I think have covered all I can for now, almost done getting settled in – got a great roommate and awesome dorm, expect lots of pictures in the next post! And now I will go enjoy some favorite Korean past-times: Soccer, Bibimbap and Starcraft 2 – talk again soon!