Getting Out in the Upper Midwest

Good piece from Chicago on Louv, nature deficit prescriptions, and Oliver Pergams' favorite place.

In Michigan, the Pergams enjoyed Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in Ontonagon in the Upper Peninsula. "The Porkies," as they are known, have cabins for rent for those who want to speed-date nature but aren't quite ready to go steady.

Time to start planning those spring and summer trips.

Toys

World Changing has an interesting post on the efforts of the Toy industry to stop laws that keep toxic materials out of toys. They also talk about fair trade, non toxic alternative toys.

Now consider a different toy, with a different kind of story to tell. ImagiPlay's AniMates Giraffe Pair game, made only from "Preservative-Free Rubberwood, Non-Toxic Water-Based Paint and/or Lacquer" and crafted in Sri Lanka under fair-trade conditions. All the savannah fun, with a fraction of the apocalypse and childhood illness.

Worth a read.

And make sure to click on the link to the descriptions of how some have perverted the birthday party. Little relevance to nature, but sure to give you a taste of how bad things have gotten in our culture.

Turn Them Off

Tonight at 8:00 pm, turn the lights off.

More at Earth Hour.

Earth Day News

My parents took us to NYC on Earth Day in 1970.

Here's an update on what's planned for 2008.

Subliminal Disney?

Interesting article in the Times Online from London on the role Walt Disney and his films played in shaping our 20th century attitudes on nature.

The stories of animated Disney characters, from Snow White in 1937 to the clownfish Nemo in 2003, have built “a critical awareness of contested environmental issues”, according to David Whitley, a lecturer in English.

While Disney movies are often regarded as little more than escapism, and have even been criticised as bland populism, many feature messages about conservation and the relationship between people and the natural world that have proved to be highly influential, Dr Whitley said.

Treehugger has the link and explains further.

Best Hikes

The Best Hike lists hikes all over the world. Here's one from Hawaii, with kids.

Buy a Tree

and watch it grow on Google Earth. More here.